certainly not the usual motive with which burghs were erected. This was trade. They had in a general way failed to accommodate themselves to the requirements of the time, and were now suffering the natural result. The Union, to which many of them were opposed, came in time to save them. The sum paid by England under the name of an "Equivalent," helped at once to restore our drooping trade, which trade in its turn again made the burghs once more a power in the state. Our importance as a trading people may be said to date from that time; and as our commerce year after year gradually increased, new towns sprung up, which at once rivalled in greatness, and tended to keep in check the exclusive spirit of the older burghs. The history of these burghs from the Union to the Reform Bill, though not without interest-particularly in electioneering episodes -does not fall within the scope of this paper, and might not be thought suitable for an archæological society. I have sought more particularly to indicate the origin, and trace the early effect of a system of local self-government, existing to our own day, and existing with a power which makes one disposed now and then to wish it rather lessened than increased. It is to this independent local self-control that we must attribute a great part of our national prosperity. While it is a standing example to foreign countries of the results of freedom, it tends to form and control public sentiment at home, in a manner at once acceptable to the people and serviceable to the state. TRANSACTIONS OF THE GLASGOW ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. NO. XXV. THE HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF THE FOUR LEADING ARTICLES OF FOREIGN ORIGIN; WHICH WERE FIRST IMPORTED INTO GREAT BRITAIN ABOUT TWO CENTURIES AGO, VIZ.: SUGAR, TEA, COFFEE, AND POTATOES: BY ANDREW SCOTT, Esq., LATE OF H.M. CUSTOMS. LITTLE more than two centuries ago none of these articles were in use in the United Kingdom, but since which date their consumption in this country has been progressively on the increase to an amazing degree, and has long rendered them indispensable necessaries of life; being in general use by all classes of the community. They have also led to the most wonderful change that ever took place in the diet of modern civilized nations-a change highly important both in a moral and physical point of view;-the beverage produced from tea and coffee having the admirable advantage of affording stimulus, without producing intoxication or any of its evil consequences. However, the Annual Committee of the Convention of Royal Burghs, in an "Address to the several Burghs in Scotland," of date 3rd September, 1736, represented "that smuggling was carried on to an alarming extent in the country, to the extreme impoverishment thereof, as well as loss to the public revenue; that run tea is sold so cheap that it becomes a regular part of the diet of those who could not think of purchasing it if the duty were added to the price, and that if no tea was imported, people would return to the diet of their ancestors. The chief temptation to the use of it, is the notorious lowness of the price, which is so small that men hardly let it into their heads that it is in any degree a national consideration, nor do they reflect that the price of run tea is the smallest part of the expense when they entertain themselves or their friends with that drug, seeing the sugar drops totally out of the account." Sugar is first mentioned by Paul Eginetta, a physician, in 625, and was brought originally from China and the East. It was produced in Sicily in 1148; in Madeira, in 1419; and in the Canary Islands in 1503. Attempts were also made to cultivate it in Italy in 1659, but did not succeed. It was first introduced into the West Indies by the Portuguese and Spaniards, in 1510, and successfully cultivated in Barbadoes, the first British settlement there; from whence importations took place into the mother country about 1605.1 Sugar refining was first discovered by a Venetian about the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century. In Cromwell's time it was almost exclusively in the hands of the Dutch, and was first practised in England in 1659; in Glasgow in 1667; in Greenock in 1765; and in Port-Glasgow in 1777. The earliest sugarhouse in Glasgow was known as the "Wester Sugarhouse." It was erected in 1667, at the south-west corner of Bell's Wynd (now called Bell Street) and Candleriggs Street, and was begun by four of our merchants, viz., Peter Gemmill, Frederick Hamilton, John Caldwell, and Robert Cummings, who put in a joint stock for carrying it on; and M'Ure, the historian, says, "that they having got a little apartment for boiling sugar, and a Dutchman as master-boiler, the undertaking proved very effectual, and their endeavours were," he adds, "wonderful successful, so that they left this little apartment and built a great stone tenement with convenient office houses for their work,2 within a great court, with a 1 Slavery was began by the English in 1562; and prior to 1660 Barbadoes had been cultivated and enriched by slaves from Scotland as well as England, “who had been exiled for their non-conformity." 2 ADDENDA, 1865.-SENEX, in Old Glasgow and its Environs, just published, mentions another refinery, called the "North Sugarhouse," which had a dead stone wall fronting Bell Street, the entry thereto being from the Candleriggs, through the great back court of the Wester Sugarhouse, and both works formed one concern in his (Senex's) day. These works were advertised for sale thus, in the Mercury of 1st August, 1787,-"The West Sugarhouse Buildings,' having a front of 104 feet to the Candleriggs Street, and 126 feet to Bell's Wynd Street. The grounds are well situated for building shops and warehouses on. Until sold, the business will be carried on as usual. For particulars, apply to Alexr. Schevis." In the Glasgow Journal of 7th November, 1782,-"The sugarhouse lying on the south side of Bell's Wynd, and fronting the same, known by the name of the North Sugarhouse,' with all the utensils belonging thereto, employed in the manufacturing raw sugars, with vacant ground or yard behind, on which is also built a new house. These buildings are all calculated in such a manner that they can be easily turned into good dwelling-houses and shops at a small expense, if not continued as a sugarhouse; and the ground behind is of such extent as to afford sufficient room for building a regular square. Apply to Robert Barbour and George Household."