PART 1 by Jeannie Campbell MBE
Controversies over judging and the correct settings of tunes have been going on for as long as there have been piping competitions. Before the advent of piping magazines or the internet these discussions took place in the newspapers and especially in the Oban Times where the correspondence column was headed ‘The Editor wishes it to be distinctly understood that he does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed or the statements made by his correspondents.’
The discussion featured here concerned the Argyllshire Gathering in 1883 and the fifth in a series of annual competitions held in Glasgow. The books mentioned were Angus MacKay’s, published in 1838 and Donald MacPhee’s published in 1879. The pipers involved at first were John MacColl and John MacBean, then later William MacLennan and A R MacLeod became involved. Most of the letter writers used pseudonyms to preserve their identities. The identities of the two most prolific letter writers, Vanduara and Piobaire, are unknown but both seem to have had access to the judges’ luncheon tent at the Argyllshire Gathering, where they were able to overhear the conversation of the judges, so they were not competitors or ordinary members of the public. The arguments started with the correct setting of a tune but by the end there were accusations of bias, giving prizes to pupils and giving the cup to a piper so that it could stay in Argyll, although another piper should have won it.
John MacColl was born in 1860 at Kentallen in Duror. In 1878 he went to Glasgow in order to learn from Donald MacPhee who was a piper and bagpipe maker. MacPhee became seriously ill in 1879 and died in 1880. John returned to Argyll and was Piper to MacDonald of Dunach in 1881 when he won the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1883 he was Piper to D MacPherson esq of Glen Dole. By 1891 John was supporting himself and his family by competing in piping, dancing and athletics, with some teaching during the winter months when he was employed by the army to teach the TA pipers. In 1908 he returned to Glasgow where he became the manager of R G Lawrie’s shop. He won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1883 and the Clasp in 1884, 1888 and 1900. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1881, the Champion’s Cup in 1883 and the Open Piobaireachd in 1901 (equal 1stst) and 1902. He died in Glasgow in 1943. At the time of this dispute he was aged 23 and was beginning to make his mark in competition.
John McBean was born in 1846 at Petty in Inverness-shire, son of John McBean, a labourer and Alexanderina McKenzie. He can be found there in the census for 1851 and 1861. He was taught by PM Alexander MacLennan of the Inverness Militia, brother of John MacLennan the 1883 judge. He first appears in competition records from 1867 onwards as Piper to Lord Middleton, Applecross. He is described in census records as Piper and Valet. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1875 and 1877, becoming the only piper to win twice as this was before previous winners were excluded in 1878. At the Northern Meeting he won the Prize Pipe in 1869, the Gold Medal for Former Winners in 1877 and the Champion of Champions Gold Medal for Gold Medal Winners in 1883. His death was reported in the North Star and Farmers’ Chronicle Saturday 23 August 1930, ‘Lord Middleton’s Piper, Mr John MacBean, Birdsall. The death of Mr John MacBean, Birdsall took place at Malton Cottage Hospital last Tuesday. In his youth Mr Macbean served as a piper in the Cameron Highlanders, and he was the holder of many medals for piping. He entered the service of Lord Middleton as piper nearly sixty years ago.’ At the time of this dispute he was aged 37 and had already won all the top prizes.
John MacBean’s employer, Digby Wentworth Bayard Willoughby, 1844-1922 was the 9th Baron Middleton. He was educated at Eton and served in the 1860s with the Scots Fusilier Guards, retiring with the rank of captain. In 1869 he was appointed second major in the 1st Administrative Brigade of the Yorkshire (East Riding) Artillery Volunteers, of which his father the 8th Baron was honorary colonel. The 9th Baron later commanded the unit as lieutenant-colonel, and became Hon Colonel in 1879. He succeeded his father in 1877 and lived at the Willoughby family seat at Birdsall House, Yorkshire, although he also had a house at Applecross.
