a royal and parliamentary burgh and seaport-town of Scotland, Forfarshire, 30 miles N.E. of Dundee; 56° 42' N. Lat, and 2° 28' W. Long. It is situated on the west side of a narrow sandy peninsula formed by the German Ocean on the E., the South Esk River on the S., and on the W. by a large basin not less than 7 miles in circumference, into which the tide, flowing up the South Esk, spreads itself after passing the town. This "basin" becomes dry at low-water; but its alternate filling and emptying as the tide ebbs and flows has an important effect in scouring and deepening the harbour. On the east side of the town, and between it and the sea, are extensive links or downs, belonging to the community of the burgh, and forming one of the finest golfing-grounds in Scotland. The town is in general well built, is lighted with gas, and amply supplied with excellent water, brought from the valley of the North Esk, 3 miles distant. The principal street extends, under various names, the whole length of the town; and the centre part of it, named the High Street, is spacious, and contains many elegant buildings. An excellent statue of Sir Robert Peel is one of the finest ornaments of this street, and another of Mr Hume is about to be erected. From the east side of this main street run several cross streets, which connect it with the different smaller streets and buildings lying in that direction. The town-house, which stands in the High Street, is a handsome edifice of three storeys, with an arcade below, and contains the council-room, guild-hall, court-room, news-room, and public library. Besides this, Montrose contains numerous public buildings, among which are two churches belonging to the Establishment, two to the Free Church, two to the United Presbyterian, and one each to the Independent, Methodist, and Scottish Episcopalian denominations. A chapel belonging to the English Episcopalians, burnt down in 1857, is shortly to be replaced by a commodious place of worship. The Baptists and Glasites have each a small place of worship. The old lunatic asylum in the Links, erected in 1780, is about to be sold, and a new one is in course of erection 2 miles from the town, at a cost of about L25,000, and with accommodation for 400 patients. A spacious infirmary was erected in 1837; and in 1838 a commodious jail, adjoining which a police-office has since been built. Dorward's House of Refuge for the Destitute, built in 1839, and endowed by Mr William Dorward, affords accommodation for about 200 paupers. The Academy, a fine edifice, erected 1814, has a rector, an English teacher, 2 assistant teachers, a writing and a drawing master. Dorward's seminary, originally erected by the seven incorporated trades in 1832, but subsequently endowed by William Dorward, is now under the charge of his trustees. Besides these, there are two endowed free schools—White's, having 100 boys; and Miss Straton's, with 42 boys and 35 girls. There are also an infant and several private and denominational schools. There are two subscription libraries, the one having about 10,800 volumes, the other, supported chiefly by the working-classes, 3000 volumes. A newspaper was established in 1811, named the Montrose, Arbroath, and Brechin Review, which is published every Friday morning; and another in 1837, also published on Friday, called the Montrose Standard. A branch railway to Dubton, two miles distant, connects the town with the Scottish N.E. Railroad. The great northern turnpike crosses the South Esk by means of two bridges; one of stone, with a revolving drawbridge in the centre, on the S. side of the small island of Inchbrayock; the other a magnificent suspension-bridge, from Inchbrayock to the N. side of the river. It was designed by Captain Brown, the patentee of chain cables, and finished at a cost of about L20,000. The foundation-stone was laid on the 18th of September 1828. The distance between the towers at the two extremities of the bridge, measuring from the centre of each, is 432 feet. There are four main chains, supported by two strong towers, 71 feet in height, and these form the grand entrance to the bridge on each side, through an archway 16 feet wide by 18 feet high. A pontage is levied at the bridge. In 1838 a large portion of the roadway of this bridge was blown down; after which it was much strengthened and improved. The harbour is formed by the outlet of the River South Esk, the channel up to the quays being 172 yards in width by 15 feet in depth at neap tides. A wet dock was constructed in 1839, 3½ acres in extent, with 194 feet of water in spring, and 16 in neap tides, over the sill. There are two good lighthouses between the harbour and the sea, and a patent slip for repairing vessels. The harbour-dues for year ending May 1857 amounted to L1,4301.

On 31st December 1856 there were 96 vessels, of 15,292 tons, registered at the port; and during that year 753 vessels entered the harbour; while in 1857 the number had risen to 925. The tonnage of these two years was respectively 60,515 and 75,503. In 1857 the principal imports were,—flax, 5551 tons; coals, 44,566 tons; timber, 17,668 loads; herrings, 7412 hls.; guano, 1632 tons; wheat, 9876 qrs. The chief exports were,—wheat, 7036 qrs.; barley, 7862 qrs.; oats, 1607 qrs.; timber, 7394 loads; potatoes, 39,677 bolls.

The chief manufacture is flax-spinning, carried on in 5 mills, employing about 2000 hands, and consuming nearly 5000 tons of flax annually. The number of small hand-looms has greatly diminished of late years. Instead of 600 in 1848, there are now only about 250. But, on the other hand, there are now about 160 power-looms employed on the Forfarshire fabrics, besides 80 broad looms on floor-cloth and wide linen sheetings of fine quality. Ship-building has for many years been actively carried on. There are four building-yards. Two saw-mills have recently been erected, driven by steam-engines of 80 horse-power, and giving employment to about 100 men. The other factories comprise three foundries, two machine manufactories, two breweries, two large rope and sail works, and two artificial-manure works, with bone-mills, a starch-work, four herring and fish-curing works employing 40 boats and 250 fishermen and others, two candle-works, and a large cabinet and upholstery manufactory.

The burgh of Montrose received its first charter from David I. about the beginning of the twelfth century; but, from the tenor of that charter, it seems to have been a burgh even before that time. Sir James Douglas embarked from this port in 1330 for the Holy Land, with the heart of King Robert Bruce. Montrose is distinguished as the first place in Scotland where the Greek language was taught, and as having sent forth from its seminary the learned scholar and divine Andrew Melville. The celebrated Marquis of Montrose was born here. In 1716 James the Chevalier embarked here for France, after his unsuccessful attempt to raise the country; while in later years (1777) it became the birthplace of Joseph Hume, the distinguished financial reformer.

The annual revenue of the burgh corporation amounts to nearly L3000; while the estimated value of the property of the same, after deducting debts, was, in 1857, L38,509. Montrose is governed by 19 councillors, including a provost, 3 bailies, dean of guild, treasurer, and master of the foundation called the Ancient Hospital. It unites with Arbroath, Forfar, Brechin, and Berwick, in returning a member to Parliament. Pop. of parliamentary burgh (1841), 15,094; (1851),