The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

common.

Six pots of Lilies of the Valley (open)-Ist prize, Mr W .
Howard, the Gardens, Bedford hill, Balham ; 2d, Mr W •
Bartlett, Shaftesbury-road, Hammersmith.
Miscellaneous Collections—Plants in Flower (open)—
Extra prizes, Mr Wm. Bull, for collection of new and rare
plants ; Messrs Paul and Son, for collection of cut roses ;
Mr Wm. Paul and Messrs W. Cutbush and Son, for collec-
tions of hyacinths; Mr Wm, Paul, for collection of cut roses;
Mr. Wm. Bull, for collection of azaleas; and Messrs Paul
and Son; for collection of cut roses.

DIARY OF THE JAPANESE AMBASSADORS.—The
Japanese Ambassadors who visited this country last
last year have published their diary through the bookseller
Fou-Yah, at Yeddo. Among other things it is therein said
that the people of the West are very little different from
each other; the dresses are the same as well as the v. eapons,
though one nation manages them better than another ; the
French above all appear to excel therein. Ceremonies and
honours are very easy, and the honours to be paid to a
Sovereign are very nearly the same as to a person of infe-
rior rank—one takes his hat off, makes a small reverence,
and therewith the thing is finished. At our audiences with
the princes they were hot separated from us by a curtain ;
even the princess was not veiled, and sits as high as the
prince. The lords were very civil, even too civil, for they
allowed us to eat and drink more than was in accordance
with our ceremonies. The lower classes were less civil, and
unequivocally d emonstrated that they found us ugly. Among
the women there are many handsome ones—among others
the Empress of the French. They run like a man. In order
to appear taller they wear a high bonnet. Even fashion-
able women dance very much; they hang on the arm of
the men, and one sees the men frequently run along the
streets in the arms of women. We believe them to be their
own wives. Women in general enjoy too ranch liberty, and
the fashionable ones wear the same dresses as those of the
lower class. The dress of the women, especially at night, is
not always decent. Excepting the Dutch women, all other
European women stand below the French. The men are
stiff, rough, and a little proud; they wear no weapons,
and very seldom the distinctions of their rank. It
appears that everybody, and even the fashionable
people, frequent the " cafes." High officers even fre-
quent the theatres. We were sorry we could not
understand everything there. Almost everybody had a
spying .glass, which, perhaps from distraction, was always
directed at us. The merchants are proud, and the shop-
keepers do not like one to turn their articles too much
about. It annoyed us very much to see raw meat exhibited
in the towns. Eating meat is otten very healthy ; but why
exhibit it to every one ? In Paris and London they run
(walk) very fast, just as they do in our country when there is
a fire. The houses are so high that they must be destroyed
at the first earthquake, They appear, however, to stand
against fire.
It is stated that Mr. Thier3 is about to offer to
the world the collection of magnificent engravings which
he has been for SO many years accumulating,