The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-11 00:00:00

TILE BRABhI4.I? GATILERING.

(From the Aberdeen Herald)
The annual gathering of Highlanders at Brae-
mar took place on Thursday last. Shortly after 12
the clans arrived in marching order, the Forbes,
under Sir Charles, and officered by Sir William
Forbes of Fintray and Craigievar ; Colonel John
Forbes, C. 8., of Inverernan ; Mr. Charles Leith
Hay, Mr. Charles John Forbes, jun., of Newe; Mr.
George Stewart Forbes of Asloun ; Mr. W. Maber-
ley, and Mr. A. Profit. The Invercauld men were
commanded by Messrs. George Murray Farquhar-
son, John Atholl Farquharson, Victor Farquharson,
and Octavius Albert Farquharson. The Fife men
were commanded by their chief in person, Lord
Fife, who had as his officers Lord Macduff and Mr,
W. Taylor, of Glenbarry. Altogether, there were
nearly 300 Highlanders, dressed in the tartan of
their respective clans—the whole forming, with
their pike and halberts, a fine martial-looking body
of armed men.

The games commenced soon after two o'clock,
and were contested with great spirit up to half-
past three, when, this being the time at which the
Queen was expected to arrive, the Highlanders
were drawn up in line in the Castle Park, to be
ready to receive her Majesty with military honours.
Presently the Royal party drove up the park,
and were conducted, amid load cheering, to the
sofas prepared for them on the terrace in front
of the castle. Besides her Majesty and the Prince
Consort, the party from Balmoral consisted of the
Princess Alice, the Princess Helena, Prince Arthur,
and Prince Leopold; Lady Churchill, Hon. Miss
Byng, General Grey, Sir Charles Phipps, Major
Elphinstone, and Lieutenant-Colonel De Ros ; from
Abergeldie, Lord and L idy J. Russell and family ;
from Mar Lodge, Lord Fife and Lord M‘Duff, Mr.
Taylor of Gtenbarry, Rev. Mr. Gordon, Free
Church, Monquhitter ; Mr. Andrew Inglis, Edin-
burgh ; Mr. Wells. The Countess of Fife, to the
regret of many, had unfortunately not arrived from
Duff House, Banff3'iire. The party from Inver-
cauld House included, in addition to Mr. and Mrs.
Farquharson and the Misses Farquharson, his Ex-
cellency the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de
Weyer and Miss Van de Weyer ; the Lady Rolle ;
Hon. Colonel Gordon and Mrs. Gordon ; Mr. H. R.
Hughes, Mr. W. Peel, end Capt. Keith Fraser.
There was a considerable attendance of spectators,
though probably not so many as last year. The,
games were contested with great spirit ; and the
marks of honour were distributed pretty equally
through the various clans. Of all the competitors,,
however, Donald Dinnie, Aboyne, who now made!
his first appearance at the Braemar games, was the!
chief favourite. Nobody could touch him at put-1
ting the stone and tbrovcing the hammer—
! though, from the rules of the association, he could:
not carry off a prize at the latter feat. The
M'Hardys were as usual much admired for their
stature and strength. The. dancing was highly
spirited, the Strathdon men distinguishing
themselves most for grace and variety of steps.
M'Kenzie, who won the sword dance prize, has a
good carriage and style.
The Queen paid great attention to the games and
as they proceeded was supplied with bulletins, con-
taining the names of the prizemen. Her Majesty
did not leave till half-past five. As she drove off
loud cheers rang out from the clansmen and the
spectators generally—marks of goodwill which her
Majesty and the Prince Consort repeatedly acknow-
ledged. The other distinguished visitors were also
cheered as they departed, none more heartily than
Lord John Russell, who stood up in his carriage and
bowed to the spectators.
In the evening a ball, as usual, was held in the
romantic old castle, which was becomingly deco-
rated for the occasion. In addition to the clansmen
and their sweethearts, a good many of the distin-
guished persons mentioned above were present.
Amongst others, his Excellency the Belgian Mini-
ster, who, with his family, appeared greatly sur-
prised at the exciting evolutions and accompanying
cries of the Highlanders as inspired by the good
and true bow hands of Messrs. Blair and Walker,
they dashed through their characteristic reels, &c.
But while this was going on within, there were not
wanting " merry dancers" without—the sky away
to the north, and with lofty Craig Nich for a fore-
ground, declaring a glory in an aurora borealis more
beautiful and fantastic than it has ever been the
happiness of the oldest livers in the quarter to wit-
ness.