Star.
London, England, 1815-01-12 00:00:00

THE ORDER OP THE BATH.

In order to correct the erronepus ideas which ap-
pear to prevail with regard to the new establishment
of the Order of the Bath, we deem it necessary to
giro the following explanation :

Some permits Ihrsztne, Sit the SAttetti 'nod Crouse me
newly mated, as well as the Knights Commanders. Bat, in
fact, there already existed sixty Knights of the Bath, and twelve
only are now added.

Objecdot.s are raised lo the precedence which is given to the
Knight Commanders before the ordinary Knights of ibis king-,
done—and to the Companions before all other Esquires. But
the declaration of this precedence is a mere form. It will be
found in the old tables of precedency, that all Knights of the
Bath take place (by right) of the Knights Bachelors, as they are
styled ;. and Esquires of the Bath precede all Esquires, except
those " of the King's body."
The objections upon this head most be reduced, therefore, to
the question, bow far it may have been proper to enlarge the
Order of the Bath, and to model it into a military order suffi-
ciently extensive to give distincdoa to past services, and to serve
as an incitement to exertions in future wars, which may emulate
the glorious acklevements we hive lately witnessed ? In the tre•

maidens conflict which is just terminated, the British arms have
been raised to a &grae of glory unknown sinee the days of
MAALsolioUels. We understand the present Institution to have
bad In view the late was only, and to be intended to distinguish
dune Officers who have given their makes services to the State,
dam the rupture of the Peacd of MAIM Whoever looks back
to the *sale power by which this kingdom was menaced in
INS, sad refieste that we then possessed sanely the outline of
a repbr army, meet fad astonished at the devotion and exertions
by whisk so post a theory has been wrought * our military
strength, andwe sway mature to add, in our milkaryreputadon,
In this war, every *slay which our enesslas possessed in both
hemispheres, has yielded to the Bride\ arms. Sicily, scarcely
separated from the amlikerei NAINLIION by the narrow channel
of Messina, has been protected by the English forces during
aloe years. The triumphs which attended our armies in Portu -
gal, is Ilpdo, and finally bs France itself, are too deeply en.
gem* in the hens of Englishmen to require enumeration; but
let k be remembered, that in sorry Sank in which the British
forces contended, through the seven immortal campaigns of the
Spanish smuggle—fa seas Aar an brave armies were victorious.
If Oar fitavy has drawn less of the public attention during the
lest war, k has been beam their former victories bad nearly
swept the sea of every rival. In 1803, Bob/APART; by great
'unions, was able to send out a formidable fleet. One battle.
the immortal day of Trafalgar, annihilated the naval powers Of
France and Spain; and since that day tio general victory bas been
obtained by our fleets, simply because our enemies dared not to I
venture star them.
In the outset of such an instimion as the present, some line
must be laid &We. If the honours of the Order are to be con-
fined a the sward of those services which are supposed to have
umlauted mainly to the pat successes by which the last war
has bees distinguished, no Meer who has not enjoyed the op-
pcmanitiss of rendering signal services since 1803 ought to share
in those honours; nor ought the many brave and meritorious
Olken who hove fought and bled In the wan of the American'
and French Ravoludens to consider themselves as being neglec-
ted. There is a point at which all such institutions must com-
mence; and the best, epoch which Government could determine
upon is undoubtedly that which has been marked by the highest
degree of military glory.
We understand, that in order to avoid the inconvenience and
the kir:teflon, which might have followed au arbitrary mice-

tion et Medi; certain regtdaiistis Nee iata dam previut:s t 4;
1 the liefalbsilodi en that; Mtn** lalgli thy rank, or greet the
intittint of an individeal mltht be, be could belt be eligible. as a
Member of the Order unless hiS services brought him within MS
tales. The Roe adopted by the Admiralty leas not come to our
knowkdge; bet we understand that eighty Naval °dicers were
to be recommended for the dignity of Knights Contmanders by
the Lords Of die Admiralty. One hbndred °filters of the army
were to be nominated for the same honour; the proportion at
these numberi being nearly the same as the proportion which
the General and Reid Officers of the Land Purees bear to the
Flag Mime and Post Captains of the Navy. The regulgione
observed in regard to the Knights Commanders Who were taken
from the army, are understood to have been as forows r
in. Every Officer, not being below the rank of Lieutenant.
Colonel, • who shall have received medals, or outer badges of
distinction, on account of his conspicuous conduct pe ma lett Mem
Ifie e different battles, shall be admitted as a Knight Commander
of the Beth.

Under this first regulation we understand that DO len than
seventy Oaken became entitled at once to the honours of the
second dens. It was next laid down that the thirty Cot:menders
who were to complete the intended number, Amid ail be Cr-
nerd Mims: that no General Officer should be eligible who
had not received at lent one medal nn account et distinguisi.ed
elndoct In action with the enemy ; or have commanded in chief
' a tarp body of troops In a successful action against the enemy ;
or have mortised during two years one of the great military
governments abroad ; or have filled during the same time dts
high &sedan of Adjutant or Quarter4lasfer-General to the

whole Army, or of Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.
We are uot sufficiently lafenned as to the regulations by Which
the Minden' of the Companion of the Order erlll is Malted ;
bit should they come to our kr. ou lodge, we shall lay them be
for the public.

