The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-06-07 00:00:00

unwrouglit and unvalued—would unlock and
give to society the genius and lilt talents of ten
thousand bosoms, Which. but for it, would fur ever
lauguieh in silence acid rbscurity.—(Henn.)--Bus
that was by no means the chief practical advantage
likely to result from the execution of the design
contemplated. A vastly superior vile would be,
that it would remaiii a lasting memento of the
troth, that morality was the hest nursery of genius
—for the poems of linens tell'ordled intrinsic evi-
dence that it was in early life, and by his father's
fire.side. those seeds of virtue, filial duty, and
piety to Isis Creator, were implanted, which after-
wards grew up and matured Moo the fruits which
would supply powerful and never-failing lessons of
moral worth, nitegrity, and independence.—(Hear.
hear.)-11e begged pardon for having taken up so
muds of their time, and should, without further
preface, propose the toast of the illustrious indivi-
dual who had kindly consented to patronise their
untlertekiud,, adding, at the same time, a title
which would carry a new recommendation to every
Scotchman. Ile should give " The Duke of
Susses *sad Earl of Incerness."—Drank with three
times three, and loud and enthusiastic applause.
The Duke of Sussex, in rising to return thanks,
said, that had he consulted the state of his health
lie would not have come there that day. Olio Hoye'
Highness, we are concerned to say, spoke with great
hourseness, and evidently under the influence of
considerable bodily weakness), but his heart arid
soul was so entirely theirs, that, lie believed, had
lie not come among them, it would have increased
his indispovition.—(Applause.)—After the do-
quent address they had just heard from his Hon.
Friend on his right. on the brotfits to be expected
from the completion of the purpose, in support of
which they were assembled, perhaps it would be
most prudent of hint to sit down, after merely re.
turning Isis most sincere thanks for the honour con-
ferred upon him, particularly as a commemora-
tive address on the genius and powers of their
great poet was to be shortly delivered. In so doing,
however, lie should but ill obey the impulse of his
own feelings, or discharge the duty he had under-
taken. Among Ilse topics which presented them-
selves to the mind at mention of the name and
writings of Barns, there was one on which Isis Hon.
Friend had not touched, of which he confessed
'he was glad, its it would nut be possible to follow
him in the seine path, without weakening the effect
of his Vigorous and eloquent language. The cir-
cumstance to which lie alluded, a thing of inesti-
mable inipertence its every country where it could
be attained, was the connecting link, which, in his
opinion, his poems formed between the upper and
lower ranks of society. Their obvious tendency,
as appeared to him, was to produce a respect fur
the lower among tyre higher, and an affection for
the higher mining the lower. He concurred also
in the sentiment that the productions of Burns
were calculated to keep alive a spirit of indepen-
dence, not only individual, but national, because
they brought home to the bosoms of' his countrymen
in every climate on the globe, recollections of their
isetionad language, dress, and manner.; and iii
whatever nation a national lauguage, mutational dress,
and national rummers were preserved, for the inde-
pendence of that nation he should never fear.—(Ap-
plamtse.)—lt was a glorious sight to have observed
this man, when the superiority of his intellect and
works hail introduced him to the first individuals
for rank or birth his country could boast of at
Edinburgh, never in his iiitercouse with them
forgetting that superiority—never unmindful of
the respect he owed himself—while he, at the same
tittle, was strictly observant of what was due to the
station of others. It was a fact, however, and per-
haps on the present occasion ought to be suppress-
ed; but the truth would out—that Burns had fallen
a sacrifice to his independent principles; but
though lie might have beets snore lucky in his life,
had lie been more humble in Isis intercourse with
the great, yet hi. memory would never lie respect-
ed as it now was. He should now merely say, that
their project had his most cordial wished* and ardent
hopes for its success—and lie begged again they
would accept his most sincere thanks for the honour
they had dune him.
Duet, Messrs. Evans mud Julley—Air, Here's a bean
to sae I lu's dear."
In proposing the next toast, his Royal Highness
observed, that he had always approved of the prac-
tice of erecting suovumesas to the memory of indi-
viduals who had, by the exertion of great talents,
rendered themselves the benefactors of society.—
lie thought, making it more frequent would be
productive of the must useful and excellent results
in encourtigiog a spirit cf imitation and emulation
io their survivors. Ile believed, for instance, that
ninny • prison, on beholding Burris's monument in
Edinburgh, would say to himself, " If I do as lie
has done, I >hall have a ainallalellt Ilk!! him ;" and
thus be incited to the exertion 11f talents that
would otherwise Isere lain dormant and unknown.
—(Dear.)—l-lis Royal Highness then proposed
" The Aleatory of Robert Burns," which was drank
in solemn 'Ocoee.

An ode, intended as a requiem to the memory of
Burns, written at the request of the Committee, by
James Thompson, Esq. Private Secretary fur Clia.
runes to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, was
then finely performed by some of the professional
Gentlemen present, an a poetical commemorative
address from the sortie pen, recited by the author.
After the two succeeding toasts— -t
"The Load 0' Cakes," and " The Gs:often& of Roos-
hey, who rointneseed the sestiseriptiou,”
his Royal Highness said, that after the toast lie
intended then to give he found himself obliged to
retire for the night. Ile should fed the less regret
in doing so, as his 'dace would be so much more
ably filled by his Hon. Friend on the right (Sir J.
Mackintosh) ; hut he should not do justice to his
feelings as a Prince of the House of Brunswick, or
as Em lof Inverness, did he not 'embrace that op.
pus tinnily of proposing the toast or
The City or kAisiburgli."—(44pplaose.)
When this toast had been drank his Royal High-
ness left the room, mid the Chair was taken by Sir
James Mackintosh, who shortly afterwards gave
the health of Mr. Robert Burns, the son of the
poet.
Mr. BURNS. in returning thanks, stated, in con-
firmation of what had been said of the injustice of
imputing ignmoitce to his deceased father, that his
library conitaitird the works of Chaucer, Spencer,
Sliskspeiorr, Milton. Dryden, Pope, Swift, Ad-
dison, Goldsmith, Churchill, Ramsay, and most
of the other great poets of these countries ; besides