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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 a.m. APRIL 14.1917.
I trouble you with ten, but that Such com-
plements are unnecessary where with Con-
fidence I can Joy in your being mine, and
beleive you esteeme me
Your
[Unsigned] [No endorsement.]
LETTEB XXXVI.
Richard Edwards to William Bagnold (rough draft).
(O.C. 3439.)
[William Bagnold (Bagnald or Bagnall), son of William. Bagnold, was elected factor for Bengal, at 201. per annum, on the same day as Edwards, Oct. 18, 1667. Two months later he appealed to the Court of Committees to be " excused from serving " and was " dismissed." On Dec. 30, however, he was " readmitted to serve the Company in India," where he arrived in 1668. He was sent from Madras to Bengal, and was employed at Hugll, but in their letter of Dec. 7, 1669, the Court ordered his recall to Fort St. George, and his promotion as a member of Council there on the occurrence of a vacancy. Bagnold seems to have peti- tioned against leaving Bengal, and as his return was not " insisted on," he remained at Hugll. In October, 1671, his salary was raised to 301. per annum, and in their General Letter of Dec. 13, 1672, the Court appointed him a member of Council in Bengal. Before the ships conveying this letter had left England, Bagnold was dead. In reporting his decease, the Bengal Council remarked to the Court that he had for some time " managed your business with a great deal of care."
William Bagnold's security on election as a factor was Nicholas Juxon, and an account of his estate was sent to Mr. Joliff. Adminis- tration of his effects was granted, on Oct. 17, 1676, to " Richard Williamson attorney, appointed by William Bagnald, father of said Wm. Bagnald, late of East Indies, bachelor, deceased." See ' Court Minutes,' vol. xxvi. pp. 48, 67, 68, 81, 83, 283, and xxvii. p. 183 ; ' Letter Books,' vols. iv. and v. ; ' Factory Records,' Fort St. George, vol. xvi., and Hugll, iv. ; P.C.C. Admons.]
Cassumbuzar July the 1st 1670 To Mr Bagnold
Your kind recomendations Per Mr Vickers's I received and returne you many thanks for, and also a Promise of a letter Per the next, which I Should esteeme my Selfe happy If this might further the procury of, that it might revive that correspondence I once endeavoured to have held with you, but was broken off, I can not tell whether for my unworthynesse, or possibly through the Crooked reports of Some persons who thought they Served either the[ir] malice or interest in deterring you from it, which
reports I shall not endeavour to disprove,
Seing if you will please to use me in any
thing, experience Shall undeceive you r and
give you testimony how truly I am
[Unsigned]
[Endorsed] To Mr Bagnold July 1: 70.
R. C. TEMPLE.
( To be continued. )
FLORISTS' FEASTS.
THE combination " floral- feast " is not given in ' The Oxford Dictionary.' The ancient " floral shows," or Flo rales Ludi the games held by the Romans in honour of Flora, the goddess of flowers were entirely differ- ent in character from the feasts which are the subject of this note. Florists' Feasts were the precursors of our county flower shows, and it would be interesting to know when they were first held, for though I am able to give an instance as early as 1724, it is probable that these meetings had then, been established for some years. In The Gloucester Journal for June 30, 1724, is the following advertisement :
" These are to give Notice that there will be a General Meeting of the Society of Florists and Gardeners, on Monday the Sixth of July next, at Ten in the Forenoon, at William Ball's at the Spread Eagle in Ross."
No other notice of a similar nature has been met with until 1738, when in the issue of the same paper for July 11 is the following advertisement, in which an " Antient So- ciety " is referred to :
" This is to give Notice to all Gentlemen FLORISTS, GARDENERS, and Others, THAT at the Sun-Inn in Highworth, in the County of Wilts, on Friday the 21st Instant, will be kept, A Florists FEAST : Where all Florists are desired to meet by Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon, and bring with them their Newest Flowers, and other Rarities, there to be named.
" And for the farther Encouragement of that Antient Society, there will be given by the Stewards of the Feast, a handsome Piece of PLATE, to any one that can shew Six of the best Blossoms of Carnations, of six different Sorts, of their own Blowing.
N.B. There is expected at the Feast a great Resort of Gentlemen, Tradesmen, &c., to see the great Curiosity of Nature, which will be shewn at this Meeting."
The Feast was held again at Highworth in July, 1739, when it was announced that
" The Flowers are to be delivered into the Custody of the Stewards, and the Goodness to be determined by the Umpires chosen by the Owners- of the Flowers."
