which could not have been much less than three miles long, had passed, a band was stationed on the platform in the centre of the field, around which it formed in a circle, and the whole company sang, “Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon.”  Just at this time, a person dressed to represent Tam O’Shanter, mounted on a gray mare, issued from a field near the Burns Monument and rode along towards Alloway Kirk, from which, when he approached it, a whole legion of witches sallied out and commenced a hot pursuit.  They turned back, however, at the keystone of the bridge, the witch with the “cutty sark” holding up in triumph the abstracted tail of Maggie.  Soon after this the company entered the pavilion, and the thousands outside were entertained, as an especial favor, by the band of the 87th Regiment, while from the many liquor booths around the field, they could enjoy themselves in another way.

We went up to the Monument, which was of more particular interest to us, from the relics within, but admission was denied to all.  Many persons were collected around the gate, some of whom, having come from a great distance, were anxious to see it; but the keeper only said, such were the orders and he could not disobey them.  Among the crowd, a grandson of the original Tam O’Shanter was shown to us.  He was a raw-looking boy of nineteen or twenty, wearing a shepherd’s cap and jacket, and muttered his disapprobation very decidedly, at not being able to visit the Monument.

There were one or two showers during the day, and the sky, all the time, was dark and lowering, which was unfavorable for the celebration; but all were glad enough that the rain kept aloof till the ceremonies were nearly over.  The speeches delivered at the dinner, which appeared in the papers next morning, are undoubtedly very eloquent.  I noticed in the remarks of Robert Burns, in reply to Professor Wilson, an acknowledgment which the other speakers forgot.  He said, “The Sons of Burns have grateful hearts, and to the last hour of their existence, they will remember the honor that has been paid them this day, by the noble, the lovely and the talented, of their native land—­by men of genius and kindred spirit from our sister land—­and lastly, they owe their thanks to the inhabitants of the far distant west, a country of a great, free, and kindred people! (loud cheers.)” In connexion with this subject, I saw an anecdote of the Poet, yesterday, which is not generally known.  During his connexion with the Excise, he was one day at a party, where the health of Pitt, then minister, was proposed, as “his master and theirs.”  He immediately turned down his glass and said, “I will give you the health of a far greater and better man—­GEORGE WASHINGTON!”