The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-05 00:00:00

COMPETITION OF PIPERS.

Enninunott;'Aucr.'2..—Tite Annual Compe-
tition for the Prizes given by the Highland Society of London•
to the best performers on the Bag-pipe, and for encouraging
Highland Danclng,:was held in the Theatre Royal here, on
'ruehtiay last.-The following Members of the Highland 5"
ciety of Scotland were the Judges who attended the Compe.
titian, viz.

Right lion. Sir John Sinclair, Bart: the Preses.
Right Hon. Lord Strathaven.
Hon.. General Duff.
R. U. Macdonald, Esq. of Clanranald,
John Grant, Esq. of Kilgraston.
Colonel Macbean, 78th regiment.
Alex. Young, Esq. of Harburn.
• Coll Macdonald, Esq. of Dalnesa.
James Grant, Esq. tilenmoriston.
Major Gordon, 2d regiment.
Joseph Gordon, Esq. of Carroll.
Captain Pennycuick, of Solerie, 78th regiment.
John Stewart, Esq. of Dalguise.
George Robertson, Esq. Albany-street.
• Captain G. Macdonald; Royal Scots.
The Earl of Elgin and Lord Valletott were also observed in
the Judgete box; but we believe neither of those Noblemen
took a part in the decision of the prizes.
From an unusual great number of Pipers who came forward
to the competition, the Judges at a previous rehears&l, selected
sixteen who were to -compete for the prizes ; this was a duty of
no little difficulty, from the
.general excellence of the whole as
players. The competition began precisely at 12 o'clock, and the
Theatre soon after was crowded in every part: the boxes and
pit were occupied by a very fashionable company; and in the
boxes particularly, there was a most elegant assemblage of
Ladies, many of whom Wore tartan bonnets, scarfs, or other,
ornaments appropriate to this national exhibition. Most of
the judges -wore the Highland dress,
.ill the competitors were greatly applauded by the audience.
The Highland dancing particularly appeared to afford great
delight ; the dancers, indeed, were generally goods some pf
them excellent, and they certainly did not spare exertion to
give proper, effect to their native reels and strathspeys, in which
they were generally encored.
The competition of the performers did not terminate till past
three o'clock. The Judges then retired, and remained in deli.
beration about half an hour ; the audience being in the mean-
while amused by some select tunes, played by the competitor
who won the first prize last year, and by the Highland dancing,
which was .kept up with great spirit during this interval. On
their return the prizes were announced by their Preses, Sir
John Sinclair, to have been awarded as follows, viz. :
The first Prize, .an elegant and superbly mounted bag-pipe
to John• Mackenzie, piper to Duncan Davidson, Esq. of-Tull
lbch, who gained the 2d prize at the competition last year.
The second to Kenneth 3PRa, piper to the-Hon. James
Sinclair.
The third to John Cameron, piper to the sth Lanarkshire
Local Militia.

The fourth to Donald Macdonald, son of Donald Macdonald,
,pipe-maker to the Highland Society of London,—and
The Fifth to William Fraser, front Meadelbane.
The liberality of Mrs. H. Siddons, in declining the allow-
ance formerly made for the use of the Theatre, has for several
years afForded the opportunity of giving an extra prize. On this
occasion, she presented the Committee-with a handsome High.
land Cl4Tmore, which -was awarded to John Gordon, Piper to
the Athol] Club. who had formerly gained 3d and 4th prizes.
Previous to delivering the Prizes, Sir John Sinclair, as Preset
of the Committee of Judges, addressed the' audience, so far as
could becolleeted, in nearly the following terms :—" It is, in the
highest degree gratifying to the Committee of Judges, appointed
to decide the premiums on the present occasion, to see this Com-
petition attended by so numerous and respectable an audience.
Firm is no periati„since those competitions were first establish-
ed, that the natives of Scotland have had so much reason to be
proud of their national distinctions of dress, of music, and
of dancing, or ought to be more anxious to preserve them,
than since the fortunate era when eur Gracious Sovereign
favoured his northern dominions with Ida presence. He came
here to. do honour to the peculiar characteristics of the
Scottish nation,--he came here to listen to our Scottish music,
_to encourage, by his Royal approbation, our Scottish mode
of dancing,—to wear the Highland icarh,—to partake of
our Scottish banquets,—to attend the Scottish ICirk,—and to
do Just'ca to the Scottish character for loyalty and
which'
nuine patriotism. It is a singular circumstance, to which I
am happy in this opportunity f publicly adverting, that where
a number of Sovereigns are known by ale same appellation, as
George, or James, or:Henry—the Fourth of the_naine has, in
general, been distinguished byatiperior qualities, . For instance,
Henry the Fourth of France, was one of the ablest, anti cer-
tainly the most ,popular Prince that ever Sat upon that throne.
Henry the Fourth of England was remarkable for: posses.
sing in the words of Hume, .‘ many qualities which jilted
Gigs fur las high at o n James the Fourth of Scotland is
descrised, "by our Scottish historians, as having -been the
most accomplished Prince of the age in which lie lived, as
naturally generous and brave, as loving magnificence, and as
eager to obtain fame.' " And, added Sir John, emphatically,
" is not this an exact description of his descendant George the
Fourth of England, Scotland, and Ireland ?—(Cheers.).—ls not
he the most accomplished Prince of the age in which he lives,
naturally brave and generous, loving magnificence (as becomes
the Monarch of a great empire), anti eager to obtain fame ; and
has be not already acquired that fame to which he SQ anxiously
aspired ?"--(Cheers.)—Sir John then alluded particularly
to the glorious achievements which have distinguished
the Regency and reign of his present Majesty, adding,
that " it is under the authority of such a Sovereign that
the Scots are now called •upon to inaintain the -Scottistucha-.
meter, and to hand clown to
.their posterity the true.national
spirit -inherited front our ancestors. That Spirit which it
is so desirable to maintain, must greatly depend -liven
our preserving those manly and athletic dances--that- martial
and inspiring species of music—and that elegant and warlike
dress, by which Scotland was so long distinguished." In con-
clusion, Sir John said, " These competitions for drestiefor mit-
sic, and for dancing, cannot fail to prosper, so long as we can
assemble within these walls such crowds of Scottish patriots,
and such specimens of Scottish beauty, as have honoured this
Meeting
with their attendance."
The prizes were then delivered amidst .the plaudits of the
audience. . _

