Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-08 00:00:00

THE BRAEIIIkR GATHERING.

The annual muster of Highlant:l. clans to celebrate Pi
" Braemsr gathering," taok place on the lawn in front
the old Castle of Mar, in presence of the (Ineen
Court, on Thursday. Preparations of a very unnoara
character were made for the present occasion, and 14atio
favoured by the weather, which had baen most isaispirl°lo
in the morning, bet cleared up. at moor. Daring ....
previous day an immense nuinber of. strangers had asseu'o
bled in and around the villi.ge of Charlestown,_ and fr„4
an early hour on Thursday morning, crowds of pad estt,a,n
g,
were wending their way towards the scene of the gatheri '
The first muster of the clans in order, a insisted of
linrraeli Highlanders, or Craig lever mein, uudor their cb1:0
Sir Charles Forbes of New. They numbered 11,-.
stalwart fellows, all equipped in the Highland gar;
Sir Charles, with Sir lorbes, of Craigioro',
and Colonel Teesdale (ens of the heroes of Kars) bad Rd!
march from Strathdon to Invercanall on the WednesdaY:
haying opposite to Balmoral, and biyounaking for °ir.
night in teuts at Invereauld. gathered in fr°9;
of the ruvercauld Arms at Castletown on Tianfsdal ,
noon, and were soon joined by 80 of t'io
Inveresuld men, or Farquharson lii-ehlanderf
under their chiefs—viz., Captain Fareph?.sarson,
the Scotch Fusilier Guards. and his brothers: The ne,:l
muster was that of the Doff Highlanders, wh .r.vere heauhf
by the Earl of Fife, Viscount Macdoff, and officered 5
Captain Kennedy Erskine, Mr. Brooke, and Mr.G. 1.414,;(
F)r. The Earl of Airlie was also present at the 0136;i0
with a goodly number of the Airlie Ilighla ciders, aed 79,
whole, with banners filing and pipes play ing, inarchell.ol
the Castle park, where they formed two sides of a
within which the games came off. The gathering
much larger than it had been on any fe.rmer occasion, 30,
the appearance of the Highlanders was ev.ceedinglY hap
posing. On the green ernbankannt arornd the es:,".o,
reserved places were occupied by the families of the wile
tocracy who were prearit, Mr and Mrs. Farquharson Binh/
ing every kindness to their distinguished guests. On '''tj
brow of the bank sofas were placed for the Q leen 11„"ef
Court, from which a commanding view of the whole searelit
as well as the surrounding country, was obtained. 'Alt
games commenced about two o'clock. and at three the QlBs
drove up to the Castle, and was received with long-cynto,-.0.
applause. Her Majesty wore the Royal S•nart TaViv;
and the Prince Consort was dressed in the Highland PO
The gainer consisted of the usual routine of throwing itls
s'one, putting the hammer, anti tossing the cisel, t
racing and dancing. It will serve to show the strength g/
aroi of some of these Highlanders,when we state that 0;e00,
weighing 28a lb was thrown by Gregor M Gregory,' 0
Glenfishie, 25 feet 5 inches.; and that William Mthialo
Strathdon, threw a hammer of 16 lb 72 feet 6 incbrs; 'me!
throws gaining the first prizes. This same M Haril
the large stone 27feet 6 inches, but as he had been a "tbo
prize man before, he could only be allowed a medal ill eti
present contest. The dances consisted of the Stratbsly
and the sword dance,. which were spiritedly contested, .off
drew forth from her Majesty special comment:W?
Before the games were well through the weather 011:1"$11.
for the worse, and the Queen hal to take shelter 000
Castle, which was very tastefully deoorated with 11`),1
and evergreens, and soon after the Court left a".,e10
Highlanders returned to the village, where they rho.,
liberally entertained by their chiefs, In the evening,"v
was a ball in the Castle, which was crowded as usna,a,"tote
c3ntinued to au early hour in the morning. The 1/117iitil
tial results of this gathering will be a considerable ad" 0
to
.the. funds. of the benevolent society the jetore.
which it i% chiefly intended to subserye,