PORT-GLASGOW, the name of a parish and town of Scotland, in llenfrewshire, and so called from being the port to the city of Glasgow. The citizens of Glasgow, feeling the want of a sufficient depth of water at the Bromielaw, resolved to have a port nearer the mouth of the Clyde. They first proposed to make an extensive harbour at Dumbarton, but being opposed by the magis trates of that burgh, they purchased, in 1662, thirteen acres of ground from Sir Robert Maxwell, near the village of Newark, about 19 miles below Glasgow, and, having laid out the ground for a town, they built harbours, and erected the first dry, or graving dock, in Scotland. In 1714. Port-Glasgow was disjoined from the parish of Kil malcolm, and erected into a separate parish ; and, on the 22d February, 1718, it was agreed that a church should be built at Port-Glasgow, one half of the expense to be de frayed by the city of Glasgow, and the other by the feuars of Port-Glasgow.
In 1775, with the consent of the city of Glasgow, the town was erected into a burgh of barony, which is govern ed by two bailies and a council of eleven feuars, who pos sess at least 101. of annual income from heritable proper
ty. The city of Glasgow appoints the principal bailie, and the town clerk.
The harbours of Port-Glasgow are capable of receiving the largest vessels without discharging any part of their cargo. There are extensive warehous:s on the quay be longing to the Glasgow merchants. The ruins of the ancient castle of Newark, belonging to Lord Belhaven, are situated a little to the east of the town, on the banks of the river. It was once strongly fortified, and was built in 1599. The arms of the Maxwell family are placed over the main entrance.
In the bed of the river, opposite to this castle, several pieces of wreck have, at different times, been discover ed, which are said to have been sunk in 1588, to pre vent the Spanish armada from attempting the castle of Dumbarton.
The following Tables will show the state of the trade of Port-Glasgow, in the years ending 5th January, 1815, and 5th January 1824.