The Duke of Baeeleeelm's return to SAealend was celebrated on
Thurs- day sennight, by a leree party of his telemetry and friends, assembled in the demesne of tit -2 £r-famed Branxholni. A splendid pavilion was erected for the enterelinmeut, in the form of an ancient baronial hall, 101 feet by 7o, and capable of accommodating 1,000 persons'. the pil- lars supporting the roof were an imitation of veined marble ; three large chandeliers, and small ones attached to each pillar, illuminated the apartateet ; end its sides were festoomd with scarlet drapery. Over the cheir was a letel.'e head with :splendid antlers ; over that, a star of va- riegated lemps ; thee the ancient war-cry of the clan of Scott, "Bellendeu ;" and at the top, the hietto, which the Duke of Buceleuch has adopted in imitation of his forefhthers in (belling with his tenantry—" Live and let live." Over the croupier's table a plough was represented in variegated lamps, and the ,vord:; " Welcome home" painted above it. From the extremities of' the Mae:: . neit property, representatives were sent to this gathering ; and strong WaS the nmster from Roxburghshire, Dumfries- shire, and Mid Lothian. Even time fi.ev fishermen who rent his Grace's fishing-grounds at Newhaven depetv at the dinner. Among the distinguished guest ; were the Earls GI Porno and Dalhousie, Sir James Graham, Sir .1ari,:; Mideolm, Mr. Pringle, M.P., Mr. Hope
Johustone, Itutherford.i, SpAti-avoodes, Kers, Baillies, Maxwells,
Macdonalds, Elliots, and Wanaece, Of the toasts amid speeches little need be said. The Duke of Buceleach spoke with the heartiness of free,d,hip and true regard fie, his tenantry, moimjed with the proud conscious; mess of chieftainship and the posseseien of' pioeely demesnes. He carefuliy esehewed party
panties. Not so Sir James Graham; who gave offence by ill-titned references to the last contested election in Roxburghshire. • Sir James however, alluded happily enough to the ancient Border forays-
" Allusion has been made to former days, and to my ancestors. Oa malty occasions, in ancient days, they rode to Branxbohn: some of them never. rer turned to tell the tale, and many of them to the last hour of their lives regretted the boldness which brought them here. This is not my lot on the present oc- casion. I shall never forget the day when I rode to Branxholm; but I glee not reeret it, for the spectacle which I have here witnessed has been most gretitying and satisfactory to me ; and cold indeed must that heart be which die not expand with the acclamations which have resounded through these halle I partake fully of' the sentiments which have been expressed by my friend Mr. Johnstone; I partake in every word of his speech, except where he nuitla mistake—he said he had come out of respect to your host. I have come out of respect to your guest, but I have also come oat of respect to the tenantry es Buccleuch, many of whom are my friends and neighbours. My ancestors rued the day, as I have told yoa, when they crossed the Border; for they found your ancestors formidable enetnies. But we live in happier times; and I elm now look across the Border, aud see them locked together in a fast and warm and constant friendship."
An immense number of toasts were drunk : the claret and toddy must have been in rapid and, constant circulation round the board.
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