The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK

Males
Females

... 734

... 695

Total „„
„, 1,429
*lu this number are included 27 by Scarlutipa, 57
by Typhus Fever, 101 by Diarrhoea, and 17 by Cholera.

ASCENT OF BEN WYVIS
Soon after emerging from this truly wonderful spot,
we crossed the river by a wooden bridge, and, passing
some cottages, directed our steps to the summit of
lien Wyvis. This we bad occasionally seen from on
board the steamer soon after passing Fort George,
and, to our mortification, found it covered with newly-
fallen snow. Showers of snow fell all day on the
mountain, visiting us in rain, so that we could only
get glimpses of the top. These lucid intervals, how-
ever, we made the most of; as, the mountain being a
huge shapeless mass, without taking accurate obser-
vetions, we might never have reached the real summit.
Upon asking a shepherd the best mode of ascent, he
told us we could not reach the " Monument," as he
termed the Cairn, that day, end that we were sure to
be benighted. This put us to our mettle, and we
never stopped a moment for three or four hours hard
walking over hills, and through bogs, often knee-
deep in heather and peat moss alternately, till we
came to the bottom of the last ascent, which was
fearfully rugged, and the upper part covered with
snow.

Several miles above the fore-mentioned bridge the
river is divided into two; the main branch emerging
from Loch Glass, about eight miles in circumference,
and the other descending by cataracts, through
frightful ravines, from the summit of Ben Wyvis.
We kept pretty close to the latter, which we crossed
close to the steep ascent above alluded to. It was
now half-past four, and before we got to the top it
must have been at least six ; but we were actually
afraid to look at our watches, as there was now a cer-
tainty of our being benighted. The snow fell fast,
and lay several inches deep, pretty hard frozen, among
which, in many places we had to struggle with bands
as well 83 feet. The difficulty now was to find the
"Monument," for we could not see above fifty or
sixty yards in any direction. We agreed to separate,
that we might have three chances instead of one, but
not farther than that we could hear a loud call. After
a considerable time our young friend proved the
lucky man, and shouted with him of antiquity, " I
have found it ! " This was indeed a joyful sound,
though it may readily be conceived how much we
were disappointed when, instead of one of the most
commanding views in Scotland, extending over great
part of the Atlantic and German Oceans, with many
of the Hebrides, the Counties of Caithness, Suther-
land, Ross, Crornarty, Argyle, Inverness, Nairn,
Moray, Banff, Aberdeen, and Perth, we could only
distinctly see each other at the distance of a few
yards ! Such, however, has since been the fate even
of royalty herself on Lochnegar, so that we have the
less reason to complain.
Oar triumph even in these circumstances was reat
on reaching the Cairn, which I ascended, and
heightened by an additional stone, using snow instead
of mortar. This mountain is nearly 4,000 feet his h,
and has, perhaps, a larger base than any other mom_
tain in Great Britain. Being the most elevated
ground north of Ben Nevis and the Braemar moun-
tains, the view is very little intercepted in any direc-
tion. It is, however, an ugly, savage-looking con-
cern; and, being ter removed from any inhabited
district, none should attempt its ascent who
have not an entire day at their disposal—
" mons/rant horrendum ingens," and on this occasion
it :nay be added, "cui lumen ademptunt." I may here
mention that the best starting place is Strathpeffer,
which is ten miles from the top, while Dingwall is
twelve. The mountain resembles a horse-shoe—the
upper ridge being thee or four miles from one ex-
tremity to the other, but rising very gradually from
the end nearest Strathpeffer, which ought to be
ascended first, and the ridge kept till the other end is
reached, on which stands the Cairn, and by which we
ascended.

In descending, we chose a less dangerous route,
though frequently checked by ugly precipices, which,
owing to failing snow and approaching night, it was
not easy to avoid. Great though our difficulties had
been, they were surpassed by what still lay before us,
having to struggle through five or Fix miles of the
worst description of bogs and quagmires, which few
think of crossing, even in broad day, without a guide.
Countless were the tumbles we met with, some of
them so-ludicrou, that had we not dreaded falling
asleep, and 13 ing among these horrid morasses all
night, at the imminent risk of our lives, we could not
have refrained from laughing heartily at each other
and ourselves. Forward, however, we had to toil,
far from knowing where we should emerge. Indeed,
had it not been for the moon, it is more than probable
that we must have wandered about in all directions,
till we became completely exhausted with hunger and
fatigue.
At length we reached a peat road, by following
out which we arrived at a Flepherd'i! cottage. The
inmates were all in bed ; but, on hearing of our disas-
trous circumstances, they were, with some difficulty,
induced to get up and bring us some
ithin milk. Wewere here informed t hat Dingwall was tem nearest place
of accommodation. We had still between three and
four miles to go, but had now a hard road under foot,
and went on our way rejoicing. We soon reached the
toll road between Dingwall and Strathpeffer, and in
half an hour found ourselves snugly seated in the
Caledonian Hotel, with every luxury at our command.
It was now half-past ten ; and, when we sat down to
supper, we had eaten no food of any description for
fourteen hours and a half, though we had walked at
least 33 miles, over some of the wildest moors in
Scotland.
.The innkeeper told us that gentlemen
thought it a nerd day's work from his house, and that
they never tried it without a guide."—Grierson's
Autumnal Rambles among the Scottish Mountains.

Among the
plssengers who arrived on Sunday at
Southampton from Cadiz in the Iberia mail steamer, was
a Spanish Matador, cr bull-fi,hter. lie arrived at South-
ampton for the purpose of proceeding from that port to
South America, where he has an engagement for three years,
to perform in the gladiatorial exhibition in one of the South
American capitals. The sum he is to receive for this ser-
vice is 4,060/. He is a stout-built man, and appears to pose
sess great activity and strength. J.:uring the voyage
in
he
exhibited the sword with which he is armed
conflict with the savage performers of
the
elytre mustveii
irtleg-
is a heavy, straight, two-edged sword, eh amphitheatre.
eut3ifeet long,lt
x
Nci,iiiiitrhe ar
erme (at
rhk ial
tti.i e le'toreun.s;ths ucelinad weaponrietfrye. c turrahl
rather stage-like, being variegated
dress of the Matador si.a
quitesdifferent from that of a Spanish
,wvaiethdhreisnsie,d amosrleenfednertaeantid.
and picturesque,
g servant
ceaffeienhult,leaininnadaten,:iln7lik:liealjralt ;19t°hujiattrhs'his master. The behavior of the
Matador in the baggage warehouse of the Southampton
I customs, with his brusque manners, deep husky voice, and
vehement volubility, seemed to cause much amusement
atuorgit his fellow voyagers, who were standing by,