Page:The Indian Biographical Dictionary.djvu/591

TERMS RELATING TO RANKS AND TITLES beyond the year 1725. The close of the war led to a re-modelling of its constitution in 1815, and the long continuance of peace produced an analogous result in 1847. The new statutes published in the latter year introduced the means of extensively rewarding civil services, and, by abolishing a mass of absurd or conflicting ordinances, reduced the whole to a consistent and rational institution. It contains three classes, viz. Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commander, and Companions. The latter are not entitled to the prefix of “Sir”, but the two former always receive the accolade. These three classes are each sub-divided into three minor divisions, viz. Military, Civil and Honorary. Services in the navy or army are rewarded by the first of these minor divisions; services in diplomacy, on the bench, in high official stations. &c, are acknowledged by the second; services rendered by foreign princes or officers are rewarded by the third.

Lords Spiritual. — The Bishops collectively in their legislative capacities are called Lords Spiritual, as the other members of the House of Peers are called Lords Temporal.

Marquess. — This title was unknown in England till Richard II. created a Marquess of Dublin. It is said to derive its origin from the word Marchio, Lord Marcher, whose duty it was to guard the Welsh and Scottish frontiers, which were called Marches. Till of late years it occurred very sparingly in the lists of Peers and even at present it furnishes the smallest number of any rank in the nobility.

Order of St Michael and St George. — This Order was established by letters patent in 1818, and enlarged in 1832 and 1839 for the purpose of affording an appropriate medium by which marks of royal favour might be conferred upon the natives of Malta and the Ionian Islands, as well as upon British subjects whose services may be connected with these dependencies of the Crown. It consists of three classes — Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commander, and Companions (substituted for Cavalieri in 1851). In 1809 the Queen was pleased to sanction such a modification of the statutes of this order, and such an enlargement of its numbers as to render it available as a reward for distinguished merit or service in any of the colonial possessions of the Empire. In 1879 and 1887 this Order of Knighthood was still further enlarged and new statutes issued, and the number of members is now not to exceed 100 G.C.M.G., 300 K.C.M.G.. and 600 C.M.G., inclusive of those xlv