Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/454

Rh the 17th December following, his Consort to frame the statutes, which were promulgated on the 25th April, 1804.

The badge is a Gold Medal, (Tab. IV. No. 16) of which the obverse contains the figure of St. Isabella of Portugal with the subscription, ' Pauperum solatio.' (Comforter of the poor), and the reverse ' Real Orden do Santa Isabel.' (Royal Order of St. Isabella). On gala and festival days, the decoration is worn suspended by a broad rose coloured ribbon with white stripes in the form of a scarf; but on ordinary occasions, it is fastened at the left side by a bow of a similar but narrower ribbon. The Order is limited 'to twenty six ladies (besides the Princesses of the royal family, and of foreign reigning houses), married, or not younger than twenty-six years.

On St. Isabella's day, the Grand Mistress, accompanied by the members, visit, after Divine Service, the Foundling Hospital, while the Orphan Asylum is inspected by them once every week. The insignia must be returned by the heirs after the decease of a member.

MEDALS AND DECORATIONS OF HONOUR.

1. Cross for the Peninsular War, was instituted by King John VI. on the 26th July, 1816. The war in the Peninsula having consisted of six campaigns, the officers who were present at all of them, wear on the left side of the breast a Roman cross of gold with six laurel branches, and the number six in the middle, suspended by a blue and red ribbon. Those who were present at only some of them, have the same cross of silver. The reverse contains the inscription, ' War of the Peninsula.' On the same day was also instituted the

2. Commander's Cross.—lt consists of as many stars as the