Gazetteer of Scotland

MON
Ochtertyre, the feat of Sir Patrick Mur-
ray, with a beautiful front of cut and
polifhed granite, is fituated immedi-
ately over the lake of Monivaird,
which covers about 30 acres. The
fituation is truly romantic ; the du-
rable granite correfponds with the
mountains behind, and the elegance
of the apartments agrees with the cul-
tivated fields in front. The lake winds
in a beautiful manner, amongft green
hills and the plantations ; whilft the
marl found at its bottom dilfules a
luxuriant verdure on the furrounding
enclofures. The fituation of Laewen,
the feat of Colonel Robertfon, is alfo
delightful ; and art has polifhed and
improved nature. The Erne winds
through the town; and the fertile vale
of Stratherne lies under the command-
ing profpect from the houfe, whilft a
foreft of tall trees fhelters it on every
fide. Colonel Dow, author of the
" Hiftory of Hindooftan," a gentle-
man of confiderable literary talents,
is a native of this parifh. In 1793,
the population was 1025 ; decreafe
43.? "nee *755-
MONKLAND; a diftrict in La-
narkfhire ; fo named from the monks
of Newbottle, to whom it originally
belonged : it was long but one paro-
chial charge ; but, in 1640, it was di-
vided into two, called East, or New
Monkland ; and West, or Old
Monk land. New Monkland is the
moft northerly parifh of Lanarkshire ;
about 10 miles long from E. to W.,
and 7 in breadth at the middle, but
narrower at both ends. The furface
is tolerably level, rifing gently to a
ridge in the middle from the rivers Cal-
der and Luggie, which are its bound-
aries on the S. and N. The whole is
a beautiful champaign country, almoft
entirely enclofed, and agreeably diver-
iified by vales and gentle eminences.
The foil varies from a rich clay to
mofs, and is in general fertile, pro-
ducing abundant crops of wheat, bar-
ley, peafe, beans, &c. and particularly
of oats and potatoes: about 100 acres
are generally fown with flax. Jn this
parifh is fituated the town of Airdrie,
which, in 179a, contained about 1762
inhabitants. Coal and ironftone are
found in every farm, both of exceed-
ing fine quality. In 1792, the popu-
lation was 3560; increafe 847 fince
MOM
MONKLAND (OLD), lies be^
twixt New Monkland and the river
Clyde. It is about 10 miles long, and
3! broad. The foil is in general fer-
tile ; on the banks of the Clyde it is
clay, and becomes fandy and moffy as
we proceed northward. The whole
is enclofed, and has the appearance of
an extenfive garden, beautified with
numerous feats and villas, belonging
to the merchants of Glafgow, fome of
which are very elegant, and finifhed
in the greateft tafte. Befides a great
extent of natural wood, there are a-
bove 1000 acres of thriving plantation.
The Monkland canal, from the city of
Glafgow to this diftricl:, has been of
material fervice to this part of the
country, in promoting trade and ma-
nufactures. The principal of thefe
are a brick and tyle work, and pot-
tery ; feveral bleachfields and print-
fields; the extenfive Clyde iron works;
and the exportation of the excellent
coal and ironftone with which it a-
bounds. Limeftone is found in fmall
quantities, and there is great plenty
of excellent freeftone. In 1792, the
population was upwards of 4000 ; in-
creafe 2187 fince 1755.
MONKTON-HALL ; a village in
Edinburghfhire, in the parifh of In-
verefk, containing, in 1794, 163 inha-
bitants.
MONKTOWN and PRESTICK ;
an united parifh in Ayifhire. It ex-
tends about 4 miles in length, and in
general about 3 in breadth, but in
one place it is not above a mile and a
half broad. The furface rifes gradu-
ally from the fea, and the foil varies
from fandy downs, covered with bent,
to a rich loam or clay. The greater
part is enclofed ; and there are about
40 acres of natural wood, befides ex-
tenfive plantations. There are 2 vil-
lages, viz. Monkto<wn and Prejlick ;
the former containing about 230 in-
habitants, and the latter 266. Orange-
field, the feat of Mr. Dalrymple, is
the only manfion deferving of notice.
In 1793, the united parifhes contained
717 inhabitants; increafe 135 fince
1755-
Montb attack; one of the Gram-
pian mountains, in the parifh of Stra-
chan,in Kincardinefhire, elevated 3410
feet above the level of the fea.
MONTEITH, or MENTEITH
(the Stewartry of); a diftrict, or