290 
Glasgow. broke out, which destroyed a considerable number of the 
houses in the Saltmarket, Trongate, and High Streets, 
which at that ‘time were formed of timber. By this 
calamity, ‘the habitations of nearly one thousand fa- 
milies were completely destroyed, and their fortunes 
nearly ruined ; so that they were under the necessity 
of applying to other towns for relief. _ Notwithstanding 
these discouraging circumstances, we find that Glasgow 
had so far recovered from her disasters, that in 1695, at 
the assessment of the burghs, she was rated as the second 
in Scotland in point of wealth. ’ 
From the year 1450, when the town and the patri- 
mony of the bishops were incorporated, down to the 
Reformation, the bishops, or certain lay lords in their 
right, nominated the magistrates. Although the par- 
liament, in 1633, declared the burgh to be royal, with 
freedom of election, we find it afterwards disturbed by 
‘Cromwell and the Privy Council. 
Glasgowde- jn 1690, the town-was again declared free by a char- 
rego ter of William and Mary, which was confirmed by an 
dud Mary, 2ct of Parliament in the same year, to the effect that the 
town council should have power to elect their own ma- 
gistrates, as fully and freely in all respects as the city 
of Edinburgh, or any other royal burgh within the king- 
dom. This freedom of election has continued ever since. 
Prior to the union between England and Scotland, 
the river was not in a state to bring up vessels of bur- 
then to the city; the magistrates, therefore, purchased 
eleven acres of ground near the village of Newark, to 
enable them to form a sea-port town. In 1710, we find 
that wharfs, docks, and storehouses, had been erected, 
a bailie appointed, and the town, which was now called 
Port-Glasgow, formed into a separate parish, with right 
of patronage. ; 
{he armorial bearing of the city is on a field parti. 
p. fess. argent and gules, an oak tree surmounted with 
a bird in chief, a salmon with a gold stoned ring in its 
mouth in base, and on a branch on the sinister side, a 
bell languid or, all proper. The motto, “ Let Ww 
flourish.” In former times, “ through the preaching of 
the word,” was added to the motto. 
The situation of this city commands the attention of 
strangers: It lies on the north bank of the Clyde, is 
bounded on the west-by the village of Anderston, on 
the east by the Calton and Bridgeton, on the north by 
the Barony or Landward Parish, and on the south by 
the river. , 
The air, though generally healthy, is somewhat moist. 
The average of rain which has fallen for 30 years previ- 
ous to 1790, is 29 6 inches. The greatest quantity in 
any year during that period was in’ 1775, which was 
43 ?; inches, and the least, which was in the year 1788, 
was 1943. inches. . 
‘The following Table shews the quantity of rain that 
fell at the Macfarlane observatory from 1810 to 1814, 
as measured by an excellent rain-gage by Crichton of 
Great fire 
in 1652. 
Glasgow 
ea port, 
Armorial 
‘bearing. 
Situation of 
the town. 
€limate, 
Glasgow : 
Inches. Inches. Inches. 
1810 25.132 | 1812 22. 81] 1814 19.522 
1811 27.601] 1813 18.368 : 
In 1712, the river was swoln toa height never before 
remembered. On the 12th March 1782, it rose 18 inch- 
‘es higher than in 1712, so that boats were floated in the 
streets of the under part of the town. 
The soil around the city being very various, is so im- 
pom by an abundant supply of manure, as to produce 
eavy crops of every description. Coal, freestone, whin- 
stone, and clay of excellent quality, are to be found in 
almost every direction. 
The greater part of the buildings are erected on 
GLASGOW. AS 
i; 
; 7 : 
ground having a gentle ascent from the river ; the an- 
‘cient part of the town being separated from the more 
modern by a considerable acclivity, commencing near 
the College. The public park, or green, on the banks 
of the river, adjoining the south-east side of the town, 
contains upwards of 108 acres ‘of ‘grass, and 3 miles 6 
furlongs and 12 poles of gravel walks. This park is 
of great use to the inhabitants, and contributes much 
to the general appearance of this part of the town, 
The length and breadth of the city is ascertained by 
two main streets, which cross each other nearly at right 
angles, The principal street running nearly east and 
west, bears the several names of Westergate, Argyle 
Street, Trongate, and Gallowgate, and is one mile and 
a half, one furlong, fifteen poles, and two yards long ; 
83 feet broad at. King Street, and 77 feet at Queen 
Street. The street which runs south and north takes the 
names of the Saltmarket, High Street, Kirk Street, and 
Castle Street, and is three-fourths of a mile thirty-four - 
poles and three yards long ; 54 feet wide at Bell Street, 
and 47 feet at George’s Street. The greater part of 
the streets are 60 feet wide; the average width is be- 
tween 56 and 57 feet. They are all causewayed with 
very durable whin-stones, and skirted with hewn stone — 
pavements of various breadths, conformable to the police ¢o.y 
act. Common sewers, large enough to admit persons to sewers, _ 
clean them, tacts pd miles seven furlongs and ten , 
poles, are formed in the streets. + dso eee 
Of the three squares in the city, St Andrew’s, St _ 
Enoch’s, and St George’s, the latter is the most spaci« 
ous: the centre of it is reserved for an strian sta~ 
tue of his Majesty. Public buildings, and the tene- 
ments fronting streets, are built with hewn stone, and 
covered. with slates. The greater part of the private 
buildings, particularly in the ancient _of the town, 
are built in what is called flats; by which two or more . 
families are accommodated under the same roof. In 
the more modern part, however, the tenements are so 
formed, that one family possesses the whole. ‘iade - Me 
The building ground here is not disposed of by the Bu 
lineal foot of front, as is the case in the other great groun 
towns in the island ; it is sold or feued by square mea- ° 
sure. A yard of nine square feet will bring from one 
to eighteen guineas, according to the situation. The 
reneral rate of ground, however, for dwelling houses 
front a street, not in a very centrical situation for 
business, is from“two to four guineas per yard. j 
Since the erection of the village of Glasgow into a 
burgh, in 1180, its constitution has undergone several al« 
terations, In 1268, it appears that the town was govern- 
ed by 2 provost and bailies, and that the corporation 
was duly organised. In ene, hore charter ag 0 ment 
tained, appointing a water-bailie, and empowering hi ter | 
‘9 eiguae ae ee D ictedin oo 
to exercise a maritime, civil, and n 
of ‘the ri- 
from the bridge to the Clough, at the mou 
ver, 26 miles below the town. j : 
By the constitution of the burgh, three distinct bo- Set: 
dies are recognised, viz. the i and town coun sutunel 
cil, and the merchants and trades houses. The set, or ~ 
constitution, having undergone some slight alterations _ 
by the convention of royal burghs in 1801, is now de- 
clared to be as follows: The affairs of the burgh shall 
be governed by a provost, and three bailies of the mer- 
chant rank, and two bailies of the trades rank; twelve 
councillors of the merchant, and eleven of the trades 
rank ; a master of works, who must be of the merchant 
rank ; and a treasurer of the merchant and trades rank 
alternately. These two officers are councillors ex 
The offices of the Gorbals bailie, and the bailie and de- 
pute bailie of the river, do not add to the number of 
