Counties > Renfrewshire > 1829-1842 - Fowler's commercial directory of the principal towns and villages in the upper ward of Renfrewshire > 1830-1831

JO SKETCH OP PAISLEY.
the canal. — Considerable literary character attaches to many
eren of the working people of Paisley, who support a library,
and several reading rooms, among themselves. A weekly
Newspaper, called the Paisley Advertiser, is published every
Saturday morning, and a variety of minor publications has,*
of late years, issued from the Paisley pressr Wilson, the or-
nithologist of America, and Tannahill, a song writer of note,,
were natives of the town ; which has produced several other
tolerable writers, and one or two superior ones ; of the latter
of whom, however, nothing farther can be here, for a very ob-
vious reason, said. Some time ago^ at a public meeting, a
committee of gentlemen was appointed for the laudable pur-
pose of raising by subscription a fund for erecting a monu-
ment to the memory of our celebrated townsman, P-obert
Tannahill. We hope, ere long, to see realised this ex-
pression of public gratitude to the memory of the Bard whose
songs have immortalized the loved scenes of our youth, and
which are sung vi'ith rapture in every quarter of the globe.
The situation of Paisley is healthy and delightful. Except
on the north, where a spacious level spreads out its ample
and richly cultured bosom, the country around is finely diver-
sified by gentle risings and graceful hollows ; by wood, by wa-
ter, and, in short, all that constitutes the soft and graceful in
landscape. Cruikston, Raiss, and Stanely Castles, the Aque-
duct Biidge, tile Linn, Hawkhead House, and the Braes of
Glennifer, would all recompease the taker of a short walk
from Paisley.
Besides a weekly market, held on Thursday, fairs, each of
three days' duration, annually begin, on the third Thursday
of May and of February — tlie second Thursday of August and
of November. But the August Fair, called the Paisley
James' Day Fair, is the most considerable ; being distinguish-
ed by horse-racing, attended by numerous shows, and ob-
served as holiday time by ail ranks of the people. Much
attention has of late years been paid to the improvement of
the Race Course, and the safety of spectators. It is now
one of the best courses in the West Country; the conse-
quence is, that better horses are brougiit forward, and the-
races excite among all classes a greater dt^gree of interest.
Paisley is about 7 miles W. by S. of Glasgow ; 17 S. E. of
Greenock ; and 'S 'S. of Renfrew, the county Iowa.