Libraries.-There is only one public library in the parish; it contains more than 400 volumes. The books are select, and chiefly historical, biographical, and religious. It is open to all the parish who comply with the prescribed regulations, and those children who attend the Sabbath evening classes, and who are above thirteen years of age, have the use of the books gratis. It has just been opened, and has about 120 readers, who, with the exceptions mentioned above, pay 2d. per month each; no entry money.

Friendly Societies, &c.—In the parish, there are at present four friendly societies. The Benevolent Society, instituted in 1807, with 60 members, weekly subscription, 2d. each; aliment when bed-ridden, 5s. weekly; aliment when walking about, 3s.; funeral allowance, 6d. from each member; annual income, L.26; expenditure annually, L.18; surplus fund, L.70. The Friendship Society, instituted in 1804, with 53 members, weekly subscription, 2d. each when needed; aliment when confined to bed, 5s. weekly; when able to walk about, 2s. 6d. weekly; funeral allowance, 6d. from each member; annual income, L. 16, 13s. 3d.; annual outlay, L. 16, 12s. 10d.; surplus funds, L.55, 6s. 14d. Munificent Friendly Society, instituted in 1815, with 174 members; weekly subscription, 2d. each: when confined to bed, 5s.; when able to walk about, 3s. ; funeral allowance, 6d. from each member, and as much from the funds as make L.5; annual income, L.72, 8s. 7d.; disbursements, L.51, 18s. 51.; surplus funds, L.300 at interest. There is another Society for the workmen employed in Caprington coal-works, called "Caprington Benevolent Society," instituted in 1836. All belonging to the coal-works between fifteen and forty-five may enter as members. It has 100 members,

who pay 1d. weekly; each member has 4s. per week, if unable to work; L.1, 10s. is allowed for funeral expenses; annual income, L.21; surplus fund, L. 50, L. 40 of which lie at interest. All fines, dues, and entries are devoted to the funds, and the proprietor gives L. 10 annually. There is also an Association connected with these coal-works, to assist in defraying the funeral expenses of its members and their families; L. 2, 10s. are allowed for a member; L. 1, 10s. for his wife; L. 1 for a child. Each pays a sum according as it is required. There is a Temperance Society in bers, and a juvenile branch with 12. tion, called the Working Men's Association, for political purposes.

the village with 35 memThere is also an Associa

We regret that there is, at present, no Society for missionary or religious purposes, and, so far as we have learned, there never has been. A prayer meeting was held for many years in the village, but has been discontinued. We hope, however, to have others of a similar nature speedily commenced.

Poor. The average number of paupers has, of late years, been about 30; the number upon the occasional list is rather more.— The average amount of aliment yearly is L. 6, lowest, L. 1, 5s.; average allowance monthly, 6s. 6d. There are two insane persons who receive each L. 14 annually. The assessment of the heritors is voluntary, and amounts to L. 150 per annum; collections at church doors, L. 48; the sums arising from proclamation and mortcloth dues, L. 5: in all L. 200. But out of this fund are paid the salaries of the precentor, beadle, and the person employed in cleaning the church, as well as any small repairs upon the church, manse, and school-house. Besides these disbursements to the poor, there are between seventy and eighty cart-loads of coal given to them annually by a few of the proprietors, and which the farmers in the neighbourhood drive gratuitously.

Inns, Alehouses.-There are 18 of such houses in the parish, which, considering its neighbourhood to Kilmarnock, are far too many for any good or useful purpose.

Fuel. Coal is the only fuel in use, and it is got at very reasonable prices. The price of the fire-coal at the pit-mouth, at present, varies from 5s. to 6s. per imperial ton.

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.

Many changes have taken place in the parish since the last Statistical Account was drawn up in 1792, and many of them decided improvements. The people seem more intelligent; their wages are much higher, in some cases doubled; their comforts upon the whole greater. From the tile-draining the land has singularly improved, being, in consequence, now able to produce much better crops, and with greater certainty, than before. A considerable quantity of moss has been rendered arable since that time, there being now only about 70 acres in that state, whereas then there were 250. Instances of longevity seem now to be more numerous than formerly; and the population has nearly trebled. On most properties, the farm-steadings have been much improved; and the facilities of communication of every kind are now much more numerous. Church accommodation has been greatly increased; education is carried on with greater spirit, and the bran

ches taught are more varied. It is only in the religious and moral habits of the people that I fear there has been no corresponding advancement.

November 1839.

PARISH OF IRVINE.

PRESBYTERY OF IRVINE, SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.

THE REV. JOHN WILSON, A. M. MINISTER.*

I. TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Extent, &c.—THE parish is upwards of four miles in length, and where its width is greatest, it is nearly two miles broad. On the east and south-east, it is divided from the parish of Dreghorn by the river Annick. It is divided from Kilwinning, on the west, by the Garnock; and on the north-west, by a small stream called the Redburn. On the south, the river Irvine separates it from the parish of Dundonald; and on the north, it is bounded by the paIrish of Stewarton.

The parish abounds in seams of coal. Good building stone is found in various districts; more especially, there is an extensive quarry near the town, which has long been famed for the supply which it affords of very superior oven soles.

