The buildings for the Lock Hospital, situated on the south side of the Rotten-row, are plain, and so completely inclosed, that the patients can only see into the spacious court-yards. Convenient apartments are fitted up for the committee, the housekeeper, and the surgeon.
The public institutions and benefit societies which are established in this city, for the relief of the necessitous, are so various and complicated in their nature, that we are under the necessity of briefly mentioning a few of the prin cipal ones, with the sums expended in the year ending December 1814.
The merchants and trades houses, granted annuities to decayed members or their families to the amount of 1620/. exclusive of a number of bursaries and apprentice fees, which are placed at their disposal. The 14 incorporations, and the Faculties of Physicians and Surgeons, and Procu rators, gave to their poor 3800/., exclusive of annuities to widows. Hutchison's and St Nicholas hospital, distributed to out-door pensioners 1910/. The sum raised for the main tenance of the Town's Hospital is 10,273/. The ordinary expence of the Royal Infirmary is 3200/., and that of the general session 2832/. These sums, and what are annually expended for the purposes of the Highland and humane Societies, Lunatic and Magdalene Asylums, the Lock Hospital, Buchanan and Graham's societies, and those in stitutions which have for their object the distribution of the scriptures, the education of youth, or the support of old age, amounts to upwards of 35,000/. per anuum, exclusive of private charities, which are very great. The writer of this article had a recent opportunity of receiving these par ticulars from the respective secretaries.
On the breaking out of the war with the United States of America in 1775, the public bodies and spirited indivi duals of this city raised a battalion of 1000 men, which was named the Glasgow regiment. The subscription in a few days amounted to 10,000/.
In 1795, and at subsequent periods, when government found it necessary to embody volunteer corps, the citizens of Glasgow enrolled themselves into the following corps. The 1st and 2d regiments, the light horse, the sharp shooters, the armed association, the trades house battalion, the Highland regiment, the grocers' corps, and the Ander ston and the canal suburbs corps. The greater part of these regiments found their own uniforms, and served without pay. When the volunteer system gave place to the local militia, this city completed, and has at this time, five regiments in the service of government.
In 1695, the Bank of Scotland was established in Edin burgh by charter, with a stock of 100,000l.; and in 1696, a branch was sent to Glasgow, but recalled in 1697. In the year 1731, a branch was re-established, and again called in 1733. In the year 1749, the first Glasgow bank was opened, under the firm of the Ship Banking Company. In 1761, the Thistle Bank commenced business, and some time afterwards, the Glasgow Arms, and Glasgow Mer chant Banking companies were formed. In 1729, the Royal Bank of Scotland was constituted by charter, a branch of which was established here in 1783. And in 1809, a company commenced business under the firm of the Glasgow Banking Company.
Exclusive of the above, which are all carrying on busi ness to a very considerable extent, (excepting the Glasgow Arms, atO Merchant Bank companies, which have retired.) branches from the following banks have been established, viz. Bank of Scotland, British Linen Company, Paisley and Paisley Union, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Commercial Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen, Air, Stirling, Falkirk, Leith, Perth, Kilmarnock, Fife, and Dundee, &c.
In 1815, a provident or savings bank was established here for the benefit of the lower orders of the community, where in deposits of one shilling and upwards are received, bear ing interest at the rate of four per cent. when the sum shall amount to 12s. 6c/. and have lain one month in the bank. When a contributor's deposit amounts to 101., it is transfer red in his or her name to any bank they may desire, and the receipt delivered to them, and they may again pay in their savings, and draw out all, or any part of them, in sums of not less than six shillings. This institution is placed under the management of a governor, deputy-governor, and 28 directors, who all act gratuitously. The necessary charges arc defrayed from a subscription fund of upwards of 7,000/., and from one per cent. on the deposits, the Royal Bank generously allowing the provident bank five per cent. for money lodged with them, while the•contributurs only receive four per cent. Although it is little more than four months since the bank commenced busimss, there have been 785 accounts opened. During the fit st three months there were 590 accounts, amounting in whole to 2407/. : 9 : 6, of which Royal Bank receipts for 7301. were given out to contributors, 15501. : 13:3 retained in the Royal Bank at the credit of the Provident Bank, and the residue repaid.