The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-16 00:00:00

to all, save the gentleman before alluded to, who, in
its purchase, had doubtless a pecuniary object in view•
Shakspere's house, after all, will not be taken
across the Atlantic ; it will remain at Stratford-upon-
Avon.

BANK• OF ENGLAND.
(THIS DAY.)
The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of the Bank of England was this day held, at twelve
o'clock, for the purpose of considering of a dividend.
This was also the quarterly general court of the
proprietors, appointed by the charter, held for the
purpose of confirming the late election of James
Morris, Esq., to the office of:Governor, and of G. F.
Prescott, Esq., to the office of Deputy-Governor, and
for the transaction of the ordinary business. The
minutes of the last court having been read and con-
firmed,

JAMES MORRIS, Esq., the newly-elected governor,
then said—Gentlemen, I have to acquaint the court
that this is a quarterly general court, appointed by
the charter, and also the usual half-yearly general
court appointed by the bye-laws to consider the
dividend. I have to inform the court that the
directors, having considered the state of the Bank's
accounts, are of opinion that a dividend should be
made of 4f per cent. interest and profits—(Loud
cheers)—for the half-year ending the 10th of October
next, without any deduction of income-tax.—(Re-
newed cheers.) It affords the directors great satis-
faction to add, that in addition to the 41 per cent.
which we are enabled to declare as a dividend, we
shall add the sum of 26,4001. Ito " rest."—(Cheers.)
The reason for which the directors considered it better
to recommend a dividend of 41 per cent., instead of
3f per cent. and a bonus of 1 per cent. additional, is,
that if we adopt the latter course those who have
only a life interest in the stock would not participate
in the benefits to that extent. Although we call it a
dividend of 41 per cent., we should wish it to be con-
sidered as 31 per cent. with the addition of 1 per
cent. It must not be supposed that we contemplate
declaring a dividend of 41 per cent. for the future ;
we wish the present to be considered simply as a
dividend of 3f per cent. If the profits of banking
should keep as high as they have been, it will of
course be a pleasure to the directors to increase the
dividend, and they would prefer so doing to adding
anything in the shape of bonuses.—(Cheers.) If
any gentleman has any observations to make I should
be happy to hear him previous to putting the
question.
W. FIELDER, Esq., wished to say that he most
cordially coincided in the recommendation of the
directors, and considered that it was satisfactory to
hear that the state of the Bank was in so flourishing
a state.
P. CLARK, Esq., wished to know what would be
the total amount of the "rest" after the payment of
the proposed dividend.
The GOVERNOR—After the payment of the divi-
dend the " rest" will amount to 3,270,754/. We
propose to divide 654,8781. among the proprietors ;
you will then have the total amount of " rest"
3,270,7541.
W. FIELDER, Esq.—Are we to understand that
after the payment of the dividend there will remain a
sum of 26,4001. to add to the " rest."
The GOVERNOR—That is the case.
T. Coox, Esq.—After reserving the sum appointed
for dividends they would then have a sum of upwards
of 270,0001. above 3,000,0001. lie thought that the
great point to consider was how much was actually
necessary for effectually working the affairs of the
Bank. It was generally considered that a sum of
3,000,0001. was amply sufficient. If that were so
(and it was a question open to discussion) the
directors were reserving over and above that sum
about 270,000/. Now, 200,000/. would be equal to
a bonus of 2 per cent. upon the stock, while they
were at present only receiving 1 per cent. additional,
whereas if the amount of " rest" were kept down to
the 3,000,0001. they might be receiving 3 per cent.
bonus, or close upon it, and if a bonus of 2 per cent.
only were to be declared the directors might then
have a sum of 100,0001. or upwards, in addition to
3,000,0001., and which was generally considered
sufficient.—(Hear, hear.)
The GOVERNOR—The Court must be aware that in
the valuation of the assets, we were obliged to include
a considerable number of Government Securities.—

