Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/456

 PRUSSIA.

In 1810, a new system was introduced in Prussia, with regard to Orders and Decorations.

They are now divided into two heads: civil and military. To the first belong: the Orders of the Black and Red Eagles, first, second, and third classes; as also the gold and silver Medals of Merit, worn suspended by the ribbon of the Red Eagle decoration.

The Cross of the first class of the Red Eagle is now in so far altered, that it has neither points nor gold mountings. It is white enamelled, and bears, in the round middle of the obverse, the Red Eagle, and of the reverse the initials: '.F.W.'

The second class, which has been introduced since 1810, has the same cross but a little smaller, and is, moreover, worn round the neck by a narrow ribbon of the same colour as that of the first class.

The new third class suspends the same cross at the buttonhole, but neither of the new classes are accompanied by a star on the breast.

The general Medal of Merit, both the gold and silver, is worn at the button-hole suspended by the same ribbon as the former, which is white watered with an orange stripe at each border.