The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-22 00:00:00

THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON.

A festival was held last evening at the Freemasons'
Tavern, 'Great Queen-street, under the auspices of this
ancient society, in commemoration of the victory of
Alexandria, gained under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, who
fell mortally wounded in the battle. His Grace the
Duke of Argyll presided, and the company, who num-
bered about 150, incltided Sir John Campbell, Sir Charles
Forbes, Colonel Brandling; Captain Macdonald, General
Delamotte, Captain Miller, Dr. S. Chisholm, Messrs.
A. and G. Mackenzie, Dr Soden, Captain Jay, Mr. J.
Beaumont, Dr: Cumming, and many other gentlemen
connected by birth and association with the Highlands.
The Highland Society, it may be mentioned, was
established in 1778, for preserving the martial spirit,
dress, music, and language, encouraging a kindly feeling
between Highlanders in all parts of the world, and pro-
moting the general welfare of the northern part of the
kingdom.
During the dinner Angus Mackay, the Queen's piper,
and Donald Mackenzie, the piper of the Duke of Suther-
land, marched round the room and aroused the enthu-

siasm of their compatriots by their stirring performance
on the bagpipes, and in the course of the evening a
selection. of Scottish airs was most creditably played by
the juvenile band of the Caledonian'Asylum, under the
direction of the band-master, Mr. Edwards.
The noble CHAIRMAN, in giving the health of " The
Queen," ieferred to the frequent visits paid by her Ma-
jesty to the Highlands, and the happiness enjoyed by her
in the seclusion of her Highland home.
The other loyal toasts followed, after which
Sir CHARLES FORBES proposed, in cordial and compli-
mentary terWs, "The Health of the President of the
Highland Society," the respected nobleman, he said,
who had consented to take the chair on that occasion.

The noble Duns, in -aokuowleding the- toast; said it
was unnecessary to assure them that nothing could give
him greater pleasure than to promote to the best of his
power the objects of the society, which objects were, he
considered, mainly to encourage union and good fellow-
ship among those who by birth, family, and feelings
were connected with the Highlands of Scotland. He
then alluded to the strong local and hereditary attach-
ments by Highlanders were characterised, and
which, notwithstanding the lapse of time, was dis-
played ,in undiminished force in their love for their
native land. In this respect Highlanders were perhaps
of all races the most remarkable ; and the more so be-
cause their habits were not sedentary, for they were to be
found in all parts of the world, from the snows of Canada
to the palms of India, and under all climes and circum-
stances displaying an energy and perseverance which
gave the lie to the accusations of idleness sometimes
brought against them. However distant they might be,
and after long years had passed, they invariably re-
turned, if they were fortunate enough to return at all,
with all, heir early memories and the associations which
gather round the Highlands of Scotland, bringing on
their tongue unmistakeable marks of their - origin, and
coming back with accents which, to his thinking, were
a great improvement on the " Queen's English" (laugh-
ter), and breathing still of the heather and the bourn.
(Cheers.) He never liked to see a Scotchman trying to
conceal his origin by his tongue, a practice which re-
minded him of the anecdote related in the life of Lord
Jeffrey of a certain Scottish personage, of whom it was
said that he had lost his broad Scotch, but only in find-
ing his narrow English. After some remarks in defence
of the Highland character from the charges of idleness
and ignorance, and ascribing its defects to the want of
education, the Chairman, in qpnclusion, expressed a
hope, now that so great a number of English flocked to
the liighlands, that they would unite, heart and soul
in improving the moral and social condition of their
population (Enthusiastic applause greeted the noble
duke at the conclusion of his speech on resuming his
seat.) .

The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Memory of those
heroes who fell with Abercrombie at the battle of Alex-
andria," which was drank in solemn silence.

The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Army and Navy," and
in a brief, but forcible address, expressed his dissent
from the singular doctrines which had been propounded
on the subject of peace and war under the authority of
an eminent member of the House of Commons, who,
. .

because a war might be unjust in its origin, though he
wholly disagreed with him on that point, thought it
right to visit with his censure the exploits of our gallant
army, on the ground of the mistakes, or assumed mis-
takes, of our statesmen.

Captain JAY and General DELAMOTTE, of the Indian
service, severally returned thanks.
Sir C. FORBES then* proposed " Chiefs and Clans,"
which was drank with Highland honours, as were most
of the toasts of the evoning.

The CHAIRMAN, in giing the " Caledonian Asylum,"
warmly commended its management, and described it as
one of the best conducted institutions in London.

Sir C. FORBES, in responding to the toast, said the
asylum had been declining the last five or six years, and
observed that if Scotchmeu in London . and elsewhere
did not rally round it and save the institution, it would
be a subject of lasting regret and disgrace to the society.
"The Visitors," the "Ladies," "Sword and Plaid,"
and other toasts followed, and were enthusiastically re-
i
ceived, and the company broke up at a late hour, after
passing a most agreeable evening.