,c,r, SCOTtAND ILLUSTRATED. 



On the Friday following, one of tlie most splendid military fetes ever witnessed 

 in Scotland, took place on the fine beach at Portobello, a field well suited for such 

 a " wappenshaw." In this review, the pride of the highlands and much of the 

 strength and chivalry of the counties " on both sides of the Forth"— comprising 

 the whole volunteer cavalry of the principal lowland districts— met in warlike array. 

 Such juxtaposition in former times might have been a hazardous experiment. 

 By universal consent, Sir "Walter Scott acted as adjutant-general to the " Tartan 

 Confederacy," which never presented a more brilliant spectacle than on the present 

 occasion.* Independently of the regular forces, numerous troops of yeomanry, 

 from nine or ten counties adjacent, were on the ground, at whose soldier-like 

 appearance the king was heard to observe, that " he had always placed much 

 confidence in the ' yeomanry corps,' but that now his confidence was much 

 increased." The day was peculiarly favourable for this imposing spectacle; 

 upwards of a thousand equipages — many of them splendid — and fifty thou- 

 sand spectators, were on tlie beach. The military bands were never better 

 arranged — 



" And wild and bigh the ' Cameron's gathering' rose, 

 The war-note of Lochiel." 



The next exhibition of national loyalty was the ball given to his Majesty by 

 the Peers, in the great Assembly Rooms in George-street, which had been 

 superbly decorated for the occasion. At nine o'clock, the principal saloon was filled 

 by the rank, beauty, and fashion of Scotland, and these for the most part 

 in full court dresses. The scene was one of such extraordinary splendour, as to 

 bewilder the sober-minded spectator, and quite in unison with the other expres- 

 sions-'Df loyalty prepared for the king — " rich, beautiful, and orderly." 



* Among these deputed specimens of the Highlands, were the Braidalhane men . — arms, broad swords ; 

 dress, dark green ; badge, a yellow plume in the bonnet, and a crest on the riglit arm ; miUturtj march, " The 

 Campbells are coming j" commander, earl of Braidalbane. Celtic Society : — arw(i', swords, partisans, and 

 targets; dress, various tartans, belted plaid (superb and half barbaric); commander, duke of Argyll. 

 Strathfillan Society: — busked and armed d la Celle ; tartans as above ; chiefs, Stewart of Ardvoirlich, 

 Grahame of Airth. To these succeeded the clan Gregor, under their gallant chief Sir livan Macgregor, 

 dressed in red tartan, with a branch of mountain fir in the bonnet. Glengarry, attended by twelve gentle- 

 men of his house, among whom was his brotlier. Colonel Macdonncl — (whose intrepid conduct at llougo- 

 mont is so well known) — Barrisdalo, and other cadets of this ancient line — their attendants carrying, 

 besides the broadsword and buckler, muskets of extraordinary length. The Sutherland Highlanders, 

 headed by Lord F. L.Govver, wearing the plaid, scarf-fashion and trews, but with no other arms than the 

 broad-sword. The Drummonds (sent by Lady GwycTir) with sword and targe, and sprigs of holly in their 

 caps. To these would have succeeded the clans under the dukes of Atholl and Gordon ; Macleod of Macleod, 

 the earl of Fife, Farquharson of Invercauld, Clanronakl, and other high chiefs, had it not been very pro- 

 perly thought tl-.at their numbers would occasion inconvenience. — Ilisl. .Ice. abridged ; see Appendix, 



