Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

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possessed a most persuasive eloquence, and made a
number of proselytes, many of whom were possessed
of considerable property. This sect made a great
noise for some time, which induced the magistrates to
expel them legally from Irvine.
To a place called New Cample, near Thornhill in
Dumfries-shire, Mrs Buchan with her followers ulti-
mately retired ; and here their ridiculous frenzy got
leave to evaporate in peace and quietness, — and here
the New Jerusalem expedition terminated in the cul-
tivation of the ground, and an application to honest
industry.
Irvine is the seat of a Presbytery. The Market-
day is Tuesday, and Fairs are held annually, on the
second Wednesday in May, and the third Monday
and Wednesday in August.
The parish of Irvine extends about two miles along
the river Irvine, or Irwine, which separates it from
the parish of Dundoneld, and its breadth is no more
than two miles. On the coast, and on the banks of
the river, the surface is flat and sandy ; but about the
Town the soil is a light loam, and abundantly fertile.
The face of the country is beautified by clumps and
belts of planting, affording at once both shelter and
ornament. In this parish is an old castle belonging
to the Eglingtown family, said by tradition to be the
remains of a Nunnery, where there was a chapel, a
church-yard, and a village. But of these no vestige
remains but the walls of the castle.
The Population of the Town and Parish by the census
of 1801, was 4584.
1811, 5750.
1S2I, -7OO7.
Of this population the Town contains 5000.