The Sun.
London, England, 1810-01-05 00:00:00

MR. EDIVial) putyrnva, .4NLY 71-4 E BEL

FAST HARP SOCIETY.

This Society was established in Belfast, some
years since, for tho purpose of reviving and preserv-
ing the ancient rpnstc oflreland, and in particular
the Music of the Irish Harp, an instrument which,
in the days of our forefathers, resounded in the
halls of our Nobles. Its exhilirating'strains are cal-
culated to awaken the soul to deeds of valour, and
its milder melodies to fan the flame of love, or kin-
dle 'soft de,ire---+" Strike the harp in my hall,"
said the great Fingal, " and let Fingal hear the
song."

Whilst the Members of the Society were prose-
cuting the design' of the institution, they found -in
one of their Members, Mr. Edward Bunting, a
powerful auxiliary ; who had long pre-
ceded them in the pursuit, and who had foil Owed
it with perseverance, with ardour, and with success.
To attain his favourite objet, this Gentleman has
carried his researches iritf) all the ancient volumes of
music that he cOnliidiscover ; and, in order to Make
still greater atquirements, tra.?elled over the greater
part of Ireland,'and in the wilds of the Mountains,
and in the- recesses .of the glens called from the.
simple 'songs of the peasantry many•of the finest
airs of Our ancient Bards.

These national airs, thus rescued. from oblivion,
we are happy to' kriow are noW published, and, of,
course, beyond all danger of being lost.
To this Gentleinan, therefore, the.conntry is in-
debted for restoring- and preserving such valuable re-
lies of ancient genius. •

Sensible of,the importane of his labours, and
the ability with which he'llas accomplished the ob,
jeF.I• of his pursuit, the. Members of. 'the Belfast
Harp;Soci:2ty 'determined, as a mark of individual
respe6l and public esteem, to invite him to a splen:
did entertainment, on Wednesglay the Qoth nit, at
O'Neill's 1-1t)tel; In the aftertfoon, about fifty Gen-
tlemen received h'im with every mark of respe& ;
at five o'clock they sat down to a sumptuous dinner,
elegantly served up, with excellent wines, ke.
13F.R M`III,VE Egil. in the Chair, WILLtAm STE.
VENs oN; &a, Vice President.

After, the cloth was removed, the following toasts
were given:—
The King—Song, " Cod•gave the King,"-
The Army and Navy--,Sring, " Rule Britannia."
The Memory of -St. Patrick—Song, " The sweet little.
dear ljtt I e shamrock of Ireland."
The Memory of Carolati, and other departed Bards—Song
_
Bard's Leg-acv."
The Memory of:Miss Brook, to' whom our country is so
much indebted for. her elegant- translations of ancient I 4:At
Poetry.
- The MerriorViof Charles Q'Coinor, the Irish aiitiquaryt
and friend of Dr. johnson.
. The Memory of.O'llalloran, the Ristorian.
The MemOry of O'Flalierti-, author-of the Ogyi!ia:.
're 'lrish Harp, akl "may'irs— strains he once more
in the hall of our NoWes—Ditet, " The Last.Minstrel.Of
Erin."
The Dublin Harp fcciety.
.
After this t oast, the Chairman roct;And addressed
the Company to the following etred •

" GRNTLEMEN—PrevibIus -to the toastl arrf alma
to propose. permit me to take., the opportunity 'of
expressing the sentiments which actuate myself, and
I iloubt not, ttrose present. In 'proposing the
health of-the Gentleman, to commemorate whose
services we have now met, I cannot •avoi4 taib-
licly: expressing, in my own vame, and that of the
Society in which I have the honour of presiding, the
sense, of the obligations we owe to him.
.For seven-.
teed years aaively engaged in rescuing from oblivion
the few relics of our national music which have escap-
ed the devastations of trrne, he has at length achieved
wbathad often before been- unsuccessfully attempt=
ed. * • From former failures, we may appreciate the
difficulty of •the undertaking. —From our own re;
grets for those strains whiCh are now' lost for ever,
we May judge what is due to him, who has'preserved
a part. By the publication of the ancient melodies
of Ireland, he has fixed an ra in the history of its
national music; and lest writing -should fail, he has
also been the happy means of restoring the ancient
mode of preserving it, by a succession of Irish Bard's..
Of. this. valuable trust we are the guardians and de-
tioSitaries--4hist is the origin of our,
,Society, and, lest
it shotild'droop, it is invigorated by a minCiple that
must ever endear it to the hearts of Irishmen. If
•the love of our country- be the'end, the love of our
fellow-creatures is the Mean by which'we attain it.;
for be it remembered, andlo the-hononr of the man
from whom this Society derives its origin be it spok-
en, that our existence is secured by being cemented.
,by the sacred bond of
,chnrity..t I could say much
More, did not the expressiorpof My own feelings, re-
strain you from giving vent to yours.—Permit me,
therefore, to propose the health of Mr. Edward
Bunting—the reviver olthe ancient music of our
country, and may his exertions be crowned with the
success they merit." -
The health of Mr. Bunting was drank with three
times three.
Mr. BUNTING then rose, and
.said—", Mr. Presi-
dent and Glntlemen—this testimony of your appin-
, bation, and the highly flattering attention. bestowed
on me this day, amply repay my exertions in endea-
*airing to rescue from oblivion the Telles of the na-
tional music of our country: Allow- • tne'to assure
you, they will not fail to make a lively and lasting
impression on my heart."
This speech was received with great applause.—
. Mr.. Bunting then begged leave to give as a toast,
•" The Harp Society of 13e:tast.—(This was drunk with
three times three.)
The President then proceeded with the toasts:—
•' The Town and Trade of Belfast."-rDwr, •"
Well." .•

The Marquis of Donegal!'
" The Earl of O'Neill, and the House of O'Neill."
" The Earl of Westmeath, and the Garrison of Belfkit."
" The Lord Bishop of Dromore." —Song, " Oh I Nanny
wilt thou f 9 with'ule."
" General Vallancey."
" The Benevolent Society of St. Patrick ln London.
" The Marchioness of Donegal.—Song, " Oh! give me
the heart which united can feel."
.A number of other toasts and songs.fotlowed.
O'Neil, the oldest harper in Ireland, was not ex-
ti
Mr. Bunting commenced his research early in rro2,-and
collected some music:, as well as saute-wrtorrners, 'or rho:
Harp meeting held in July, 17131. Early lit tBcva,
ed, With an bpp4opriate • Pretace, a eoliee,;or'• ,f 66 ..0,1 • he
has continued his lab Ours till Ill2s rime; and t: as just
ed a volume, in the most splendid style or any sliniibr
that
has ever appeared in the United Kingrioni..
The Society supports a school, whore young Blii7d P -
pilb are instrutAcitr9,l)lay the Harp_