In 1883 there was a new event at the Argyllshire Gathering, a Champions’ Prize for piobaireachd, a silver cup presented by the Marquis of Lorne, value £15, open only to previous winners of the Gold Medal. The piping judges at the Gathering that year, according to the Oban Times of September 15th, were MacLellan of Melfort, MacLean, Pennycross, Campbell of Inverneill, MacKinnon of Strontian and Pipe Major Ronald MacKenzie. The judges for dancing were Campbell of Kilberry, MacDougall of Lunga and Colonel Malcolm. Another report, from the Oban Telegraph and West Highland Chronicle on 14th September says the judges were Mr Keith Maclellan at Melfort, Mr A J Maclean of Pennycross, Captain Campbell of Inverneil, Pipe-Major R Mackenzie, Fort George, and Mr Maclennan, Strontian. The Oban Times report says, ‘The entries for the piping numbered no less than sixteen, and the competition was so keen that it took the entire day to perform the judging. Competitor after competitor ascended to the platform, some of them a second time before the judges could make up their minds as to the merits of the different players. Certainly the judges had no sinecure. John MacColl, Bonawe, who has been coming to the front lately at all Highland gatherings as a piper, was finally awarded the Marquis of Lorne’s silver cup, valued at £15. John MacBean, piper to Lord Middleton, and MacColl had to play a second time before the judges gave their final decision.’ The other results at the Gathering that year were, Gold Medal: 1. Angus MacRae, piper to E H Wood Esq of Raasay; 2. PM Robert Meldrum 2nd Bt Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 3. Wm Sutherland, Airdrie. Marches: 1. PM Robert Meldrum; 2. John MacBean, piper to Lord Middleton; 3. Angus MacRae. Strathspeys and Reels: 1. John MacColl, Bonawe; 2. John MacBean; 3. Angus MacRae. The prizes were presented by Miss Campbell, Dunstaffnage.
The judges mentioned in the letters are Pipe Major Ronald MacKenzie and Mr MacLennan. Both were described as professionals. There were two Pipe Majors named Ronald MacKenzie at this time.
The older Ronald MacKenzie was born in 1841 at Fodderty and was the son of John Ban MacKenzie’s brother Alexander. He enlisted in 1860 in the 78th Seaforth Highlanders and served nearly 19 years followed by 13 years with the Militia. From 1893 to 1916 he was Piper to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon at Gordon Castle. At the Northern Meeting he won the Prize Pipe in 1859, the Former Winners Gold Medal in1863 and the Champion of Champions Gold Medal for Gold Medal winners in 1873. He died aged 74 in January 1916 at Gordon Castle. He was the 1883 judge.
The other Ronald MacKenzie was born at Sleat in Skye in 1855. He served with the Black Watch and was afterwards Piper to MacDonald of Dunach then to Darroch of Torridon. At the Northern Meeting he won the Prize Pipe in 1873 and the Gold Medal for Former Winners in 1875. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1874. He died aged 55 in Glasgow in 1911. John MacColl was for a time at Dunach and is thought to have had some tuition from this Ronald MacKenzie.
John MacLennan was born in 1817 at Scatwell, Ross-shire, son of Donald Mor MacLennan. He was taught by his father and by John Ban MacKenzie. He was Piper to the Earl of Fife, then to J Garden-Campbell of Troup and later had a hotel in Strontian. At the Northern Meeting he won the Prize Pipe and the Strathspeys and Marches in 1848 and the Gold Medal for Former Winners in 1854 and 1867. He died in 1906 in Moidart. Many other reports from Highland Gatherings list Mr John MacLennan, Strontian, as a piping judge. John MacBean had been taught by John MacLennan’s brother Alexander.
Nothing was said about the results until almost two months later when the Oban Times on 3rd November announced: “We understand that a grand bagpipe competition is to held in the National Halls about the middle of next month. Let us hope that some progress will be made in the way of selecting suitable judges, in whom all parties may have confidence and may be able to determine the real order of merit. We should advise those in charge to get parties from a distance to judge the various competitions as local judges, however impartial, know the playing of our local pipers too well, and it is difficult for one to rid himself of regard for individuals.”