(Hear, hear.) Those securities were purchased at a
time when they were of a higher value than they are
at present. It' we were to take the valuation of those
securities at the sum which they would now realise,
it would as nearly as possible make a difference of
about 200,000l.—(Hear, hear.) We have, therefore,
but a slight amount of excess over that for which the
Hon. Proprietor has been arguing, namely, a "rest" of
_ _

3,000,0001.
T. COOK, Esq.—The Bank buildings were not in-
cluded in the valuation, and they had been estimated
by competent persons to be of the value of about
800,000/. or 1,000,0001. When the dividend was last

declared, the stock, amounting to about 150,0001., was
not taken into consideration. The directors have no
wish to sell that stock; large profits had been made
upon that stock, but they had not, on previous occa-
sions, been considered as profits, and the loss by the
sale of the securities (if they were sold) ought not to
be considered as loss. If 3,000,0001. of " rest " was
enough, there was at present a sum of 270,0001. be-
yond that, which was more than equal to a bonus of
2 per cent. He disapproved of adding any unneces-
sary sum to the amount of " the rest.
W. FIELDER, Esq., wished to know whether, in
calculating the amount of " the rest" the directors had
considered those Government annuities which were
called " the dead weight," which were annuities for
the term of 44 years, upon which 540,0001. was
annually paid, and whether it was thought that the
10,000,000/. would be paid back at the termination of
the annuities? _ _ _

The GOVERNOR—A certain portion is set apart for
the purpose of redeeming the cost of them.
W. FIELDER, Esq.—Was the same course adopted
with respect to another class of annuities called the
twenty-six years' annuities ?
The GOVERNOR—It was.

if:I;;LDER, Esq., said that he found from the
returns of the Bank, that on the 28th of August last
the amount of "rest" was 3,368,1231., and on the 6th
of September it amounted to 3,865,933/. ; he wished
to know how the difference was to be accounted for ?
The GOVERNOR—The amount of the "rest" is made
up on the Saturday previous to the 31st of August.
The difference between the two sums referred to by
the Hon. Proprietor arose from the payment of
several sums after that period, but prior to striking
the balance of the profit and loss account.
Mr. LEVY thought that in so large a concern as
the Bank of England it was not a wise course to
screw out the last farthing for dividend. He was
satisfied if a rest of 3,000,0001. was required that the
directors should have some 270,0001. over and above
that sum. He did not complain about the dividend,
but he did about the small share which the pro-

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
DONCASTER RACES.
DONCASTER, WEDNESDAY MORNING, NINE O'CLOCK.
The prices reported from the course showed an im-
provement in Cossack and Foreclosure, and a slight de-
cline in Van Tromp, who was backed in the early part
of the day at 5 to 1, and was unquestionably second
favourite. The Subscription-room was thronged last
night until near one o'clock, and the betting, after
repeated fluctuations, closed as we have quoted below.
At one time 6 to 4 was laid on Cossack, and 5 to 1 taken
about Foreclosure; 8 to 1 offered at first agst Planet,
who was subsequently backed in several quarters at 7 to
1. Lord Eglinton's horses were steady, but only the
Dutchman backed; both will run, and " the best will
win." Mr. Pedley, it is understood, will declare to win
with Foreclosure. The Great Yorkshire Handicap
betting was'almost nominal. Latest prices:—
ST. LEGER.
12 to 1 agst Eryx—taken
14 to I agst Philosopher
I 40 to 1 agst Swallow
I Black Dwarf is scratched.
IRE HANDICAP.
12 to 1 agst Tragical
12 to 1 agst Yardley
BY.
33 to 1 agst Backbiter
50 to 1 agst Loadstone—
taken

6 to 5 on Cossack

6 to 1 agst Van Tromp—t
11 to 2 agst Foreclosure—t
7 to 1 agst Planet—taken
GREAT YORKSH
7 to 1 agst Palma—taken I
8 to 1 agst Lothario

prietors had in the election of the directors.
PARRY DE WINTON, Esq., thought that the direc-
tors had acted wisely in the course they had adopted.
The amount of rest had gone on increasing every
year. On the sth of September, 1845, the amount
of rest was 3,016,0001., but it was now 3,986,000/.
He hoped that the directors would continue to pay
the same dividend as they now proposed.
The GOVERNOR then put the question authorising
the directors to pay a dividend of 4} per cent. with-
out deduction of income-tax, which was unanimously
agreed to.

