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neat residences near the river, happily situated, we came at length to the great Aqueduct Bridge, so deservedly an object of general admiration. The Forth and Clyde canal, a little below its junction with the branch from Port Dundas, is carried over the Kelvin, by this extraordinary pile, on lofty stone arches. We were fortunate enough to see this striking view in great perfection; the river being swollen with rain, and breaking with great fury, over a kind of natural dam, below the bridge; while the rich wooded banks closed the scene, on each side; the upper part of the stream was seen through the arches; and to crown the whole, a large vessel from the western sea was crossing, on the canal. Such a mixture of Nature and Art is always interesting: where nothing is perceived, but the productions of intellectual sagacity, their mere contemplation soon ceases to gratify curiosity; but where they enter into a direct rivalship, as it were, with the objects of Nature, and are of sufficient magnitude, and importance, to maintain the competition, the suspense, in which the mind is held, is of the most pleasing kind; the gratification is full, complete, and permanent. In the scene before us, these sensations were heightened, by the unusual appearance of a marine

object in a rural view; nor was the contrast less novel and striking, in point of form and appearance, between the dishevelled, hanging brushwood, the massy architecture, and the intricacies of the sails, masts, and tackling.

We now pursued the towing-path of the canal about five miles: it is impossible that such a track should afford any great variety; nor did any object worth notice occur, until we came in sight of Garscadden Gate, an erection of singular and whimsical taste, by no means unpicturesque. It is adorned with turrets, and designed on a scale of magnificence adapted to the most splendid mansion; but no corresponding house is to be seen. It forms, however, a pleasing embellishment to the prospect, backed by mountains of considerable magnitude, up whose sides extensive woods are creeping; and the traveller is not disposed to inquire into its accordance with the estate, on which it is built, or with the fortune of its proprietor.

Two or three miles further, you fall into the Dumbarton road, which here crosses the canal, and immediately begins to ascend Dalnoter Hill; on reaching the top of which, near the house of Davidson, Esq. a most beautiful view bursts upon you at once,

On the left, in the vale below, flows the Clyde, with the canal carried close along its banks. On the opposite side of the river is Erskine, a well-wooded seat of Lord Blantyre's, the green points of which, receding behind each other, form the head of the Firth of Clyde; the river now swelling into an estuary, and appearing like a noble lake shut in by the bold and lofty Argyleshire mountains in the distance and immediately below you is the right bank of the Clyde, ornamented by a continued succession of pleasant points, from the small village of Kilpatrick, to the town of Dumbarton, whose singular rock and castle already strike you with admiration. Upon the whole, the view from Dalnoter Hill is not only remarkable, as being the first, in this tour, which presents an idea of the grandeur of Highland scenery; but as combining, in an eminent degree, many characteristics of the grand, and beautiful.

The approach of evening induced us to take up our night's lodging at a small public-house in Kilpatrick, where, as we did not expect very luxurious fare, or very splendid accommodations, we were not disappointed. About two miles S. E. of Kilpatrick lies Duntocher, a village remarkable for some very extensive, and not unpicturesque cotton-works.

They are situated on a stream, over which is thrown a Roman bridge, of a single arch, restored, as an inscription on it records, by Lord Blantyre. The Roman bridges are usually known by the excellence of their workmanship, particularly by the foundation, which is commonly laid with remarkable firmness: in this bridge, of which Mr. Nattes made a sketch, advantage had been taken of a projection in the rock, to support the arch. The view westward, from the Duntocher road, is nearly similar to that from Dalnoter; but it possesses a better foreground, in the village, and iron-works of Kilpatrick.

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After breakfast, leaving Kilpatrick, we pursued the delightful road to Dumbarton, enriched with numerous villas, the most remarkable of which are Friskie Hall, the property of Crawford, Esq.; Glenarbuck, of Hamilton, Esq.; and AuchBuchanan, Esq. The canal opens into the Firth, eleven miles from Glasgow; and about half a mile further, you meet the ruins of Dunglas Castle. This fortress is of ancient date, and massy form, but of small extent. It probably once served to command this part of the Firth, whose waves roll at the foot of its rocky foundation. The most remarkable part of the ruin is a conical

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