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

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY

BANK OF DEPOSIT.
Established A.D. 1844.
3, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON.
Parties desirous of Investing Motley are requested to exa-
mine the Plan of The Bank of Deposit, by which a high rate
of interest may be obtained with ample security.
The Interest is payable in January, and July.
PETER MORRISON, Manatting Director.
Forms for Opening Accounts sent free on application.

GLENFIELD PATENT STARCH,
USED IN THE ROYAL LAUNDRY,
AND PRONOUNCED BY HER MAJESTY'S LAUNDRESS to be
THE FINEST STARCH SITE EVER USED.
Sold by all Chandlers, Grocers, &c., &c.

turnpike. In this respect, all the way from Aboyne
to the very inn doors at -Charleston of Braemar, a
very satisfactory. -change has taken place, and the
Wonder is, considering the miserable state of the
roads previously, how such an.amount of improve-
ment has been effected in so short a space of
time. So it -is, hoNVever ; and one or two of the
greater changes for the better are worth a word of
mention. One of the bleakest and worst -parts Of
the road between Aboyne and Balloter used to be
the Weary moor of Dinnat, where, with the excep-
tion of having pointed out to you the scenes of
Byioii's bOyhood, the snail's pace of the coach was
unblessed by a single blink of interest or attraction.
Now, however, the road takes an entirely new turn
northwards, and in addition to having a good path
over which the coachthan can, for the most part,
rattle briskly, the paskiiger obtains a close view of
a sheet of water of considerable size;known as Loch
Kinnord, in connection with which various inte-
resting stales are told. It. is said, for instance, in
accents of pride, and probably truth, by the dwel-
lers in the neighbourhood, that on one of the islands
of this loch a Scottish King—Malcolm Canmore, to
wit—built a palace or hunting seat, and not only
this, but that he also raised a prison for the use of
such of his rebellious subjects as might require ac-
commodation of that kind. Be this truth or
fiction as it may, there can be little doubt that
hereabout a castle at one time did stand, and
that, in the immediate vicinity, and within view
from the top of the coach can be witnessed the
field's where was fought the great., battle of Cul-
-- The next important improveinent on
the road worthy of special notice has been effected
at the steep rock over which the coach and horses
used to slide slowly and cautiously, just before
reaching the little hostelry at Cammas-o'May.
Many were the timid maidens and responsible
matrons who were wont to " steek their een," alias
shut eyes right and left, on reaching this uncomfort-
able point ; while other people, including men of
no small nerve, were fain to keep a " good grip,"
fearful lest by the breaking of some unfaithful
" girth" or " trace"- the whole bypothic might •be
unceremoniously sent headlong into the silvery
Dee, which runs so sweetly and invitingly below.
But now, thanks to the strong right bands of the
disciples of Macadam, the descent is both safe and
easy. Coachee scarce lets his nags feel the rein or
bit, but, giving them head with a " crik" and a
" crack," drives smartly down to the foot of a brae,
when, with a fine professional " So-ho, gentle
mare," he draws up, hands the ribbons to some
proud and privileged box passenger, and forthwith
proceeds to taste the capabilities of the little inn in
the way of supplying " good refreshments, for man
and -beast."

