13 SEPTEMBER 1890, Page 16

[To THE Eprror OF THE " SPECTATOR.."]

SIR,—A propos of your last week's article, permit me to make a contribution to the story of the Lucknow discussion. A friend of mine, lately dead, was a great admirer of the bagpipes,. upon which he could play well. He had several " sets " of the instrument, which he was fond of showing to his friends ; and of one set, an excellent specimen of the " great Highland. bagpipe," he was particularly proud. This set, he told me, he purchased many years ago from a piper in the 78th High- landers, who informed him that they were one of the actual. instruments played upon at the relief of Luck-now. My friend. was incapable of misrepresentation, was a great antiquarian,. and was not accustomed to take his " relics " upon trust. He certainly believed in the genuineness of this particular one,„ and always spoke as if he had the very best reasons for doing