PORT-PATRICK, a small maritime burgh, is situated on the west coast of Wigtonshire, nearly opposite to Donaghadee. It received its name, like many places in Scotland, from St. Patrick, the tutelary saint of Ireland. An attempt was made, in the sixteenth century, to super sede this ancient appellation. Hugh Montgomery, Viscount Airds, in Ireland, (whose descendants were af terwards raised to the title of Earl Mount-Alexander, which became extinct in 1758,) having become possessed of this place, and of extensive lands in the neighbour hood, erected it into a burgh of harody, and conferred on it the name of Port-Mo gomery, in honour of his own family.' The original name was held in too high venera tion to be easily laid aside. And when, a few years before the Restoration, this noble family disposed of the burgh, and all their Scottish nronertv, to the Rev. John Blair, minister of Port-Patrick, (the ancestors of the Blairs of Dunskey,) the ancient title was imnitdiately resumed, and is still retained, and that of Port-Montgomery now entirely forgotten.
Port-Patrick enjoys a south-western exposure, and is bounded in every other direction by hills, which suddenly rise in a romantic semi-circular form, to a height varying from one hundred to three hundred feet. It seems as if placed in an excavation dug out of the mountains by which it is surrounded, and which appear (chiefly when viewed from the channel) to approach the sea so nearly, that there could be no room for a single house, much less a thriving and extensive village. The only outlet is a small valley, about the centre of the semi-circle, through which a small stream flows, and falls into the sea on the north side of the village. The burgh is very little ele vated above the level of the sea. The principal street is in the form of a crescent, running parallel with the bay, and there are three smaller streets connected with it, stretching at right angles towards the mountains. The houses are in general well built, comfortable, and covered with slate. The parish church, (built in 1628,) and the manse, are situated in the burgh. With the exception of the ground on which the custom-house stands, the feus are the property of Mr. Blair of Dunskey.
It is a place of extreme antiquity, but it was of no note till it formed the great thoroughfare between Ireland and Scotland. In the beginning of last century, the number of inhabitantsklid not exceed 100 ; but in 1790, they had amounted to fully 500 ; and, including the workmen now employed at the improvements in tht harbour, they ex tend to nearly 1000. The history of its harbour and of
its official communication with Ireland, can be mentioned with considerable accuracy. It was not till 1662 that a mail was established between the two kingdoms; a mea sure accomplished by the Earl of Newburgh ;—and in the same year, the privy council gave 2001. sterling to Robert Main, post-master-general for Scotland, to build a packet boat for conveying the mail between Port•Patrick and Donaghadee. At what intervals it was to ply between these places, cannot now he ascertained ; hut as by an act of the Scottish Parliament, in 1695, it was fixed to go weekly, it is evident it must previously have crossed set donner, or at least more irregularly than then determined. Nor did it go regularly for some time after this period. Packet-boats indeed continued to be established, and the intervals for passing fixed by law ; yet, as there was no quay, or safe-landing place, on either side, and as the wages of the sailors were the same whether they crossed regularly or not, they availed themselves of the least ex cuse for remaining in harbour; and thus defeated the object for which they were employed. Government therefore saw that a change was necessary. The es tablished packsts were accordingly abolished, and a rule fixed, that whatever vessel should sail first, after the mail arrived, have the carrying of it, with a certain allowance for the service. This, operating as a premium, had, for a long time, a good effect. But the communica tion between the two kingdoms increasing, the allowance made by government became of comparatively little un portance ; and a boat' would not sail unless she had a freight or cargo in addition to the mail. The original plan of official packets was again resorted to, but upon more strict, vigilant, and liberal principles. They arc four in number, and the allowance made them by govern ment is 800/. In addition to the conveying of the mail, they are fitted up for the accommodation of passengers; the distance is twenty-one miles ; they cross daily ; no accident has hitherto taken place ; and so regular is the communication, that, except in the stormy days of winter, an Irish mail is very "Mom due.