Star.
London, England, 1812-05-28 00:00:00

brtm.Pßzirs, iir 20.

Durgries has long been eminently distinguished
for its excellent seminaries of education • and it is a
arcumstancb that must be highly grating to the
gentlemen who have hitherto presided at these semi.
naries, that their merits, duly appreciated by our
public dignitaries, live in the remembrance of their
pupils to the latest posterity.
Different modes have, on various occasions, been
adopted for manifesting this sentiment of veneration
and esteem, so dear to the teacher, and so honour-
able to the pupil. On Tuesday the sth inst. an event
of this kind was celebrated by a grand Dinner, given
at the George Inn by such Gentlemen as had been
the scholars of Messrs. WHITE and KENNEDY, public
teachers in this town—men who, in their public and
private capacities, would do honour to any age or
country.

Upwards of sixty gentlemen sat down, among
whom were
.the Magistrates of Dumfries (who are
the patrons of the schools), the public teachers, and
several of the most respectable heads of families.—
Mr. MAITLAND, of Eccles, presided with great abi-
lity and gentlemanly attention ; and was supported
with congenial spirit by Mr. HYSLOP, in the opposite
chair:—Mr. Spam Es, of the Get rge Inn, gave great
satisfaction by the choice and variety of the dishes,
and by the excellence of the nines.
Immediately after the removal of tae cloth, and
proposing and dr.nking the health of the KING, and
that of the PRINCE REGENT, the Chairman addressed
Messrs. 'WHITE and KENNEDY in a speech as elegant
as it was vigorous and impressive He then present.
ed each of these gentlemen with a complete and
splendid Tea Service of Silver Plate :tad China,
consisting of Tea and Coffee Apparatus, with three
large Salvers, of such taste and value, as has, it is
believed, never been given on such an occasion ; up-
wards of erS6O having been subscribed for the same.
Mr. MAITLAND, in I ising to present the Plate and
China, said he felt himself-highly gratified in being
selected by so respectable a company, the compa-
nions of his early youth, and the friends of his maturer
years ; and, abbve all, on account of the gentlemen
who were the object of this numerous meeting, to
perform a task so agreeable to his feelings, though he
felt himself inadequate to do justice to the same. In
bestowing so trifling a tribute of respect and grati-
tude,
so unequal to the merits of these gentlemen, he
dwelt with happy effect on the great service rendered
to the public, who had derived, for thirty years, un- '
exampled benefits from their unremitting exertions in
behalf of the youth of the neighbouring counties, and
indeed, he might say of almost every part of the globe.
—He left it to the feelings of every one present, to
say how far they had been benefited in the various
pursuits of lite, from the professional and moral in-
structions they received from them ; and he could
for himself aver, that to them he attributed the 1
foun-
dation of all his acquirements. He gloried in the'
present occasion, as he believed it would be a spur to
that useful body of men, to follow an example which
had led to such an honourable issue. After a very
appropriate and interesting speech, of which our
limits will not allow us to do justice, he concluded
with giving the health of Mr. WHITE and Mr. KEN-
NEDY, who, he hoped, would lung live to be an honour
to their country, and an example of private worth,
which was drank with three times three.
To which Mr. WHITE replied : . .

Is the novelty of the situation and circumstances
in which 1 And myself, that, the tumult of agreeable feelings
a!ntost kqualifies me front fulfilling, even imperfectly, my duty
on this oreasion—wl.ich is—to acknowledge, from the heart, zu)
immense debt of gratitude—fur the unexpected, and (but you
think otht rwise) undeserved tokeus of your esteem.
"• You Ivive this day illumined the Soth year of my public la-
bours in Dumfries; and have shed a warmth wit ch inu-t cheer
them as long as PROVIDIINci shall be pleased to permit their con-
tinuance. You have kdehe way—to encourage a class of men ut
great importance in the State ; men, whose toil is incessant, in i-
rating and obscure. Can, Sir an example—fp/ stimulating the
teachers a youth to double diligence—such as you have given,
for range and gra-p, be exhibited among the occurrences of the
British Empire ?
" Sir, will )uu have the additional goodness to permit—a roll
to be furni,ht d to me containing the eames of the high-minded
Gentlemen concerned—of the present and of the absent ? Such
roll, and the substantial and splendid proofs of your friendship,
now given, cannot fad to be regarded by me and mine, as house.
hold-deities were of old, in every thing, except actual adoration.

