It may prove useful for folks to have the full English translation of the lengthy and detailed description from the 1854 Choix des Plus Belles Roses (in French in the HMF References section). I excerpted it, in English, in the first two editions of my book The Old Rose Advisor (the much expanded third edition is coming along)--and I'd like to take this opportunity to put it on record that, when I wrote that book originally, the idea at first was just to have the "telling phrases" about all the roses from the sources, much as one would take notes at a lecture, not the whole in bulk; but as time has gone on, I have been filling these out. At any rate, here is the full article:

“Wood heavy, strong; long internodes. The smooth epidermis is, when young, reddish purple and covered with a bloom as we see on certain stone fruits; it then becomes a lighter green. Thorns, fairly numerous, large at the base, pretty long, strongly laterally compressed, straight or slightly recurved, red-purple at first, then light brown. Leaves, somewhat ample, often composed of 5 leaflets, more rarely of three; they are of unequal size, oval, tipped by a distinct point; the terminal one is always larger, all smooth-edged and slightly dentate, [surface] smooth and a slightly yellowish light green, glossy, when growing frequently tinted purple above; beneath, whitish green, having a cottony appearance. The petioles, which are pretty long, are accompanied for about a third of their length with only slightly developed stipules; they are purple-red above, green beneath, where they are armed for their full length, with a certain number of hooked and very sharp prickles. Peduncles thick, long, providing firm support for the flowers, often having at the base one or two stipulary leaves, or one or two foliaceous stipules, and indeed sometimes four or five, which are red-purple and display for their full length some small brownish bristles. Ovaries Fairly large, short, nearly regularly semi-globular, cut horizontally at the tip, light green tinted purple-red and, like the peduncles, bestrewn with small brownish bristles. Buds, fairly large, long, usually solitary at the branch-ends, flesh-pink and maroon-red, the [color of the ] petals showing through as the sepals are opening. Sepals five, slightly foliaceous, green and light red-purple, also bestrewn with small brownish bristles. Flowers large (8–10 cm [about 3.5 inches]), very full, quite regular; outer petals very large, thick, compressed slightly, concave, reflexing strongly, however, at the tip, containing numerous smaller petals, crowded, also concave, but only with difficulty reflexing at the tip, giving the blossom a lightness, the form of an elegant cup, the edges of which are recurved; always opens well, whatever the weather; color, delicate flesh-pink shaded chamois-yellow, becoming a nearly white flesh around the edges; center, a pronounced coppery pink; the petal tips are often a brighter purplish-pink than the petal reverse. Scent, the usual tea-scent, but weaker. The rose of the foregoing description is a quite recent development, not yet having left the nurseries of its breeder, Mr. Marest, horticulturist at Paris. It will only be released to commerce this coming Fall in the present year [1854]. This bush pertains to the series of Bengal Roses, the section of Fragrant Roses commonly called Tea Roses. By its appearance, it seems to be a pure offspring, without alteration, from the Type which has so generously given seed-sowers such a great number of beautiful garden varieties. The one currently under consideration takes a place among the most precious of these varieties, surely a distinguished place, due first to its well-proven hardiness, and then by the great many specimens in the garden of Mr. Marest which have withstood in the open ground the harsh winter of 1853–1854, with none dying; and lastly, by the beauty of its flowers and their lasting qualities in the sun, as well as their likeable colors. The growth of this rose, which is vigorous and easy, assures it a flowering both abundant and prolonged. In short, it is a very precious acquisition for which the horticultural world will owe its gratitude to one of the able and devoted Parisian sowers. Placed under the protection of the name of a young girl, ‘Souvenir d’Elisa Vardon’ offers a touching and symbolic reminder of grace and charm, qualities which it so effectively brings to mind.”