The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-30 00:00:00

POPULATION OF THE CITY OF •
GLASGOW AND COUNTY OF LANARK.
In our first page will be found the Census returns for
the City of Glasgow and the county of Lanark, showing
a total of 280,676 souls for the former, and 433,912 for
the latter, inclusive, of course, of Glasgow and the other
burghs within the bounds of the county. While the
vast increase which has taken place in the population
since 1831 must form matter of consideration to every
one, as indicative of the progressive advance of com-
merce and manufactures within our bounds, it is not to
be regarded without a somewhat painful alloy or draw-
back. The returns prove that in those parts of the city,
which are principally inhabited by labourers or the
humbler class of operatives, the increase in the number
of dwellings has borne no proportion to the increase of
the population which inhabits them ; or, in other words,
that as the number of people have increased their comforts
have decreased. The Irish population, it will be observed,
has increased vastly during these last 10 years, and the fol-
lowing remarks on the subject by Mr. Strang are well
worthy the attention of those who pursue statistical inquiry
with the view to ameliorate the condition of the mass who
lie at the base of society :—" While, therefore, (says
he] there appears only to be an increase [in the ancient
burgh bounds] of 3,495 in the present Census above that
which the Irish bore to the population of 1831, the real
amount of inhabitants who are imbued with Irish charac-
teristics, habits, feelings, and religious sentiments, is in-
finitely greatei. Whether or not this vast infusion into
our city population, of a people whose ideas of comfort
are so far below the level of this nation, has had the effect
of altering, in any degree, the tastes and habits of those
with whom they are in daily intercourse, is somewhat
problematical ; but it cannot be denied, that this con-
stant Irish immigration is producing a more densely and
closely packed community, and is tending to a less com-
fortable condition in the dwellings of the labouring
classes of our city."
While on this subject it may not be uninteresting to
give a vidimus of the population of Glasgow and of the
county in which it is situated, at various antecedent
periods, evincing, as it does, an advance which has only
been equalled by the rapid, though less extensive, growth
of some of the American communities which have sprung
into thriving towns and cities within a few years after
the axe was applied to the forest from which the first
location was hewn. There is reason to believe that at
the time of the Reformation, in 1560, the population of
Glasgow amounted to 4,500 ; but there is no authentic
data on this subject till 1610. In that year (1610) Epis-
copacy having been re-established, the population was
taken by Archbishop Spottiswood, and ascertained to be
7,644. At the restoration of Charles 11., in 1660, the
population numbered 14,678. At the period of the Re-
volution, in 1688, the population had declined to 11,948.
The civil wars are assigned as the cause of this decrease,
and it is a matter of historical fact, that the iron hand
of persecution fell upon no part of Scotland more heavily
than upon that part of it in which Glasgow is situated.
It is not wonderful, therefore, that the numbers fell off
immediately after the restoration of the Second Charles,
and that it required more than half a century to make
up the defalcation. In 1708. immediately after the
Union, the population amounted to 12,766. This enu-
meration was made by the Magistrates, to ascertain the
amount of the decline which they had anticipated. In
1712, an enumeration was made by order of the Conven-
tion of Royal Burghs, and the population was found to be
13,832. In 1740, the numbers were taken by the Magi-
strates, and found to be 17,034. In 1753 the population had
increased to 23,546, but this total included persons livingin
houses adjoining to, but beyond the Royalty. In 1763 an
enumerationwas made by Mr. J. Woodburn, city surveyor,
and found to give a total of 28,300. In 1780, the suburbs
of Glasgow were for the first time included in the enu-
meration, and the total numbers were 42,832. In 1785,
soon after the termination of the American war, the
Magistrates took the population, which was 45,889.
In 1791, the population was taken for Sir John Sin-
clair's National Statistical Account, and found to be
66,578. In ISOI, the first Government Census was
taken, and the result was—Males, 35,007 ; Females,
42,378—T0ta1, 77,385. Including part of the Suburbs,
however, which had been omitted, the total population
of Glasgow now amounted to 83,769. In 1811, the
Government Enumeration gave—Males, 45,275 ; Fe-
males, 55,474—T0ta1, 100,749. By adding those parts
of the suburbs, which had been omitted, the actual total
was 110,460. In 1819, an enumeration was taken by
the-late Dr. Cleland, giving the following results—
_ Males, 68,994 ; Females, 78,203—T0ta1, 147,197. At
the Government Census of 1821, the numbers were—
Males, 68,119 ; Females, 78,924—T0ta1, 147,043. In
1831, the fourth Government Census was taken, and
the population was—Males, 93,724 ; Females, 108,702—
Total, 202,426. In 1841, the fifth Government. Enume-
ration gives a total of 280,676.
The population of the county of Lanark has pro-
gressed as follows :—ln 1801, it amounted to 146,699.
In 1811, it was 190,924, showing an increase from 1801
of 31 per cent. In 1821, the total was 244,387, show-
ing an increase from 1811 of 27 per cent. In 1831; the
population was ascertained to be 316,790, showing an
increase from 1821 of 30 per cent. In the returns which
we publish to-day the gross population of Lanarkshire in
1841 is 433,912, showing an increase from 1831 of
117,122 or 36'9 per cent.,---Glasgow Herald.

THE LATE FAST APPOINTED BY
THE SCOTCH KIRK.
