The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-01 00:00:00

'AYS.

ITERATURE.

The Book of Orders of Knighthood and. Decora-
tions of Honour of all _Nations. With Illustra-
tions. Edited by Sir Bernard Burke. Hurst
and Blacktttt.
This valuable and attractive work may claim
the merit of being the best of its kind. Other
books have doubtless been published on the
saute subject, but the present is so comprehensive
in its eiteracter, and so elegant in its style that it
far outstrips all competitors. It is observed in the
preface, th.t the desire to possess honorary distinc-
twos has shown itself in the most remote times,
and has been manifested by the most dissimilar
pei 'pies. In some of the continental nations, and
also inthe Scandinavian comities, orders and deco-
rations are numerous, and eagerly sought after.
Among ourselves they are fewer and more
sparingly distributed, medals being only be-
„owe(' for distinguished military or naval
services. Within the last few years, however,
tie number of orders open to our country-
men has been greatly increased by circumstances,
and, con-equently, the general interest taken in
or elect deco, ati ins is proportionately heightened.
A full historical account of the orders of every
country is given, with lists of the Knights and
Companions of each British Order. • Among the
most atti active features of the work are the
illustrations. They are numerous and beauti-
ful, highly coloured, and giving an exact
represent &en of the different decorations. The
origin of each order, the rules and regulations,
and the duties incumbent on its members, are all
given at full length. The book is arranged alpha-
betically, which greatly facilitates reference, ex-
tending from Anhalt to Wurtemterg. The fact of
the work being under the supervision of Sir
Bernard Burke, and endorsed by his authority,
gives it another recommendation to the public
favour.
The following account of the institution of
the Order of the Garter gives a specimen of
the intrtsting manner in which the volume is
compiled :
"Neictier tne time when the Order of the Garter was
fountied, nor the cause of its foundation, can any longer
be traced with precision; and, in the absence of all au-
ttietaic records, fable and tradition have been called in
to supply their place. The public muniments afford us
no light on this remote topic, and the annals of the
Order itself are, for nearly two centuries, exceedingly
imperfect. The Statutes of Edward 111. have perished
long ago, and the -0-called copies of them bear internal
wanks of having been compiled at a much later period.
Tee ft-gister, usually known as the Black Book, though
treating of the Order from its foundation, was not drawn
up in its present form till near the end of Henry the
Eighth's reign, when its history begins, for the first
time, to assume preci ion and regularity.
" Selden fixes, as the foundation of the Garter, Bt.
George's Day, in the Huh year of King Edward 111.
and this statement is corroborated by Froissart. The
account given by the old chronicler is, as is usual with
him, so naive and so vivid that, like a painting, it brings
the whole scene et ,nee Oetore our eyes :—" At this
tune there came into the mind and will of King Edward
toat he won d cause to be made and re-erected the Great
Castle of Windsor, which King Arthur had formerly
wale and Lunded, where first was begun and esta-
uliehed the noble Round Table,' of which were so
many good and valiant men and Knights, who went
forth and toned in arms and in prowess throughout the
wor:d. And that the same King would make an Order
of Kul ;hts of filmsett and his children, and of the bravest
of his land, and that they should ne called the Knights
f the Blue Gurter, and that the feast should be kept
l'oin ) ear to year anti should be solemnised at Windsor,
the day of S. George.' Froissart proceeds to narrate
how the liind.assetunled fruhn all his countries, Earls,
Barons, ant Knights, and how he carried out his royal
intentams, but our space prohibits our extracting the
graphic details.
" But even with all these data, there is still a mystery
hanging Over the sunj,...c•, which it is in vain to think of
solving in the present day ; and there is hardly less
doubt with respect t the principal ensign, from which
tqe Order has received its name. The popular tradition,
derived from Polydore Virgil, is that having a festival
at Court a lady chanced to drop her garter, when it was
ptcaed up by the King. Observing that the incident
wade the bye-stauders smile significantly, Edward ex-
claimed in a tone of rebuke :-4 Honi soil qui mal y
peruse ;' Dishonourej be he who thinks evil of it ; and
to areveu any farther inuendus, he tied the Garter
round rite wn knee. This anecdote, it is true, has been
characterised by some as an improbable fable : why, we
know not. It is strictly in accordance with the romantic
habits of an age, when devotion to woman was one of
the first duties of Knighthood. A garter has always
been unites with sentiments of gallantry, and, to wear
a ialy's favour, her glove, her ribbon, or any thing
which belonged to her, was in those days a common
orncLice, and this token or Emprize was regarded with
fselliNs of which we can have no idea.
" Canden assigns for the period of the foundation of
the Order, the battle of CrLcy, at which, says that great
anLiquat y, Edward ordered his Garter to be displayed at
a signal fur the onset. Be the origin of the institution,
however, what it may, no Order in Europe is so ancient,
,;one so illustrious, fur it exceeds in majesty, honour,
and tame au chivalrous fraternities in the world.'
• The original statutes of this most noble institution
have uod-rgoue continuuus changes ; suffice it to add
tnat by a is,atute passed on the 17th January, 1805, the
Order is to consist of the Sovereign and twenty-five
Knights Companions, together with such lineal descend-
ants of George 111., as may be elected, always except-
ing tne Prince of Wales, who is a constituent part of
the original institution. Special statutes have since, at
different times, been proclaimed for the admission of
Saverangns and extra Knights, the latter of whom have,
however, always oecome part of the twenty-five Com-
panies, on toe occurrent, of vacancies."

Naples and King Ferdinand. By Elizabeth Daw-

barn. L. Booth.
As public att-nti,in has lately been directed to
the N apolitan shores, and as much sympathy has
bash telt and i-xpre.sed f. .r that unfortunate people,
the autuoiess of this hale work thought that a
brief and succinct record of the chief events in their
history would no found useful by the generality of
leaders. She has compiled an interesting and
pleasing volume, narrating the principal incidents
in tilt!: his.oiy of Naples and Sicily, including the
.cala.nities which have at different epochs
desol.te,i that lovely country, arising front the
convulsions of nature and the tyranny of man. It
is au agu,e.tble book, and likely to be attractive to
a la.rg, number of readers, from the simplicity of
its style and the interest of the occurrences it
c i ontclue.

The Education of the People. By J. A. St. John,
au,ho: of Isis, dm. Chapwau and Hall.
Mr. S. Jona has given u.s in this volume his
opintons on a gre-at and vital subject. Though
ntt suggesting, anything new or striking, the work
wilt rep:-,y perusal and perhaps offer to the reader
some subjects for thought and speculation. It is
dedicated io iii Jwiu Pakiugton, one of the chief
pi outoters of tnis desiraule object. As a summary
of w;kat has I,edu aaiti and done on the question,
the k will be useful; and it will at least furnish
an'hour's ageeea.)le re tiling to those who may not
ho st titled oy its oii4inality or impressed by the
profundity of its wisdom.