Star.
London, England, 1820-03-02 00:00:00

ST. DAVIJYS DAY.

Yesterday being the 105th Anniversary oldie Most
Bailout ahle and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons,
the Children of the Welch Charity, estiNished under
the patronage of his MA.msry, walked in proce,sion
froiu the School-house, Gray's Inn-lane-road, to the
P..trish Church of St. Ma:tin in the Fields. The neat.
cleanly appearance of 'the boys and girls, and their
healthful faces, produced in the spectators sentimer.ts
truly lionmrable to the Noble
_Patrons and distin-
-gaished Supporters of the Institution.
The girls, instead M. their ribands, wore crape,
neatly placed over the bonnet, and tied under the
chin. Feveral of the young,t went in coaches, to
avoid the pressure in the streets. AU the children
wore h!eks, handsomely trimmed with silver, and the
motto " L:h Dien."

A nunwrous and respectable congregation occu-
pied the body and galleries of the Church. The Ser-
vice was read in the Ancient British language, by the
11ev. "F. AL BAN, Vicar of Limn:frith)' Denbighshire,
Chaplain to. the Society. &fore the Service, the
Children sung the foltk.wing Hymn:

flow many kindred st.vls are fled
'cc the vast rsgtons of the dead;
!sleet from this day the fk•eting sun
'fbro his last yearly course has run!
We yet survive'.—but who cast :ay,
(`r" thro' this yar, or month, or day,
'• f wilt retain this vital breath:"
Thus far, at least, in league with Death !
11:.t breath is thine, eternal COD,
thine to fix my soul's abode
It holds its life frcm thee alene,
f).i r.irth, or in the world. unknown !
"1"0 time our spirits we resign :
?fake them and own them still as thine;
S shall they smile, secure from fear,
Thu' drath sbould blight the rising year!!

The effect was beyond description: the tears of
Sensibility could not be suppressed. " Gloria Putrid"
Iva, chanted between the reading Psalms, and other
Hymns sung after the second Lesson, and before the
S.2rmon. A most eloquent and appropriate Set mon
was delivered by the Right lion. and Right Rev.
Father in GOD, WILLIAM, Bishop of LONDON. At
the conclusion of the Service, tl:e children proceeded
to Carlton Palace, and made a demonstration indi-
cative of their loyalty and love for the Sovereign,
who last year ssas their grand Patron, as Mince of
Wales. having visited the residence of Sir C. Nlon-
RAN, in Pall-mall, and others, according to custom,
they proceeded to the Freemaons'Tavern,where they
took refreshments, and returned to the School.
The Noblemen and Gentlemen celebrated the Fes-
tiral at the same Tavern, in the most joyous style.—
About seven hundred persons we: e present. Lord
CRARLES STEWART, in the absonce of the Marquis
of BUTT, was in the Chair. After the cloth was re-
moved, and the usual toasts were given, the company
were entertained with some excellent catches and
glees, 6tc. The .children were then introduced by
the Stewards, and paraded round the room ; after
sthich, the collections for the day were announced.
At Church, 1230 13s.—at Dinner, £309 IN.—and
the Annual Contributions and other Donations bent,
making together £l3ll 13s. his Majesty's subscrip-
tion being 4.400.
Lord JAMES STEWART, the Chairman, then read
the following letter, which he stated his Majesty had
been,pleased to order to be transmitted to the Society :

" Sir Benjamin Bloomfield has it in command to signify to
the Honourable and Loyal Satiety of Ancient Britons, that the
king, maintaining the same protecting disposition towards that
National Institution which his AlajesLy tutertained as Prince
of Wales, is graciously pleased to authorize, that the Society
4p continue to preserve and bear the same insignia upon their
banners and other emblems, as have heretofore been borne;
and his 3lajesty is pleased to express his cordial wishes for the
permanent prosperity of so beneficebt an Institution; and has
honoured Sir 11. Bloomfield with his commands to transmit
4400 in aid of the funds of the Establishment.
'• To Edmunds, Esq. Treasurerto the Hon.
and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons."

Thunders of applause followed the reading of the
letter. The Chairman then read the answer of the
venerable Treasurer, who has for fifty-two years sup-
perted the Institution with purse and person.
The company afterwards enjo) ed themselves till a
late hour, with that zest which harmony inspires,
and depar.ed with a spirit of complacency and self—
batisfaction, which pure benevolence never fails to
iuq:ire in the minds of its votaries.

LORD ERSKL\E.

SPLECII OF LORD ERSKINE AT TILE DINNER GIVEN TO

HIS LORDSHIP 'AT EDINBUIIGH, ON THE 21ST ULT.
GENTLE:dEN—I cannot sufficiently express my
sense of the kind and partial Address of my lion.
Friend, your Chairman, and at the flattering man-
ner in which you have been pleased to receive it,
with the whole scene around me, makes it
difficult to collect my thoughts. I an► sure I shall
find full credit with all who are here so kindly pre-
sent, fur the sensations which this Meeting have
created, and which really quite oppress me. lam
entitled to credit for them, because, upon such an
oi:casiun, they must be common alike to all men.
They have been to admirably described by a great
living net of Scotland, that 1 shall borrow from
him to expre,s what now passes within me:
Lti cadies tbcre a man with soul so dead,
Who never tu himz,cll has said,
is my own, my native land?
Whose LArt has nu er within him burn'el,
When home his footsteps he has tuned,
from wandering on a tureizu strand?
If breathes there such," &c. • .

Gentlemen—Nothing can be happier than this
abrupt unexpected question, asked only to introduce
the poetical fiction which follows it, in an imaginary
etpartme from this universal human characteristic.
The accomplished author %yell knew that there was
no such Scotchman ; no, 1 verily believe there is no
such man, the GREAT AUTHOR of our nature having
implanted in us all an instinctive love of our coun-
try. It is this which makes the heart throb and vi•
Irate, when the eye meals even the inanimate scenes
of cur earliest youth. A waste covered with heath
or broom, varied perhaps by nolligher a vegetation
than a 1::n• trees half dead \rah age, which are yet
reniemhered, v. ill aect the imagination of eceuv
human being, and fill him w ith a fir higher delight
t: an ihe nio,t sph.ndid scenery velticlk nature ever
produced. Lis on this account that, whet I shall
visit St. Andrev.'s, the spot to which my excellent
Parents retired for so many years, to perform the
priest sacked duty to their childicn, I shall feel more

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