The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-25 00:00:00

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„.. 7 SEPTEMBER 25, 1850.
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BIRMINGHAM, SEPT. 24.
STOCK ExcHamatc..—We have little change to notice in
this share market. Only a small business has been done,
and prices remain without any material deviation, the only
transaction reported beicg London and North• Western,
Fifths, 2% p. - Caledonian, F.

YORK, SEPT. 23.
STOCK Exctrksoyc.—The transactions to-day were as fol-
low: Great Northern, 11!4 York, Newcastle, and Ber-
wick, 1574%—Ditto (Gr. N. E. Purchase), 4%—York and
North Midland, 19.

[PRICE SD.

THE NORTHERN MEETING.
INVERNESS, THURSDAY, SEPT. 19.—The festivi-
ties which form one of the characteristic features of
the Northern Meeting commenced here to-day in the
play-ground of the Inverness Royal Academy, and
were, as usual, attended by a large proportion of the
Highland nobility, and by a considerable number of
noble and distinguished gentlemen from the south.
The object of this reunion was originally to serve as
a meeting place for the gentry of the six counties
north of the river Spey, where, by forming a general
hunting party, and by rewarding the successful com-
petitors in the manly sports of the north, a few days
of brilliant and attractive gaiety might be passed at
the close of the sporting season. The first northern
meeting was held in 1788 ; and by means of subscrip-
tions the association was soon enabled to purchase
considerable property in the town and neighbourhood
of Inverness. Since that time the meetings have
been regularly held every autumn, and though they
have lost some of their original features as that of a
hunting party, they continue to draw together a
greater number of the nobility of the north of
Scotland, and often of the south, than per-
haps any other scene of gaiety in the king-
dom. While the late Duke of Gordon pre-
sided at these annual festivities, his residence re-
resembled more a miniature court than that of a pri-
vate nobleman ; the country lairds of Inverness-shire
and Ross were presented to him as at a levee, and the
great event of the year was to be present at " The
Hunt," as the meeting is still popularly called, and to
mingle among the distinguished noblemen and their
families who regularly assembled at that time. The
present patron, his Grace the Duke of Richmond,
comes very often to the meeting, and was present to-
day, accompanied by his son Lord George Lennox.
In 1847, when the Royal Family were residing at
Ardverekie, Prince Albert honoured the scene with
his presence, and strong hopes were entertained, till
within the last day or two, that he would again be
present at the meeting, together with Lord John Rus-
sell, who was staying for a short time in the beau-
tiful neighbourhood of Rothiemurchus, in Inverness-
shire. The duration of the meeting at present extends
over three days. This afternoon was devoted to
throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, and other
athletic sports of the Highlands, followed by a ball in
the meeting-rooms ; to-morrow we shall have the
competition of pipers and dancers, also to be followed
by a ball ; and on Saturday a horse race is to take
place, to be followed by other races and less im-
portant amusements. The games were in ge-
neral very poor, decidedly inferior to those
celebrated last summer at Holland Park.
The heavy hammer was thrown only 81 feet 9 inches,
and the light hammer 100 feet 10 inches. The
greatest distance jumped was only 15 feet 6 inches,
and the stalwart figure of John Cameron, from Tom-
garron, near Dunkeld, was the only one who could
fairly toss the caber. The games commenced about
one o'clock, P.M., and lasted for about four hours.
The following were among the distinguished visi-
tors to-day—His Grace the Duke of Richmond, Lord
George Gordon Lennox, Lord Gough, Lord and Lady
Lovat, the Hon. Miss Fraser and the Master of
Lovat, Lord and Lady Reidhaven, Lord Blantyre,
Lord Feilden, the Earl and Countess of Seafield, the
lion. George Stuart, of Darnaway, the Right Hon.
Mr. Smith, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, Lady
Riddell, of Arnamurchan, Sir William Gordon Cum-
ming, of Altyne, and Lady and Captain A. I'. G.
Cumming, Mr. Ronalleyn Cumming, and Mr. Henry
Cumming, Sir Piers Mostyn, Sir Evan M'Kenzie, of
Kilcoy, Sir Alexander Dunbar, of Northfield, Sir
John Rose, of Holme, Sir Robert Menzies, Sir J.
Carnac, Captain Gough, Captain Forbes, Mr. J. M.
Grant, of Glenmoriston and Moy, Mr. Keith Stewart
M'Kenzie, of Seaforth, Mr Stewart, of Belladrum,
Mr. Evan Baillie, of Dochfour, Mr. Matheson, M.P.,
Colonel Matheson, M.P., Colonel Hugh Baillie, of
Redcastle, &c.\
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21.—Yesterday and to-day the
festivities atten. • the Northern Meeting have been
going on with u • sated vigour, notwithstanding that
atikunfivouhabletchange has taken place in'the wea-
ther. About one o'clOck yesteredy-the gallery erected
for visitors was nearly filled, and the workmen of
the town crowded the grounds. The arena set aside
for the competitors, the judges, and a few of the prin-
cipal members of the meeting, was dotted' over with
the brilliant tartans of the Highland chieftains, and
