GLASGOW Green is par excellence the people's park. It is not so picturesque as Kelvingrove, with its fine old trees and terrace-crowned heights, nor can it show anything to equal the gay parterres which adorn the green slopes of the Queen's Park; but it is ancient - it is historic, and has a thousand memories of its own. It is dear to the heart of all East-enders, who regard it as peculiarly their own, and have for ages shown a special jealousy of any attempt to encroach upon its privileges. When Glasgow is moved strongly by anything whatever, it instinctively resorts to the Green, and there "demonstrates." Any old inhabitant could tell the story of hundreds of assemblages - military, political and social - which have taken place within the space which the artist has delineated in the accompanying drawing. More than thirty years ago, when the view now presented to the reader was taken, the prospect to be had looking down the river was much more picturesque than it is at the present time. Before the two hideous railway bridges which now run across the stream above the level of the eye had been erected, any lover of the beautiful who stood on one of the town bridges on an autumn afternoon when the sun was descending through the yellow haze, and when the tall masts of the ships stood up against the blurred radiance, beheld a spectacle the splendour of which would long remain in his memory. But the times march on, and when the picturesque and the essential are opposed, the picturesque goes to the wall.

The Bridge shown in the drawing was the first stone bridge which united Hutchesontown with the city. In 1794 the foundation stone of a projected bridge was laid by Mr. Gilbert Hamilton, then Lord Provost of the city. It had five arches, was 406 feet long, and 26 feet within the parapets. But on the 18th November, 1795, just when the parapets were about completed, a flood rushed down the river and swept it away. A foot-bridge was afterwards erected, which did duty for a number of years. Hutchesontown Bridge was built on the site of the former attempt, and its foundation stone was laid on the 18th August, 1829, by Mr. Robert Dalglish, the Preceptor of Hutchesons' Hospital. The architect was Mr. Robert Stevenson. It had five arches, was 406 feet long, and 36 feet wide within the parapets. In 1868 it was closed for traffic, and three years afterwards the elegant structure of iron known as the Albert Bridge took its place.

The towering obelisk which testifies to the admiration with which England's great naval hero was regarded by the citizens, was erected in 1806. The foundation stone was laid on the 1st August of that year, being the anniversary of the battle of Aboukir, in the presence of 80,000 spectators. The monument is 144 feet in height and cost upwards of œ2000, which was raised by public subscription. On the 6th August, 1810, it was struck by lightning and materially injured during one of the most tremendous thunderstorms that ever passed over the city. This circumstance inspired a local bard with a stanza, which he inscribed in chalk upon the pedestal, the concluding lines of which ran:-

"Stern Jove has darted thunders on thy head -

Even gods are envious of Nelson's fame!"

The Arns Well was situated on the brae face of that part of the Green which lies between the Humane Society's House and Nelson's Monument. It derived its name from being surrounded by a clump of Alder trees (Scotice arns), and was celebrated for ages as containing the finest spring water of any well in the city or suburbs. "Senex," in his delightful book on Old Glasgow, says:- "In my early days the Arns Well water was looked upon as a sort of dainty, and I have often heard the landlord of a feast, upon making the celebrated Glasgow cold rum punch, inform his guests that it was made from Arns Well water. In like manner old ladies, in order to puff up the fine flavour of their tea, used to inform the company that the water had just been drawn from Arns Well." The Well has now been covered over.