A Journey to London in 1840. 133 



or West Monkland. This parish is so called because it belonged 

 of old to the monastery of Newbattle. The parish of Monkland 

 was divided into two in 1660, called Old and New, or East and 

 West, Monkland. The district is eminently remarkable for its 

 great mineral wealth. The whole district to the east and north- 

 east for many miles indeed enjoys the same distinction, and yet it 

 was till lately unknown or nearly so. Xow, however, it is the 

 greatest source of profitable employment, both in respect of 

 labour and capital, in the West of Scotland, always excepting 

 the cotton manufacture. The number of iron works in the 

 parish, I believe, is seven, that of furnaces 34, but the latter 

 number is yearly increasing. The total number of furnaces in 

 Scotland is not above 90, indeed not so many are in blast. The 

 two parishes of Monkland include nearly the whole of these 

 furnaces, and the inhabitants are almost all employed in the 

 work, including the coal mines, which abound collaterly with 

 ironstone. There are coals but little or no ironstone wrought in 

 Bothwell. In 1794 there were only 36,000 tons of pig iron pro- 

 duced in Old Monkland; in 1839 there were 176,000 tons. The 

 great increase of the manufacture is mainly due to the introduc- 

 tion and application of heated air, or of the hot blast, by means 

 of which the quantity of coal used is only about one-sixth of 

 what formerly was required. This discovery is due to Mr 

 Neilson, of Glasgow — 1828. In 1821 the population of the 

 parish was 6983, it is now (1840) said to be about 20,000 ! 



The road through part of Bothwell and through most por- 

 tions of Old Monkland it traverses, lies withii^ a little distance of 

 the Clvde, and is fringed with thriving timber. We had some 

 interesting peeps of the river as it winded down the valley among 

 the trees. The country here formed a striking contrast to the 

 sterile and bare district — that of Shotts — through which we had 

 previously passed. And as the landscape was more beautiful so 

 the air was more mild and balmy. The crops seemed excellent, 

 and altogether there were strong indications of prosperity, plenty, 

 and happiness on every side. 



Of the persons who were my travelling companions, a girl 

 who sat beside me interested me not a little. She was evidently 

 of a humble rank, though neatly and tidily dressed. She was 

 possessed of good sense, and of very good sentiments and feel- 

 ings. I learned from her that she was a native of Traquair, in 



