Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

39 ixu torn.
GLASGOW, &c.
Hmtarfes&fre.
have upon their tables the principal newspapers, Uritish
and foreign, and the popular periodicals, and access
is afforded at very moderate charges; the 'Athen-
aeum,' to ephemeral literature, lias ad led all the appli-
ances needful (For the intellectual im movement of it-
members, both in lite ature and science. There is a
'Public Library,' in George--treet, stored with many
thousand valuable and well - chosen voinmes. The
'Athenaeum and Telegraphic News-room,' inGlassford-
street, admits besides, 'ipon payment of one penny,
perusal of all the London, provincial anil foieign news-
papers, which are profusely supplied in the extensive
spite of room-. There is also ' Stirling's Library,'
si .iated in Miller-street,
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, &c.
The 'Lord Provost' is the designation of the chief
magistrate of Glasgow, who is styled honourable; the
present Lord Provost is the Hon. Andrew Galbraith;
the subordinate functionaries are five baillies, the dean
of mn Id, and the deacon convenor. There are thirty- two
councillors — ix tor each of the five districts into which
the city is divided, and the dean of tuild and deacon-
convenoi, who are councillors by virtue of their offices.
The principal officers connected with the corporation
are the treasurer, chamberlain, town clerks, master of
works baillie of the river and firth of Clyde and his
depute, baillie of proven, procurator fiscal, and super-
intendent of streets and buildings. There arealsotwo
other bodies that exeicise municipal privileges — the
Merchants' House and the Trades' House: the dean
of guild belongs to and is nominated hy the former,
and the convenor to the latter house, by which he is
appointed. The different suburban burghs and the
barony of Gorbals have each their respective local
functionaries. 'Che municipal buildings in Wilson-
street form a splended group of Grecian architecture,
in front is an Ionic portico, chastely piopoi tioned ; the
facade is handsome, stately, and imposing. Internally,
it contains a council hall (in which the municipal body
hold their meetings), splendidly decorated; there are
also the final's chamber, the council record chamber,
and other public offices, all elegantly fitterl-up and
beautified. Another hall, styled the Merchants' Hall,
in Candlerigg-sireet, displays much grandeur, and so
far as ornamentation is concerned, is regarded as the
most magnificent in the city. The fades' Hall,
in Glassfoid-street, is a very handsome building, the
front consists of a centre and wings, supported by a
rustic basement, four Doric columns above support
the entablature, and a dome, surmounted by a lantern,
rises from the roof. The hall, one of the finest rooms
in the city, is seventy feet long, thirty-five broad, and
twent-four high, exclusive of the dome. On the walls
and staircase are hung porti aits of persons of i he trades'
rank that have conferred donations on the house, aud
also tablet-, recoi ding the names of the convenors from
1605 to the present time. The City Halt, in Candle-
rigg street, is a very spurious aud handsome building.
