The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-14 00:00:00

EVENING, SEPTEMBER 14, 1858.

front of the lodge, where tents had been pitched,
fires lighted, and preparations made for passing the
night. When assembled in the field lusty cheers
were given in honour of Lord Fife, the Countess of
Fife, and other members of the family ; also to Sir
Charles Forbes, Sir William Forbes, and other
respected naives.
At this moment the scene was very picturesque
and exciting. - It was now quite dark—the only
light thrown on the belted and buckled assemblage
in the valley being that thrown from a huge bon-
fire which blazed and crackled in the centre of the
camp ground ; while in the distance you could just
see the grim outline of Cairn o'Drochell, Craignieh,
and the other hills which surround this magnificent
Strath. From the various points might be heard
the pipes of M‘Lellan, Campbell, and Means,
sounding blithely and bonnily. By and by silence
stole over the camp, the music ceased, and the fire,
which in its fierceness had hitherto defied eager
smokers to snatch a needful spark, began to burn
low and dim. The night was, as the day had been,
beautiful ; and so quiet became everything around
that von could catch the sough of the Dee as it
sailed seawards, or the tinkling of the water at the
fairylike fall of Corriemulzie.
FRIDAY MORNING.
Yesterday was, on the whole, rather unfavour-
able for the gathering preparations. There were
frequent and heavy showers, and the wind blew
roughly and sharp. Notwithstanding this, how-
ever, the Duff men, under Sergeant Coghill, and
the Forbes men, under Sir Charles and the officers
abovenamed, went through regular drill on the camp
ground with much ardour and precision. There
were also, at intervals, friendly contests among the

throwers, dancers, and jumpers, by way of getting
the sinews
competition ando joints
this o n tfso
forenoon.
ent o order
no
on for
With
ht he
approaching
theexception
of noting that the harvest is by no means so
forward up here as it is anywhere below Ballater,
and the report from the forests that Lord Fife and
the company at the lodge never enjoyed such sport
as he has experienced , during the past fortnight,
there is nothing further of yesterday's proceedings
requiring comment.
The few minutes yet to spare ere coach time may,
therefore, be devoted to the brief mention of a grand
ball given last night by the Countess of Fife in a
splendidly decorated marquee fitted up in connexion
with the lodge. The company wa; very numerous,
and included Mr. and Lady Margaret Beaumont
the llon. General and Miss Gore ; the Bishop of
Aberdeen and Miss Suther ; the Hon. Thomas
Stoner ; General and Lady Maxwell Wallace ; Mr.
H. Erskine Wemyss, of Wemyss Castle ; Colonel
and Mrs. Dalrymple ; Mr. and Lady Louisa Brooke ;
the Hon. Lady Duff; Hon. G. S. Duff ; Captain St.
George and officers of her Majesty's guard at
Ballater ; Captain Dawes, Adjutant of the Royal
Aberdeenshire Highlanders ; the Countess of Kin-
noul ; Mrs. and Misses Farquharson, of Invercauld ;
and Captain Farquharson, Scots Fusileer Guards ;
Sir Charles Forbes, and officers of the Forbes camp
encamped at Mar Lodge ; Sir William and Lady
Forbes, of Craigievar ; Hon. Major and Mrs.
Murray ; Mr. and Mrs. Butler, of Faskally ; Miss
Ricardo ; Mr. Jervis ; Mr. and Mrs. H. Hogarth ;
Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Westhall ; Mr. W. Kennedy
Erskine ; Dr. Cameron ; Mr. Williams ; Mr. Ram-
say ; Mr. M‘Lagan, &c. The Duff and Forbes
Highlanders, with an attractive number of fair
partners, were also present.
What with the rich dresses and uniforms of the

ladies and gentlemen whose names are given, the
commingling of the various tartans, in which many
of both sexes were clad, and tasteful festoons and
floral arches that hung from and waved across the
roof of the marquee, the coloured light cast over all
by the hundreds of variegated lamps around and
above, the ball-room, shortly after 10 o'clock, pre-
sented one of the gayest and most animated„seenr
it-is possible to conceive ; and while, no doubt, ti
" combination of talent" lent aid in designing the
decorations, the principal credit is allowed to be
due to Mr. Macdonald, of his Lordship's house-
hold.

Dancing was continued with great heartiness till
day dawn, Mr. Hunter, front Aberdeen, with Mr.
Cheyne and other efficient assistants, relieved at
intervals by the Messrs. M'Lenan, Meares, and
Campbell, with their pipes, supplying excellent
music. Tea, supper, and refreshments were dealt
out with willing hand during the night, rich and
poor sharing alike in the liberality of the Countess.
The morning is not very cheering ; but if wishes
have weight Queen's weather and the Queen her-
self will grace the gathering of to-day.

THE QUEEN AND THE CANADIANS,

On Saturday evening Sir Edward B. Lytton,
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, addressed
an official communication to Mr. Norris, embodying

the answer of her Majesty to the petition, of which
he was recently the bearer to this country, from
citizens of Toronto and inhabitants of Canada. It
will be recollected that the petition in question

stated that a Crystal Palace similar in design, but
of smaller dimensions to those of London and
Paris, for the exhibition of the products of Cana-
dian industry and skill, is in the course of erection
in Toronto, and will be completed about the Ist of
October; and the memorialists, remembering that
her Majesty had been pleased to honour the inau-
guration of similar undertakings in this country
and elsewhere with her presence, prayed that she

would confer a mark of favour on her loyal sub-
jects in Canada, by giving authority to the

- -
Prince of Wales, or some other member of the