AYRSHIRE

AYRSHIRE, a county of Scotland, which is bounded on the north by the county of Renfrew; on the east by the shires of Lanark and Dumfries; on the south by Galloway; and on the west by the Irish channel, and the frith of Clyde. Its extent in length is about 80 miles, and about 30 in breadth. It is divided into three great districts or stewarties, which bear the names of Kyle, Cunningham, and Carrick. These divisions are not altogether artificial; the river Doon forming the separation between Carrick and Kyle (or Ayrshire Proper), and the river Irvine (at the mouth of which is a borough of the same name) is the limit between Kyle and Cunningham. These

Ayrshire. These districts are very different from each other in appearance. Carrick, and the interior parts of Kyle, are mountainous, and more fitted for pasture; while the coast of Kyle, and the greater part of Cunningham, exhibit a fine level country, interspersed with numerous villages and towns. The sea coast is mostly sandy, with sunk rocks, possessing several good harbours. The island of Ailsa is in this county. From the ridge, of which the mountains of Carrick are a part, rise almost all the rivers of the south of Scotland. The Tweed, the Esk, the Nith, the Annan, the Urr, &c. flow to the east and south, while the Stinchar, the Girvan, the Doon, the Ayr, and the Lugar, pouring into the Irish channel, intersect the county of Ayr with their copious streams. Besides these, the Irvine and other smaller rivulets, water the more northerly parts of the county. Ayrshire has two royal boroughs, viz. Ayr and Irvine; and several populous towns and villages, of which Kilmarnock, Beith, Saltcoats, Kilwinning, Largs, Girvan, and Ballantrae, are the chief. Fitted as Ayrshire is in every respect for the carrying on of trade, and the extension of agricultural improvements, it is only of late years that much has been done in that way. Possessing valuable seams of excellent coal, and enriched with the returns from its exportation, little attention was paid to the culture of the ground. The establishment of the Douglas and Heron Bank, though ruinous to the proprietors, contributed greatly to promote the improvement of Ayrshire. The abundance of wealth which it fallaciously seemed to pour into the country, and the ready command of money it gave, set all the proprietors towards improving and planting their estates, furnished means for raising and burning lime for manure, and above all, with the money from the bank, canals and roads were opened through every part of the county. Upon the failure of that extravagant and ill-conducted speculation, the proprietors of many estates saw their property brought to the hammer, and the greater part of their lands purchased by new proprietors. The Ayrshire breed of cattle is much esteemed; and a particular district is celebrated for cheese. In 1808 the real rent of the county was 314,673l.; the valued rent, according to an old estimate by which certain taxes are imposed, is 191,605l. There are in the county considerable woollen manufactures. In the parish of Beith there are 70 mills for spinning thread; and the various branches of the cotton manufactures are carried on in many parts to a great extent. At Muirkirk there are extensive iron-works. Ayrshire, besides the inexhaustible seams of coal with which it abounds, possesses several other valuable minerals; as freestone, limestone, iron-stone, several rich ores of lead and copper. A few curious specimens are also to be found in the hills of Carrick, of agates, porphyries, and of calcareous petrifications. In the parishes of Stair and New Cummock, galena and plumbago have been found; and in several parts of the county is found that species of whetstone known by the name of Ayr-stone. There is plenty of marl in most of the lochs; the chief of which is Loch Doon, from which the river of that name takes its rise. There is annually a great quantity of sea-weed thrown ashore, from which many tons of kelp are made. All the rivers of Ayrshire abound with salmon, and the coasts are admirably adapted for the white fishing.

The following is a statement of the population of this county at two different periods.

Total, 59,268 75,544

Population in 1811, 103,954. See AYRSHIRE, SUPPLEMENT.