BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 129
neither commodious nor elegant. He therefore had it immediately pulled down,
and a splendid new castellated edifice erected in its stead Of the buildings
and lands we are tempted to quote the following description, written a few
years after the completion of the structure :-
“ It is one of the finest and most magnificent buildings in the west of Scotland ; nor is the
noble appearance without disgraced by the finishing and furniture within-everything there is
elegant and princely. Its site is indeed low, and still more concealed by being embosomed
among fine old elms. It stands upon an extensive lawn, which is converted into the most
beautiful pleasure-grounds. Nature here has put on none of her bold and majestic features ;
but art has done much. Neither the towering rock, nor extended lake, nor navigable river,
adds to its magnificence ; only a small river runs past it on the east and north, which is rendered
much broader than it naturally is by being dammed back. On the banks of this stream
the most delightful walks are formed. As you walk along, at one time a thicket of shrubbery
conceals the water from your view, and at another it unexpectedly bursts upon your sight, and
raises the pleasurable feelings, no less by surprise than by the beauty it displays ; small, however,
as the river is, it adds much to the beauty of the scenery ; and the vast number of trout,
which on a fine evening are seen sporting on its surface, tend much to increase those tranquil
but pleasing emotions, which the song of the grove and the smiling landscape never fail to
excite in the mind which has a taste for the beauties of nature, and a heart fitted for relishing
the enjoyment of innocent pleasures. To these the humane and benevolent mind receives a
vast accession, on seeing around it the timorous hare sporting unmolested in numbers. This
persecuted creature finds here a safe asylum throughout this extensive policy, which contains
nearly fourteen hundred acres ; not one of them is allowed to be molested or killed. On the
dusk of a summer evening they reward his lordship’s protection with their confidence, by often
playing their innocent gambols before him, round one of the largest and most beautiful chestnut
trees I ever saw, which stands on the green exactly opposite to the house.”
The Earl was an excellent farmer, and continued to improve on the plans of
his predecessors, by draining and cultivating the waste lands, and otherwise
increasing the value of his estates. Among other instances of his lordship’s
anxiety to create sources of local attraction niay be mentioned the institution of
“ Bogside Eaces,” which, during his lifetime, from being well attended by
gentlemen of the turf, were a vast benefit to the town of Irvine.
His attention, however, was by no means confined to his own immediate
locality, the affairs of the county, and indeed all public matters, received a
corresponding share of his attention. On the death of the Earl of Errol, in
1798, he was elected one of the representative Peers of Scotland; and was
again re-chosen at the general election in 1802.
The most extensive of all the Earl of Eglinton’s undertakings was one which,
although it proved in some measure ruinous to himself, now bids fair to realise
some of those advantages to his descendants, which he of course never could
expect to witness himself. We refer to the formation of the harbour of
Ardrossan, and the projected canal from thence to Glasgow. The advantages
presented by such a proposal appeared so manifest to the Earl, that he entered
upon the speculation with the utmost enthusiasm, calculating upon his views
being at once seconded by the commercial capitalists of Glasgow and Paisley,
if not by some of the proprietors, whose lands would be considerably increased
in value by the canal. The primary object of the design was to cut off the
circuitous and even dangerous navigation of the Clyde, which, previous to the
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130 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
introduction of steam-vessels, was a serious obstacle to the growing commerce
of Glasgow. The bay of Ardrossan presented many natural advantages for an
extensive harbour, having at its entrance a depth of six fathoms at low water,
and five to three fathoms for more than one-half of its extent, with good
anchorage, wherein the largest frigates, as well as merchantmen, might ride in
safety ; while, by cutting a canal to Glasgow, a ready transit for commerce with
the west was anticipated, besides opening an internal communication through
the most populous and important districts of the country. The line of canal,
as well as the harbour and docks, were surveyed and estimated by the celebrated
Mr. Telford. According to the plan, the canal was to commence at Tradestown
in the suburbs of Glasgow ; thence stretching along by the manufacturing districts
of Paisley, Johnstone, etc., traversed one of the most remarkable seams
of coal, being from seventy to ninety feet in thickness. There were to be in
all thirty-one locks on the canal. In short, it was anticipated that Ardrossan
would become to Glasgow what Liverpool is to Manchester.
The Earl immediately set about the immense undertaking, by procuring two
Acts of Parliament-one for the harbour, and another for the canal ; and on the
31st July 1806, being the anniversary of the birth of his eldest son, Lord Montgomerie,
the foundation stone of the harbour was laid with more than usual
masonic ceremony, and amid a vast concourse of spectators.
“ On the summit of the rocks Lord Eglinton caused tents to be erected, in one of which were
tables for thret hundred persons ; there was also an elegant tent for the reception of the ladies.
The Freemasons of the ancient mother lodge, Kilwinning, with their Grand Master, William
Blair of Blair, Esq., and a party of the Saltcoats Volunteers, with the band of the Ayrshire
Rifle Battalion, proceeded from the town of Saltcoats along the shore to Ardrossan. Before the
procession arrived at the harbour, they were joined by the Earl of Eglinton, accompanied by a
number of the most respectable gentlemen of the country and neighbourhood -by Mr. Telford,
the engineer, etc. At the moment the procession, amidst crowds of spectators, arrived at the
pier, the Countess of Eglinton, attended by Lady Montgomerie, and above fifty ladies of the
first rank and distinction in the country, appeared on the point of an eminence near the old
Castle of Ardrossan, which overlooks the bay. At three o’clock the principal foundation stone,
at the point where the pier is connected with the shore, was laid by the Grand Master, with the
usual solemnities. The Earl of Eglinton then addressed the company in a very neat speech, in
which his lordship stated that though, in the course of nature, he could not expect to see these
works at the summit of their prosperity, he had no doubt that, long after he and many of those
who had given aid to the measure were gone, the country would reap the advantages of them,
and estimate their true value. Then, after a very impressive and suitable prayer waa given by
the Rev. Mr. Duncan, minister of Ardrossan, and immediately on a flag being hoisted in the
adjacent mason’s shed, where the stone had been prepared, a round was fired from eight fieldpieces
placed near the old Castle, and returned from two of his Majesty’s cutters, which were
stationed in the bay, with twenty-one guns. Two tables, each a hundred and twenty feet long,
were laid, and upwards of two hundred persons eat doxn to a splendid dinner, with choice
wines and every fruit of the season, provided by the Earl of Eglinton. After dinner several
loyal and appropriate toasts were given. About seven o’clock the Earl and his Countess proceeded
to Eglinton Castle, where a splendid ball concluded the evening‘; at Saltc:oats also
various parties spent the evening in dancing and festivity.”
The cost of the harbour of Ardrossan was originally estimated at S40,OOO ;
but the work was not long begun before it was evident, from unforeseen
obstructions, that that sum would not half complete it,, while the merchants of
