Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
23rd September 1837
Grand Dahlia Exhibition at Salthill
The Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs exhibition of dahlias was held, according to announcement, in the delightful gardens of Botham's Hotel on Thursday last, and, although the company was not so numerous as we have witnessed on similar occasions, the attendance of the neighbouring gentry and nobility was very great. The entrance to the grounds was ornamented by an arch of flowers, and the title of the Society, composed of dahlias, was arranged on a board on each side, so as to form a striking feature from the road and from the garden. There were three tents erected for the flowers of the exhibitors, and the dahlias exhibited were most numerous and fine specimens. The following is a list of the prizes awarded:-
Amateurs , or their Gardeners
The best 50 blooms Mr.Salter, the gold medal; the second best, Mr.Keynes, large silver medal; the third best, Mr.Glenny, silver Adelaide medal. The best 25 blooms Mr.Weedon, the gold medal; the second best Mr.Coleridge, large silver medal; the third best Mr.Smith, silver Adelaide medal; the fourth best Mr.Wilson, small silver medal.
Amateurs , or their Gardeners, growing less than two hundred plants in all.
The best 12 blooms Mr.Davis, the gold medal; the second best, Mr.W.Bragg, large silver medal; the third best, Mr.Lawrence, silver Adelaide medal; the fourth best Mr.Skelton, small silver medal. Small medals - Messrs. Lillywhite, Lidyard, Squibb, Thresher. Seedlings of 1836 - Messrs.Nevell, J.Clarke, Springhall, Whale. Seedlings of 1837 - Messrs. H.J.Clarke, Tuckett.
Nurserymen and Propagators for Sale
Class 1 - The best 100 blooms, dissimilar, Messrs.Brown, Slough, the gold medal; the second best, Mr.Mountjoy, large silver medal; the third best, Mr.Williner, silver Adelaide medal; the fourth best, Mr.Catleugh, small silver medal. Small medals - Messrs. Gaines, Jackson, Cormack. Class 2 - The best stands of 24 - Messrs.Brown, the gold medal; the second best, Mr.Cormack, large silver medal; the third best, Mr.Lane, silver Adelaide medal; the fourth best, Mr.Willmer, small silver medal. Small medals - Messrs. Gregory, Pamplin, Mountjoy, Catleugh, Hill, Stewart, Gaines, Jefferys. Seedlings of 1836 - Messrs. Ansell, Gaines (two white two yellow), H.Taylor, Stanford. Seedlings of 1837 - Messrs.Cooper, Girling, Harris, Cormack, Mountjoy.
Messrs Brown's Silver Cup
This cup, value five guineas, was handsomely given by Messrs.Brown, of Slough, who adopt all the means that men can do to make the exhibition at Salthill go off with eclat, was awarded to Mr.William Bragg. The names of the six flowers shown for which , were - Girling's Suffolk Hero and Ruby, Knight's Victory, Kellner's Etonian, Lound's Bianchi, and Widnell's Lady Dartmouth, all, agreeable to the regulations, new flowers out this season.
To accommodate the numerous visitors seats were placed in various parts of the gardens, an arrangement that is very desirable at these Floral Meetings. The bands of the two regiments stationed at Windsor, were present, and delighted the company by the performance of some very beautiful pieces of music.
A variety of curious plants , the property of Mr.Glenny, were exhibited under a tent, and attracted very particular attention.
After the exhibition a numerous party dined at the Windmill Inn (Botham's).
The melon weighing 24lbs, which was exhibited at the Windsor Horticultural Society's show last week, was described in our list of prizes as being shown by a Mr.Tull, of Taplow, which we are informed is incorrect; the name should have been Holland.
Narrow Escape
On Thursday afternoon, as the coach of Messrs. Moody, Lillewhite, and Gray, driven by Mr.Dyson, was returning to Windsor, the driver perceived, when near Hounslow, two coaches racing with each other coming towards him; Mr.Dyson, to avoid them, very judiciously drew up on the footpath, but this did not prevent one of the coaches running against his; fortunately , however, no person was hurt by the collision, although so much damage was done to his coach that another was requisite to go the remainder of the journey, and two of the horses (the property of Mr.Gray) were so seriously hurt, that it is feared they will not be fit for further service on the road.
It will be seen by an advertisement in another part of our paper that, on Thursday evening next, Messrs. Hennig, P.Jay, and Zink [?], will have a Chamber Concert at the Town-hall. The programme of the performances includes several very beautiful pieces.
Brentford, September 22.
Brentford Mechanics Institution
On Monday evening Mr.Bonney gave his promised lecture on Botany. From the pleasure afforded by his lectures during the previous season much was reasonably expected from him, and his hearers, who on account of the extremely unfavourable state of the weather, were not so numerous as could have been wished, were not disappointed.
He commenced with a history of botany, glancing rapidly as he passed along the principal botanists, from Homer to Decandolle. He then demonstrated the anatomy and physiology of plants, and he concluded by discussing the characteristics, and pointing out the comparative merits of the artificial and natural systems of arrangement. He recommended the artificial system as the most convenient guide to junior botanists, the higher claims of the natural system, in point of science, being fully allowed. Mr.Bonney was surrounded by many interesting living specimens, illustrating the general or the peculiar structure of vegetables, of which he made ample use : and his lecture, full of knowledge, was conspicuous for the fluency, and occasionally the eloquence of his extemporaneous delivery. We were very glad that Mr.Bonney, in compliance with the warmly expressed feelings of his audience, held out hopes that he would continue the subject in a future lecture.
Chertsey, September 22.
On Friday last the Conservatives of West Surrey gave a grand festival at the Grand Stand, Epsom Downs, to the Hon.Captain Perceval, to celebrate his return as one of the Members for the county. The large room in which the festival took place was hung with a number of splendid banners bearing loyal and constitutional inscriptions, among which were those of "Victoria - Perceval for Ever - The Rights of the Monarchy - The Liberty of the People," &c. Charles Barclay, Esq., presided, and about 400 sat down to dinner.
Uxbridge, September 22.
The ceremony of laying the first stone of the Episcopal Chapel, on Uxbridge Moor, will take place on Wednesday morning next; Sir Wm.S.Wiseman, Bart., whose christian philanthropy not less than his usefulness as a magistrate, is well known, has kindly consented to officiate on this interesting occasion.
The gigantic Nassau balloon, with Mr.C.Green and four gentlemen, descended safely this evening, at a quarter before seven, having started at six o'clock, in a meadow about half a mile out of the town of Uxbridge. The aeronauts took a chaise from the White Horse Inn, and returned to Vauxhall about an hour afterwards.