Letter from November 3rd, 1883
This letter appeared in the Oban Times the following week, ‘Sir, In your notice of the grand bagpipe competition to be held in the National Halls, Glasgow, you very properly suggest that care should be taken in the choice and selection of judges; and you also wisely hint against local judges preferring men from a distance, local judges being likely to know the playing of local pipers. These remarks are well directed and to the point, especially when given to the directors of the above competition, as hitherto their gatherings have not been characterised as remarkable for the justice of their awards, or the choice of their judges. But, Sir, does it not seem passing strange that a city like Glasgow, containing as it does many thousands of the sons of the mountain and flood, Highlanders all, good men and true, should, yet, in the face of all this so far forget their national spirit as to suffer a few obscure men to undertake in their midst the holding of bagpipe competitions. Are there not as many influential Highlanders in Glasgow as to get up and set on foot an annual competition that would be a model in all its parts to every other competition of the kind at home or abroad? If bagpipe competitions are got up, as we are told they are, for the purpose of preserving and fostering a love of our national music, that music of which the poet truly said “Its martial sounds can fainting troops inspire With strength unwanted and enthusiasm rise.” The competition is a failure, and has erred in the most important part, if piobaireachd is not on the programme. The National Halls is not the place for this class of pipe music; nor would the men who are qualified to play it be likely to go there. I know of no music so grand, pathetic, and soul stirring, as laments and salutes as played upon the bagpipes; and, yet, strange to say it is sadly overlooked at many of our Highland gatherings. This ought not to be if the object of these competitions is to inspire Highlanders to love, to cherish and to preserve the National music – the music of their forefathers, so that it may be handed down to future generations in its purity, sublimity of style, and grandeur of conception. This is an object worthy of a better aim than mere speculation. In order to give competitors confidence and assurance, and to assure the attendance at competitions of the best players, there must be satisfactory proof given that the whole thing is bona-fide, and not got up as a matter of £.s.d. At such gatherings the public may, no doubt, be entertained; but the legitimate or ostensible object of the meetings, namely – the fostering and encouraging a love of the National music is a secondary consideration, and too often the competitors retire disheartened and disgusted. This is not the way to ensure the preservation of our piobaireachd in their grandeur and purity of style. To do this, and do it well, is an object worthy of the Highlanders of Glasgow. Let there be no hole and corner work, but every transaction fair and honourable, so as to produce the best results, and give satisfaction as far as possible in every case. These results would be best attained by taking the public into confidence and publishing an annual account of the monies collected and how disposed of. The names of judges to be given in the programme, and no person to be allowed to act as judge unless he is thoroughly conversant with bagpipe music, and well qualified to read music, and follow the competitor while playing. As showing the importance of this qualification it is only necessary to say that it is frequently noticed, even at some of the best gatherings, that competitors miss-place parts of the tune, and again leave some parts out altogether. Mistakes of this kind, probably the result of nervousness, carelessness, or ignorance, should never be overlooked by the judges. But it is a fact, nevertheless, that such cases are at times overlooked, and the judges as if it were to show their own ignorance or carelessness on some of these occasions have awarded the bunglers first honours, to the infinite disgust of all the other professionals. As a case in point I may just here state that McColl, who was lately awarded the silver cup presented by the Marquis of Lorne, and competed for at Oban, did not lift the variations of his piobaireachd off the ground work of the tune, an error sufficient of itself to have put him hors-de-combat. The judges may not have noticed this; it matters not, it is a fact all the same, and can be vouched for by many of the professionals who were present, and declared, and justly so, that the cup was fairly won by John McBain. It is cases of the above kind that tend to bring bagpipe competitions into disrepute, and dishearten our best performers, and will before long if not checked by a honest and careful system of judging reduce competitions to what they are well nigh already a farce, I am, Sir, Vanduara.’
