The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-12 00:00:00

more admirable one of their piety? It vas here almost
superfluous to make any close appeal to our poet's au-
thority—to that most sublime description, so familiar to
you all, where the old peasant on the Saturday night
collects his scattered family, at the close of the long
week's labour, around his humble but happy cottage
fireside, and, after a few sweet but hard-earned hours
of social enjoyment, instils, before retiring to repose,
from the open Word of God, into their minds those
lessons of Divine wisdom which were to guide
them '-cluring the next week, and through life,
in the piths of religion and virtue.—(Cheers.) Are
not such scenes to this day common in our cottages, still
as of old, I firmly believe, the favourite abodes of the
genuine spirit of simple Scottish piety.—(Cheers.)
Then as to the last, if not the least, in the above list of
the virtues of our peasants—their patriotism. To whom,
I would ask, but to the peasantry of Scotland does our
poet so beautifully appeal as having bled with Wal-
lace ? To whom but to our peasantry did our national
hero look—and never look in vain for support in his
gallant effort to restore the fallen fortunes of his
country ; at the period when our doughty knights and
nobles (happily but for a sesson) had been reduced by
the intrigues or intimidation of our powerful enemy, to
crouch submissive beneath the throne of his usurpa-
tion.—(Loud cheers.) And can we doubt that this
proud spirit of patriotism still burns as warm in their
hearts as then, if no longer by God's blessing so fear-
fully ors desperately called into action ; or that when
after, as O-0-15oet again has it—
" They lay aside their private cares
To mind the kirk and State affairs;
They'll talk of patronage and priests,
Wi' kindling fury in their breasts,
Or tell what new taxation's coming,
And ferlie at the folks in Lunnan.'
—(Cheers.) But I have already detained you too long
—if not longer than the interest of the subject—at least
than my power of doing justice to it, entitles me. I
shall therefore conclude by pronouncing a grace over our
bumper, also supplied from the stores of the poet, and in
the sentiments of which every one here present, I am
sure, will cordially sympathise—
" 0, Scotia! my dear, my native soil,
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent,
Long may thv hardy sons of rustic toil,
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content."

—(Great cheering.)
Song by Mr Templeton, "Behind yon hills."
Sir JAMES CAMPBELL, Of Glasgow, said—ln pro-
posing the toast with which I have been entrusted, I
shall content myself by simply expressing my deep
regret that, under any circumstances, I could so in-
adequately express my own sentiments and feelings of
admiration—in all the acceptation of that word—of " the
Land of Burns."—(Applause). I am aware, however,
that I have the honour of addressing an assemblage who
can appreciate, who do appreciate, and who, by their
appearance here, and the interest so many of them have
taken in the proceedings and associations of this day,
give ample proof of their high estimation of, and attach-
ment to, " the Land of Burns." lam aware also that I
have the honour to address not a few of those who have,
with the pencil or with the pin, done homage to the
classical, patriotic, landscape, and poetical claims of that
land. I feel satisfied, indeed, that there is not an indi-
vidual in this most interesting and splendid assemblage
who does not greatly praise and admire the fertile soil
and landscape beauty of that land; whose bosom glows
not with an honest pride in the intelligence, enterprise,
and patriotism of the men of that land; and, above all,
who does not honour and admire the beauty and accom-
plishments of the ladies of that land.—(Cheers.) And
therefore is it, my Lord, that without further preface, I
would call upon this assembly to dedicate a hamper to
" The Land of Burns."—(Cheers.)
Quadrille Band—" Their groves of Sweet Myrtle."
Lord Eauserost, who was received with much ap-
plause. said—Ladies and Gentlemen except the toast
which I have had the honour and happiness of bringing
before you to-day, there is no toast which gives me
greater pleasure to see committed to my charge than the
one which I am now about to bring before your notice—
I mean, the " Provost and Magistrates of Ayr ;" and along
with it, though not down on the card, my feelings will
not allow me to leave out the interests of Ayr.—(Loud
cheers.) On such an occasion as this, and so late in the
day, I will not occupy your time by dilating on the in-
terest which I feel in that town, or of the knowledge
which I have of the provost and of some of the magis-
trates. From that knowledge I feel convinced that the
interests of Ayr could not be placed in more worthy
hands.—(Cheers.) In addition to the interest which I
feel towards the magistrates of the county town, we must
also feel gratitude for the assistance and support they
have given on this occasion. lam sure if it were not
for the feeliiikt you entertain towards the town and the
magistrates, you would also drink their health for the
kind assistance they have given us in assisting to get up
this banquet.—(The toast was cordially responded to.)
Provost MILLER said—Permit me to return my best
thanks for my colleagues and myself, for the flattering
compliment which has just been paid to them. The
manner in which the toast was introduced by the Noble
Lord was particularly gratifying to me ; and I am sure
it will be appreciated by the entire corporation.—
(Cheers.) I beg to assure the Noble Lord that the re-
cognition of the " auld town," at a meeting so pecu-
liarly interesting as the present, and combining so
much as it does of the rank, talent, and worth of the
land, will be highly appreciated by the " honest men
and bonnie lasses" whom the immortal bard declared
were not to be surpassed.—(Great applause.)
The LORD JUSTICE-GENERAL rose amidst much ap-
plause. lle said—Ladies and Gentlemen, after the un-
common success which has attended every part of the
proceedings at this meeting to-day, I am confident that
I will anticipate the unanimous concurrence of this
great assembly I have now the honour to address, when
I state that there appears one additional to the main
toast, drunk with so much enthusiasm—one remains as
a debt of gratitude due by this assembly. I consider it
a most fortunate circumstance attending this meeting,
that we have been presided over by the Noble Lord in
the chair.—(Great applause.) lam sure that the most
enthusiastic admirer of Burns must be gratified in think-
ing that the proceedings of this day have been conducted
by my Noble Friend in so admirable a manner.—(Loud
cheers.) Every person must be satisfied that it was
impossible the proceedings of this day could have been
commenced in a happier strain.—(Great applause.)
Without further comment, I beg leave to propose that we
seittie the health and success of the worthy Chairman.—
grit wits received with loud and prolonged cheers,
(The --of hats and handkerchiefs.)
and wav, --es., in reply, said—My Lord Justice, and
Lorain EGLINT,.. "t. I assure you I feel most deeply
Ladies and Gentlerm.-.sour you have paid me, as I
grateful to you for the h,. ^ health is proposed and
always ought to be, when in, ~.—(Cheers.) But I
drunk at a meeting of Scotchme.. .„,,,ateful or more
assure you I never felt more deeply the present
highly sensible of that honour, than I do a,, aan as
moment, when my health is proposed by such a._ • _„4l
the Lord Justice-General, and when it has been recei
—and I am proud to say enthusiastically received—by an
assemblage met for such a purpose as to do honour to the
memory of our greatest poet; but, gentlemen, I will not,
at this late hour of the day, and in a temple, as it were,
dedicated to the Muses—l will not occupy your time by
returning thanks for drinking the health of one who has
no merit.—(Loud cries of " No, no," and applause.)
But before we part, there is a toast which claims our
especial consideration, and which I have no doubt those
who have left will regret having missed, and in regard
to which those who have remained will rejoice that they
have not been so hasty in leaving. When I say that the
toast is The health of Professor Wilson"—(Great ap-
plause)—you will, I am sure, agree with me in thinking
that not only is it a toast which we ought to drink, but
that, if it had not been for the modesty of the Professor,
it ought to have been proposed at a much earlier part of
the evening.--(Cheers.) On such an occasion as this,
when we have met, from all parts of Scotland, to do ho-
nour to the memory of the greatest genius Scotland ever
knew, it surely is not only proper, but our bounden duty,
to drink the health of the greatest genius which Scot-
land possesses now.—(Great cheering.) The memories
of others have been drank to-night, and have.been re-
ceived with that deep feeling which Scotchman feel to-
wards the memory of genius, but the toast which I am
now proposing is one which has the additional merit,
that the subject of it is alive and hearty
(Great applause)—and able to continue, as you have
heard to-day, in the line with which he has hitherto so
much delighted his countrymen.—(Cheers.) In the
presence of Professor Wilson I cannot dilate, as I could
wish to do, on the character of that gentleman. I will
only ask you to-drink with me his health in a way that
will show that you can pay honour to genius alive, as
you can do honour to departed worth.—(Great applause
—the company rising and waving their hats and hand-
kerchiefs.)
The Professor, although called upon, did not respond,
but left the meeting. This brought the proceedings to
a close.

