a division of Argyllshire in Scotland, which gives the title of marquis to the duke of Argyll. It extends above 30 miles in length from north to south, and about nine at its utmost breadth; bounded on the east by Braidalbin; on the west by the islands; on the north by Lochaber; and is divided from Knapdale on the south by Loch Etive, on the banks of which stands the castle of Beregonium, wherein the courts of justice were anciently held. This district, abounding with lakes, is the most pleasant and fertile part of Argyllshire, producing plenty of oats and barley. It once belonged to the ancient family of Macdougal, still residing on the spot; but devolved to the lords of Argyll in consequence of a marriage with the heiress, at that time a branch of the Stuart family. The chief place of note in this district is the castle of Dunstaffnage, a seat of the Scottish kings previous to the conquest of the Picts in 843 by Kenneth II. In this place was long preserved the famous stone, the palladium of North Britain; brought, says legend, out of Spain, where it was first used as a seat of justice by Cathelus, coeval with Moses. It continued here as the coronation chair till the reign of Kenneth II. who removed it to Scone, in order to secure his reign; for, according to the inscription,

Nil fallat fatum, Scoti quoque locatum, Invenient lapidem, regnare teneantur ibidem.

Some of the ancient regalia were preserved till the present century, when the keeper's servants, during his infirm years, embezzled them for the silver ornaments; and left only a battleaxe, nine feet long, of beautiful workmanship, and ornamented with silver.

The castle is square; the inside only 87 feet; partly ruinous, partly habitable. At three of the corners are round towers; one of them projects very little. The entrance is towards the sea at present by a staircase, in old times probably by a drawbridge, which fell from a little gateway. The masonry appears very ancient; the tops battlemented. This pile is seated on a rock at the mouth of Loch Etive, whose waters expand within to a beautiful bay, where ships may safely ride in all weather. Of this building, the founder of which is unknown, nothing remains except the outer walls, which though roofless, are still in good order; and within which some buildings have been erected, which serve as the residence of the laird. The duke of Argyll is hereditary keeper under the crown.—At a small distance from the castle is a ruined chapel, once an elegant building; and at one end an enclosure, a family cemetery. Opposite to these is a high precipice, ending abrupt, and turning suddenly towards the south-east. A person concealed in the recess of the rock, a little beyond the angle, surprises friends stationed at some distance beneath the precipice with a very remarkable echo of any word, or even sentence, he pronounces; which reaches the last distinct and unbroken. The repetition is single, but remarkably clear.

In 1307, this castle was possessed by Alexander Macdougal lord of Argyll, a friend to the English: but was that year reduced by Robert Bruce, when Macdougal sued for peace with that prince, and was received into favour.

We find, about the year 1455, this to have been a residence of the lords of the isles; for here James last earl of Douglas, after his defeat in Annandale, fled to Donald, the Regulus of the time, and prevailed on him to take arms and carry on a plundering war against his monarch James II.

The situation of this regal seat was calculated for pleasure as well as strength. The views of mountains, valleys, waters, and islands, are delightful. On the north side of Loch Etive stood the town of Beregonium, supposed to have been the capital of the West Highlands. It seems from certain mounds, excavations, and other appearances, to have been a strong fortress, to prevent invasion, or to secure a retreat, as occasions might require. On the bank of the same loch is the site of Ardchattan, a priory of monks of Valliscaulium in Burgundy, founded in 1230 by Donald MacCoul, ancestor of the Macdougals of Lorne. Here Robert Bruce, who remained master of this country before he got entire possession of Scotland, held a parliament.