Page:Dod's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage etc. of Great Britain and Ireland.djvu/38

 14 INTRODUCTION . The Scottish Judges. — The Lords of Session. During the last three centuries they have enjoj'ed the stj'le and title of " Lord," with the prefix of " HoNoxniABLE." Cth. The Privy Council. — A considerable proportion of this body are either Peers, Bishops, Baronets, or Knights ; but even such as are not included within these Orders are still men of great eminence in the state, and fill or have filled the highest offices in the public service. Enjoying the prefix of " Pv.ight Honourable," they may be regarded as forming a portion of the titled classes ; and, considering the conspicuous position which they occupy, nothing that relates to them can be indifferent to the public. Details respecting all the Privy Council and inforination as to their cliildren, will therefore be found in this work under their individual heads. The second j^art of the vokime contains similar information as to all living Knights, and widows of deceased Knights, arranged in alphabetical order, and includes the following: — 1st. The Knights of the Bath and of St. Michael and St. George. — In these Orders will be found the ministers who represent British interests at foreign courts, or the officers belonging to both branches of the service, whose acliievements in various quarters of the world have })rocured the approbation of the crown and commanded the gratitude of the country. 2nd. The Knights of the Orders of the Star op India and of the Indian Empire. — In these Orders will be found officers of the Navy and Army who have distinguished themselves in India, and diplomatic and civil servants of the Crown in that part of the British posses- sions, together with native Princes and others who have rendered conspicuous and useful services to the Indian Empire. 3rd. The Knights of the Royal Victorian Order. — In this Order will be found those subjects whose personal services to the Sovereign have been specially recognized. 4th. The Knights Bachelor comprise a large body of eminent lawyers, judges, men of science and of letters, physicians and surgeons, diplomatists, and artists. The notices of this branch of the titled classes, state, with all other particulars, the offices they have held, and the services which each has performed. 5th. Widows of Knights. — Lentil the production of an article under tliis title in 1851, no work of reference existed wWch gave any account of some 200 persons entitled to the prefix of " Ladj%" and being the widows of Knights whose titles are extinct. The third part of the volume contains : — 1st. Dormant Titles and Titles in Abey'Ance or under Attainder, with the possible heirs to or claimants of such titles, and information as to such cases as are now before the House of Lords. 2nd. View of Titular distinctions and Terms relating to Ranks. 3rd. Modes of Addressing Letters. — A series of statements, arranged in alphabetical order, exhibiting the formal mode of addressing letters to every person of title. 4th. The Victoria Cross, the Royal Victorian Chain, the Commanders of the Ro3'al Victorian Order, the Companionage, etc. Of the labour bestowed upon this history of the titled classes, no estimate can be formed by persons imaccustomed to literary toil ; nor probably could the most experienced compilers — otherwise than from actual observation— form an adequate notion of the pains with which its materials have been accumulated and corrected, classified and condensed. To say, as is the case, that it contains the statement of thousands upon thousands of facts, still affords no means of imagining the extent of research and inquiry requisite for such a compilation, or the liability to error necessarily inseparable from so large an acciunulation of minute particulars. While in so many instances there exists a liability to error, it is hoped that the few inaccuracies which may possi bly appear, will not be imputed to haste or negligence ; and that the reader will continue to appreciate an accoxxnt of the titled orders, com- pendious but not defective — forming a volume of convenient size and moderate price, particularly easy of reference, and embracing, without diffuseness, that know- ledge which the public naturally desire to obtain concerning the Aristocracy, and which the higher classes usually possess with respect to each other. OF " Dod's Peerage," 12, Mitre Court Chambers, Temple, London, E.C.
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