A Horticultural Society has been established in Dumfriesshire, and another in Ayrshire; both of which have done much good. The latter Society has the great merit of having connected with it a horticultural and agricultural library, the books of which are circulated freely among the gardeners and farmers of the county of Ayr who are members. In all the other towns there are general public libraries and reading-rooms; in Paisley there are no fewer than seven of the latter. At least half a dozen newspapers have been commenced in this district since we lost passed through it, and are now continued. These papers, and the growing taste for reading, together with the changes that have taken place in the pecuniary circumstances of most men since the peace, have greatly increased their moral and political knowledge, and their desire for the enjoyment of free and liberal institutions. When we left Scotland, the poorer classes of society could scarcely be said to have an opinion on political subjects; or, if they had, they did not dare to avow it. Now, high political intelligence is general among all ranks in the west of Scotland; and the sound knowledge of the science of government, which has been displayed by the journey-men weavers of Paisley and Glasgow, has not been surpassed by men of any rank in any country. (See Results of Machinery, 3d edit. p. 6.)
