BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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officials, among which are included Justices of the Peace, Deputy
Lieutenants, and members of the Queen's Counsel, we count 205
individuals or 5.4 percent of all officers.
Finally, those members
placed under the "Professional" heading, excluding the ranks of general
and admiral, numbered 677 or 17.7 percent of the total.
By the time of the 1899 listing, the categories of officers
underwent some modification.
Of the 3,587 officers listed, 25 percent
were identified by title, 2.9 less than in 1888.
However "Aristocrats"
gained significant ground, increasing by 28.5 percent, despite the 10
percent decline in officers in the 1899 Roll.
The figure was even more
significant for those individuals holding titles above or equivalent to
Viscount.
Their numbers rose by one-and-a-half times (152) the 1888
total (95).
Generals and admirals, however, declined in number to 43, 59
percent of the 1888 figure.
If the ranks fo general and admiral are
combined with the "Aristocratic" category, they account for 12.8
percent of all officers listed in 1899.
The overall numbers of
military personel below the level of admiral
and general declined to 21
percent of the 1888 figures.
"Professionals," excluding generals and
admirals, accounted for 431 individuals or 12 percent of all officers
in 1899.
The statistics provided regarding the social
classification of
officers in the 1888 and 1899 Rolls suggest the rather elite character
of Primrose leadership.
Approximately one quarter of the officers of
each Roll of Habitations occupied positions of aristocratic or
professional distinction.
Of the remaining individuals, many were