II. CIVIL HISTORY.

Town.-Irvine, formerly written Irwyn and Irwine, is beautifully situated on the north bank of the river Irvine, and not far from the confluence of the Irvine and the Garnock. By the river from which it takes its name, it is separated, as already stated, from the parish of Dundonald. But although the ancient burgh is so separated, the extended or parliamentary burgh embraces a portion of the parish of Dundonald. In this portion, are the mouth and the harbour of the river Irvine. Before the harbour of Port-Glasgow was erected, Irvine was the place to which were brought the goods imported by the merchants of Glasgow. In a work published in 1620, and entitled "Timothy Pont's Cunningham Topogra

· Compiled by the incumbent, the Rev. John Wilson, from communications made by J. W. Mackenzie, Esq.; Robert Montgomerie, Esq.; James Johnstone, Esq.; J. Dobie, Esq.; and David Gray, Esq.

phized," this harbour is called "the chieff porte of ye country of Cunningham. The porte and harbry being now much decayed from qwhat it was anciently, being stopt with shelves of Sand which hinder the neir approach of shipping."

As appears from the map which accompanies Pont's work, the confluence of the rivers Irvine and Garnock had not taken place at the time to which it refers, for he describes the Garnock as emptying itself into the sea, about two miles from the mouth of the river Irvine. Indeed, long subsequent to Pont's time, the sea came up close to the town, and vessels were loaded and discharged at what was then and is now termed the Seagate. Within the memory of persons now alive, the sea has receded considerably on this coast; and very considerably since 1620, for the lower part of the Seagate is now nearly half a mile from the sea. Some time subsequent to the period at which Pont wrote, Thomas Tucker pubFished a report in 1656 upon the settlement of the revenues and customs in Scotland. He had been sent by the government of England, for the purpose of introducing order into the collection of the revenues of the excise and customs, and was appointed one of the commissioners of the Scottish board. The district concern. ing which he was to report, consisted of "Glasgow, Newarke, Greenocke, Fairly, Culburgh, Saltcoates, Bute, and lastly, Irwyn.” “Irwyn," says he, "a small burgh towne lying at the mouth of a river of the same name, which hath some time been a pretty small port, but at present clogged and almost choaked up with sand, which the western sea beats into it, soe as it wrestles for life to maintaine a small trade to France, Norway, and Ireland, with herring and other goods, brought on horseback from Glasgow, for the purchasing timber, wine, and other commodities to supply theyr occasions with. The vessels belonging to this district are, viz. To Glasgowe, 12, viz. 3 of 150 tons; 1 of 140; 2 of 100; 1 of 50; 3 of 30; 1 of 15: 1 of 12.-Renfrew, 3 or 4 boates of five or sixtonnes a piece. Irwin, 3 or 4, the biggest not exceeding sixteen tonnes."

This report by Tucker exhibits the state of trade as very small and confined, in 1656; but about the beginning of the last century, it appears to have increased very considerably-as there were 1618 barrels of herrings exported in the year 1715, the bounty allowed on which amounted to L.843, and in the year 1720 there were 107,533 pounds of tobacco exported, the drawback of duty on which amounted to L.2550. About this period, and for a good

many years afterwards, smuggling appears to have been carried on very extensively and in a very daring manner. It appears by the custom-house books at Irvine, that the custom-house there was repeatedly broken into and robbed of large quantities of seized goods by bands of armed men, and that several people in the better ranks of life were concerned in these lawless proceedings. Latterly smuggling was chiefly confined to whisky from Arran; but of late years, this illicit traffic has almost entirely ceased. According to the official returns published by Chalmers in his Caledonia, Irvine was the third port in Scotland in the year 1760. Port-Glasgow, including, as it then did, Greenock and Glasgow, was first, and Leith second, in the importance arising from the number and tonnage of vessels. In Leith at that period, there were 79; whilst in Irvine, there were 77 vessels. The subsequent increase of trade has been very considerable. At the present day, all vessels belonging to the coast of Ayrshire, from Troon point to Largs, inclusive of Saltcoats and Ardrossan, and all vessels belonging to Arran, are comprehended within the port of Irvine. Of these vessels, by far the greatest number belong to ship-owners resident in Irvine, who employ them in carrying coals chiefly coastwise and to Ireland, but not unfrequently to France, Malta, Gibraltar, and other places in foreign countries. The imports consist of timber chiefly, but occasionally of grain from America, and of grain and butter from Ireland in great quantities. The timber from America yields the greatest part of the revenue of the customs, and the average amount may be stated at L. 2700 annually. The coals exported from the port and district exceed 276,000 tons annually. The number of vessels belonging to the Port is 118; their tonnage amounts to 15,756; and they are navigated by 958 men.

Irvine ranks amongst the most ancient of the royal burghs of Scotland. In a charter granted by King Robert in 1308, it is mentioned as a place of great antiquity. In a subsequent charter granted 1323, there is reference to a charter in favour of this burgh, granted in the reign of Alexander II., early in the thirteenth century. The antiquity of the burgh and its importance in ancient times, are also evident from a charter by King Robert II., dated 8th April 1372. This charter bears to have proceeded on "an inquest at the King's command, concerning a dispute between Ayre and Irwine, anent their boundaries and liberties, &c. and by which it was clearly found, that, time immemorial, Irvine had been