Star.
London, England, 1816-05-27 00:00:00

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ICOI[IIiEMOIUnON OF BURNS: . .
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The 'Friend! and Admirers of lout Bumn, in
the. Metropolis, assemble on Seto:day last, to the
-number of about TOO. Ist the Treetuaeone Tavern; for
-the purpose of aiding- the Illesseiription.fow completing
the Monument over his Grave, now erecting at Dum-
fries. The Chair Was filled by the Earl of Ansa-
DEEN ; and the company, which contained several.
distingnislied, and many respectable names, partook
of a very good dinner, and passed the evening in the
utmost festivity. •
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, among
which « The Princess and Prince of Save Cobourg"
were drank with distinguished applause,
The Earl of Auestazott said, in rising to proisuse
the present toast, he would occupy but a very small
&bare of their attention. They were met to console-
morale the fame of Robert Burns, of whom, without
any disparagement to contemporary excellence, he
might safely say, that he was the most truly original
geniis of our times. They. might justly be proud of
his virtues and his fame, for his genius was truly na-
tional—he might be said to be sprung from the very
soil of Scotland —(4l#laere.)—Yet though they
might justly be proud of his reputation—when they
recollected the hard fate which was his share, and the
elosuparative obscurity with which he struggled
.dirough life, he feared that they might take some
shame to themselvei, and that his name, which ought
only to have been an.honour to Scotland, was in
some degree a reproach to her. They bad a long
arrear of admiration and gratitude to pay, and they
could now make so better reparation to the Poet for
' their former unkindness; than by honouring his tomb.
This lost duty was what they were now called on to
discharge—a daty,.said his Lordship, vain and fruit-
less, if you please—but a duty which every man will
consider sacred who feels an interest in the honour of
his country and the powers of genius. He then pro.
posed that they should drink to the memory of Ro-
bert Burns.
This truly classical speech made the strongest im-
pression on the Assembly.
The- toast was drank in silence, and the Earl of
ABERDZEN shortly after, understanding' the son of
BURNS was prerent, with some of his relations, beg-
ged to propose his health, and that of his family.
Mr. Buses. in. a speech truly 'affecting, from the
sensibility, neatness, and simplicity with which it was
delivered, acknowledged this compliment is appro.
plate terms. .He expressed his high sense of the ho.
Hour done to the memory of his dece.ied father, by
the commemoration of his name. For himself, his
mother, and the other members of his family, who
had no claim to the notice of that distinguished as-
sembly, other than that which arose out of their con-
nexion with him who was peculiarly the object of
their admiration, he begged to say they bad ever
felt, and still did feel, the most lively gratitude for
the enthusiastic kindness and attention they bad ex-
perienced from the friends of the Poet of Scotland.
The health of the Chairman was proposed, in an
energetic speech, by Mr. C. GRANT, in which he set
forth. the propriety of-making the subscription for
erecting a monument to the memory of Buntis, a na.
•tional concern: Monuments were emotes], he obser.
veil, to perpetuate the fame of Heroes and Kings,
and they were not less due to the Poets who anima-
ted chess in the pursuit of glory, and taught diem to
desetee the gratitude of mantiad. He -concluded
with an animated panegyric en the Noble Chairman,
whose health was then drank with three Units three.,
“ The living Poets of Scotland, and one of the
most distinguished of their. number (now present).
Mr. THOMAS CAMPBELL," was proposed from the
Chair, and drank with great applause.
Mr, T. CAMPBELr could not have presumed to
suppose he had a share in. the toast just givm ;
but for the kind and nattering manner in which his
name had been connected with it by the Noble Lord.
This circumstance made it imperative upon him to
lay aside false shame, and to rise to express his
gratitude for the honour be had received, as also
to mark the high satisfaction with which he con-
templated the present Festival in commemoration
*of that unrivalled Scottish Poet, whose name had
become so dear to his country. He should ever look
back on this Meeting, and the favobr with which his
name had been received with feelings of delight—
* .`real dlitidatue.)
Mr, JIRDAW, (the Secretary) read over the sub-
scriptions made that day, which exceeded ASSO ;
, a sum which he trusted would enable the Committee
at' Dumfries to complete the monument now in pro-
gress. He .begged to remind the company, it had
been the opinion of BURNS himself, that the Scottish
Poet should not sleep without a Monument, and he
had raised one at his own expellee to the memory of
FERGUSON.
Mr. LOWRY proposed the health of the individual
With whom the present commemoration had origina-
ted,, and whose exertions for the lett two years, to
accomplish this intereiting object. bad been as great
iteal as unremitting as they had ultimately proved
successful—he meant Mr. Jettnau.
,* Mr. jiRDAN, in returoingthanks, said, he was ra-
ther taken by surprise; but no preparation could
have enabled him to express half the gratitude he felt
for the honour he had -received—For any exertions
`be might have made connected sith the Meeting of
that day, he had been amply repaid by the perual
a single verse of BURNS.
• The Earl of APIRDEEN retired at about ten o'clock,
when Mr. THOMAS Casuntem, was called to the
Chait, and; by the animated. and glowing terms in
which he introduced several appropriate toasts. M.'
fused through the company a high spirit of en.
thusiautt. Be was peculiarly impressive when pro-.
posing " The Health of Wm ti Soots.," to whom
poetic genius he paid the tribute of, evidently, soul.
felt pulse, After feelingly gliding to the impres.
shots produced en his earliest youth by the beautiful
song of 48 Logan %Valeria' and obseriing that the.
Author's presence checked him from saying m
he gave the health of Mr. Joule Mims,* which
received with general applause.
Among tie otter toasts were, Mr. %me aid the.,
Scottish AIN add. Attists—The City of Edinborgbil,
and the Society of Scans, established for the Triawil
dial Commensovetiolii—The Toil of Dumfries and
the Co'olll6oo foe Umallias the &Nike of
Monument--'l'ho 'MY of London—Thois
Ghisrivre Ind: Sistiufacteres Of Sca*O.uagit

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