MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
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 fweeter 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 feeing the Flowers, to ſtroll about the Walks and among the Trees, and view the Flowers without Stalks, which I do admire mod 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 mining 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 £2 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 colt, and where all the Money could have come from.
