DUMBARTONSHIRE, a county in Scotland, (for merly Lennox,) consists of two parts, separated from one another. The western is the larger, being about 40 miles in length from north-west to south-east, and where the broadest, about 12 in breadth from north-east to south-west. The other division is about 12 miles in length from east to west, and four in breadth. The for mer is bounded on the north by Perthshire, on the west by Argyleshire and Loch-long, on the south-west by the Clyde, on the south by Lanarkshire, and on the east by Stirlingshire ; the latter is encircled by Lanark and Stir lingshires. The county lies between 55° 53' and 56° 25' of north latitude, and between 3° 55' and 4° of west longitude. No accurate surveys have been made of tee superficial extent of this county; but from the most plausible computations, it is stated to be about 230 square miles, containing 147,30J English, or nearly 1 16,000 Scotch acres, exclusive of lakes and arms of the sea within its boundaries. This shire takes its name from Dumbarton, the county town.
The county of Dumbarton was formerly a part of the regality of Lennox. Since the abolition of heritable jurisdictions, it forms a sheriffdom by itself, and it sends a member to parliament. This county is divided into 12 parishes. it is within the commissariot of Glasgow; and the civil and ecclesiastical jut isdictions in it are the same as those common to the rest of Scotland.
The county of Dumbarton embraces every variety and erery beauty in the scenery of Scotland. Of its charms, in this respect, no adequate description can be given. The most conspicuous object of admiration is Loch-lo mond. This fine lake is 30 miles in length, and in some places eight or ten in breadth ; its surface is above 7.0,0^0 acres in extent, its greatest depth 100 fathoms; the bottom. to the depth of live feet, being composed of fine mud mixed with mica. It contains 30 islands of va rious dimensions, one of which extends to about 150 acres. These arc scattered on the bosom of the lake, some of them scarcely appearing above it, and others swelling to a greater height; some of them tufted with wood, and others more sparingly supplied with foliage.
The well-wooded banks, the soft and verdant fields, and the rugged and towering mountains which rise on the northern verge of the lake, produce the most picturesque combination of beauties in landscape on which the ima gination can dwell. One of the islands, Inch Mulin, feeds about 200 deer. On the west end of it, the ruins of an old castle, an ancient residence of the Earls of Lennox, stands; and near it the Duke of Montrose, in t 793, built a neat hunting box. A gamekeeper and his family arc now the only inhabitants. The north end of the loch is never frozen, but towards the south it has often been; and after great floods it has been known to rise six feet higher than usual. In 1755. when there was an earthquake at Lisbon, Loch-lomond was agitated, and rose and fell for some time above and below its or dinary level. Its surface is sometimes ruffled with undulations when there is no wind to produce such an e Erect.
This county, from the latest and best information, con tains about 21,739 souls. In 1756, it was said to contain 13,253; and, when the Statistical Account was publish ed (1790-8), 17,743; being an increase, in 54 years, of 8490. This increase is to be ascribed chiefly to the esta blishment of numerous manufactures. The number of landed proprietors is 149 ; the valued rent is 35,3821. 78. 9d. Scots; the real rent, as nearly as can be ascertained, 56,0001. No proprietor of land perhaps draws an an nual revenue from his property above 30001.; and none of them have very large estates. The farmers arc, ge nerally speaking, possessed of very moderate skill, and very little capital; and these facts being stated, we need hardly add, that agriculture is not in its most improved state. The lands, however, are let on leases, and im provements are gradually creeping in, although they must struggle at once with the poverty and the preju dices of the inhabitants, in hose character there is no thin•, very prominent to distinguish them from those of the alj term counties.