THE TOWN OF PAISLEY: dressed well; and, in summer evenings, walked in groups up and down the High Street, which was the greater part of the town. As the evenings advanced they engaged in dancing, and the street was empty by ten o'clock. In this year (1788) the first umbrella was brought to Paisley. It was brought from Edinburgh by a Mr Weir, and was a great curiosity. It was long considered the height of effeminacy to use umbrellas; and we remember hearing an old lady say that she remembers her father telling her mother that he "wadna gang to the kirk wi' her if she carried that puddock-stool aboon her head." In 1790, muslin was the principal manufac ture; the silk manufacture being nearly extinct. In 1791 the population was 19,903. In this year there were 137 thread mills in the town, which annually sent to market goods valued at £60,000. In 1793, war broke out between Britain and France, and, when the news of the defeat of the British army in the Netherlands reached Paisley, there was a scene of sorrow and distress, for many of the youth of the town had been engaged, some of whom had not been enlisted more than six weeks. For some years after, there were about two dozen recruiting parties in the town, with the attendant martial music of drums and trumpets. In 1794, the Sneddon Bridge, which had been built in 1760, was found faulty, and was constructed anew. HISTORICAL SKETCH. X. On a Sabbath night in March, 1797, "Gryffe Castle," a farm house, tenanted by a Mr Barr, was forcibly entered by four men named Thos. Potts, George Aitcheson, William Oak, and William Pullans, all Irishmen, armed with swords and large knives. They succeeded in robbing the house to the extent of about £12 in money, and carried away some silver spoons. Potts and Aitcheson were apprehended, but Pullans and Oak absconded. A reward of £10 was offered for the capture of each of them. Aitcheson became a witness for the Crown, and Potts was tried at Edinburgh and condemned to death. The following is a copy of a letter which he wrote to his wife shortly after the trial. A portion of it is in a very ragged state, and the words in italics are supposed:- Dear Marey, Edinburgh, 14th July, 1797. For God's sake do not afflict yourself too much with trouble for my unhappy fate, as you know that God's will must be done, and we must submit to His command in all things. But how happy would it be for us if we would but obey His counsel, when we know we must submit to His command. I, therefore, willingly resign myself to His will, in hopes that He has not cast me off, as He is all sufficient to pardon all my transgressions. I, therefore, hope to find in Him mercy, which I could not find in man, for they have done their worst against me. God forgive them that has wronged me. But I assure you that I am in more trouble for you and the child than I am for myself, as my trouble will soon be over. But God help you. Yours will be much longer than mine; and to add to your troubles, they would not be content with taking my life any other place but in Paisley, so they have done their utmost to take yours as well as mine. But I hope that God will be your comfort, who alone can comfort all in distress who call upon His name. I hope that you will join me in prayer to God to pardon my sins, and to take me to Himself before I come to Paisley, if it be His good pleasure, which is my earnest desire and fervent prayer to Him, and I trust in God that He will hear it. I am to be brought to Paisley on Monday, the seventh day of August, and to suffer on Thursday, the seventeenth day of same month, which I suppose is the Fair Day of Paisley, so I can see how far malice has gone. But I do not fear him that after he hath killed the body hath no more that he can do. But I trust in Him that, after the body is killed, hath power to pardon my sins and receive my soul in mercy, which I willingly resign to Him, and hope that He will receive it. I would be very desirous to see you here, as you would not be kept from me as you were in Paisley, but would have free liberty to see me any time, and to converse with me at pleasure, for I get every indulgence that I can expect. But I need not think of it as it is so far, and you so unfit to come; but I hope you will ease my mind by writing every two or three days, and let me know what way you stand this afflicting scene of trouble which you have to undergo. I will let you know what was sworn against me that you may judge whether they spoke truth or not. Mr Barr swore nothing against me; but his wife and servant girl swore that the big knife which was took out of our house was held over their heads by some man all the time of the robbery, and they both appeared to be very drunk when they were sworn; but the girl was so much so that when the King's advocate told her to go away after she witnessed, she turned round and chopped five or six times on the table, and asked how much reckoning was to pay, which set the whole Court in laughter, and the Judge bade her go, for he thought she had paid enough for one time. George Aitchison swore that William Oak and himself and some others met at the Barrhead in a public-house, and that I came to them there according to tryst, and that we all went straight on through the Bridge of Johnstone to Mr Barr's, and broke open the door, robbed the house; but that knife was not there as he saw, but that I was in the house and helped in the robbery. The two servant men said nothing against me. John Wilson's wife swore that she got that knife hid in a dark closet, where there was no light, in a barrel, covered with a blanket to keep it out of sight, and she knew that it was at the robbery, because the night that I was took prisoner you had took it out of the house and hid it in the garden before the Sheriff searched the house, and that was the reason that it was not found that night that I was took. So she thought it was her duty to discover such a weapon. ! John Brown was asked nothing concerning it. He was asked how long he had known me. He said about a year. They asked him if I behaved myself well since the time that he had known me. He said that I was a good enough neighbour to him, but that I was under a bad character, and had stood a trial for robbery before-although he was not asked such a question, which was as bad as an