Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

EGLINTON AND WIN TON. 87
turned to good account in the ornamentation of
Eglinton.
His lordship, however, did not by any means con-
fine himself to the exclusive amelioration of his own
private domains ; on the contrary, he was ever fore-
most to lead the way in all matters of general public
improvement. In an especial manner, every thing
connected with the interest and well-being of the great
county of Ayr, of which he was long lord-lieutenant,
was ever the object of his earnest and anxious solici-
tude ; and down to the period of his succession to the
earldom, this extensive and wealthy district possessed
no public building at all worthy of the name for the
accommodation of county affairs. This unseemly
defect of course did not long escape his vigilant eye ;
and forthwith, with his habitual activity, he set him-
self to arouse the dormant energies of the noble
county to obviate the inconvenience and remove the
reproach — the present dignified and classical struc-
ture which now adorns the county town is the fruit
of his meritorious exertions.
■ But the crowning achievement of the enterpris-
ing twelfth earl of Eglinton is to be found in the mag-
nificent erection of the present town and harbour of
Ardrossan. No sooner had his lordship the roof put
on his new castle, than he turned his every resource
and energy towards this vast project of public utility
and patriotism. In the year 1805, an Act of Parlia-
ment was obtained for the purpose, and in the sum-
mer of the following season the foundation stone of
the extensive quay and docks was laid. Without