

" HOETICULTUBAL SOCIET^^^^^f^ ^ _ 







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tlirougli a community of pursuits or a congeniality of tastes. 

 In tte year 1827 it was resolved to discontinue these dinners, 

 and to substitute for them Fetes or public breakfasts in the 

 Garden. These assemblages were unprofitable, and produced 

 dissatisfaction among the Fellows, who complained that the 

 power of introducing visitors, originally confided in a great 

 degree to Lady Patronesses instead of to themselves, was 

 afterwards surrounded by needless limitations, and that the 

 legitimate uses of the Garden were postponed to fashionable 

 meetings, which, however brilliant, had no connection \vith 

 Horticulture, and did not even recruit the finances of the 

 Corporation. On the first of these occasions the price of 

 Fellows' and Ladies' tickets was 11. Is., that of Gentlemen's not 

 Fellows of the Society ll. lis. 6(1., until the last day, when 

 they became 21. 2s. Afterwards the price was fixed at 11. Is. 

 in all cases except for tickets purchased on the last day, for 

 which 21. 2s. was strh charged. 



The first Fete was held on June 23rd, 1827. It was attended 

 by 2843 persons; gave rise to a law-suit between the Council 

 and the purveyor ; and produced a profit of 504/. 3^. Id., of 

 which however 213/. 13s. 6d. was afterwards consumed in 

 legal proceedings. The second Fete occurred on June 21st, 

 1828 : it was attended by 4193 persons, produced a sross 

 sum of 4760/. 3s. &d., and a loss estimated at 139/. 7*. Id. 

 The third Fete took place on June 27th, 1829. Tickets are 

 reported to have been sold to the amount of 5185/. 85. dd. 

 The expenses were 5162/. 12^., and the balance in favour 

 of the Society, 22/. 16s. did. The fourth and last j)ublic 

 breakfast was on June 23rd, 1831 ; on which occasion the 



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