First Year.

"JAMES."

There were four grades: Chevalier, Commander, Grand Officer,
and Grand Cross; and the name of each member of the order was
inscribed in "The Book of Gold." A pension of one thousand francs
was given to a Chevalier, of two thousand francs to a Commander,
and of three thousand francs to a Grand Officer. Those of the grade
of Grand Cross were content with a plaque of eight
diamond-studded rays, with, in the centre, set in red enamel, the
arms of Trinidad. The ribbon was red and yellow.

A rule of the order read: "The costume shall be identical with that
of the Chamberlains of the Court of Trinidad, save the buttons,
which shall bear the impress of the Crown of the Order."

For himself, King James commissioned a firm of jewelers to
construct a royal crown. In design it was similar to the one which
surmounted the cross of Trinidad. It is shown in the photograph of
the insignia. Also, the king issued a set of postage-stamps on
which was a picture of the island. They were of various colors and
denominations, and among stamp-collectors enjoyed a certain sale.

To-day, as I found when I tried to procure one to use in this book,
they are worth many times their face value.

For some time the affairs of the new kingdom progressed
favorably. In San Francisco, King James, in person, engaged four
hundred coolies and fitted out a schooner which he sent to