The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-28 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF LONDON.
in the metropolis are deter-
mined to be prominent with their entertainments while
the season of this memorable year continues; for we had
first to record the Caledonian Ball at Almack's in June,
next the Scottish fete in Holland-park, then the grand
Highland assembly in Guildhall last Wednesday, and
now we have to report the proceedings of the above so-
ciety's annual dinner, which took place on Saturday
evening at the London Tavern, the members of which
appeared in Highland costume; the decorations of the
room being also strictly Celtic, the most conspicuous
being an immense thistle, which was understood to have
been reared by the worthy secretary of the inatitution,
and was much admired by its stately appearance. In
recording this festive gathering wo must remark that it
eas particularly distinguished from the selfish public
dinners usually given by the various institutions of this
country, by the presence of ladies, the wives and daugh-
ters of members taking their places at the dining-table
in company with their relatives. It was a distinctive
feature in the entertainment, carrying with it the grace-
ful and softening influence that female society imparts
to a oompany, and which at the same time gave it more
the appearance of a private family party than that of a,
London Tavern dinner. We believe this introduction of
the fairest portion of mankind to the anniversary of the
Caledonian Society's dinner is the measure of Mr. Gray,
the secretary, who, it was said, has long sought its ac-
complishmet. We are sure that its acknowledgment
will be hailed by the members, and those ho-
noured in joining them, with th auk 1 ulness to
him, for the additional charm their presence gives
to the feast. Another merit belongs to the en tertain-
ment on Saturday—the musical treat given, vocal and
instrumental; the orchestra was occupied by a hand se-
lected and led by Mr. Mackenzie, of the Theatre Royal
Edinburgh, who played during dinner the most choice
national airs. Miss Birch, with her sister, Miss Eliza
Birch, were present, and charmed the party with songs
and duets. Mrs. Sinclair and her daughter, Miss Sin-
clair, the favourite vocalists, sang several ballads, and
Mylne, the worthy successor of Wilson, also gave
some of hie best songs in excellent style, and lastly, but
not least prominent, her Majesty's and the Duke, of Su-
therland's pipers, with the band of the Caledonian Asylum,
pealed forth their stirring strains. About 100 persons
sat down to an excellent repast, which contained all the
good things of the season. On the,doth being removed,
and the.gusualloyal toasts having been given, the national
anthem was sung by the Misses Birch and Mr. Mylne.
The PRESIDENT (Professor Can) then gave the toast
of the evening, " Prosperity to the Caledonian Society
of London." He said that this toast commended itself to
them with peculiar interest. Their society must have
something good in it that could attract so brilliant a
party to their meeting. The Caledonian Society was
established for two objects, viz., to maintain the garb
of the Gael, and to encourage everything connected
with the nationality of Scotland, and to assist the
Scottish charities in London. This festival was con-
secrated for the former object. To you who owe your
birth to that glorious country (for myself I am a
cockney), you have reason to be proud
of the many illustrious men you, rank: among your
countrymen, for theirgreat attainments in literature and,
science. In the severe studies of mathematics you have
had a Napier, a Maclaurin, a Leslie, and a Playfe.ir; in
poetry you have a galaxy of names, but splendid above
the rest, the name of Burns must be classed among the
greatest poets of the world ; another name stands out in
high relief, Sir Walter Scott.—(Great cheering.) The
Caledoniau Society sympathises with all that is good
and great, and as so worthy of your 'approbation,
always assisting those who, from misfortunes, cannot
help themselves; and it is on these grounds that the in-
stitution claims you to pledge to its continued prosperity.
The toast was drunk with Highland honours.
The PRESIDENT begged the company again to pledge
a bumper in honour of the Highland Society, who
was in a great degree the parent of their own and many
other similar societies. That body was the first estab-
lished to preserve the garb of the Gael, to rescue from
oblivion the remains of Celtic literature, and to encou-
rage the cultivation of the martial music of the North,
all of which objects they had most meritoriously accom-
plished; and in connexion with that toast he would
name its chief office-hearers' Charles Forbes, of
Aslown, and George Bain, who did them the honour of
their company that evening.

Mr. Foitnis, on behalf of the Highland Society, re.
turned his warmest thanks for the compliment paid them
by the members of the Caledonian Society. He felt
much pleasure in accepting their kind invitation to dine
with them on their anniversary, because they had the
same worthy objects particularly in view that the society
which he himself represented had, namely, the support
of that excellent institution, the Caledonian Asylum.
That charity had peculiar claims on every Scotchman in
London, and he would wish to see it better supported.
He hoped he might not be considered out of order in
referring to another subject that had lately painfully ab-
sorbed his attention, and which he could not pass over;
it was the famishing condition of his countrymen in the
Hebrides. While they were here enjoying all the comforts
of life, these unfortunate people were reduced to the
miserable condition of being obliged to eat the shell fish
of the sea to support nature. The failure of their crops,
the dearth of employment, and the bad system they have
their small patches of land on, have brought then to that
severe state; still their cry is not heard, their murmur is
not riotous, they will rather die than appeal; therefore
no wonder we in England hear nothing of their distress.
The minstrel says of them, and that most truly, that
they were
" Patient of toil, serene amidst alarms,
Inflexible faith, invincible in arms."
He had much pleasure in stating that he had received a
communication that day from the widow of a distinguished
general oflic;;r who fell in the Panjaub, the sot jest of
which was that she had had a lever from Colonel Phipps,
by c :mmand of her Majesty, in reference to the fa-
mithtng sate of these virtuous people; in it her Ma-
jesty states that their deplorable condition has sincerely
affected her, and that if a committee of gentlemen con-
meted with Scotland was formed to receive subscriptions
in their aid, that her Majesty would be happy to for-
ward her 100/. He would assure them that the Royal sug-
gestion would be obeyed, and he had already commenced
its accomplishment, and he had every confidence in the
genet., sity of his countrymen in behalf of these unfortu-
nate sufferers, and hoped by that assistance to alleviate
the distress. He begged their excuse for transgressing on
their time with the introduction of so heartrending a
subject, but fellow-feeling would be his apology.
The health of the several office-bearers of the society'
were toasted with great enthusiasm, who severally re-
turned their obligations, after which the company with-
drew to partake of coffee, which was served in an ad-
joining room, and at eleven o'clock the entertainment
terminated with a Highland reel.

