The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-27
Celebration OF Burns, Annixersarx.

day Of Robert BurHs the national poet Of Scotland
was celebrated at the Astor House. by the New Yerh
Burns Club, and Q number Of invited guests The
festival passed OF with great scat and with the on
thusiasn peculiar to tho admirers Of that poet II
was worthy of him and "the land o. cakesn which
gave him BIRTH Dinner the table at half past
six o'clock, and more magnificent has rarely II
ever, been supplied by the spirited propristors
tho Astor House. 1t was thoroughly hot, and we'll
served and everything was Of the first quality while
the bill Of fare contained such variety that no
maDd could find fault with 1t. Wines flowed In sbun
dance, and were OF the choicest vintage On the table
We observed the following ornaments :-Alloway Kirk
Tam O'Shanter, Burns Monument, Temple Of Liberty,
Turkish Pavilion, and Gothic tower. Tks first at.
tracted most attention from its to the
OCCASION and Its close resemblance to tho original,
which has been immortalized bysBurns in his match.
iess Tam O'shanter Behind the chair was an exqui-
site keness of the poet painted stained glass
mounted by Scotch thistle, under a drapery co m-
posed Of the American and British flags. The room
was newly painted and gilt, and nlumined by two
splendid chandeliers In the centre and branches of
wax lights all round the walls it presented most
brilliant appearance. There something in the
aspect Of the company that striking to tho spec
tator 1t was the strong similarity Of the features Of
nearly all presentthe elongated intellectual cast Of
countenance peculiar to the sons OF Caledonia
Justice having been done to the viands, including
Scotch hseais and oatmeal cake almost as thin Is 3
his pocket for his wife, the cloth was removed pre-
parstory to the feast OF and the dow soul
and In order to make wit sparkle more brilliantly,
huge silver punch bowl was placed at the head OF the
table, In which the best Of Scotch whskey was the
main ingredient The bosrdsrs Of the house both male
tvity for tney continued crowd the doors and pas
cages eading to the room to advanced hour Of
6COtl8U0. which oh prnIu of
feet Dodworth's band was In attendance, and dis.
oouistd most eloquent music including the airs Of
the scp2s OF the great Scottish bard.
The most curious feature Of the evening one
connected with the triumphs of modern science. 1t
nutes after it proposed in Boston BY the President
OF similar club who celebrating tho same fes-
val arrived before single toast OF the evening had
Every mans glass having been filed from the great
The Pre,ident, Mr. JAMES LINEN, then rose to Pre-.
pose the first toast his list of five. He said have
frequently presided occasions similar the pre-
but say that rise TO- night with more than
ordinary feelings of pleasure to congratulate you on
the anniversary Of poet since the time birth
81 years rolled away and almost 55snce his death
wherever the drum OF freedom beats the hag ber-
ty waves the light OF science shines or s;otchman
wsndsrs the spirt stirring lays Of Robert Burns are
gene. by telling you of his poems, or Of a1sht that re-
lstes to the poet His life has been written by the
able Dr currie and Others Some of the greatest in
telleots have vndicated his memory from the calIm
MES which cant and pocrisy had thrown around It.
among them l msy mention Lockhart, Allen Gun.
Chambers himself. 1t is a too common infrmity OF
vulgar minds TO slander the gifted and the great In
order to pull them down to the vulgar level Of their
own platform. Great cheering) Burns was devoted
to his children, to freedom, aad his country. He
lived and died an honest man and that is said be
often accused Of starving him while living and raising
monuments to his memory when dead The charge
appreciated by his countrym.n while he lived and he
received for one poem the unexampled sum OF six
hundred pounds sterling But the charge of neglect
OF the great applies a. least forcby to this country
For example look at the progress Of the wsshn gton
Monument Con mittee. (Roars OF laughter) But If
the scottsh peoPs In the time of Burns were guilty
OF the charge of indifference to their great post what
have the present generation to do with ituniess we
follow the old Mosaic code which tells us that
the sins OF the fathers shall be visited upon the chill.
dren unto the third and fourth generationn Laugh
ter( The truth, however, Is thst nation Is alto
poets, and other great men Homer is said to have
strolled as ballad singer, reciting his immortal
rates was poisoned BY the decree OF his country.
