The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-25 00:00:00

hurt

The Royal Visit to Dunrobin.

The preparations of the Duke and Duchess of
Sutherland for the expected arrival of the Prince
and Princess of Wales at Dunrobin on Monday are
being actively prosecuted at Golspie. The visit
being of a semi-private nature it is not proposed
that any very public demonstration should take place
on the arrival ; and at the Castle no signs are visible
as yet of. any special decorations being in prepara-
tion, and none, we believe, are contemplated. Dun-
robin unadorned is adorned the most, and any
attempt to adi to the charms of the magnificent
grounds, or set off the beauty of the most imposing
castle in the north of Scotland, would be as Quixotic
as to paint the lily. The Castle, indeed, is itself a
preparation for a royal visit—a visit which has never
been made—having been greatly added to and
beautified in 1844-5, in anticipation of a short resi-
dence by Queen Victoria.
In Golspie, however, which is not remarkable for
the number or imposing character of its public build-
ings, it was felt that something might be done.
Accordingly, in the centre of the village a stately
triumphal arch—to which, if any objection at
all may be offered, it is that it will throw
the modest buildings surrounding it somewhat
into the shade—is being erected, on which devices
and an inscription welcoming the royal party to
Dunrobin will be placed. It is expected that
the arrival will take place shortly after half-
past seven, o'clock, and as, of course, daylight will
have gone an hour earlier, the arch will be bril-
liantly illuminated by something like 150 lights.
The arch is built of larches, and it will be dressed
with heather. The leading shops and houses will,
be illuminated ; and an immense bonfire is being
built on Ben-a-bragbie, a high hill overlooking the
village, on which a monument to the grandfather
of the present duke, placed at a height of 1,282
feet above the level of the sea, and rising itself 100
feet more, forms a landmark distinguishable from
any part of Sutherland, Ross, or Caithness within
a circuit of 20 or 30 miles.

As various points along the coach route from

Bonarbridge to Golspie similar decorations and
manifestations of loyal welcome are being got for-
ward. At the Ardgay Station of the Highland Rail-
way, which at present forms the terminus of the
company's line, about half a mile on the south side
of Bonar-bridge, a series of handsome arches, dressed
with evergreens and heather, have been erected,
spanning the road leading from the station. Over
the central arch there is placed a motto, in bold
letters formed of rowan berries, bidding the prince

and princess appropriate " Welcome to the North,"
which is surmounted by the crown, the Prince of
Wales's cross, and other decorations. On the oppo-
site side of the handsome bridge which here crosses
the mouth of the Oykel, connects the two coun-
ties of Ross and Sutherland, and gives its name to the
village of Bonar, a corresponding series of arches
five in number are being erected, on which the motto,
worked in roses, will be equally appropriate—" Wel-
come to Sutherland." These fine arches are being
erected by Mr. Chirnside, of Skibo, on the march
of whose lands they are placed. At the Clashmore
Inn, about 11 miles down the north side of the
Dornoch Firth, on the march of the estates of
Skibo and Sutherland, which it is expected will be
reached about six o'clock, the royal journey will be
broken for a few minutes, in order to permit a
change of horses. The front of the inn is deco-
rated with festoons of heather in bloom, which,
besides being a pretty substitute for evergreens,
has the further meritorious quality of being a na-
tional emblem. Should darkness come on, as is
most likely, before the cortege appears, arrangenients
have been made to have the house, and the green
in front of it, as well as both sides of the road for
some distance illuminated with lamps. The entry
of their royal highnesses on the Duke of Suther-
land's estates will be welcomed by the Dornoch
Company of Volunteers, who are under orders to
be on the ground shortly before six o'clock. From
Clashmore to Dunrobin there will be no break in
the royal journey.