While speaking of the Companions, Wilmer, we most ob.
serve, that several of the public prints have adapted very erro-
neously an idea • that the officers of the third class are to be
" Kazin" as well as the Grand.Crosees and the Commanders.
The fact is, that the Compactions will receive no tkle whatever :
and Ifs Colonel or a Lieutenant Colonel, after being nominated
to this class of the Bath. should walk into a bail-room at a race
or an anise befogs one of the neighbouring Squires, (a fearful
evil, which one of our brother journalists contempletes with a
laudable bettor) it will be no more than what milker, ma of
that rank have been in the habi: of assumlat bentstati ; while
if at any time a Captain or a Subaltern should detleguish
self so very peculiarly as to be considered worthy of receiving
these homers, there would be (we are persuaded) very few
tisk Squires who woull not yield the pas with pleasure to sea
pre eminent merit.

A Gentleman who arrived yesterday from Paris
informs us, that letters had been received from New.
York, by Mr. CRAWFORD, dated the beginning of
December, which mention that Commodore BAIN-
BRIDGE is elected Secretary of the Navy, in the roods►
of Mr. Jonas.

Arrivals at, and departures from, the York Hotel,
Dover

Deecember Wien and suite, to Park.
January I.—Count De Lebasecuque, and Mr. ilsonvis and
servant, from Paris to London._

January John and Lady Murray and suite, Mr. Elgin,
Mr. Davenpiart, and Major Hawker, from Paris to London.
January S—Mr. Shaw, King's ;.lessengrr, Mr. Hyrosque.
Mr. Christle, and Lieutenant PcUy, from Paris to London ; Cap-
tain Roue and suite, and Colonel M'Donald, Coldstream Guards,
to Brussels.
January 40—Captain MiLeod, from London to Brussels; Mr.
A. Sampson, to Paris; Mr. and Mrs. Vanden Haven, from Lon.
dun to Paris.

- January s.—Mr. Collb:s, M. P. and F. Cross, Esq. to Paris.
January 7.—Coinnel sir. H. H. Bradford aiid suite, nod Limb.
oaat-Colopel Boaworthoto Brussels.

Januar).* B.—Mt. Mar-ell and servant, to Mnsterthlll; Mr.
Mansell, front Paris to London • Gnerdl Donkin and arryant. to
London; General Witte's% and Lady and suite, and Major
Foley, irons Paris to London.
January 9.—Mr. ironmonger and servant, to Paris
• The Hon. WINDHAM QUIN has Not less than 700
'trees, three-fourths of which ware full grown timber,
blown down on his ebtate of Adare in Ireland, during
the late hurricane.

The trust, of which we have only had a sl'ght
visit in this neighbourhood, is so intense in Scotland,
that on Thursday a Curling-match took place on the
ice, between the parishes of Mauchline and Tarbol.
ton, in Ayrshire-64 players on each side, which was
gained by the latter 48 shots.
The Duke of Davonstitaa's Park, at Chiswick,
has been robbed of a fine buck, which was killed and
carried off a few nights since, for which offence two
met have been apprehended.
In Ireland, horses which three or four yearsz
brought $6O, may now be easily. procured for
Oats, in the country, are for 7s. a barrel ; and Beef
and Mutton, which a year ago was. 10d. and ls. per
pound in the interior, is now dd. and 4d.
DRURT-LANt THEATRE. —Miff NC/ A LSTEIN repeated
her performance of Lady Teazle last night, with in-
creased effect, and was in many parts warmly and
deservedly applauded. .
The Tragedy of Rickard the Second is to be soon
revived at Drury-lane Theatre, for the purpose of
introducing Mr. BEAN in the unfortunate hero of the
piece.
MATRIMONIAL SALE.—Tuesday se'nnigbt, a man
named John Osborne, who lives at Goudhurst, came
to Maidstone fur the purpose of disposing of his wife
by sale, in the public market place, but it not being
market day, the auction was removed to the sign of
the Coal Barge, in Earl-street, where she was actu-
ally sold to a man named William Serjeant, with her
child, for the sum of one pound :—the business was
transacted in a very regular manner, a deed and
covenant being given by the seller, of which the
following is a literal copy :
“ t, Mho Osborne, &cis agree to part with my wife, Mary
Osborne, mol auk', to Witham Serjeant, for the ~um of one
pound; In consideration of giving up ail claim whatever : where-
unto I have made my mark as an acknowle,lzement.
" Maidstone, Jan. 5, 1813." X.
This document was witnessed in due form, ant the
woman and child turned over to the buyer, t.) :he
apparent satisfaction of all parties; the hvsband ex-
pressing his willingness to take his spouse again at
any future period. We understand that the woman
has left four small children with the man who sold
her.—Maidstone Gazette.
A few days since, as Richard Oliver, fisherman, of
Maidstone, was getting on his horse, near the resi-
dence of the Rev. Dr. FOSTER Ptcorr, Mereworth,
the rail on which he stood to mount giving way under
him, he fell to the ground, and broke his thigh.

TRICE OF S COCA.) 1 HIS DAY A.l' TWELVE O'CLteCK
Reduced 155i11-4 per Ct.B2ll.—S per Ct. Navy 941 es. ON
Comb 651-; ex. div.--ter accouut,66lll—Chuniuus 1141%
Bank Lees Anne. 16 trititba.—Bas‘ 19i. sok Frt.
Ushquer We is. O. prim;