The armorial bearing of the city is on a field parti. p. fcss. argent and gales, an oak tree surmounted with a bird in chief, a salmon with a gold stoned ring in its mouth in base, and on a branch on the sinister side, a bell languid or, all proper. The motto, " Let Glasgow flourish." In former times, through the preaching of the word," was added to the motto.
The situation of this city commands the attention of stran gers: It lies on the north bank of the Clyde, is bounded on the west by the village of Anderston, on the east by the Calton and Bridgeton, on the north by the Barony or Land ward Parish, and on the south by the river.
The air, though generally healthy, is somewhat moist. The average of rain which has fallen for 30 years previous to 1790, is 29 inches. The greatest quantity in any year curing that period was in 1775, which was 43 inch es, and the least, which was in the year 1788, was t9 700 inches.
The following Table shows the quantity of rain that fell at the Macfarlane observatory from 1810 to '1814, as mea sured by an excellent rain-gage by Crichton of Glasgow : Inches. Inches. Inches.
1810 25.132 I 1812 22. 81 I 1814 19.522 1811 27.801 1813 18.368 In 1712, the river was swoln to a height never before re membered. On the 12th March 1782, it rose 18 inches higher than in 1712, so that boats were floated in the streets of the under part of the town.
The soil around the city being very various, is so Unprov en by an abundant supply of manure, as to produce heavy crops of every description. Coal, freestone, whinstone, and clay of excellent quality, are to be found in almost every direction.
The greater part of the buildings are erected on ground having a gentle ascent from the river, the ancient part of the town being separated from the more modern by a con siderable acclivity, commencing near the College. The public park, or green, on the banks of the river, adjoining the south-east side of the town, contains upwards of 108 acres of grass, and 3 miles, 6 furlongs, and 12 poles of gravel walks. This park is of great use to the inhabitants, and contributes much to the general appearance of this part of the town.
The length and breadth of the city is ascertained by two main streets, which cross each other nearly at right angles. The principal street, running nearly east and west, bears the several names of \Vestergate, Argyle Street, Trongate, and Gallowgate, and is one mile and a half, one furlong, fif teen poles, and two yards long ; 83 feet broad at King Street, and 77 feet at Queen Street. The street which
runs south and north takes the names of the Saltmarket, High Street, Kirk Street, and Castle Street, and is three fourths of a mile, thirty-four poles, and three yards long; 54 feet wide at Bell Street, and 47 feet at George's Street. The greater part of the streets are 60 feet wide ; the average width is between 56 and 57 feet. They are all causewayed with very durable whinstones, and skirted with hewn stone pavements of various breadths, conformable to the police act. Common sewers, large enough to admit persons to clean them, extending four miles, seven furlongs, and ten poles, are formed in the streets.
Of the three squares in the city, St Andrew's, St Enoch's, and St George's, the latter is the most spacious : the cen tre of it is reserved for an equestrian statue of his Majesty. Public buildings, and the tenements fronting streets, are built with hewn stone, and covered with slates. The greater part of the private buildings, particularly in the ancient part of the town, at e built in what is called flats ; by two or more families are accommodated under the same roof. Iii the more mom in part, however, the te nements are so formed, that one family possesses the whole.
The building ground here is not disposed of by the lineal foot of front, as is the case in the other great towns in the island ; it is sold or retied by square measure. A yard of nine square feet will bring from one to eighteen guineas, according to the situation. The general rate of ground, however, for dwelling houses fronting a street, not in a very centrical situation for business, is from two to four guineas per yard.
Since the erection of the village of Glasgow into a burgh, in 1180, its constitution has undergone several alterations. In 1268, it appears that the town was governed by a pro vost and bailies, and that the corporation was duly organ ised. In 1636, a royal charter was obtained, appointing a xvater-bailie, and empowering him to exercise a maritime, civil, and criminal jurisdiction, from the bridge to the Clough, at the mouth of the river, 26 miles below the town.