" Dearly beloved brethren—Grace be unto you, and
peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. It has seemed good unto us, being assembled
with one accord, to invite and call all the flock, over the
the which the Holy Ghost math made us overseers, to
join with us in devoting to the solemn exercises of hu-
miliation, of thanksgiving, and of prayer, a convenient
day which, in virtue of the authority committed to us
by our King and Head, we have set apart for that
holy end."
Thus commences a pastoral address, signed by
Robert Gordon in the name of the General As-
sembly of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland, and
read in all the churches the Sunday before last. Such
is the apostolic style, and far more than apostolic impe-
riousness assumed by a body of clergy, one-third of whom
do not even profess to preach the doctrine of the Church
with which they are associated, but just the opposite—
n third of whom, whilst they promulgate its creed,
exhibit :ione of its influence—and the remaining part of
with the others in practically unchurch-
whom concall.
I.ristianising, that half of their nation
ing, if not Inc..
co their State-church shibboleth.
that cannot pronou;:
k those Lords over God's heri-
Thus authoritatively spec:.
vely to State pay, refuse
tage, who, clinging convuls;
State control—the Moderator of :'hose Assembly agreed
paltry pence
with the Edinburgh clergy in wringi,:g their
from Russell and others by imprisonmen mall distraint— and
who, when some years since the present Corn-laws were
seemingly threatened, met in presbyteries and petitioned
against such relief to the poor, because it would affect
their aTain-paid stipends. " Met with one accord,"
they divide by narrow majorities ; and "in virtue of the
authority committed to them by their King and Head,"
they, as State-Churchmen, usurp the authority which,
in all former times, their church has recognised as vested
in the Civil Magistrate. More than half the flock over
which, with canting impiety, they declare the Holy Ghost
has made them overseers, is their's only because they
arrogantly claim them, and the afflictions on account of
which they call upon the nation to humble themselves,
are the afflictions of clergymen who cannot retain state
pay without submitting to state interference. Whether
this be blind self-delusion, or nauseous hypocrisy, or
both, WC know not—but this we do know, that it is a
complete burlesque upon religion.
The address goes on to state that " the Lord has a
controversy with his church on account of their sins,"
and asserts that " the troubles and perils of an ex-
ternal nature in which their beloved Church is involved,
being connected in respect of time, and partly also in
the way of natural consequence,' with particular mea-
sures adopted, or with a particular line of conduct fol-
lowed, although it might seem to be the mark and token
of God's disapprobation of what has been done, must
not be so interpreted by mere human and earthly wis-
dom—and that if, in repairing the breaches of former
generations trouble and danger come, so far from thinking
that any strange thing has befallen them, they who
thus suffer are still called , upon to testify that
the Lord is righteous, and that all his ways
are just and true." We confess, our blood
boils with indignation as we write their monstrous
perversion of Scripture sentiment and language.
Why what, in the end, are these men threat-
ened with? neither more nor less than the loss of their
endowments. The State claims to interfere in the
Church's affairs simply because the State finds the
estimation money. Would they but throw up their compulsorily-
exacted emoluments, they would enjoy the spiritual in-
dependence,l the invasion of which calls for a day. of spe-
cial
fasting and prayer.
uiiliation. But spiritual independence is in their
too exensive to be sacrificed at the cost of
teends. And
of gold, they will obtain from heaven, if possible,
what they cannot consent to have at the ex-
penseleave us the money t 00,,,
y
" We cannot surrender
over-
whelmed with distressent
"Give :is the independence and
tion.
Cwohuierhtstohfeswesesailothn
wit at h
itshethseubbuoTrddie.mnaotifotnhetior
civilsupp supplica-
tion the wealth, but we are
t, Why," ask these t
hSet us free from the grasp of
e money in our pockets.".
which, were it not for itsreverend divines, with a simplity
uisminpga—rte"d to our pfoinsdsetsisiieon of temporal.
why, shocking impiety, would be ex-,
instead of increased stability
, do we
and
nul
sgisecurity
advantages prt
lo foes ranged
nent jeopardy, many great and
against us, and new difficulties; fropmelda,
powerful
merfallll put in immi-
y
vt yidayshut
thear j
us n tgo,
amid which we are more and more
the necessity of crying, 'Help, Lord, fist
of man.' " The answer supplied by themselves is equallyell3
characteristic."
These things are manifest evidences of
there being some accursed thing in the midst of us—
so
me root of bitterness—some blot cleaving to our
Lands." Aye ! the wedge of gold and the Baba,-
lonish garment explains all—this is " the accursed
thing," and the imprisonment of conscientious men
because they will not bow the knee to the image which
clerical tyranny has set up, this is " the blot cleaving to
their hands." The foul stain has sunk into the skin, and .
nothing can wipe out. The mark of the beast is upon
the arrogant, persecuting kirk—mad she is doomed to fall
by her own misdeeds. She is now feeding upon the ashes
of her own pride, and drinking the nauseous cup which
her own ambition and avarice has mingled. Down to the
dregs will she be compelled to-drain it, and none will rity
her calamity. Let her but loose her hold upon the teinds,
and her troubles would cease.
We cannot pursue this address further. The confor-
mity to the world which she professes to deplore,
she produces by her system and encourages by her exam-
ple. A church living in the embraces of the State can
no more keep up earnest religion, and separation from the
world than can the immodest, promote and sustain the
virtue of chastity. When the-General Assembly thinks
fit again to appoint a day of fasting for the nation, on
account of ecclesiastical difficulties, we recommend to
their serious notice a passage of Scripture-far more ap-
propriate than any quoted in this pastoral address.
" Wash you—make you clean, put away the evil of your