The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-23 00:00:00

XHE.LIIGIILAND SOCIETY OF LONDON.

The annual gathering of the members of this society,
for the purpose of commemorating the battle of Alex-
andria, was held last evening at Freemasons' Hall.
The avowed objects of this society (which was established
in 1778 and incorporated in 1815) are for preserving the
martial spirit, dress, music, and language ; the remains
of- Celtic literature and antiquities of the ancient Cale-
donians; encouraging a kindly feeling between High-.
lenders iu all parts of the world, and in other respects
promoting the general welfare of the northern parts
the kingdom.
The members sat down to an excellent dinner, which
was presided over by Sir Charles Forbes, Bart., who was
supported by General Sir John Wilson, Sir John :Milky
Doyle ; De. Chisholin, of the Royal Artillery Medical
and abut 50 other gentlemen. Mr. Crawford
gave his valuable services., and Rang several solos. Miss
St. Armand presided at the pianoforte, and Miss Ito-
bertean Stage, a young lady from Edinburgh, made her
first appearance as a vocalist. The usual preliminary
toasts having been drunk and most loyally responded to,
'['he CllaniMaN next proposed to the company the
toast of "The memory of Abercrombie, and the -heroes
who fell with him in Egypt," to be drunk in solemn
,ilence.• Tcis was.the anniversary of the Highland So-
ciety, which, in 'spite of all difficulties and opposition,
and in spite of attempts to cry clown the utility of •the
Vighland Society, had Boon above it all. (Cheers.) It
had coetieued to prosper and steadily to do goo.l. The
eresent toast was espeAaliy • directed to the her who
fe lin Egypt.. It. was a melancholy occasion, but at. the
saree time it was one of pride, which Lrouget l a lc to
their recollection the gallant heroes who perished at Viet
glorious fight.
Tee CHATE/lAN proposed the health of Lord Saltoun,
the president of the society, and then proceeded to:give
h n el&iseth.a3lipudueidce tool
otl;iternugiaildigany e
"The Army and Navy," a to
which was received
evyoinuic•atpotfurloitsisitit,pyla)llallusie,z.
who hid endeared himself to every soldier by the hearty
good feeling he had evinced towards, them. (Loud
cheers.) Of the army and navy it was imdossibra to
speak too highly. On a Info occasion—nand when be
said that they all knew what he meant.— they all must
admire as he did, the bravery, the gallantry, the indo-
mitable courage—the insuperable courage which hat by
the.will of God, signalised the efforts of the army and
navy. He raid by this will of God, ly..ca.use within the
last few menthe, indeed at their last anniversary, they
ha,' seven gallant officers of the army present, four of
whom had been killed, and one who was wounded had
afterwards died of Lis wounds, making five out of seven
Who had perished in the cause of their country.
.(Hear.)
This he considered to be an illustration of what the Bri-
tish army was. The British army had evinced a Spirit
of endurance which was known only to that army.
(Cheers.) For himself as a Briton—as a son of Britain
--he felt it to be a pride to have such an army and navy.
He drank the health of the British army, including
English, Scotch, and Irish, God bless them, and bring
them back to receive that tribute of affectionate admira-
tion which the country was ready to bestow on them.,
Sir Josef MILLEY DOYLE returned thanks for the
army, and, alluding to his own career,
stated that in
early life be belonged to the 92d Gordon Highlanders,
He wore the petticoats in the 92d in Egypt. He had
derived many useful lessons from his Scottish superiors,
Prudence was not a distinguishing characteristic of an
Irishman, but ingratitude was not a crime which at-
tached to the Irish character. (Loud cheers.)
Captain JAY, R.N., returned thanks on behalf of the
Navy.
Many ether toasts followed. Mr. Crawford, sang
several Scotch songs with great effect,' and Mils Ar-
mand played some variations on the ‘qillne Bills of
Scotland" in a very creditable manner. Miss Robertson
Stage made her debut with the song M "What's the
steer, kimmer." The young lady, who has a• good
mezzo soprano voice, was loudly encored.
Sir JOHN MILLEY DOYLE gave the health of Sir Colin
Campbell and the Highland Brigade. The toast was
drunk in a manner ot ly to be imagined by Highlanders.
A. dance by two of the younger sons of Sir Charles
Forbes was admirably executed, with all the natioral
enthusiasm which characterises their respected father ;
and the evening concluded with the usual Scottish fes-
tivities. s.