or fort, there can be no doubt, and as little that it never was any thing more. Here tradition has placed the local habitation of Fingal, and every mountain and stream around affords evidence of the existence of an Ossian.

The following lines are very descriptive of this locality:

"O traveller, whomsoe'er thou art,

Turn not aside with timid heart
At Connel's tide, but journey on
To the old site of Beregon.

I pledge my word, whether thou lovest
The poet's tale, or disapprov❜st,
So short, so easy is the way,

The scene shall well thy pains repay.
There shalt thou view, on rock sublime,
The ruins grey of early time,
Where, frowning o'er the foaming flood,
The mighty halls of Selma stood;
And mark a valley stretching wide,
Inwalled by cliffs on either side,
By curving shore, where billows broke,
And triple walls from rock to rock,
Low in that straight from bay to bay
The ancient Beregonium lay.

Nay, look around on green sea-wave,
On cliff and shelve which breakers lave,
On stately towers and ruins grey,
On moat and island, glen and bay,
On remnants of the forest pine,
Old tenants of that mountain reign,
On cataract and shaggy mound,
On mighty mountains far around-
Jura's fair bosom formed and full,
The dark and shapeless groups of Mull,
Others far north, in haze that sink,
Proud Nevis, on Lochaber's brink,
And blue Cruachan, bold and riven,
In everlasting coil with heaven."

HOGG.

The shore here is bold and highly interesting, especially to the geologist. Immense masses of conglomerate are piled up on the

beach, and seem as if they were fragments left in the process of upheaving of the surrounding hills.

By walking a few miles northwards, and crossing Shean Ferry, the pedestrian may join the Inverness steam-boat at Appin; or, retracing his steps, return to Oban.

In order to afford a complete view of the tour of the Caledonian Canal, we shall again commence at Glasgow, and follow the route of the steam-boat to Oban and Inverness.

ARGYLESHIRE is one of the most extensive counties in Scotland, comprising the districts of Argyle Proper, Lorn, Cowal, Knapdale, and Cantire, with several of the Western Islands, as Mull, Jura, Islay. It extends 115 miles from north to south, and 35 from east to west. It has two royal burghs, Inverary and Campbelton, and is divided into 50 parishes.

DUNBARTONSHIRE, anciently called Lennox, is of an irregular form; its greatest length 35 miles, and breadth from 5 to 15. A detached portion of this shire lies between Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. It consists of eleven parishes. The chief towns are Dunbarton (anciently Alcluyd), Helensburgh, and Kirkintilloch.

GLASGOW TO INVERNESS BY THE CALEDONIAN CANAL.

DURING the summer and autumn months, steamboats regularly sail between Glasgow and Inverness, an easy and very agreeable mode of visiting the great chain of lochs and surrounding scenery of this portion of the Highlands is thus afforded. The inland arms of the sea and fresh-water lochs through which the greater part of this passage is made, are usually so calm and unruffled, as to afford a delightful and easy gliding motion; and the scenery on each side is so near as to be readily and distinctly seen by the tourist. The sail to Inverness is made in somewhat less than two days; the boats landing each night where there are comfortable inns,-at Crinan, and at Corpach near Fort-William.

The trip from Glasgow to Dunbarton affords an opportunity of viewing the rich and varied scenery of both sides of the Clyde.*

After sailing from the Broomielaw, on the right is the village of Partick, and a little farther Scotstown, and still farther Kilpatrick village, Bowling Bay, and Dunglass Castle.

Dunbarton Rock and Castle now appear as conspicuous objects, and are passed on the left. The Firth of Clyde gradually widens, and after a farther sail,

Port-Glasgow, a considerable burgh and shipping port, is seen on the left. Adjoining the town stands Newark Castle, the property of Lord Belhaven.

* See Chart, page 101, for the first part of this sail.

Greenock, a large and thriving town, chiefly engaged in the shipping trade, is passed a little farther on. The population of this town exceeds 27,000. The harbour is excellent and commodious, being capable of containing 500 vessels at one time. This is the birth-place of Watt, and well may be termed the centre of steam navigation, from the number of vessels of this description calling and passing hourly.

Helensburgh is seen a considerable way to the right, a neat village frequented for sea-bathing, and beautifully situated at the mouth of the Gare Loch. It was commenced, only about fifty years ago, by Sir James Colquhoun.

Gourock is a headland on the left, a little beyond Greenock, memorable as the scene of a disastrous loss of life from the sinking of a steam-boat in 1826.

Roseneath is nearly opposite, on the right, between the two openings of the Gare Loch to the south, and Loch Long to the north. This is a beautiful seat of

the Duke of Argyle.

Stroan Ferry is also directly opposite Gourock, from which point two roads lead upwards to Loch Fine and Inverary.

Dunoon Village is next passed on the right, and beyond this several miles, Toward Point is turned, when the steam-boat now assumes a northern course, having the Island of Bute on the left and Castle Toward (Kirkman Finlay) on the right. After passing Loch Straven on the right, a narrow firth is entered called

The Kyles of Bute. There are few parallels to the richness and beauty of the scenery here. On the left is the bay and town of Rothesay, famed for its mild and salubrious air; on the right the beautiful openings into Lochs Straven and Riden.