Letter from November 24th, 1883
A reply followed, ‘Glasgow, November 24th 1883. Sir, In your issue of the 10th inst, I notice that a party signing himself “Vanduara,” says that I did not lift the variations of my Piobaireachd off the ground work of the tune when competing for the silver cup at Oban Games. Now, I beg to differ with him. I know I did not play it exactly as some of the professionals he refers to would, for I did not wish to do so. I was speaking to some of them about the tune on many occasions, but they could only say “That is not the way it is in MacKay’s book.” I believe some of them never spent five minutes to look if MacKay took the variations properly off the ground work. If “Vanduara” or any of his professionals takes the trouble to compare MacKay’s book and MacPhee’s, on the tune of “MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute” this being the tune referred to, and carefully look how each bar in the ground work is carried on in the Taorluadh and Crunluath variations, they will, if they properly understand how a Piobaireachd is composed, come to the conclusion that in one of the bars MacKay put the “cart before the horse,” this being the great blunder for which “Vanduara” thinks I should have been put hors-de-combat. Why is this case taken as an exception? I know pupils, and sons of one of our best authorities on Piobaireachd, who all play a different style. He also says MacBain should have got the silver cup presented by the Marquis of Lorne. I shall leave the judges to reply to that part. “Vanduara” makes some suggestions as to judging, perhaps if he will kindly give his name in full, I shall be able to lay before the public, if ever he justly earned the breastful of medals he displays. Yours &c, John MacColl, (late of Oban), Piper to D Macpherson, Esq of Glen Dole, Kirriemuir.’
Letter from December 1st, 1883
Another letter was published on 1st December, ‘Bagpipe Competition. Sir, As an item of interest to your readers I may mention that the fifth Grand National Competition of Highland Music and Dancing takes place in the National Halls, Glasgow on the 20th December. The list of patrons is large and influential. I am, however, sorry to see that a correspondent of yours, Vanduara, has taken up a position which is quite untenable. He does not for a moment praise the efforts of these “obscure men” in whose hands he regrets that the honour of the National Bagpipe Competitions lie. Not he; he only regrets that do many sons of the Mountain and Flood “suffer” a few obscure men to undertake holding bagpipe competitions in their midst. Not a word of what these obscure men had to face in the way of difficulties. The first Grand National Bagpipe Competition which was held in the City Hall, Glasgow, was, I may assure Vanduara, such a paying concern that the Committee were all individually several pounds out of pocket, irrespective of time and labour. At the time the Grand Nationals were started bagpipe playing was at a low ebb. What have we done? We wish to be judged by our fruits. We started out with the intention of encouraging amateurs and breaking virgin soil. Our professional players, our veterans, were passing away, and there were few to replace them. We pride ourselves on our amateurs, the strong body of sturdy Highland youths that year by year we are bringing into the arena. Vanduara seems to think that a competition should be like a torchlight procession or a display of fireworks, in fact a display of stars only. We have a vision that goes in advance of that. Our amateurs must have encouragement to come forward to compete, or some fine day, like the Welsh bards, the pipers will be found to have vanished into nothingness. Our friend Vanduara, Highland though he be, has not the gift of second sight or he would see the “Bodach Glas” like the Son of Iver in his path. The remarks made by Vanduara as to judging &c are, with a few exceptions, pretty correct, and he seems a person of limited experience who means well. I am sorry, however, to see his remarks on the Oban Contest. Mr MacColl, who won the silver cup given by the Marquis of Lorne, is one of the products of the Grand National Competitions. We are proud of our gifted player who is of the rarest promise. He is an educated player, and is sweet and powerful in expression. Long may he live to gaze on the Marquis of Lorne’s noble gift. And shame on you Vanduara that you should hint or say that the cup was bestowed on an unworthy object, which would be the case if what you say is true. You have, certainly, encouraged noblemen and gentlemen to present us gifts to encourage our competitions when you try to make them believe that bungling judges are appointed who rule the awards wrongly. Well may we say often that to “save us from our friends is the truest charity.” But the “Pipe of a thousand battlefields, The music of the brave and free,” will only live through the efforts of workers and not talkers. If Vanduara and his followers (but I hope he only represents himself) are to build up, they will need stones and mortar, or their building will prove a “castle in the air.” I am, sir, &c, J. C.’