in which public meetings a>e commonly held. In
Hope-street stands the Com Exchange, a spacious and
handsome structure, with a portico sustained by Co-
rinth'au fluted columns, the interior is fitted up in
complete adaptation to the peculiar transactions of this
important market, held every Wednesday. Hope
street, for length and width and graceful buildings,
ranks with the most conspicuous for beauty in
Glasgow. The police are under the riiiection of
the honourable the lord provost, the magistrates,
dean of guild, deacon convenor, and thirty- five
commissioners, one to each of the thirty-five wards
into which Glasgow is sub-divided. There are several
courts held within the jurisdiction of i lie city, i he chief
of which are the following : — the Dean of Guild Court,
held every alterntae Thursday, at eleven o'clock, takes
cognisance of buildings and streets. The Sheriff" Small
Debt Court, for debts not exceeding £8. 6s." 8d., sits
every Thursday at eleven, and has jurisdiction over the
whole county of, Lanai k. The Justice of Peace Small
Debt Court, for the Lower Ward of Lanark-hue, meeis
every Monday morning, at ten, in the County Hall, to
decide claims of £8. and under. The County Court
sits every Wednesday for criminal offences, and Thurs-
day, for the recovery of small debts. The River Baillie
Court sits every Tuesday and Friday, and has marine
jurisdiction between Gl isgow Bridge and the Clongh,
near the mouth of the Clyde. The Sheriff' Ordinary
Court sits every Wednesday, at eleven, and the Burgh
Ordinary Court every Friday, exeept during vacation,
iioth adjudicate on causes of any amount, however
large. The principal gaol, called the North Prison, is
in Duke-street, which, unfortunately, it has been found
necessary to enlarge, by the erection of a considerable
compartment in the rear ; debtors are confined in the
west wing of this prison. The South Prison is in the
rear of a commanding range of buildings, with its
frontage towards the river, near the Victoria Bridge,
there is a noble portico in the centie, composed of a
double row of fluted columns. The justiciary hall is
in i he centre, arranged with the requisite conveniences
for a court of justice. To the north is the borough
court; the council chambers to the south, and the re-
mainder of the floor is appropriated to the jurymen,
clerks, and witnesses. The upper storey contains the
lord provost's room, and other public apartments. The
chief police office is in South Albion-street, and the
supervision of the city by the efficient force under the
direction of this office, is highlv creditable to the va-
rious functionaries. The new Post Office, in George-
square, adds another sumptuous edifice to the multi-
tude that adorn Glasgow. Glasgow returns two mem-
bers to parliament, the gentlemen now sitting are
Walter Buchanan, Esq., of Shaudou, and Robert
Dalglish, Esq.
RELIGIOUS EDIFICES.
The Cathedral or High Church, ornaments the
north-eastern termination of the city, and is one of
the very few ecclesiastical structures" of ancient Scot-
land that has withstood the withering influence of
time, the assaults of religious fury, and the sapping of
I neglect ; it arose in the early part of the twelfth cen-
! tury. John Achaius, Bishop of Glasgow, was its foun-
| der, and John Mm do its supposed architect, the reign-
ling king being David 1, who witnessed its consecra-
1 tion. A stone above the door of the choir tells us, in
i Latin, that it was dedicated in 1197, St. Mungoor
Kentigern being invoked as its tutelar patron. The
figure of the edifice is cruciform. From the centre of
the building rises a square embattled tower, of lofty
octangular form, from which springs a spire. At the
western end of the church is another squaie tower,
covered with a leaden pyramidal roof, within which
is a clock and a bell. The entire building is arranged
in four divisions, namely, the choir, the inner high
rharch, the outer church, and the vaulted cemetery,
one hundred and fifty-seven pillars and one hundred
and fifty-seven windows combine to give support and
illumination to the church. The cemetery beneath the
nave.vvill excite in the visitor an appalling interest ; the
roof is supported by sixtv-five pillars. In consequence
of the elevated site of the cathedral the views from its
battlements are very extensive and diversified. In the
latter part of the year 1859, some of the windows were
removed to give place to others of a more artistic
character, these being ornamented in the most exquisite
and highly finished style, and specimens of richly
stained glass, with allegorial representations of becom-
ing interest, and in harmony with the sacred edifice,
were happilv and appropriately introduced. The
Barony Church, contiguous to the cathedral, was built
in 1798, from a design of Mr. Adam; the parish
connected with this church, is the largest in the city.
The College, or Blackfriars Church, in High-street, is
afplain building, erected in 1699, on the site of a more
ancient pile, called Blackfriars, which, in 1666, was
destroyed by a thunder-storm. The Tron, or Laigh
ChUTch.aear the Cross, was erected in 1794, and is
a plain building, surmounted by a cupola. A spire,
buin in 1637, stands between it and the street, having
a clock and two bells. The name of 'Tron' was applied
to this church from a part of its s'eeple having been
used a. a weigh-house. The clock-faces of this church
are lighted externally by gas-lamps. Saint Andrews
Church, which stands in the square of the same name
was completed in 1756, at an expense of £15,000., and
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