New-York tribune., 1878-07-25
DEACONSFIELD DANDSALISBURY
THEIR NEW HoYoRs FROM THE QUEEN

by che Qaeen of Great Britain, is one of
the Oldest and most fam0nS of tho orders OF
knighthood that remain in Europe. The exact date
of It's foundation is not known. One authority as
cribcs il to 1892, when in battle with the Sara
Gems st. Georges Day. Richard Ceur dc Lion
commanded twcnty-Six Of his knights to wear
around their legs thongs of blue leather. But most
writer's agree that il dates from Edward H. though
the precise date is in dispute, Frossart giving 1914,
and Stow 1850. General tournaments IN that
time were held at Windsor. At one OF them.
says the familiar story. the Countess OF Sails
bury let fail her garter when dancing with
the King. and the King picking it up, tied 1t round
his own leg. There were smiles from the company
and jealous gancc5 from the Queen, noticing which
Edward restored the garter TO the Countess, saying
" llon soft qui mai pense," and added that those
who smiled would shortly see the garter advanced
to such honor and TenOwn AS to account thom-
selves happy to wear it. There have been writers
to ridiculc this story, bat none to suggest mere
probable theory. The order was founded III honor
of the Holy Trinity. the Virgin Mary, 81. Edward
the COnfrssor, and 81. George the latter of whom
had then become the guardian saint OF England,
and was considered the special patron OF the order
1t has always borne the title OF The Order of 81.
George" rs well as of "The Garter"
Ii has been claimed that. though founded in 1914,
the order was not lyOrgdnized nor were its knight
companions chosen until 1850. The companions
twenty-five in number, the Sovereign making
twenty-sX, And having authority 10 nominate the
Others. In ancient times, the Queen and wives Of
the knights shared the hOnors OF the fraternity ana
were called Danes dc Ia frdicrnItf de ST. George"
wearing robes aud hoods adorned with the garter.
Charles |. made attempt to revive this usage, hut
was nof successful. The original number OF knights
nt,l,.u mi al, W.
passed fixing the number at twentysIx, but not in
Guiding the Princes of the royal family illusrlous
foreigners on whom the order might be conferred
The Pin of Wales having been a part of the or!gt-
nal Institution, is rcckoncd among the twenty
companions. From time 10 time special statutes
have admitted foreign sovereigns. Ezra knights
have also been admitted 10y statute, the nOnina-
tion of the late Lord Derby, father of the
present earl, AT the close of his ministry
in 1889 having been made II that
ncr. ihc meetings. are held on st. Georges Day
Npril 23l, III -. Grorgc's Chapel, WndsOr, where
installations take place. and the banners Of the
knights are suspended. rne officer, are Prrlatc
always the Bishop of Wnchester); a Chancellor,
the Bishop oi oxford: Registrar, the Dean of
Windsor; tire Garter kInC-of-Arms and the Usher
of the Black Rod. The Garter king-ol-Arus Is also
thc Principal King-of-Arms in England, and though
are distinct. Tn" first was not instituted when tine
order vas founded, but afterward, by Henry V.
and the companions Of his time. Ills duty is 10
wait upon the knights at their s0iemnitcs, to ad
wise persons of their election, call them to Wind
tor ms aaton, TO cause their arms to be placed
up their stalls, and to marshal their funeral
professions, well those of royal persOnage and
members of the greater nobility. All new grants
or patents OF arms in England are first signed aud
sealed by him.
The original dress of knights was blue mantle
tune and cpurhin cm5roidclc with carriers of gold
and blue silk tho largest of which was worn Oh the
left shoulder of the mantle. Henry VIII. changed
t. did Charles H. after him, bat Charles Tor the
last Iime As now used, II consists of dark blue
velvet garter, edged with gold and bearing the
motto IN letters of gold and worn below the knee
the left lcg mantle OF blaze velvet, lined with white
tallcta; hood Of crimson velvet; surcoat also OF
crimson velvet and lined with white talcta hat
Of black velvet, lined with talfcta and bear ng Il
plume Of ostrich and heron feathers. fastened by
band OF diamonds rnc collar is Of gold, being com
posed of twcniy-six pieces each III tho form of
garter and IN, appended 10 it figure of st. George
on horseback. 4 lesser ST. George is cnaneilcd Oh
gold and set with diamonds being suspended over
the LETT shoulder by dark blue ribbon The Star
has eight points and is of silver, having the Gross
of ST. George in the centre aad being embroidered
ON the left breast.
OF the royal family, beside the Qleen and Prince
Of Wales, who belong to the order, there the
Dukes Of Edinburgh. ConnauQut and Cambridge
and Prince Leopold; Of foreign soycreigns, the
Kings Of Italy, Portugal Denmark, Brlg um and
the HclleneS the Emperor, Of Germany, Au-tria,
Russia and l}ra2i, besides the Shah Cf Pcrsil of
titled persons from abroad. the Dgkcs of SAKE
Mcinngen, Brunswick and SAKE COturg GOtha, the
Grand Dukes Of Mecklenburg-Streht and Iicsse
Darmstadt (Lonis w., the Crown Prince Of Ger
many and the Princes Christian Of Hol5tein and
William OF Prussia
Among the Eigsh nobility who have been i'll
vested with the order are Earls Granville and
Shaitesburv, the Dules of Wellington, Devonshire,
Somerset, Sutherland and Westminster. and Vis-
count Stratford de Redcffc. The late Earl Russell
was of the number as was also the late ex-King
George Of Hanover. The sultan of Turkey and the
Kings of Spain and Sweden still await the honor.
The Golden Fleece was conferred the late NJ.
Thier- and Marshal MacAlahon counts 10 among his
orders; but. in the present century no chief mags
tratc of republic has received the Garter. Few
members of the British House Of Commons even
have been gwen it, PaimerstOn the last. Wal
pole received it while in fhc House. as did Lord
North fifty years later. Lord North being designated
IN debate as the noble lord with the blue ribbon"
1t was offered the younger Pitt, who declined it for
himself, but asked that might be given 10 bis way
ward elder brother. second and last Earl of
Chatham. The request was granted. but the King
wished it distinctly understood that the bestowal
was i'll consideration OF services rendered To the
Crown by all the members of the family. A writer
III Belgrarid relates That when it offered to the
late Lord FitzwilIism he asked how much it would
cost. about thousand pounds some one
Piled whereupou the noble lord quietly remarked
that he thought he could make better OF his
money. On the other hand this writer as a matter
of history, speaks rs follows of the eagerncss with
which il has been sought