LANERK-SHIRE, a county of Scotland, called also Clydesdale, from the river Clyde, by which it is watered. It stretches 40 miles in length from south-east to north-west, and 24 at its utmost breadth. It is bounded on the south-east and south, by Annandale and Dumfries-shire; on the north-west and north, by Renfrew-shire and Lennox; on the east and north-east, by Linlithgow-shire and Stirling-shire; and on the south-east, by part of Midlothian. It is divided into two districts, called the upper and lower ward; the first, which is roughened with hills and barren heaths, may be denominated the shire of Lanerk, the other be distinguished as the barony of Glasgow. The Clyde derives its source in the upper ward from Errick-hill, which likewise gives rise to the Tweed and the Annan; and these three rivers pursue different courses. The Clyde falls into the Deucealedonian sea; the Annan discharges itself into Solway Frith; and the Tweed runs into the German ocean. The country of Clydesdale, though in some places barren, mountainous, and embrowned with heath, is in general pleasant and fertile, exhibiting intermingled landscapes of wood and water, hill and valley. Even the naked mountains are rich in minerals, producing abundance of lead-ore, impregnated with a large proportion of silver. Such are the mines belonging to the duke of Queensberry and the earl of Hopeton, at the lead-hills washed by the rivulet of Wanlock, which employ some thousands of hands, and enrich the proprietors. On the sides of the Wanlock, among the sand and soil swept down from the mountains by torrents, the labourers find often small pieces of pure virgin gold; certain signs that there must be a gold-mine in that neighbourhood. Little bits and particles of the same precious metal have been found in Grawford-muir, together with large pieces of lapis lazuli. In the reign of James VI. Cornelius, a German alchemist, found a gold-mine at Crawford-John in this county, from whence, in thirty days, he sent half a stone weight of pure metal to the mint at Edinburgh. Clydesdale is for the most part a corn-country, abounding with oats, barley, rye, and producing a considerable quantity of wheat; while the hilly parts afford excellent pasturage and plenty of game. It yields also great store of freestone, limestone, excellent coal, together with peat and turf for fuel. It is adorned with a great number of agreeable seats: nor is it deficient in Roman antiquities; for it is penetrated from one end to the other by a Roman causeway or military way, called Watling-street, running from Grukstone to the borders of Renfrew. Clydesdale and Lanerk give the titles of marquis and earl.
Lanerk earl to the duke of Hamilton, whose fortune and influence lie chiefly in this province, which is noted for the number of its gentlemen-landholders. Clydesdale is very populous, inhabited by lowlanders, who profess the Presbyterian religion, in which they have signalized their zeal even to a degree of fanaticism. The shire being an inland country, the common people chiefly employ themselves in farming, breeding sheep and cattle, and in the linen manufacture. Lanerk, the county-town, is a royal borough, and seat of a presbytery; but in other respects thinly inhabited, and of little importance. It stands upon the banks of the Clyde, over which there is a stone-bridge built at a great expence by the inhabitants. At the distance of a few miles from the town, the river tumbles over a precipice forty feet high, producing a catarract that roars with a hideous noise, deafening those who live in its neighbourhood. Below the town, the Clyde is increased by the small river Douglas, which waters a district called Douglasdale, deriving this appellation from the noble family of Douglas, whose ancient castle is situated near the banks of this river. At the distance of ten miles from Lanerk stand the castle and burgh of Crawford-town, remarkable for nothing but giving the title of earl to the noble family of Lindsay: a title which, by the death of the late earl, has now devolved to the viscount of Garnock, sprung from the same house, though his surname is changed from Lindsay to Crawford in consequence of a marriage. But the chief place of Lanarkshire, and indeed the great emporium of the west of Scotland, is the large, elegant, and flourishing city of GLASGOW; for a description of which, see that article.