The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-28 00:00:00

ROYAL BOTANIC .SOCIETY.

The first summer's exhibition of plants and
Sowers in connexion with this society took place yester-
day, at the gardens, Regent's-park, and the well-known
excellence of these annual displays, and the brilliancy of
the weather, combined to draw together a Large and most
fashionable company. The experiment of holding the
show upon t►e Derby day, which was tried last year, I
proved so highly successful that the council of the society
decided to repeat it, and judging by the numbers who
were present yesterday, the counter attractions of Epsom
Downs appear in no way to interfere with the attendance
of the patrons at these moat charming exhibitions.
Though we can scarcely subscribe to the dictum of the
gardener whom we heard emphatically lay down that 11
"no real ladies ever went to the Derby," yet from royalty
downwards the rank and fashion of the feminine world of
London certainly seemed yesterday to be gathered in and
about the grounds of the Botanic Society. The plants were
placed as usual in a sinks of long tents, which were

the conservatory, and the arrangement was
eM. ing at any enoasaist,h. view el the shale
show could be ottained. The effect upon first entering
WAS most striking and beautiful, every hue and colour
which horticulture is capable of producing being admirably
blended together. The strength of the exhibition was at
once seen to consist in the large and magnificent display
of azaleas and pelargoniums. In the majority of oases it
is almost impossible to get them two plants to their fullest
degree of perfection about the same period of the year—
one is invariably a little later in arriving at its fullest
poiat of beauty. The exceptional spring, however, with
which we have this year been favoured seems to have
proportionately advanced the growth of the pelargoniums,
and the result was that a finer display of these
charming flowers and of azaleas it would be impossible
to bring together under a tent. During the afternoon
her Royal Highness Princess Christian visited the
gardens, and expressed herself highly pleased with the
character of the exhibition. As the afternoon wore on,
and the warmth of the sun became leas oppressive, the
promenade upon the lawn outside became crowded with
a gay and fashionable company, the pleasures of the day
being materially heightened by the admirable manner in
which the two bands—the Royal Horse Guards and the
2nd Life Guards—performed a well-selected programme
of music. The show will remain open to-day ; sod, should
the weather prove favourable, another large attendance
may be expected. Amongst the distinguished company
present during the day were the following :—Her Royal
Highness the Princess Christian of Denman, the Dowager
Duchess of Northumberland, the Marquis of Bristol, the
Earl of Mansfield, the Countess of Westmeath, Lord and
Lady Balquiers, Lord Alfred Hervey, Lord John Man-
ners, the Greek and Belgian Ambassadors, Miss Burdett
Coutts,

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIRTY.—The great
rhododendron tent in the gardens of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society at South Kensington was opened to the public
yesterday, and, notwithstanding the fact of its being the
Derby day, attracted a large and fashionable attendance of
visitors. The plants this year are supplied, as usual, by
Messrs. Waterer and Godfrey, the well-known nursery-
men, of Knap-hill, Woking, and the ground under the
great tent has been entirely rearranged under the superin-
tendence of Mr. John Gibson, of Battenee-park, and Mr.
Ryles, superintendent of the South Kensington Gardens.
RARE AND VALUABLE BOOKS. —A further por-
tion of the valuable library of Mr. J. Delaware Lewis,
comprising original editions of Shakepeare's plays and
many other important works, the whole in the choicest
bindings, was disposed of on Tuesday last, at the rooms of
Marrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge, in Wellington-
' street. The following merit notice —La Fontaine,
Coates et Nouvelles en Vera 2 vole. in 4, Bvo.,
tented not only with a set of the fine engravings in the
edition of the Fermiers Generaux, and a duplicate set
coloured, but also with the 80 exquisite original drawings
on vellum, by Risen, splendidly bound in violet morocco ;
Paris, Diot, 1795 186/. lifollere des litivres, 7
vole. Bvo, first collected edition, fine copy, red morocco, I
by Trautz-Bauzonnet ; Paris, 1674.5-411. 10s. Wal.
ton's Angler, a series of the whole five editions published
in the author's lifetime, with the additions of C.
Cotton and R. Venable', probably the finest series of the
several editions ever offered for sale, the whole five
volumes being uniformly bound in olive morocco, by F.
Bedford, London. Printed by T. Maxey, for R. Marmot,
165376. Small Bvo-69/. Walton and Cotton's Com- I
plate Angler, edited by J. Major. Large paper, Bvo—the
edition of 1844 divided into nine volumes, with new titles
printed expressly for this oopy ; India proof plates, eaten.
sively 'illustrated with nunicrous additional engravings,
etchings and drawings, forming one of the finest specimens'
iof anlllustrated Walton and Cotton's Angler ever
offered for sale ; morocco, 1857 481. Shakespeare
(William) Much Adoe About Nothing, "as it bath been
gamine times publikely acted by the Right Hon. the Lord
Chamberlains his servants." Written by William Shakes-
peare ; first edition, small 4to ; extremely rare. Morocco
extra. By C. Lewis. London : Printed by V. S., for
Andrew Wise and William Aspiey, 1600. This is by far
the finest copy of any early edition of Shakespeare's
dramas in existence-2W. This portion of Mr. Lewis's
library produced 1,789/.
AMERICAN MANUFACTURES AND MECHANICS.—
The Society of Arts has instructed Mr. Coningsby, author
of the " Sial Report on the Condition of the French
Working Cnuni," to proceed to America and visit the
chief cities of the United States, for the twofold Purpose
of inquiring into the present state of American menu.
factures, and drawing up a report upon the condition
and educational status of the artisan population. Mr.
Coningsby will leave for New York in the amuse of a
few days, and after going through the eastern, middle,
and western states of the Union, will return, rid Canada,
in time for his report to be issued to the public in book
form towards the close of the present year.

FLEA Boar rot Does. —illaldire's Tablet destroys
lams, clainias tar skis, mama all smell, elm brilliancy to
seat, fres trona palana.—Pricat ; all abriniain 'naked*,
Barabir and bow. Parriyidlasairest --(Ad