DEB

12 to 1 agst Surplice
14 to 1 agst Springy Jack
25 to 1 agst Nil Desperan-
dum

WEDNESDAY.

-The GOVERNOR—Now, as this dividend is of a larger
amount than paid last year, it will be necessary, in
order to be quite sure, that there should be a general
ballot of the proprietors in order to confirm that divi-
dend. I will therefore move that a general Court be
holden on Wednesday next, Sept. 22.,.at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, in order to take a •ballot upon the
following question, viz. :—" That a dividend of 4i
per cent. interest and profits be paid for the half-year
ending 10th of October next, without any deduction
of income-tax."

The Municipal Stakes of 200 soya. each, h ft, for two
yrs old colts, Bst 71b ; and fillies, Bst 41b. Red
house in. (10 Subs.)
Mr. Mostyn's Surplice ••• (Nat) 1
Sir IL W. Bulkeley's Miss Orbell ..• .. 2
10 to lon Surplice. Won in a canter by two lengths.
The St. Leger Stakes of 50 soya, each, h ft, for three yrs
old colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 21b; the second to re-
ceive 300 sovs. out of the stakes, and the third 100.
St. Leger Course. (149 Subs.)
Lard Eglinton's Van Tromp ... ••• (J. Marson) 1
Mr. Pedley's Cossack ... ..• (Templetnan) 2
Lord Eglinton's Eryx ... (Marlow) 3
The following also started, but were not placed:--
Mr. L. Fox's Philosopher ... ••• (ii'. Butler) 0
Mr. Mostyn's Swallow... ... ••• (Holmes) 0
Mr. Meeson's Jovial ... ••• ...(Whitehouse) 0
Mr. Mostyn's Planet ... ••• ... (Nat) 0
Mr. Pedley's Foreclosure ... ••• (A. Day) 0
Betting-5 to 4on Cossack (t)-4 to 1 agst Van
Tromp-11 to 2 agst Foreclosure-7 to 1 ags Planet
(taken freely)-12 to 1 agst Eryx—and 25 to 1 agst
Philospher. Cossack took a clear lead at starting, with
Van Tromp and Eryx second and third, and Jovial
fourth. In this position they made running at a good
pace right into the distance, when Van Tromp went up,
caught, and headed Cossack at the stand ; a severe
struggle ensued, but Van Tromp won easily at last by
and 30 added. St.
Tt whoelse ne ti
ph
gs . tEa
kry;
sx
oaf
Ibado rd.
sous.
each,
Leger course. Winner to be sold for 200/., &c. (4
Subs.)
Mr. S. awe'sTheNewEra, yrs
Hk

Lord Chesterfield's Cherry, 3 yrs .., .. 2
Mr. Meiklam's Aristotle, aged ... .. 3
Even on Cherry, and sto 4 agst Aristotle. Won in
a canter, by three lengths.
The Produce Stakes of 100 soy& each, h ft, for 2 yrs
old; colts, Bst 71b; and fillies; Bst 51b. Red House
in. (9 Subs.)
Mr. Mostyn's Loadstoce
Colonel Anson's Contessa

... (Nat) 1

_
6tol on Loadstone. Won by four lengths.
Her Majesty's Plato of 100 sovs. Four miles.
Mr. J. Day's The Hero, 4 yrs, Bst 51b ... walked over.
The Corporation Plate of 601. Heats. Two miles.
Mr. Brookes's Luminous, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (A lad) 1 1
Mr. Harrison's Lady Mallorie, 4 yrs, 7st 91b ... 3 2
Lord Chesterfield's Cherry, 4 yrs, 7st 91b ... 2 3
Won in a canter.
BETTING ON THE COURSE.
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.-5 to 1 agst Palma,
9 to 1 agst Vanish, 9 to 1 agst Alliance, 9 to 1 agst
Sagacity, 10 to 1 agst Lothario, 10 to 1 agst Yardley,
10 to 1 agst Tragical.

