The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-30 00:00:00

V. MONTANA.RO.

Scot[att.

BAROMETERS FOR THE FISHERMEN OF SCOTLAND.—
In the months of November and December last some
serious losses of life and property occurred in the north
of Scotland among the fishermen on the east oo•st. At
one station, Portessie, in Banffshire, where the fisher-
men keep • barometer, bad weather being indicated,
they did not go to sea, and were thus saved while others
who had no barometer went to the fishery, were over-
taken with • gale and drowned. The Board of Trade,
having had its attention called to this fact, have re-
solved to Bee that barometers are put up at all the sta-
tions in Scotland, and are now in communication with
the Board of Fisheries, with • view to their being as
generally used as possible. At most of the fishing
stations near Aberdeen the barometer is used ; but the
fishermen are in many places so superstitious that they
can scarcely be prevailed upon to consult it. We trust
that this project of the Board of Trade will lead to
barometers being placed at every port in the kingdom.

- . •
THE HIGHLAND 80011LTT'll DINNSR.—A more
agreeable reunion than that of the Highland Society of
London, at its annual festival, it would be difficult to
point out. The regular dinner took place on Monday
evening in Freemasons'-hall (the usual rendezvous of the
knight* of the tartan), with all the accessories of gener-
ous cheer, good company, and spirit-stirring music, the
bagpipe not forgotten. The presidential chair on this
occasion was ably filled by The Chisholm, and the com-
pany at the cross-tables included the Marquis of West-
meath, Lord H. Gordon, General M'Neill, Sir J. H.
Maxwell, Sir J. Grant, Major M'Donald, The Clanranald,
several English officers, and a large party of Brazilian
naval officers, attired in the national uniform. A sump-
tuous banquet (all the arrangements of which were on
the most liberal scale) having been disposed of, the usual
loyal toasts ensued. The charter toeat of the society,
" The memory of Abercrombie and the gallant heroes
who fell with him at the battle of Alexandria," was
drunk, as usual, in the midst of • solemn and almost
sepulchral silence. His Royal Highness Prince Albert,
as chief of the Highland Society, was toasted with High-
land honours,—each chieftain, or representative of •
clan, standing erect, with his right foot upon the table.
Equal honor was conferred upon the Brazilian naval
officers present, one of whom returned thanks in a very
excellent speech, and in better English than is usually
heard in popular assemblies at home. There was the
usual musical entertainment by the band of the society,
and Mr. Goa, Her Majesty's particular piper, was in-
defatigable in his exertions throughout the evening.
The vocal murk was entrusted to Mr. G. Genge, but, un-
fortunately, little opportunity was afforded him of dis-
playing his talents. The dinner was served at a very
late hour—the toasts must perforce be disposed of—and
dancing commenced at 11 o'clock or thereabout'. Mr.
Banks was the toastmaster.

A POST-OFFICE CURIOSITY.—The letter bap are con-
veyed between the Keith Railway station and the town
of Keith in a wheelbarrow, on which the letters " V.R."
are pompously emblazoned.