_ _ instituted in 1787; five 
: GREENOCK. 
» of £1700, and containing 1600 people: Besides these, 
there are various dissenting gs: the Burgher 
meeting, erected in 1791 at an expence of £1300, and 
containing 1000 sitters; the Antiburgher, erected in 
1803 at an expence of £1122; the Relief, erected in 
_ 1808 at an expence of £ 2200, and containing 1700 sit- 
ters. There is also a Tabernacle, a Methodist meeting, 
and a Roman Catholic chapel. A Unitarian preaches 
in the theatre on Sunday evenings. There are public 
schools for all the various branches of literature and sci- 
ence. A free school, established in 1790, is under ex- 
cellent ent, and gives useful and religious edu- 
cation to hundreds it et geo irls, at an expence 
of 6s. 8d, per.annum for ea’ child. In 1812, a so- 
ciety was instituted in Greenock and Port G w for 
the encouragement of arts and sciences. About 150 
subscribers, at 5s. each per annum, were obtained, and 
the whole funds are distributed in prizes to persons of 
genius and merit. For some years, there has con- 
nected with this an exhibition of paintings. Since 
1798, there has existed an institution, under the title of 
the Greenock and Innerkip Farmer and Agricultural 
Society. There are several subscription and circulating 
libraries, with extensive collections of books. One 
newspaper, the Greenock Advertiser, is published thrice 
aweek. The , who are very numerous, are sup- 
ported partly by the public collections, partly by volun- 
tary assessments, and partly by the interest of sums, 
which from time to time have been bequeathed to them 
by the charitable. There are various societies establish- 
by particular trades and professions, whose principal 
object is to afford relief to their decayed members: Such 
as the Ship-carpenters Society, instituted in 1782; Mas- 
ter Wrights Society, instituted in 1734; Shoemakers 
Society, instituted in 1754; Journeymen Coopers So- 
ciety, imstituted in 1792; Widows Society, institu- 
ted in 1796, &c. The Merchants House Society was 
ineas are paid on admis- 
sion, and 5s, annually for the support of those families 
or individuals belonging to it, who have grown indigent. 
There was formerly in Greenock a society, designed 
the Clyde Marine Society ; but in 1786, it was incor- 
ted by act of parliament with the Glasgow Marine 
iety. This institution is very rich, and very useful. 
There are several banks and branches of banks establish- 
ed at Greenock, which do a great deal of business. 
The old harbour of Greenock, to be built in 
1707, contains about 10 acres. These are inclosed 
within two circular quays, in the middle of which is 
‘another quay built in 1712, projecting like a tongue. 
‘The ori cost was 10,000 merks Scots, or £5625 
sterling, which was to be defrayed by a malt duty, and 
was liquidated in 1740, leaving a surplus of £1500. In 
1801 and 1803, acts of parliament were obtained for 
mee and improving the harbour ; and when all 
the plans are executed, the accommodation for ship- 
‘ping, &c. in this port will be of a very complete and 
“superior kind. new harbour will contain about 8 
acres of ground, which were obtained from Sir John 
Shaw Stuart and Lord Cathcart at 5 guineas per fall, 
and a shilling per fall of feu duty. During the last ten 
, £85,000 have been expended in extending the 
rbours, by building new queys, sheds, &c. and an ad- 
‘ditional sum of £25,000 will be required to finish 
the work, including the expence of ilding a new gra- 
The expence of erecting the present sheds, and keep- 
ing them in repair, has cost the trustees of the harbour 
£9868, and those yet to be erected will not cost less 
than £3132, making together £ 13,000. 
1 
503 
ing September 1812, was £1201 
Do. 1813, 1472 
Do. 1814, 2052 
os ‘ Do. 1815, soe 3 
nd the yearly rent on an aver: or five years endin 
in April bag z £ 1609. = ' . 
The anchorage or ring money for the year endin 
September 1813, wit 2 175 13 A . 
Do, 1814, 181 17 
Do. 1815, 218 12 
axing the yearly rent on an average for three years 
192. 
Ship-building is not so much followed as might have 
been expected at such a port as that of Greenock. On 
an average, there are about 10 or 12 vessels built annu- 
ally. As to quality and construction, these vessels are 
equal to any in the united kingdom. There is a gra- 
ving dock, which was erected by share holders in 1783, 
The building yard of Messrs John Scott & Co. contain- 
ing a graving dock, a basin, boat and mast sheds, 
blacksmith’s shop, &c. is, in point of size and conveni- 
ence, superior to any private establishment of this kind 
in the kingdom. Mr Steele also has excellent premises 
for building and repairing ships. 
There are four large rope works, and several smaller 
ones. They employ from 200 to 300 hands, and ma- 
nufacture annually about 1000 tons of cordage, which 
is sold for the use of the shipping of the port, and for 
exportation to the colonies. There is one rope-work 
for making patent cordage.  Sailcloth is also manufac- 
tured here to a considerable extent. There are two 
manufactories for this article. Greenock contains two 
rics and candle manufactories, which are carried he phd 
a large extent, princi for supplying our 
pte, i and West Treika sanios ohh p a articles. 
One of them is an old establishment, having existed 
since the year 1772. There are also two extensive 
breweries, both of which export large quantities, solid 
and in bottles. While the rei West India islands 
were in our possession, the supply of this article was 
very great, particularly light coloured table beer. There 
are two iron and brass founderies ; one large hat manus 
factory, and several smaller ones ; a green glass and a 
flint glass work ; three tan works; a pottery; and a 
lemp bik manufaetory. All these depend greatly on 
the export trade, and the demand for the shipping. 
An account of the number of ships and vessels, with 
their tonnage, and number of men and boys usually eme 
ployed, registered and belonging to the port of Green« 
ock for the years ending Sept. 1814 and 1815: 
Ships, Tons, | Men. 
Year ending 30th Sept. 1814, 560 34,159 3325 
Do. 80th Sept. 1815, 336 35,210 3220 
At present there are 379 sie. brigs, sloops, &c. re« 
gistered at the custom-house, easuring 47,268 tons, 
and navigated by 3457 men. 
An account ob the number and tonnage of ships and 
vessels, which were of, and belonging to, the-port of 
Greenock, with their number of men, that have traded 
to and from foreign poe, or coastwise, or been em- 
ployed in fishing, in the years ending 5th January 1815. 
che 1816, accounting each vessel but once in the year. 
|Years endi Trade.| Coasting. | Fishing. 
(Men. Pons.| & F 
= ih 
10317590/409\602721/36 
10}7410441/71|3199}511 
Jan. 5. 1815,|187/37,694 2428 
Jan. 5. 1816,|187|35,205 |2318 
The revenue received from them for the year end. Greenock. 
—o 