In many respects the royal visit, though sudden,
is beautifully timed. The coming week will be
quite a carnival in Golspie. Tuesday is the half-
yearly rent-day of the Sutherland tenantry ; and it
had for some time been intended to inaugurate on
that day the statue of the late duke, which the.
tenantry propose to erect to his memory. On the
supposed failure of the arrangement which was to
bring the prince and princess to Dunrobin, the idea
was for the time abandoned, and the sculptor, it is
feared, had slackened his efforts to finish the work.
A telegram was despatched on Tuesday to London,
ordering the statue to be sent on at once with-
out fail, but up to Saturday morning it bad
not arrived at Bonar-bridge. It is still expected in
time to make the inauguration possible on Tuesday";
but it is almost beyond question that it will be in
situ before the prince leaves Dunrobin. On Wed-
nesday and Thursday the rifle shooting, which has
been advanced from Thursday and Friday, the dates
oriainally fixed, in order to suit the convenience of
their royal highnesses, takes place and on Friday
there will be a grand review of the Sutherlandshire
Volunteers. Balls will also take place on Thursday
and Friday nights, one of which, it is hoped, the
prince and princess will grace with their presence.
Dinners also take place on two days of the week,
and it is thought possible the Prince of Wales may
accompany the Duke of Sutherland in his annual
visit to the tenantry meeting on Tuesday.
There is already a large company of ladies and
gentlemen staying at the Castle. At present the
most distinguished visitor is his Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh, who arrived off Dunrobin be-
tween one and two o'clock on Friday morning, after
a very pleasant voyage of about six hours froill
Kessock-roads, where he was received on Thursday
night on board the duke's yacht, the Undine, by his
grace. Prince Alfred, like a good sailor as he is,
enjoyed the voyage, and was able on the same day,
to join a party of sportsmen in partridge shooting,
and make a fair bag. On Saturday his royal big'''.
ness was engaged in deer-stalking. In the evening
he dined with the duke and duchesa.—Scotsman•

THE GREAT EASTERN.—Yesterday, in responv
to an invitation from,Capt. Anderson, the members
of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and a number °I
friends paid a visit to the Great Eastern, which still re:
mains at anchor in the Mersey. Much interest was mani-
fested by the numerous party of gentlemen, who examine
the apparatus used irk paying out the cable of 1866, and Of
appliances for grappling and hauling up the cable of 1864.
The ferry boats also convey large numbers of people for L'
sail round "the big ship,"
LIVERPOOL WATER SUPPLY.—.The heavy ra'°'
of the past fortnight have added very largely to the
stock of water in the Rivington reservoirs. At the f°l4;
nightly meeting of the water committee of the LiverP°c)
Town Council yesterday it was stated that during the t" -
weeks just ended the stock of water at Rivington had ill-
creased by 652,000,000 gallons, which is more than thffi,
whole of the stock in the reservoirs at the same period last
year, when the total quantity was reported to be 503,000,00
gallons.
THE LONDON SUNDAY-SCHOOLS LIFEBOAT.-Sr
formal presentation of the London Sunday-schools LL'f.:
boat, the " Robert Raikes," to the National Lifeboat lel
tution will take place this evening at the Agricultural flb'e
Islington. Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P., will' occupy to..
chair on the occasion, and Mr. Richard Lewis, the sec 0
tart' of the Lifeboat Institution, will receive the boat
behalf of the committee, and will deliver an address 00
,tt".
lifeboat and its work, illustrated by models, diagratas, tie
THE LATE EARL OF CARLISLE.—About Riteebe
months ago a movement was started in Dalton I°l.l tOO
erection of a permanent memorial of the Earl of Cerliot
on some part of the Castle Howard estate. The 313 oty
proposal was subsequently merged in that of a °sed
meeting held at York, at which Lord Houghton proPe._o
and carried the erection of an art memorial—a Corinthe',
column, shortly to be be founded on Bulmer t °6oo.
near Malton. The character of the late earl beingfos
excellence that of the philanthropist, many of his Ric ora
were desirous of erecting what they Seethed to be a, Toer
fitting memorial of the benevolent nobleman ; and pi
that the subscriptions are obtained for the county P h'
the Archbishop of York and those associated withiisio
Grace have set about raising £5OO to erect a C3rfor
Chapel at the Castle Howard Reformatory Scho:ol,t 501
miles from Malton. The late earl was the president bad
greatest friend of this institution, which hitherto brreadi
no chapel accommodation. About 20 donor* leave
sub§cribe4 one-half the pvlll4 required,