There arc no antiquities or buildings of any interest in Inverary. On the lawn, a little to the south of the castle, there stands a single druidical stone, as it is sometimes termed, a kind of rude obelisk. Whether it was raised to mark the grave of a warrior, or for some other purpose, it is now impossible to ascertain. Many stones of this de scription are to be seen in the county of Argyll, and some of them of so stupendous a height and size. that it is quite inexplicable how the old Celts, who are represented as barbarians by certain refined antiquaries and historians, could have contrived to place them in their present posi tion. Indeed, versed as the present generation is in me chanics, it would probably at this clay he found an arduous task, either to remove or to erect these singular monu ments. In the middle of the town there is a neat monu ment, raised about the year 1735, to some gentlemen of the clan Campbell, who, towards the close of the seventeenth century, fell victims to their attachment to Presbyterian ism. About 14 years ago, a new church was built, com prehending under one roof two places of worship. The one is used for the Gaelic or parish part of the popula tion, the other for the burgh or English. There are two clergymen, who preach alternately to each congregation. Two years ago the building of a new county jail was com menced. The plan of the structure seems to have been designed with a view to the ornament of the place, and the comfort of the unfortunate prisoners. Its site is on the beach, in a very airy situation ; and, besides the mere jail, it is meant to contain within its wall a range of handsome court and county rooms.
The castle, which stands, as it was already noticed, about a quarter of a mile from the town, is a m ble building. It was built by Archibald, Duke of Argyll, immediately af ter the year 1745 ; and, though it has been the subject of much criticism to men pretending to superior architectural discernment, yet most travellers of taste always view it with decided approbation. Indeed, the more one contem plates and considers the surrounding scenery, the more will he feel inclined to admire the tact of that distinguished no bleman, under whose auspices Invcrary castle was design ed and executed ; and, with regard to internal elegance, comfort, and convenience, it is certain that this fine edi fice is not inferior to any nobleman's residence in the king dom.
The parish of Inveraiy extends, for nearly 12 miles, along the western shore of Lochfine. Its breadth gene rally is about 6 miles. The Duke of Argyll is sole pro prietor. The population of the parish, without the royalty,
according to the census of 1810, amounts to 977 souls, The aspect of the parish is hilly, and much of its soil is bad, and difficult of improvement. Indeed, few of the tenants make the attempt. The traveller is surprised to see the system of run rig, with all its wretched accompani ments, within a few miles of Inverary Castle. Unfor tunately, many of the farms of the parish are subdivided among a number of small tenants, possessing little skill, enterprise, or capital ; and notwithstanding the excellent example held out by the late Duke, no improvement could be expected under such a system. The very quantity of valuable wood, which is annually given by the noble pro prietor to this swarm of tenantry, and which they con sume in renewing or repairing their ill built and ill thatch ed houses, would, if accurately calculated, appear incre dible, and show, beyond dispute, the propriety of lessening their pumber. There was a period, indeed, when the house of Argyll found it politic, like other noble houses, to maintain on their estates a numerous population ; when their credit, and perhaps security, depended not a little on the number of men they could bring into the field. But happily those times are gone by ; and there can be no ques tion, that the interest of the proprietor, and of the com munity at large, would be highly benefited by a change of system. Nay, the change would be advantageous to those small tenants themselves ; for not a shadow of doubt can be entertained, that if his Grace were to give them cottages with small tenements of land, or crofts, as they are commonly termed in Scotland, on the side of Lochfine, where they might have access to the rich treasures of its fishery, instead of becoming in their old age, as is now too frequently the case, pensioners on his chat ity, their con dition would be comparatively raised to a state of inde pendence and of comfort.
The woods of Inverary, both natural and planted, have been long known and admired for their beauty and extent. There are gi eat quantities of fine old oaks, sycamores, ashes, limes, chcsnuts, Ste. and the magnificent beeches can scarcely be matched in the kingdom. The woods of this parish have been reckoned worth nearly half a million of money ; and though the data on which the calculations were formed may not be perfectly satisfactory, there can be no doubt that, from their extent, as well as quality, they must be of prodigious value. Inverary is situated in North Lat. 56° 28', and in West Long. 5°.