Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/270

124 well of his country by his diplomatic skill, or when a Majorgeneral was acting as an independent commander.

The Cross of: Commander (first class) is usually not presented to any civilian, or any military individual below the rank of Major-general.

The Cross of Commander (second class), as also the next below it, are bound to no rank whatever.

The presentation of the Order to meritorious subjects of Hanover, usually begins with the lowest, the fourth class, and ends with the first. The Cross of the fourth class is worn by the King himself, as also by the royal Princes.

The badge consists (Plate 36, Tab II.), for the Grand Cross, of a star (No. 1) and a cross, worn by a light blue watered ribbon, four inches wide, across the right shoulder, like a scarf.

The decoration of the Commanders (first class), consists of a similar but smaller cross. It is worn upon the breast, below the neck-tie, saltire-ways, suspended by a broad ribbon (two and a half inches wide), fastened behind, and at the side of it is worn, upon the left side of the coat, a similar cross embroidered in silver, in the form of a star, but without the crown above it (No. 2).

The Commanders (second class), wear a like cross, saltireways, but not as a star upon the left side.

The Knights wear the cross, rather small, at the buttonhole, suspended by a ribbon about an inch wide, which runs through a ring; the latter is fastened above the crown by the imperial globe.

The badge of the fourth class is a silver cross with the royal initial in it, and is worn in the same manner as the former.

The medal is worn at the button-hole, suspended by a similar ribbon.

The Order is both civil and military, and the difference