Irvine and Saltcoats, though eight miles distant, are considered as the same port. The number of vessels is 90 ; the tonnage 6774 ; the seamen 507.
The coal exported amounts at an average to 42,000 tons. The imports are almost every species of Irish produce, particularly about 10,000 quarters of grain yearly. The chief foreign import is timber from America, since the Baltic trade has not been regular ly open. The trade of Saltcoats is about one third of the whole. The population of Irvine is about 5000 ; that of Saltcoats about 3000.
Kilmarnock, the largest town in Cunningham, has long carried on manufactures of carpets, woollen cloths, leather, shoes, and gloves, to a great extent. The annual amount is not less than R100,000. The population is about 10,000. An academy has been lately formed here, which is attended by nearly 400 young people. At Catrine, 15 miles up the river Ayr, very extensive cotton-works were erected some years ago by Mr Alexander of Ballamyle, and Mr Dale of Glasgow. The population is between 2000 and 3000. The process of weaving is carried on iu some of these works by the steam engine ; and spin ning is executed by water machinery.
Girvan is a small sea-port, the trade of which is very inconsiderable. Stewarton was formerly en gaged chiefly in the manufacture of bonnets ; and Kilwinning deserves to be mentioned as the birth place, or rather the nursery, of free-masonry in Scot land.
In the neighbourhood of Muirkirk, there are two sets of iron-works, and also manufactures of coal tar, lamp black, brown paint, &c. Among the improve ments which have been projected of late years, there are two which claim particular notice, the canal and harbour of ARDROSSAN, and the harbour of the TROON, with a rail-road from Kilmarnock, &c.
The bay of A RDROSSAN, to the north of the port of Saltcoats, is formed by nature, (Mr Telford has re marked in his Report,) as a complete harbour for all the purposes of safety. It possesses many peculiar advantages for communication with Ireland and Ame rica, as well as the Baltic ; and the canal might be expected to place it in the same situation with re. spect to Glasgow, which Liverpool holds in relation to Manchester. Mr Telford's proposal was, to con vert a space of 300 yards in length, and 100 yards in breadth, into a wet dock, to hold 16 feet depth of water ; the length of the south pier to be 600 yards, and that of the north pier 350 yards ; the wet dock •to contain from 70 to 100 vessels ; and the canal to enter at the north-east extremity. The expense of
the harbour was estimated at R40,000. The south wall is now finished. Few tide-harbours possess equal advantages, in point of outlet to the sea, faci lity of entrance, conveniency for anchoring, and se curity to shipping. But it cannot he expected, that the trade of Glasgow will soon come into this har bour, much less that any other trade, to the extent calculated, is likely to open. The new village of A r drossan possesses excellent baths, and promises to become one of the best watering places in Scotland.
The TIROON Point, between Ayr and Irvine, is one of the finest natural harbours on the west coast, and was long found a convenient station for the trade. About the beginning of the last century, it is said that the merchants of Glasgow applied to the then proprietor for a feu of the lands adjacent to this spot ; but the offer was rejected, " from a dread that the price of provisions would be raised by the increase of population, in the event of a harbour being erected. The present Duke of Portland, actuated by more enlightened views, has lately obtained two acts of parliament, the one for forming a harbour at the Troon, and the other for making a railway from the Troon to Kilmarnock: A new pier is constructing, which is to extend from the rock, nearly at right angles, to the distance of 800 feet, where the depth is 19 feet at low water. In the course of this year (1810) 300 feet will be completed. The railroad is advancing rapidly ; and it is now proposed that a branch of it shaH commu nicate with Irvine.
Throughout every part of Ayrshire many vestiges of antiquity may be traced, as cairns, encampments, druidical circles, &c. The castles at one time must have been very numerous. The remains of a few are still visible, as of Loch Dooii, Denure, Greenan, Mauchline, Turnberry, Auchinleck, Barr, Dean, Dundonald, Cessnock, Kirrila, Knock, Fairly, Skel murly, Barbiston, Sundrum, Cumnock, Ardrossan, Cassilis, Thomaston, &c. There were also many re ligious houses, as—the abbey of Kilwinning, founded in 1110 ; Crossraguel, in 1211 ; Failefurd, a monas tery, in 1252 ; Feale, a priory ; Mauchlin, an ab bacy, founded by David I. ; Dalmulin, a monastery, founded by Walter H. Steward of Scotland ; Ayr 1230, and another 1472 ; Irvine, 1112 ; Minniboil, (Maybole), a collegiate church, in 1441 ; Kilmaurs, in 1403, &c.