in the field is the word "CRIMEA." The clasps, which are formed of oak leaves, ornamented with acorns, are inscribed, "ALMA, BALACLAVA, INKERMANN, SEBASTOPOL." Reversehead of Victoria, the date, 1854, underneath. The ribbon is

pale blue, edged with yellow.

The idea of creating a new order for distinguished bravery was originated by the late much-lamented Prince Consort, and afterwards instituted by Her Most Gracious Majesty on the 29th January, 1856. The distinction is styled the "Victoria Cross," and is awarded to the soldier who performs "some signal act of valour or devotion to his country."

The decoration is in the form of a Maltese cross, of bronze, with the royal crest in the centre, underneath which are inscribed upon a scroll the words "FOR VALOUR." It is suspended by a laureated clasp and the letter V (for Victoria), and attached to the left breast with a crimson ribbon.

The insignia of the French Imperial order of the Legion of Honour was also granted to several of our officers and soldiers by His Majesty the Emperor of the French, as a mark of his approval of their distinguished services in the Crimea. His Majesty also awarded the decoration of the French military war medal to a number of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, selected from the different regiments that served in the Crimea. The decoration, which is silver, is a small medal, surmounted by an eagle; on the centre of the medal is the head of the Emperor, encircled by a blue enamelled band, having thereon the words "LOUIS NAPOLEON;" a crown of laurel, which forms the outer rim of the medal, is shown both on the obverse and reverse; the centre of the latter is inscribed with the words "Valeur et DISCIPLINE." It is worn with a yellow ribbon, edged with green.

The Sardinian medal, conferred by the King of Sardinia upon several officers and men selected from the Crimean army, has, upon the obverse, the arms of Savoy, crowned

and encircled by the laurel and palm. The legend is"AL VALORE MILITARE;" on the reverse of the medal is a wreath, with the dates "1855-1856" underneath; legend"SPEDIZIONE D'ORIENTE." It is worn with a dark blue watered ribbon.

To upwards of a thousand officers of the British army, the Sultan of Turkey granted the decoration of the five classes of the Imperial order of the Medjidie. The decoration is a silver convex centre, bearing the Sultan's cypher, encircled by a crimson enamelled band, inscribed with Turkish characters, and surrounded by a radiated border in silver. It is suspended by a crimson enamelled crescent and star, to which is appended a crimson ribbon, edged with green.

The Sultan also distributed to the British army silver medals, having the royal cypher upon the obverse, enclosed within a circle of laurel. The reverse, which is a clumsy though significant design, represents the success of the allied powers in the Crimea. A field-piece and map of the Crimea are placed upon the Russian flag, to the right of which is an anchor &c.; above are the respective flags of Turkey, England, France and Sardinia. Exergue-" CRIMEA, 1855." The ribbon is crimson, edged with green.

In conclusion I shall but briefly introduce to your notice the medals awarded for long service and good conduct, meritorious service and distinguished conduct in the field. The medal for long service and good conduct, was first granted by King William IV in 1830, to men of irreproachable character, and who had completed twenty-one years' service in the infantry or twenty-four years' in the cavalry. The obverse of this medal is a trophy with the King's arms in the centre; the reverse is inscribed-"FOR LONG SERVICE "AND GOOD CONDUCT." It is worn with a crimson ribbon. The medal for meritorious service, together with an annuity not exceeding £20, is granted to sergeants, as a reward for

distinguished service. It has upon the obverse the head of the Queen, the reverse being inscribed-"FOR MERITORIOUS 'SERVICE." Ribbon crimson. The medal awarded for distinguished conduct in the field has the same obverse as the medal for long service; the reverse is inscribed—“ FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD." The colour of the ribbon is crimson, with a stripe of blue down the centre.

In conclusion, I wish to offer my sincere thanks to those gentlemen who have kindly lent me their assistance. I am much indebted to R. G. Jackson Esq., of Rupert Lane, and to T. Lake Whitehouse Esq., of the Bank of England, for the uniform kindness and courtesy shown to me, whenever I was desirous of access to their rare and valuable collections. To Mr. Whitehouse my thanks are also due for the translations of the Persian inscriptions on the East India Company's medals for the Deccan, Mysore and Java, which are in his cabinet; my descriptions of the Sardinian medal and the Sultan's decoration of the Medjidie are taken from those in his collection. To Mr. Jackson I am especially indebted for his kindness in permitting me to select from his cabinet any rare medal I might want to illustrate this paper: the medals from his collection, and which I have had the pleasure of showing to you, are the larger Dunbar medal, the Deccan medal and the rare silver medal for Seringapatam. I have also to thank R. Washington Esq. and Miss Shaw for allowing me to place before you the Peninsular medal with twelve bars, the Honourable East India Company's medal for the first Burmese war and the medal for distinguished conduct in the field.