35 feet above high water. The depth of water at the bar is about 14 feet at neap and 16 at spring tides. Extensive docks are in the course of formation, which are expected to increase largely the importance of the place as a seaport. Railways converge upon Ayr from the north, east, and south, opening up a connection with all parts of the country. The burgh unites with Irvine, Inveraray, Campbeltown, and Oban in returning a member to Parliament. Previous to 1873, its municipal boundary on the north was the river, but an Act of Parliament was obtained in that year by which this boundary was extended so as to include Newton-on-Ayr and Wallacetown, and made the same as that of the parliamentary burgh. The corporation of Ayr consists of a provost and four bailies, and twelve town councillors. In 1871 the population of the extended burgh was 17,851. Though thus conjoined with Ayr for the parliamentary franchise and municipal government, and forming with it in reality but one town, Newton and Wallacetown were formerly each quite separate. The former is a burgh or barony of very ancient erection. The original charter has been lost; but it is traditionally said to have been granted by King Robert the Bruce in favour of forty-eight of the inhabitants who had distinguished themselves at Bannockburn. Be this as it may, the common property of the burgh is held to be the exclusive property of the freemen, forty-eight in number. The extent of the lots possessed by each varies from six to ten acres, and their value is considerable. Newton has a council, consisting of two bailies, a treasurer, and six councillors, annually elected by the freemen from among their own number; but the powers of the council, though originally extensive, are now very limited. Wallacetown is quoad civilia}} a part of the neighbouring parish of St Quivox. About two miles east of Newton is the village of Prestwick, the headquarters of one of the most flourishing golf clubs in Scotland.
Ayrer, Jacob, one of the earliest dramatists of Germany, was born in 1560, probably at Nuremberg,—at least he resided there when a mere boy. His first occupation was keeping an iron-store, which he did with considerable success. After studying law for some time at Bamberg, where he attained a good position as a lawyer, he returned to Nuremberg, and continued to practise there, acquiring the freedom of the city in 1594, and ultimately becoming an imperial notary. He died 26th March 1605. Ayrer's works consist of numerous small poems, and of the series of dramas on which his fame rests. Like other dramas of the time, his productions are, for the most part, spectacular displays, with laboured dialogue, and vary in length from five to twenty-eight acts. The plots are plainly taken from the Latin and Italian tales which supplied material to nearly all the early European dramatists. The chief interest of Ayrer's works for English readers arise from their connection with Shakespeare. Ayrer adopted several of Shakespeare's plots, as well as his method of representing the characters on the stage after life, "and so produced," says his editor, "according to the new English manner and art, that all can be personally acted and placed so that it shall seem to the spectators to be really happening." In Ayrer's time the dramatic spirit in England was strong, and good plays and players abounded. Some of the latter took circuits through Germany, and though performing in their native tongue, excited enthusiasm by their vivacity. Ayrer caught this enthusiasm, and adapted several of the English dramas to the German stage. The Opus Theatricum, in one folio volume of 1262 pages, was published posthumously in 1618. It contained thirty plays and thirty-six carnival interludes. A second volume to contain forty more, though promised, did not appear. Of the comedies and tragedies of Ayrer, six have been reproduced with an English translation in Cohn's Shakespeare in Germany. These contain respectively plots resembling The Tempest, Much Ado about Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. In 1601, a comic prose work by Ayrer was published, giving an account of an Imaginary Suit of the Devil against Jesus Christ for Destroying Hell. Some of his plays were published prior to 1585, but these are not now to be had, and even the folio of 1618 is extremely rare. Further information about Ayrer may be gained from Tieck's Deutsches Theater, vol. i.; Wolff's Encyc. der Deutschen Nationalliteratur, vol. i.; Cohn's Shakespeare in Germany; Dr Bell's Shakespeare's Puck, and his Folklore; Dr Latham's Two Dissertations on "Hamlet;" W. J. Thorn's Three Notelets on Shakespeare.
AYTON, Sir Robert (1570-1638), a Scottish lyrical poet, the second son of Andrew Ayton of Kinaldie in Fifeshire, was educated at the University of St Andrews, and seems afterwards to have resided for several years in France, where he gained considerable reputation as a poet and scholar. On the accession of James VI. in 1603, Ayton published a very elegant Latin panegyric, which at once brought him into notice and favour at court. He was knighted by the king, and held various important offices, particularly that of private secretary to the queen. He was of an exceedingly amiable disposition, and was much beloved by his contemporaries; even Ben Jonson, who criticised all other poets so severely, seems to have made an exception in his favour, for he told Drummond that Sir Robert loved him dearly. Ayton's extant works consist of some Latin poems, and of a few pieces in the English dialect, which are distinguished by smoothness of rhythm and delicacy of fancy. His best ode, Inconstancy Reproved, beginning, "I do confess thou'rt smooth and fair," may take rank with the finest pieces of Herrick or Suckling, while a few others are but little inferior. His poems have been collected and published by C. Rogers (Edin. 1844).
AYTOUN, William Edmonstoune, a Scottish poet, humourist, and miscellaneous writer, was born at Edinburgh, 21st June 1813. He was the only son of Roger Aytoun, a writer to the Signet, and the family was of the same stock as Sir Robert Ayton noticed above. From his mother, a woman of marked originality of character and considerable culture, he derived his distinctive qualities, his early tastes in literature, and his political sympathies, his love for ballad poetry, and his admiration for the Stuarts. At the age of eleven he was sent to the Edinburgh Academy, whence he passed in due time to the University, studied the classics under Professors Pillans and Dunbar, and attended the course of Professor John Wilson on Moral Philosophy. In 1833 he spent a few months in London for the purpose of studying the law; but in September of that year he went to study German at Aschaffenburg, where he remained till April 1834. He then resumed his legal pursuits in his father's chambers, was admitted a writer to the Signet in 1835, and five years later was called to the Scottish bar. But, by his own confession, though he "followed the law, he never could overtake it." He disliked his profession, and allowed his literary tastes to predominate. His first publication—a volume entitled Poland, Homer, and other Poems, in which he gave expression to his eager interest in the state of Poland—appeared in 1832. While in Germany he made a translation in blank verse of the first part of Faust; but, forestalled by other translations, it was never published. In 1836 he made his earliest contributions to Blackwood's Magazine, in translations from Uhland; and from 1839 till his death he remained on the staff of Blackwood. About 1841 he became acquainted with Mr Theo-
