KILMARNOCK is a large and flourishing town of Scot land, in the northern district of Ayrshire, 22 miles from Glasgow, and 12 from Ayr. It extends about a mile and a half along the banks of a small river of the same name, which flows into the Irvine at the southern extremity of the town. It is finely situated in the heart of a rich, ex tensive, and fertile tract of land, which abounds not only in all the products of agriculture, but also in rich mines of coal, an article so necessary to the growth of manufactures, and to the comfort of life. Such is the abundance of coal in the neighbourhood of this town, that, in the summer of 1817, they were laid down to the consumer at somewhat less than fourpence per hundred weight, and vast quantities are constantly shipped for Ireland, at the commodious har bour which has lately been constructed at Troon Point, by his Grace the Duke of Portland. This enlightened noble man has connected the Troon harbour with the town of Kilmarnock, by a railway of ten miles in length, which not only affords an easy and expeditious conveyance for the coals from his estates, but promises one day to be highly beneficial to the town in a commercial point of view.
The appearance of the town is, in general, mean ; the greater part of the houses being roofed with straw ; a great proportion of them consisting of only one story ; and many of the streets being narrow, and ill arranged. Great im provements, however, have lately been made, under the provisions of an act obtained for that purpose. Many com
modious and elegant houses have been built ; and such an alteration has been made upon the appearance of the place, that, in those parts which are adjacent to the cross, it may bear a comparison with most other towns of the same mag nitude. Among the late improvements of the town, may be mentioned a handsome town-hall, and an elegant and commodious reading-room. The butcher market also de serves to be mentioned as an improvement, which is built upon an arch thrown across the river. A handsome aca demy has lately been erected here, which is furnished with teachers in Latin, French, English, and the various branches of mercantile education.
Kilmarnock is a borough of barony, and is governed by two bailies and a town council. Its original superiors were the noble family of Boyd, who possessed extensive estates in the vicinity of the town, and in the neighbouring coun try. To this family it gave the title of earls of Kilmar nock, which was forfeited in the rebellion of 1745. The superiority of the town, with a considerable part of the property which belonged to this family, is now possessed by the Duke of Portland, in right of the duchess. There are two churches in this town, one of which is a collegiate charge, and four or five meeting-houses, belonging to dif ferent denominations of dissenters. The population, in December 1816, was 10,244.