vi i r

PREFACE.

account of the Fees; and, in the instance of the Order of theGarter, of the Grand Feast; of the “ Alms or Poor Knights,”or as they are now called, the “ Military Knights of Windsorand particularly, of the Ladies of the Order, styled “ Ladiesof the Fraternity of Saint George and of the Garter;” of theOfficers; of the Stall Plates of the Knights; of the Degra-dation of a Knight; and of the Honours paid to deceasedCompanions.

These statements are followed by Remarks on the variouschanges in the Orders, the anomalies which now prevail inthem, the inconsistency of the Statutes with their present con-dition, and the number of Knights that have belonged to them,classed according to their rank. For the freedom with whichthe imperfections in the several Orders have been pointed out,and suggestions submitted for their improvement, it is hopedthat no apology is necessary; more especially as the mostimportant defect in the constitution of one of the principalOrders, formed the subject of a Message from the Crown toParliament in the year 1834; though the judicious measuresthen proposed, yet remain to be accomplished.

To the History of each Order there is an Appendix, whichcontains such Notes and Illustrations as were too long forinsertion with the text, or such facts as have been ascer-tained, or have happened since it was printed, followed by afull Chronological List of all the Members and Officers, fromits foundation to the present day, containing their Names andsuperior Titles, the date of their Election or Nomination,Investiture, Installation, and Death.