Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/273

 12 s. in. APRIL u, i9i7.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

267

At this meeting there was a challenge between the florists of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. In 1740 the Feast took place at Swindon

A similar society appears to have been formed in Gloucestershire, and advertise- ments of meetings held at Gloucester from 1742 to 1747 have been seen. The Feast of 1743 is advertised as follows :

Gloucester, July 16, 1743.

On Wednesday, the 27th Instant, will be held a Meeting of the SOCIETY of Gentlemen Florists and Gardeners, at the Bell-Inn in this City. The Person who produces Six of the best Blossoms of CARNATIONS, shall be intitled to a SILVER CUP ; the Six second-best, a GOLD RING ; and the three next-best, a Silver-handled PRUNING-KNIPE.

N.B. The Goodness of the Flowers to be detennin'd by the Subscribers. A. Freeman F. Gregory

Ordinary 2s. at Two o'clock precisely.

Every person showing for prizes had to dine at the " Ordinary." Other rules of the

meetings were that the exhibits should be " blown " in Gloucestershire, and that no exhibitor would be entitled to two prizes.

An " Auricula Florist-Feast " was held at Didmarton, in Gloucestershire, in April of 1757, 1758, and 1759. The prizes offered were thus set forth :

" Whoever produces the Best blown Auricula* with no less than Five Blossoms, will be entitled to a large Silver Punch- Ladle ; the Second-best, to a large Silver-Spoon ; and the Third-best, to his Ordinary and Extraordinary free ; To be adjudged by Five proper Persons, "chosen out of the Company then present ; and no Person will be admitted to shew for either of the above Prizes unless he dines with the Company."

At other meetings prizes were given for the " best seedling Auricula, in properties and colour," a condition being that such must have been in the possession of the raiser, and any person suspected of the contrary would be " put on his Oath of the same." ROLAND AUSTIN.

Gloucester.

AN ENGLISH ARMY LIST OF 1740. (See 12 S. ii. 3,' 43, 84, 122, 163, 204, 243, 282, 324, 364, 402, 443, 482, 524 ; iii. 46, 103.)

THE next regiment (p. 46) was raised in March, 1719, as a regiment of Invalids, " to be formed out cf the pensioners of our Royal Hospital near Chelsea."

In the Army List of 1755 it is styled the " 41st Regiment (or the Invalids)."

In December, 1787, it ceased to be " a corps of Invalids from the 25th instant, from which day inclusive the said regiment is to serve in the line upon the same footing in. every respect as His Majesty's other regiments of Infantry.'' It was called the " 41st Regiment of Foot." All the officers, except the colonel, surgeon, and chaplain, retired upon their full pay. They were replaced by officers from the half -pay list, and from other regiments. The N.C.O.s and men became out-pensioners. The facings of the regimental uniform dress, which had hitherto been blue, with, plain button-holes, were changed to red, with white lace having a black stripe in the middle.

Not until 1831 was the territorial title " The Welch " conferred upon the regiment, though what the connexion with Wales was I have not been able to discover.

Since 1881 the regiment has been styled " The Welsh Regiment (1st Battalion)."

Lieutenant General Fielding's Dates of their Dates of their first

Regiment of Foot. present commissions. commissions.

Lieutenant General Edmund Fielding, Colonel (1) 11 Mar. 1718-9 Ensign, 15 Dec. 1696. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Gordon 28 Feb. 1721-2 Ensign, 1699.

Major .. .. Thomas Weldon (2) 30 Aug. 1736.

( Samuel Sedgley (3)

Captains

Captain Lieutenant

Edward Strode (4) I John Hay j Alexander Home ' John Charelton I John Jackson. . V David Dumont

Lecan William Oliver

11 Mar. 1718-9 15 Nov. 1721

26 Aug. 1726

27 Aug. 1728 18 July 1737 ditto

ditto ditto

Captain, 28 Dec. 1710. Ensign, 12 July 1709. Ensign, 2 April 1702. Lieutenant, 1 July 1695. Ensign, 10 Sept. 1708. Ensign, 17 Aug. 1708. From Half Pay. From Half Pay.

(1) Third son of the Rev. John Fielding, Canon of Salisbury, and father of Henry Fielding, the novelist. Brigadier-General, March 16, 1727; Major-General, "Nov. 8, 1735; Lieutenant-General, July 2, 1739. Died June 20, 1741.

(2) Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, Feb. 12, 1751, and still serving in 1760.

(3) Had been in the regiment since its formation in 1719.

(4) Major of the regiment, Feb. 12, 1751, and still serving in it in 1760.