The ALBERT MEDAL, No. 441, which was instituted also by Queen VICTORIA, dates from March 13, 1866, and is to distinguish those who save, or who at the peril of their own lives endeavour to save, life or perform other meritorious acts of bravery. The Coronet is that of H.R.H. the late PRINCE CONSORT; and the Monogram consists of the Initials V. A., with an anchor. This Medal is executed in Silver and Bronze for two classes of recipients. The anchor in the Badge is omitted when awarded for land services. Other Decorations are “The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert” (of four classes) and the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (of one class), both confined to ladies, the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal, the Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, the Territorial Decoration, the Edward Medal, the King’s Police Medal, the Royal Red Cross, and the Order of Mercy; whilst the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England receives official recognition. CHAPTER XX PRECEDENCE. GENEALOGIES “Orders and Degrees Jar not with Liberty, but well consist.” --_Paradise Lost_, Book V. “The use of Arms was closely connected with the Study of Genealogy.” --DALLAWAY, _Science of Heraldry_ (A.D. 1793). When JAMES I. succeeded to the Crown of England while he was actually the King regnant of Scotland, and accordingly became Sovereign of the two Realms, he found it necessary to produce a “Union Flag” for the whole of Great Britain, in consequence of the serious disputes for Precedence that arose between the natives of South and North Britain. Before the time of the peace-loving son of Mary Stuart, a Sovereign of another mould, HENRY VIII., had felt the necessity of framing and establishing some definite system of Precedence amongst the various degrees, orders, and ranks of his subjects: and, in 1539, a statute to that effect was enacted. Other statutes afterwards were added; and, from time to time, Royal Letters Patent on the same subject have been issued; and thus the Precedence now recognised and in use amongst us has been established. The General Scale of Precedence follows, but there are Special scales for use in (_a_) Scotland, (_b_) Ireland, (_c_) India, (_d_) Canada, (_e_) Colonies, (_f_) Army and Navy, (_g_) Diplomatic Service. THE GENERAL ORDER OF PRECEDENCE. The SOVEREIGN. The Prince of Wales. The Younger Sons of the Sovereign. The Grandsons of the Sovereign. The Brothers of the Sovereign. The Uncles of the Sovereign. The Nephews of the Sovereign. The Archbishop of Canterbury. The Lord Chancellor. The Archbishop of York. The Premier. The Lord High Treasurer. The Lord President of the Council. The Lord Privy Seal. The following GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE _precede all Peers of their own Degree_--that is, if Dukes, they precede all other Dukes; if Earls, all other Earls; &c.:--