Letter from December 8th, 1883
Then on December 8th this letter, ‘Sir, I have read somewhere of two remarkable fishermen. One was a great giant, in his way, as we are told, “His rod was made of the sturdiest oak, and his line was a leather that couldn’t be broke, and he bailed his hook with horses tails, and he sat on a rock and he bob’d for whales.” The other must have been a very diminutive little fellow, “His rod was made of the peacock’s feather, and his line was a thread of the gossamer leather, and he bailed his hook with mites of cheese, and he sat on his bed and he bob’d for fleas.” ‘Now in a comparative sense, John MacColl, judging from his letter in your issue of the 24th ult, evidently looks upon himself as great a giant in bagpipe music as was the above worthy in piscatory feats; and myself and all others, who may differ with him, as much beneath him as was the little man who sat on his bed and bob’d for fleas – beneath the giant who sat on a rock and bob’d for whales. There cannot be the slightest doubt of this if we are to judge from John MacColl’s self sufficient reply to my letter of the 10th inst. “I know I did not play it exactly as some of the professionals he refers to would; for I did not wish to do so.” This is to say, the least of it, a very bold and presumptuous confession, coming as it does from one so young in years; and involves a great deal more than might be supposed at first glance. But to the point, let me warn John MacColl to be careful how he tampers with piobaireachd. It is like our Scottish thistle, it will not be trod upon with impunity. I know of no professional who plays MacLeod of Raasay’s salute as did John MacColl at Oban; and it is a mistake, and a gross mistake, to say that MacPhee, in his book, lifted the variations from the urlar or ground of the above tune; and it is something worse than a mistake to charge MacKay with having put the cart before the horse in one of the bars of the tune in question. MacKay’s book is admitted, and generally accepted, as the standard work on bagpipe music. It gives every evidence of having been put together by a master hand. It has stood the test for many years, and it may be said with truth that its pages contain the best and most original collection of any book of the kind. It would appear from MacColl’s own statement that I am not the only person who finds fault with him for his rendering of the tune in question, as he tells us that some of the professionals when spoken to about it could only say “That is not the way it is in MacKay’s book.” And then remarks “I believe some of them never spent five minutes to look if MacKay took the variations of the ground work.” It is quite possible they never did. A man could have little claim to be called a professional if he required to take even five minutes to satisfy himself whether the variations of a tune were in keeping with its ground. A master hand ought to be able, on hearing a tune played, to decide by the ear, so regularly harmonious are all the notes of the different variations in keeping with, and subject to, the urlar or ground. If this were not so, a true ear would at once detect the error; and I may just remark, en passant, that so obvious was this at the Oban games, while MacColl was competing for the cup, that not a single professional present failed to notice the alteration from the original plan of MacLeod of Raasay’s salute. Of this fact, I doubt not, MacColl is well aware. Nay, I may go further and add, that almost without a single exception the professionals, who were present at the competition, declared MacBean had fairly and justly won the cup – not simply because MacColl had blundered the variations, although that of itself, as I have already said in my letter of the 10th inst, was enough to put him hors de combat, but because the fingering, time, general execution, and rendering of the time, were all in his favour. Perhaps I am not fairly correct to say MacColl blundered the variations, since he tells us that they were played as found in MacPhee’s book. Now, I would be very sorry indeed to say a single unjust thing against MacPhee, especially that he has for some time gone over to the majority. That he was undoubtedly a first-rate reel and strathspey player I never heard disputed, and his book, so far as these tunes are concerned, is admitted by all a standard work. It was a pity MacPhee did not rest contented with this. His book on piobaireachd was a failure, and no man in his senses could have hoped for success when venturing to alter and reset a class of music that has been the production of Highlanders, whose names as famed composers and performers on the great Highland bagpipes have been handed down for many generations by worthy followers of these great men. It was folly; nay, more, it was pure madness to have undertaken such a task; while such men as John MacClennon, known by the sobriquet of Big John, not because of his personal bulk, but in honour of his well deserved fame as an authority and proficient performer of piobaireachd. Next comes the well known Donald Cameron, who died some years ago, and who was, perhaps, the best authority since the days of the MacRemmonds. Donald left sons; they are still alive, and famed as piobaireachd players. All these and many more good men I could name refuse to accept MacPhee’s book. MacPhee was nowhere as a piobaireachd player, and as a proof of this it needs only to be stated that he competed over twelve years at Inverness and never succeeded in getting anything above a third prize in that class. And this is the author of the book that John MacColl would wish to champion against MacKay’s book and the overwhelming authorities herein named. In conclusion, let me assure John MacColl he is in a mistake about my identity, as I never at any time displayed medals upon my breast. I write from no bad spirit, but purely in the interest of honest judging and fair play. I am, &c, Vanduara.’
