Star.
London, England, 1826-02-06 00:00:00

FROM THE DUMIRIZS COURIER.

This literary festiv..l was celebrated in the Commer-
cial Inn, Dumfries, on Wednesday the 25th ult. by
a highly respectable. if not a very numerous party
of our town•m•n. Mr. William Gordon, jun. o-cupiert
iire chair,. and Mr. D. Arm,trong ably.discharged the
duties •of Croupier. Tire dinner, cooked in style. and-
served with celerity, did credit to the liberality of Mrs.
Williawon; Iheitatique.but elegant apartment in which
Prince Charlie nice held his Court, was appropriately
achrned with excellent likenesses of the bard and his
widow, a beautiful bust of Sir Walter Scott, and other
ornaments.
After pledging in flowing bumpers, and with the'
usual honours, the• King—the Duke of York and the
Army—L,ard Melville and the Navy, &c. &c. the Pre.,
sident rose, and in a very feeling, though brief speech,
introduced the leading teast'of the clay. The character,'
he said, and talents of Robert Burni—his independence
as a man, and genius as a poet, had been so long the
theme of grateful pr wise among all ranks r f his admit ing
con rtry men, that to attempt tonffer any thingoew on the
subject, even if he were equal to such a task, would be
like perfuming the lily, or ptinting the violet. He
concluded by observing, that " the simple act of our
assembling together, arid deiicating, as we now do, one
silent but generous bumper to the memory of Burns, is
perhaps the sweetest incense we can offer at. die shrine
of genius."
" The widow and family of Bares." - •
" Mr. Gilbert Barns, the venerable, excellent, and accomplished
brother of the Peet."
" Sir Wakes. Scott, the delight sad weeder of the present age."
After a few other toasts, Mr. Grierson rose and spoke,
as follows r " In proposing the memory of the Rev.,
Mr. Gillespie, I may observe that since the last meet-
ing of the Dumfries Burns Club, we have had to la-
*tent the loss of several respected members, who are
now, like the Bard, numbered with the dead, but who
were always zealous to do honour to the memory of
Burns.. Regarding the Rev. Gentleman to whom I now
refer, and whose death we all so deeply mourn, such
was his enthusiasm in the cause that annually assembles
so many of us together, that although residing in a
remote district, he fearlessly braved all the inclemencies
Of the weather ; and no storm, however severe, ever
prevented him from meeting his friends here. At all
times, and more particularly at our last anniversary,
his eloquence and pathos delighted every heart—in-
structed every mind. As a
:Clergynian he was liberal,
enlightened, sincere;; and deservedly admired and be-
loved by his flock ; an instructive and impressive
preacher, he felt what he said, and possessed in an
etnine:l degree the art of communicating his views,
feelings, and sentiments to o:hers. As a domestic
charact. rbe was truly amiable; a dutiful son, a warm-
hearted-2nd obliging brother, and though unfortunately
torn from his sorrowing Is iends.lrefose he had well en-
tered on the matrimonial state, he proved himself to
have beer a , kind and affectionate husband. In his
general intercourse 'with the world, he was lively and
engaging ; wherever he went his company was courted,
and such were the ease and urbanity of his manners,
that he never failed to endear himself to his friends.—
Ile posse .sed the ham/ talent of exciting mirth withdeit
allowing it to run into levity, and did all in his power
to promote whatinay.ke called innocent pleasure and
recreation. His different publications sufficiently attest
his literary attainments; and in every department of
life, wh.ther as a Minister Of religion or a private Gen.
tleman, he was highly res;ected. In one particular
instance, on which it might be painful to dwell at
length, he display,d the meekness and forbearance of
the Christian pastor,.trambined with the firmness and
independence of British subject, " who knoWs his
rights, and knowing dares maintain." .
The memory of Mr. Gillespie, (drank standing and in solemn
silence).
Mr. Shoetridge, brewer, proposed the memory of Mrs. Dunlop,
of Dunlop, which was drank in a similar manner.
The Magistrate's)! Dumfries, and the prosperity of the town.
Mr. Hogg, the Enrick Shepherd.
• Mr. Allan Cunningham.
Mr. Galt, the Chairman of the Landon Burns' Clubs
The Right Hon. George Canning. •
Mr. Thomas Campbell, Mr. T. Moore, Mr. Jeffrey, Mr. Broug-
ham, and Sir James Mackintosh.
The memory of Dr. Carrie, of Liverpool.
The memory of James the First, the father of Scottish song (by
Mr. Reddie).
The memory of Lord 13yroa.--memories of Ramsay and Fer-
I Olson.
The Marquis and rdarchionegs of Hastings, and a cup of thanks
to them for the interest they have taken in the family of the. Poet.
General Dirom, of Mount Annan, one of the best friends of the
Dumfries Burns' Club.
Our new Members, Sir Robert Laurie, Robert Cutlar Terguom,
Esq. Professor Wilson, Collector Wharton, and Messrs. W. Gra-
h•im, and Joseph Train.
The health of John Syme, Esq.
The health of John Commelin,

The memory of George Buchanan..
•The female Poets of Britain—Airs. Ilernans, Aliss Joanna Bail-

lie, Miss Landon, &c. •
Mr. John Mayne, of London, the Author of the " Siller Gun,"
and a native of 01mill-tel.
The health of Mr. Grier-ion, the found:it of the present happy
Society. •
The health of Mr..l.imets Gray. ar ens! and author
of " The Vale t.f Clewyd," " Sabbath &long the Atountains," Ftc.
By the CAOUPIVf—'IIIc health of Air. Gordon, and thank. to •
him fur the manner in uhlch. he has tli,chir4ed the duties of the
Chair. .
Tile Company enjoyed them! lees to a bite hour,
and though many Members were unavoi iably absent,
we question whether a happi?r meeting of the kind was
ever held in this town. In the course of the evening, a
number of songs were boautifully sung by Mr. Hark-
ne.s, jun. Collector Wharton, Mr.M.Nton, and other
Gentlemen, as well as a number of short speeches
delivered, which our limits preclude us from giving.

Letters from Naples state, that six thousand of the
Austrian. troops will evacuate that country in M arch,
and the Army of Occupation will be reduced to twelve
or thirteen thousand men, which are also Lk leave in
March 18'27.

Accounts from Madrid of the 19th Jan. say that
the Council of &Ate, which assembles every day from
ten o'clock to one, is entirely occupied with the re-
establishment of the public credit,land are to commence
with the old debt of Holland. - .

Mr. Suter. is stated to hive said, in &Assoc. i'ation, on
Thursday se'nnight, that" he ktiew of nothing infftllible
except popular opinioo, and that be was willing to be*
down to its supremacy r The Titul ir Archbishop,
justly indignant at this latitainarian • denial* of. his
llolinea's attributes, has called tliikinfidel orator io-bis
knee, and commencing, his rebuke ,with an emphatic
64 It Tw Brute," has. convinced thin Apostate" of
eruse. Mt. S. has cried peccavi; andis now undergoing
a course of penance in lackilcith' and ashes. •