488 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apologise for its not being repeated, that being an exertion 

 to which even Celtic limbs are unequal, and to mention the 

 singular and interesting fact that the last time it was 

 publicly exhibited in the city of Edinburgh was in the year 

 1633, in the presence of Charles the First, by eleven 

 brothers from Perth. To the above-mentioned John M'Kay 

 was assigned a Highland mull as an extra prize for his 

 performance of Chille Challum. He was likewise noticed 

 as an excellent piper. 



At the competition held on the 22nd of July 1835, 

 Mr Macdonald of Staffa, who was Preses, delivered each 

 prize with some appropriate observation. That done, he 

 said : A further and pleasing duty had been committed to 

 him by the Society. For many years, Mr Murray, the 

 manager of the theatre, with that liberality which does him 

 the highest honour, and testifies the goodness of his heart, 

 and his attachment to patriotic institutions, had allowed 

 the gratuitous use of the theatre for the competitions ; that 

 the sense of so great an obligation had been preserved in 

 the written records of the Society, of which he quoted an 

 extract ; that the Society on earlier occasions had lain 

 under similar obligations to his excellent sister, Mrs 

 Siddons ; but that now, as an expression of the great 

 esteem entertained for Mr Murray, he was deputed to 

 request his acceptance of a piece of plate — whereupon he 

 presented him with an elegant silver vase. Nothing could 

 exceed the gratification of the audience, to behold this 

 testimony in behalf of one so deservedly enjoying the 

 public favour ; and the donation was accepted with a most 

 polite and appropriate acknowledgment by Mr Murray. 



At the competition held on 21st July 1838, Cluny 

 Macpherson, Preses of the Committee of Judges, explained 

 in an elegant and appropriate address to the audience the 

 nature and purposes of the competition. ' It was to en- 

 courage the military spirit of the Highlanders,' he said, ' so 

 useful on actual service, as well as to promote an attach- 

 ment to the soil and customs of their native island. None 

 could be more worthy of regard — they were a hardy, 

 courageous, independent race of people, who, amidst the 



