Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/474

Rh the neck, suspended by a black watered ribbon with a narrow siver stripe near the borders.

In 1813, an ornament for special and distinguished merit was added to the decorations, in the form of three golden oak leaves.

In 1819, the Order counted two thousand four hundred and sixty members.

By decree of the 31st May, 1840, the Order of Merit was again extended to civil merit, viz. to the arts and sciences, for which, however, a new class was created. The number of that new class was limited to thirty members of German extraction. The decoration remained unaltered, with the exception of the form of the middle (Tab. II. No. 9), which contains in its round golden centre, the Prussian eagle, and in the ring round it two reversed 'F. II.' four times repeated. The motto of the Order in golden letters is seen in the blue enamelled circle which encompasses the whole, and connects the crown with the initials. It is worn as usual round the neck, by the same ribbon as the above for the military. Distinguished foreigners may become honorary members of the Order. The days fixed for nomination are the accession to the throne, or the birthday of the reigning monarch, or the anniversary of the death of Frederick II.

The following members of European celebrity, were nominated at the first foundation of the new cross:

1. Germans.

a. Literary and scientific men: W. Bessel, F. Bopp, L. von Buch, F. Diffenbach, F. Enke, F. Gauss, J. Grimm, A. von Humboldt, F. Jacobi, Prince Clemens Metternich Winneburg, E. Mitscherlich, J. Miller, C. Ritter, F. Riickert, C. von Savigny, J. von Schelling, W. von Schlegel, L. Schénlein, L. Tieck.

b. Artists: P. von Cornelius, F. Lessing. F. Mendelsohn