16th September 1837

Windsor and Eton Royal Horticultural Society

This Society held its only show this season yesterday (Friday) , in the grounds of Captain Bulkeley at Spital, and had to boast of a fashionable and numerous company, comprising many of the leading families of the town and neighbourhood. The principle marquee, in which the dahlias were exhibited , was very tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, and each tent had a board affixed to its entrance, stating the purpose for which it was intended, the letters being formed with dahlias. This department was entirely effected by the exertions and attention of two of the committee, Messrs. Lovegrove and Kellner. The whole of the arrangements of the general committee were good, but we think might have been better, if the tents had been more judiciously placed; and much confusion would have been prevented in the great tent , had the company been allowed to enter at one end only, and to have passed out of the other. The bands of the Grenadier and Life Guards were both in attendance, and the scene altogether had avery pleasing and lively effect. The show of dahlias was generally acknowledged by the growers to be the finest witnessed this season, and the other flowers equally as good. The cottagers productions did them all infinite credit, and some of the vegetables shown by the two Kamesters was very superior to many of the gardeners productions. The grapes from the gardens of W.F.Riley, Esq, of Forest Hill, were considered a most superior specimen, the Muscat of Alexandria (a large white grape) in particular. Some Red Hambro grapes were exhibited by Mr. New (gardener to W.White Esq, Ditton), the only specimen of the kind shown, and were considered remarkably fine fruit, for which the judges recommended that a prize be given.

Flowers
Nurserymen
Dahlias - 100 Blooms - 1st, Messrs. Brown, Slough; 2nd Mr. Willmer; 3rd Mr. Catleugh
86 Blooms- 1st Messrs. Brown, Slough; 2nd Mr. Willmer;3rd, Mr.Lane;4th Mr. Halfacre.

Gentlemen's Gardeners, and Amateurs.
24 Blooms- 1st, Mr.Glenny;2nd Mr.Dodd; 3rd Mr.Weedon; 4th Mr. Cooper; 5th Mr. Richardson; 6th Mr. Turner; 7th Mr.Wilson; 8th Mr. Ingram.
12 Blooms -1st, Mr. Bigber; 2nd, Mr. King; 3rd, Mr.Weedon;4th Mr. Glenny; 5th, Mr. Cooper.

Amateurs growing less than 200 plants
12 Blooms -1st, Mr. Austin; 2nd, Mr.Howard; 3rd, Mr. Woollard.

Seedlings 1836 - 1st and 2nd , Mr.Springall, 3rd, Mr.Bigber; 4th, Mr. Glenny.

Seedlings 1837 - 1st, Mr.G. Wright; 2nd, Mr. Cooper; 3rd, Mr. Woodhouse; 4th, Mr. Willmer; 5th Mr. Bigber.

Hearteases - Stands of 30 -1st, Mr. Bridges; 2nd, Mr. Downton; 3rd, Mr. Lovegrove; 4th, Mr.King.

Stands of 100 - 1st, Mr. Lane, Berkhampstead, 2nd, Mr. Lovegrove.

Roses - One Prize - Mr. Glenny

Melo Cacti (Collection) - One Prize - Mr. Glenny.

Specimen Plants - 1st and 2nd, Mr. Glenny.

Fruit
Pines - 1st, Mr. Beale; 2nd, Mr. Dodd. A prize was also given for a black pine, shown by Mr. Ingram.

Grapes (White) - 1st and 4th, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 2nd, Mr. Dodd; 3rd, Mr. New.

Grapes (Black) - 1st , Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 2nd, name unknown; 3rd, Mr. Ingrams.

Melons - 1st and 2nd, Mr. Beale; 3rd, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 4th, Mr. Bigber. A prize was given to Mr. Tull, of Taplow, for a melon weighing 24lbs.

Peaches-1st, Mr. McCulloch, Wilton Park; 2nd, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 3rd, Mr. Patrick.

Nectarines - 1st, Mr. McCullcoch; 2nd, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 3rd, Mr. Patrick.

Plums - 1st, Mr. Ingram; 2nd, name unknown; 3rd, Mr. Alloway; 4th, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill.

Apples (Desert) - 1st, 3rd and 4th, Mr. Ingram; 2nd, Mr. Maher.

Apples (Cullinary) - 1st, Mr. Brown, Forest Hill; 2nd, Mr. Wilson.

Pears - 1st, Mr. Alloway; 2nd and 4th, Mr. Ingram; 3rd, Mr. Woodham; 4th, Mr. Patrick.

Figs- 1st, Mr. Roberts; 2nd, Mr. Beale; 3rd, Mr. Cooper.

Cherries- 1st, Mr. King, 2nd, Mr. Patrick.

Vegetables
Cabbage (Red), Mr. New; Celery, 1st, Mr. Fernie; 2nd, Mr. New; Potatoes, 1st and 2nd, Hon. Mrs Neville; 3rd and 4th, Mr. Ingram; French Beans, 1st and 2nd, Hon. Mrs. Neville; Onions, Mr. King; Peas, Mr. Elder; Artichokes, Hon. Mrs. Neville; Parsnips, 1st, Mr. Elder, 2nd Hon. Mrs. Neville; Carrots, Mr. Elder.

