Created by John Galt, The Ayrshire Legatees tells, in the form of letters to their friends in Scotland, the adventures of the Rev. Pringle and his family in London.

On New Year’s day Dr. Pringle received a letter from India, informing him that his cousin had died and left him his residuary legatee. The same post brought other letters on the same subject from the agent of the deceased in London, by which it was evident to the whole family that no time should be lost in looking after their interests in the hands of such brief and abrupt correspondents. It was therefore determined that, as soon as the requisite arrangements could be made, the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle should set out for the metropolis, to obtain a speedy settlement with the agents...the story of The Ayrshire Legatees is widely appreciated.

John Galt (2 May 1779 – 11 April 1839) was a Scottish novelist, entrepreneur, and political and social commentator. Because he was the first novelist to deal with issues of the Industrial Revolution, he has been called the first political novelist in the English language. He was the father of Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt of Montreal.