Star.
London, England, 1821-07-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TTIE STAR.

" Sts—The ,darns expressed by a Lady on seeing me in Weat-
:Muster-11J! on the day of hi: Majesty's Coronation, and the
publicity which her Ladyship judged it becoming to give to that
expression of her alarm by means of your Paper, I should have
treated with the indifference due to such mock heroics in one of
the fair sex, hut that it has been copied into other Papers with
comments and additions which seemed to me to reflect both
upon my conduct and the Highland character. I trust, there-
fore, to your sense of justice fur giving to the Peblic the real
history of the " mysterious circsintstunce," as it is termed. I had
the honour of a Royal Duke's Tickets for my daughter and my-
self to tee his Majesty crowned, and I dressed upon that mag-
nificent and solemn occasion in the full costume of a Highland.
Chief, including of course a brace of pistols. I had travelled.
about GOO miles for that purpose ; and in that very dress, with
both pistols mounted, I had the honour to kiss my Sovereign's
hand at the Levee of Wednesday last, the 25th instant.
" Finding one of our seats in the Hall occupied by a Lady on
our retunt to the lower gallery (whence I had led my daughter
down for refreshments), I, upon replacing her in her former si-
tuation, stepped two or three rows further back, and was thus
deprived of a view of the mounted Noblemen, by the anxiety of
the Ladies, which induced them to stand up as the horsemen
entered, whereupon I moved nearer the upper end of the gallery,
and had thereby a full view of his Majesty, and the Royal Dukes
upon his right hand. I had been standing in this position for
some time, with one of the pilasters in the fold of my right arm,
and my breast pistol in that hand pointing, towards the seat-floor
on which I stood, when the Champion entered, by which means
I hung my body forward in anything but seemingly as living
to present it in fact, I had taken i, into my hand io order to
relieve my chest from the preo.ure of its weigln, after having
worn it slung, till then, from four o'clock. Itwan at this instant
that a Lady, within a short distance, exclaimed, 0 Lord,
0 Lord, there is a Gentleman with a pistol!' to which I an-
swered, ' The pistol will do you no harm, 'Madam ;' but a
second time she cried out,' 0 Lord, 0 Lord, there is a Gentle-
man with a pistol !'
" This last I answered by assuring her that the pistol was not
loaded, but that I would ' instantly retire to my place, since it
seemed to give her uneasiness; and I was accordingly preparing
to do so, when accosted by a young Knight-ert ant, and closely
followed by two others, likewise in plain clothes, one of whom,
the first that began to mob me, for it merits no other tern;, laid
his hand on my pistol, still grasped, under a loose glove, in my
right hand; and, observing the numbers increase on his side, he
asked me to deliver hint the pistol. Need I say that, as a High-
land Chieftain, I rt fused his demand with contempt ? The
second Gentleman then urged his friend's suit, but was equaLy
unsuccessful ; a Knight of the Grand Cross was then introduced
with all due ha:tours, by the name of Sir Charles, into this
petty contention, and he also desired me to give up my pistol to
that Gentleman, which I flatly refused ; but added, that un-
derstanding hint by his dress, &c. to be a Knight of the Grand
Cross, he might have it if he chose, with all its responsibility ;
for, as I had already said,' it was not loaded, and pistols were a
part of my national garb in full dress.'
" Again, Sir Charles desired me to give it to that Gentle-
man,' but my answer was, No, Sir Charles, you as a soldier
may have it, as the honour of an Officer and a man of family
will be safe in your hands; but positively no other shall, so take
it or leave it, as you phase.' Soon after the Knight Grand Cross
had come up, I perceived the Gentleman to the scarlet frock
(who appeared to be sent by Lady A—y), but his conduct was
not prominently offensive in this -Muir. Sir Charles, after the
conversation above referred to, took possession of that pistol, the
other being always worn by me in its place ; and the Knight
Grand Cross, having first declined my turning up the pan to
show that there was no powder in it, I told him I had a daughter
under my protection in the I 1011, and consequently proceeded in
that direction, on his signifying a wish that I should retire,
adding, I have worn this dress at several Continental Courts,
and it never was insulted before.' I begged the favour of his
card (which he had not upon him), at the same time gave him
my name, and the hotel where I lodged, expressing an expecta-
tion to see him. Sir Charles at this time begged I would move
forward, and I begged of hint to proceed in that direction, and
that I would follow ; this he did a short way, and then halting,
requested I would walk first. I said, I had no objections, if he
followed however, he and the Squire remained a little behind,
probably to examine the pistol I had lent Sir Charles, which the
latter shortly came up with and restored.
" Soon after I was seated I missed my glove, and returned
in search of it to the close vicinity of Lady A. when her gallant
Squire pledged himself to fetch it to me if I retired to my seat,
and he soon after redeemed his pledge: meantime !sir Charles
must recollect that I spoke again to him, upon my way back,
and that I then mentioned to hint the name of a near connection
of mine, well known in command of the Coldstream Guards;
and as neither of these Gentlemen have called for me since, I
presume they are satisfied that the blunder was nut upon my
side, and that my conduct would bear itself through : the con-
clusion of the day went off very pleasantly, and when satiated
therewith, my daughter and I drove off amidst many marks of
civility and condescension even front strangers, as well as from
our own countrymen and acquaintances in the highest ranks.
" This, Sir, is the whole bistro y of the absurd and ridiculous
alarm. Fistula are as essential to the I lighland Courtier's dress
as a sword to the English Courtier's, the Frenchman, er the Ger-
man; and those used by me on such occasions are a; unstained
with powder as any Courtier's sword with blood. It is only the
grossest Ignorance of the highland character and costume which

