8

HISTORY OF THE

[ANNO 1783.

Though that Warrant had no other legal effect than to authorize LettersPatent to be issued, under the Great Seal of Ireland (by which instrument onlycould the Order be properly created), and though all the preliminary measuresare said to have been taken, and it was stated in the Loildon Gazette, that thePatent had actually “ passed” in the usual manner, there are strong reasons forbelieving that no Letters Patent have ever been executed. None at least canbe found; nor are they recorded on the Rolls of Chancery, either of Englandor Ireland.

On the 28th of February in the same year, The Statutes of the Order weresigned by the Sovereign ;

‘ GEORGE R.

‘ George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and‘ Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these presents shallc come, greeting. Whereas we have thought fit for the dignity and honour of‘ Our realm of Ireland to ordain, establish, create, and found a Company of six-‘ teen noble and worthy Knights for to be of the Most Illustrious Order of‘ Saint Patrick ; and, whereas for the honourable continuance, augmentation,‘ and maintenance of the same, it is fitting that Statutes and Ordinances should‘ be observed and kept by the Common Brethren, Knights, and Companions of‘ the said Most Illustrious Order; Know ye therefore, that We the most High,‘ most Excellent, and most Puissant Prince George the Third, by the Grace‘ of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith,

* and so forth, and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick,

‘ for the right singular love and entire affection which We bear to the said‘ Most Illustrious Order, and for the honourable continuance and increasing of‘ the same, do make, ordain, constitute and declare the Statutes and Ordinances< which shall be from henceforth observed, kept, and ensued by the Sovereign‘ and the Knights Companions of the said Most Illustrious Order in manner‘ and form following:

I. ‘ It is ordained and accorded, that the King, his Heirs, and Successors,

‘ shall be for evermore Sovereigns of the said most Illustrious Order of Saint‘ Patrick, to the whieh Sovereign, and to his Heirs and Successors, shall‘ appertain the declaration, solution, determination, interpretation, reformation,

‘ and disposition of all causes concerning and touching any thing of obscurity or‘ doubt contained in the Statutes of the said Most Illustrious Order.