* The latter premises were again advertised in the Mercury of 23rd January, 1783; apply to Robert Barbour. *Mr. Household had the charge of the sugar sample-room which was shortly after fitted up in the Tontine back buildings. pleasant garden belonging thereto; the partners of this latter house were John Graham of Dougalston, Richard Graham, William Anderson, John Stark (late Provost), William Craig (Bailie), and James Craig, merchant." On the death of Peter Gemmill (one of the four original partners), in 1683, his widow refused to advance her share of what was necessary for carrying on of the work. The materials, utensils, and men, to the extent of £16 sterling of wages, monthly, were thus thrown idle-a general calamity. The Privy Council took up the case, and on the 20th December, same year, "enjoined the Magistrates of Glasgow to use their endeavours to get the difference composed, and the work kept up." The "Eastern Sugarhouse" was erected in 1669, on the south side of the Gallowgate nearly opposite to the Spoutmouth, by five of our merchants, viz., John Cross, James Peddie, John Luke, George Bogle, and Robert Cross, who put in a joint stock for carrying it on, and built large buildings for boiling their sugars, and employed a German to be master-boiler;" this project he (M'Ure) adds, "likewise proved effectual, so that their stock wonderfully increased." The representors of four of these partners in 1736, when M'Ure published his View of the City, enjoyed the same; namely, John Graham of Dugalston, the heirs of Provost Peddie, Robert Bogle, and Robert Cross, merchants. A Seisine, recorded the 26th March, 1709, describes this property as "the Easter Sugarie beyond the Gallowgate Bridge." Zechariah Zebs, sugar-boiler in this work, died in the year 1679, aged 36, and left £2,779 9s. 6d. Scots money, "to the Hospital for the use of the poor members of the merchant rank in Glasgow, and none else." The "South Sugarhouse," was erected sometime thereafter, but prior to 1736, on the west side of Stockwell Street (the site of which is now Stockwell Place), and, according to M'Ure, "consisted of a large court, high and low apartments, cellars, store-houses, and boiling houses, with distillery apartments, pleasant gardens, and all conveniences whatsomever. This work belonged to Colonel William M'Dowall, Major James Milliken,' and James Anderson, merchant in Glasgow. The "King Street Sugarhouse," also erected prior to 1736, was situated upon the east side of King Street, south of Gibson's Wynd, now called Prince's Street, and consisted likewise, according to M'Ure, "of a large Court, high and low apartments, Cellars, Store1 lide page 369. houses, Distillery houses, and all other conveniences. This work belonged to Peter Murdoch late Provost, Peter Murdoch his son James Montgomerie of Pearston,-Montgomerie his son, Andrew Buchanan late Dean of Guild, and John Coulter late Bailie." The "Little Sugarhouse in King Street" was also erected before 1736, by William Gordon late Bailie, and Haick Bettiken, Boiler. An additional sugar-work was designed to be set up in February, 1701, by Matthew and Daniel Campbell, merchants in Glasgow, and, in connection therewith, there was to be a work, "for distilling Brandy and other spirits from all manner of Grain of the growth of the Kingdom." And these parties further represented that "with this view they had conduced and engaged several Foreigners and other persons eminently skilled in making of Sugar and distilling of Brandy, &c., whom, with great travel, changes, and expense, they had prevailed with, to come to Glasgow," all which was, they stated, that "the nation may be more plentifully and easily provided with the said Commodities, as good as any that have been in use to be imported from abroad," adding "the distillery will both be profitable for consumption of the product of the kingdom, and for trade for the Coast of Guinea and America, seeing that no trade can be managed to the places foresaid, or the East Indies, without great quantities of the foresaid Liquors." This privilege was granted, but no erection appears to have taken place by said parties. For a long time, even before the Restoration of Charles II., the inhabitants of Glasgow had been in possession of the sale of both raw and refined sugars for the greater part of Scotland; they had also the privilege of distilling spirits from their molasses free of all duty, and Excise. In 1715, however, the Crown raised a process against the sugar bakers in Glasgow and Leith, in which it was urged that they had not only enjoyed the exemption from the duties of Customs on the import of materials for a great number of years, but also the duties of Excise upon the spirits and other commodities manufactured by them, and therefore claiming the bygone Excise duties. In 1719 the Court of Exchequer found them liable in the sum of forty thousand pounds sterling. As the Trade could not pay any such sum a compromise was suggested, and an Act of 1st George I. empowered the Lords of the Treasury "to treat with the proprietors of sugarhouses in Scotland, for such reasonable satisfaction for private rights of exemption from Custom and Excise to which the proprietors were entitled;" and the preamble of another |