SCOTLAND.
The Queen and her family arrived at Balmoral on Wednesday the 15th; having journeyed rapidly through the Highland country North of Blair- gowrie. At Castletown there was a " gathering of the clans," on a small scale, in her honour: the Duke of Leeds and some score Highlanders, Ge- neral Duff and his retainers, and the Farquharsons of Invercauld, appeared in full costume of grey, red, or bright green tartans, with kilt, brogue, and appropriate crest; and the Duke of Leeds's men wore swords in their belts. While the martial band was awaiting the Queen's arrival, a sudden shower fell; the general crowd was dispersed in a moment.
" Even the Highland front began to waver. Another moment and they were in complete rout; not a brogue, not a claymore, remained on the ground; and so completely had the gay pageant vanished, that one was tempted to doubt whether it had ever existed. The scene had suddenly reverted to its natural state: the bare ground was washed by the rain ; the birches of the little wool opposite the inn waved in the tempest; the distant hills were visible at times between the passing clouds; and nothing was heard outside but the loud roar of the Cluny, as it thundered down the rocks to join the Dee."
Presently the Queen's equipage was discerned rapidly approaching; on which there was helterskelter work to find " the Duke," and to bring out and rearray the men in time. Happily this was well accomplished; and the Queen alighted in the highest spirits, and in much pleasure at the pic- turesque reception; " hearty affability being the predominating expression on her face." With characteristic preference, she conversed with " the old soldier," General Duff. After ten minutes' stay, the Queen hastily ad- justed the cloak round one of her little boys, to protect him from the mountain-air, and then drove off. The carriages arrived at Balmoral about four o'clock; and the Queen had not long alighted before she was seen walking with her children in the grounds which surround the house.
Balmoral has been much improved since her Majesty's last visit. The pleasure-grounds about the house have been laid out anew, and are in complete order and luxuriance. A large addition has also been made to the castle itself, an entire wing having been joined to the North side.
The weather was exceedingly stormy during most of the last eight days, ac- companied by severe thunder-storms, from which this district had been previous- ly exempt, although prevalent elsewhere earlier in the season. Oa Friday after- noon, thunder-clouds came along from the West, keeping the lines of the Grampi- ans and Ochills. One of these was met by a heavy mass of haze, brought up from the sea-coast by a strong East wind; and the appearance of the heavens from the conflict of elen-ents was fearfully grand. About the same time, a thunder- storm passed down Loch Tay, and continued along the Northern ridge of hills slog Strath Tay. When passing near Weem, two young women hoeing turnips in a field on the home-farm of Sir Robert Menzies, at Castle Menzies, were struck to the ground by the electric fluid; one of them, of the name of Mackay, was kil- led on the spot, and the other, Macgregor, was so much injured that recovery is doubtful. On Saturday afternoon, a renewal of the storm took place, which seems to have prevailed generally over the district. It was accompanied by strong gales, approaching a hurricane, and it was often impossible to distinguish the thunder from the wind. From eight o'clock to ten the storm had no intermis- sion; the lightning flashing in every part of the heavens, sometimes of a deep red colour, and followed by torrents of rain. After the storm ceased, a great deal of sheet lightning followed during the night, and the aurora borealis covered the Northern part of the hemisphere. Strong Westerly gales have prevailed since the storms, which have raised the lodged grain; and it is hoped the crops will not have suffered much injury ; while pastures will be greatly benefited by the moisture, of which they stood in great need. The Tay has been much flooded for some days, indicative of the heavy rains which have fallen in the Highlands.—Perth Courier.
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