THE "BLACK WATCH."

Southland Times, Issue 1234, 8 April 1870, Page 3

THE "BLACK WATCH."

* After a sojourn in Scotland of 18 ■months,. 12 of which have been passed in Edinburgh, the "Black "Watch" departed on Tuesday. (13th^-Noveinber) from the city, ta.king with them (says the Scotsman) the best wishes of the inhabitants. Since the arrival of the 78th Highlanders, immediately after the close of the Indian mutiny, such a degree of excitement as was displayed ,has not been witnessed in connexion with any military eventin the Scottish capital. It was generally known that 9 a.m. had been fixed for the evacuation'of the- Castle by the Highlanders, and long before that hour, the Lawnmarket and the Esplanade were crowded with an eager and excited multitude. At 9 o'clock the crowd increased fourfold by the thousands of workpeople who, set free at that time, determined to spend their breakfast-hour in witnessing the departure of the gallant " Black Watch." At half-past 9, the regiment, which had assembled in heavy marching order in the Castle square, began to move off under the command of Col. M'Leod, the band playing " Scotland Yet," and afterwards " Bonnets of Blue." As the waving plumes were seen slowly wending down the serpentine path which leads to the Esplanade, an enthusiastic and prolonged cheer bursts from the spectators. As soon as the regiment had passed the drawbridge a rush was made by the onlookers to get clear of the Esplanade. The narrow opening leading to the Lawnmarket was speedily blocked, and the manner in which the living mass surged to and fro was most alarming— the din created by the crowd completely drowning the music of the band. The pressure of the crowd was so great that for a time the ranks of the regiment were broken. The whole way to Q-ranton, the port of embarkation, the regiment liad literally to force its passage through the dense masses which blocked the streets, and every now and again a parting cheer was raised by the spectators. The crowd, as has already been mentioned, was the largest that has been seen in Edinburgh for many years, and has been roughly estimated as num-. beringfrom 50,000 to 60,000 persons. During the march to Inverleith toll the band played " Scotland for Ever," " The Ked, White, and Blue," " Home, Sweet Home," and " Loudon's bonnie Woods and Braes." Shortly after passing through the toll, and when within ' a mile of Granton, the Highlanders were met by the 90th Kegimenfc of Foot (Perthshire; Volunteers) who were en route to EduK burgh to succeed the " Black Watch as the garrison of the Castle., According to military custom, the ingoing regiment drew up in double file alongside the roadway, and. presented arms to the High--landers, who fixed bayonets and brought their rifles to the slope as they marched past. At this interesting ceremony, the band of -the Highlanders played " Blue Bonnets over the Border," whilst that of the 90fch struck up " The Gathering of the Grahams." Granton was reached about 11 o'clock, and as the Highlanders; marched along the pier, "Auld Lang Syne" was appropriately played by the band., The slopes leading down to the harbour- and the wharves were thickly covered with spectators, who cheered the Highlanders and showed the liveliest interest in the process jof embarkation. The vessel in which the regiment is to be conveyed to Portsmouth, eh route for AlderBhot, -is 'the troopship Orontes, which arrived in the Firth on Saturday, with the 90th Kegiment.- x ~ - *■-■■■