Scotland > 1837 - Pigot and Co.'s national commercial directory for the whole of Scotland and of the Isle of Man

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GLASGOW, &C.
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officiates, is a chaste specimen of the Grecian style,
and is a conspicuous object from St. George's-square ;
it was designed by Mr. Gillespie, of Edinburgh, and
cost £10,000. The new Baptist Chapel, at the south
end of Hope-street, is very creditable to the taste of its
dcMKner. The Roman Catholic Cliapel, in Clyde-
street, erected in 1815, is one of the most graceful
edifices in Glasgow : the style is pointed Gothic, lieht
in its aspect, and rich in its embtllishments. The
chapel will contain considerably more than two thou-
sand persons, and is arranged within in a style cor-
responding with its elegant exterior. Mr. Gillespie, of
Edinbureh, furnished the design, and Mr. Smith, of
Glasgow, was the builder.— A list of all the other
places f)f worship will be found at the end of the
Glasgow Directory, with the names of their ministers.
CHARITABLE INSTITaTIONS.
The Royal Infirmary, situate near the cathedral, ex-
hibits an'ixterior of considerable beauty, while the
arrangements of the interior are skilfully adapted to
their benevolent object. The building lias been much
enlarged since its first erection, the latest addition
being for the reception of fever patients. The lowest
story contains a laboratory, an apothecary's shop, hot
and cold baths, and strong chambers for the temporary
restraint of the insane. Beneath the dome is a spacious
circular apartment, which is appropriated to suraical
operations — The Lunatic Asylum, ne»r Pr)rt Dundas,
is a building strikingly original in its design. The
centre i> octagonal, with four wings diverging from it,
and is occupied l»y the superintendent and assistants,
and, during the day, by all the tractable patients.
The wings contain row's of commodious chambers,
and a long gallery for exercise. The patients are
classed according to their sex, rank, and the nature of
their malady. The charge for the maintenance of
paupers from Glasgow, or from tho'e paiishes which
have contributed £50. for every 1,500 of their popula-
tion, is 7s. per week ; for all other paupers, 8*. Gd.
The charge for the middle and higher classes varies
fiom 15*. to £3. Zs. per week. This elegant asylum is
unique in its plan, and perhaps more fitted for its pur-
pose than any similar institution. — The DenfS( Dumb
Asylum is contiguous to the Infirmary, and, though
plain in its aspect, is well adapted to its interesting
object. — The Asylum for the Blind, by a recent en-
largement, has been rendered capabie of accommo-
dating more than one hundred inmates, who are ad-
vantaijeously employed in the fabrication of various
useful ai tides ; and the recent invention of printing in
relief, by enabling the blind to read manipular or
tangible letters, has given a most interesting facility to
their educatioti. Tlie contribuiors, at tlie annual
meeting in January, 18,37, had the high gratification
of witnessing the prompitude with which the pupils
read with their fingers. Mr. Alston, the indefatigable
treasurer, has effected a great improvement in the
broad Roman capitals of the late Dr. Frv, by sharpen-
ing the faces and reducing their size. The sympathies
of the spectators were most powerfully excited by the
introduction of a young woman, labouring under the
extraordinary deprivation of sight, speech and hearing,
who, from the instruction received in this asylum,
could lead in the new mode with facility, and commu-
nicate with her blind companions with prompitude.
