FEES.]

ORDER OF THE BATH.

225

Appointments have always been, in fact, small sinecures. When, however, theOrder was made the reward of Military Service, the propriety of relieving theKnights from a part, at least, of their pecuniary obligations, became obvious,and the Salaries of the Officers were thenceforward paid by the Crown. Twoof the Offices were soon after consolidated; and, like most of the other situationsin the Order, they have generally been given to individuals, as mere acts offavour. The occupants have, nevertheless, a legal title to the emolumentsguaranteed to them by their Letters Patent, as well as by the Statutes of theOrder; and there would be as much injustice in depriving them of one shillingof those emoluments, without compensation, as in depriving any other person,holding a Patent Office,' of his rights. But the undoubted fact, that the presentsystem is bad, that so numerous a corps of Officers is unnecessary, and thatother qualifications than political, or personal influence with the Government,should be required in the individuals appointed, does not affect the right of thepresent Officers to compensation, for any loss they might sustain from a change.This was felt by Mr. Secretary Stanley, who, though fully impressed with thenecessity of altering the system, and with the propriety of reducing the numberof Officers, justly made compensation the principle of his measures. Though theHouse of Commons agreed to his proposition, it did not seem to have been per-fectly convinced of the propriety of compensating persons for the loss of Salariesfor which little service had been performed; nor did it manifest much sympathyfor the privation of Fees, which never ought to have been imposed.

The Letters Patent, by which the Order was created, state, that “ to the endthat the respective Fees to be paid to the several Officers of the Order of theBath, by such persons as shall be nominated unto, and accept the Honour of aCompanion of the said Order, may be certain and fixed; all such Fees shall beespecially and particularly ascertained and established in and by the Statutes,to be given and ordained to and for the said Order, under the Seal herebyappointed for the said Order, and shall be of the like force and effect, as if thesame had been particularly expressed and set forth in these Our Letters Patent .” 7

By the eighteenth Article of the Statutes, it is provided that there shall beseven Officers of the Order, a Dean, a Genealogist, a King of Arms, a Registrar,a Secretary, a Gentleman Usher, and a Messenger ; 8 and “ that these Officersmay in some degree be supported,” it is directed and enjoined, that “ every

7 Vide p. 41, antea.

8 Vide p. 63, antea.

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