Ivi

INTRODUCTION.

became essentially a Military Order, one of the rewards ofOfficers who signalized themselves, notwithstanding they mighthave received other honours, was felt, and to a great extentacted upon, on the extension of the Order in 1815, by the GrandCross having then been given to Admirals Viscount Hood,Sir Richard Onslow, Bart., Lord Radstock, Sir Roger Curtis,Bart., and to General Sir Robert Brownrigg, Bart.; and at theCoronation of King George the Fourth, to General Sir HenryJohnson, Bart., Admiral Sir Charles Henry Knowles, Bart.,Generals Lord Harris, Sir Banastre Tarleton, Bart., Sir GeorgeHewett, Bart., and Sir Hildebrand Oakes, Bart. * 4 Althoughthe Order was rendered essentially Military in 1815, it was,nevertheless, permitted to retain so much of its Civil character,as to allow of the nomination of twelve Knights Grand Cross,(being one sixth part of the whole), “ in consideration ofeminent services rendered to the State by British Subjects, inCivil and Diplomatic employmentsbut the number of twelvehas always been exceeded, and there are now twenty-five CivilKnights Grand Cross, being just one fourth of the First Classof the Order.

It is unnecessary to repeat here what has been submittedin the History of the Order of the Bath, 5 on the exclusion ofall other kinds of services or merits from its honours, thanthose for which it is now bestowed; or to comment furtherupon the fact that an Officer may have served with brilliantdistinction, have been present in many battles, and have been

* See some remarks on these appointments in the History of the Order of the Bath,

pp. 133, 151, 152, 263.

5 Ibid. “ General Remarks,” p. 266 et passim.

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