KIRK ALLOWAY

LIES within a few yards of the road that leads from Ayr to Carrick. It is a place of great antiquity, but has been gradually decaying, since the union of the parish of Alloway to that of Ayr, a circumstance which took place above a century ago. The former parish is considered as one of the oldest in Scotland; and, though the consequence of its union with Ayr is the near dissolution of its venerable kirk, still the inhabitants retain some peculiar privileges, which abundantly testify its ancient importance. Burns has rendered the church famous by his tale of Tam o'Shanter, composed at the request of the late learned antiquary, Captain Grose, to accompany a view, engraved for his antiquities of Scotland. It appears to be, by the concurrent testimony of the country, a place notorious for the nocturnal revels of witches and fairies; and the poet, favouring the conceit of his countrymen, has given, in the piece above mentioned, a description of one of their assemblies; and, after representing them in the height of their magical sport, under the presidency of "Auld Nick," he adds an inventory of attendant circumstances, that exhibits a mind fertile with images of the most terrific nature.

Coffins stood round, like open presses;
That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses;
And by some devilish cantrip slight,

Each in its cauld hand held a light,

By which heroic Tam was able
To note upon the haly table,

A murderer's banes in gibbet airns;
Twa span-lang, wee, unchristen'd bairns;
A thief, new-cutted frae a rape,
Wi' his last gasp, his gab did gape;
Five tomahawks, wi' blude red-rusted;
Five scymitars, wi' murder crusted;
A garter, which a babe had strangled;
A knife, a father's throat had mangled.
Whom his ain son o'life bereft,

The grey hairs yet stack to the heft:
Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu',

Which e'en to name wad be unlawfu'!

In the burial ground of Kirk Alloway is interred the remains of William Burness*, the father of the poet, and a stone is seen in the left corner of the annexed view, on which is engraved this inscription to his memory:

THIS STONE WAS ERECTED TO THE

MEMORY OF

WILLIAM BURNESS,

LATE FARMER IN LOCHLEE PARISH, OF TARBOLTON,

Who died Feb. 13, 1784, aged 63 years; and was buried here.

The wall of the church-yard being nearly

* The name was abreviated by the poet and his brother Gilbert.

destroyed, at the time of his residence in its vicinity, he joined two or three neighbours in an application to the town council of Ayr, for permission to rebuild it, which was granted, and a subscription raised for the purpose; since that time, the inclosed ground was considered the burial place of the family, and Burns himself expressed an intention to rest his bones there, when they should be no longer serviceable to him, but his anticipation was not realised.

The place appropriated for public worship in the church was small, scarcely accommodating three hundred persons; some years ago the roof was standing, and a few seats, and the gallery or loft at the west end, were visible; but nothing now remains except the walls. It is worthy of notice, that, notwithstanding the decay of the kirk, the bell retains its ancient situation, as may be seen in the print, with a remnant of the chain. An attempt to remove it was made by the magistrates a short time since, but the zeal of the peasantry interposed, and the design was abandoned.

BANKS OF THE DOON.

Craw

THE river Doon, about two miles S. W. from the burgh of Ayr, divides Kyle from Carrick. For several miles from its mouth, its banks are beautifully diversified with plantations, well-cultivated fields, and neat villas. Mount Charles was built a few years ago, by the late Robert Gairdner, esq. once in the East India Company's service; Doon-side, the property of ford, esq.; Doon-holm, the country seat of John Hunter, esq. writer to the signet; Blairston, an antiquated building, belonging to David Cathcart, esq. advocate; Monkwood, the property of James Ferguson, esq. advocate; and the old castle of Cassellis, whence the Earl of Cassellis derives his title the latter is a sequestered spot, where the muses may sport, and happy lovers renew Arcadian scenes, as in days of yore. The Doon, though not fed by so many tributary streams as the Ayr, pours down a larger quantity of water. During the summer months its channel is always full. The ruins of Greenan Castle, at a small distance from the mouth of the Doon, on a rock on Carrick shore, have a very striking and picturesque effect.

The bridge of Doon, seen in the view, is noticed in Burns' tale of Tam o'Shanter. It is said,