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

trymen had gained more than usual honour.—(Hear.)
He saw among the members present some who had
shared in the glories of that battle, and 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
fog enveloped both the Highland regiments. The
British 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
thus engaged in front and rear at the same time.—
(Cheers.) They beat their opponents both in front
and 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
Highland soldier the glory of his country.—(Cheers.)
But while they thus rejoiced in the glory acquired
by their native troops, it behoved them to remember
the dear 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.
Many of his companions, who had exhibited equal
prowess, and were an equal honour to the ser-
vice, had lived to reap the reward of their
services ; and although they might feel that they had
received 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
equally appreciated the services of those who had
fallen 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.) lie called upon them, therefore, with
that solemn feeling of respect which was befitting the
occasion, to drink the memory of Sir Ralph Aber-
cromby 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.
The toast was then drunk in solemn silence, after
which the bagpipes played a lament.
The CursnoLar said it had been usual on these oc-
casions to invite every officer who had been present
at the battle of Alexandria. He now craved the atten-
tion of the company for Col. Elwyn, who would ex-
plain how it happened that so many Egyptians were
absent on the present occasion.
Colonel ELwYN spoke as follows :—Mr. President,
on looking around me, I regret much to see so small
a portion of my military colnpanion3 assembled to do
justice to the occasion that has called us here together.
It may probably be accounted for, simply, for two
reasons—several members, especially of the United
Service Club (all old Egyptians), being, at this time,
out of town, and many more having, of late, been
called to that .bourne from which no traveller re-

turns.' These may be, perhaps, deemed the best
excuses that can be odered fur the smallness of the
numbers met this day to commemorate the battle and
victory of Alexandria, under our gallant chief and
veteran commander, Sir Ralph Abercrombie. I feel
happy, however, still, in noticing the full meeting of
the gentlemen composing the old established institu-
tion of " the Highland Society of London," and most
sincerely do I hope that on every future occasion, and
so long as an anniversary of this day is continued,
that they may assemble with the same elasticity of
spirits and good health as on the present occasion, and
also without any apparent diminution of their numbers.
I have no apology to offer for the absence of naval
Egyptians, they have all received a summons which
will, ere long, call us all from the festive pleasures of
the Highland hospitality."
Song, Air. " The Old Highland Gentleman."
The CHISHOLM trusted that all had filled bumpers
to do honour to the toast which he was about to pro-
pose. It was the health of a brave and noble High-
land British soldier, who from the time he had en-
tered the service up to the hour when he had quitted
China, had been always found whenever his country
required his services, and had always acted es a true-
hearted British soldier.—(Hear, and cheers.) That
Society was under peculiar obligations to him, for he
was among the best, if he was not the very best Pre-
sident they had ever had.—(Cheers.) Ile gave the
health and long life to Lord Saltoun.—(lmmense
cheering.)
DruLk with the Highland honours.
This toast was followed by a reel.
The CiiisHoLm said the next toast was one which
he would rather had been proposed by any other in-
dividualas it was the health of a near and dear rela-