Let us, however, fall once more into our proper
position for the time being,--the wake of the royal
visitors. Ballater was reached at a quarter-past
five--an hour which allowed timely opportunity to
the many lady and gentleman lodgers—to say
nothing of the respected inhabitants of the village
—to duly dress and dine, so that they might look
well and contented when her Majesty came. The
company. in waiting was both numerous and
fashionable, and the interest was materially
heightened here by the presence of a fine body of
some 60 men of the 78th Highlanders from Aber-
deen, under the command of Captain St. George,
and Ensigns Ewing and Thomson, who are to
remain at Ballater, as a guard of honour to her
Majesty during the Royal stay in the Highlands.
Besides the _ leading parties in the district,
there were present Dr. and Mrs. Hunter,
Edinburgh ; Mr. A. Smith, London; Mr. W. R.
Bruce ; Mr. D. Duthie ; the Rev. Messrs,
Corbet, Middleton, Campbell, Peters, and Web.
ster ; Mr. Simpson, jun., Procurator-Fiscal ; Mr
Smith, &c. Another change of horses here took
place—Mr. Ross, of the Nrotialirie Arms, taking
up the posting. After a stoppage of -abotre"frevi
minutes, the Royal party drove off amid .hearty
cheers, crossing—to the surprise of the spectators-.-.
the bridge of Ballater, and thus proceeding by the
south side of the river to the castle. It was antici-
pated that her Majesty, as formerly, Would have
taken the north approach. Ballater, it may be
noted, seems to be gaining, if that be possible, in
popularity, the number of visitors and summer
residents during the past few months having been
unprecedently great.
Travellers leaving Ballater about the same time
as. the Queen, butholding on their way to Braemar
by the north side of the river, would, at Crathie,
meet lots of pleasure seekers, in dogcarts and on
foot, who had come down the country to see her
Majesty pass to the palace. Otherwise than obtain-
ing a hasty glimpse of the cortege at a distance as,
at a quarter-past six, it drew up at the castle, they
were, of course, disappointed from the opposite
approach being chosen. They could, however,
enjoy a fine view of the castle, which is now
apparently quite finished, and presents a very
[noble and—thanks to our famous granite—beau-
tifully clean appearance. There is still some
building going on about the outhouses, of which
there is quite a colony, but it is difficult to conceive
how anything further can be done in the way of
pleasure walk and lawn adornment, so charmingly
are the grounds around the palace and along the
river laid out. The fine new bridge erected over
the Dee as a private entrance to the castle, and
across which it was expected her Majesty would
drie, is now completed, and has an excellent effect
from the turnpike. It is constructed after designs
by Mr. Brunel, on the principle of the tubular
bridge at the Menai Straits ; has a span of 165
feet, and contains somewhere nearly 90 tons of
iron. It has been built at the sole expense of the
Prince Consort.
About the first thought of the traveller when he
arrived at the romantic Highland capital, where
these notes are written, is the natural one of where
he is to find bed and board combined—the well
known probability being, that as gathering time
approaches every house and ha', butt and ben, is so
completely pre-engaged and occupied, that though
a board may be obtainable, a bed, seemingly, never.
Some folks, however, are more fortunate than
others, and as " a man should always ford the
stream as he finds it," and have a kindly word and
way with servants, if lucky in obtaining quarters,
you fervently thank your stars on learning that
your host has been under the necessity of "letting
out" lodgers by the score for the past month, and,
personally accommodated, look about to see what
is doing—an early visit, in all likelihood, being
made to the busy premises of Peter Geddes, who is
still the obliging postmaster here.
Visitors strolling the -village shortly after seven
this evening were quickened in their pace east-
wards by the sound of pipes and drums coming up
by the way of the old Castle of Braemar. Soon a
numerous body of men, clad in the Highland garb,
were seen approaching in marching order—mar-
shalled by a gallant gentleman on horseback. It
was Sir Charles Forbes, of Newe, with the Strath-
don and Craigievar men, who had come over the
hills on their way to join the Duff Highlanders, at
Mar-lodge, preparatory to the gathering of Friday.
The men, numbering in all from 120 to 130, were
armed with pikes, and being stately-looking fel-
lows, presented a fine military appearance. They
were commanded by Sir Charles Forbes ; Sir Win.
93d Highlanders ; Messrs.
Forbes; Colonel Evart,
Charles and Reginald Radcliffe ; Mr. Chas. Leith
Hay ; Mr. Mackenzie ; Mr. Gordon Forbes ; Mr.
Charles Forbes, yr. of Newe ; and Mr. George
Forbes, of Aslown. They reached Mar Lodge
(hitherto known as Corriemulzie Cottage) about
eight o'clock, where they were received with ring-
ing cheers by some 50 of the Duff men, who had
assembled to give them welcome.
As it is principally in connection with the
gathering that the several clans have been spoken
of, it is only necessary to say further, in the mean-
time, that the whole body proceeded to a field in