CONCERNING ROSE-SHOWS. 209 



bloodshed — I began to whistle in the act of 

 shaving. 



Shortly afterwards we met in London as 

 members of her Majesty Queen Rose's Council. 

 The council-chamber (Webb's Hotel, Piccadilly) 

 was hardly so spacious, or so perfectly exempt 

 from noise, as became such an august assembly, 

 but our eyes and our ears were with the Rose. 

 We commenced with a proceeding most deeply 

 interesting to every British heart — we unani- 

 mously ordered dinner. Then we went to work. 

 We resolved that there should be a Grand Na- 

 tional Rose-Show, and that we would raise the 

 necessary funds by subscribing £^ each as a com- 

 mencement, and by soliciting subscriptions. That 

 the first show should be held in London about the 

 1st day of July, 1858. That the prizes, silver 

 cups, should be awarded to three classes of ex- 

 hibitors — namely, to growers for sale, to amateurs 

 regularly employing a gardener, and to amateurs 

 not regularly, etc. We then discussed minor 

 details, and having agreed to reassemble, when 

 our financial prospects were more clearly devel- 

 oped, we parted. 



And I thought, as I went rushing down the 

 Northern Line, what a joyous, genial day it had 

 been. Personally unknown to my coadjutors, we 



14 