tive of his own.—(Cheers.) He would not, however,
shrink from the performance of his duty, but would
propose the " Health of the President of the past
year."—(Cheers.) His defence of Hougoumont
would never be forgotten.—(Cheers.) At a late
period of the day General Macde,nell had received a
wound from a splinter, which had for a moment
stunned him, and he fell. The word was passed round,
" Macdonell has fallen, the command devolves upon
Saltoun." But the blood of the Glengarry rallied—
(Cheers) —and with far more energy than politeness,
when he heard, " the command devolves upon Sal-
toun," he exclaimed, " No, I'll be d—d if it does."
When on a subsequent occasion the great Captain of
the age drank to Lord Saltoun, as the defender of
Hougoumont—Lord Saltoun got up, and with the
spirit of a true British soldier replied, "No ; I had
only the honour to belong to the regiment, and to
obey the orders of my superior officer, General
Macdonell.—(Loud cheers.) He proposed " Health
and long life, to their past President, Sir James
Macdonell."—(Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with Highland honours.
Mr. GuniniE rose to propose " The Health of the
Chisholm."—(Loud cheers.) They deeply regretted
the absence of their President, and they n.ore deeply
regretted the melancholy event which had occasioned
that absence— (Cheers)—but they had seen that night
how admirably their President's place had been sup-
plied by the Chisholm.—(Cheers.) He was a soldier
by profession, and had a soldier's feelings, and the
name of the Chisholm roused feelings of enthusiasm
in the breast of every Highlander.—(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with Highland honours.
The Ciiisnoizr, in returning thanks, said that be
had taken the position he had held that evening, not
as of right, not altogether from their election, but Le-
cause it was understood by every British soldier that
he was not to shrink from his duty—(Cheers)—and
from the simple feeling that if the front-rank man
was removed hy any circumstances, it was the duty
of the rear-rank man to step forward and supply his
place.—(Loud cheers.) He had, in the beghthing of
the evening, asked them for their assistance—that had
been cordially granted him.— (Cheers.) He thanked
them from his heart for the cordial manner in which
they had drunk his health.—(Cheers.)
Song—Mr. Moody.

The—CuisnoLm then proposed " The Patriarchal
system of Chiefs and Clans."—(Cheers.) That sys-
tem, which had descended to them from their fore-
fathers, was altogether different from the feudal sys-
tem. The clansmen were bound together by bonds
of affection, and not by those of vassalage and servi-
tude.—(Cheers.) They drew their claymores for the
service of their chief—but if their chief engaged
in a cause with which in their• hearts they
did not agree—they deposed that chief, and
elected another, as they had done at Killiecrankie.—
(Cheers.) That system bound the clans to the chief
and the chief to the clans by the bonds of mutual
affection, and it was the early nurture he received in
that system, the early training to obedience which
made the Highland soldier the most distinguished
among his fellow British soldiers. It was this that
made him the most cool in the hour of danger, and in
the most imminent peril the most subordinate to his
officers.—(Cheers.) He therefore proposed " The
Chiefs and Clans."

The toast was drunk with loud cheers, and followed
by the Lillie-Callum, a sword-dance, which was
beautifully performed by Mr. James Davidson.
Colonel Burns and Major Burns, the sons of the
poet, were then proposed members of the Society, and
elected by acclamation. In putting the question, the
Chisholm shortly paid a tribute of respect to the memory
of Scotia's immortal bard. The manner in which the
Chisholm put the question as to the election of mem-
bers was excellent. He put it negatively in the first
instance, and, of course, if there was no opposition to
the question, it was carried, thus saving the trouble of
putting it twice.
Mr. APGREGOR had to propose as a toast the me-
mory of one, the mention of whose name was suffi-
cient to inspire in every breast those feelings which
were the support of mankind under every difficulty
and in every danger. He proposed the memory of
Robert Burns--(Cheers)—and he rejoiced that they
were that night honoured by the presence of two of
the sons of their great poet —(Cheers.)
The toast was then drunk in solemn silence.
Colonel Burns returned thanks for the manner in
which the memory of his father had been drunk. lle
was proud to be the son of such a man.—(Cheers.)
He had himself long desired to be a member of the
Highland Society, and he thanked them for the honour
they had conferred on him in electing him that
evening..—(Cheers.)
Burns'
,lrautiful lyric " Of a' the aids the wind
can blaw, waA then most sweetly and tastefully:sung
by the poet's son, Major Burns. The song, the
singer, and the exquisite simplicity of the melody,
excited a feeling which probably could have been
produced no where else than in such a meeting.
Lord Reid haven, the son of the Earl of Seafield, who
will one day be chief of the clan of the Grants, was
unanimously elected a member of the society, as were
the undermentioned gentlemen :—Captain James
Lamont, R.N., Hugh Innes Cameron, John Irvine
Glennie, James Currie, James Davidson, Captain
Kincaide, Henry Collingwood Ibbetson.