The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-24 00:00:00

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Lord Kinnaird's Quarrel with a Lady.

(From the Scotsman.)
Lord Kinnaird's arbitrary conduct in preventing, not
many days ago, a match at cricket between the luchmartine
and Rossie Clubs, which was to be played upon his pro-
perty, on the ground that mischief was apt or likely to
come of the too free use of spirituous liquors attending the
matches of the luchmartine Club, has aroused a consi-
derable amount of feeling among the members of the
Inehmattine Cricket and Curling Clubs, His lordship
refused, when applied to by the office-bearers of the
clube, to give any further explanation of his conduct
than that to be derived from a study of the " specific

reasons" alleged in his original note forbidding the
match, In consequence, a joint meeting of the clubs was
called, at which a letter addressed by the secretaries to Lord
Kinnaird was read, defying his lordship to substantiate his

charges against the clubs, and demanding a public with-
drawal of, and apology for, those charges; in default of which
his lordship could not appear on either tho Inchmartine
curling pond or cricket-field, while the clubs would take no
part in any match in which Lord Kinnaird was engaged.
Strongly-worded resolutions, generally to the same cffuot a&
the letter, were agreed to—the only difference of opinion in
the meeting being as to whether even stronger language
should not be used.—Mr Sime stated that, as Mrs Fer-

gusson Blair, of Inchmartine, was the principal person
implicated (she having behaved with kind hospitality when-
ever a match took place), he thought that she ought to be
informed of the resolutions they had come to. He would
therefore move that Mrs Fergusson Blair be invited to
attend the meeting to hear the resolutions read. This
was unanimously agreed ta, On receiving the invitation,
Mrs Blair said she would be happy to comply with the
wishes of the clubs. On entering the hall of meeting,
Mrs Fergusson Blair was received with the most marked
respect by all present. The course of the proceedings
having been explained, and the resolutions read to her
by the Secretary, Mrs Fergusson Blair said—Gentlemen,
it is unusual for a female to take part in meetings of
this nature, but mine is at all times an unusual and
anomalous position. Sole guardian of my son, and manager
and trustee of his large property, I am often called upon to
assume duties quite foreign to my feminine nature. But
on this occasion I felt it not only my duty but my pleasure
to appear amongst you at your request. I wish to express

vivcc voce my opinion of Lord Kinnaird's most unwarrant-
able and ungentlemanlike attack upon the members of the
Inchmartine Curling and Cricket Clubs. Nothing emanat-

ing from that quarter could injure you or me in the estima.
tion of our neighbours ; but unfortunately this accusation,
through the medium of the public prints, has gone over the
length and breadth of the land; and his lordship has thus
shown the will to do us harm, though he lacks the power.
Who but Lord Kinnaird would have tried to cast a slur
upon the actions of a lady—alone—without a protector save
her scn, a boy 1 Time was when he (Lord Kinnaird)'
would not have dared to breathe my name but in terms of
deepest respect ; and it will not add to the small modicum
of good-will borne towards him that he now tries to
insult a lady in my unprotected state. I can, however,
boldly face his lordship, and, armed with the breastplate
of truth, can deny his accusations made to cover his dis-
appointment on another subject. Lord Kinnaird's politi-
cal views have been long known to me, but only lately has
he been enlightened as to mine. You will all agree with
me that my son is much too young to have any political
bias whatever, and I fondly trust that he will never follow
in Lord Kinnaird's footsteps. None of you will blame me
for refusing to allow my boy to become a tool in his hands.
I can well afford to dispense with friendship only to be re-
tained on such terms. I speak strongly, for I feel strongly
that this paltry accusation was trumped up to cover
far deeper schemes than a mere game of cricket,
and to this may be attributed this sudden burst
of teetotal virtue. Lord Kinnaird's antecedents should
have prevented his trying to throw doubt upon the re-
spectability and honour of men in all respects of unim-
peachable character. He has, as I said before, done you
no harm—the only one he has injured is the poor youm
man he alludes to (who belongs to himself, not to us,
whose name he has brought forward so prominently in
this matter, and who may well now say. " Save me from
my friends." Had Lord Kinnaird acted like a Christian—
which he professes to be—and as a gentleman—which he
ought to be—he would have written to me in a friendly
manner, stating his own peculiar views ; for we have
always been on the most intimate terms till now, when
he has chosen to take umbrage at my doing what was only
my duty. This clearly shows the animus which has
prompted this insult.--(The delivery of this speech was
greeted with loud and frequent cheering.)—The meeting
shortly after broke up,

An official circular having been recently issued from Pall-
mall, announcing the desire of Government to receive
tenders and propositions for converting the Enfield rifle into
a breach-loading arm, it was yesterday announced at Wool-
wich that no fewer than 34 different methods had been sub-
jected to the War Department by British and foreign gun-
makers and others, the whole of which aro now under the
consideration of a committee of officers of great experience.
The timo allowed to inventors having expired, no other
propositions will be received.
Col. 11, D. Harness, C,8., director of the Royal Engineer
establishment, Chatham, has received a lengthened leave of
absence from the Horse Guards prior to his relinquishing the
command of the Engineer establishment, and his retirement
from the service with the honorary rank of major-general.
Among the officers mentioned as being likely to succeed Col.
Harness are Col. J. W. Gordon, C. 8., commanding Royal
Engineers at Portsmouth, and Col. J. L. A. Simmons,
0.11., attached to the Staff at Aldershot Camp. Pending the
tvpointment of a successor to Col. Harness, the command
of the Royal Engineer establishment devolves on Lieut.-
Col. T. 13. Colliuson.
Messrs. Higge and Co. having terminated their building
contract with the War Department for the present term,
Mr Thomas Seward, their agent in Woolwich Arsenal, has
been presented with an elegant silver goblet by the men it
his employ, as a token of their esteem and regard.
PLUNDERING A FOUNDATION STONE.—A young
man named Sowden has just been arrested at Bodmin,
Cornwall, on suspicion of being concerned in a novel species
of robbery. It appears that on Tuesday the foundation
atone of some new national schools now being built in Bod-
min was removed and the bottle containing coins and other
articles, deposited in the atone at the time the ceremony was
_ performed, stolen,