Imperial gazeteer of Scotland, or, Dictionary of Scottish topography > Volume 1

ARGYLESH1RE.
ARGYLESHIRE.
l.ir ideas into conjunction, — make the rude Gael
shake hands with tlie most refined Lowlander, — and
cause the nineteenth and the first centuries to meet
together. No such lever was ever introduced to
raise and revolutionize the manners of a people, or
the resources of a country."
Previous to the abolition of the feudal system, in
1745, the obstacles to improvement either in agri-
culture or manufactures were quite insuperable in
this district of Scotland. The abolition of that sys-
tem, — the conversion of corn rents, or rents in kind
and services, into money rents, — the suppression of
smuggling, — the execution of the Caledonian and
Crinan canals, — -the formation of excellent lines of
road throughout the county under the auspices of
the parliamentary commissioners, — the more general
diffusion of education, — and the introduction of a
system of farming better adapted to the character
and capabilities of the soil and country, — have all
contributed to the improvement of this interesting-
district. But the main impulse has undoubtedly
been given to industry in this quarter of the coun-
try by the introduction of steam-navigation, and the
reciprocal intercourse which has consequently taken
place between all parts of Argyleshire and the
manufacturing districts of the west of Scotland.
The principal roads in Argyleshire are, 1st, the
road eastward across Lochiel, being part of the com-
munication from Arasaig to Fort-William ; 2d, the
road eastward from Arclnamurehan to Strontian and
Coran Ferry, leading thence to Fort- William and
the north sides of Loch Leven ; 3d, the road south-
westward and southward from Ballaclndish, along
the coast of Appin and Ardchattan, to Loch Etive ;
4th, the road eastward and southward from Balla-
chulish, through Glencoeand Glenorchy, to Tyndrum
and Dalmally ; 5th, the road eastward from Oban,
by Ben Cruachan and Dalmally, to Tyndrum, lead-
ing thence to Stirling and Dumbarton; 6th, the
road southward from the preceding at Taynuilt up
both sides of the middle and upper parts of Loch
Awe; 7th, the road southward from Dalmally to
Inverary ; 8th, the road eastward from Craignish
to Loch Fyne ; 9th, the road southward from Inver-
ary to Lochgilphead; 10th, four roads eastward
across Cowal, together with coast roads round much
of that district ; 11th, the roads along the coasts of
Knapdale and Kintyre, connecting Lochgilphead and
Ardrishaig with Tarbert and Campbellton; and 12th,
considerable lines of road in Mull, Jura, and Islay.
During the heat of the railway excitement, projects
were entertained for constructing a railway eastward
from Oban to Tyndrum, and thence to the head of
Lochlomond, and for constructing another north-
ward from that line to Loch Leven, and thence to
Fort- William, and along the great glen of Scotland;
and very sanguine hopes were cherished respecting
the success of the former, which it was computed
woidd extend 46 miles, and cost, for a single line of
rails, under £7,000 a-inile, or in total £322,000. The
Caledonian canal belongs for a brief way to the
north end of Argyleshire ; and the Crinan canal in-
sulates Knapdale and Kintyre from Argyle proper
and Lorn.
Inverary is the capital of Argyleshire ; Campbell-
ton and Oban are the other principal towns ; and
these three places are burghs, and unite with Ayr
and Irvine in Ayrshire, in sending a member to
parliament. The other towns and principal villages
are Tobermory in Mull, Lochgilphead at the bound •
ary between Argyle and Knapdale, Ardrishaig, 2
miles south of the former, Tarbert at the boundary
between Knapdale and Kintyre, Bowmore in Islay,
and Dunoon in Cowal. Some of the principal man-
sions are Inverary Castle, the. Duke of Argyle;
Kildalloig, Sir John Eytnn Campbell, Bart.; Stron-
tian, Sir James Miles Riddell, Bart.; Fassfern, Sir
Duncan Cameron, Bart.; Dunstatl'nage, Sir Angus
Campbell, Bart.; Kilmory, Sir John Powlett Orde,
Bart.; Sonthhall, John Campbell, Esq.; Kingerloch,
Charles H. Forbes, Esq.; Craignish; Ardgarton;
Dunderraw; Ardkinglass; Kilmartin; Strachur;
Saddle; Kilfinnan; Sanda; Lazie; and Askinsh.
The county sends a member to parliament; and its
constituency in 1864 was 1,914. The valued rent in
1751 was £12,466 5s. lOd. sterling. The annual value
of real property, as assessed in 1815, was £227,493;
and in 1843, £261,920. The total rental for 1847
was £268,079. The valuation for 1864-5 was
£345,179; and the assessment for that year, for police
and other purposes, was 2|d. per £\,
Previous to the equalization of weights and
measures, the Inverary boll of grain contained 4
firlots 7J per cent, above the standard, or 6
bushels, 1 peck, 9 pints, 10 cubic inches English;
and the boll of meal, at Inverary, 8 stone; at some
other parts 9 stone; and at Campbellton 10 stone.
The Campbellton potato peek weighed 56 lbs. avoird.,
and measured 9 English wine gallons; while the
Inverary peck measured only 6J gallons. The
customary pint contained 109*87 cubic inches; the
pound at Campbellton 16 oz., and at Inverary, 24;
the stone of butter, cheese, hay, lint, tallow, and
wool, was 24 lbs. avoird.; and the barrel of herrings
32 gallons English.
The population of the county in 1801, was 81,277 ;
in 1811, 86,541; in 1821, 97,316; in 1831, 100,973;
in 1S41, 97,371; in 1861, 83,S59. Inhabited houses
in 1861, 14,636; uninhabited, 639; building, 117.
The slow increase of the population from 1801 till
1831, and the subsequent fluctuation of it, may be
attributed partly to the limited nature of its terri-
torial resources; partly to the extensive emigration
which has taken place from this county chiefly to
Canada; and partly to the system so generally pur-
sued by the large proprietors of throwing several
small farms into the bands of one tenant, and dis-
countenancing any attempt at minute subdivision of
the soil. The number of crimes committed in Ar-
gyleshire, in 1863, was 101 ; the number of persons
confined in Inverary and Campbelton jails, 61 and 95 ;
and the average duration of their confinement, 28
and 31 days. The number of parishes assessed for
the poor, in 1S63, was 30 : the number of registered
poor, 3,856; the number of casual poor, 727; the
sum expended on the registered poor, £23,019; the
sum expended on the casual poor, £829.
One of the synods of the Established church bears
the name of Argyle, and comprises six presbyteries,
and has jurisdiction over all the parishes of Argyle-
shire, except one, and over five of the six parishes
of Buteshire ; and in 1S65 there were within the
bounds of its presbyteries 57 parochial charges,
(inclusive of quoad sacra parishes,) and 14 chapels
of ease. The Free church also has a synod
of Argyle, comprising 4 presbyteries ; and in 1865
there were within its bounds 40 churches and 14
preaching stations, and the yearly sum raised in
connexion with the whole was £10,633 8s. Oid.
The Scottish Episcopal church has a diocese of
Argyle and the Isles, comprising fourteen charges,
eight of which, as also the residence of the bishop,
are in Argyleshire. There are likewise in this
county seven places of worship belonging to the
United Presbyterian church, two belonging to the
Reformed Presbyterian church, two in connexion
with the Congregational Union of Scotland, and two
belonging to the Roman Catholic community. In
1837, there were 68 parochial schools, attended by
3,774 scholars; 4 other parochial schools, the at-