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

At this moment the scene was very picturesque
and exciting. It -vas 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, Craigniel,„
and the other hills which surround this magnifieei
Strath. From the various points might be hea rd
the pipes of M'Lellan, Campbell, and Mear as,
sounding blithely and bonnily. By and by sile-nme
stole over the camp, the music ceased, and the fire,
which in its fierceness had hitherto defied (Alger
smokers to snatch a needful spark, began t( j burn
low and dim. The night was, as the day hr.abenn,
beautiful ; and so quiet became everythinng around
that you could catch the sough of the TO 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. Th'.,re
were also, at intervals, friendly contests among the
throwers, dancers, and jumpers, by way of getting
the sinews and joints into order for the approaching
competition of this forenoon. With the ex':eption
of noting that the harvest is by no means so
forward up here as it is anywhere below Bander,
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 wag very numerous,
and included Mr. and Lady Margaret Beaumont i
the Hon. 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. Dalryniple ; Mr. arid Lady Louisa Brooke ;
the Hon. Lady Duff ; Hon. G. S. Duff ; Captain St.
George and officers of her Majesty's guard at
Bander ; 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 scenes
it is possible to conceive ; and while, no doubt, a
" combination of talent" lent aid in designing the
decorations, the principal credit im allowed to be
duc to Mr. Macdonald, of his Lordship's house-
hold.

Dancing was continued with great heartiness till
day dawn, Mr. Hunter, from Aberdeen, with Mr.
Cheyne and other efficient assistants, relieved at
intervals by the Messrs. M‘Lenan, Mearns, and
Campbell, with their pipes, supplyiug 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.