Letter from December 15th, 1883
A reply came on 15th December, ‘Sir, I see in your issue of the 8th December that Vanduara, a correspondent of yours, says a mistake, when committed in not taking the variations properly of the ground work, is so easily detected that a master hand ought, on hearing the tune played, to detect if it was taken properly off the ground work or not. May I mention to him an instance in which his professionals must have lost some of their wit, for may I say that not one of them detected that great mistake (as Vanduara tries to put it), when committed by a party competing at the Northern Meeting. I don’t for a moment doubt the authority of MacKay’s book, and I am also aware of the deficiency of MacPhee’s book. May I ask if John MacBain played his piobaireachd (MacKay’s banner) when competing for the cup, as it is written in MacKay’s book. I am aware that he played it well, that being the tune he played first. As Vanduara will remember, we had to play twice. Now, after MacBain, I played The Blue Ribband. I would think this is the tune Vanduara tries to point out, I played wrong. Now I shall refer to Vanduara and his professionals if I played any of the variations of the Blue Ribband different from what they would. When MacBain and I were declared by the decision of the judges to be equal, we had to play over again. MacBain this time played Too long in this condition. I shall leave it to Vanduara and his professionals to judge what job he made of it. Now it was on this occasion that I played MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute, the tune in which he says I blundered. Perhaps these professionals will be able to tell Vanduara whether MacBain or I made the most blunders when competing the second time. I think it would be advisable for Vanduara to look after his own profession in the future, and leave the judging and playing of pipers to parties who are more qualified than he is. He has not been kind enough to give his name in full, but I have no doubt he has good reasons for not doing so. I am, &c, John MacColl (late of Oban), piper to D MacPherson Esq of Glen Dole.’
Letter from December 22nd, 1883
On 22nd December another long letter from Vanduara appeared, ‘Sir, I wish your correspondent J. C. to be assured, once and for all, that I write naught in malice. I write purely and honestly in the interest of those persons who attend our Highland Gatherings and the National Halls, Glasgow, as professionals or amateurs. J. C. vainly hopes that I stand alone in the opinions I have put forth regarding the management at many of these meetings. I do not stand alone. Nine-tenths of all the professionals who visit bagpipe competitions would stand up and assert that the judging at these games too often prompts the question, were the judges inspired by a spirit of one-sidedness, or was the award made because of their ignorance of the duties they had undertaken to perform? A man to be qualified to judge at a bagpipe competition must himself be a first class performer, and able thoroughly to follow the music in the book. If he could not do this, how could he if a tune, especially a piobaireachd was being judged, that he could not himself perform, tell whether any part of that tune had been left out, or notes put in where they ought not to be? Would such a man be a proper person to decide in a case where two competitors were equal in every particular except that one of them took liberties with his tune? I am not here referring to the case of Mr MacColl. I am ready to agree with what J. C. says of him, “That he is an educated player, and is sweet and powerful in expression.” But John MacBean is sweeter and more powerful, with better time, and altogether a more correct performer; and, therefore, the judges are inexcusable for awarding the cup to MacColl. This was the opinion of every professional present at the competition, and MacColl himself had some proof of that before leaving the ground. It is because of cases like the above continually occurring that I write with a view to bring about a better and juster system of judging at Highland Gatherings than has been heretofore. J. C. and others in his position, may consider it a light matter to get up a bagpipe competition. Such is not the case, however, and those who undertake the management undertake a serious responsibility at the same time. It is simply silly of J. C. to try by declamation to usurp the province of plain, good, honest common sense. And that is just