Buteshire

   BUTESHIRE, a county, on the western coast of Scotland, consisting of the isles of Bute, Arran, InchMarnock, and Great and Little Cumbray, in the Firth of Clyde; separated on the north from Argyllshire by the straits called the Kyles of Bute, and on the west, from the peninsula of Cantyre, by Kilbrannan Sound. It lies between 55° 26' and 55° 56' (N. Lat.), and 4° 54' and 5° 23' (W. Long.), and comprises an area of about 257 square miles, or 164,480 acres; 3067 inhabited houses, and 97 uninhabited; with a population of 15,740, of whom 7155 are males, and 8585 females. The island of Bute, at a very early period, became the property of Sir John Stuart, a son of Robert II., and was confirmed to him by his brother, Robert III., and is still the property of his descendant, the Marquess of Bute; that of Arran was granted by James III. to Sir James Hamilton, whose descendant, the Earl of Arran, was regent of Scotland during the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots, and it now is the property of the Duke of Hamilton. The civil business of the county is transacted at the royal burgh of Rothesay, which is the only town; and under the act of the 2nd of William IV., the county returns a member to the imperial parliament.

   The surface is various: the island of Bute, in the central parts, is diversified with hills affording excellent pasturage, and with valleys of rich arable land in excellent cultivation; Arran is rugged and mountainous, interspersed with glens of moss, through which several streams, descending from the heights, flow into the sea. The highest of the mountains in Arran, is Goat-Fell, which has an elevation of 3500 feet above the sea; and from its summit is an extensive view, embracing England, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. In both islands there are numerous lakes; and the coasts are indented with fine bays, of which the chief in Bute are, Kilchattan, Rothesay, and Kames, on the east, and Dungoil, Stravannan, Scalpsie, St. Ninian's, and Etterick, on the west; the bays in Arran are, Lamlash, which is accessible in every wind, Whiting, and Brodick, on the east, and Druimadoun and Machry, on the west. Opposite to St. Ninian's bay, is the island of Inch-Marnock; and at the entrance of Lamlash bay, is the Holy Island. Freestone, limestone, slate, and an inferior kind of coal, are the prevailing substrata; and near the shore, are some beds of coral and shells of great thickness. The rateable annual value of the county is £30,976. The chief seats are, Brodick Castle, at the head of the bay of that name; and Mount Stuart, situated on an acclivity opposite to the entrance of the Clyde. The island gives the title of Marquess to the ancient family of Stuart.