112 CHISWICK EXHIBITION. 



as much jealousy among our betters as among 

 us, that wanted a better example. One that 

 lost wouldn't let his gardener show again ; 

 and another found fault because his man 

 wasn't put first, instead of last; and then 

 the prizes, such as they were, not being paid 

 till next year, and one thing and another, 

 made my master and me only lookers-on. I 

 must say one thing, that the gardeners and 

 little people made things worse than they 

 might have been ; for they 'd fall so by the 

 ears in the room when the company came in, 

 and some of 'em smelt so of drink, that a good 

 many kept away that would have paid to 

 have come in and seen the flowers and vege- 

 tables. We might have had a fine show, if 

 our gentry would have followed our squire 

 as he would have led. He wanted them to 

 subscribe tens of pounds a-piece, and raise a 

 handsome sum, and put it to interest, and so 

 have some prize-money always in hand; and, 

 by way of example, he offered a hundred 

 pounds to begin with ; but nobody would 

 follow, though they'd spend twice as much 

 on the subscription pack of hounds, or a 

 ball. But, talking of shows and gardening, 

 there's no place like London and thereabouts 



