The picture of the Galt family armorial bearings is taken from Ontarian Families by Edward Marion Chadwick, published in 1898. The moto semper paratus means “always ready”.
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| Galt Family Crest |
The arms could be seen as a visual description of Galt’s life. The sailing ship could represent Captain Galt (John Galt’s father) a shipmaster who undertook many voyages to the West Indies. It could also refer to Galt’s own travels, both to the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic to NorthAmerica. The book between two thistles obviously represents Galt’s writing career and his pride in the land of his birth. The archer could represent Galt’s chosen motto “ettle” to which he gives the meaning – aim.
In John Galt’s time, having a personal seal was considered
very important, especially for those who corresponded frequently – the seal
would be pressed into hot wax which sealed the package of correspondence. The seal was often in the form of a finger ring.
Galt writes about his seal in Literary Life (Vol I) –
“I was then getting a new seal with armorial bearings, and I wrote to one of my companions that I had an intention of taking for my motto, “I will myself” or “Hope and Try”. The former I thought rather arrogant, and took the latter.”
In a letter to his cousin in Ayrshire, Galt’s brother Thomas writes -
“I look for something better where I am going – it is not improbable however that I may be disappointed, but you know our Motto – “Hope and Try”.
(This can be found in a letter in John Galt and the Lizars Collection, University of Guelph Library, on the website Electric Canadian.)
John Galt explains that he needed such a device for the side of his small carriage or cariole –
“But on the panel of a cariole, which I
bought at Quebec, conceiving I had attained something, I changed it then to
“ettle” (aim)."
Ettle is a Scottish word which suits Galt admirable. As well as aim, it can also mean – intend, plan, design, attempt or venture. This describes especially the plans and ideas Galt had for a variety of business ventures. He was originally going to give the hero of his novel Eben Erskine the surname Ettle as he explains in Literary Life (Vol I) –
“My original intention was to call the book Eben Ettle, and the early sheets were so printed; but at the request of the published, I changed the name. I thought this was something out of his line to meddle with, especially as Ettle was as good as any other name.”
Galt uses the word frequently in his work as this example from The Provost shows. Provost Pawkie describes a friend and neighbour –
“Mr Kilsyth, an ettling man, who had been wonderful prosperous in the spirit line …”.
Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, John Galt's youngest son, was knighted in 1869 and his middle son, Sir Thomas Galt was knighted in 1888. Read more about Sir Thomas Galt here.
