45S 



GLASGOW. (HISTORY.) 



the soldier : high words ensued ; and thus the quarrel 

 fatally terminated. 



The union of England and Scotland in 1707 was 

 very beneficial to Glasgow ; for although previous to 

 this event, from its inland commerce, and the indus- 

 try of its inhabitants in other branches of business, it 

 had arrived at a great degree of importance ; yet its 

 merchants were fettered in their speculations by the 

 restriction, or rather prohibition, which was issued 

 against their commercial intercourse with America 

 and the West Indies. At the union these bars were 

 removed, the mercliants of Glasgow took advantage 

 of the circumstance, and thus laid the foundation of 

 its future wealth and prosperity. But however for- 

 tunate such an event has been for the city, it was not 

 carried without the most violent opposition from a 

 great part of the people. 



When the rebellion in favour of the Stuarts broke 

 out under the earl of Marr in 1715, Glasgow exerted 

 itself in support of the protestant succession in the 

 house of Hanover, and raised a battalion of six hun- 

 dred men, which immediately thereafter marched 

 to Stirling to join the king's troops under the duke 

 of Argyle. The city was also, at the same time, 

 slightly fortified, by drawing a ditch round it, twelve 

 feet wide, and six feet deep. By the general adop- 

 tion of such measures as these, and the vigorous 

 manner in which they were carried into execution, 

 rebellion languished and expired, and tranquillity was 

 again restored to the country. 



In 1725, on the extension of the malt tax to Scot- 

 land, great murmurs took place throughout the king- 

 dom, and nowhere were they louder than in Glas- 

 gow, particularly amongst the poorer class of inhabi- 

 tants. They saw the consequences that would arise 

 from the act, viz., the raising of the price of ale, 

 their favourite beverage ; and they determined to 

 show their detestation of it by revenging themselves 

 upon its abettors. Accordingly, they attacked the 

 house of their representative in parliament, Daniel 

 Campbell, Esq. of Shawfield, who then resided in the 

 town, and after breaking the windows, destroyed 

 every article of furniture they could find within the 

 apartments. While they were so engaged, a party of 

 the military under the command of a captain Bushel 

 arrived, with a view of quelling the disturbance. 

 That officer ordered his men to fire amongst the 

 rioters ; by which above twenty, at the first dis- 

 charge, were killed and wounded. Instead of dis- 

 persing, the mob, upon this, increased to an immense 

 multitude, arms were procured, and Bushel and his 

 party were obliged to save themselves by flying to- 

 wards the castle of Dumbarton ; whither, for several 

 miles, they were pursued by the enraged multitude. 

 This coming to the knowledge of the commander-in- 

 chief, general Wade, he immediately raised a body 

 of forces, and proceeded, accompanied by the lord 

 advocate of Scotland, Duncan Forbes, to Glasgow. 

 He took possession of the town, and as the magis- 

 trates were supposed to have improperly discharged 

 their duty, in not lending their authority to quell the 

 tumult, they were taken into custody, that they might 

 be brought to trial before the court of justiciary. 

 They were accordingly conveyed prisoners to Edin- 

 burgh, underwent a trial, and were acquitted. On 

 their return to Glasgow, they were met about six miles 

 from town by upwards of two hundred of the inha- 

 bitants on horseback, who conducted them into the 

 city, where they were received with the ringing of 

 bells and other demonstrations of joy. The legisla- 

 ture, to punish the corporation of the city, upon the 

 application of Mr Campbell, passed an act granting 

 him as a compensation the sum of six thousand and 

 eighty pounds sterling, to be paid forth of the funds 

 of the community. This sum was accordingly up- 



lifted, and together with the damages and expends 

 incurred, the funds of the city lost about nine thou- 

 sand pounds sterling from this affray. 



When the rebellion of 1745 broke out, the cheva- 

 lier Charles Edward sent a demand to the magistrate s 

 of Glasgow for fifteen thousand pounds sterling, to- 

 gether with the arrears of their taxes, and all their 

 arms. It was not, however, immediately complied 

 with, upon the idea that the king's forces would 

 speedily arrive, and free them from the contribution. 

 In consequence of this delay in not forwarding the 

 exaction, John Hay, writer to the signet, came witli 

 a party of horse to Glasgow, threatened the city with 

 military execution, and even to hang up the chief 

 magistrate, in case of non-compliance with the de- 

 mand. Inability being pled, Hay accepted of five 

 thousand pounds in money, and five hundred in goods. 

 This was not all. Upon the retreat of the rebels from 

 England, towards the north, they again visited the 

 town, and made and obtained a demand of twelve 

 thousand linen shirts, six thousand cloth coats, six 

 thousand pairs of shoes, six thousand pairs of hose, 

 and six thousand bonnets, which were accordingly 

 provided. These exactions Charles, no doubt, made 

 with the greater severity, from the steady loyalty and 

 attachment which the city showed to the established 

 government under the house of Hanover. At this 

 time, the community raised two battalions of four 

 hundred and fifty men each, for the service of go- 

 vernment, which were engaged and behaved with 

 great gallantry at the battle of Falkirk, under the 

 command of the earl of Home. During the cheva- 

 lier's stay at Glasgow, from the 25th of December to 

 the 3d of January, 1746, the most sullen sorrow pre- 

 vailed amongst the inhabitants, and though he often 

 appeared in public, he was not so much as attended 

 by the common retinue of a mob, whose curiosity at 

 this time seems to have been repressed by that spirit 

 of loyalty which pervaded every class. The temper 

 of the Highlanders could not brook this neglect, for 

 no sooner were the contributions levied, than a reso- 

 lution was agreed to, to plunder and burn the town ; 

 which would doubtless have taken place, had not one 

 of their own chiefs, Cameron of Lochiel, interposed, 

 and by threatening to withdraw his clan, forced them 

 to lay their design aside. The exactions that were 

 at this time made, and the expense of quartering the 

 pretender's army for ten days, and of raising their 

 battalions, cost the city of Glasgow fourteen thou- 

 sand pounds sterling. Of that sum, they recovered 

 by an application to parliament, ten thousand pounds ; 

 which, though it did not fully indemnify them, yet 

 seems to have been equivalent to their expectations, 

 and as much as government could then well spare, 

 from the more pressing exigencies of the times. 



In 1755, the merchants of Glasgow, with a view of 

 opening a more ready communication with the con- 

 tinent of Europe, projected the canal betwixt the 

 rivers Forth and Clyde. The operations commenced 

 under the direction of Mr John Smeaton, the cele- 

 brated engineer. 



From that period to 1775, the commerce of the 

 city extended rapidly. In the latter year Glasgow 

 employed upwards of sixty thousand tons of ship- 

 ping ; having, in the single article of tobacco, im- 

 ported from America the amazing quantity of -fifty 

 seven thousand one hundred and! forty-three hogs- 

 heads. But the American revolution put a stop to 

 the commercial intercourse between the countries. 

 When that contest began, the most vigorous efforts 

 were made throughout the kingdom, to quell the 

 spirit of insurrection that had broken out in the colo- 

 nies. Glasgow made an offer to his majesty to raise 

 a regiment of one thousand men for the service of 

 government, which the king accepted. Subscrip- 