7-trie7l3rizes to the • best dressed competitors were. awarded,
the fleet to John 111`Pherson, from tireaditlbane, - the second
to John 141'Nab, a bov, son of Duncan Al'Nith9, late piper
to the Royal Scots; and the third to Angles Canieron, from
Rannoch, all in the list of pipers. On no previous .occa-
sion was the effect of the premiums for dress, which
have been lately instituted by . the Highland Society of
London, more conspicuous than at this c3ropetition.—When
the 'whole 'competitors, about sixty in number, were drawn
up round the stage, at the beginning and at.the conclusion of
the performance, it may be said, with greet justice, that there
was not an ill dressed Highlander among them.
The large receipts at the Theatre enabled the Judges to make
a liberahlistributton among the whole competitors, which will
defray their travelling charges. This warvery gratifying to
the Committee, as mans'
of the. pipers had conic from the most
remote districts of the highlands.

_ .
ll'EADrra. ArillAY AT TIIE ' riAdE' COllllSt. -- 'tilt
Pace Course at Al ussulburgh, an Thursday, Wes the scene of
A most disgraceful riot. Owing in *8 great measure to The fast
day of the West Church parish being on Thursday, the crowd
on the grOund was greatly increased by nutnerous labOurers
.and mechanics horn that parish, whose labours being suspended
-in consequence, indidged themselves to excess, and were
ewtily excited or .eagerly sought CaUSt'S of qUarrel. A great
number of Irish labourers had resorted to the Races ; but
whether on the present oocasion they had preconcerted a plan
of amusernett t by exhibiting some of the finites of Denny/brook
Fair; or acted upon an incidental quarrel, does net appear, hut
certain it is that they itultscriminately kneeked down with. stick
all bjere them. One of the.tirst persons assaulted Was a baker,
who was tnost cruelly used, and even trampled Upon as belay on
the ground" in a most savage manner. They were not, however,
eatil:ered to i);(.1 on with impunity; for the neighbouring colli;eet„
(c 4- j&-u--qt by the Musse'burgh, Edinburgh, and Leith bakers, ,
and other:F., quickly peeeld,ei themselves with such weapons as
came to bend, and. most r4:.:verely retaliated. After clearing
e
tile field of all who an eared .to be Irish, they searched the.
tents, particularly thole known to he kept by notivea of that
country, and dragg d out
the inmates, . some of whom they
compelled to pron Ounce certein words, to ascertain their coun•
try;
in one Instance, a man was made tO repeat the word
guinea,. which-not satisfyinl his interreeetters, ne was severelytreated, and- ducked in themill:dam 'his head at the same
time being held wrier water, evidently wirlt the intention of
dr°wlliug him. A p;entlentan who interfered in his behalf
was ?erved nearly as bad, but was saved by the exertions
.0f Sir John nape mr. Gibson., and other geutlemen.L:-.
Another Irishmen was thrown over the rail.rtiati bridge-, in to the
river; he appeared to be stunned by failing against a pier, but
got on his logs and made for the bank, but was "I.'" hack with
sticks, and dragged up and 'down in the water.k It vas reported :,
that two lives were lost, but this is not true; several, however,
were severely bruised. . Many of those who were active in the..
tumult-he;: been uppieliend.c Oa --(E2 ir iii,`"reh Courant; ..4 pt-. 2.)