178 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



face of the west country, and literally, in some districts, transformed the furze- 

 clad moor into fields of wheat. But as the county abounds in hills, its pastoral 

 character still remains a source of native wealth. In every district, coal, lime, 

 and iron, are found in abundance, with quarries of granite and freestone — 

 circumstances of the greatest importance for the encouragement of manufactures, 

 and the progress of arts and agriculture. 



The ancient town of Ayr, (Erigena,) is agreeably situated on a level penin- 

 sula, formed by the rivers Ayr and Doon, where they unite with the Frith of 

 Clyde. The history of the town dates from the twelfth century, at the close 

 of which a new town and fortress were erected on the water of Ayr, and raised 

 shortly afterwards to the dignity of a royal burgh by the founder, William 

 the Lion. During the competition wars between Bruce and Baliol, and the 

 invasion by Edward I., the town of Ayr appears to have been considered by 

 the latter sovereign as a post of the greatest importance in the prosecution of 

 his designs of conquest. It is closely associated with the brilliant names and 

 romantic valour of that period, and, in its local history, contributes largely to 

 the national annals. The modern town is handsome, very favourably situated for 

 trade, and presents numerous improvements in the appearance and condition 

 of the people. The public buildings, particularly the courts of justice and the 

 new town-hall, are of elegant design and execution, and give an almost metro- 

 politan air to their respective streets. The Ayr Academy has been long 

 distinguished among the best classical seminaries of the kingdom ; and has its 

 character established on the surest of all gi-ounds — the great abilities of its teachers, 

 and the liberality, zeal, and judgment, of its patrons and supporters. 



The two Bridges of Ayr, respectively distinguished as the Auld and New 

 Brigs, have been long familiar to every reader of Burns' poems. The old bridge 

 is said to have been built so far back as the reign of Alexander III., "by two 

 maiden sisters, who devoted their whole fortunes to this patriotic purpose, and 

 whose time-worn effigies are still visible upon a stone in the eastern parapet, 

 near the south end of the fabric. Like all old bridges, it is very narrow, con- 

 sisting of several low-browed arches, and afibrding only a foot-passage. For 

 the new bridge, which is not much more than a hundred yards below the old 

 one, the citizens of Ayr are mainly indebted to the patriotic exertions of the 

 late Mr. Ballantyne, provost of the town, an intimate friend of Burns, and 

 in whose honour the poet wrote the clever jeu-d'esprit, in which the two struc- 

 tures are made to canvass their respective merits in so amusing and sarcastic 

 a manner. On visiting the Auld Brig, the stranger ought to remark, that the 

 inn at the northern extremity is the same which is mentioned in the poem as 



