THE INDIAN WAR MEDAL, 1799-1826.

THIS medal, the design of which is extremely chaste and beautiful, has on the obverse the Queen's head, with the inscription VICTORIA REGINA, similar to the Crimean and other medals. The artist, the late William Wyon, Esq., R.A., was the chief engraver to the Royal Mint until his decease in 1851. On the reverse of the medal is a figure of Victory seated, holding in her right hand a laurel branch, in her left, a victor's laurel-wreath. A lotus-flower, emblematic of India, is by her side, a trophy of Oriental arms and a palm-tree in the background. Above are the words, "To the army of India;' in the exergue, "1799-1826." The various services are com-. memorated by clasps, and the medal is worn with a pale blue ribbon.

The glorious achievements of the army of India, from the decisive victory of Assaye to the capture of Bhurtpore, were not commemorated by a medal till the year 1851, and the few survivors who took part in the first named battle did not receive the decoration until forty-eight years after the event.

THE PENINSULA WAR MEDAL.

WHEN the distribution of the Waterloo Medal both to officers and men took place, it was no wonder that the veterans who had fought through the several actions of the Peninsula war should desire to have a similar distinction. By a letter from the Duke of Wellington, dated Brussels, 13th. April, 1815, to His Royal Highness Field-Marshal the Duke of Kent, then Colonel of the Royals, it would appear that there was some general distinction intended to be conferred on the Peninsula army:-"When your Royal Highness first communicated to me your desire that the 3rd. battalion Royals should wear a distinguishing badge for their services under my command, it was in the contemplation of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, that the whole army which served in the Peninsula and in the South of France should wear one. I have not heard what has

prevented His Royal Highness from carrying that intention into execution, but I will enquire, and I will recommend that the Royals shall have one, if it is not intended that one should be given to the whole army." This design appears to have been abandoned.

It has been shewn that during the reign of King Charles the First, and the period of the Commonwealth, the humblest soldier was eligible for a medal, and that for Waterloo is the first since that time which has been conferred by the crown on both officers and soldiers. Major Mackie, in a poem entitled "Britannia Ingrata," made a poetical appeal in behalf of the gallant Peninsula army. There were volumes of correspondence in the several military journals, in which the grievances of veterans were set forth; officers who had passed through the fields of Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Salamanca,* and other sanguinary actions, felt they deserved the red and blue-edged ribbon as well as the more fortunate Waterloo man. Even the badge of merit was defined, some thinking that it should be a cross formed of the metal of guns taken during the war.

The hardship continued for years, and there is no doubt that the Duke of Richmond in his place in Parliament, aided by public opinion, was mainly instrumental in obtaining the desired honour. So sensible were the war officers of his exertions in their cause, that a testimonial was subscribed for and presented to His Grace at a grand dinner at Willis's Rooms, on Saturday, the 21st. of June, 1851. It was a most interesting gathering, and many of the Peninsula veterans were present. The testimonial was in solid silver, the value of the plate being about fifteen hundred guineas. The inscription was as follows: "Presented on June 21st., 1851, 38th. Anniversary of the Battle of Vittoria, to His Grace the Duke of Richmond, Lennox, and Aubigny, K.G., by the Recipients of the War Medal, in grateful remembrance of his long and unwearied exertion in their behalf, as a token of the Admiration, Respect, and Esteem, from his humbler brethren in Arms, who successfully aided in

* One officer wrote:-"It is very vexatious to honourable feelings, when we go into society at home and abroad, to meet foreigners of all nations covered with medals and orders, when we, who have had the pleasure of licking them in every part of the world, have neither orders nor medals.'

defending their Island Home throughout a long and sanguinary war, in which they gained a series of resplendent victories, that led to the capture of Madrid, Paris, Washington, and finally to an honourable and lasting peace."

Queen Victoria fully repaired the omission of her predecessors, by conferring the boon so long and anxiously coveted, and on the 1st. of June, 1847 (the anniversary of a glorious naval victory), the following general order was issued, which, it is almost superfluous to add, was read with delight by the surviving Peninsula veterans.

"Horse Guards, 1st. June, 1847.

"Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to command that a Medal should be struck to record the Services of Her Fleets and Armies during the Wars commencing in 1793, and ending in 1814, and that one should be conferred upon every Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, and Soldier of the Army, who was present in any Battle or Siege, to commemorate which, Medals had been struck by command of Her Majesty's Royal Predecessors, and had been distributed to the General or Superior Officers of the several Armies and Corps of Troops engaged, in conformity with the Regulations of the Service at that time in force;-General and other Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers, who consider that they have claims to receive this mark of their Sovereign's gracious recollection of their Services, and of her desire to record the same, are each to apply to the Secretary of the Board of General Officers, Whitehall, London, and to send in writing to the same Officer, a statement of his claim, for what Action, at what period of time, and the Names of the Persons, or the titles of the Documents by which the Claim can be proved.

"These Claims are to be sent, by General Officers having such Claims, through the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army:—

"The Staff Officers having such Claims, through the General Officers under whom they served, if alive;-if not alive, through the Adjutant-General of the Army:

"Officers, Non - Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers of