The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-19 00:00:00

THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST.

The news from the moors of the doings on the twelfth
is still so uncertain and so contradictory, that it is not
easy to say whatposition this season is to hold as compared
with its predecessors. We have numerous letters written
before the 12th, anticipating that the sport would be
wretched, and the birds not worth shootieg; but the ac-
tual returns received to this date do not by any means
warrant the conclusion that there is a great falling off in
point of numbers. Some of the moors not only have done
better than was expected, but better than last year, which
was an unusually good one. On the other hand, compa-
ratively few returns have been made (which is not a good
omen), and these are not from the largest or upland
moors, where disease and the summer rains are supposed
to have done most damage. We have heard nothing of
the great moors in Strathspey, Stratherrick, and Loch-
aber, and the news from distant districts could hardly
have reached us yet. The principal dealer in Inverness,
Mr. J. Borns, has received consignments of grouse from
the neighbourhood far exceeding those at the same
time last year, and the birds are of average quality,
though the young ones are in many instances poor and
small. It has been remarked in Inverness that the num-
lber of game boxes received at the coachoffice is un-
usually small ; but it must be remembered that while last
year there were seven stage-coaches arriving there daily,
this year there are only three, the Highland wail, bh.
by
which the largest supply was Beet, having been wl
drawn, and the railway having supplanted three coaches.
Let us hope, then, that the season may turn out better
than was expected, and that, although many sportsmen
must make up their minds to small bags during the early
part of the shooting, in general the sportsmen who have
travelled so far north in quest of recreation and healthy
exercise may not go back greatly disappointed. Grouse
are selling in the Inverness market at 2s. to 3s. a brace ;
birds for packing, a little additional.
The following are among the notes that have been sent :
At Failey and Kilmoraelc, Mr. Gordon, of Fyvie, Mr.
Mangles, and Mr. Boulderson, bagged 42} brace and 4
hares. At Moybeg, Capt. Corbet, Mr. Hughes, and Mr.
Barry, 472 brace and 2 hares. At Cantray, Cot. Fraser,
Capt. Fraser,-and F. Rose, Hog., 32i brace and 3 hares.

Mr. Dunbar and Mr. Fraser, Strut,. bagged 173 brace at
Holme. The Hon. G. Cr eit and the Hon. L, Grant, of
Grant, 21 brace, at Neirnsidc. Mr. Mackintosh, of
Daviot, on hi me there, bagged 13 brace. At 13n-
nachton, Gen. Cracklow and Mr. ROR'; 28 brace. At
Farr, Mr. Grote, 301 brace. At Elkadale, Mr. E. W.
Goad and Capt. Goad, 25 lilacs pn the 12th, and 14i
brace on the 13th. At Erchless Castle, Mr. Edward
Mills, 38 brace on the 12th, and 16 brace on the 13th.
At Dunstan, in about three bcurs, Mr. Tuck, 10 brace.
Mr. Master, Fodderty, had good sport, but we have not
learned the exact nutuber he bagged; we understand it
was about 50 trace. Atßalvenie, Mr. Shaw and a friend,
404 brae'.; the young birds-were found to be very poor.
Major Massey and Capt. RoCrke went oat on the moors
of Louisa, Countess of Seafield, and had -good sport,
though the birds were scarce. Mr. Cameron, of
Chines, bagged 30 brace at Moniack. On the Skibo
Castle moors, Mr. Dempster, of Skibo, and Mr. Demp-
ster, of Dunnichen, had 26 brace and 5 hares—birds
more scarce than fir 12 years.' In Badenoch we
learn that birds are scarce, but numerous enough to
yield fair sport to a good markiman. .A party of
fur guns, from Invereshie House, shot 33 brace
of grouse and 2 hares in about six hours ; Mr. Smith,
jun., shot 22 brace of the whole number. On the Belle-
ville moors Mr. Macneil and two gentlemen bagged 30
brace of grouse and some hares, On the Kingussie
ground Mr. Allsopp barged 261 brace and 1 hare ; Mr.
Baker, 71 brace ; Mr. Henry B=ker, 154 brace and 2
hares. On the 12th, A. J. Hasadtote E-q., lmeged 16
brace on the Tomatin moors, On the Lvgau moor
Messrs. Miliford and. Walker bagged 30 brace. On the
Ban-cher moor Mr. Turner cud party bagged 40 brace.
At Clune, Captains Crosse and Sylvester bagged 251,
and on the 13th 281 brace grouse and 8 hares.
From Laggan our correspondent writes on the 12th :
—lt is to be regretted that the rain, which so many
people thought was at an end, still continues, as it will
not only spoil the,sport of the day, but injure, what
many think of more consequence, the good fields of
oats and hay. Badenoch is well filled with sportsmen
this season, but It can't be said to be so well filled
with game ; however, there is no scarcity of mut-
ton, as the lightning of last week has killed many
a godd three-year-Old wether in different parts of the
country. The Glenabiero party have not arrived as yet ;
but both Mr. Akroyd and Mr. Edwards are expected
to-day, and, being well liked in the country, it is to be
hoped they will make a prolonged stay this season. On
the Strathmashie moors a good bag is expected. The .
party there occupy_ the farm-house of Dalchully. The
Glentriiim moors are occupied by the same gentlemen as
were on the ground last reason, and not }seine- so highly
situated as the 'former grounds, the birds, both young
and old, are more numerous. The lists of killed will no
doubt be banded in in due time, and the present-firing
(at one p.m.) sounds like an echo of last week's thunder.