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

The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decora-
tions of Honour of all Nations. With thus ira-
tions. Edited by Sir Bernard Burke. Hurst
and Blackett.
This valuable and attractive work may claim
the merit of being the best of its kind. Other
books have doubtless been published on the
same subject, but the present is so comprehensive
in its character, and so elegant in its style that it
far outstrips all competitors. It is observed in the
preface, that the desire to possess honorary distinc-
tions has shown itself in the most remote times,
and has been manifested by the moat dissimilar
peoples. In some of the continental nations, and
also in the Scandinavian countries, orders and deco-
rations are numerous, and eagerly sought after.
Among ourselves they are fewer and more
epariugly distributed, medals being only be-
stowed for distinguished military or naval
services. Within the last few years, however,
tire number of orders open to our country-
men has been greatly increased by circumstances,
and, con,iequently, the general interest taken in
ioreign decorations is proportionately heightened.
A full historical account of the orders of every
country is given, with lists of the Knights acid
Companions of each British Order. Among the
most attractive features of the work are the
illustrations. Th,,y are numerous and beauti-
ful, highly coloured, and giving an exact
representation of the different decorations. The
origin of each order, the rul, s and regulations,
and the duties incumbent on its memiiers, are all
given at full length. The book is arranged alpha-
betically, which greatly facilitates retell-nee, ex-
tending from Auhidt to Wuriemi-erg. Tiie fact of
the work being under the supei vision 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 interesting manner in which the volume is
compiled :--
"Neither the time when the Order of the Garter was
founded, nor the cause of its foundation, can any longer
be traced with precision ; and, in the absence of all ate•
theistic 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 ,o-called copies of them bear internal
marks of having been compiled at a much later period.
The Register, usually known as the Black Boot:, though
treating of the Order from its foundation, was tea 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 precision and regularity.
" Selden fixes, as the foundation of the Garter, St.
George's Day, in the 18th 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 once before our eyes :—" At ton'
time there came into the mind and will of King Edward
that he would cause to be made and re-erected the Great
Castle of Windsor, which King Arthur had fertnerly
made and founded, where first was begun and esta-
blished the noble Round Table,' of which were so
many good and valiant men and Knights, who went
forth and toiled in arms and in prowess throughout the
world. And that the same King would make an Order
of Knishts of himself and his children, and of the bravest
of his land, and that they should be called the Knights
of the Blue Garter, and that the feast should be kept
from year to year, and should be solemnised at Windsor,
the day of Si George.' Froissart proceeds to narrate
how the King assembled from all his countries, Earls,
Barons, anti Knights, and how he carried out his royal
intentions, but our space prohibits our extracting the
graphic details.
" But even with all these data, there is still a mystery
hanging over the subject, which it is in vain to think of
solving in the present day ; and there is hardly less
doubt with respect to the principal ensign, from which
the Order has received its name. The popular tradition,
derived from Fulydore Virgil, is that having a teatival
at Court a lady chanced to drop her garter, when it was
picked up by the King. Observing that the incident
made the bye-etanders smile significantly, Edward ex-
claimed in a tune of rebuke Honi suit qui mal y
pense ;' Dishonoured be he who thinks evil of it; and
to prevent any further inuendos, he tied the Garter
round nis own knee. This anecdote, it is true, has been
characterised by some as an improbable fable : way, 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 united with sentiments of gallantry, and, to wear
a lady's favour, her glove, her riboon, or any thing
which belonged to her, was in those days a common
practice, and this token or Emprize was regarded with
feelings of which we can have nu idea.
" Camden assigns for the period of the foundation of
the Order, the battle of Cr. cy, at which, says that great
antiquary, Edward ordered hiss Gar er to be displayed ae
a signal fur the onset. Be the origin of the institution,
however, what it may, no Order in Europe is so ancient,
none so illustrious, for it exceeds in majesty, honour,
and fame all chivalrous fraternities in the world.'
• The original statutes of this most noble institution
have undergone continuous changes ; suffice it to add
that by a statute 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 way be elected, always except.
ing the 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
Sovereigns and extra Knights, the latter of whom have,
however, always become part of the twenty-five Com-
panies, on the occurrence of vacancies."

Naples and King Ferdinand. By Elizabeth Daw-

barn.

L. Booth.

As public attention has lately baen directed to
the Neapolitan shores, and as much sympathy has
beau felt and expressed fur that unfortueate people,
the autnozess of this little work thought that a
brief and succinct record of the chief events in their
history would be found useful by the generality of
readers. She has compiled an interesting and
pleasing volume; narrating the principal incidents
in the history of Naples and Sicily, including the
fearful calamities which have at different epochs
desolated that lovely country, arising from the
convulsions of nature and the tyranny of man. It
is an agreeable book, and likely to be attractive to
a large number of readers, from the simplicity of
its style and the interest of the occurrences it
chronicles.

The Education of the People. By J. A. St. John,
author of Isis, &c. Chapman and Hall.
Mr. St. John has given us in this volume his
opinions on a great and vital subject. Though
nut suggesting anything new or striking, the work
will repay perusal and perhaps offer to the reader
some subjects for thought and speculation. It is
dedicated to Sir Jobn Pakingtun, one of the chief
1310[11°0ra of this desirable object. As a summary
of wuat has been said and done on the ques ion,
the work will be useful; and it will at least furnish
an hour's agreeable rending to those who may not
Le startled by its originality or impressed by the
profundity of its wisdom.