The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-24 00:00:00

tr3'lnen had gained more than usual honour.—(Hiar.)
Re saw among the members present some who
shared in the glories of that battle, aid they doubtless
knew of the act of bravery and cool courage exhibited
in that battle by a Highland regiment, which he was
about to relate—an act which, however much it might
be admired, could never be properly appreciated_ by
civilians. During the battle of Alexandria a thick
fob' enveloped both the Highland regiments. The
tiritish troops were drawn up in two lines. A French
regiment advanced under cover of the fog, and passed
into
the interval between the two regiments,
so
as to occupy the rear of the front
line and the front of the second line. That front
line, consisted of a Highland regiment, which was
t(Cheers.)
engaged in front and rear at the same time.—
They beat their opponents both in front
id rear.—(Cheers.) Now he appealed to the officers
present if that was not an instance of cool courage
almost unparalelled ?—(Loud cheers.) It was that
coolness in the hour of danger that made the British
but
soldier the glory of his country.—(Cheers.)
lit while they thus rejoiced in the glory acquired
b
LY their native troops, it behoved them to remember
tue clear price which they had been called upon to
Pay for it.—(Hear, hear.) They should recollect the
many heroes which on that occasion had been lost to
the service. Abercromby fell covered with laurels in
the arms of victory.—(Cheers.) He fell gloriously.
ao3, of his companions, who had exhibited equal
Prowess and were an equal honour to the ser-
lee, had lived to reap the reward of their
received
; and although they might feel that they had
"vt'eived the full reward that they were entitled to,
Yet it was some satisfaction to them to know that
their countrymen appreciated their services and were
Willing to do them justice.—(Loud cheers.) They
fall ally, appreciated the services of those who had
e,
L in the defence of their country.—(Loud
Cheers.)
`For them e'en banquets fond regrets supply,
In the red cup that crowns their memory.'
(Loud cheers.) He called upon them, therefore, with
that solemn feeling of respect which was befitting the
eceasio
n, to drink the memory of Sir Ralph Aber-
wrnby and his brave companions in arms, who fell
With him in 1801, on the day of which that was the
anniversary, at the battle of Alexandria.
Zile toast was then drunk in solemn silence, after
Which the bagpipes played a lament.
,as. Cursironm said it had been usual on these °c-
id to invite every officer who had been present
tbattle of Alexandria. He now craved the atten-
i% of the company for Col. Elwyn, who would ex-
iie how it happened that so many Egyptians were
absent on the present occasion.
Colonel ELWYN spoke as follows :—Mr. President,
„
looking around me, I regret much to see so small
Portion of my military companions assembled to do
lMice to the occasion that has called us here together.
te may probably be accounted for, simply, for two
ascns—several members, especially of the United
service Club (all old Egyptians), being, at this time,
ev
of town, and many more having, of late, been
teLlied ,' to that bourne from which no traveller re-
These may be, perhaps, deemed the best
~cuses that can be offered for the smallness of the
cambers met this day to commemorate the battle and
story
of Alexandria, under our gallant chief and
liateran commander, Sir Ralph Abercrombie. I feel
thaelsPY, however, still, in noticing the full meeting of
ti gentlemen composing the old established institu-
il or " the Highland Society of London," and most
sincerely do I hope that on every future occasion, and
to
tilinn,9; as an anniversary of this day is continued,
at they may assemble with the same elasticity of
11.ita and good health as on the present occasion, and
I° without any apparent diminution of their numbers.
have no apology to offer for the absence of naval
~gYptians, they have all received a summons which
ti:11, ere long, call us all from the festive pleasures of
8: Highland hospitality."
„,ag, Mr. M'lan, " The Old Highland Gentleman."
T• he efirsnorm trusted that all had filled bumpers
`u do honour to the toast which he was about to pro-
e• It was the health of a brave and noble High-
and British soldier, who from the time he had en-
Ctered the service up to the hour when he had quitted
hina, had been always found whenever his country
gaited his services, and had always acted as a true-
hearted British soldier.—(Hear, and cheers.) That
g •
%ety was under peculiar obligations to him, for he
ties among the best, if he was not the very best Pre-
Cent they had ever had.—(Cheers.) He gave the
:kith and long life to Lord Saltoun.—(lmmense
Cheering.)
Drunk with the Highland honours.
,his toast was followed by a reel.
he'be CuisnoLm said the next toast was one which
A. Would rather had been proposed by any other in-
ilvv_idual as it was the health of a near and dear rela-
0, e. of his own.—(Cheers.) He would not, however,
tst"rink from the performance of his duty, but would
3,,L3P'ase the " Health of the President of the past
Iy7Cheers.) His defence of Hougoumont
tumid
never be forgotten.—(Cheers.) At a late
tv‘kid of the day General Macdonald had received a
ateand from a splinter, which had for a moment
k tined him, and he fell. The word was passed round,
t:ia„ cdonald has fallen, the command devolves upon
((61.,"1111." But the blood of the Glengarry rallied—
Cheers) —and with far more energy than politeness,
a he heard, " the command devolves upon Sal-
wan," he exclaimed, " No, I'll be d—d if it does."
