Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

STIRLING.
Stirling, (or as it was anciently written, Strive-
line, the place of strife or contention), is an ancient
town, and capital of the County of Stirling-shire, si-
tuated upon the south side of the river Forth, on a hill,
which, rising from the east, terminates abruptly in a
steep rock upon the west. It lies 35 miles north-west
of Edinburgh, 28 north-east of Glasgow, 7 miles north
of Denny, 7 miles west of Alloa, and 33| miles from
Perth, by Auchterarder. Stirling holds the fifth rank
among the Royal Burghs of Scotland ; it is the seat
of a Presbytery, and a Circuit Court is held here.
In the Council Chamber of the Burgh is kept the
Jug, appointed by Act of Parliament, 1618, to be the
standard for liquid measure in Scotland. Longitude
3° 59' west of Greenwich, Latitude 56° 6' north.
The situation of Stirling is beautiful and romantic ;
the site of the Town and Castle strongly resembles
the old town of Edinburgh, standing upon the sloping
ridge of a rock, on the precipitous west end of which
stands the Castle. The High Street on the summit
of the hill, is broad and spacious; the other streets
are narrow and irregular, and the buildings bear the