Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

EULTNTON AND WINTON. 83
bridges and other expensive works, as to effect a
great saving of public money."
At the general election in 1780, he was chosen
member for Ayrshire, and re-elected in 1 784, but of
course lost his seat on being appointed to the survey -
orship in 1787. Legislation, however, would seem,
at least in the estimation of our great national poet.
Burns, not to have been a sphere for which in all
respects he was so well qualified as for that of Ins
more proper profession —
"See, sodger Hugh, my watchman stented,
If bardies e'er are represented ;
I ken if that your sword were wanted
Ye'd lend a hand
But when there's ought to say anentit,
Ye're at a stand."
And in the beautiful allegorical poem of the " Brigs
of Ayr," the poet is still more complimentary to the
" sodger " knight. Alluding to the finely sylvan
mansion of Coilsfield on the banks of Fail- water,
he thus characterises its owner —
"Next followed Courage, with his martial stride,
From where the Fail wild woody coverts hide."
About the year 1 793, Colonel Montgomerie rais-
ed and commanded the West Lowland Fencible regi-
ment ; and afterwards that of the Glasgow Feneibles,
which corps, however, was soon afterwards reduc-
ed. He was likewise appointed Lieutenant-governor
of Edinburgh Castle; and in 1796, he was a third
time elected to the representation of Ayrshire, but
which was rendered nugatory by his almost irnmo-