or, as it was anciently called, the shire of Lennox, extends in length about 40 miles, and in breadth about 23. It is bounded on the north by Argyleshire; on the east by the counties of Perth and Stirling; on the south by the river Clyde, and part of Lanarkshire; and on the west by an arm of the sea, called Loch Long. The greater part of the county is covered with heathy hills which are now assuming a more luxuriant appearance, since the introduction of sheep. Many of the mountains are elevated to a great height, Benlomond measuring 3158 feet above the level of the sea. The ridge of which Benlomond Dunbarlonmond is a part, is the beginning of that extensive ridge which crosses the country from this place to the east coast at Aberdeen, called the Grampians. The lower grounds, which lie on the banks of Loch Lomond, the river Clyde and the Leven, are not so fertile as the corresponding parts of some of the neighbouring counties; notwithstanding which, it is agreeably diversified, and well inhabited. The banks of the Leven, in particular, are covered with numerous bleachfields, printfields, and cotton-works, giving employment to thousands; while the villages erected for the accommodation of the workmen, the hamlets, and elegant seats, cannot fail to impress the mind with high ideas of the wealth, the industry, the public spirit, and the happiness of the inhabitants. Agriculture in this county was formerly rather neglected; but the public spirit has of late been roused to this most useful and important occupation; and the county of Dunbarton, which is capable of much improvement, is fast advancing in agricultural progress. The county contains altogether 230 square miles, or 147,200 acres. The farmers here, indeed, possess numerous advantages: being near a sea-port town, where every article bears the highest price, they find a ready market for their corn; and the numerous inhabitants in the immediate neighbourhood require supplies of other necessaries from the farmer. Upwards of 12,000 acres are covered with natural wood, and there are many fine lakes or lochs, of which Loch Lomond is the chief. Dunbartonshire contains one royal borough, Dunbarton, several thriving manufacturing villages; and is divided into 12 parishes, containing in all 24,189 inhabitants in 1811.

Population of this County at two different periods, from Statist. Hist. of Scotland.

| Parishes | Population in 1755 | Population in 1790—1795 | |----------|------------------|------------------------| | Arrochar | 466 | 379 | | Bonhill | 901 | 2310 | | Cardross | 795 | 2194 | | Cumbernauld | 2393 | 1600 | | Dunbarton | 1480 | 2003 | | Kilmarnock | 1193 | 820 | | Kilpatrick, New | 1390 | 1700 | | Kilpatrick, Old | 1281 | 2452 | | Kirkintilloch | 1696 | 2039 | | Luss | 978 | 917 | | Roseneath | 521 | 394 | | Row | 853 | 1000 |

Population in 1811: 24,189

See DUNBARTONSHIRE, Supplement.