Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/235

Rh the auspicious termination of the long and arduous contest in which this empire has been engaged," the Order should be composed of three classes; and, on the 14th April, 1847, it was further extended by the addition of civil knights commanders and companions, on which occasion new Statutes were promulgated for the government of the Order, and the number of members declared as follow, viz:

First Class—to consist of Knights Grand Cross; number not to exceed, for the military service, fifty, exclusive of the Sovereign and Princes of the blood royal, and such distinguished foreigners as may be nominated honorary Knights Grand Cross; and twenty-five for the civil service.

Second Class—Knights Commanders, number not to exceed, for the military service, one hundred and two, and for the civil service fifty, exclusive of foreign officers who may be admitted as honorary Knights Commanders. In the event of actions of signal distinction, or of future wars, the numbers may be increased of this as well as of the third class. The members of the second class are entitled to the distinctive appellation of knighthood, after being invested with the Insignia; to take precedence of Knights Bachelors; to wear the badge, &c., pendent by a red ribbon round the neck, the star embroidered on the left side.

Third Class—Companions of the Order, to consist, for military service of five hundred and twenty-five, and for the civil service of two hundred; they are to take precedence of esquires, but are not entitled to the appellation, style, &c., of knights bachelors. To wear the badge assigned to the third class, pendent by a narrow red ribbon from the button-hole. No officer can be nominated to the military division of the third class of the Order, unless his services have been marked by special mention of his name in the London Gazette, as having distinguished himself in action against the enemy. This class