The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-16 00:00:00

THE SUN,

tion of a monument in memory of the late Queen,
and the other for founding a charitable institution to
bear her name.

A PUGILISTIC RENCONTRE
WITH THE DUKE OF ATHOLL.
The Scottish Press says—" The arrival of the sea-
son at which travellers return southwards from their
Highland rambles, brings us some curious stories
about the Duke of Atholl. We intimated a few
weeks ago that his Grace, though condescending to
grant occasional passports to travellers desirous of
proceeding through Glen Tilt, seemed determined to
dispute the proper application of the recent legal de-
cision in the Court of Session, and we regret to say
that we have since heard of one instance, at least, in
which he has actually taken the law into his own
hands, or, we should rather Bay, has attempted to
administer club law on the subject. It appears, from
facts which have come to our knowledge within the
last day or two, that Glen Tilt, already famous as
the occasion of a most interesting and important law
process, has recently acquired an additional renown
from the circumstance of a fierce fisty-cuff battle
having being fought in it between the Duke of Atholl
himself and two young gentlemen from England, who
had the hardihood to penetrate into these wilds, tra-
versed by few without a pass. The full details of this
singular and very discreditable affair have not yet
reached us, but the leading facts, which are as fol-
low, may be confidently relied on :
It appears that a few weeks ago two young gentle-
men, students of Cambridge University, feeling de-
sirous of proceeding through Glen Tilt, in order at
once to obtain a view of the scenery and to shorten
the way to their destination, had proceeded so far on
their dangerous journey without molestation, when
they were suddenly brought into the immediate neigh-
bourhood of a party of ladies and gentlemen, whom
they, no doubt, expected to pass with a becoming sa-
ltee, and no more about it. How they managed to
obtain admission to the glen at all we have not beard,
but we at least know that they were not, like Pro-
fessor Balfour, interrupted by his Grace, for he hap-
pened to be one of the party alluded to, and no sooner
espied the daring pedestrianslthan he approached,
challenged them to atop, and at once ordered them to
turn and go back—an order which was accompanied,
we understand, by such menaces as the head of Clan
Atholl and the rightful lord of Glen Tilt might con-
sider himself entitled to use.
The intruders, as may easily be imagined by any
one who has been so stopped in the middle of his
journey, were not disposed to yield an immediate
compliance to this rather rough, but by no means
uncharacteristic, demand. A short altercation en-
sued—a very short one, we understand ; for who would
ever suppose that a Duke, the- Duke of Atholl es-
pecially, would stop to bandy words with two rambling
Cambridge students ? The young gentlemen ex-
pressed their determination to proceed, under the im-
pression that they had a perfect right to do so, while
his Grace as determinedly insisted upon their return-
ing; and in order to show them how to do so, we
suppose, proceeded to collar one of them, and drag
him backwards. Resistance was made, and the fight
began. We are not aware on which side the greatest
amount of science was shown ; but the mill, if we
may borrow a phrase from the ring, which has now
been honoured by the practice of the Duke, must have
been a pretty stiff one. Blows were exchanged freely.
Think of a Duke making such an exchange with an
obtrusive commoner, and both parties seemed to have
considered themselves victorious ! His Grace of
Atholl, at least, carried his colours from the field, for
we are credibly informed that two at least of the
tres primativce colores were brought out in his coun-
tenance.
During their "battle sair and tough," the Duke's
party were looking on, whether in wonder or ad-
miration we are unable to say, but the result was that
the two young gentlemen were committed to the care
of the attendants, while his Grace withdrew to show
his scars, perhaps to wash his face, very discreetly
took them out of the way a little, and then, with mum,
more good sense than their master, allowed them to
proceed on their journey.
Such are the here facts of this singular affair, in
which Scottish nobility certainly does not make a
very creditable figure. Now, we should like to know,
end this battle renders the inquiry very apposite,
whether all travellers in future are expected to fight
their way through Glen Tilt ?—whether, in the event
of passports not :having been obtained, the Duke of
Atholl proposes, like Mejor Galbraith, as the only
alternative, that all pretty men should draw, or at least
show fight ? If such is to be really the case, there
need rot be so much apprehension about venturing
through the forbidden glen in future. The decision
is a much shorter one than can be obtained through a
Court of Session process, and the honour of fighting a
Duke is given to the bargain—an honour which might
even compensate, in fact, for being eventually forced
to turn back. But, seriously, what shall we think or
say about this conduct on the part of a nobleman ?
Very little can be said, because the unhappy persis-
tency which his Grace has shown in having his name
made notorious in connexion with Glen Tilt, has
never before led him so far—and the bare facts of this
disgraceful proceeding require no comment.