02'en on a subsequent occasion the great Captain of
age drank to Lord Saltoun, as the defender of
?agoumont—Lord Saltoun got up, and with the
otl'tof
a true British soldier replied, "No; I had
theY the honour to belong to the regiment, and to
4? the orders of my superior officer, General
donald.—(Loud cheers.) He proposed " Health
v. long life, to their past President, Sir James
The d
cheers.)
.u.'ne toast was drunk with Highland honours.
il.rshr. GUTHRIE rose to propose " The Health of the
th olm."—(Loud cheers.) They deeply regretted
tee absence of their President, and they more deeply
oatthe melancholy event which had occasioned
absence—(Cheers)—but they had seen that night
admirably their President's place had been sup-
lic" by the Chisholm.—(Cheers.) He was a soldier
Profession, and had a soldier's feelings, and the
istnie of the Chisholm roused feelings of enthusiasm
It* breast of every Highlander.—(Cheers.)
ile, toast was drunk with Highland honours.
hTe4 ne enisnorzr, in returning thanks, said that he
taken the position he had held that evening, not
eaof right, not altogether from their election, but be-
se it was understood by every British soldier that
freWas not to shrink from his duty—(Cheers)—and
thal the simple feeling that if the front-rank mass
fits, removed by any circumstances, it was the duty
ue rear-rank man to step forward and supply his
th-eee----(Loud cheers.) lie had, in the beginning of
Ike evening, asked them for their assistance—that had
%ell cordially granted him.—(Cheers.) He thanked
there from his heart for the cordial manner in which
had drunk his health.—(Cheers.)
I°,°g—Mr. Moody.
hLL''e Ciiisaorat then proposed " The Patriarchal
tt of Chiefs and Clans. —(Cheers.) That sys-
AZ Which had descended to them from their fore-
takers, was altogether different from the feudal sp-
ot w The clansmen were bound together by bonds
ttit"ection and not by those of vassalage and servi-
ther;"--(Cheers.) They drew their claymores for the
hi 'ice of their chief—but if their chief engaged
ea cause with which in their hearts they
d
not agree —they deposed that chief, and
(elitod another, as they had done at Killiecrankie.—
aileers.) That system bound the clans to the chief
eft the chief to the clans by the bonds of mutual
thaetetj&-n, and it was the early nurture he received in
system, the early training to obedience which
Itti7e the Highland soldier the most distinguished
14:lag his fellow British soldiers. It was this that
th him the most cool in the hour of danger, and in
e is
ofA nlest imminent peril the most subordinate to his
Cters.---(Cheers.) He therefore proposed " The
Fiefs and Clans."
Thel) toast was drunk with loud cheers, and followed
L 3, ea the Killie-Callum, a sword-dance, which was
,ltifully performed by Mr. James Davidson.
Ato c'knel Burns, the son of Barns the poet, was then
itkit"ased as a member of the Society, and unani-
-401,48,1Y elected. In putting the question the Chisholm
koctiY paid a tribute of respect to the memory of
hnmortal bard. The manner in which the
barela'irn put the question as to the election of mem-
iost,twas excellent. lie put it negatively in the first
the nee, and, of course, if there was no opposition to
kt,illestion, it was carried, thus saving the trouble of
ilag it twice.
thor r' n*GREGOR had to propose as a toast the me-
cleat :31 one, the mention of whose name was suffi-
Were inspire in every breast those feelings which
arid i,tue support of mankind under every difficulty
kitieu_every danger. He proposed the memory of
Werert Burns—(Cheers)—and he rejoiced that they
the I that night honoured by the presence of two of
1,,,,°ns of their great poet.—(Cheers.)
0e ...toast was then drunk in solemn silence.
*hieisun,ei BURNS returned thanks for the manner in
Ivete " tne memory of his father had been drunk. He
Isproud to be the son of such a man.—(Cheers.)
tli ad himself long desired to be a member of the
the„ ea Society, and he thanked them for the honour
eve'n,'lad conferred on him in electing him that
WiL Lng•—(heers.)
Reidhaven, the son of the Earl of Seafield, who
Uouliii_e day be chief of the clan of the Grants, was
the Ilic'tisly elected a member of the society, as were
aniounntde!mentioned gentlemen :—Captain James
OlancHugh Innes Cameron, John Irvine
ltia-i'dee, James Currie, James Davidson, Captain
isitors HOLMng Ibbetson.
Cnisthen proposed the •health of the
)4____ 0 the Society, which was iviinowledged by
fin r eneral M•Leod.
tne proposing the Branch Societies, The Cisisnorm
110:1;:1°_fied the fact that there were several branch
'aeS established in Canada, and anticipated the