THE HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY. 
293 
Veterans are men wlio liave been eight times efficient, and have been 
transferred from the active companies, either at their own wish or com¬ 
pulsorily for age, etc. They are deemed permanently retired, but 
continue to pay their subscriptions as members; they are entitled to 
retain the uniform of their former branch with tho addition of the 
letter “V” on the shoulder-straps. 
The Company as a civil body is governed by a Court of Assistants, Civil Side, 
composed of a President (now Lord Colville of Culross, K.T.), six ex- 
officio members, and a body of 24 members elected annually from the 
active and veteran lists. All enrolled members of the Company who 
are of age have the right to vote for their 24 representatives in the 
Court of Assistants. 
The duties of this body are to enrol recruits approved by the Com¬ 
manding Officer, to administer the finances, and to grant sums of 
money to the Lieut.-Colonel Commanding’, upon his requisition. 
Formerly the officers, except the Captain-General, were elected by this 
body until, in 1842, by Royal Warrant, the Crown reserved to itself the 
right to appoint the Field Officers and Adjutant; but it was not until 
seven years later that the Crown, by Royal Warrant, announced its 
intention of appointing all the officers, the Captain-General appointing 
the Regimental Sergeant-Major. These commissions were only granted 
for periods of five years; since 1889 they are “ during pleasure.” It 
is unnecessary to dilate upon the former penal powers of the Court, or 
upon its power to grant commissions to the officers; but the procedure 
of electing members is singular and noteworthy. 
Each candidate is proposed and seconded, and appears on a certain Procedure 
day before the Court, when he is asked certain questions, e.g. : “ Are ^nSnt? 1 * 
you well affected to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and the Constitution 
of this country ?” Should all the questions be answered satisfactorily, 
he signs the Military Roll, and then this declaration :—“ We the under¬ 
signed, being well affected to the Queen and Constitution, do hereby 
engage upon our honour, so long as we shall continue members of the 
Honourable Artillery Company, to accept the terms of the Royal War¬ 
rant, dated 12tli March, 1889, and to conform to all regulations made 
by the Secretary of State for War in the pursuance thereof, and to all 
rules and orders made for its government, to be obedient to our officers, 
to be constant in attending to our military duties, and especially to ap¬ 
pear under arms upon all occasions w r hen the Company maybe mustered 
for the purpose of assisting the Civil Power in maintaining tranquillity 
or suppressing riot.” This done and his subscription of two guineas 
paid, he is a properly enrolled member; no oath being necessary. 
There is a large amount of misconception still pervading the public 
mind as to the financial position of the Company, the common idea 
being that the Regiment is wealthy, and that the suppers and en¬ 
tertainments given by it are paid for out of the regimental chest. This 
is entirely erroneous, the income derived from house property in the 
city being barely sufficient, with the Government grant, to meet the 
military expenditure. 
The intervention of the War Office in 1889, with a view of re-organ¬ 
ising the Company according to more modern principles, has been 
