DUMBARTON, the capital of Dumbartonshire, in Scot-
land, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Clyde and
Leven. It is a very ancient place, and is said to have
been once the capital of a kingdom of the Britons, estab-
lished in the vale of the Clyde. Alcluyd was the name
of this ancient capital of the Strathclydes; but whether
it was situated on the site of the present town, or confined
within the precincts of the castle, cannot be exactly as-
certained. Dumbarton is built upon the eastern bank of
the Leven, which almost encircles it. The greater part
of the town is composed of one main street, lying in a se-
micircular form round the head or west end of the penin-
sula. At the height of the tides it is flooded by the waters
of the Leven. It was erected into a royal burgh by Alex-
ander II. in the year 1221, and declared to be free of all
imposts and burgh taxes; it afterwards received other cha-
racters from succeeding monarchs; and, finally, it obtained a
confirmation of the whole from James VI. The subsequent
history of the burgh is destitute of interest. It naturally
partook of the fortunes and misfortunes of the adjacent part,
of which it was in reality a dependency. Besides the main
street, there are some bye thoroughfares, lanes, and de-
tached houses, and a suburb on the western side of the
Leven, leading to Renton. It is connected with the latter
by a good stone bridge of five arches, 300 feet long. The
waters of the Leven form a commodious harbour, and,
for the benefit of trade, an excellent quay and capacious
dock have been formed. Ship-building is carried on to
some extent. The principal article of manufacture and
export is glass. The glass-works, which are situated to
the north-west of the town, give employment to a great
number of individuals; and the article made is considered
as equal to any manufactured in Britain. The other and
inferior manufactures of Dumbarton are leather, glue, some
linen, beer, &c. with a considerable quantity of goods for
the Glasgow market. In recent years the intercourse and
trade with Glasgow have been much extended by means
of steam navigation. Dumbarton has an important cattle
market every year on the 4th of June. There are two
other fairs throughout the year, and the town has a large
weekly market on Tuesdays. The burgh government of
the town consists of a provost, an elder and younger bai-
lie, a dean of guild, a treasurer, five merchant councillors,
and five trades councillors from the same number of incor-
porated trades. The town has an excellent grammar-school,
and a good subscription library. A branch of the Commer-
cial Bank is settled here, and there are a number of agents
of insurance offices. A very excellent jail has recently been
erected. The church of the burgh and parish is a hand-
some modern structure with a spire and clock. There
are also in the town and its vicinity a burgher and relief
meeting house, and a Roman Catholic chapel. The town
is the seat of a presbytery in the synod of Glasgow. By
the late reform act Dumbarton joins with Kilmarnock,
Rutherglen, Renfrew, and Port Glasgow in returning a
member to parliament. The situation of Dumbarton Cas-
tle is eminently picturesque. The buildings composing
the fort are perched on the summit of a rocky mount,
shooting up to the height of 206 feet sheer out of the al-
luvial plain on the east side of the debouche of the river
Leven. To the west of the castle there are rocky emi-
nences on the verge of the Clyde, of a similar fabric, though
less detached. The rock of Dumbarton measures a mile
in circumference at the base. It diminishes in breadth
near the top, which is cloven into two summits, of different
heights. The rock is basalt, and has a tendency to the
columnar formation. Some parts of it have a magnetic
quality. The fortress, naturally strong, possesses several
batteries, which command a most extensive range. The
defences are kept in constant repair, and it is garrisoned
by a limited body of soldiers and functionaries. The rock
of Dumbarton has been occupied by works of a warlike
character during the successive dynasties of 1800 years,
and, as such, it is the most ancient stronghold in the
country of which any record or tradition is preserved; nor
is it necessary to observe, that it was the scene of many a
gallant exploit to be found recorded in the annals of the
country. Dumbarton is fifteen miles north-west of Glas-
gow, and fifty-nine west of Edinburgh. The population
of the burgh and parish amounted in 1821 to 3481, and in
1831 to 3623.