The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-26 00:00:00

BURNS'S MONUMENT AT AYR.

The monument, which has now been erected
at Ayr, to perpetuate the memory of ROBERT BURNS, in form
may be described as a replication of the Athenian monument
of Imicretes, which we believe the architect selected as his
model. It bears a considerable resemblance also to the
beautiful little Temple attached to the Church an Pietro
in Mantoria, at 'tonic. The edifice consists of a triangular base-
ment (representative of the three great divisions of Ayrshire,
Kyle, Carrick, and Cunninghame), upon which rises a circular
peristyle supporting a cupola. The pillars, which are nine in
number, and entablature, are of the Corinthian, Order. They
are designed, we believe, from the three remaining columns
of the Comitium (sometimes erroneously called the temple
of Jupiter Stator) in the Forum at Rome, and executed
in the chastest manner ; certain ornaments of truly Grecian'
elegande surmount the cupola, and serve as' a pedestal to the
tripod. The interior of the basement of the monument gives a
circular chamber 18 feet in height and of a corresponding dia-
meter. From this chamber, which is of the Done Order, a
flight of stairs conducts to tie gallery above. The whole edi-
fice is conceived and executed in a style purely classical.
The following is the Inscription placed on the tripod :
The First Stone of this 3lonument,
Erected by Public Subscription,
In honour of the Genius of
ROBERT BURNS,
Was laid by
The late Sir Alexander Boswell, of Auchinleck, Bart.
(Under whose exertions principally the Susbscription was
commenced and carried through),
On the 25th day of January, 1820;
AND
On the 4th of July, 1823,
This structure being wholly completed,
Tuts TRIPOD
Was fixed upon its summit,
In presence of a numerous assemblage
Of Free Masons and Subscribers,
Headed and addressed on the occasion by Wm:Fullerton, Esq.
of Skeldon.
Thomas Hamilton, jun. Architect.
John Connel, jun. Builder and Contractor.
The situation of the building is extremely well chosen. It
is in the centre of those scenes which the poet has so often
described—arid if formerly the spot itself excited recollections
of the most pleasing kind in the minds of the bards's admirers,
how much more interesting—how much more intense—must be
the local association of feelings now called up, when, in addi-
tion to that classic ground, we now contemplate the proud pile
which has been raised to perpetuate the memory of Robert
Burns.
As there is a deficiency of funds to inclose the monument, a
subscription has been opened for that purpose, which, it is
hoped, will be supported by liberal contributions, in order to
preserve an edifice which has been so tastefully executed, and
which will be an ornament to the country.

The Lion curved in wood, which ivas the head
of the Cent:irk m, Lord AxsoN's ship, in which he performed
his celebrated voyage, was formerly placed against an inn near
the Duke of Richmond's, at Goodwood, in Sussex, upon a
stone pedestal, with the following► inscription :
Stay, Traveller, awhile and View
One who has travelled more than you,
Quite round the globe ; through each degree
Al./0(w and I have plough'd the sea;
Torrid and frigid zones have past,
And safe on shore arrivid at last,
In ease and dignity appear:—
Ile in the 'louse of Lords—l here.