Towns > Glasgow > 1787 - Reprint of Jones's directory; or, Useful pocket companion for the year 1787

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cran," regarding which the worthy Clerk says : — " There is
not such a fresh-water harbour to be seen in any place in
Britain : it is strangely fenced with beams of oak, fastened
with iron batts within the wall thereof, that the great boards
of ice in time of thaw may not offend it; and it is so large
that a regiment of horse may be exercised thereupon."
Several sugar-houses, tan-works, lands, and lodgings are
also described, including " the great and stately tenement
of land built by the deceast Walter Gibson, merchant, and
late Provost of Glasgow." This tenement occupied the
north corner between Prince's Street and the Saltmarket,
and stood "upon eighteen stately pillars or arches, adorn'd
with the several orders of architecture." Walter Gibson
was the son of John Gibson of Overnewtown, and rather
a remarkable man in his day. He commenced business
as a maltster — made some money — took to herring-fishing
and merchandising; and at length freighted a Dutch ship
with 3,600 barrels of herring, which he sent to France,
"and got for each barrel of herring a barrel of brandy
and a .crown." He was also the first merchant that
brought foreign iron to Glasgow, and stood first on the
list of the great company carrying on trade "with Virginia
and the Carriby-islands." At the same period, the number
of shopkeepers in the city did not exceed 155, including
"Robert M'Nair and Jean Holmes in Company" — the
worthy partners of said firm being "sleeping partners" in
another sense, or, in other words, man and wife ! From
being small hucksters originally, Robin and Jean became
extensive merchants and sugar-boilers, and ultimately
owned the largest amount of house property in the city.
In 1745, when the rising in the Highlands took place
under Prince Charles Edward, the city of Glasgow raised