The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-22 00:00:00

THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY.

,tee anniversary dinner of the Highland Society
Cileld last evening at the Freemasons' Tavern,
Ott
Queen-street, it being the anniversary of the
Le of Alexandria, rendered memorable to all High-
ers,
by the conduct of the Scotch Regiments upria
cL
Zglorious day, and by the fall of the Gallant Com-
%der, Sir Ralph Abercrombie. The attendance
de very very numerous ; above a hundred gentlemen sat
to dinner. The scene was a most brilliant one,
ii:eak the number of naval and military uniforms, and
i(llisplay of the picturesque costume of the
ofetisiellds, some individ
magnificentua descl spription ecimens of which were
to, 'le most . The gallery,
toll7as filled with elegantly dressed ladies, who re-
kVas spectators during nearly the whole of the
*as. : ings• The band of the Coldstream Guards
6:.11 attendance, and played several of the most
dr,,?_llrite Scotch airs and popular pieces during the
fge_r; its performance being varied by the skill of
404:01,ibethe piper to the Highland Society ;
Pipers to the Duke of Sutherland and her
tit‘Y. Every arrangement was made that could
ee to the comfort, the hilarity, and the amuse-
;t
of the company, and as a display of national
gt looking with pride upon the deeds of the
• and forward with hope and kindliness to the
lisite, nothing could exceed it. The number of
tioaa $ of " Saxon," as distinguished from " Celtic "
hiLD;' was alluded to during the evening with very
3r
effect, as a proof that there is not that anti-
,
beeil and estrangement between them which has
eup.°o often stated to exist. The dinner was an
the'v'ent one, and the wines unexceptionable, and all
Aalrangements gave the utmost satisfaction.
ctee-'4°Tlg the distinguished gentlemen present we
Nerved Colonel the Earl of Cardigan, Major-Gen.
~et Captain Sir Andrew Green, Colonel Elwin,
Van Lloyd, R.N., Colonel Falconer, Major Burns,
NtrChase, Major Luttyens, Captain Reare, Captain
44 Sir John Sinclair, Sir John Hall, Sir Wm.
Ad , Dr. Quin, Captain Head, R.N., Col. A. Munro,
44 hint-General Sir John Macdonald, Captain
Tweet, R.N., Sir Fitzroy Maclean, Bart., J. E.
.6,en,tl Esq., M.P., &c. &c.
AMES MACDONELL presided.
GtesT the removal of the cloth, grace was said in
tier by the Rev. J. Lee, the Chaplain of the So-
the CHAIRMAN then severally gave the toasts of
of 'queen," the "Queen Dowager," the "Prince
*Ete the rest of the Royal Family," which
klyillurank with every mark of loyalty and enthu-
h„ CHAIRMAN next gave His Royal Highness
Reece Albert, the Chief of the Highland Society."
tkr !oast was drank with " Highland honours," and
waltuous applause.
14,Tliei CHAIRMAN said he had now to propose the
hoof an illustrious individual, the mere mention
name would, he was sure, make the hall m-
illi With applause. He gave them the health of
Idirace " the Duke of Wellington"—(Cheers)—
Nem: had to inform them, at the same time, that his
yir J. Macdonald, the Adjutant-General, was
to deliver to them a message from his Grace.
Noble Duke's health was drank with the
Tattiw4t applause.—Air—" See the conquering hero
Yit
)11e4 ,JOHN MACDONALD (Adjutant-General), re-
l.) th 141 the toast ; he said he was desired to convey
tiel°l individually, and collectively, an expression
Ilk he great and sincere regret which his Grace,
bee of Wellington felt, at not being able to
IN. 'hem here to-day. He was prevented from at-
1111141iN by the pressure of his Parliamentary duties,
txl,f," were of such a nature as on this evening to
kilatnis particular attention. That circumstance
I'lle„ue.his excuse for not meeting them.—(Cheers.)
lait42light well suppose that the Duke of Welling-
Sit,-`101(1 have been desirous of meeting with the
*lra of a Society of Highlanders who
444%1P been remarkable for their loyalty and
et lent to the Crown. It was a great source
itot-"PPointment to the Noble Duke, that he was
104 to mingle with the members of a Society, of
0 the Consort of their beloved Queen—(Cheers)
04-7 e that evening been announced as the Chief.—
% hots.) He would also have been most anxious to
lii:,2lour to the merits of the distinguished officer
they, as Highlanders, must be proud to
ttoe4TT the chair.—(Loud cheers.) That gallant
httt rtwas one who had acquired, not merely high,
thee very highest, distinction in his profession,
titki most-eventful day that had distinguished the
At thee ,Duke's career.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.)
battle of Waterloo their Chairman had the
~'•'°rtune to be called to defend, if not the most
otie;tti _certainly a very difficult post of the English
°;* and he defended it with the greatest
iritlirY and the most consummate military ability
lugment.—(Cheers.)
he CHAIRMAN then gave, "The Army and Navy."
lye ANDREW GREENE replied to the toast, on be-
°f the paying Navy,
1r of
Chairman.
of
their