KNARESBOROUGH ELECTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Six,—ln The Sun of 17th July appears a letter
signed , . G. w,", dated Bradford, relative to the late
Knaresborough election. The writer states he had been
staying a we: k at Kuaresborough; but if so, be might
have obtained much more accurate intormatien than he
has done upon more than one point discussed in his let-
ter. He hopes that in the new Reform Bill the future
M.P.'s will be elected by the whole parish, by which
means there will be tar less corruption in the place, as the
constituency would be increased from 350 to upwards of
900; that it is now very corrupt indeed, and is called a
second Pontefract, and the inhabitants must take care
they de not find it a second Sudbury." Now, it is noto-
rious to all who took any notice of the proceedings
during the past election that there were only 217 voters
on the list, though it is possible the voters might be in-
creased to six or seven hundred, if all the parish were
included in the municipal boundaries, as part of Harro-
gate would then contribute a good number.
Having been intimately concerned in every election
since the passing of the Reform Bill, I give the most
unqualified denial to this wholesale and unfounded
charge, and assert that the constituency never deserved
the title of being " very corrupt," or to be placed in the
same category as Pontefract or Salisbury. Bribery, I
believe, has never been practised, and is unknown to
the electors generally, if not altogether. The publi-
cans have been charged with withholding their voter
until they could see what was to be spent at. their
.__
houses, or who spent most, which I apprehend Is
.as
case at Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax, and Bredforzad,isin.
~whisiTeroe
well as Knaresborough, unlese lam very a
formed; but beyond this the case is rare imnad_ecneed
a bribe was looked for, or, if expected, obt I a
expected or
such thing as " head money" was everkeep
, era and
votes—some
paid at Pontefract. No doubt
nwreeortrbusnlpt corrupt," others who have no particular politicaltsbhhicos:sr
future or contingent interest in
seeingfrell to suit certain
giving custom withdrawn
are compelled to do this from
owing to votes not having been f
b the case at
look toßradford soma
parties ; bnt is not this found to
the selne --i--n-
-laments such a tat,
and all other towns ?No one doin; but think
- 'le of want of principle din stating that the Ru a
"G. W." is not justifierala-
doing. is an evil for which
" verYc'onscientious voters Who are
borough voters are
for so
sinuated by him,
remedy' the that is the ballot, which
there is only ono remany,
would also relieve inof their c
the sake
compelled for. h their own political
accordance with
overbearing 1 feelings, but to meet
. _
es of en landlord. "G-. W," can-
notthe wish a landlord who
think that exacts 'the utmost
rents for his land or houses is entitled to the vote
t f he had
also ; he -- ' made a little closer inquiry at
- resborough, he would have found that A B coni-
Itua
wands so many votes from his tenants, C D so many
from his tenantry, and so on. But are the whole
class of voters, under such circumstances to be desig-
nated as full of corruption for
voting
as a few landlords
insist ?
Mr. Rich and Mr. Ferrand were not the first Mem-
bers under the Reform Bill, nor was Mr. Westhead no-
minated by the Manchester League, of which he is per-
fectly independent, and never belonged to it. "G. W."
can know little of the Mr. Foster referred to in his letter,
or he would not have stated what he has :respecting that
party, who, when at Knareshorough, was' a Radical, or
something more, but now a Tory, or employed in the
Tory esuse. On this subject I cannot do better than
quote " G. W.'s" words respecting Mr. Collins's grand-
father—viz ," The less that is said about him the better."
Believing that " G. 'W." has stated what he has withoute
making sufficient inquiries into the subject, I bops he
will
will have the manliness to withdraw his unfounded
,
as-
persions on the voters generally in this borough, or I if' hoill
thinks he can produce any proofs of his assertions,
be ready to meet him in reply.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,,
A KNARESBURGIAN.
24, 1851.
Knaresborough, July

CAUTION TO DEUNKARDS.—(Frotn the New ym.k
Sun of the 12th inst.)—At Brighton, Va. Joseph Beale was
lately killed and terribly torn by a vicious stallion, of which
he had the care. It is supposed that the horse took offence
the groom entering his stall :rho, ints.ricassi