The Sun.
London, England, 1826-06-24 00:00:00

COMPETITION OF PIPERS.

Our readers have frequently been made aware of the interest we
take in these exhibitions of Celtic music—not merely because it
is Highland and venerable—but because it is pre-eminently the
music of sentiment and passion. Speaking a distinct language,
it touches natural feeling in a very high degree. It can excite
warlike feeling—elevate to almost delirious joy—and, wliat we
consider of far more importance, it can subdue to the very depths
of wild and tender melancholy. It comes fitfully on the ear, like
the wind sweeping over a forest or along the aides of a mountain.
It makes us wander in reverie with the heroes of ()alien. It steals
into our soul like the memory of days that are gone. It is this
which makes us long fur the recurrence of these exhibitions; and
we say, fearlessly, that indifference to this music betrays not
merely a want of love for the picturesque, the striking, and the
characteristic, but a want of relish for the great staple of music,
which—even as a science—is valuable only in so far as it can ex-
cite gay, lofty, pathetic, or devotional feelings. Nothing else has
lan enduring existence, in spite of all that fashion, professors, and
allateurs, united, can accomplish.
'We have often remarked that the finer parts of the Highland
musts are totally disregarded at these exhibitions, while the rapid
—the kral-a-lurnla—unmeaning parts---protracted by way of sip-
' peal to the gods, are sure of being rewarded with applatuie. The
Judges and better part of the audience should endeavour to correct
this. Sonic of he pipes were.new and hard; but, on the whole,
there was no tidlitg off We were gratified especially with the
performances of dr Boys. Angus Mackay we have heard with
pleasure among his own mountains. The following details are
from a paper of yeserday :
This usual exhibition of the warlike music and ancient attire of
. .

Caledonia, and of thi favourite amusement of mountaineers, pur-
suant to previous a►.vertise►nent, was held on Monday in the
Theatre Royal. The Theatre was opened at. 11 A. H. and at
12 a most fashionableaudience had assembled. This being, how-
ever, the first day of tie Edinburgh Races, as well as that of the
County election,. the audience was not equally numerous as last
year, or as on several tiller occasions, though it was in point of
numbers, and still more in respect' of appearance, altogether a
very respectably filled house. The assembled Highlanders
who attended in full dress for competition, appeared on
the rising of the curtain drawn up all around the stage,
and amidst befitting and admirable stage scenery, from some
of our national operas. , The assemblage of competitors, pipers,
and dancer., appeared fully equal, in number and appearance to
any former one on the same occasion ; and in the course of the enter.
tainment and competition, both maintained their character most
ably. Of dancing, not being exquisite judges ourselves, we can
say but little, but may well say of it with the Hibernian of Ws-
trio, that they all " handled their legs bravely." With regard to

the several performers on the bag-pipe, among whom there did not
seem to be one indifferent player, we could not but share in a feeling,
which we understand the Judges for several years pest have greatly
complained of, of the difficulty of determining among so many nearly
equal in merit. The number of competitors is now so great, com-
pared to the number of prizes, that it is next to impossible to satisfy
all parties. After the competitors had played their several
piobracha, which•. are always their own choice of a certain num-
ber, the Judges having retired to decide the prizes, an interlude of
Highland reels to the Music of the bagpipe aud orchestra alter-
'n►tely followed, much to the satisfaction of the audience. This,
though extra of the entertainment, seemed to quicken the spirit
and the heels of the Celtic tribe, more than any other part of the j
day, exhibition. ,On return of the Judges to the box assigned to
them, the Duke of Gordon returned thanks to the audience, in
name of the Committee, and also to Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Mur-
ray, for the gratuitous use of the theatre for the occasion. His