TILE CUP.
5 to 4 on The Hero.
Van Tromp and Eyrx are scratched.
SALE OF BLOOD STOCK BY MESSRS. TAT-
TERSALL.—YEARLINGS, Gns.
Guizot, by Bay Middleton, out of Guile ... ••• 150
B f, by Bay Middleton, out of Vacuna 60
Bf, by Bay Middleton, out of Eyebrow . ... 20
Br f, own sister to Intrepid ... •• 76
B c, by Emilius, out of All-round-my. Hat
•.. 70
B f, by Coronation, out of Aluliana
••• ••• 27
B c, by Bay Middleton (brother to King of Morven) 250
B c, by Coronation, out of Pussy .., 155
Brood mare, Judy Callaghan, by Falcon &c. •.• 51

_AuNcn or A STEAME n.—OnTuesday afternoon
was launched from Messrs. Wigram's yard, at Black-
wall, a new steam-ship, the Scotia, built for the Chester
and Holyhead Railway Company. She is of 600 tons
burden, and is to have engines by Maudsley and Field,
of 400-horse power, being the largest amount of power,
in proportion to tonnage, of any vessel yet built. Her
lines were generally admired, and every confidence was
expressed by the builder and engineers, that "they shall
be able to get twenty miles an hour out of her," and that
she will make the passage between Holyhead and Kings-
town (63 miles) in ordinary weather in three hours and
a quarter, and lour hours in all weathers. Several of the
directors were present; among others, the chairman of
the directors, Mr. W. It. Collett, Mr. Thomas, the
deputy chairman, and Mr. Lambert. The Caradoc, one
of the Government boats, built for the express purpose
of performing the Post-office service between Holyhead
and Kingstown, by Mare and Co., with engines by Sea-
ward, 600 tons, 350-horse power, was tried on Monday;
she ran bei wren Gravesend and the Nore, against tide,
at the rate of 151 miles an hour.
WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL,•••YeSterday a Quarterly
General Court of the Governors of the above Hospital
was held in the Board-room of the Institution, in the
Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey; Thomas Ayinot,
Esq., in the chair. The report stated, that during the
past quarter 2,474 out-patients had been relieved, and
489 in-patients received. The total number admitted
and relieved since its foundation in 1719 have been near
340,000. Four of the wards, for want of funds, remain
untenanted. The common seal of the corporation was
affixed to a deed of gift from the trustees of a litho-
tropic fund, which has been some years in aboyanes, but
now transferred to the Governors of this Hospital, for
the reception of which class of patients one or two of
the present untenanted wards will be opened. During
the past three months the following munificent legacies
—IJ n :—Under
ttsh.e; willand of
3j 3ilsiss s
Elizabeth Ann Col-
Three:
per
SlTherson, of Cadogan•place, Sloane. street, Chelsea,
5001. Three per Cents, The usual routine busines
having been transacted, thanks were voted to the Chair-
man.been
received

