DUMBARTON, a town of Scotland, situated at the confluence of the livers Clyde and Leven, and within the parish and county of the same name. Dumbritton (the fort of Britons) was the ancient name of the castle, which has been a place of strength from the earliest times, and was long deemed impregnable. It is a bold and insulated basaltic rock, rising to a great height out of the sands on the north side of the Clyde. It is naturally inaccessible ; hut by artificial means, on the north-east side, where it is strongly fortified, access to the summit is obtained. Near the top it divides into two points, on which batte ries are erected. In the hollow betwixt these, there are a battery, barracks for the garrison, and a well, which affords a constant supply of water. Bede says, that this fortress was called 4lcluith, or 4ncluid, (a place on the Cluid or Clyde,) although the Caledonians named it Dum britton. Boethius affirms, that the Caledonians possessed it before the Britons, and that it successfully resisted the attacks of Agricola, by kvhom it was besieged. In the reign of Egliert of NorthumbeNand, (756.) it was, how ever, reduced by famine ; and again in 1571, dnringshe Troubles of Queen Mary's reign, it was taken by escalade and surprize. Fleming, the governor, who was in Mary's interest, vaunted that he held in his hands the fetters of Scotland, and that he could with a little assistance easily put them on. A common soldier, however, broke these boasted chains. He proposed to scale the rock and for tifications in the night. Some intrepid followers succeed ed in the perilous enterprize, and placed in the hands or the regent the only fort occupied for the Queen. This castle commands the navigation of the Clyde, and, while it was necessary, served to keep the Western Highland ers in awe. It is one of the Scottish forts which are still kept in repair, and garrisoned. Some parts of the rock are magnetic. This is noticed by Buchanan ; and Pro fessor Anderson of Glasgow has recently ascertained the fact by experiment, and marked the places. The pros
pect from the top of the castle is extensive and varied. Loch Lomond, the Clyde, and the Leven, an intermina ble range of mountains overtopped by Benlomond, and the towns of Glasgow, Greenock, Port Glasgow, and Dumbarton, with the villages, gentlemen's seats, and cottages, with which the rich intervening vallies are covered, form an assemblage of objects peculiarly in teresting.
The town of Dumbarton, situated a little to the north west of the castle on the eastern bank of the Leven, which flows nearly round it, is a royal burgh, and was erected in 1221 by Alexander II. It sends a member to Parliament along with the burghs of Glasgow, Renfrew, and Rutherglen.
It consists chiefly of one large street in a crescent form. The houses are generally old. The inhabitants amount to about 2000. Like most other burghs, the ex clusive privileges of its freemen, intended in a rude state of society to encourage trade, now operate with an op posite effect ; and the heavy entries required by the cor porations, have led to the establishment of several vil lages in the neighbourhood, where the inhabitants are free from such burdens. Dumbarton is not in an increas ing or flourishing state. Its natural advantages, how ever,—a good harbour, where large vessels lie safe in all weather, the navigation of the Clyde, and the de mands of an improving vicinity,—prevent it from going to decay. About 2000 tons of shipping belong to the port, and nearly 100 seamen are employed. A manu factory of glass is carried on to such an extent, as to pay nearly 40001. of duty annually, and to employ about 130 persons. Many of the inhabitants find work in the manufacture of thread, and at the printfields in the neigh bourhood. The salmon fishing both in the Clyde and Leven is here considerable. Porpoises, however, go up the Clyde, and destroy the fish. See DumnaaToNsmnE; Robertson's Hist of Scotland; Pennant's and Garnet's Tours; Statist. Account, ke. (A. p.)