The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-19 00:00:00

THE ORDER OF THE BATH.

At the late investment of Knights of the Bath
which took place in the Crimea, a discourse was
pronounced on the history and nature of the
Order. The substance of the address we have not
learnt, but feel sure that it made no allusion to a
subject which may have been in the thoughts of
more than one who received the honours of a
grateful country in that impressive ceremony. We
publish a list of fees payable on the nomination of
a Knight Grand Cross, the emoluments of the offi-
cials on the appointment to the two lower ranks
being of course proportional. It appears that an
officer on being admitted by the. Sovereign to the
highest class of our military Order' of the Bath is
mulcted in the sum of 1641. 13s. 4d. This amount
is divided with great appearance of impartiality be-
tryeen seven officials. The Dean of the Order finds
his benediction rated at 221. Gs. Bd., which we should
probably be inclined to deem sufficient, but for the
fact that the Gentleman Usher receives precisely the
same sum, while the Messenger is recompensed
with 18/. 13s. 4d., or not 41. less. Bath King of
Arms and the Secretary are, however, the
indivi-
duals who receive the most substantial proofs of
the value which our distinguished warriors are ex-
pected to place on their hard-earned honours. We
have first Bath King of Arms, 221., and then Bath
King of Arms "for book of the statutes"
61.135. 4d. The Secretary also is recompensed with
this double sum, the latter being for "notice of
election." The larger amount seems in each case
due to the recipient absolutely from the mere fa:ct
of his existence ; at least, that is the conclusion
to be derived from seeing that for what he does ho
makes an extra charge.
We feel that this is one of the abuses of a former
age, and survives only through the unwillingness
of thosel who attain distinction to object ungrace-
fully to customary payments, or to expose the
organisation of the Order to which they have just
been admitted. It is for the Government, or, in
its default, the public at large, to interfere and
put an end to exactions which dim the brightness
of the honour conferred, if they do not even lesson
the eagerness to obtain it. Within a few days the
nomination of several new recipients of this distinc-
tion will probably take place. How they have
earned the dignity the nation is well aware. The
toils and dangers of a twelvemonth, the courage
and devotion which won eventual success, the
anxiety of friends, the actual loss of limb or health,
will, in more.than one case, be rewarded by this
mark of the Royal favour and esteem. The only
Order which in this country is the recompence of
merit awaits the worn and weary officers whom
battle, disease, and hardship have spared to return
to their country, or perhaps only to commence new
exertions on fresh and equally fatal fields. Are
such men to be called upon to fee genealogists and
gentlemen ushers ? Their deeds may well stand
them in stead of a pedigree; the fame they have
achieved is a sufficient introduction to their Sove-
reign. Whatever may be the worldly resources of
these brave men, it is equally unworthy of the na-
tion and the statutes of the Order to exact such
payments. We wish to make no reflection on the
officials who receive these customary gratifications.
Although all the fees are excessive, and some ludi-
crous, these persons have, no doubt, accepted their
offices in the belief that the emoluments would be
permanent, and may possibly have given considera-
tion for the appointment, either directly or by
abandoning other pests. Whether the pay-
ments should bo discontinued with .or with-
out compensation, or whether they should
continue at the national expense, are mat-
ters which a proper inquiry would easily
decide ; but one thing is clear—that all feelings of
justice, honour, and delicacy forbid the extortion
of such sums from the officers nominated. If the
duties be necessary, it is for the public to see that
they are properly rewarded ; if useless, or actually
not performed, let the matter be dealt with after
the precedent of other sinecures. The much larger
fees paid by the noble and wealthy Knights of the
Garter are, we believe, always dispensed with by
Royal command when a foreign Sovereign is ad-
mitted. It would seem that where a Power can
dispense it can also annul ; but, should Parlia-
mentary sanction be necessary to the full settle-
ment of the various claims, we trust that in the
case of the Crimean heroes the Crown will use that
right of special interference which is found neces-
sary to preserve the dignity of the country in the
eyes of foreign potentates and their followers.
The question of a more extended Order, the
honours of which shall be attainable by younger
men, and not be withheld from bravery in any
rank, is one which has received some attention,
and on which opinions are divided. The Legion
of Honour, recalling memories of a heroic name
and epoch, excites the emulation of every rank of
the French army. Its cross is worn with a just
pride by the General in his council of war and
by the corporal who is toiling in the trenches. It
is conferred by the Commander-in-Chief almost on
the field of battle, and it is not an exaggeration
to say that a feeling of fellowship unites
all those who have gained it in war. Though
perhaps widely and unworthily conferred in
a past reign among the supporters of a Minister
and a system, its popularity with the army has
never waned, since with the soldier it has always
been the reward of real services. A medal is too
general and two dependent on accident to give
equal gratification to the wearer and those whose
happiness it is to be proud of him. A fourth class
of the Bath, or'a new Order which should date from
the era of a great achievement and the reign of a
respected Sovereign, might well give public -testi-
mony to the courage which now is only known to
comrades. An objection to such a scheme must be
based on some supposed inherentdifference between
the soldiers of the two, allied nations, who, as far
as can be judged, are animated- by equal courage,
devotion, and sense of honour, or it must proceed
merely from a dislike of rendering distinctions too
widely ocatterod, though, if bestowed with care