here and there a group more distinguished than the
rest—Lord Gough, perhaps, or the Duke of Rich-
mond, forming its centre—gave a more peculiar in-
terest to the scene. There has, however, been a de-
ficiency in the attendance of the leading nobility this
season, as compared with former years—amply
compensated for, however, by the great in-
flux of gentlemen of high ocal standing, the des-
cendants of gallant and brave men, celebrated in
the chronicles of the Highlands. These locked into
Inverness in great numbers as early as Tuesday and
Wednesday, and by the gay and picturesque appear-
ance of their dresses threw a liveliness and spirit into
the town, which seemed foreign to the quiet character
of its scenery. The second day of the meeting is
always the most brilliant as regards attendance, and
there was something striking and romantic in the ap-
pearance of so many families whose names are as
household words to every Scot. There were the
Cummings of Altyre, whose ancestor, the Red Comyn,
was stabbed in the Grey-friars Church of Dumfries, by
King Robert Bruce; the Stuarts, from beneath the
hall which was built by Randolph, the nephew and
companion in arms of Bruce ; the Frasers of Lovat ;
the Grants of Grant (Lord Seafield being chief of the
clan) ; the Grants of Glenmoriston (famous in the
'45) ; M'Kenzie of Seaforth, representative of the
ancient lords of Seaforth ; the heads of various
branches of the great clan Chattan, which included a
confederation of fifteen septs or clans, &c. All this
gave a zest and interest to the scene apart from that
inspired by the objects which drew them together.
The proceedings were commenced on Friday by a
competition of pipers, and to those who delight in the
wild irregular music of the Highlands there was
amusement enough. The pibroch, or war song of
the clans, the "Laments," the "Favourites," and a
host of reels and strathspeys were played throughout
the day, each one of eight or nine competitors playing
one or two pieces. Then came the dancing, for
which there were more competitors than usual. The
Highland dances—as wild, exciting, and irregular as
their music—was acknowledged on all hands to be
admirably performed, and, though no great judge, I
can bear testimony to the neatness and agility shown
in dancing "Gillie Callum," the sword dance, and to
the hearty spirit drawn forth by the " Reel of Tul-
loch." The successful competitors were—for pi-
brochs, Duncan Campbell, piper to Captain John
Forbes, Invercruan ; for strathspeys, Duncan M'Kay,
piper to the Duke of Leeds (the third prize for
strathspeys was won by James Maims, a boy from
the Caledonian Asylum, London, now only 14 years
of age). For dancing the Highland Fling, Donald
M'Kenzie, piper to the Duke of Sutherland ; for
Gillie Callum and for the Reel of Tulloch, T. Robe-
man, Edinburgh; for reels, Alexander M'Kenzie,
Inverness. For Seaforth'a gold medal there were
nine competitors, and the playing is described as
having been better than was ever heard in Inverness.
Donald Cameron, piper to Mr. M'Kenzie, of Seaforth,
won the medal. The medal given by Mr. Allan, of
London, was won by John M'Alister, piper to the
Marquis of Stafford.
This morning (Saturday) the rain fell in torrents,
and great fears were entertained that the horse races
appointed to be held to-day could not come off. About
noon fortunately the weather cleared up, and by two
o'clock the sun was shining brightly. The ground
was very wet and heavy. The first race was with
hurdles, for a handsome silver cup, and eight horses
entered. The course was round a circle, about a mile
and a half in length, but none of the horses were in any
which
celebrated.
iehwont Oneheenprollepdofinait curious—thewarlyhseadover heel s
ath horse
of the hurdles, and appeared to fall heavily on its
rider. He got up again, however, and quickly re-
mounting, made up so well as to come in first by a
few feet. Other races followed, and the day's pro-
ceedings wound up with another competition on the
givengr by grand Highland bagpipe" for two gold medals,
Mr. M'Kenaie of Seaforth, and Mr. Allan
of London.
The balls upon the evenings of Thursday and Fri-
day—the principal attractions of the meeting—were
more numerously attended than for many years pre-
viously. About 200 ladies and gentlemen were pre-
sent on Thursday night, and last night the large
room was much crowded. So far as I can learn,
the only name which might be added to the list of dis-
tinguished persons present which I sent on Thursday,
is that of Lord Saltoun, who attended the ball on
Thursday evening.

In conclusion--to blend something of the utile with
the elulce—l may mention that the harvest in this
northern part of the kingdom is nearly completed.
The oat crop is not so weighty as in some former
years, but wheat and barley are abundant and excel-
lent. The farmers here appear to be skilful and en-
terprising. All modern improvements are readily
adopted, and this year a larger amount of guano has
been imported direct from Peru than was ever pre-
viously commissioned. The sheep farmers on the
hills have had a run of good years ; and it is a
curious fact, that better Cheviot sheep are now reared
in the north of Scotland than can be found on the
Cheviot hilla. For black cattle the prices Are law.