"To you, Sir, 1 beg leave to return my grateful; thanks for
the manner in which you hay.e fulfilled what, I know, has been to
you a pleasing task; and, to add my fervent wishes that, the
harmony, and the success, and the happiness of you and your
constituents, wherever aistmbled and wherever dispersed, may
never experience interruption."
Mr. KENNEDY then rose and said,

Ca L au a w —After the very excellent address delivered by
my friend and colleague Mr. W nty a, it would be improper in
me to take up much of ycur time ; for I assure you, my senti-
ments perfectly agree with those you have just beard. Your as-
ambling here to-day ,Gentlemen, partly on my account, is anbonour
very far indeed beyond what 1 had any title to expect. I wish I
could find words to express to you the high sense I entertain of
such a distinguished mark of attention. These very elegant tokens
of approbacon will be inestimable to me, as they are the gilt of
those who were once under my care. That you, Gentlemen,
and the others concerned in this business, not present, (I say that
you all), may continue ornaments of society, and a bhssing to our
country, is my sincere wish."
Mr. MAITLAND said, he could not help, on the pre-
. sent occasion, noticing the meritorious conduct of the
Magistrates of Dumfries, who, as patrons of the
schools, have on all occasions used the utmost efforts
to procure men of distinguished talent and ability to
superintend the education of the youth of this place.
He then gave the health of the Magistrates, which
was drank with three times three.
Mr. STAIG, the Provost, in a very neat and appo-
site reply, returned thanks in name of himself and
his colleagues, for the honour that had been done
them, and drank the health of the meeting.
On the health of Mr. M,CuLLocti of Ardwall, and
Mr. HERRIES of Spottes, being given from the Chair,
Mr. HENRIES said, that nothing in the world could
prove more gratifying than the distinguished honour
done Mr. M,Cum.ncar and himself, by that most
respectable meeting, doubly acceptable from the early
habits of friendship with many of the members, and
from hav;ng taken place in.tlie presence of typo men
who, as private friends and public instructors, were
well entitled to the sincerest veneration and regard.
To a company of that description, he found it ex-
tremely unnecessary to enlarge on the great impor-
tance of early instruction in an enlightened country.
He could not, however, omit on such an occasion,
giving freedom to a few reflexions on the subject of
what had conssituted, at all periods, and in all coun-
tries, solid basis of private virtue and public prospe-
rity. He then took a rapid sketch of the history of
literature down lo the present timer, and, in alluding

to 1111 reign of Henry N. of Frank, 01nel-rect. that
this monarch in speaking to SuUy, said, " What can
tend More eff:ctually to render a kingdom illustrious
than valuable teachers ? Is it not from that source
that we owe eminent characters of every deuniption—
above all, men who will faithfully discharge their
duties to their country ? In a word' it is to them that
we owe respect to religion, obedient children; tender
patents, faithful friends; and the true foundation of
national greatnesi."—He concluded by trusting, that
these two most valuable characters would continue to
instruct a race yet unborn, and, after many years,
that that race would meet together with the same
motive and feeling, and prove as fortunate in the or-
gan of communicating their sentiments of affection
and regard to these gentlemen, as had been done on
the present occasion.
Mr. NA P 3 PR, upon his health twin drank, returned
his Warmest thanks, and stated, that whatever rant:
I he had attained in life, and whatever his circumstan-
ces might Ix, he owed these wholly to the instruction
he had received, and the knowledge he had acquired,
under the tuition of those two worthy Gentlemen on
whose account they were now met.
Mr. %VAL/CPA of Islinchester, a Gentleman who
had travelled 160 miles to honour this Meeting with
his, presence, and whose worth reflected credit on his
native place.—This toast being drank with enthusi-
asm, Mr. WALK kit rose and rapt essed his gratitude
to the Meetin 7. for the honour they had done him.—
He felt thi., tip proudest day of hii life, and he could
not deny himself the pleasure of stating, that he lay
under obligations to Mr. WHITB and Mr. KENNEDY,
which he never could repay ; for, he considered him-
self indebted for the pecsent station he bolds in so-
ciety, and the comforts with which he is surrounded;
to the kind and judic:ous attention which these Gen-
tlemen had paid to his education,
Captain MAXWELL, of Cardoness, proposed the
health of the Convener of the Committee of Manage-
ment, who had so amply fulfilled the intentions and
wishes of the Meeting, with three times three. Mr.
Hvscop, in an appropriate speech, returned thanks
for the honour done him.

It was then moved, that this Meeting be continued
annually, and that JANES 11.1.Cui.tocm, Esq. of Ardi
wall, should take the Chair, on the first Tuesday in
May next, who politely accepted ; and requested that
the Croupier upon this occasion, should be continued.
which was also unanimously agreed to. The Meeting
did not break up till two o'clock, highly gratified. We
never, upon the whole, saw a company in which in.
tellectual endowments, and convivial powers, were
more strikingly combined.

