The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

COMPETITION OF PIPER 3.

EDINBURGH, JULY COMPETITION of
'PIPERS, agreeably to previous notice, -took place on Saturday.
in the Theatre Itoyal,,under all the ad-vantages of a full house,.
and a very brilliant assembly. The Earl of- FiF r. was Preses
of the Committee of Judges, members of the Highland SociV
of ScOtland, named at the request of the Highland Societrof
London, by which last Institution the prizes at this competitioW
are given. Ills Lordship was assisted by the Hon. (ien. Duff,
Mr. Young of flarburn, Mr. Graham Dalyell ; Mr. Mac-
donald of Dalnetis, Colonel Macbean, Major • Gordon, Mr.
Grant, W. S. Glenmorriston, Mr. George Robertson, Mr.
Stewart of Dalguise, and Mr. Mackenzie of Inverinet. The
house was lighted up with gas as usual; and light 'partially
admitted by the gallery windows, heightened, in our esti-
mation, the general effect, and produced a softness and delicacy
of shade which harmonized very well with the display of beauty
and fashion in theboxes. The curtain rose at 12 o'clock,when all
the competitors, pipers, and dancers, in full Highland costume,
appeared to the audience, drawn up around the stage,- amidst
appropriate stage scenery of Highland landscape. The coup
Wail had altogether a most pleasing effect. We formerly com-
mended this arrangement, when introduced a year or two, and
the lighting up of the stage, adopted for the first time on tills
occasion, is also decidedly an improvement. The different can-
didates who were to compete had finished playing a little after
3 o'clock, when the judges retired to determine the prizes—a
duty confessedly of •great difficulty, from the general merit of
many .of the performers. -• On their return, the Noble Preses,
dressed in the _true Highland costume, addressed the house in a
speech replete with excellent feeling, and appropriate reference to
Highland bravery anti merit. His Lordship said, that he felt
convinced in his own experience and intercourse with Highland-
ers, that the fosteriug and perpetuating of the warlike music of
their fathers, essentially contributed.to the upholding of sub-
stance and beauty of that heroic character which formed the na-
tion's boast anti their country's pride. All nations bad had their
warlike music. The'Greeks, the most illustrious of antiquity, had
theirs, and its effects were sung by their. immortal bards. Their
praiSes were rung from Pole to pole. Nor bad our warlike
countrymen wanted theirs ; and if their praises had .not been
so loudly or so widely sung, there was hardly a country in the
map of the world which might not be pointed out as the field of
their hraie achievements. Of Highland attachment and worth, I
as well as of bravery, he had himself received many proofs;
and it' ever danger should threaten our country, such were the
men, (pointing to the stage), he would glory in leading forth to
oppose it. " Were I," continued the _Noble Earl, •
" Were I to lead battalions out to war,
And hoped to-triumph in the victor's car,
• • " To gain the loud applause of worthy Fame,
Anti columns raised to eternize my name,—
I'd choose (had I my choice) that hardy race,
Who fearless can look terrors in the face ;
`ll'ho midst the.snows the best of limbs can fold
In tartan plaids, and smile at chilling cold."
Lord FIFE then delivered the several prizes as they had been
awarded, as follows :

The Ist, a very handsome Pipe, with an elegant flag, bear-
ing the banner of the Highland Society of London, the
Patrons of this Competition, handsomely painted by Mr.
31`Innes, Heraldic Painter in this city, to Donald Stewart,
Piper to the 79th regiment, or Cameronian Highlanders, who
won the second prize last year. .
The 2d, to John Gordon, Piper to the Atholl Club, who had
previously gained 3d and 4th Prizes.
The 3d, to Ronald Mackenzie, from Ross-shire.
The 4th, to William Smith, Piper to the Inverness-shire
Militia ; and
The 3th, to John Macdonald, from Fortingall, a promising
young player, only 13 years of age.
In addressing Donald Stewart. the successful Competitor for
the Prize Pipe, his Lordship said, that he had,a gratefUl duty
devolved on him—the bravery of his corps (79th) was well
known and appreciated : his Lordship himself had witnessed
some of their gallant deeds. To the man he now addressed
belonged. this day the proudest triumph the heart of a piper
knows to acknowledge. He had already, as his dress bore wit.
ness, finight for his country,-and gained its praise of war. He
had now gained the-prize of honour before the assembled beauty
and intelligence of a peaceful country, and on his return to his
companions in battle he would still be greeted by theirs. His
Lordship hoped the private . conduct of every one who had on
this occasion appeared as candidates, would continue to merit
the praises and applause that were bestowed on them in
?Odic, !and very appropriately concluded, by returning the
thanks of the Committee, in name of their constituents, to
the numerous!!and fashionable company assembled, for the
continued patronage afforded to this national competition,
and also to Mrs. Siddons and Mr. 31urray, for their liberality
in granting annually, for-the purpose, the gratuitous use of the
Theatre. Ills Lordship, in the course of his address to the
audience and competitors, was frequently cheered.—lt may be
said of this competition, that not au indifferent performer ap-
peared on the stake; and when every one went through. his
pan in a masterly nranner, it .would be almost injustice to no-
tice individuals ; but we cannot help particularly remarking
that Alexander Dewar, piper to Sir Neil Menzies, Bart.—John
Forbes, front Killiechassie—John Grant, piper to- the lion.
Colonel Grant of Grant—aud Donald M`Donald-, piper to the
72d Highland regiment, were all supetior players. The •Preses
observed tkat these pipers having previously gained several
minor prizes, could now only compete for those of a higher
description. The audience were likewise excited to just
admiration of the talents of four boys, John Macdonald, who
won the sth prize; Angus 3l`Kay, limn Drummond Castle,
son of Loral Ow;'dir's excellent piper; Donald Farquharson,
from Breadalbane ; and Peter Dewar, from Sir Neil Menzies'
estate, all of whom played well, although neither of them
beyond 13 years of age. . The scene, on the whole, was inte-
resting and delightful. During the exhibitiOn of pipers, High-
land dunces and Strathspeys were introduced at -proper in-
tervals, in which the competitors in that 'department dis-
played much agility, and greatly pleased the audience.—
The whole were also so admirably well dressed, that selec-
tion was difficult; and in delivering the prizes for the best
dressed competitors, to Angus Cameron, from Rannoch, Mal-
colm Macpherson, from Ilreadalbane, and Duncan Menzies,
from Glenlvon, the l'reses mentioned that the Committee had
been guided very. much by the circumstance of their dresses
having been made of tartans the manufactory of their native
glens. In fine, this year's exhibition did ample credit to the
Society's exertions ; and it is with pleasure we have heard it
mentioned, that the judge's intend to recommend that a prize
shall in future be given to the best dancer, which, we have no
doubt, will be speedily followed with effects as obvioui and be-
neficial as have attended the prizes recently instituted for the
best dressed Highlanders.

Next Friday—Four Prizes of tc21,000,
amounting to t 204,442, the largest Sum ever
known in Prizes in One Da', with 64 Pipes of
Next Frida!).