"Inquiry XII.-If not prosperous, explain causes, and suggest improvements.

"Answer.-No suggestions occur as worthy the com

missioners' attention.

"Inquiry XIII.-Copies of any resolutions of the Incorporation in reference to the Burgh Reform

Bill.

"Answer.--The Incorporation frequently met and petitioned Parliament for the passing of the Parliamentary Reform Act. But the Burgh Reform Bill being introduced into a reformed Parliament, and so considered to to be quite safe, and as both the city members were advocates for it, it did not seem to be necessary to take any steps regarding it.

"Inquiry XIV-Any other explanations or suggestions connected with the above points.

"Answer.-The Incorporation have no explanations or suggestions to offer connected with the various points submitted to their attention by the commissioners.

"All which is humbly submitted by

"LAUCHLANT MUCKHART, Deacon."

The foregoing queries and answers contain a very distinct epitome of the affairs of the Incorporation at the time, and, with a few exceptions, are still applicable to the present state of matters. These exceptions are― Ist. The exclusive privileges of trading have since been abolished, and consequently all trading prosecutions are

now at an end; 2nd, the Bridewell has been transferred to Government, under the Prisons Act, 1877; 3rd, the Trades' House School has been superseded, in consequence of the schools erected and maintained by the School Board, under the Education Act, 1872; 4th, the Statute Labour Board has been abolished by the Roads and Bridges Act, 1878; 5th, the annual payment and presentation of poor to the Town's Hospital have been dropped; and 6th, the heritable property in Stockwell Street and High Street has since been sold.

Nothing further of importance calling for special notice has transpired since 1848, when the proposal, already referred to, for changing the Incorporation into an annuity society was abandoned. There were, however, some matters brought up and decided upon, which may interest our readers, and may be considered worthy of a passing notice. These matters will now be shortly touched

upon.

CHAPTER

VIII.

BURGESSES-WATCHING

AND

WARDING BEFORE ESTAB

LISHMENT OF POLICE FORCE UNDER FIRST POLICE ACT OF 1800.

Down to the close of last century watching and warding was, in accordance with the burgess oath, an obligation laid upon all who had obtained municipal privileges; but the mode practised by the burgesses to evade the duty was, of itself, sufficient to render the watching even worse than a farce. The respectable citizens, instead of proceeding in their turn to the guard-house themselves, either hired porters or sent their servants to perform the work; while occasionally a set of young madcaps ostensibly undertook the duty, but instead of attempting to allay noise and turbulence, they secretly instigated commotion for the sake of diversion. In these circumstances, it may easily be conceived that thieves and vagabonds had their full swing, while, beneath the safeguard of an ill-lighted and frequently a lampdemolished town, offences of the most heinous kind were safely committed. The first Police Act was obtained in the year 1800, but, even so late as the commencement of the present century, outrages of every kind and description were daily committed in the blaze of day, while battles with lethel weapons, and pugilistic encounters on the public streets, were of nightly occurrence. While this was the case, it must be allowed that many of these

irregularities arose more from fun and frolic than from vice and passion, and were created not unfrequently by youths belonging to the better classes. At that period, to carry off a barber's basin, or to unswing a golden-fleece from above the shop doors, was a common trick; and, as to the transference of a sign-board from one shop to another, this was looked upon as no crime, but rather as an excellent joke. The truth is, that for many years after the police was established, it was anything but a sufficient force. It was invisible in the daytime, and during the night the watching was little better than a mockery. The limited day-force, indeed, was chiefly engaged in the detection of crimes, while the night-force was rather a dread to themselves than to others. The force then were poor; worn-out old men. On a stormy night the shaky old watchman would sometimes draw over his rough stockinged limbs a pair of coarse hoggers as an additional safeguard from the night air, while over his wig, if he had such a luxury, was usually planted a Kilmarnock nightcap and above all, a hat-the whole head-gear being tied down under the chin by some cast-off shawl or handkerchief. In this garb and guise the police guardian sallied forth, not unfrequently accompanied by his wife, to the post assigned to him for the night, who, after seeing him snug in his box, retired home, never forgetting, however, to give him the strictest charges to take good care of himself. It may easily be imagined that the watchman was not long ensconced in his wooden great coat before he got into a dozy condition, and, as these boxes were made with the upper half to open outwards, in the lock of which the key was always left, it very often happened that the poor

Bobby was locked in and the key thrown away by some passing wag; and sometimes even the box and all it contained was tumbled on its face by a lot of mischievous dare-devils wending their way homewards in a lively condition from a tavern. As time went on the force was greatly improved; but it was many years before it reached a state even approaching the present effective force. To those now living quietly and comfortably under the protection of our well-managed municipal police, it is scarcely possible to convey any idea of the irregularities and dangers to which the citizens of Glasgow were exposed under the warding and watching by the burgesses, and, indeed, even after the establishment of the police. The burgess has now all the privileges without the attendant personal obligations and duties borne by his predecessor before the present century commenced. His burgess ticket contains many privileges. Should the burgess be a craftsman and in reduced circumstances he may get, through his craft and the Trades' House, &c., certain substantial benefits, afterwards fully explained in chapters 17 and 18, but even if he be merely a burgess, but not a craftsman, he may still obtain assistance from Hutchesons' Hospital and the Corporation of Glasgow through their respective chamberlains out of mortifications left by benevolent benefactors, information as to which is always fully given on application. The burgess of the present day may well offer up his fervent thanks for the security he dwells in, and the many benefits he enjoys, when contrasted with those possessed by his predecessors during the last and previous centuries.