Ceryantes, the author Of Don uiIotte died in want
Csmotns almost the solitary poet of SPAIN perished
poverty. and when Louis inquired about Cornsle,
he was informed that he found in n mise
the author of Hudibras lived and died in
want. Savage and Collins may be placed in
the category. And did the huId led posts
Of America depend on their genius for living. they
would soon be punished with star vstion like Otway
and Chatt.rton. QLaughter) As for ireland, she is
her poets though even that ought in justice to be at
tributsd to the rottepness OF the potatoes (oss of
iapghtsrl But to return to the land of aud lang
syne. Will you (sddrs ssng himself to Mr. Bryant, who
sat on his right bend tell of the grandeur and the
beauty Of her scenery her rugged mountains aud her
smiling vaes her meanderns rivers her CLASSY lakes
and her bonnie bsnhs braes and least her
intelligence her schools aud her academic institutions
The President concluded by proposing the first
toast a. follows -
The birth day of Burps-A day worthy Of perpetual
com mel emoraiion.n
The toast wss drank with all the honors and with
the greatest eDthusiasm.
Bsnd-Auld Lang Syns.
song-" Bonnie Doom, . By Nr. Robertson.
The next toast on the list then proposed BY the
sootlsnd-Msy she long continue to deserve the
respect OF the enlightened nations OF the earth and
mnintsin the principles OF freedom for which her
The toast was drunk with nine times nine The
band plsyss T" scets wha has, and Mr.. Hawk, sang
!" Heres health, bonnie Scotland, TO thee
The Vice President Mr. D.NrrL MuRH,r at the call
Of the President then the third on the list OF
standard tossts, as follows:-
councils and the security OF her throne De based
upon the affections OF her people |" .,.
dfstsly alter Mr. Ett-ck and all the company stand
ing. Gang the natio nal anthem OF Great Britain.
Tbs NicE PHgsIpESr then gave the fourth toast
The President Of the nted States, occupying the
proudest position In abe gilt OF free and enlightened
people May he slsays maintain inviolsts the con:
stitution under which 80 many millions live, and
from the practical working, OF which so many bless
ings Hown
The toast was drank with all the honors The band
performed Hail Columbia and MIR. Eatie sung,
rith great sciat, song composed by hims-t In honor
Of America.
The Secretary, Mr. JANIS so.xnYILLE, being called
upon by the President to give the h aud last OF the
stsnderd toasts eaid:The toast speRksso well for u
sell, that only requires TO be nd TO be Appreciated
what II thst tuned the con. oi Burns to poetry,
but the laEs.s'n (Cheers) Il was lovely woman
that in,pired his sweetest Lays sni there Is no man
qualified to enjoy poets fstrs who ha, no. felt her
influence. give you
The Las,es-Ever ready a-a active In seething the
sorrows OF man, and In hin sing charm around the
tocsl circle aud tie domestic hssrth"
Tbe hand struck pp, ~ Tsre's n health 30 all good
lsses'.p which slso srna admirably ss glee by
hr. Etttick, and two othe- ge ntlemsn.
The PRrsinrNr then ea'sa on Mr. Claafs 70 propose
volunteer toast.
Mr.. otARgE sad:-Ip coming dow, here to night
there thing THAI struck above ell Others. IN
social point of view. ft the electric feeling %
humanity associated vAh the Of Burns, which ~
somewhat akin 10 tao telegraph The two things dnsr
~ enc rtspeet, the slectric ieuDg q which speak
" old. and the tbiry with which compare " y Of
lat. lNI "a. vtVv NWftF III