Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/87

Rh shores are rich and beautiful and the green emerald isles on the bosom of the lake are passing fair—

We passed by the lofty peak on Ben Lomond, and soon reached Balloch, whence we were conveyed to Glasgow by train.

Glasgow is a much larger city than Edinburgh, and contains about 500,000 inhabitants. It is m fact the commercial capital of Scotland, and has the aspect of a big commercial town. One of the finest squares in the town is George Square. At one end of this square is the statue of Queen Victoria, and at the other end that of the late Prince Consort. In the centre is a lofty monument erected to the memory of Sir W. Scott.

At about 7, on the 22nd August, we left Glasgow in an excellent steamer for Oban, a sea-side place in Argyleshire. The Clyde, which is as dirty near Glasgow as the Thames is near London, became limpid as we sailed down, until it mingled with the blue waters of the sea. It was a sunny day and the sea was calm, and on both sides we could see beautiful hills with the sun and shade alternately playing on their green surface. We issued out of the Firth of Clyde and turned northwards, having the peninsula of Cantire on our left and the mainland on our right. We crossed the peninsula near Adrishaig and reached the open