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KNI 80 KNI have held, or shall hold, high and confi- dential offices within Her Majesty's colonial possessions ; and again, 1879, by the admis- sion of persons rendering good service to the Crown in relation to the Foreign Affairs of the British Empire. The Members of the Order take rank and precedency immediately after the corres- ponding classes of the Order of the Star of India, that is to say, the Knights Grand Cross, after Knight Grand Commanders of the Star of India ; the Knights Commanders, after the Knights Commanders of the Star of India; and the Companions, after the Companions of the Star of India. The Grand Master is the First and Principal Knight Grand Cross. The Knights Grand Cross are entitled to bear supporters, and to encircle their arms with the collar, ribbon, and motto, of the Order. The Knights Commanders also encircle their arm^ with the ribbon and motto, and the Companions suspend the Badge of the Order from their escutcheon. The Order is to consist of not more than fifty Knights Grand Cross, exclusive of Extra and Honorary Members, one hundred and fifty Knights Commanders, and two hundi-ed and .sixty Companions. The Badge is a gold cross of fourteen points of v/hite enamel, edged with gold, having in the centre, on one side, the Archangel St. Michael, encountering Satan, and on the other St. George on horseback, encountering a dragon, within a blue circle, on which the motto of the Order is inscribed. The Cross is surmounted by the Imperial Crown, and worn by the Knights Grand Cross attached to the Collar, or to a wide Saxon-Blue-Ribbon, with a scarlet stripe from the right shoulder to the left. Knights CorasiAN'DERS wear the badge sus- pended to a narrow ribbon from the neck. The Companions wear the small cros? of the Order from a still narrower ribbon at the liutton-hole of their coats. The Star of a Knight Grand Cross is com- posed of seven rays of silver, having a. small ray of gold between each of them, and over all the Cross of St George, gules. In the centre is a reijresentation of the Archangel St. Michael encountering Satan, within a blue circle, inscribed with the motto, Aus- PICIUM MKLIORrs JEvi. The Collar is formed altei-nately of lions of England, of Maltese crosses, and of the cyphers S.M. and S.G., having in the centre the imperial crown, over two winged lions, passant guardant, each holding a book and seven arrows. At the opposite end of the collar are two similar lions. The whole is of gold except the crosses, which are of white enamel, and it is linked together by small gold chains. The Mantle is of Saxon-blue satin, lined with scarlet silk, tied with cordons of blue and scarlet silk and gold, and has on the left side the Star of a Knight Grand Cross. The Chapeau is of blue satin, lined with scarlet, and surmounted with white and black ostrich feathers. The Eibbon of the Order Saxon blue with a scarlet strip. Motto. Auspicium Melioris ^vi. A pledge of better times. Collar, Star, Badges, etc. P. 24, f. 31, and P. 25, f. 16 and 17. The Order of the Indian Empire. By Royal warrant, dated India Office, loth Sept., 1887 : The Queen taking unto her Royal consideration the expediency of ma- king certain changes in the constitution of the Order of the Indian Empire, as well by altering the designation of the Order as by adding thereto additional Classes, so as to enable her Majesty, her Heirs and Suc- cessors, to reward a greater number of persons who, by their services, official or other, to her Majesty's Indian Empira, have merited the Royal favour, has been gra- ciously pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdon of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the second day of August, 1886, to revoke and abrogate so much of the Royal Warrant bearing date the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight huadred and seventy -seven, by which the said Order was instituted, as limits the tame to the Sovereign, a Grand Master and one class of Members or Companions, and as is inconsistent with or contrary to the pro- visions of the now recited Letters Patent. And to ordain, direct, and appoint that the said Order of Knighthood shall henceforth be styled and designated in all acts, pro- ceedings and pleadings as " The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire." "The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire." Instituted 1st January, 1887. Enlar'^ed 1st June, 1887. The Order consists of the Sovereign, Grand Master, and three Classes. rpi,^ T?;,.,-i- mo~- ^,. rr,,; ,1, 4-, n..-.-~i n ,.-. ders, who have place and precedency next to and immediately after Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. The Second Class, or Knights Commanders, who have precedency next to Knights Com- manders of St. Michael and St. George. The Third Class, or Comj^anions, who have precedency next to Companions of St. Michael and St. George. The Badge. A Rose gold enamelled gules, barbed and seeded vert, having in the centre Her Majesty's Royal Effigy within a purple circle edged with gold, inscribed with the Motto of the Order, surmounted by an Im- perial Crown both gold. The Collar is composed of Elephants, Lotus- flowers, Peacocks in their pride, and Indian roses, in the centre the Imperial Crown from which The Badge is pendant, . the whole linked together by chains of gold. The Star of The First Class or Knights Grand Commanders (G.C.I.E.) is composed of five rays of Gold and Silver, issuing from a Gold centre thereon Her Majesty's Royal Effigy, within a purple circle inscribed with the motto of the Order, the circle surmounted by the Imperial Crown both gold. The Star of the Second Class or Knights Commanders (K.C.I.E.) is composed of rays alternately bright and chiiDped, issuing from a gold centre, having thereon Her Majesty's