The Express.
London, England, 1850-07-02 00:00:00

THE SCOTTISH FETE.

Yesterday the second annual "gathering" of the
=unbent of the Highland and Scottish Societies took plate
in Lord Holland's Park at Noting-hill, on the occasion of •
grand natioeal 'dor, similar, in all its leadir g characteristics.
to that of tie preceding year. The object of this under-
taking we, to afford encouragement to thou who desire to
uphold the sports and pastimes of the people of Scotland, and
at the same time to carry out the printing, that a wholesome
entertainment may he derived from the exercise of them
pleasure, which, wt Lot they offer an agreeable relaxation to
the spectator'', ere calculated to display the goodwill of the
performer in an honourable competition of strength sod
skill. In order to fulfil the intentions of the promoters Of
this object, every pains has been ttken, and some of the
ltomtehnointifdrimotol:n
gdo—meoshopecchttaniteen ttoo btehotecloeubrt.attryed.
fmormitthrirwsekriflull
have been brought to London with a view to exhibit the true
characteristics of those games, and to afford the public an
oppor.unity of seeing them in their national int gray. The
success which attended the lCe last year stimulated its pro-
moters to renew their efforts, with a determination to make
the exhibition an annual one, if they found that the under-
, taking received sufficient elle ,uregement from the Public.
The patronage bestowed up,n the le:e cf yesterday was such
as to prove that the people of London are willirg to support
these entertainments ; and the v:siture ore and all belonged to
that class of persons who can enjoy and appreoate ou -door
amusements without infringing the ruses of propriety and
order.

The gates of the park were opened at 12 o'clock, and in
the wane of a short time the outer circle of the ring which
masked the scene of action wu thronged with people;
whilst the members of the societies above-named, with the
chiefs of the different clue, all attired in Highland roe-
these, were collected together in the open apace fronting
the stands. The time appointed for the commeoct ment of
the sports was one o'clock, and by this time the crater por-
tion of the seats reserved in the various stands were occu-
pied. The weather wee not qui'e so fay urable as could
have been wished, and the consequence was that, in nume-
rous instance,, umbrellas, great coats, aed winter shawls
were displayed in a most unpromising' and dispiriting man-
ner. There was very little rare throughout the cloy, hut
the clouds wore a most threatening aspect; and the endea-
rerun which the sun made to "shine out" proved only partially
successful. The scene, however, was one of a most anima-
ting description, and the varied colours of the Highland
dresses as displayed on the rich and undulating greensward
formed a picture well calculated to excite attention.
Amongst thou who took a prominent t art in the pro-
ecedicge of the day were Sir James /slacker:zip, of &Atwell ;
Colonel 13randling, Sir Evan Mackenzie. of Kilroy ; Keith
Stewart,of &Muth ; Des ideun,of Tullocb; Rosalyn Garden
Cumming (whose name has recently appeared before the
publics as the "lion hunter in Sault Asia"); Captain
Charles Forbes, Cluny Macpherson, Ronald Robett Whin,
and many other gentlemen equally well known for their at-
tadment to the sports and pastimes of •4cotler.d. The com-
mittee alto numbered several Englishmen, whose
exertions were scarcely lees enthu iastic than
these of the northern devotees. Amore,at the spec-
talon there were I persons of di. ticcCon, and
arrangenrants were made for the reception of her Majesty,
who had eignified her intention of being present on the
*cession. It was also understood that the N. paulese ambas-
sador would attend, and several " false alarms " were raised
at the expectation that his excellency was approuhing, but
'to the dea,app:intment of the spectators, and to the tempo-
racy inconvenierce of the Scottish '• body guard," who had
formed into a line to receive him, thatdistinguishedforeigner
did not make his appearance.
The sports commenced with a competition in archery, the
pr:za being open to all England, Scotland, and Ireland, and
the games which followed in succession were those of