Could imagine that the assassin lurked under their bold and manly
form.—With respect to the wild fantasy that haunted Lady A. a
brain, of danger to his Alajesty, I may be permitted to say, that
George IV. has not in his dominions more faithful subjects than
the Highlander;; and that not an individual witnessed his Ms.
jesty's Coronation who would more cheerfully and ardently shed
his heart's blood for hint than your humble servant (not '
naughton') but (Signed)
" ARII-FLATR SIOL-CIII3IS/1 .ILAC-MHIC ALASTAIR.
Which may be Anglified Colonel lionaldson ..)laccionell, of
Glengarry and Clinronald:
" Gurtlon's Hotel, Albemarle-street, July 29."

Cony Facsrarnr,MAlM-LANZ, JULY :30 —Our market was
abundantly supplied with Wheat this morning, from E•,es,
Kent, and Suffolk, but chiefly from the latter comity; yet, owi,t
to the unset:led star: of the weather, there was a brisk thmand
for that of fine quality, at an advance of 2s. rer Tarter on the
prices of last Monday : there was not the least amendment in
the price of inferior samples. Barley is Is. per &ratter dearer,
the supply being small. Beans sold readily at last Mondey's
prices. The arriva of Oats being rather large the trade was
heavy at last week's price;.—Current pr;:es as wider :
ENG! M. Small r • tr." 3os 331
Wheat, Kent and Tick ditto
.14,434 s
62564 s
__Oats,
PolandPotat 44 -7:44
Essex
Suffolk22o 24*
Norfolk 42s 56s I --- Feed ......... ..Ids

Rye 4'63 235
th.rley ^49 485

Flour, per Sack 43A SO;
Rapeseed, per Last €34 CZ6

31 al. .
50s 56s
White Peas 3os 36s

FOREIGN.

Wheat, Da ntzic .5 is COs

Boilers ...40s 44s 1 Baltic Hed, Hambro' t r
Grey Peas ^Bi 31s Brabant red 5O. s's
Sr.:IMF:MD 31ARKIT, JUL, 30.—Beer, 3s. 6d. to 4s Bd. per
stone of 611113. ; Mutton' ;is. 6.1. to 4s. Od. Veal. ;A. Od. to 4s. 84
Pork, 3s. Od. to 4s. ad. Lamb, as. 6d. to 43. 10d.—Cattle at Mar.
ket, 13ea3ts, 1620; Calves, 300; Sheep and Lambs, 20 2:0 ;1189_
310.—Hap and Straw per load, Hay, Si. 10$. tO 41. Itn.
41. W if. ;is. *tar, 16a. to 11. Ida.