Cottagers
Best Collections- 1st, George Kamester; 2nd, Thomas Kamester; 3rd, James Hughes; 4th, Charles Steel; 5th, John Moreton;6th, James Godfrey; and the prizes given for the different classes of vegetables and fruit, were mostly awarded to these industrious men.

The exhibition was opened at two o'clock for public view, and the bands played from that hour till five, when it closed. After which the committee and the various exhibitors and their friends, in number about fifty, dined at the Castle Inn, Windsor; Sir John Chapman took the chair, and was supported on his right by the Mayor, and on the left by J.P. Nind, Esq. In common with many persons we are of the opinion that had the exhibition taken place nearer the town of Windsor than where it was held the attendance would have been far more numerous, and much more fashionable than it was. We know not why this spot was selected by the committee, when they found that Frogmore could not under the existing circumstances (the recent demise of his late Majesty) be obtained for the purpose, but we think that some more convenient and better grounds could have been obtained if due diligence had been used. Independent of these considerations, we conceive that sound policy was by no means exercised, taking all circumstances into consideration, in accepting the offer so readily made by Captain Bulkeley, to make use of his meadow for the occasion. We should have been much better pleased that, instead of falling off in the attendance upon this infant but excellent society's show, there had been, as we had anticipated from the extreme fineness of the day and two attractive military bands, a greater increase in point of number and fashion upon last year's exhibition.

New Fire Escape

During the week Mr. Ford, of No. 31, London Road, Southwark, has had the honour of exhibiting his ingenious fire escape at the Castle. One of his machines was erected in the Quadrangle, in the presence of several of the chief officers of the Household, the Queen viewing it from the corridor. Her Majesty, the Duchess of Kent, and some of the Royal suite, we understand had before witnessed it. The machine, if so very simple a contrivance can be so called, is unquestionably superior to anything we have before witnessed. It has all the attributes which we conceive it possible to blend together for the preservation of life and property, and such seems to be the conviction of every person in Windsor who has witnessed it. Already we understand have Mr. Ford's machines been supplied to the Castle, where the experiments made with one this week have been highly eulogised, especially by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville. They are there used for cleaning the windows, for which, as well as for their service in cases of fire, they are admirably adapted.

Bazaar at the Town Hall

A fancy bazaar, to aid the funds for erecting the new Wesleyan Chapel, was opened at the Town hall on Tuesday, and closed last evening. It attracted many visitors, and the purchasers were beyond the expectation of the committee.

Theatre Royal

The theatre, which closes this evening for the season, has been well attended during the week. On Monday the performances were under the patronage of the Members of the Borough; on Tuesday Mr. Yarnold took his benefit; on Thursday the Major and the Corporation patronised the house; and last evening Colonel Jodrell and the Officers of the Grenadier Guards were its patrons, upon which latter occasion the very excellent band of the regiment attended. We know not whether the season has proved a profitable one, or not but we can say that Mr. Penley the manager by his excellent selection of performers and pieces, deserved well of the Inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood.

Mutual Improvement Society

Mr. R. Dawson delivered in a most instructive and interesting manner his Lecture "On the Wonderful Mechanism of the Bones," in the Society's Reading-room, on Monday evening last, according to announcement, which, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, was well attended, the room being quite filled. It is the intention of the Society to commence their season about the 20th October, in the Town-hall (which the Worshipful the Mayor has kindly granted), on which occasion the Rev. J. Stoughton has kindly offered to deliver an opening address, which will immediately be followed by a course of Lectures on "Physiology as applied to Health," by Dr. Epps; after which Mr. R. Dawson will commence his course of Lectures followed by Professor Hume, from Edinburgh.

Some malicious person or persons killed and stole a portion of a lamb from a field of Mr. Cantrell, of Old Windsor, last night. A reward of five guineas is offered (see advertisement) by the Windsor Association , on conviction of the thieves.

Windsor Police

- John Copas, a boy who has been frequently in custody before on various charges, was on Thursday sentenced to one months imprisonment in the borough gaol, for stealing a quantity of apples from the garden of Ephraim Hand.

On Tuesday, Richard Clarke was convicted before W.F. Riley, Esq and E. Foster, Esq, of having assaulted Sarah Lambert, in the parish of Clewer, and was fined 20s, including costs, or in default of payment to be imprisoned one month in Reading gaol. The money not being forthcoming , the defendant was committed to prison.

Poaching - On Tuesday James Stockbridge and George Bageant, were taken before Captain Thompson, a county magistrate, charged with poaching in the enclosed grounds of Mr. Bailey, in the parish of Old Windsor, on the 13th of last month. Stockbridge was discharged with a suitable reprimand from the magistrate, and Bageant was convicted in the penalty of £2, and 13s 6d costs, in default of payment to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour six weeks. The defendant paid the money and was liberated.

This day, Ann Ellis alias Groves, aged 36 years, who was convicted at the Borough Sessions, held on the 1st of July, for stealing a sheet, the property of Phoebe Gutteridge, and sentenced to be transported for seven years, was taken by Simms the gaoler, to the Atarick[?] hulk at Woolwich.

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