184

HISTORY OF THE

[WILLIAM IV.

William Frederick, the Reigning Landgrave of Hesse Hombourg, was nomi-nated an Honorary Knight Grand Cross, and he was Invested (but being aSovereign Prince, was not Knighted) in Saint George’s Hall in Windsor Castle,on the same day, with similar Ceremonies to those observed at the Investitureof the Prince of Hesse Philippsthal in the preceding year. Immediatelyafter his Investiture, His Serene Highness received a Warrant Dispensing withhis Installation. Among the forty-five Knights Grand Cross who attendedthe Chapter, were their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Cumberland and thePrince of Orange, and His Highness the Prince of Hesse Philippsthal-Barch-field. Her Majesty the Queen, Her Royal Highness the Landgravine of HesseHombourg, His Serene Highness the Reigning Duke of Brunswick, theirRoyal Highnesses Prince William, and Prince Alexander of the Netherlands,Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Charles of Solms, and many Personagesof Distinction, together with the Officers of the Royal Household, were presentat the Ceremony; and in the evening a Dinner of State was given by theSovereign in the Waterloo Chamber, to the Knights Grand Cross, at whichseveral noble and distinguished personages were present, together with theOfficers of the Order. Their Majesties afterwards proceeded to the Drawing-room, where they received a party of Nobility and Gentry. On the 10th ofSeptember 1836, the Knight Commander, Lieutenant-General Sir MatthewWhitworth Aylmer, fourth Lord Aylmer in Ireland, was appointed a KnightGrand Cross. Four Knights Grand Cross died in 1835, namely, Sir ThomasPakenham, in February; the Duke of Gordon, in May; Sir Robert Liston, inJuly; and Lord de Saumarez, in October. One Rear-Admiral and two Major-Generals, all of whom were Companions, were nominated Knights Com-manders (on the 11th of April, 16th of September, and 21st of December);but no Companion was appointed in 1836.

On the 6th of February 1837, the Knight Commander, Lieutenant-GeneralSir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Baronet, a Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Guelphs, was appointed a Knight Grand Cross, instead of the Earlof Rossyln, who died in January, but whose decease was not intended to makea vacancy. 2 On the 24th of the same month, Admiral Sir Lawrence WilliamHalsted, a Knight Commander, was promoted to be a Knight Grand Cross,instead of Lord de Saumarez; and on the 17th of March, Lord Aylmer and

2 Vide p. 151, antea.