The most interesting announcement in Uho list is, however, the institution of an Order of Merit on similar lines to the well-known Prussian Order. The _mem-bors will wear a decoration, but will have neither a handle to their names nor initial letters to place after them. The list of twelve names has met with general approbation. It includes our three great est soldiers, four great scientists, two naval officers, two literary men—for no doubt John Morley is honoured as a man of letters rather than a statesman—and one artist, and the only name among them which has a questionable right to inclusion is that of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Keppel. He is a fine specimen of an old sailor, no doubt, and everyone admires his wonderfal vigour at the age of 94; but his inclusion among a dozen of the most meritorious of Britons is rather startling.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.