The income in 1836. from the sales and contributions,
amounted to £2,652.— The Magdalen Asylum, ad-
joining the one for lunatics, was erected in 1812, from
designs by Dr. Cleland, a gentleman to whom Glasgow
owes many obligations. The accommodations are in
every way suitable to the purposes for which it was
built; and its benefactors have the satisfaction of be-
lieving that many of its female inmates have subse-
quently become permanently wortliy of the protection
that has been afforded them. — The Lock Hospital is
contiguous to the Magdalen Asylum. — Hutchinson's
Hospital, in Ingram-stieet, was founded by the two
brothers, George and Thomas Hutchinson, between
the years 1639 and 1641 : the former amassed a large
fortune as a writer and notary, although his charges
were so moderate that, it is stated, he would never
chiirge more than sixteen pennies Scots for the writing
of a bond, however large the amount : the latter bro-
ther was a preacher. From the original endowment
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and subsequent benefactions, the trustees are enabled
to appropriate £3,000. per annum to pensions for aeed
men and women, and tor the education and partial
clothing of poor boys, together with £3. pei aiinnm to
the latter. The present'building, erected in 1803, is
ornamented with an octagonal spire, one liundred and
fifty-six feet high, 'i'he ttreat hall contains Stirling's
public library. — St. Nicholas's Hospital was founded by
Bishop Muirhead, in the reign of James III, for the
suppoit of twelve aged men and a priest; and Arch-
bishop Leighton, in 1677, added £150. for the benefit
of two more : the funds of the institution, however,
have suffered considerable diminution. — The Town's
Hospital, in Clyde-street, consists of a centre and
wings, and is designed for the reception of paupers, a
part of the building being appiopriated to the sick and
mentally imbecile, whilst the healthy inmates are
employed in useful occupations. The great increase of
Glasgow, both in population and size, renders it very
desirable that this house of benevolence should be en-
larged, and its situation made more aity ; and its re-
moval is now in contemplation. — The Female Orphan
Institution is for the reception of poor orphans and
destitute girls, who are educated, clothed, aud main-
tained for £10. 10»'. per annum, or, without clothing,
for £8. which must be paid in advance. — The Eye In-
firmary, in College-street, is liberally supported, and
has been successful in its operation. — In addition to
the benevolent institutions already etmmerated, there
exist many others which shed a lustre on the memo-
ries of departed citizens of Glasgow. Mitchell's mor-
tification, made in 1729, yields £100. per annum to
decayed burgesses and their families ; and Tennant's,
made in 1741, tenders to three widows 80 merits, or
£4. 18.?. lOrf., the remainder devolving on two of the
Geneial Session Charity Schools. Wilson's charity,
founded in 1778, bestows education and clothing on
forty-eight poor boys; and Millar's, since 1790, has'
educated sixty girls annually, at a yearly expense of
£300. The societies for religious objects'are also very
numerous, and are liberally supported.
INSTITUTIONS
FOR EDUCATION, LITERATURE, SCIENCE,
AND THE ARTS.
The University. — This venerable College presents
its antiquated front on the eastern side of High-street.
Entering by the central gate, over which are the royal
arms, the visiter finds himself in the first quadrangle,
and he will not fail to notice the antique stone stairs
leading to the Faculty hall, with their guardian lion
sejant on one side, and unicorn on the other : this
liall contains many rare paintings, both historical and
portrait, amf)ng the latter are those of Luther, Knox,
Buchanan, Napier and Smollet. The second quad-
ranule is much larger, suriounded on three sides by
buildings, part of which are in the old monastic style,
with low towers and curtains; while others, of
recent erection, are built in the modern style, the
effect of which is distressing to good taste. These
buildings contain the anatomical theatre, and rooms
for the classes in Greek, logic, humanity, chymistry,
medicine and mathematics. The old libraiy is an
insulated building to the south-east; and the new one
is at the south end of the anatomical theatre. The
chapel, or common hall, is fitted up with considerable
taste, and can accommodate nearly 1,000 worshippers.
Rising over the entrance to the second quadrangle is
the steeple, 135 feet high, which is protected from
lightning by a conductor, erected, in 1772, under the
direction of the renowned Dr. Franklin. At the back
of the College are spacious gardens, in which is placed
the Macfarlane Observatory ; and near the entrance to
these gardens, forming the eastern termination to the
College, stands the Hunterian Museum, an edifice,
pronounced by critics to be one of tlie felicitous speci-
mens of classical architecture in Gnat Britain : it was
reared in 1804, from designs by Mr. Stark ; the
principal front forming a Roman Doric portico of six
columns, behind which is a recess, separated by a
second row of pillars. Beautiful as this portico is,
the whole fabric is in harmony with it, combhiing
graceful proportion of parts with simple elegance of
form. This museum was be«|ueaihed to the College
by the celebrated Dr. Hunter, of London, who was A
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