The field continued crowded for a considerable time.
By thred o'clock, however, it was well cleared—the
various bodies who formed the procession having gone
away singly, one after another, while parties were scat-
tered in all directions, viewing the scenes and objects
connected with the poetry of Burns. Alloway Kirk-
yard was thronged the whole of the day. The weather
kept well, notwithstanding the threatening appearance
of the clouds in the morning. Only a slight shower
was experienced, and the sun burst out cheeringly in the
afternoon. It began, however, to rain about five o'clock,
by which period few of the out-door company remained.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—DANGER OF RIDING ON THE
SllAr-I's OF WA6noss.—Mr. Gell held an inquest on Friday
at St. George's Hospital, on the body of Charles Prior, aged
thirty-five, of Prescott-street, Windsor. In evidence, it
appeared that, on Tuesday morning last, deceased, with his
wife, quitted his residence in Windsor, for the purpose of
coining to London to get work. In the Bath-road, near the
Magpie public-house, they tovertook a waggon, the
driver of which gave them a lift as far as he was going.
The woman got on the top of the waggon, and her
husband sat on the shafts ; but he had net ridden far before
lie fell into the road, and was seriously injured by the wheels.
He said, when removed to the hospital, that he did not know
what caused him to fall, but lie recollected trying to escape
by rolling his body away. Ile died in two days. The acci-
dent happened at three o'clock, and he was not admitted to
the hospital until eight o'clock. He was thus five hours
without medical assistance, and the jury expressed much
surprise that he had not been instantly carried to a surgeon
in the neighbourhood. Verdict—" Accidental death."
THE RIGHT OF CORONERS JURIES TO INSPECT
BODIES.—At an inquest held on Friday before Mr. Carter,
the Coroner for Surrey, one of the jurors inquired if they were
permitted to have inspection of the body, in order really to
ascertain if there were any marks of violence upon it, which
he understood to be the meaning of "viewing" the body, ac-
cording to the Act of Parliament ; or were they, as was too
often the case in gentlemen's houses, just to look into the
room where the corpse was ? He was induced to ask this
question because he had often been on juries, and there gene-
rallyeh the
undoubtedproper
right examination.
of
f the
appeared
ri ri e r
rttee othat to prevent a
observed, desire
jury to make what they considered a proper inspection, in
order that they ►night be able to judge of the weight of the
vtv-ea.nsttht
evidence afterwards laid before them, and to put such quo-
tions as any appearance suggested to thew.