Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/571

260 and the present times, have incontestably shown, that rewards of Merit, when impartially granted, lead to emulation, and, thereby, to the rapid promotion of the glory and welfare of states, by imparting to all talents and capacities, a precise direction towards all and everything that is useful, grand, and beautiful.

"Our predecessor, King Victor Emanuel, of glorious memory, founded, in 1815, the Order of Savoy, to reward brilliant military merit, by honourable distinction. We are of opinion, that it behoves us to imitate his example, and complete his work, by bestowing another decoration on those of our subjects who have chosen a different, but not less useful, career in life, than the military, and have become the ornaments of our country, to which they have rendered important services by long study, and great efforts of mind. Our attention has particularly been drawn to those who have devoted themselves to education, and produced great results, on which we place the more value, as we are convinced that the well-being of individuals, of families, and of the whole nation, depends chiefly on the good education of youth.

"Our intention is, therefore, that the rewards which we have resolved to institute for Civil Merit, should be granted only, after a strict and careful examination of the claims thereto, for which purpose we have entrusted the task to those who are mostly interested in the preservation of our institutions. The decoration, we are sure, will the more command respect, the more it is confined exclusively to individuals of known merit, and unsullied name, in principle and practical life; as, also, to those who are attached to our person, and devoted to our laws. We therefore decree that:

"1. In founding for ever the Civil Order of Savoy, we