OBSERVATIONS . ON A TOUR THROUGH THE HIGHLANDS, &c. &.c. HAVING long wished to visit some of the most remarkable scenes in the HIGHLANDS and HEBRIDES, particularly the famous island of STAFFA, I set off from Glasgow on the ninth of July, 1798, in the morning, accompanied by Mr. WATTS, a young gentleman who had for some time made landscape and miniature painting his study, and who had likewise an ardent desire to view the sublime scenery of the North. Besides the gratification which I promised myself from such a tour, I was in hopes that my health would be benefited by it: the labours of the session, and close application to the subjects of my lectures, had induced some complaints which frequently attend a sedentary life, and I expected that exercise and a change of 2 DALNOTTER HILL. scenery would remove them. Mr. Watts, too, had suffered no little from intense application to his profession; so that we had both similar objects in view. We took the road leading to Dumbarton, which is very good, the country flat, and ornamented, as might be expected in the neighbourhood of so opulent and populous a city as Glasgow, with villas and country residences. AFTER passing through Anderston, an improving village, we next came to the village of Patrick, where the company of bakers at Glasgow have some very extensive mills and granaries: these mills are situated on the river Kelvin. About five miles from Glasgow we passed Scotston, close to the Clyde; soon afterwards we had a view of the ancient borough of Renfrew, on the opposite side of the river, and riding on a little farther, we perceived on our right hand, about a mile and a half from the road, a gateway of a curious gothic structure, which would have been a rather more suitable approach to a castle than to a villa, or small country-house. The house is called Garscadden, and is the property of Mr. Colquhoun. ABOUT eight miles from Glasgow, on the opposite side of the Clyde, is North-bar, or Sempill-house, the residence of Lord Sempill. The road hitherto, though near the banks of the Clyde, had been flat, and not interesting; but before we reached the ninth mile-stone, we ascended a little eminence called Dalnotterhill, just below which is the village of Old Kilpatrick. At THE CLYDE.-GREAT CANAL. 3 this place, the view which had been hitherto confined, begins to open, and presents to the eye a scene which is highly picturesque. The Clyde here expands to a noble river, producing a very fine effect in the landscape: in the middle, the rugged rock of Dumbarton rises abruptly, and seemingly insulated; towards the right is the ruined fort of Dunglass, projecting into the Clyde; a singular situation, but undoubtedly once a place of strength; on the left, almost close to the edge of the water, is seen Erskine, the seat of Lord Blantyre, pleasantly situated, and surrounded by plantations. Farther on the right, you perceive some rude and rugged rocks, dipping their bases in the river, as if to confine it within its limits; these rocks are fringed with brushwood, but here and there the rude fronts appear through the foliage: in the distance the lofty mountains of Argyleshire bound this charming view. Dumbarton, with its glass-works, is seen to the right of the rock of Dumbarton; and on the left may be discerned the towns of Port-Glasgow and Greenock; the numerous white sails on the Clyde, contribute very much to enliven the prospect, of which perhaps a better idea may be formed from the annexed plate, than from any description. In the fore-ground is seen the entrance of the grand canal into the Clyde, with one of the drawbridges. THIS canal displays, in a striking view, what can be effected by the art and perseverance of man. Its extreme length from the Forth to the Clyde, is thirty-five miles, beginning at the |