EITZROT MACLEAN acknowledged the toast on
Strtt of the army. He referred to the high esti-
el4;, in which the officers of both services were
littu'"read, and stated that it was-the constant en-
$00:11r of the officers cf the army to cultivate a
bee understanding with the officers of the other
t• branch of her Majesty's service.
kl,tzie CHAIRMAN gave, as the next toast, " The
°L.r.Y of Abercrombie, and of the heroes who fell
Ikric,ll in Egypt". The toast was drank in solemn
phi e, and the band played the " Dead March,"
letti,eontrasted with great effect with the previous
L
Ittke CuantmAx said they were favoured with the
IttituiZee of several officers. He regretted that their
r was small who were survivors of the celebrated
%,..eof Alexandria.—(Cheers.)
toosi" aorix MACDONALD, in acknowledging the
to 11? Niid it could not be otherwise than gratifying
10ve,,41, and his brother officers to find the last toast
tobreceived. There could be no doubt that the
ees of the army in Egypt were most important
nation while they were rendered memorable
fall of commander in the glorious struggle
of ;bleb he was engaged. As one of the survivors
110/1,7t battle he returned them his thanks for the
lilt they had done him and them.
Ito tarl of CARDIGAN rose to give the next teast ;
lotiltes received with applause, not, however, without
(kn. Niressions of disapprobation. He said that, at
litltu.'l4ent's notice, he had been desired to perform a
uNtati which, however agreable he still felt some
"411;1°,4 in undertaking. That duty was to propose
eth of their gallant and distinguished Chair-
oiltSir James Macdonell.—(Cheers.) That toast
tlto t° be proposed in a manner worthy both of
, Gallant Officer and of the Society with whom he
thentte sitting, but he felt himself incom-
liteelL to do justice to it. Nor was it
1,.Y that he should dwell upon the
,`ant4,_ services he had rendered his country,
4litsCueY were well known to every indivi-
othresent. He was covered with honours and
"5 gained in the service of his country. He
Vteeib to connect with the health of the Gallant
some mention of the charitable exertions of the
citin4.4l4l Society itself, which had been productive
Thep„good among the children of soldiers.
Rio , CHAIRMAN (Sir J. Macdonell) acknowledged
Lvlth;rst in a feelings peech, expressive of his sense
condescension of the Duke of Wellington, in
tNO' taking notice of them on this occasion, and
!hoyhilneF the- Noble Earl for. the kindly manner
Nt,l2,lte had introduced his health. Alluding t.o
b•.llirt been said respecting, the share he took in
kttle of Waterloo, he said, in the defence of
MI% turnont, the instructions given to himself and
nions were briefly these—to d,'fend the post
Led f,',,ast•—(Cheers.) They eventually succeeded ;
L'soa;,,ring so, he could assure them, he ;Aid claim
N'4 reater merit than that of having done his duy
th*, e utmost.—(Loud cheers.) On such a subject
Ihwould excuse him from saying more.—(Cheers.)
CHAIRMANtiiluse; then gave as a toast, " Chiefs and
lear alt was drunk with all the honours, and every
A °T enthusiasm.
ttab.l! toast was followed by a Highland reel by the
4t;44°llTig men who danced before her Majesty at
mit 4-11th Castle. They wore the full costume of
1/4-flande ,r and displayed an activity perfectly
*itaes ing• The spectator might well exclaim in
.4 1:lig it--
motion ! changeful ever,
° I catch thee ; catch thee ? Never !
Whirling o'er the slippery boards !"
Iltesiiitalleers were enthusiastically applauded by
4 all
11 •
einsHotm rose to acknowledge the last toast.
:44 834reeted with cheers that continued for sovie
:°l4;t the
said, no person could, for a moment,.
' ‘,Ast h.„'"e cause of the enthusiasm with which the
I%4%e°' been received. The toast of " Chiefs and
qe included in it every 11. hl nder• —(Cheers.)
eeilivt4dlsl,l,der, then, that such a toast should be so re-
. tth such a Society. He could not forget, too,
oiluw ere were many among them of their Saxon
Aratoieotintryinen and to them he felt especially
44a 1 for the warms'
ympathy with which they
'114,1/ttre,d into their national feelings.—( Ch eers.
Ileee 'Lag heard much—too much latelw—of a
• Celt asarY • •
44.
ti incongruity between the races of the
and the Saxon. Let the cordiality
or ebde_ f.eeling evinced among them that evening,
ve the lie to so vile and so false an asser-
'reehtin,Lidond cheers.) Would that the same ,good
''eltees Could be diffused among all those generous
Nest
warily
first led to believe that alienation
rOn asrily exist between the Celt and the
twhere tor. who then, with marvellous inconsistency,
of vtll.--....(,,?_at the Saxon was well-dispos ed towards
..h he Ae...:rers.) He knew not what other branches
eed
he IwTo race might believe, but he was
as only only speaking the sentiment of every

wee
aellveelapn,. of Hougoutnont, on the field of Waterb )o, which
to tune. 3 during the day the point aoinst hich the
94 Nap:Ames attacks were directed.