HER MAJESTY AT LOCH LAGGAN [From Bell's Messenger, Sept. 4.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 261, 29 January 1848, Page 3

HER MAJESTY AT LOCH LAGGAN [From Bell's Messenger, Sept. 4.]

The sailors of the Royal Yatcht, about twenty in number, took up their abode on Wednesday night in the inn occupied as a temporary residence by the Marquis of Abercorn. At sunrise next morning they proceeded to the Lodge on a musical expedition, which does infinite honour to the sprightly fancy and conjugal devotion of her Majesty, by whom it was conceived. Being the anniversary of Prince Albert's birthday, his Royal Highness was the special object of public honours. A gathering of the clans in the neighbourhood had been summoned to commemorate tho occasion ; but as the day would necessarily be advanced before the " tartaned array" could assemble from the distant glens, it was thought desirable that the early morning should be signalised by some appropriate compliment to the Prince. The presence of her Majesty's jolly tars was opportune ; and, by the Queen's desire, it was arranged that they should repair to the Lodge at dawn, and, stationing themselves under Prince Albert's window*, hail the approach of day with a burst of vocal melody. To render the effect as striking as possible, great pains were taken to keep the matter secret from the Prince. The Royal sailors were early afoot. They passed round to the Lodge by the floating bridge ; and a little after six o'clock commenced to serenade the Prince, by singing in excellent style, Bishop's fine glee, •' Hail ! smiling morn !" The deep swell of their voices, mingled with the dulcet strains of the violin, resounded over the bosom of the Loch, and was echoed back by the hills. The sweet sound fell with delight on the ears of all who heard it. It s tattled the Prince from his dreams, and his Royal Highness, astonished and delighted, presented his compliments and his thanks to the jolly tars. The parties were afterwards entertained to breakfast, and remained at the Lodge the rest of the day. At twelve o'clock the Highlanders began to assemble at the floating bridge. Soon after that hour the Marquis of Abercorn, Cluny Macpherson, D. Davidson, Esq., of Tulloch, the Hon. Captain Gordon, and other gentlemen, arrived, all dressed in rich Highland costumes. Cluny Macpberson carried the shield which was worn by Prince Charles Stuart at the battle of Culloden. Farmers, tourists, and others, gradually arrived in cars and gigs. About half-past one, the Macphersons, arrayed in the tartan of their clan, marched down with the bagpipes at their head, and their standard bearer carrying the flag under which their an. cestors had fought in the two rebellions. Upo n

the arrival of this body of, Highlanders, the procession was marshalled by Cluny, assisted by the Hon. Captain Gordon and others ; and after being conveyed in detachments over the Paatock, the whole body proceeded to move towards the Lodge. The Macphersons marched in the van — a small body of Macdonalds next — the general crowd followed— and the rear was occnpied by a pretty long train of carriages of various kinds, containing numbers of ladies, whose gay dresses helped to enliveu the motley appearance of the males. As the procession entered the lawn, her Majesty and Prince Albert, leading the Prince of Walet and Princess Royal, and followed by Earl Grey, the Duchess of Bedford, and a train of courtiers, were seen approaching from the Lodge. The Highlanders were immediately drawn up in line before the Royal party ; aud the people took their place in the rear. The ground is peculiarly well adapted for sucfh a display. The lawn gradually ascends as it recedes from the Lodge, and is terminated by the green mound said to contain the dust of Fergus and other monarchs — thus forming' a natural amphitheatre capable of containing 100,000 spectators. The few hundreds assembled on this occasion, presented' but a meagre appearance, as they stood in line, or loitered in groups, along this green valley of nature ; but the grand and,solitary aspect of the scenery, the distinguished personages who occupied the lawn, the Lodge with its neat flower garden, enclosed by the bays of the lake, and the lofty mountains which rise on every side, rendered the scene one of unusual interest. Mrs. Cluny Macpherson, and Mrs. Davidson of Tulloch, and the Misses Davidson, were introduced to her Majesty by the Marquis of Abercorn. A number of Highlandraen were then called out to engage in the games ; and the afternoon was spent in putting the stone, throwing the hammer, tossing the bar, jumping, running, and dancing — the Queen and Prince Albert remaining on the lawn during the greater part of the time. Prizes of from five to two guineas were awarded to the successful competitors ; and one of the tents, containing a plentiful supply of refreshments, was open to the people during the day. In the course of the day Cluny Macpherson, Mrs. Macpherson, Davidson of Tulloch and his lady, and others, had the honour of taking lunch at the Lodge with the royal party. Next morning, at an early hour, her Majesty, with the Royal children, took a ride on ponies over the hills, as far as Locharb, a mountain tarn about two miles distant from the lodge, in Ben Auldor deer forest. The Prince also rode out accompanied by the head keeper, Cattanach, and made a survey of the deer forest. Her Majesty drove out in a carriage, drawn by four grey horses, about four in the afternoon, intending to drive up Strathmachie. Her Majesty was accompanied by the Duchess of Norfolk, Lady Jocelyn, and the Royal children, and attended by the Duke of Norfolk, General Wemyss, the Honourable Captain Gordon, and Sir J. Clark, Princt Albert not having returned from the forest. Her Majesty had not driven far from the lodge when a thick diizzling mist envevoped the hills, and by the time the party had reached the boat- bridge the rain had become uncomfortably heavy. Her Majesty then determined to return, and drove back to the lodge, followed by the cortege. The duty of a weather prophet in this Highland district would seem to be anything but a siuecure. The Royal party had scarcely reached the lodge when the mist cleared away, and the day became more beautiful than ever. At five o'clock the Earl of Aberdeen drove up in a carriage and four, and remained at Ardverekie. His lordship came from his seat in Aberdeen shire. On Saturday her Majesty's drive extended beyond the moors of Strathmachie. Her Majesty was driven by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, in a phaeton and pair, preceded by outriders, and left the lodge shortly after five, returning to dinner. The vehicle passed through the farm of Colonel Macpherson, with whom her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert entered into conversation. The Court did not attend Divine Service on Sunday forenoon at Laggan village church, and consequently many were disappointed. The pew occupied by Cluny Macpherson and Mr. Davidson, of Tullock, was newly covered with blue cloth, and every preparation had been made, should her Majesty have determined upon using that place of worship, but Divine Service was performed at the lodge- It should be observed, that- the attendance of the regular members was not very numerous, owing to the holding of a congregational meeting of Presbyterians at Kingussie. On Monday her Majesty went out in her barge on Lake Laggan with the Prince of Wales, attended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, the Marquis of Abercorn^ and the Earl of Aberdeen. The Prince went out into the forest deer stalking, and returned to, the lodge with a fine stag. The Earl of Aberdeen took his departure. ' ■'