858
merits are exclusive of the parishes of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, which
lie detached six miles distant from the south-east end of Dumbartonshire, be-
tween Lanarkshire on the south, and Stirlingshire on the north. This detached
part of Dumbartonshire is nearly 12 miles long from west to east, and from
4½ to 2 miles broad. These two parishes anciently belonged to Stirlingshire,
but in the reign of Robert I. they were annexed to the county of Dumbarton.
The whole shire of Dumbarton contains a superficies of 261 square miles, or
167,040 English acres (d).
In 1821 Dumbartonshire, containing 261 [270] square miles, was inhabited by
27,317 souls (e), being 104.66 to a square mile. The 27,317 people composed
5341 families, who inhabited 3536 houses, being 5.1 in each family, and 7.72
persons in each house. Such then is the situation, the extent, and populous-
ness of Dumbartonshire, which has more than doubled the numbers of its people
since 1755.
§ in. Of its Natural Objects.] The mountains of this shire are natural
objects which are very remarkable. The chief mountains are those of Arrochar,
Luss, Row, and Rosneath in the north-west, and the hills of Kilpatrick in
the south-east of this shire. The hills of Kilpatrick form a ridge that run
through the parishes of east and west Kilpatrick, Dumbarton, Bonhill, and
Kilmaronock, when they terminate at Loch Lomond. Of this ridge the
upper stratum is whinstone incumbent on an alternate strata of schistus,
and limestone to an immense depth. These hills are inaccessible to the
plough except a small portion at their base, and they abound with moors,
mosses and woods. But the hills of Kilpatrick are far less elevated than
the mountains of Arrrochar, of Luss, of Row, and Rosneath, which are the
proper highlands of Dumbartonshire. These mountains contain immense
masses of a micacious quartzy schistus, intersected in various directions by
strata of slate, quartz, and whinstone. Their precipitious and rugged
summits, many of which are more than 3000 feet above the level of the
sea, are for several months in the year covered with snow, and are often
hid amidst the clouds. Although the heavy and frequent rains that
prevail in this climate have deprived many parts of them of soil, yet
(d) Of this extent the body of the shire contains 228½| square miles, or 146,240 English acres ; and
the detached part, consisting of the parishes of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, contains 32½| square
miles, or 20,800 English acres.
(e)  This number does not comprehend the seamen employed in registered vessels, who were not in-
cluded in the census of 1821.