what his letter amounts to, much assertion with very little proof. For instance, J. C. writes, “At the time the Grand Nationals were started bagpipe playing was at a low ebb.” Just think of this ye Committees of the various Highland Gatherings throughout the Highlands of Scotland! Where are all the professionals that attend these meetings? Where are the renowned performers the MacClennons, the MacKenzies, the Camerons, with many others I might name here? But J. C. tells us that “the professional players, our veterans, were passing away, and there were few to replace them.” No fear of that. These veterans have always pupils on hand, and are sure to leave many good men to fill their places when they are gone. If bagpipe playing was at the low ebb J. C. would have us believe, how does it come there are so many bagpipe makers in Scotland? Glasgow alone keeps two constantly employed. This does not look as if our national music was at a low ebb, especially in Glasgow, and yet the Grand Nationals take credit to themselves for bringing all this about. Pooh! Pooh! The thing is too absurd. Let us have deeds, not words, and when the deeds are worthy of praise no man would award it more readily than I. “Our amateurs must have encouragement to come forward to compete,” says J. C. “or some fine day, like the Welsh bards, the pipers will be found to have vanished into nothingness.” Now this is just the very thing I am striving to obtain for amateurs and professionals alike. And at the present moment, J. C. and the Grand Nationals, whoever they may be, have apparently a very brilliant opportunity of redeeming that promise. With so large a number of nobles and gentlemen as patrons the funds of the society must be flourishing, and one would naturally expect that the gold and silver articles to be awarded as prizes will really prove to be gold and silver, and not mere trinkets got up to please and deceive the eye, But why do the Grand Nationals not publish the names of their Committee? Without this what guarantee have competitors that members of committee are not appointed to act as judges, or it might be amongst the competitors. All things ought to be fair and above board. It looks suspicious to place a light under a bushel. And again, what good reason can be given for withholding the names of the judges? Competitors have a right to know by whom they are to be judged. No qualified man need be ashamed of the office, and no Committee need hesitate to publish the name of an undoubted and worthy authority on bagpipe music, and when a Committee has secured such a man let that man not be hampered or humbugged by the opinions of any others who are not quite as well qualified to judge as himself, no matter how noble or exalted they may be. Birth or riches does not make men judges of bagpipe music. Neither can that man be considered doing an honest action who undertakes to judge without being in every sense of the word qualified. If this should cause a little uncomfortable feeling and unpleasant twitching of conscience in the breasts of some, I hope it may act as a wholesome warning at any future time should an itch for judging come upon them. Why it is like taking the money out of a man’s pocket to deprive him of a prize he has fairly won, Nay, it is more. It is robbing him of his reputation as well, and every act of the kind only tends to lessen confidence and keep people away from these otherwise pleasant gatherings. J. C. is perfectly right when he says I mean well; and if he will only be guided by my advice, I have not the slightest doubt but that the Grand Nationals will prove a success, and after all I might prove a friend they would not pry to be saved from. I am sure I wish their undertaking may flourish until it becomes a model to all other Highland gatherings of the kind. But such a consummation can only be hoped for when we are made certain that the rules of the society are so framed as to aim at doing the greatest possible amount of good in bringing about the objects of the Grand Nationals, as set forth in their advertisements. And when so framed make them public; and then make sure that they are faithfully and honestly acted up to. If the money comes in plentiful add to the value of the prizes. If not plentiful, then take a little from them. At all events publish an annual statement of how the accounts stand. This will give confidence, and go far to show the thing is not a speculation, but is really meant for what it is set forth. I am, &c, Vanduara.’