Gazetteer of Scotland

V AI
which was first introduced into this
neighbourhood from Holland by a
lady of the Bargarron family, and is
still one of the chief branches of ma-
nufacture. About the year 1760, the
manufacture of silk gauze, similar to
that of Spittalfields in London, was
introduced, and succeeded far beyond
expectation. It was soon brought to
great perfection, and is now wrought
in a great variety of patterns- It has
been computed, that there have been
no fewer than 5000 weavers employ-
ed in that branch in Paisley and the
neighbourhood ; and the number of
winders, warpers, clippers,, and others
necessary in the other parts of the silk
manufacture, has been computed to
be nearly equal. Each loom is calcu-
lated to produce, on an average, up-
wards of 70l. Sterling per annum* so
that the whole will be more than
550,0081. It appeared on the best
calculation, that what could be made
then, in the year 1784, the manufac-
tures of Paisley in silk gauze, lawn
and linen gauze, and white sewing
thread, amounted to the annual value
of 579,1851'. 16s. 6d., and 26,484 per-
sons were employed in carrying them
on. At present, it is difficult to give
an exact account of the state of their
manufactures. The silk branch has
greatly declined, but the muslin and
thread have considerably increased,
and the cotton manufacture has been
carried on to an extent unknown be-
fore. Besides these principal manu-
factures, there are some others which
ought not to be forgot ; for instance,
several tan-works, soap and candle
works, and the manufacture of tape
and ribbons. In 1789, the state of
the different branches of trade was
thus- estimated :
Wo. of hands Annual
Manufactures* employed*, produce.
Silk gauze, .... 10,000 ., L. 350,000
Lawns, cambrics, >-
thread gauze, >• 12084 . . 180,385
and muslins, J;
White thread, , . . 4800 .... 70,000
Soap and candles, 4g,ooo
Ribbons, &c ....... 2,000
Tan-works, &c lo,ooo
Total yearly value of the
manufactures of Paisley, L. 660,385
Besides these extensive workf. in town,
there are many others in the Abbey
PAI
parish of Paisley, which includes the
suburbs, and is nearly equal in popu-
lation with the town. In the various
weaving branches there were employ.
ed at Whitsunday 1791, in the su>
burbs of Paisley, 1208 looms. The
cotton-spinning is also carried on in
the Abbey parish to a great extent :
two of the mills contain 22,572 spin-
dles, and employ nearly 1000 persons.
There is also a calico-printing work*
a copperas work, and several exten-
sive bleachfields. In the suburbs also
is a soap and candle work, which
pays about 20001. of duty per annum
to government, 'and in 1792 paid
SOOOl. r a black soap manufacture also
paid 45001. in the same year. In its
municipal capacity. Paisley is govern-
ed by three bailies, of which the old-
est is commonly in the commission of
the peace, a treasurer, town clerk*
and 17 counsellors, who are annually-
elected. Its revenues are small, but
have been lately increased in propor-
tion to the increase of population. It
enjoys all the privileges and power*
necessary for government and police,
without any of the burdens to which
royal boroughs are subjected, and
which always retard their prosperity.
The freedom of the town is conferred'
on moderate terms. It received its
first charter of erection from King
James IV. in the year 148«j being.
then erected into a borough of barony*
under the superiority of George Shaw,
the abbot of the monastery of Paisley,
and his successors, and, upon the re-
formation, it came into the power of
the Hamilton family, now represented
by the Marquis of Abercom, who
from it takes his second title of Baron
Paisley. The country around the
town is called the Parish of the Abbey
of Paisley, the extent of which is a-
bout-9 miles in length, and from half
a mile to 3 miles in breadth. The
surface is irregular, swelling* particu-
larly in the neighbourhood of the
town, into gentle eminences. Towards
the N. of the town it is remarkably
level, having formerly been a -morass*,
but now cultivated. On the opposite
side of Paisley the ground is hilly*
one of the eminences, called Stanley-
brae, being 680 feet above the lever"
of the sea at flood. The soil varies;
considerably, but is chiefly light loam*,
rendered tolerably productive by len^