The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-03 00:00:00

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NUMIWR 9950.

' ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, July 30, 1814.
WIDOWS' PENSIONS.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the WIDOWS
of COMMISSION and WARRANT OFFICERS of the
lOYAL NAVY, receiving Pensions from the Charity esta-
blished for their Relief, will be paid their Pensions, due the
altb of June last, at No. 10, New-square, Lincoln's Inn,
bY !Edward Finch Hatton, Esq. the Paymaster of the Charity,
"

PRIVATE PUPIL.
AVACANCY is NOW OPEN in titeTA-
MILY of a MARRIED and BENEFICED CLERGY-
MAN, residing within a moderate Distance of London, and
whose PUPILS are but few. The most satisfactory Re-
ferences can be given to Noblemen and Gentlemen whose
Sons have been under his care.
Letters to be addressed to the Reverend H. S., Messrs.
Rivingtons and Cochran's, Booksellers, 148, Strand, London.

The Widows of Flag-Officers, Superannuated Rear-Ad-
Nitals, Captains, Commanders, Lieutenants, and Masters,
ID Tuesday, .the toth of August ; the Widows Of Surgeons,
Pursers, and Boatswains, on Wednesday, the 11th ; and
the Widows of Gunners and Carpenters, on Thursday, the
tin Of August, and on every succeeding Thursday, between
lb. lime of Ten and Twelve.
And Notice is further given, that Remittance Bills will
Out on the 10th of next month to those Widows resident
in be Country, who have requested to be paid their Pensions
Par their respective Residences.

J. W. CROKER.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, July 30, 1924.
THE SHOALS to the NORTH of the G AL-
,LOPER, called the INNER and OUTER GABBARD,
saving been found on recent Survey to be erroneously laid
down in the existing Charts, the Lords Commissioners of the
Masisalty give Notice thereof, and that they hare directed
the tine position of the Shoals to be engraved on the Mini-
NV Chart of the Mouth of the Thames, and published fur
the use of Mariners.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1824.

COMPETITION OF pi Prdts, &c.

EDINBURG'', JULY 31.--The Annual Compe-
tition for the Prizes given by the Highland Society of London
to the best performers on the Highland Bagpipe, was held on
Wednesday last., in the Theatre Royal here, in presence of the
Committee of Judges, and a very numerous and fashionable
audience. A great number of competitors attended from the
most remote districts of the Highlands, and the general merit
of the whole performers may be pronounced peculiarly excel-
lent. Indeed a very marked improvement maybe noticed an-
nually in the skill cf the pipers, from the emulation excited
by this general competition, even by those unaccustomed to
distinguish the nicer shades of merit in playing the peculiar
music of the piobrachd ; for although the rapidity of execu-
tion is astonishing in some of the more aniiiiated and com-
plicated variations of " the gathering►s," it is surprising how
readily the audience will detect a slip or a false note, and
withhold their approbation accordingly. But very little of
this was perceptible in the exertions of the performers, who
were selected to compete in public on Wednesday, and they
were accordingly very generally and deservedly applauded.
The Highland dancing too, as usual, gave g• satisfac-
tion. The reels and strathspeys were excellently danced,
and' when they are so, they seldom fail to give animation
to the scene. Some of the reels were so admirably tripped, that
the audience were naturally, but almost insensibly impelled
to stand up, in the same feeling of enthusiasm which animat-
ed the dancers, on the stage before them. The dancers in
several reels were encored, until at length Lord Strathavon,
as Preses of the Judges, was under the necessity of remind-
ing the audience that it would be necessar•: to dispense with
the cncon-, as otherwise the performance could sot be con-
cluded before dinner. The dancing of John Grant, from Strath-
spey, was noticed as particularly excellent. It is impossible
to overlook the decided improvement which the premiums
that have of late years been given to the best dressed com-
petitors have produced in the general neatness of the costume,
and also in the correct and pleasing variety of the tartans ;
each competitor being equipped in the characteristic tartan of
his Chief or Clan. Probably the fault chi fly to be guarded
against is a tendency to gaudy appendages, which is sometimes
apt to shew its:lf. This elegant dress does not need superfluous
ornament, and we have observed with satisfaction, that the
Judges, in voting the premiums for dress, have usually encou-
raged the country Lawn, the real Highland bonnet, and home-
made hose and brogues, as they were formerly wort, in the
country.

