CINCINNATI, ORDER OF, an as sociation established at the termination of the revolutionary war by the officers of the American army, which, in refer ence to the transition made by most of them from the occupation of husbandry to that of arms, took its name from the Ro man Cincinnatus. The society was called an "order," and an external badge was provided of a character similar to those worn by the knights and other privileged orders of Europe. It was moreover pro vided that the eldest son of every deceased member should also be a member, and that the privilege should be transmitted by descent for ever. This principle of perpetuating a distinction soon became the object of attack. Judge Burke, of South Carolina, endeavoured, in a pam phlet, to show that it contained the germ of a future privileged aristocracy, and that it should not be allowed to develop itself. The society was publicly censured by the governor of South Carolina in his address to the Assembly, and by the legis latures of three states, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. A correspondence ensued between General Washington and Mr. Jefferson concerning the institution in 1784, and Mr. Jefferson expressed himself altogether opposed to the principle of hereditary descent. The public disapprobation did not run less strongly in the same direction. At a meeting of the society soon afterwards, in Philadelphia, the hereditary principle and the power of adopting honorary members were abolished ; but the society, in all other respects, was preserved. Ac
cording to Mr. Jefferson, General Wash ington used his influence at the meeting in Philadelphia for its suppression, and the society would probably have been dissolved but for the return of the envoy whom they had despatched to France for the purpose of providing badges for the order, and of inviting the French officers to become members. As they could not well retract, it was determined that the society should retain its existence, its meetings, and its charitable funds. The order was to be no longer hereditary ; it was to be communicated to no new mem bers; the general meeting, instead of being annual, was to be triennial only. The badges were never publicly worn in America, but it was wished that the Frenchmen who were enrolled in the order should wear them in their own country. In some of the States the so ciety perhaps still exists, and the mem bers hold, or until lately held, triennial meetings. In others it has been allowed silently to expire. That of Virginia met in 1822, and transferred its funds (15,000 dollars) to Washington College. (Tucker's Life of Jqjferson, vol. i. pp. 184-188.)