evidence come against me. John Muckle's wife said little or nothing to good, either good or harm. Thomas Cochran said he knew nothing bad of me, but that he had little. acquaintance. And Dr Robinson gave me a very good character, and said that he had known me for more than six years or near seven years, and that I behaved well. But I was told that Alexander M'Kay and Archibald Merlain was not come, so I did not call them for fear they would be fined, nor did know that they were there till next day; and I wonder much that some of my acquaintances did not come up to see me, as none was hindered. There was none of Paisley people come to see me but Thomas Brook and Campbell the Messenger, and John Hart came three times; and the Magistrates gave orders to let any of my acquaintance come and see me that chose to come if I desired them myself. I am not as ill confined as I was in Paisley, nor half. I have pen, ink, and paper allowed me, a table and a chair, and a good bed; and the Provost gave orders to let any one in to see me that I' chose. When you write, direct to myself, prisoner in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, and for God's sake write often, as, it is all the comfort that I will ever have in this world with you. But I hope we shall meet in heaven. Pray to God for comfort, and He will give it to you; and if I knew you' to be well, I would be happy in mind; or if I had you to spake to betimes, for when I come to Paisley you will not have liberty to do. But it may please God that I may not come. No more, but remains your loving husband to death, which is not long, and my whole trouble is because I have made you miserable, what I never thought to do. The postage of letters will be free. Remember my love to your father and mother, brothers and sisters, for I suppose their trouble is great as well as yours. Remember me to all that you think wishes me well; but there will be plenty to say bad of me now. I have many things to write to you now, but I have broke you too far already so that I need oppress you with letters. Be sure write to me. Mary Potts, Willamsburg, near Paisley. From this letter it will be found that the prisoner was a man of some education: it was at that time the exception for people of his class to be able to write at all. The letter is written in a steady, beautiful hand. Potts was hanged at the Cross of Paisley, 17th August, 1797, and the gibbet projected from the corner of the steeple in such a way that it could be seen from the High Street, Moss Street, and Cross. In the evening the magistrates assembled in the Saracen Head Inn, where they had dinner, which cost, includ ing "entertainment to the hangman and assistant," £15 3s ld. In 1799, the population amounted to 24,324. This year was long remembered as the year of the dearth.' The price of oatmeal rose to 3/9 and 4/ the peck. During the eighteenth century a great trade was carried on through Scotland and from it into England by travelling merchants called packmen. The better class of these men rode on horseback, with saddle bags stuffed with their goods; whilst the others tramped on foot, with their merchandise on their backs. During the latter portion of that century, men dressed in three-cornered hats, waistcoats white or handsomely flowered, long coats blue or green, nankeen breeches, white stockings and spats, and many wore long Wellington boots. Owing to the failure of the crops in the previous year, the dearth was severely felt in 1800; and, for many years thereafter, prices were very high oatmeal usually 2/6 the peck; tea, 6d per ounce; sugar, 10d per lb.; butter, 2/4 per lb. ; and candles, 10d to ls per lb. In this year the manufacture of linen thread was entirely superseded by cotton thread in Paisley. In 1801, the population of the town was 24,324. In 1802, a new building for the Grammar School was erected on the Church-hill. In 1805, the manufacture of shawls was introduced into Paisley, and soon became the principal trade. Till 1806, when the Police Act came into force, the town was still protected at night by patrols CONTRIBUTED BY J. W. C. of the inhabitants; and, latterly, the population In 1807, the old Alms House and In 1807, the Coffee-room building was bought by a company of gentlemen in town for £3400. The capital of the company consists of £9000, divided into 1200 shares, which, in 1878, were in 39 hands. The company received for rents in this year £363, and a dividend of 5s per share was declared. In 1808, the Philosophical Institution was founded, and has ever since consisted of men of scientific and literary tastes. This was one of the first institutions of the kind in Scotland. The first lecture was delivered in October, 1809, by Dr William Ferrier, who chose for his subject "The Nature and Objects of Philosophical Research." The year 1810 was one of commercial depression: heavy failures took place. In 1810, the passenger boat, "Countess of Eglinton," was launched for the Glasgow and Johnstone Canal. She measured from keel to deck 7 feet 2 inches; breadth 8 feet; length, not including bow or stern, 59 feet 6 inches; cabin top, 40 feet long, 6 feet broad, with rail 10 inches high. The Paisley and Johnstone portion of this Canal was opened on the 6th of November of that year. On the 10th of that month, being Martinmas Fair Saturday, a great number of persons determined to have a sail on the newly opened Canal. As soon as the "Countess of Eglinton", had touched the landing stage, on her return from Johnstone, there was a rush to get on board. The boatmen pushed a few feet from the bank. The top, however, which was never intended for passengers, unless the inside was full, was crowded: the boat was top heavy and capsized, throwing nearly two hundred persons into the water. She instantly righted, and many were saved by taking hold of the boat, whilst others reached the bank, Eighty-five lives were lost. In 1811, the Glasgow and Paisley portion of the Canal was opened. In 1811, the population was 29,541. In 1812, such had been the great demand for soldiers and number of enlistments, that one could almost have known by sight all the young men that were left in Paisley. There were two regiments of Volunteers in the town one about a thousand strong, raised by William M'Kerrell; and the other, about three hundred strong, |