SCOTLAND.
The news from the Royal residence at Balmoral is Confined to an- nouncements of the arriiils and departures. Lord John Russell took his departure on Friday; and his place as Minister attendant on the Sovereign has been taken by Earl Grey. Mr. and Mrs. Fox Maule, Sir Alex- ander and Lady Duff, and Mr. Sheriff Allison, have been the Queen's visitors during the week.
' The Queen and Prince Albert, with their- children, went on Thursday to Braemar, to witness a fête given by the Braemar Highland Society, at which there was a gathering of Highlanders in national costume, and a performance of Highland games. The chief proprietorii in the district of Braemar are patrons of this society, the basis of which is a friendly asso- ciation for the purposes of mutual relief in sickness; and each year there is a meeting of the members, with public games. The Queen was present lea year, and it being understood beforehand that she would be there this year, " an unprecedented assemblage" of the gentry was collected, and the clan-gathering was brilliant, though not very numerous. About thirty mete fnim each of the clans Duff and Farquharson were present, under General Duff and Mr. Farquharson of Invercauld; and a similar body of tenants, &a. of the Duke of Leeds, "besides an exceedingly well-equipped company from Balmoral, who arrived at the last moment." Till the Queen arrived, the clansmen were drawn up as a guard of honour en each side of the castle gateway, and formed a martial-looking body, as the liabn bore Lochaber axes or broad-swords and massive targets; and the leaders wore the feather of chieftainship. The Queen arrived at about three o'clock, with Prince Albert and the children. She wore a white satin bonnet decked with tartan ribands, a dress with a Victoria tartan skirt and a blue velvet body, and a Royal Stuart shawl. She was noted to be in joyous spirits, and healthily emhrowned by exposure to the sum Prince Albert
wore a Stuart tartan, and so did the young Princes: the Princesses dis- played a repetition on infant scale of their mother's costume. The Queen shook hands and chatted affably with the Dutchess of Leeds, Lady Duff, and Mrs. Farquharson; and the young people showed their gentle breeding to younger companions. ‘• No sooner had the Royal cliklren time to look aeound them, than, recognizing the Masters Farquharson, they advanced to them, sedan interchangeof courtesies took place; as mach frankness and propriety being displayed on either side as marked the conduct of their seniors."
The games were such as have been described before—" putting the ham- mer," 'tossing the caber," sword-play, and races. The races were the most generally interesting. The competitors started from a spot near the Royal party, and scampered to the summit of a hill which over- looks the castle at an elevation of some three hundred feet. Part of the distance was level, and there the runners showed amazing swiftness; but the real trial was up the craggy ascent, which was sometimes so pre- cipitous that the men could only clamber or crawl from point to point. Donald M'Donald, a carpenter, was the first to reach the top. The time spent in getting there was six and a half minutes. This last point was a circumstance worthy to be known, inasmuch as it was chronicled by the Queen's Prime Minister! After the start, there were exclamations of dis- appointment that no one had noted the time taken in the race: Lord John • Russell "relieved the prevalent uneasiness, by communicating the informa- tion that he was looking at his watch for that purpose; an announcement which excited some hilarity and surprise." After the out-door games, there was a dancing competition in the castle-hall. The Queen sat at the head of the hall; and Mr. Fox Maule decided on the merits of the dancers. Her Majesty took her departure at about five o'clock, greeted by hearty farewell applause.
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