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

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PERTH.
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species of architecture in Scotland ; these very commo-
dious and massive buildings contained, at one time
during the war, 7,000 prisoners. The city itself is large
and well built; the streets are long and spacious, well
paved, and brilliantly lighted with gas, which is made
at the public works ; and many of the streets have been
recently much improved. At the east end of Mai shall-
place, and forming the extreme south-eastern angle of
the city, stands one of its finest architectural ornaments,
the new * water reservoir,' designed by the learned and
accomplished Dr.Anderson, rector of the academy, and
erected under his immediate superintendence. Greatly
as the beauty of the reservoir redounds to the credit of
the scientific doctor's taste, it is far surpassed by the
admiiable contrivance of the scheme by which the ob-
ject (if attaining so fine and so plentiful a supply of
water was so successfully effected. In all wells sunk
within or near the town, the water was strongly im-
pregnated with salts, and consequently ill adapted for
cnliiiary purposes or cleanliness — the saline fluid flow-
ine; in much faster from the neigh bonring high grounds
than the soft water from the river. To obviate this, Dr.
Anderson devised the plan of excavating a filtering bed,
three hundred feet long, in the gravel, in the upper end
of Friartown islanri, which, liavirg a branch of the
river flowing on either side, secretes only the water of
theTay. and produces an unlimited quantity of this
indispensable element — pure, soft and limpid at all
limes and seasons; this is conveyed to the reservoir
by means of a suction pipe, of great power, below the
bed of the principal branch of the river, and thrown
up into the tank by two beantiful steam-engines, each
of ten-horse power : the project has been crowned
with such complete success, that works upon the same
principle are now being carried into effect in Berlin
and Paris ; the expense of this noble work is defrayed
by an assessment on real rents above a certain amount,
while the poor are supplied gratis. Opposite the North
Inch, and fronting the Tay, is an elegant r<iw of houses
called Rose-terrace ; in the centre are erected the pub-
lic seminaries (noticed hereafter). At the south end of
Rose-terrace is a handsome ran^e of bouses forming
a crescent, in the highest degree ornamental to that
part of the town. In the course of the last ten years a
great many fine buildings have been ei-ected on the
opposite side of the town, and extending towards the
south-west ; they consist, generally, either of elegant
villas or detached self-contained houses, surrounded by
small parterres. The lange of villas on St. Leoiiard's-
banU, skirting the western bonndary of the South Inch,
at the summit of a gentle elevation, is particularly
striking; and the inhabitants enjoy tlie advantage of
a view from these edifices, not surpassed in beauty by
any in Britain. In addition to these, the whole of the
tasteful erections in King-street and King's-place have
been laised within the period above-mentiitned. In
Kinnoul-strtet, Athol-street, and Charlotte-place,
handsome residences have likewise bein erected ; and
at right angles with Rose-terrace a row of commodious
and comfortable mansions, called Barossa- place, is of
recent formation. Adjoining the North Inch is a bridge
that crosses the Tay; this fine structure, elegant though
unadorned, is built in a most substantial manner. Im-
mediately adjoining the bridge is the vilias;e of Bridge
End, leading to Kinnoul Hill, whose summit, at the
distance of a mile and a half, can be most agreeably
ascended by Montague-walk, winding through a wood
about one-half the distance; the precipice of Kinnoul
is above six hundred feet perpendicular, and affords a
most enchanting pi ospect: the noble river that flows
along the base of this stupendons height, the hills and
more concentrated objects in the fore-ground, and the
grandeur of the mountainous perspective, present a
panorama that can scarcely be equalled in beauty and
extent. Near the eastern declivity of this remarkable
cliff stands the beautiful Castle of Kenfauns, in the
centre of the delightful demesne of the same name,
the property of the amiable and patriotic Lord Gray.
