My Wife holding me to my Promise to take her to the Chiswick Flower
Show, and I could not break it; for certainly the poor Wretch do drudge
in the House like a Slave; and so often as I go out for Pleasure myself,
methinks it were well to give her a Treat now and then, to ease my
Conscience, and keep her quiet also. So took her, though our two Tickets
together came to 10s., and we thither in an Omnibus, and the Fare
doubled on the Occasion, instead of 1s. cost me 2s. more, which made me
mad. A rare Sight, nigh the Gardens, to look out on the Line of
Carriages behind us, and methought how mean and paltry it seemed to be
riding in an Omnibus; and was in some Trouble lest any of our
acquaintance should be in the Carriages, and see us 'light. At the
Passage to the Gardens beset by Fellows with Shoe-Brushes and
Clothes-Brushes, importunate to brush my Coat and Boots, that were clean
enough, but only to earn 4d. or 6d. Our Tickets delivered, and we into
the Grounds with a Stream of Company, and followed them and our Ears to
a Band of Musique, the Horse Guards playing hard by a Grove of
Rhododendrons in full Bloom, and a Mob of Beauties round about them more
blooming still. Heard a Medley-Piece of Scraps of most of the Operas
that I knew; which was better Musique than I expected. Then to the
Tents, where the Prize-Flowers are shown, on high Stands as long as a
moderate-sized Barn: and there a pretty Display of Orchids, Azaleas,
Cactuses, Pelargoniums, and Heaths, very rare and curious, and a few
choice Roses; but I expected to see Roses as big as Cabbages. Many of
the Flowers finely variegated, and giving forth a Perfume sweeter than
ATKINSON his shop. Strange how to some of the Pelargoniums were given
the names of GRISI, ALBONI, MARIO, and other Opera Singers: and MR.
WAGSTAFFE do say it is Musique in a Flower-Pot. After seeing the
Flowers, to stroll about the Walks and among the Trees, and view the
Flowers without Stalks, which I do admire most of all, and a brave show
they were, drest out in their gayest, and smiling as if resolved to look
as pretty as they could; and looking all the brighter for the Sun
shining without a Cloud to be seen: whereby out of Pain for my Wife's
pink Bonnet, which, if spoiled by the Rain usual at this Show, had been
L2, 2s. gone. The Bands from Time to Time beat a March about the Garden;
when to see the fine Ladies and Gentlemen follow at the Soldiers' Heels,
natural as ragged Street-Children! At last all played together, and
ended with _God Save the Queen_; when the Flowers wheeled away. But the
Company remaining, some sitting on Benches to make a Lane, and the Rest
of the Multitude walking up and down to be seen, and the Beauties
showing off their Graces, which I did inspect from Head to Foot. My Wife
beginning to admire a certain Satin; so knowing what this signified,
away, and home to a Leg of Mutton; thinking of the State of the Nation,
which should not be so mighty gloomy to judge of it by Chiswick Flower
Show, and wondering how much all the Finery there cost, and where all
the Money could have come from.
[Illustration: _"SOCYETYE" ENJOYINGE ITSELFE AT A SOYREE._