GLASGOW, the industrial metropolis of Scotland, is one of the largest and most important cities in the kingdom. It is situated on the Clyde, in the lower ward of Lan arkshire, and occupies chiefly the n. side of the river, but has large and populous sub urbs on the s. side. The river is crossed by seven. bridges. Two of granite and one of iron are much admired for their light and graceful architecture. Two are suspension bridges; and two are the viaducts of the Union and the Caledonian railways. Below the bridges ferry-boats ply at all hours.
The ground upon which Glasgow is built is, for the most part, level, but in the n. and n.w. districts, there are considerable elevations. Owing to the number of cotton factories, chemical works, foundries, and work-shops of all kinds, the city has a some what dingy and smoky aspect; while many of the streets are continually thronged with passengers, and noisy with carts, cabs, and omnibuses. In other respects, it has many attractions. The houses facing the river stand well back, leaving spacious thorough fares on each side, and affording full and noble views of the bridges, of several hand some street ranges and public buildings, and of the harbor with its steaming funnels and forests of masts. Most of the leading streets run from e. to w., parallel with the river, and almost all the streets, except in the oldest parts of the city, are laid off in straight lines. The houses are generally lofty, and built of freestone, the floors of each tene ment being usually occupied by separate families, entering by a common stair. In the fashionable quarters, " self-contained" houses prevail. Glasgow has comparatively few squares or other open spaces, but it has four public parks—one in each quarter of the city—namely, the Green (140 acres), occupying the level next the Clyde at the e. end; Queen's park (upwards of 100 acres), finely situated on a rising-ground to the s.; Kelvin grove, or West End park (40 acres), rounding the face of a hill crowned with noble ter races, and sloping down to the Kelvin, at the w. end; and the Alexandra, or north-east ern park (85 acres). The city is about 3 in. in length from e. to w., and is about 8m. in circumference.
Glasgow had its first nucleus in the cathedral, and afterwards in the university. The former is situated in the n.e. of the city, on a height on the banks of the Molendinar stream, which runs between the old burying-ground and a steep rocky eminence for. merly known as the Fir park, but now transformed into the Necropolis, a modern cem etery, studded and crowned with monuments. It is from this ravine that the name Glasgow is supposed to have been derived, etymologists professing to find in it two Celtic words signifying a " dark glen." St. Kentigern, or St. 3Iungo, founded a bishop ric on the banks of the Molendinar about 560; but for more than 500 years afterwards, the history of the place is a blank. About the year 1115, David, prince of Cumbria
(afterwards king of Scotland), restored the see, and appointed his preceptor, John, to the bishopric, who laid the foundations of a cathedral, which was replaced by the present pile, founded by bishop Jocelin in 1181. In 1180, king William the Lion erected Glasgow into a burgh, with the privilege of an annual fair; but for a century and a half later, it continued an insignificant town of not more than 1500 inhabitants. In 1345, bishop Rae built the first stone bridge across the Clyde; and in 1451, bishop Turnbull established the university, having obtained a bull for that purpose from pope Nicholas V. The latter event gave a considerable impetus to the place, yet, in 1556, Glasgow only ranked eleventh in importance among the towns of Scotland.
The city as it now exists is almost wholly modern, having quintupled in dimensions during the last 70 years. This immense growth has arisen from its situation in the midst of a district abounding in coal and iron, and from the facilities afforded by the Clyde for the cultivation of a world-wide commerce. At the same time, it must be admitted that much of its prosperity is due to local ingenuity and enterprise. It was here that James Watt, in 1765, made his memorable improvement on the steam-engine; it was here that Henry Bell, in 1812, first (in the old world) demonstrated the practica bility of steam navigation. An enormous sum has been expended on the widening and deepening of the river, now navigable by vessels 300 ft. long, and drawing 23 ft. of water. The Queen's docks at Stobcross, opened in 1877, have a depth of ft. of water, and an area of 34 acres, and have cost L1,600,000. Tim enterprising spirit of the inhabitants began to manifest itself during the 17th century. Sugar-refining, the distillation of spirits from molasses, and the manufacture of soap, were among their earlier industries. The opening up of the American colonies to Scotch enterprise after the union gave an immense increase to its commerce. Glasgow became the chief emporium of the tobacco trade, and its Virginian merchants formed a local aristocracy, remarkable for wealth and hauteur. This trade was at length paralyzed by the Ameri can war; but sugar cultivation in the West Indies, and the introduction of the cotton manufacture, opened up new paths to opulence. Calico-printing, Turkey-red-dyeing, beer-brewing, and other branches followed; and with the rapid expansion of the iron trade, including machine-making and steamboat-building, the city has attained its pres ent magnitude. Among its thousand chimney-stalks, there is one of near 460 and one of about 440 ft., being the highest in Britain. The latter carries aloft the noxious vapors of St. Hollox. the largest chemical works in the world, covering 12 acres of ground, and employing upwards of 1000 men.