The motion wa-i agreed to.
Mr. DE WINTOR said that he would now call the
attention of the meeting to a most important subject.
He alluded to the insolvency of the gentle-
man who had lately filled the chair—a
circumstance which was familiar to all present.
Upon looking back for the last eighteen years he
found that out of the nine Governors who had been
chosen during that time, six of them had been in the
same unfortunate position. It was a discredit to the
Bank that such things should be allowed to happen.
In the eyes of the mercantile world it was a sight as
bad as that of the Bishop of London standing before a
police magistrate to answer a charge of petty larceny
as a Governor of the Bank of England before the
Commissioner to answer the questions of his creditors.
—(Laughter.) How was this to be avoided? If some
measures were not taken by the proprietors to pre-
vent the recurrence of such things, depend upon it
some measure would be framed for the purpose
by another body against their will.—(Hear, hear.)
He would call attention to the policy of the direc-
tors. He found that upon the 11th of April last the
reserve fund amounted only to 2,832,9101., and at
that time there were private deposits on calls amount-
ing to 11,277,754/., so that to pay the sum of
11,000,0001. and upwards there was only a
reserve
bills
i lo vsern
to I
n ef
nu
tnt
the
he
a doaftnc called 9olfo / .
at
bh
oeHumte b
ykw3ndoeeofioc
eotnhoclay. that
2ul end uponBt32,
but it was the duty of the directors to provide for
that. Between the 19th of April and the early part
of the month of May the directors were compelled
to 'borrow on Bank Stock 3,000,0001., or there-
abouts, from funds which were already crip-
pled,
.and thereby adding considerably to th•

TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE POPE.—The
Allegemeine Preussische Zeitung, of the Bth inst., confirms
the report of the conclusion of a treaty between Russia
and the Holy See. The Russian Plenipotentiary, M.
Von Bludow, having amonaplighed his connaiotion, has
returned ti)§t, Feterblargh,

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY

embarrassments under which the mercantile
world was then labouring. This should not be when
money was scarce ; like everything else, it ought to
be dear, and the directors ought to have raised the
rate of interest in the month of January, before the
difficulties set in. When men were making
their fortunes they wished money to be cheap,
but when they had made their fortunes
they wished it to be dear, in order that they might
command more labour, and more of the comforts
of life. He thought that the board of directors ought
to be composed in part of those who had made their
fortunes, and those who had not; and he thought that
the office of Governor ought to be filled by a person
of responsibility and well-known talent not a
mere ephemeral person appointed for two years, but
appointed for at least four years, and eligible to re-
election at the expiration of that period. He had
not the slightest ill-feeling towards any of the
directors; on the contrary, he entertained a
high opinion of their ability and integrity.
It was the duty of the proprietors to endeavour to
prevent further disgrace falling upon the Bank, and
he wished to know whether the court of directors
would convene a special meeting at any time to con-
sider the present bye-laws regulating the election of
directors, governors, and deputy-governors, with a
view to their amendment.
The GOVERNOR thought that no good could result
from the appointment of such a meeting, and he
would say, for himself and brother directors, that he
was decidedly opposed to the appointment of any
such meeting for the consideration of the bye-laws
referred to. With respect to the charge of not rais-
ing the rate of interest, he wished it to be under-
stood, that in so doing the directors, whether they
a3ted rightly or not, suffered with the general body
of the mercantile world. Of course, if a re-
quisition to the directors, signed by nine persons
holding five hundred pounds stock, were presented
the directors would convene the meeting, but he
thought, before such requisition was sent, that the
better course would be to take the opinion of the
proprietors on the propriety of holding such meeting.
Mr. LEVY thought that the election of directors
and governors ought to be placed more effectually in
the hands of the proprietors. If such a course was
adopted he was sure that the best results would follow.
and that the greatest confidence would be ensured in the
direction of so great an establishment as the Bank of
England. In stating this he was far from supposing
that gentlemen holding so high a position should do
so without emolument. He thought that they
should have salaries, and he would move a resolu-
tion to that effect at the next meeting of the pro-
prietors.
Sir P. LAURIE deprecated the proposition of the
Governor and Deputy-Governor being paid by sa-
laries.
After some discussion the subject dropped.
The GOVERNOR then informed the meeting that
the dividend warrants would be delivered and paid on
and after the 11th of October.
Mr. HENRY THOMPSON gave notice that at the next
half-yearly meeting of the proprietors he should pro-
pose that the salaries of the clerks on the establish-
ment should be paid without the deduction of in-
come-tax.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Thanks were then unanimously carried to the
Governor and directors, and the Court broke up.