running, leaping, throwing the hammer, putting the
stone, tossing the caber, broadsword exercise, sword
and target opposed to the beyond'', sword dsnce, reels,
strathspeys, and performance on the Hitehland bagpipe. It
will be sufficient ts mention some of the more interesting feats
and to make particular allusion to these men who best dia•
tinguished themselvis. In the early part ef the day the
mut exciting sports were those of throwing the hammer and
to,sing the caber, sod in these exhibitions the muscular
vigour of the competitors was displayed in lull farce.
Amongst those who strove for the prizes in these games
were Samuel Kennedy, Thtmas*M nzies, and Drnald
Freer, each of whom won very ciansidera'ile oppl .use for
the strength and welhtrained skill he exhibited.
The hammer to be thrown weighed 14lbs, and the
winner of the prize in this competition hurled the instrument
to a distance of 92 feet 2 inches; an achievement which to
an unpractised beholder was little less than a labour of
!females Tossing the caber was also a feat which required
a more than ordinary amount of human strength, the caber
being a ling pole resembling a poplar shorn nt its branches,
Menzes and Kennedy were also the succe"slul comp, titora
in this sport, but the former became '• first favourite" and
his powers were very soon backed against " the flad."
The performances of this man were certainly remark-
able not only for the physical strength displayed, but for the
tact that he appeared to do his work with less eff.irt than
any of his alvenaries.
The ;sports and pastimes were kept up with great spirit
the whole of the afternoon, and at intervals the scene was
enlivened by national dances and performances on the bag-
pipes, under the direction of Angus Mackay, the Queen's
piper ;who was attended by the bey' of the It ryal Caledonian
Asylum.
At five o'4:leek, her Majesty, accompat. ied by Prince Al-
bert, the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Prussia, arrived
in the park in an open carrisge. The appearance of the
Queen was the signal for an universal burst of applause, fol-
lowed by the performance of the National Anth, in, and by
• Scottish air called "The G.dn's my own" (S'e .m theinan
gleann). The royal party were received by the Marquis of
Breadalbane, Lord Chamberlain of the usehold and Pre-
sident 31 the Scottish Sxiety, • Ito conducted the carriage to
the centre of the ground , and; requested her hlsPety to
mention the particular sports she most desired to wane's.

A wrestling Match between two soldiers of the Scotch Foal-
leen, named Chalmers and Edgar, then took place, and her
Majesty seemed greatly smueed at the dexterity cf the
combatants, and at the good humour they evinced in their
most perilous falls. The pastimes of throwing the hammer,
tossing the caber, and putting the state were then repeated,
but the sport which seemed to afford the royal party the
greatest amusement was a race performed by four men with
shoeless feet, who ran some considerable distance beyond her
Majesty's carriage and returned to within a few yards of the
spot where the royal visitors were stationed. A combat be-
tween Bombardier Kelly and Leon Gillemard, French pro-
fessor of sword exercise, the former using a bayonet anu the
latter a sword and target, was amongst the various forms of
competition gone through in presence of her Majesty, and
this trial of skill excited a more than usual degree of interest
and curiosity. It of rimed that it was the first time Mons.
Gillemard had opposed his weapon to a bayonet, and there
was consequently much speculation as to the result.
The combat was carried on with great determi-
nation upon either side ; bui it was apparent
throughout that the bayonet-man would have very little
chance against the wielder of the sword in a bout of a more
serious description. lie received four hits in succession,
whilst his opponent came off completely unscathed. The
aivantage, however, which one man seemed to possess over
the other, did not so much consist in the superiority of 'skill
as in the undoubted power of the short weapon, aided by a
target, in opposition to the more cumbrous instrument,
which requires two hands to wield it. The Queen
seemed much gratified by this exhibition of .kill as well
by the other performances we have named. After remaining
on the ground about an hour and ;a qu , her Majesty
expressed herself pleased with the las ; and, at her own
desire, Cluny Macpherson and llavidacn of Telloch were
introduced to her Majesty by the Marquis of ffreadslbane.
The royal party retired amidst the enthusiastic cheers of
the spectators, and were followed by another carriage
(which formed part of the cortege), in whi.li were seated
Lady Jocelyn, the lion. Miss Dawson, Count Hermann
Pu. kler, and Count Charles de Golfs—both of whom were
in attendance on the Prince of Presets.

after Shorty Checiepartura of her Majesty the proceedings
of the day terminated.

