Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

GLASGOW.
Glasgow is a large and populous City, in the Ne-
ther Ward of Lanarkshire, on the banks of the River
Clyde, west longitude 4° 16', and north latitude 55°
53'; it lies 44 miles west of Edinburgh, 22 east of
Greenock, 34 north of Ayr, and 28 miles south-west
of Stirling.
Glasgow is one of the most ancient towns in Scot-
land ; there is no authentic record in existence, by
which the date of its origin can be ascertained. Ma-
ny conjectures have been formed, but fortunately
tnese speculations are more a matter of curiosity than
utility. It is certain, that in the year 560, a Bishop-
ric was founded here by St. Mungo, or St. Kentigern,
who died in 601, and was buried at the east end of
the ground where the Cathedral now stands, and
where his tomb is yet to be seen ; if this date be as-
sumed as the probable origin ot the Town, it may
surely satisfy the most stubborn stickler for the an-
tiquity of the place. This Bishopric was erected into
an Archi-episcopal See in the year 1484.
Glasgow is said to have been erected into a royal
burgh, by William the Lion in 1 172. It however ap-
pearsj from an old document extant, that this Town