Thought this was interesting; especially in using the seal. Note the date!
Navy O.R.-- Series II--Volume 3
List of Papers pp. 1152-1204
4 UPPER SEYMOUR STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE,
London, July 6, 1864.
SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that I send by Lieutenant Chapman, Confederate States Navy, who bears this, the seal of the Confederate States, at last completed. It is much admired by all who have seen it here and I hope you will approve it as a fine work of art.
The seal is carefully put up in a separate small box and Lieutenant Chapman is charged, under no circumstances, to run the risk of its being captured. He takes the route to Bermuda via Halifax, to sail on Saturday, 9th instant; and I ship through Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co. by the steamer that takes him to Halifax two boxes containing the iron press, with a full supply of wax and other materials for the use of the seal. Although not expressly ordered, in the difficulty of obtaining these things in the Confederacy at present, at least of approved quality, I have thought it best to have them supplied here; all which I hope you will approve.
The enclosed duplicate bill will furnish a list of those materials, with the prices; the original I have paid and retained.
I have requested Lieutenant Chapman to take charge of the boxes at Bermuda and to see to their safe delivery.
To relieve him of expenses on the route, I have further requested Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co. here, if they can do so, to pay the freight all the way to Bermuda and write to Major Walker at Bermuda to pay the freight thence to the Confederacy, should they not go in a Government ship. Still, it is possible that some part of this may not be done, and I have accordingly told Lieutenant Chapman should any expenses in the transportation devolve on him, it should be paid promptly at the Department of State, which oblige me by having attended to.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. MASON.
Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of State.
[Enclosure.]
Duplicate A. C.
J. M. Mason, esq., to Joseph S. Wyon, chief engraver of her Majesty's seals, etc., 287 Regent Street, London W.
1864.
July 2. Silver seal for the Confederate States of America, with ivory handle, box with spring lock, and screw press £84 0
3,000 wafers 4 10
1,000 seal papers 7
1,000 strips of parchment 18
100 brass boxes 16 5
100 cakes of wax 7 0
100 silk cords 6 5
1 perforator 5
3 packing cases lined with tin 3 0
122 10
By cash 21st March £42.
Settled by cheque for balance 6th July, 1864.
JOSEPH S. WYON.
[Enclosure.]
DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE GREAT SEAL OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.
FOR MAKING IMPRESSIONS IN WAX-LIKE PATTERN.
Turn up the bottom of the parchment document, and perforate it with the instrument sent for that purpose, in three places, as in pattern. Pass a silk cord through the holes in the parchment, and then through the holes at the bottom of a brass box. Unscrew the handle from the seal, and slightly grease the face and side of the seal with a little sweet oil on cotton wool. Put a cake of wax in nearly boiling water. At the same time make the seal warm, but not more so than will allow it to be held in the hand. When the wax has become very soft, which it will be after it has been in the water about two or three minutes, take it out, and after very quickly laying it in a soft clean cloth to dry off the water, put it into the brass box on the top of the cord, and then put the seal on the wax, taking care to let the top be toward the document, and place the whole in the press quickly, holding it tightly squeezed for half a minute or a minute. The whole operation must be done with great rapidity after the wax is taken out of the water, to prevent the wax getting too hard to take a good impression.
continued
Navy O.R.-- Series II--Volume 3
List of Papers pp. 1152-1204
4 UPPER SEYMOUR STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE,
London, July 6, 1864.
SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that I send by Lieutenant Chapman, Confederate States Navy, who bears this, the seal of the Confederate States, at last completed. It is much admired by all who have seen it here and I hope you will approve it as a fine work of art.
The seal is carefully put up in a separate small box and Lieutenant Chapman is charged, under no circumstances, to run the risk of its being captured. He takes the route to Bermuda via Halifax, to sail on Saturday, 9th instant; and I ship through Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co. by the steamer that takes him to Halifax two boxes containing the iron press, with a full supply of wax and other materials for the use of the seal. Although not expressly ordered, in the difficulty of obtaining these things in the Confederacy at present, at least of approved quality, I have thought it best to have them supplied here; all which I hope you will approve.
The enclosed duplicate bill will furnish a list of those materials, with the prices; the original I have paid and retained.
I have requested Lieutenant Chapman to take charge of the boxes at Bermuda and to see to their safe delivery.
To relieve him of expenses on the route, I have further requested Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co. here, if they can do so, to pay the freight all the way to Bermuda and write to Major Walker at Bermuda to pay the freight thence to the Confederacy, should they not go in a Government ship. Still, it is possible that some part of this may not be done, and I have accordingly told Lieutenant Chapman should any expenses in the transportation devolve on him, it should be paid promptly at the Department of State, which oblige me by having attended to.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. MASON.
Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of State.
[Enclosure.]
Duplicate A. C.
J. M. Mason, esq., to Joseph S. Wyon, chief engraver of her Majesty's seals, etc., 287 Regent Street, London W.
1864.
July 2. Silver seal for the Confederate States of America, with ivory handle, box with spring lock, and screw press £84 0
3,000 wafers 4 10
1,000 seal papers 7
1,000 strips of parchment 18
100 brass boxes 16 5
100 cakes of wax 7 0
100 silk cords 6 5
1 perforator 5
3 packing cases lined with tin 3 0
122 10
By cash 21st March £42.
Settled by cheque for balance 6th July, 1864.
JOSEPH S. WYON.
[Enclosure.]
DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE GREAT SEAL OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.
FOR MAKING IMPRESSIONS IN WAX-LIKE PATTERN.
Turn up the bottom of the parchment document, and perforate it with the instrument sent for that purpose, in three places, as in pattern. Pass a silk cord through the holes in the parchment, and then through the holes at the bottom of a brass box. Unscrew the handle from the seal, and slightly grease the face and side of the seal with a little sweet oil on cotton wool. Put a cake of wax in nearly boiling water. At the same time make the seal warm, but not more so than will allow it to be held in the hand. When the wax has become very soft, which it will be after it has been in the water about two or three minutes, take it out, and after very quickly laying it in a soft clean cloth to dry off the water, put it into the brass box on the top of the cord, and then put the seal on the wax, taking care to let the top be toward the document, and place the whole in the press quickly, holding it tightly squeezed for half a minute or a minute. The whole operation must be done with great rapidity after the wax is taken out of the water, to prevent the wax getting too hard to take a good impression.
continued
Bringing the