Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/207

Rh The college of the Legion possesses in rentes and shares in the canals of Orleans, Loing and the South, a revenue of 7,103,098 francs, of which sum about 5,829,000 francs are annually spent in the pay of the Legionaries, and in pensions (of 250 francs each) to the sub-officers and soldiers.

Napoleon I. established, at St. Denis and Ecouen, two boarding-schools for six hundred young girls, daughters, sisters, nieces and cousins of the Legionaries, two hundred of whom were educated at the expense of their families, three hundred as half boarders, and one hundred entirely free. Six other establishments for the female orphans of the Legionaries were founded in 1810, while the male orphans were received at the military schools and college. The Restoration only retained the boarding-school of St. Denis, reducing the number to five hundred pupils, four hundred of whom, including the daughters of the members of all Orders in the kingdom, were to enjoy free board and education. The orphan institutions were reduced to two, receiving two hundred pupils free, and being managed by the nuns of the 'Congregation of the Blessed Virgin.' By the law, 19th April, 1832, the decorated of the Hundred Days were admitted to a pension of 250 francs each. On the 16th June, 1837, a new military class was admitted to the decoration of the 'Cross,' together with a pension. In 1845, the Legionaries since 1814, as also the Knights who underwent amputation in consequence of wounds, were ordered to receive 100 francs for life in addition to their regular pay, while to the sub-officers and privates who were in active service at that period, and who, by decree, of the 27th February, 1815, were received into the Legion, was granted a sum of 250 francs each.

From 1831 to 1841, not less than four thousand one hundred and twelve sub-officers and soldiers received the 'Cross,' while on the 30th November, 1845, about fifty thousand two hundred and twenty-seven persons were in possession