But the great perfection to which the transference of the mail is brought, was owing not less to the improvements made on the harbour, than to any other circumstance. Port-Patrick possesses few natural advantages as a harbour, and seems indeed, at one time, to have been little used in that capacity; Portree, or the King's Harbour, about five furlongs south of Port-Patriels, being regarded, as is pro bable from the name, as the.chief port of that The harbour was originally a mere inlet between two ridges of rocks, which run far into the sea, and which could not be entered without danger, and vessels, when they had entered them, had to be run a-ground, to avoid being dashed in pieces by the tremendous swell, which al ways, but particularly with a westerly breeze, obtains there. Whenever a vessel approached the harbour, in ancient times, the whole inhabitants assembled to draw her up to the beach, there being no quay or elbow to afford shelter from the waves. None, of course, but flat-bottomed boats could enter the place ; indeed the original government packets were of this description ; and in the memory of several persons still alive, two of these flats belonged to the harbour, and were in active operation. But circum stances have long been changed. A quay and a reflecting light-house were built about sjxty years ago; and, instead of a few flat-bottomed boats, Port-Patrick, exclusive of the packets, can now boast of nearly a dozen vessels, em ployed in the coasting trade, or in trading with Ireland. A has been established, and as the place forms the great thoroughfare to Ireland, there is about it as much bustle, liveliness, and importance, as would do honour to a much larger and a more celebrated town.
But great as have been the improvements already made, greater and more extensive ones have lately been begun. Though an excellent pier has been erected, and the port otherwise much unproved, yet the two ledges of rocks, which run into the sea, and render the mouth of the har bour so difficult and dangerous, have hitherto been allow ed to remain. These rocks, however, are now about to be removed; and two piers, nearly in the same line as the rocks, arc to be built, calculated to inclose seven acres of water ; so that Port-Patrick will form one of the most accessible, extensive, and safe harbours on our Scottish coast. Com missioners have been appointed by parliament for carrying the work into effect, according to a plan of the late Mr. Rennie. The son of this respectable gentleman is the en gineer of the work ; but Mr. Henry is appointed as his
substitute, and resides. The resident commissioners arc Mr. Blair, collector Hannay, and the rev. Dr. M'Kenzie. The work was begun in March, 1821 ; and though upwards of a hundred men are employed, a small part of it only has yet been accomplished. It is carried on by means of the diving bell. The expense is calculated ataabout 150,0001. which is defrayed, in the mean time, by annual grants from government, but will soon be reimbursed by an additional postage (amounting to about 3000/. per annum) which has been laid on letters to and from Ireland.
Nor arc these all the improvements connected with this harbour that arc to take place. A steam-boat is to be em ployed to carry the mail between the two kingdoms, and a new line of road is to be made between Stranraer and Ayr ; a circumstance that will prove vastly beneficial, as it will render the mail between these places, which has hither to been carried on horseback, to be conveyed by coaches, and as it will be remarkably commodious and useful to travellers. Improvements, similar to those at Port-Patrick, arc going on at Donaghadec, the harbour of which has hi therto been dangerous and insufficient.
The inhabitants of Port-Patrick, with few exceptions, are mariners, or arc connected with the harbour, and at tend to the accommodation of passengers, or arc innkeep ers; of whom the latter class is comparatively numerous, almost every house being used as an inn. They arc in ge neral sober and industrious. Their chief commercial con nexion is with Ireland. Irish linen is imported in great quantities. But the chief articles imported from that coun try are black cattle and horses. The number of the for mer imported for five years previously to 1791, averaged 11,000 per annum", that of horses 2000. Fishing has never flourished much, though some years herrings have been caught in great abundance. The atmosphere is pure and the climate mild, often sultry indeed, as the town is de fended from the cold winds by the mountain chain by which it is environed. The west wind is mast prevalent, and is often accompanied with rain, which is more com mon here than in the interior of the country.—The greater part of the materials, of which this article is composed, have not before been given to the public. The best books on the subject are, an account of Port-Patrick, by the rev. Dr. M'Kenzie, in the 1st vol. of the Statistical ?ccount of Scotland ; Chalmers's Caledonia, vol. iii. § Wigtonshire; Forsyth's Beauties of Scotland ; Symson's 4ccount of Cal loway. (T.