Series 4 > Scottish industrial history

HENRY KALMETEr’s TRAVELS IN SCOTLAND 35
plantations there.1 The land round about is extremely fertile. From
there, 8 miles to Glascow in Clydisdaleshire, which is a very well
situated and delightful place, ten miles from the sea, though the
water that flows through the town enables small ships to come up
with the ebb. They have a fine trade there, and send ships to the
West Indies. The herring-fishing round there is important. In the
town one may view the beautiful, wide street, the long bridge over
the river, the Town Hall, Merchant Hall, three Sugar-houses, and
the University or their College, which comprises ten professors
and was founded in 1451.
On 2nd June, I travelled to Baglier,2 a place in Sterlingshire 16
miles from Glascow, through a very harsh country of mountains
and mosses. There I visited a prospecting that had been made for I
know not what, except that there was a white sparr running into
the mountain.
On 3rd June, to Desler,3 a gentleman’s house, and then to Sterling,
12 miles. The town is small and old, and there is nothing to see
except the castle which was constructed by K. James v on a cliff
commanding the surrounding country. It is for that reason very
strong, especially as the ‘passage’ from the north of the country, or
the highlands, to the south of the country, runs through this place.
In former times the insignia regni scotiae were kept here. One obtains
from here a beautiful view of the countryside, which is very fertile
and delightful by reason of the River Forth, which here meanders
about with many bends. The bridge over it is famous.
Then to Menstri, a gentleman’s house, 3 miles: here on 4th
June I visited three new copper prospectings which, however,
seemed to me to be of little value, partly on account of the mean
appearance they had in themselves, and partly because the road to it
is much too difficult, leading through several hills and mountains,
where one could not get up and come down without great trouble.4
1 Hamilton Palace, associated with James Smith the architect who also worked on
Melville House, Yester House and Dalkeith Palace (all visited and admired by
Kalmeter), has been completely demolished. Dunbar, op. tit., p. 102.
2 I.e. Balgair, three miles east of Balfron.
3 I.e. Dasher, outside Kippen. There is a farmhouse but no ‘gentleman’s house’
there now.
4 There are abondoned mineral trials not far from Menstrie Castle on a vein of
quartz and barytes. Special Report. . . Lead, p. 143.