from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
SEALING OF A VERDICT, practice. The putting a verdict in writing, and
placing it in an envelop, which is sealed. To relieve jurors after they have
agreed, it is not unusual for the counsel to agree that the jury shall seal
their verdict, and then separate. When the court is again in session, the
jury come in and give their verdict, in all respects as if it had not been
sealed, and a juror may dissent from it, if since the sealing, he has
honestly changed his mind. 8 Ham. 405; Gilm. 333; 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3257.