314 



CAMPBELLTOWN. 



Campbell, 

 town. 



of the natives, with whom they have been all along 

 mixed, they have to this day preserved their own 

 original names, language, manners, and dress, and re- 

 tain even some degree of that religious enthusiasm 

 and taste for the scholastic theology, for which Ayr 

 and Galloway were so famous at the period of the 

 emigration. It is not 20 years since a prophet arose 

 among them, who published visions and predictions 

 exactly in the manner of Alexander Peden, the fa- 

 mous Gallovidian seer. This distinction of character 

 is much less marked in the town than in the adjoining 

 districts, as the English language is there universally 

 understood, and the more frequent intercourse with 

 strangers has diminished peculiarities. Even there, 

 however, the Lowlanders have their own dissenting 

 meeting-house and minister ; and are remarkable for 

 their sobriety, industry, and success. Notwithstanding 

 the remote situation of this interesting little town, being 

 nearly 200 miles by land from Edinburgh, the better 

 classes are remarked for their politeness and intelli- 

 gence ; the females are not above three days in point 

 of fashion behind the ladies of our metropolis ; and 

 strangers are not a'little surprised to see the numer- 

 ous and genteel assemblage of both sexes which can 

 be mustered on occasions of festivity. The fact is, 

 that from the establishment of excellent packets ply- 

 ing almost every day from this place to Greenock 

 and Glasgow, the intercourse with the Lowlands is 

 scarcely affected by the distance. The proportion of 

 poor people is here very great, consisting of the wi- 

 dows and orphans of sailors, of whom several perish 

 annually ; of indigent families, who come in from the 

 country for incidental employment ; and of swarms 

 of professed beggars, who lay the whole peninsula 

 under contributions. 



The antiquities of this place are not numerous, the 

 only object of the kind within the town being a hand- 

 some cross, with a half obliterated inscription in Go- 

 thic characters, brought, it is said, from lona. In 

 taking a short walk to the westward of the town, 

 you pass by the two batteries which defend the har- 

 bour, and arrive at Kilkerran, a most romantic seques- 

 tered spot. In the middle of the burying ground 

 are seen the ruins of the chapel dedicated to St 

 Kerran, who was one of the first Christian mission- 

 aries. A little further on are the remains of a castle 

 built by James V. during his visit in these parts, to 

 overawe the Macdonalds ; but before his majesty had 

 well left the harbour, the garrison, it is said, was ta- 

 ken, and the governor hanged over the walls. Turn- 

 ing to the south you observe some great caves in the 

 rocks which face the Frith. One of them contains, 

 on all sides, a range of natural seats ; another, which 

 was the residence of St Kerran, is in the form of a 

 cross, and has three fine Gothic porticoes. On the 

 floor of this cave is the figure of a cross, together 

 with a circular basin, cut out of the rock, and full of 

 sweet water ; from which the saint of old derived his 

 salubrious beverage. 



The town is governed by a provost, two bailies, a 

 dean of guild, and a council ; is the seat of the pres- 

 bytery of Kintyre ; and returns a member of parlia- 

 ment, in conjunction with Inveraray, Rothsay, Ayr, 

 and Irvine. Having no landed property, its funds 

 depend entirely on duea levied on commodities 



the country, on harbour dues, the rents of a mill, Campbell- 

 and church seats ; for the receipt and management of town, 

 all which revenues, there is a public treasurer. The 

 parish of Campbelltown, having originally consisted 

 of four distinct parishes, is very extensive, and com- 

 prehends a population of above 9000 souls. For their 

 accommodation, however, there is but one serviceable 

 church, and the Lowland meeting-house. Another 

 church was built some time ago, at a great expence, 

 for the exclusive accommodation of the Gaelic hear- 

 ers ; but owing, it appears, to some absurd miscal- 

 culation, the roof has assumed a most threatening 

 attitude. The parish living is divided between two 

 clergymen, each of whom preaches alternately both 

 in English and Gaelic. The public school has two 

 masters, and is iu a flourishing condition. 



The principal necessaries of life are supplied in the 

 greatest abundance from the vicinity ; as potatoes, 

 butter, cheese, beef, and mutton ; of all which arti- 

 cles considerable quantities are exported to the neigh- 

 bouring markets. The quantity of butcher-meat, 

 annually slaughtered for the consumption of the town 

 and shipping, now considerably exceeds 1000 bul- 

 locks, and as many sheep. The only necessary of 

 life, of which there is any considerable importation, is 

 oat-meal, which, to the annual amount of 3000 bolls, 

 is brought from the Lowlands and Ireland ; but, as 

 the writer of the statistical account justly observes, 

 the people have themselves to blame for this appa- 

 rent deficiency, upwards of 7000 bolls of grain be- 

 ing every year converted into whisky. Peat con- 

 tinues still to be used as fuel by the poorer people, 

 though a seam of excellent coal is worked within a 

 few miles of the town, to which the coals are con- 

 veyed by a small canal. 



The situation of this peninsular town is admirably 

 well calculated for traffic. The neighbourhood a- 

 bounding in corn and cattle, provisions are obtained 

 at a reasonable rate ; and the navigation to the fish- 

 ing grounds, to Inverary, Greenock, Glasgow, Ayr, 

 and the coast of Ireland, so extremely short, that a 

 more central position for the coasting and home trade 

 cannot any where be found. The herring fishing 

 still continues to be the principal occupation of the 

 inhabitants, of whom above 700 men have been 

 known to be out in one season. During its most 

 flourishing period, the following was an average state- 

 ment of seven years : 50^ vessels, 30044 tons 674* 

 men, 74-12 barrels of herrings. Government foster- 

 ed with unsparing liberality the infancy of this lucra- 

 tive trade, from which Campbelltown alonehas realised 

 a very considerable capital, perhaps not less than 

 L. 60,000 sterling. The herring fishery, however, 

 has of late been found rather unprofitable, and at pre- 

 sent not above 2000 tons of Campbelltown shipping 

 are employed in it. The people of capital are now- 

 beginning to embark in the foreign and coasting 

 trade. Already more than 1000 tons of shipping are 

 employed by them in these new channels ; and, last 

 year (1811), the sum of L. 3000 sterling was laid 

 out here in the purchase of vessels, larger and better 

 calculated for general business than the herring 

 busses. 



In this place there are but few manufactures, 

 the great distiUatt9P. of whisky already men- 



