ARGYLESHIRE, or ARGATHIA, in Scotland, which, together with Perthshire and the Western Islands, is said to have constituted the ancient Kingdom of the Scots, while the rest of Caledonia was subject to the Picts and Romans, comprehends Kintyre, Knapdale, Argyle Proper, Cowal and Lorn. It is bounded on the south by the Irish sea and the Frith of Clyde; on the east, by Perthshire; on the north-east, by Lochaber; and on the north-west, by several islands. The extent of it from south to north, between the Mull of Kintyre and the point of Ardnamurchan where it joins the shore of Inverness, is about 114 miles; and the breadth in some places, including the isles, to 70. This country, like all other parts of the Highlands, affords a very wild and horrid prospect of hills, rocks, and huge mountains, piled upon each other in a stupendous and dreadful disorder; bare, bleak, and barren to the view; or at best covered with flagged heath, which appears black and dismal to the eye, except in the summer, when it is variegated with an agreeable bloom of a purple colour. The coast of Argyle is rocky; yet indented with bays and inlets, that afford good harbours for shipping. The country is well watered by rivers, brooks, and lakes, abounding with fish; the vales and flat parts of it are cultivated for corn; the mountains feed an innumerable quantity of black cattle, which run wild among the hills in winter as well as summer; the heath and woods, of which there is a considerable number, afford shelter to deer, roebucks, and all sorts of game in great plenty: the circumambient sea, with its locks, bays, and harbours, pours forth myriads of fish; but the innate wealth of the country is dug from the bowels of the mountains in iron, copper, lead, and other metals and minerals.
Argyle is the seat of a provincial synod, consisting of five presbyteries and 49 parishes; and gives the titles of duke and earl to the noble family of Campbell, the most powerful of all the Scottish nobility. The Duke of Argyle is, by hereditary right, great master of the king's household in Scotland; admiral of the Western isles; general of Denoon castle; keeper of Dunlaffnage and Carrick; and, before the jurisdiction was abolished, enjoyed other hereditary offices, which rendered:
Argyleshire doted him too powerful as the subject of a limited monarchy. He still possesses many royalties; his vassals, even of the name of Campbell, are so numerous, and his influence extends so far, that he could, on occasion, bring 3000 or 4000 fighting men into the field. Argyleshire is in general peopled by this clan; and affords a great number of castles and seats belonging to gentlemen who hold of the duke, and boast themselves descended from his family.
Argyle Proper is bounded by Knapdale and Cowal on the south; Lochaber on the north; Lennox and the Grampian hills on the east; and Lorne on the west. It lies between Lochfyn and Lochlow; which last is a fresh-water lake, about a mile broad, but extending 24 in length, including 12 islands, on two of which there are the castles of Enconel and Glenurquhart. This lake, which gives the title of viscount to the duke of Argyle, issues in the river Aw, which, after a course of six or seven miles, enters Loch Ettiff, and this falls into the west sea opposite to the isle of Mull: all these abound with excellent trout and salmon. Argyleshire sends one member to parliament.
When the projected canal shall be completed, and some villages and harbours erected, the populous county of Argyle (Mr Knox affirms) will become one of the most valuable provinces in the British empire. It abounds in black cattle, sheep and fish, though the latter are less numerous than those on the more northern shores. Washed on both sides by the sea, deeply indented by navigable lakes and bays; having an easy communication with the fishing grounds on the North Highlands; with Glasgow, and the trading towns on the Clyde; with Ireland, Wales, Whitehaven, Liverpool, Bristol, and other marts on the west coast of England, we may easily conceive, that the period is at no great distance, when Argyleshire will become a great commercial county. To corroborate this opinion, he observes, that after a vessel gets under sail from this coast, she enters at once into the Atlantic, where she meets with no interruption till she makes the coast of America or the West Indies. The line, therefore, which nature points out for the inhabitants, is that of salt making, fishing, ship building, freights or the carrying trade; soap and glass-making, by means of the kelp upon their shores, and sand found upon Gia island, which is adapted for the latter.