The following Members of the Highland Society of Scotland,
Who were named to act as Judges for the Highland Society of
London, by which last Society the premiums at this compe-
tition are given, attended at the Theatre, viz. :
The Right Honourable lAnd Strathavon ; the Ri4ht Hon.
Lord Macdonald ; the Honourable Malor-General Duff,
Colonel of the 9.2 d Highland Regiment ; Lieutenant-General.
Sir John Hope, Colonel of the 711 Highland regiment;
Lieutenant-General James Stirling, late 411, or Royal High-
land regiment, Norman Lockhart, Esq., of Greenaton ; Alex.
Young, Esq., of Harburn ; Lieut.-Colonel Macdonald of Lyn-
dale, Lieut.:colonel 1 atheatn, late 7tlth Hrgi !Tient ; Duncan

Ettstreifflfflar~VatiftWiettati,Ziston, str.M. i ifajor John
Gordon, 2,1 Regiment ; (leo. Robertson, Esq., Albany-street;
Captain 0. Mactlonell of the Royals.
About three o'clock the competition finished, and the Judges
retired to determine the prizes. In their absence the audience
were amused by an exhibition of the broadsword exercise by
Macdonald and Durward, two swordsmen, whose performance
in this way displayed great proficiency. On return of the Judges,
Lord Strathavon, the Preses of the Committee, addressed the
audience in the following terms :—" Ladies and Gentlemen, I
have the honour of being deputed by the Committee of Judges
of this Competition, to express to you the satisfaction they
feel at witnessing so brilliant and so numerous an assembly.—
It is possible that indivlduals may think that some of the prizes
should be differently awarded front what they are, but the dif-
ficulty of deciding among such a number of good performers,
must plead our excuse with those, if there are any, who may
not concur in opinion with us. By your liberality in coming
forward to patronise and support this competition, which has
for its object the cultivation and encouragement of the an-
cient warlike music of our native mountains, you will en-
able the Committee to send home, with substantial proofs
of your regard, those - highly meritorious rising candidates
for your favour, who have this day been unable pub.
licly to appear before you.—l am 'desired by the Com-
mittee also to mention to you, that I have lately received from
the Secretary of the highland Society of London, a letter re-
garding a Piece of Plate voted by that Society,. on the recoin.
mendation of this Committee, to Are. henry Siddons, in ac-
knowledgment of her liberality in having given the gratuitous
use of the Theatre for this Competition for several years. The
plate voted is an elegant silver vase, with an appropriate in-
scription, expressive of the purpose of presenting it; and, but
for the illness of the artist employed to finish the vase, it would
have been received in time to be delivered on this occasion. The
Secretary mentions that no exertion shall be wanting on his
part to have it sent as soon as possible."—His Lordship's ad-
drem, and the intimation it conveyed regarding the plate to Mrs.
Siddons, were received with much applause.
Lord Strathavon then proceeded to deliver the prizes as they
had been awarded, as follows:

. - .
-7.6lfir4t a lii bland Bagpipe,i elegantly ornamented and
furni,licd with ft silver plate or an appmpnate inscription, to
1)onald Seryingeour, piper to the Centre Regiment of Forfar-
shire Local Militia, who had several years ago won the Second
Prize, the extra l'rize, and several subordinate prizes.
The 2cl to Donald Stewart, piper to the 79th regiment, or
Cameron, Highlanders. _ _ _

The 3d to Donald Macdonald, son of Donald Macdonald,
pipemaker to the Highland Society of Landon.
The 4th to John Smith, piper to the Hon. Colonel Grant of
Grant.
The sth to William Gunn, from Glasgow.
The extra prize of a superbly mounted Highland Powder
Hornodforded by the liberality of Mrs. H. Sidtlons, in declin-
ing any allowance for the use of the Theatre, was awarded to
'lla Piper to the Hon. James Sinclair. This is
tKheenonneltyh
prize which pipers who have al
ready gained a second
prize'ean receive, until they obtain the prize pipc,--and in this
situation it had been awarded to Kenneth .114Ita who obtained
the second prize last year. On M'lla being called forward to
Twelve the prize, lie declined it, conceiving, as lie said, that
he should have obtained die Pipe. Considerable disappro-
eared aufficiently self-conceited
bation war manifested by the audience at the unbecoming
conduct of this person, who
The Committee again retired, and on their return, this extra
prize was announced to be adjudged to Alexander Dewar,
Piper to Sir Neil Menzies of Menzies, Bart, Lord Strathavon
then intimated that the Committee were unanimously of opinion,
that, in regard to Kenneth .116 Ra, a regulation of the Highland
Society of London, made to meet any such occurrence as had
just taken place, must be carried into effect; and which de,
claret', that candidates who might so behave, " shall be Wed..
mitt/table as competitors thereafter."
The first and second prizes to the best dressed Competitors
were voted to Alexander Farquharson, from Breadalbane, and
Angus Cameron, from Rannoch.
• The third prize for dress, was delivered to a very promising
young piper, John Macdonald, a boy under 12 years of age,
from the estate of Colonel . Stewart of Garth, The bills an.
nounced that this boy is the grandson of Macgregor, the piper
who won the prize pipe at the first general competition in Mg.
The audience seemed much interested in th::3,oung Highlander,
who played his tune on the stage with nittelt apparent ease, and
in a manner remarkably correct for so yoling a performer.