EVENIN&, SEPTEMB

HER MAJESTY'S TOUR TO THE
HIGHLANDS.
(From the Court Circular.)
ARDVERIKIE, SEPT. 13.—Her Majesty and his
Royal Highness walked in the grounds early this
morning.
The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal,
attended by Miss Halyard, went on their ponies to
the hills.

SUNDARNING.
The storm still continues, though in a M somewhat
abated form. No injury has been sustained that I
have heard of. The boisterous weather is sufficient
again to prevent her Majesty's attendance at Laggan
Church. Prayers will be read, as usual, in the lodge.

(From the Special Correspondent of the North British
Ma
LOCII LAGGAN, FRIDAY. ilßahainnie is situated on
the opposite side of Glen Roy, and its two co-town-
ships, Achalnoroch and Merligar, on the outskirts of
the farm in Glen Spean. They consist in all of 16
families, who pay a rent of 3501., or 1001. more than
is paid by the 32 families who occupy the Bahantins.
As might be expected, they are much more comfort-
able in their circumstances than the latter. They
have 2,000 sheep on the hill, of which they sell 300
lambs and 200 ewes yearly. Their arable ground,
however, is managed on the same principles as in the
Bahantins; and judging from the appearance of the
crops, I would say the land is of inferior quality.
The soil at Bahainnie is wet and mossy. The tenants
drained it at their own expense some years ago, and
are now reclaiming considerable tracts of moss.
The people on this farm are generally con-
vinced of the disadvantages of the rig system ;
but the fears and prejudices of a few, aided by
the depressing influence of a landlord who takes no
interest in his people, and refuses to lay out any
money, prevent the introduction of any better and
more enlightened mode. There is the same want of
green crops here as in the Bahantins; and to all in-
quiries why they do not grow more turnips, the
answer is, " We cannot, because we have no fences."
A scarcity of manure is sometimes hinted ; but where
there are so many families, each possessing three or
four cows, this is a difficulty which can only arise
from indolence or mismanagement. I have no doubt,
however, that the people in these hamlets are very
hardly dealt with by their proprietor, and that they
have many grievances to complain of. Last Martin-
mas they asked permission to retain .501. of their rent
as a loan till Whit-Sunday, for the purpose of buying
meal for their families, as a substitute for the pots-
toes which had been destroyed by the blight ; but
this small boon Mackintosh of Mackintosh peremp-
torily refused, alleging, as his excuse, that he had to
do so much for the poor that he could give no indul-
gence to his tenants. He might as well have said
that he had his grocer's bill to pay, for he is as much
bound to contribute his share to the maintenance of
the poor as to discharge any other legal debt. The
road-tax presses very unjustly on the Highland town-
ships. Each family is assessed as if they were the
sole occupants of the farm. Thus the sixteen fami-
lies in these three hamlets are compelled to pay 21. Bs.
of road money, and at the same time are obliged to
make and repair the roads to their farm steadings.
It is such imposts that breed Rebecca riots in
Wales; but Donald bears fleecing as mutely as his
own sheep.
Every person in the smallest degree acquainted
with agriculture must feel satisfied, upon inspecting
the condition of these townships, of the injurious
effects of the system of run-rig, and the hollowness
of the reasons which are advanced in its favour. The
waste of land occasioned by the marches between the
rigs is enormous. A great deal of labour is also lost
in going back and forward from one rig to another ;
and it is impossible that crops, spread over so many
detached sections, can be so well attended to as when
concentrated in one spot. But these are small evils
compared with the obstacles which run-rig raises in
the way of agricultural improvement. Ajoint-tenant
in one of these townships, however enterprising, and
however deeply convinced of the necessity of new
modes of culture, is unable to manage his lot in his
own way until he carries his sluggish neighbours
along with him. He cannot drain unless they all
drain. If they choose to grow certain kinds of crops,
and to pursue a certain system of rotation, his rigs
are so inseparably mixed up with theirs, that he is
compelled to follow their example, however self-
ruinous it may be. Suppose, for instance, that he
grows turnips or mangold wurtzel for his cows on the
rigs from which old habit teaches his fellow-tenants
to take a second or a third crop of oats, what is the
result ? Why, they cut down their corn in Sep-
tember, and his green crop is left exposed to the
common destruction of the cows, which, for want of
anything better, must be brought down to graze on
the stubble. The experiment, therefore, is never
made, and the minds of the small Highland farmers
remain impervious to the idea of improvement, be-
cause the golden advantages to be reaped from it are
never exhibited.