On the eastern bunk of the river, about two miles fi om
Perth, stands Scone Palace : this edifice (of so much
note in history) has been re-erected, and is a most
magnificent pile of building; it is surrounded by ex-
tensive pleasure urouiids, highly embellished witli wood
and water. .At a short distance from the palace is the
chapel, also rebuilt ; it is environed bv majestic treeii,
684
which give it an air of pleasing solemnity. Before tiie
reign of King James, the coronation of the kings of
Scotland was solemnized in the palace of Scone. The
Earl of Mansfield is hereditary lleeper of this palace,
and proprietor of the spacious park and grounds that
surround it; the noble family reside here, and hold
great state, for nearly six months in the year : it is vi-
sited by great numbers of strangers and tourists, par-
ticularly in the summer season ; ready access can be
obtained at all times, by a written order (which is as
readily granted), on application to the noble earl's
agent, Mr. Coudie, Blackfriars House, Perth.
The public buildings in Perth, especially those of
late erection, display much taste and spirit. The most
prominent is the County Rooms. This structure, com-
pleted after a design by Mr. Smiike, is a model of
correct, simple and dignified architecture, sufficiently
ornamented to be chastely elegant; it is situate at the
extreme end of South-street, on the banks of the Tay,
and forms a noble object when viewed from the oppo-
site side of the river ; it resembles one of the many
Grecian edifices that have continued'to be the admira-
tion of successive centuries ; and the front, which faces
the water, is considered one of the most handsome in
Scotland ; it is embellished by an elegant portico in
the centre, and twelve massive fluted columns, which
support a beautiful pediment; the whole is built of
fine hewn freestone. The interior is correspondingly
tasteful and commodious — the entire combines conve-
nience and elegance in every part. From the entrance
hall a passage leads off to the county hall, which is a
splendid room, sixty-eight by forty, and occupies the
south wing ; the centre contains the spacious justiciary
hall, of semicircular form, and a gallery most judi-
ciously constructed, which will hold one thousand per-
sons ; attached to this hall are likewise rooms fur the
witnesses, retiring-rooms for the jury, &c.; the re-
mainder of the building, on the same floor, includes
the sheriff's court and room, his clerk's office, and an
arched fire-proofroom where the records of the town
are deposited ; above is a capacious ball and card room,
&c. &c.: the whole arrangement is elegant, and the
embellishments are appropriate. Directly in the rear
of this edifice the new gaol is erected, divided into two
prisons — the northern side for felons, and the «)ther
for debtors ; from the gaoler's house, fronting the inte-
rior of the entrance gate, a subterraneous passage leads
to the prisoner's bar in the justice hall. Near £30,000.
have been expended in the erection of these buildings.
Manufactures, commerce, &c. — There are some
extensive manufactures carried on in Perth; among
these are ginghams for umbrellas, shawls, muslins,
and other cotton fabrics, with some linens. The ma-
ritime importance of the city is rapidly increasing — a
number of vessels are added yearly to its shipping:
this has, in no small degree, been caused by the ex-
tensive export of potatoes to the London market, and
by the enterprise of individuals in the pursuits of ge-
neral trade; not a few are engaged in foreign com-
merce, and there have been instances lately of voyages
to and from the West Indies direct by vessels of this
port. Some years ago an act of parliament was ob-
tained for improving the navigation of the Tay, the
access to the port, and the accommodation for the ship-
ping; this embraced the deepening of the fords, and
the construction of a tide harbour, a wet dock, and a
short canal to connect these: the bill, however, has
been found so impracticable in its operation, that the
design of the canal and dock has been abandoned,
even after having been partially excavated. The tide
harbour is now in progress on a modified plan; the
river has been deepened by the agency of a powerful
dredging machine ; and in a short time vessels of two
hundred tons burden will have access to, and find safe
anchorage and proper accommodation in, the harbour.
Lately the government has granted the privilege of
bonded warehouses, which it is considered will be of
great advantage to the trade of the port of Perth.
Municipal government and representation.—
The government of the city is vested in a lord provost
(who is also sheriff and coroner), four bailies, a dean
of guild, a treasurer, and nineteen councillors; the
council thus consists of twenty- six members— all of
whom (with the exception of the dsan of guild) are,
since the passing of the burgh reform bill in 1832,