The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-22 00:00:00

BAR omETEn-29.95.

WIND South-Westerly; light, with dull weather.

THE SUN.

SATURDAY. JANUARY 22, 1859.

THE BURNS CENTENARY.

At a time when the world rings with the name
of Burns, and tens of thousands are about to as-
semble in every quarter of the habitable globe, to
pay a tribute to his genius and do honour to his
memory, it may interest our readers to cast a look
back upon a former occasion, on which a similar
"commemoration" took place in London, the im-
mediate object of which was to raise a fund in aid
of the subscription for completing the " mausoleum"
then erecting at Dumfries. The architectural part
of the monument was by Mr. Thomas F. Hunt,
Clerk of the Royal Works, and author of several
excellent publications in 'favour of Tudor architec-
ture as the most suitable for English country resi-
dences ; and the statue in the centre, of Burns at
the plough, with Coila vouchsafing her prophetic
inspiration, was by Turnerelli, a popular sculptor
of that day, from whom we have busts of George
111. (the Jubilee, 1809), Blucher, Platoff, and other
celebrated characters of a glorious period. The
deLign originated with Mr. William Jerdan, at that
dale editor of The Sun, who had the good fortune
to associate many distinguished persons and patriot
Scotsmen in the necessary measures for its sue-
Cessful accomplishment. The meeting assembled
on the 25th of May, 1816, at Freemasons' Hall,
anti the Earl of Aberdeen presided, with Mr,
Charles Grant (now Lord Glenelg) among his sup.
porters at* the upper table. Of the numerous list
of stewards, it is somewhat saddening to reflect
that very few now live, to. remember the share th©y
toek in giving effect and eclat to this national
festival. Besides the two noblemen already men-
tio•ied, there only remains Lord Palmerston, and of
others of lesser rank, the writer is only aware of
Sir Peter Laurie, Mr. Cosmo Orme, - and Mr. Jer
dan, being survivors of the forty.two years sweel
ovei• the tenure of human existence. Lords Mel
ville and Archibald Hamilton; Baronets Sir John
.Marjoribanks and Sir George Warrender ; states•
luta, F. Horner and Commissary Herries ; warriors,
G( neral Dunlop and Sir Neil Campbell, and Admi-
ral.; Sir G. J. hope and Sir Grail= Moore; legis-
lathrs, Keith Douglas, Kirkman Finlay, Charles
Fcrbes, and John Irving ; eminent bankers and
m. rchants, Archibald Campbell, G. Hathorn, John
Inra,s, John Nichal, Coutts Trotter, and John
; an the distinguished sons of poetry and
pa nting, Thomas Campbell and David Wilkie, have
all passed away ; as, in 1900, forty-two -years from
the period of the forthcoming Centenary manifes-
tall,m, the vast majority of those who celebrate it
will have been gathered to the dust, where also
is all that is mortal of the illustrious beimg whose
immortal genius, as The true Voice of Scotland,
juAly claims the utmost glory that can be laid upon
the altar of his fame.

Lord Aberdeen fulfilled the duties of the chair
with great feeling and eloquence, and the memory
of Burns was responded to by one of his sons,•who
was present accompanied by some relatives. The

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