306
Zustand von
Schottland
begnügten sich die Kaufleute damit, ihren Handel in Schiiten zu
treiben, die sie von den Engländern gemiethet hatten. Bald jedoch
wurden sie kühner, sie fingen an auf eigene Rechnung Schiffe
zu bauen, und 1719 segelte das erste Greenocker Schiff nach
Amerika. 114) Von dem Augenblicke an hob sich ihr Handel so
rasch, dass 1740 die Steuer, Welche sich die Bürger selbst aufgelegt
hatten, nicht nur hinreichte, die contrahirte Schuld abzubezahlcn,
sondern auch noch einen bedeutenden Ueberschuss für städtische
Zwecke zu Verwendenßlö) Um dieselbe Zeit und aus denselben
Gründen tauchte Glasgow aus der Dunkelheit auf. 1718 liessen
seine unternehmenden Einwohner das erste Schottische Schiff,
welches die Fahrt über den Atlantischen Ocean gemacht, in dem
Clyde vom Stapel, und kamen damit den Greenockern um ein Jahr
zuvorßß) Glasgow und Greenock wurden die beiden grossen
lmrhour was divided into two parts. This formidable work, the greatcst of the kind
at that time, invScotland, incurred an expence of more than 100,000 marks Scots."
Ohalmers' Oalerlania, III, 807, London 1824, 41:0. In MWMZZucIfs Gcogwnphiorzl am!
Statisiical Dictionary, London 1849, I, 930, heisst es, dass „the inhabitants took the
matter (1707) into their own hands, and agreed with their snperinr tolassess themsel-
ves at a. certain rate, to build a proper pier und harhour. The work. was iinished in
1710, a1: an expence of 5,5551."
1") "The trade of Greenock has kept paco with the improvements msule on its
harbour. The union of the kingdoms (1707) opened the eolonies to the enterprising
inhabitants nf this town, and generally of the west of Scotland; but it was not ti11
1'719 that the ürst vessel belonging to Grceuoek crossed the Atlantic." 11[ Yluiloclfs
Geographical rmd Statisiical Diclianary, I. 930.
m) „Such was the effect of the now harbour in incrcasing the tmde and the
population of the town, that the assessment, and port-duos, clearcd 01-1 the whnle
(lebt before 1740, and Ieft, in that year, a clear surplus of 27,000 rnarks Scots, 01'
1500!. Sterling. Clmhneaas" Oaledovzia, III, 807. "After the Union, howuvor, the trade
of the pnvt increased so rapidly, thaf; in the year 1740 the wholo (lobt was extin-'
guished, und there remained a surplus, the fonndation of the present town's funds,
of 27,000 merks." Sinclaifs Statäslical Account ofScotlund, V, 576, Edinburgh 1793.
116) „By the Union, however, newyviews were" opened up 1:0 the merchants 01' the
City; they thereby obtaiued the liberty of a free commerce to America and the West;
Indies, from which they had been before shut out; they chartexed lünglish vcssels for
these voyages, having none at iii-st fit for the purpose; sent mit cargoes of goods for
the use of the colonies, and returned home laden with tobacco. The business doing
W611, vessels were built belonging to the eity, und in the year 1718, the Iirst ship,
19119 Prßllßrty of Glasgow, crossed- the Atlantic." Denlzolwfs Ilistory of Glasgow, p.
405, 311 ßdit. Glasgow 1804. Brown (Ilistory of Glasgow, 11, 330, Edinburgh 1797)
Sagt, nthat 1119 Glasgow merchants churtered Whitehaven ships for many years;" but
that, in 1716, a vessel of sixty tons burden was launched a1; CrawforrYs dike, being