That the rig system secures an equal division of
good and bad soil among the co-tenants is an absurd
imagination, wholly inconsistent with fact. The
tenants at Bahainnie occupy soil entirely different in
its qualities from the soil divided among the tenants
at Achalnoroch and Merligar, yet those people are
on the same farm, and pay an equal share of the rent.
Even on such a farm as the Bahantins, where the
arable ground is all in the same place, the rig system
fails to secure the nice adjustment which it is sup-
posed to do. There are sixteen tenants in each of
the two hamlets, and each rig may be 18 or 20 feet
wide. I ask what chance is there that the sixteenth
rig will be as good as the first ? Soil changes its
qualities rapidly.
By dividing the arable ground into crofts, an
equally just allotment of the soil would be effected
than by cutting it up into rigs. And if a tenant
should get a worse croft than his neighbours, there it
is before you. The degree of its inferiority
may be
estimated, and deducted with the utmost exactness,
in pounds, shillings, and pence, from the tenant's
share of the rent.
Nor is it necessary that the hamlets be swept away
in order to introduce a system
of separate allot-
ments. The fervid tenacity with which the High-
land people cling to these old seats
of population is
worthy of sympathy and respect. They are the
dwelling-places of their fathers and grandfathers—
the homes of theirchildhood—the scenes of their loves
and their joys. They are hallowed by the warm
emotions of the past, and are not inconsistent with
the wants and exigencies of the present. They are
admirably adapted to dissipate the loneliness of rural
life, and to preserve the enjoyments of society and
intercourse amid the dreary solitudes of a mountain
land. Picturesquely situated, with the green sward
stretching to their thresholds, enlivened by the merry
gambols of the children, or the joyous labours of the
haymakers, a little more taste and cleanliness is all
that is required to render them the finest combina-
tions of rural happiness and simplicity to be found in
any country in the world. By all means let them
be preserved. There is little danger of any of the
crofts being so far removed from
the hamlets as to
give any serious inconvenience to the cultivator ; and
the union of the cottages will still be
a symbol of that
community of interest with which their inmates have
agreed to occupy and stock the hills ; for with the
pastoral department of their industry no fault can be
found. It is only by some such system of co-opera-
tion that a poor but numerous tenantry can take pos-
session of immense tracts of mountain pasture ; and
there is nothing to hinder a stock of sheep belonging
to a community of small farmers from being as well
managed and as productive as a stock which is the
property of one large monopolising grazier.
The two hamlets on Mr. Walker's property in Glen
Spean are called Munessie and Achnacoichan. They
are also joint townships, and occupy the same farm.
Thirteen families are bound for a rent of 1501. They
have a stock of 600 sheep, and the usual proportion
of cows. They sell 50 ewes and 100 lambs yearly.
The former generally bring about 10s. each, and the
latter 7s. or Bs. They clip 120 stones of wool, which
the factor sells for them, and retains the proceeds as
part payment of the rent. Twenty fat ewes are also
sold yearly off this farm—an item which is not found
in the sales of the other townships, because the few
fat sheep on the farms are consumed by the tenants
oa rr
purchase
l s
themselves. The poverty, however, of the people in
Munessie and Achnacoichan. does not admit of the
luxury of butcher meat. Each tenant sows about
potatoes,t
three or f
obne and a half bolls of corn, and plants about eight
bouutrthbeopls o
riodufcieneiasl nyoetarslyu.fficmienrt.
to
maintain the families, each of whom has usually
Walker is atternpting to abolish the rig system, and
introduce a plan of separate allotments.
He proposes to
osition to his s d
diminish the holdings of some of the tenants, an has
on this account raised an
oppcheme
which it may require time
and patience to He seems to be a kind-hearted gentleman,
overcome
to improve the condition of the people
Withoutwo wl
resort-
ing s
to cruel and repulsive methods.
The remainder of Glen Spean and Glen Roy are
occupied as large single farms. The upper part of
Glen Roy is consolidated into two immense sheep-
walks. It was possessed in former times by nine
townships, similar to Bahainnie and the Bahantins.
Mr. Walker resides for a month or two every year
at Lochtrieg. Mr. Mackintosh has not visited Glen
Spean during the last fifteen years; and his factor is
never seen except on rent-day. Several oak planta-
tions on the estate are literally going to wreck for
want of thinning and cleaning, and the most promising
facilities of improvement are neglected. The popula-
tion is consequently poor and dispirited.
Loci' LAGGAN, SATURDAY NIGHT.
Another tremendous storm ! The wind is blowing
with the greatest violence, and, though there is not
much rain, the agitated billows of the loch, the roar-
ing of the trees, as if they were about to be torn from
their roots, and the tumultuous aspect of the sky,
render the scene wild and awful enough. The royal
party have not been able to leave the lodge to-day,
with the exception of a short period in the fore-
noon, when her Majesty and the royal children took
an airing in the gnunds. It will be matter of thank-
fulness if no damage is done to the marquees during
the night.
Lord and Lady Jocelyn have returned from Glen-

