built, the lapis ollaris; faid to be the fame with that of the king of Denmark's palace at Copenhagen. A ftone fomewhat fimilar in colour, but harder and coarfer in the grain, is found in Glenurchay, and feems to be the fame with that of which the old croffes and monuments in Icolumkill were formed. On this kind of stone, time and the weather feem to make little or no impreffion; so that it is the fitteft of any for monuments. Efdale and its neighbourhood abound in flates, of which about five millions have for fome time been fold annually, at 25s. per thousand *. A flate quarry is alfo wrought in Balechelish, in Appin, and there are flate rocks on the estate of Mr. Campbell of Rofs, in N. Knapdale, but not yet wrought. A kind of granite, which takes fuch a polish as to resemble fpotted marble, is found near Inveraray. A marble quarry has been wrought at Ardmady in Lorn; but the colour, being a dull red streaked with white, rendered it lefs marketable than it might otherwise have been, and occafioned its being given up, with fome lofs +. A kind of gray marble is also found on Lochiel's eftate in Kilmalie ‡. Some more may perhaps be discovered in other parts of the county; though none of them probably will be found fo valuable as the beautiful marble of the Island of Tiree. Limestone, which is of more value than marble, because eafier wrought, abounds in most parts of the county, infomuch that we may be faid to have, not quarries, but almost mountains of it. *This work employs commonly about 300 men; whofe wages amount to above 4000l. a-year. The flate quarry at Balechelish employs about 90. Statifical Account. It may be proper to obferve here, for the fake of those who may not know it, that marble is of the fame quality with limestone; fo that farmers within reach of the quarry at Ardmady may avail themselves of a vast heap of broken stones and rubbish there prepared to their hand. ‡ A particular description of this marble may be seen in Mr. Williams's Natural Hiftory of the Mineral Kingdom. CHAPTER II. STATE OF PROPERTY. THE continent of Argyleshire is divided among 156 proprietors. Of the eftates of these proprietors The whole amount of the valued rent of thefe eftates is 99241. 8s. Id*. This valuation, according to which the land tax, minifters ftipends, fchoolmafters falaries, &c. are impofed, was made up in the year 1751, and was at that time half of the real rent, after deducting all public burdens. The number of proprietors at that time was 200; fo that they have decreased at the rate of 1 for each year fince that period. I In this, Luing, Seil, Shuna and Kerera are included. The valuation of the other islands, Mull, Iona, Tiree, Coll, Lifmore, Jura, Colonsa, Oronsa, Iflay, and Gigha, amounts to 25411, 178. 9d. and the number of proprietors in them is 25. Thus, the valued rent of the whole county is 12,4661. 5s. 10d, Sterling; a trifle more than 1-25th of the valuation of all Scotland, which is, 322,7161. 138. 4d. The commiffioners who took the valution of this county seem to have done it with great exactnefs. A landlord in N. Knapdale had a fervitude of a night's lodging upon one who held of him, for which, in the proof taken of the value of his estate, there is fet down " Item for Cuid-vick, 20s,” There were, befides, at that time a very confiderable number who held small eftates in wadfet, or mortgage; a fpecies of tenure which is now gone out of use in this county. Such perfons held a fort of middle rank between tenants and proprietors. At Till within thefe 40 or 50 years past, estates were seldom fold in this county. Luxury had not then reached us. Proprietors lived at home, and fubfifted chiefly on the gross produce of their own lands. But now the cafe is otherwife. An expensive mode of living is introduced. Gentlemen refort frequently to the metropolis, and no reproach is attached to the lofs of an estate, as the cafe is become fo common. present a purchaser might find 150,000l. worth ready to meet him in the market. This, however, though a private loss, may be a public benefit. A fpirit of industry and adventure is excited by the prospect of obtaining one day a spot of one's native land, which he may call his own. The greatest evil which attends the fluctuation of property is, that estates are fometimes bought by ftrangers, who have no attachment to the country, and who do not refide in it, as did the ancient owners. The larger eftates are managed by factors (or ftewards); the leffer by the proprietors themselves, when they reside; and by agents who collect the rent, when they do not refide on their eftates themselves. Of the above 99241. 8s. Id. of valued rent, above a third part is entailed. The county fends one member to parliament; and its two, boroughs, Inveraray and Campbelton, in conjunction with Ayr, Irvine, and Rothfay, send another. CHAPTER III. BUILDINGS. SECT. I.-Houfes of Proprietors. Most of the gentlemen of confiderable property in this county have deferted their old family caftles, and lodged themfelves in neat and elegant modern houses, proportioned to their incomes. Even those of small properties are now generally lodged in flated houses. But the only building that deferves the particular notice of a stranger, is the Duke of Argyle's princely palace at Inveraray. His Grace has also several sets of elegant offices. A drawing of one of these, which lies in the valley of Glenshira, is hereto annexed. Only half of the plan (the uppermoft) has as yet been executed. It has been found of great service in so wet a climate, as by means of it hay may be made, or corn dried in a few days, in the midst of rain. The building lies across the valley, and its circular fhape occafions a conftant draught of air, even in calm weather; as there are open arches oppofite to each other through all the building. A few hands ferve within to turn over the hay for a few days, when it is perfectly made. The building is divided into two stories, and the upper is the one used for this purpose. In the upper story there are also jointed frames of wood fufpended from the roof, at convenient distances from each other. These frames have a number of fharp-pointed pegs on each side of them, inclining upwards; upon each of which a fheaf of corn is hung to dry. The frames, by means of their joints, are lowered down to receive the corn, and when that work is over, they are moved up again, to be out of the way. The floor |