Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/12

vi artizan class of the community, among which skilful workmanship furnishes a claim to such distinction; others of a purely military character are distributed to private soldiers—while civilians may aspire to a recognition of intrepidity in the medal given "for saving from danger." Indeed, Merit in almost every form, is acknowledged and rewarded.

In our own country, orders are few, and are sparingly distributed, and medals only bestowed by the Sovereign for eminent military or naval service; this renders them more prized by their possessors, and more precious in general estimation. An addition has recently been made to the very limited list, in the shape of a decoration for rewarding particular acts of valour; this, however, like the others, belongs exclusively to the Military and Naval services. Civil Merit has been less considered—the Orders of the Bath and the Garter being out of the reach of a very large majority of talented civilians, falling occasionally only to some skilful diplomatist, or influential statesman. A few private Societies to some extent supply the omissions of the State—the Humane Society providing the 'Saving from Danger' medal, and more than one scientific and learned Association, in a like manner, recognising superior intelligence and skill. These are decorations, however, which not being recognized by the Sovereign, are of course not worn at Court.

Within the last few years, the number of such objects of ambition accessible to our countrymen, has been greatly increased from foreign sources, particularly from India, France,