Her Majesty is b€seiged at Ardverikie by bagmen
of every descripti in. Among the other arrivals came
a dealer in stationery, from Paisley, on Tuesday--a
curious-looking red-haired fellow, arrayed in clothes
of many colours and qualities ; he claimed to bear a
striking resemblance to the beloved consort of her
Majesty ; and when confronted with the London po-
liceman stationed at the Boat Bridge, stoutly asserted
the liberty of the subject, and his own right in par-
ticular to obtain an interview with her Majesty. "If
she knew," said he, " that I was here, I would not
have to wait long for admission." For the " very
great resemblance " he bore to the Prince he expected
a pension of five hundred a year, and " a maid of
honour to be given him for a wife !"—Correspondent
of Caledonian Mercury.

TEE QUEEN.—STRANGE CoiNcIDEncE.--Perhaps
it is mot generally known that the wild and romantic
spot, where our beloved Sovereign is at present re-
siding, is the identical place where Fergus, our first
Scottish monarch, delighted to sojurn, and where, not
many yards behind the beautiful lodge of Ardverikie,
his remains lie; also those of two succeeding mo-
narchs. In those days it was chiefly upon the most
elevated situations that the inhabitants of our
country resided, in consequence of the plains and
valleys being then infested with wolves and other
wild beasts. The proper meaning of the name " Ard-
verikie," is Ard-Fergus (Fergus's height) ; or, in
Gaelic language, Ardferigie. From this circumstance,
we are not surprised though her Majesty, if aware of the
fact, should choose this royal residence of the "olden
time" in the " land of the mountain and of the flood,"
as a temporary abode amongst us.—Ross• shire Ad-
vertiser.

naquoich amid all the storm, and have taken quarters
in the Marquis of Abercorn's shooting lodge, in Glen-
sherrar