Mr. Grippe had an interview with Earl Grey yes-
Mrslay. Captain Hamilton had also an interview yesterday
ith the noble earl at the Colonial-office.
SUPPLY OF PURE WATER TO THE METROPOLIS.—
Yesterday a public meeting of the inhabitants of the perish
of St. Leonard, Shonditch, was held at the Baptist Chapel,
Horton Old Town, for the purpose of taking measures to
obtain a continual supply of puce water to this portion of the
metropolis. Mr. M. J. O'Connell, M.l'., h,ving tt ken the
chair, said that it was unnecessary for him to enter into
details respecting the object of the meeting. One great result
had been arrived at by the eminent men who bad investi-
gated the subject,—that the health and lives of the inhabit-
ants of this metropolis were seriously endangered hp the
insufficiency of the water supply. The district of Shoreditch
was supplied at present by two companies, but the water
was detective in quantity, and unususily bard. If, however,
the plan to be submitted to the meeting should be carried
into effect these evils would be witeedied. It wee Pre-
posed to supply the perish by mesas of Artesian wale,
the water from which had been proved to be of excellent
quality. One great advantage of this scheme was that it re-
quired no art of parliament to carry it into .ffect, for by a
very old act passed in the reign of Oeorge 11., Rio autho-
rities of the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, were em-
powered to undertake any improvements without applying
to the legislature for its sanction. Mr. F. O. Phinpotes, la
moving the first resolution, !Ironed to the letters of Mr. J.
L. Tabberner, published in the Daily Neva, to prove the
greet superiority of the water from the A well in Tra-
falgarsquare over that supplied by the different water coM-
pmies, whether it wee taken from the New River or the
Thames above or below London-bridge. He stated that the
plan now proposed to supply the district of Sherediteh
with water was to sink Artesian wells within the parish.
By this means a constant supply of the purest water
would be obtained, which might be distributed at high
prewar* to every house at about half the present rates.
Itssolutioes in accordance with the object of the meeting
were adopted.

. 3.-uti I' *, • .r . ' 5... `• J. M.w PaUuft. Sob la

DRAMA.
FRENCH FLAYS.
" rbedre,* o•e of Haeine's tragedies, most fitted to
brier out is strong relief the great power" of Rachel, war
chosen ISM eV, reins Se the rpm's, performenee of that emt-
•ent actress. Her welcome was as cordial as might her
pieta from t►e terms sit► wki..h she has always beam
treated is London and the hdatitable taint which she die
played is the series of t.llisg scenes is w►ic► she
took pert. But still Racine is not sack • favourite
with so English audi-ace as to excite that in
West which every French spectator feels at the
repetition of each well kvow• Ime of their classic
tragediaa. Nothing meld he finer than the sense where
PAid. a cookware her unholy love t • Octanes ; nothing mold
equal the splendid dee!amsaion in the interview with
1 ynpc4te ; the germ of a nose was splendid; bat spirt
Emit these brilliant fl ohm of lick', the piece taken in its
entire was tweaked by Hach • ie elanclatly gloom I
of ineelioaity as to deli eves the opt odour of Rachel
M. R aphael, broth.r of Rachel, wies, perhaps, the least
midi:ere of the snbordiastei actors, but even be did not rise
math shove the general level of the other peeler's ere. The
star system, it is evident is followed here with all its worst
oorsequeeete. The audience felt it, sad though the *Euro
of Rachel were app'weaded as they &weed, the hum of
voices drowned the words of the other actors whe she
hit the stag•. If there be a poeicy in this, oh. thee on the
part of hid-le Rachel or of etyma' else, that rlicy is • bad
oat. ASIOSIIe the performances anuonaced b Adrienne
Lecoavrenr," by Scribe. Who, we would ask, can fill the
part so sda.arably acted in thin lay by Reg•isr—rose, mar-
Mialy, of the 'mediocrities th►t appeared last evening.