The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

ST. FILLAN'S HIGHLAND SOCIETY.

This Society, which was instituted by Lord ;WYD r lt, for
the purpose of perpetuating and encouraging the peculiar and
favourite amusements of the Highlanders, held their Fifth
Annual Meeting on the 31st ult. The Society assembled about
eleven o'clock, in their Hall, a neat building in the village
of St. Fillan, situated at the foot of Loch Earn, from whence
they proceeded along a circuitous road to the field fitted tip
for the sports of the day ; each Clan fully attired in their
respective garbs, headed by their leaders and pipers, with the
Chieftain or Preses in front. The number in this procession
was from 400 to 500, and, when winding through the hills, had
a most imposing efect, When they arrived on
the ground the
Society formed around the stage fitted up for the various ex-
hibitions, and, after a short address from the Chieftain, in which
he complimented them on their appearance and regularity,
they were dismissed for the present, and the competitions com-
menced. The first was that of the pipers. About a dozen
candidates appeared for the prizes held out to them. Then fol-
lowed the athletic exercises of the putting stone—the sledge
hammer —turning the bar—dancing Scotch reels—the sword
dance—firing at the target with the common and rifle
gun—and
last of all a foot race. In all these exercises much skill anti
great strength and agility were displayed. In particular the
music and dancing were excellent, and the strength shewn in
throwing the putting stone and the hammer, extraordinary. The
firing at the target too, which was placed at the distance of one
hundred yards, was remarkably good; not more than three of
the many competitors having missed it, though all shot off
hand. During the interval between the dancing and shoot-
ing Lord and Lady (Iwydyr entertained the Society in a
large tent erected for the occasion, to which many of the
strangers were kindly invited, and most hospitably treated.—
While the firing was going on, it deserves to be noticed, that
four of Lady (Iwydyr's party appeared on the boards, fully
attired in the Highland garb, and danced the reel of " Hulihan"
in grand style. These various competitions continued till
about six o'clock, when the society formed again, and returned
to their hall, in the same regular order, preceded by the suc-
cessful pipers, where they dined, and spent the evening in the
most social manner. This society has excited much interest in
the Highlands, and deservedly so. It gives the poorest of the
poor an opportunity of meeting and passing a day with his
Chieftain, and of recounting the adventures of olden times—
the delight of a Highlander. As neatly as could be guessed,
the number present would be about 7,000 or 0,000, and a more
gay and respectable assemblage of beauty and fashion is sel-
dom to be seen. In short, it is impossible, in the limits of it
paragraph, to give any thing like an adequate description
of it.

FETIGUSSON Cum—Sunday the sth, being the
birth-day of Fergusson the Poet, the United Society of Sociable
Fergusson's Club held their Anniversary dinner in the St.
Andrew's Tavern, High-street, on Monday the 6th.—Early in
the morning the room was elegantly decorated with laurel, and
hung with beautiful festoons of flowers. The dinner, &c.
which was excellent, was served in the best style, and did
ample justice to the good taste of the landlord ( Mr. It. Hepburn).
On the cloth being removed, the memory of Fergusson,
Burns, Tannehill, Byron, &c. were given, as well as the healths
of many of the living bards of the day. Other excellent and
appropriate toasts followed. The bumper devoted " to the
fair daughters of Auld Reikie" even Bachelors of forty
quaffed to the bottom. Many fine songs, glees, duetts, &c.,
were sung, and the national airs played by a select band, im-
parted a happy
and buoyant spirit to the company, whose
social feelings spoke aaction in every smile. The fare being
good, not " the cock crowing, nor early dawn," could warn our
" hearty blades," who, likebim whose genius they had met to
celebrate, "loved good humour and a song before their bed,"
and it was not until illorpheus, aided by
.Bacchus, had begun
to steal upon them, that they could think of departing. At
last they retired, highly gratified with each other's company,
and the whole transactions of the evening.---(Ediuberg Courant,
Sept. 13 • )

" What a pity it is," said a Lady to GAR-
nicx, "that you are not taller !"—" I should be happy, In-
deed, Madam," replied 61Annicx, " to be higher in your esti-
mation !"
On Wednesday evening last a large meteor
was observed to pass over Maidstone, from the
southeast to the west.—(llaidstone Gazette.)