I feel no shame in confessing that when the hall was cleared, and I looked from the gallery upon the three long tables, and the platform beneath the great organ, glowing with the choicest Roses of the world, the cisterns of my heart o'erfiowed - "A flood of thoughts came rushing, and filled mine eyes with tears".

"Half the nurseries of England," as Dr Lindley wrote, "poured their treasures into St James's Hall." There were twenty boxes from Saw-bridgeworth alone. There were glorious collections, large and lovely, from Cheshunt and Colchester, Hertfordshire and Hereford, Exeter and Slough. But I had brief time, as secretary and supervisor, that day for "idle tears," or other private emotions; for, had I been editor of 'Notes and Queries,' the 'Field,' and the 'Queen' conjointly, I could not have had more questions put to me. Had I possessed the hundred hands of Briareus, not one would have been unemployed. Then the censors reported their verdicts; the prize-cards were placed by the prize Roses; and then came The momentous question, Would the public indorse our experiment 1 Would the public appreciate our show? There was a deficiency of £100 in our funds, for the expenses of the exhibition were £300; and as a matter both of feeling and finance, I stood by the entrance as the clock struck two, anxiously to watch the issue.

No long solicitude. More than fifty shillings - I humbly apologise - more than fifty intelligent and good-looking individuals were waiting for admission; and these were followed by continuous comers, until the hall was full. A gentleman, who earnestly asked my pardon for having placed his foot on mine, seemed perplexed to hear how much I liked it, and evidently thought that my friends were culpable in allowing me to be at large. Great indeed was my gladness in seeing those visitors - more than 2000 in number - but far greater in hearing their hearty words of surprise and admiration.

At the close of the exhibition it was my happy privilege to distribute the thirty-six silver cups which had been specially designed for the occasion, and were, as I need hardly say, prettily and profusely engraved with Roses. The winners were - (of nurserymen) Messrs Paul of Cheshunt, Mr Cranston of Hereford, Mr Cant of Colchester, Mr Francis of Hertford, Mr Turner of Slough, and Mr Hollamby of Tunbridge Wells: and (of amateurs) Mr Giles Puller of Youngsbury, Captain Maunsell and Rev. G. Maunsell, Thorpe Malsor; Mr R. Fellowes and Rev. R. Fellowes, Sholtesham; Mr Worthington, Cavendish Priory; Rev. H. Helyar, Yeovil; Mr Mallett, Nottingham; Mr Sladden, Ash; Mr Fryer, Chatteris; Mr Walker, Oxford; Mr Hewitt, and Mr Blake of Ware. Two cups were awarded to my own Roses, the process of presentation being "gratifying, but embarrassing," as Mrs Nickleby remarked when her eccentric lover would carve her name on his pew.

So ended the first Rose-Show. It was, as one of its best supporters, and one of our best Rosarians, the Rev. Mr Radclyffe, wrote of it, "successful beyond all anticipation;" and I went to bed that night as tired, as happy, and I hope as thankful as I had so much good cause to be.

The Second National Rose-Show was held in the following year, June 23, 1859, at the Hanover Square Rooms, the former site not being available; and again we had the best Roses of England, a goodly company, and prosperous issues. The general effect, although the introduction of pot-Roses broke gracefully the monotonous surface of the cut flowers, was inferior to that produced in the more genial summer of 1858, and in the more ample and ornate accommodations of St James's Hall. But it was now more evident than ever, that although we had toned down our music by substituting strings and reeds for brass, no room in London was large enough for the levees of the Queen of Flowers. Next year, accordingly, after a correspondence and arrangement with the directors, The Third National Rose-Show was held (July 12, 1860) in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. Here was a throne-room meet for her Majesty, and 16,000 of her lieges came to do her homage. Naturally and wisely, the Crystal Palace Company resolved, upon this, to have a Rose-show of their own.

Long may it prosper!

The Fourth National Rose-Show was held under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society in their gardens at South Kensington, July 10, 1861, and there it has since nourished in all its first strength and beauty. I was very grateful to find such a genial soil and excellent supervision for a plant which was growing rather too large for me - that is, to transfer to abler hands a work which, with all its gratifications, interfered at times unduly with my other engagements. Moreover, to tell you all the truth, in the happy spring-tide of 1861 I had a correspondence which occupied all my time, upon a subject which occupied all my thought - a subject more precious, more lovely even than Roses - I was going to be married in May.

Have I created in thy breast, 0 amateur, a desire to win honour at Queen Rosa's tournaments? Have you an ambition to see upon your sideboard cups of silver encircled by the Rose 1 Listen, and I will now tell you what Roses to show, and how to show them.

S. Reynolds Hole.