Grace then called upon John Gordon, piper to the Atli°Wand
Weem farmers' club, to whom, with only two votes of an exception,
the first prize had been unanimously awarded. On presenting him
with the prize, a handsome pipe, suitably and superbly ornamented,
his Grace „remarked with much kindness and condescension
the great pleasure he felt, in having,
,under circumstances,
the opportunity of presenting it to a ehlosv4o3,..ruld-hoarsar-wiehed
he might not for many alongyeifir Be ever out of wind to use
it." The noble Duke then presented the other prizes to the seve-
ral successful competitors as follows, viz, the second to Donald
M'Donald, piper to the 72d Highland regiment ; the third to
James Nfqkmald, son of Donald M'Donald, pipe maker in Edin-
burg ; the iburth, to Angus M'Kay, piper to Lady Gwydir, and
the fifth to Donald Farquhar from Breadalbane, a boy of very
great promise as a performer. The first, second, sad third prizes
for dress were awarded to Malcolm M,Pliersou, Duncan Menzies,
and Duncan M'lntyre. The venerable Duke accompanied the
delivery of each prize with a short and suitable address. It would
be almost an injustice not to remark, that for years past the
greater part of the competitors, pipers particularly, have been from
Perthshire.—Scotsman. "

ANECDOTES OF WEBER.

'This eminent composer was invited to dine with Mr. L-,

the music seller, whose residence and establishment art of a very
handsome description. On entering the noble drawl room, the
quiet German opened .his eyes, and looking round, ea" softly, as
if to himself, " I see it is better to sell music than to write it.

Weber got, perhaps, about 10001.
.by his 'visit to England;
500/. for his Oberon, and other UMW for superintending rehearsals,
leading the orchestra, concerts, and private parties, such as the
Marquis of Hertford's, Mrs. Coutts', &c. for which 30 guineas
were the fee. Mrs. Weher was of opinion, as her letters from
Germany express, that her husband was not sufficiently recom-
penced; certainly if we compare his reward with the immense
sums levied by less gifted foreigners, we also should think so.
The truth is, that amusing talent is always paid, out of all propor-
tion, muck higher than greater abilities or genius.
One of Weber's distinguishing excellencies was his suiting the
sound in his composition to the sense of the words ; his music was
twin sister to the poetry—a rare and exquisite quality. In one of
the pieces, of Oberon, Miss Paton, with all ber tine powers and
beautiful execution, failed to produce the edict aimed at by the
composer. " I know not how it is," said she, " I never can do
this as it should be." " The reason is," replied Weber, "because
you do not know the words."
A grander example of his feeling and judgment in this respect
occurred when performing a hymn to the Deity. Some of the
voices were in a high key. " Hush, hush !" exclaimed the
genuine master, " hush !—if you were in the presence of God,
would you speak loud?

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

LLOYDS'--JuNs 23.

Mat, Ju xl 22.—Wind N. E. fine, weather.—. Arrived and
sailed for the River, the Warren Hastings, Mason, and Albion,
Weller, from India. The Warren Hastings, Raw, is expected in
next tide; a boat has gone to meet her with provisions. The
William Shand, from Penang, has sailed for the River. Remain
the I)everon and Nelly.
PonramOUTH,
jou, 22.--Wind S.E.—Arrived the Mait-
land, StUdd, from Bombay; and Antelope cutter, from a cruize.
transport, fur
fo.fiborraNjlEertai2se.yl..---Witol N•W'"—Ssiled
Sailed the Onyx and Edward transports, for Deptford.
the Waterloo
Cowr.a, JoHE 22.—Arrived the Mary, Hannah, from Bahia.
FALMOUTH, JUN/ et .—Variable, light winds.—Sailed the
Crnm, Ante 18.—Sailed the, Zephyr transport, with troops,
for Harwich. and the Prince Regent, Richards, with the 20th
Regiment, for the Mauritius.—Captain Cuthbert, of the Robert,
from Ayr, reports, that on the 16th inst., at S A.m., he saw a ,
schooner capsize and
o down off Arklaw Bank ; she was about
8t) tons, painted with a white broad streak, and appeared to be
g,
laden ; she was steering south-west.
The Providence, Duncan, front Ayr to Dundalk, srun
and sunk, off Androssan, on the I.3th init., Crew ilava .
p a leak
g

Letters from GibTaltar of the Ist inst. state that two Colombian
privateers, the Republican and the Trinidad, have be" Lt"4l3
repeatedly from the garrison. According to report they
made several valuable prizes.

The Wilkinson, from Jamaica, arrived in this port (White-
haven) on the 7th May ; in the Gulf of Florida, saw two vessels
in close engagement; they kept up a heavy cannonade for lb mi-
nutes, but being at a considerable distance, could not distinguish.
to what nation they belonged.--Ountbsriand Packet