The following, among many other toasts were Rives) s
" May the ccmpanions of our youth be the friends of ouragc."
" Our absent school-fellows, who interested theniseives iu
promoting the business of the day "
" The Town ofj Dumfries and its Magistrates, the Guardians
of the tzchools, and to whom the appointment of the Masters la
entrusted, with thanks to them for their very able selection."
" The Lord Lieutenants of the County of Dumfries; and
Stewartry of Kirkcudbright."
" he Members of Parliament for the County, Stewartry,
and Burghs."
" The improvements of the County and Stewartry, In all its
branches, particularly the Agricultural Society of the Stewartry,
with its Prises, Mr. Boyd, of Merton-hall, and the active pro-
moter of its interests, Mr. Herries,of Spouts."
" 'I he Universities of the Kingdom."
" The Plow, with its Patrons. Mr. Curwen, Mr. Miter, of
Dalswinton • Mr. Monteath,of Closeburn ; Mr. M'Cuhocb, of
At dwell, D; Richardson, &c." _ _

" 'lhe honour of the Crown, the integrity of Parliament, and
the independence of the peciple."
" '1 he Committee of Management for the pupils of Messrs.
White and Keunedy."
" The memory of Mr. Mercer, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Walt ,and
of all those who so ably conducted the Schools of this town, with
honour to themselves and benefit to the public, some of whont
were the teachers of our fathers."

" John Anderson, Esq. of Fermoy, who is an honour to this
town, as well as to Ireland, at:l useful to thecountry, and whose
general character and conduct no mar sould over-rate."
" 'I homes Reid, Esq of London, one of the Directors of the
East India.k :ompany—a man of eminence in the mercantile woad,
of acknowleelg.d worth, and of rare abilitie.."
" Joseph Reid, Esq. one of the Committee of Managetnent
whis has taken a very active parr in the business of this day, and
the other Gentlt men of London, wt.o belong to this association."
" M Weliwood and Ale sander Maxwell, who Took the
charge of our affairs in Liverpool, and the other Gentlemen there
associated in the business."
" John Tborburn, Esq and the Gentlemen of Edinburglsrho
are ever with the foremost on all occasions."
" The Gentlemen who hare so liberally contained to the re-
building of the School-hous. s in this town, particularly Mr.
Hannah, and the other Gentlemen from the West Indies, who
came torn and on that occasion in the most handsome and public
spirited manner."
" The Committee of Management for the rebuilding of the
School-houses."
" Mr. Joseph Lancaster."-14 the Rev. H. Duncan.
The healths of Dr. DiNwoonte, Mr. GRAY, and
Mr. CARSON, (formerly public teachers in Dumfriesi
but who had left it for higher promotion) were also
drank with great applause, The former of these
Gentlemen went to China, and the two latter re,
moved to Edinburgh as teachers of the school.'

The folirwing is a ropy if the Interiptim ett the Bate.
THIS SERVICE OF PLATL
Is
Respectfully presented
BY HIS SCHOLARS,
Put suing their fortunes
In different parts of the world,
To mommm.ll—,
In testimony
Of the high sense they entertain
Of his private worth, and indesfatiggble exertions,
ter Tat
Discharge of his profes+ional duties,
In the "l'own of Dusan, ss,
MEMO TUZ PtaldD Of THIRTY' YlkAif•
In the course of the evening, the Rev. Mr. WIGHT-
MAN recited some Verses of his ow•n compobition,
written for the occasion, and finely adapted to hare
monize with the enlightened sentiments of the com-
pany.

The Magistrates and Council of Glasgow have
yoled an address of condolence to the PRINCE REGENT,
on the assassination of Mr. PERCEtAL. •
Friday, the Of6ces of Mr. LAWRIE'S house, Cm-s-
-hill, near Glasgow, were burnt do*n. It is suspected
that some malicious persons had set them on the.
K. B. D. L. B. I. T. 0. W. G. P. C. B,
Cabalistic Letters were celebrated among the Medcs
and Persians 'for eonvenieney, either good or evil.
The Goddess Fortune, who will distribute her favours
on the 4th June, has sanctioned this Lottery with her
entire approbation, and takes this opportunity of es.
plaining to her Votaries the above Letiers, which, in
plain English, are as follow : King's Birth-Day.
Lady BRANSCOIsIes (No. 1, Holborn-Bare), Is Tbs
Orin liaiseVreat Prises Can Be Obtained,