GEORGE II.]

HONORARY MEDALS.

15

exergue is thus inscribed, ob. v. trirem. hispan. a. s. callis, combyst. y.

JYLII. MDCCXLII . 4

The last record of the grant of an Honorary Chain or Medal, 5 that hasbeen discovered previous to 1794, is an Order in Council of the 18th September1744, awarding to “ Richard Hornby, master of the Private Ship ‘ Wrightsonand Isabella,’ a gold Medal and Chain of the value of one hundred guineas,<£5 to each of the men, and £3 to each boy, being similar to the rewardsbestowed in the reigns of King William and Queen Mary and of Queen Anneto Private Ships.”

Although the preceding statements present a very unsatisfactory History ofHonorary Medals, they contain all that an extensive inquiry has produced ; andit is only another justification of the remark, so often made, that HistoricalLiterature, and more especially with relation to the Institutions of this Country,has been greatly neglected. As all these cases in which services to the Statewere rewarded with Medals, have been gleaned from a variety of sources, it ishighly probable that many other instances are stated in miscellaneous works,but to which no reference suggests itself.

4 An impression on copper of this Medal is in the possession of Edward Hawkins, Esq. of theBritish Museum.

5 A Medal was struck to commemorate Lord Anson’s victory over the French Fleet in May 1747,the design of which was taken from a large brass coin of Augustus. It contained the head of thateminent Commander crowned with laurel by a figure of Victory, standing on the prow of an antiquegalley, inscribed george lord anson, vict. may iii. mdccxlvii, and on the reverse is Victory stand-ing on a Sea Horse, under the word circumnavigation, surrounded by the names of Saumarez, Saun-ders, Brett, Dennis, Campbell, and Keppel, each within a wreath of laurel; but it does notappear to have been worn as a Decoration. A Medal was also struck after the battle of Culloden, withthe Duke of Cumberland’s head; and on the reverse, the figure of Apollo, and a Dragon pierced withan arrow, inscribed actum est ilicet periit, and on the exergue, pracl, colod. ap. xvi. mdccxlvi.This Medal has a ring, as if it had been worn; but there is no account of its having been conferred asan Honorary Badge.