This institution is supported by fixed contributions from the town council, merchants, and trades houses, and gene ral session ; but chiefly from an assessment on the inhabi tants, laid on by 15 persons not connected with the town council. The mode is, to assess every person, in propor tion to his property and business, within the burgh, who is supposed to be worth 3001. In 1814, there were 484 per sons in the hospital ; 795 out-pensioners, who received nursery wages for their children; 738 out-pensioners, who received meal from the hospital; making a total of 2017 on the funds. The average cost of each person in the hos pital, in 1814, is 91 : 15s. per annum ; the quantity of meal used in 1814, is 2302 bolls. The rate of assessment on every 10o/. of supposed property in the burgh, 3s. 6d.; valuation, 5,830,7001. ; amount of assessment, 10 2731.
This institution was opened on the 12th December, 1814, when 23 male and 18 female patients were admitted. Since. the opening, a period of only 11 months, 112 patients have been admitted; of whom 24 have been cured, six re lieved, one died, six discharged being idiots, and 75 remain ed in the asylum. The rates for the support of paupers belonging to Glasgow, or those parishes who have contri buted 501. for every 1500 persons in the parish, is 8s.; and for those who have no claim, 108. Gd. per week. The rates for boarders are from 138. upwards. Although there are at present no boarders in the asylum whose rates arc higher than 31s, Gd. per week, every suitable accommoda tion is provided for the higher ranks.
As a few months have only passed since this institution was opened, no distinct statement of its affairs can be given. There are at present 14 penitents in the asylum, whose conduct gives the managers the happiest presage of future usefulness.
The anirs of this asylum, for the reception and cure of unfortunate females, are, by its charter, placed under the management of one member from the town council ; one from the merchants and trades houses one from the cler two from the faculty of physicians and surgeons; and eight from the court of contributors. From 31st De cember, 1813, to 31st December, 1814, there were 128 patients admitted, whereof 118 were cured, one died, and nine remained in the hospital. The expenditure of 1814 was 4471.: 14 : 11. Although no proper patient was refus ed admittance, the number has this year happily diminish ed nearly in the proportion of one•third from former years.
Although it will not be expected that, in a manufactur ing and commercial town like Glasgow, there would be libraries on a very extensive scale, there are nevertheless to be found in the collection of the college, the Hunterian museum, the faculties of physicians, and surgeons, and procurators, books of the utmost value and consideration, in every branch of literature. The books in the public subscription and circulating libraries are on a scale suited to the extent of the place. In 1810, the following newspa pers were published here :-the Courier, Herald, Journal, Chronicle, Western Star, Clyde Commercial List, and Centinel. The two last, which were weekly papers, are now discontinued.
Pilot. to 1806, the citizens had no other supply of water than from 28 pump-wells in the streets. As some of these were very limited, and the water often of a had quality, a number of the inhabitants, in 1806, procured an act of Par liament, incorporating them into a company for supplying the city and suburbs with water, under the name of the Glasgow Water Works Company. Accordingly, this cor porate body purchased lands at Dalmarnock, on the banks of the Clyde, about three miles above the city, where they erected steam-engines, filtering pits, and reservoirs, &c. and now send river water, in a pure state, in iron pipes, through the streets and lanes of the city and suburbs. for the accommodation of all those who choose to purchase it. The expenditure of the company up to April 1815 is 81,1941. 9s. 7d. The produce of water rents for one year, ending at same period, is 59711.: 8 : 7, which is raised in advance from the following rates, viz.-persons occupy ing a dwelling-house rented under 41. pay 53. per annum ; 41. and udder 61. 6s per annum ; 61 and under 81. 7s. 6d. per annum ; 81. and upwards five per cent. per annum. Bakers pay 5s. per annum for each man or boy employed in the bakehouse. The keepers of horses and cows, 4s. for each. Counting-houses. shops, and warehouses, pay from 53. to 108. ; and public works according to the quan tity of water used. The cast iron pipes, belonging to the company, laid in the streets and lanes within the royalty, exclusive of the main from Dalmarnock, and pipes in the suburbs of Gorbals, Calton, Bridgetown, &c. amount to seventeen miles, four furlongs, and three poles.