[ [67] The illustration does not show the Inner Quadrangle, situated to the left of the Main Court, that part of the building having been added since the view was published.
[ [68] The author of ‘Glasgow, Past and Present’ thus writes:—“Last week (Nov. 1851) I was crossing the ferry at the west end of Tradeston, and in the course of our passage over we turned round the bow of a large ship. The ferryman, looking up to her leviathan bulwarks, exclaimed, ‘She came up here yesterday, drawing eighteen feet water!’ Now, upon this very spot seventy years ago, when a very little boy, I waded across the river, my feet never being off the ground, and the water not reaching above my arm-pits. The depth at that time could not have been much more than three feet.”
[ [69] The ‘Glasgow Courant’ of Oct. 22, 1759, contains the following advertisement:—
“Just Published,
“And to be Sold by James Watt, at his Shop in the College of Glasgow, price 2s. 6d.,
“A large Sheet Map of the River Clyde, from Glasgow to Portincross, from an Actual Survey.
“To which is added,
“A Draught of Part of the North Channel, with the Frith of Clyde according to the best authorities.”
[ [70] General T. Perronet Thompson is another remarkable instance of a person without ear for music, who has mastered the principles of harmony and applied them in the invention of his “Enharmonic Organ.”
[ [71] Watt seems to have made other organs besides those above mentioned. Not long since a barrel-organ of his construction was offered for sale at Glasgow. It was originally in the form of a table, about three feet square, having no appearance of a musical instrument externally. At this table, when Watt and his friends were seated, he would set the concealed mechanism in action, and surprise them with the production of the music. It has since been mounted with an organ front and sides, with gilt pipes. When in proper tune it is of considerable power and pleasing harmony; and continues orthodox in its psalm tunes, which range from “Martyrs” to the “Old Hundred.” A correspondent writes as follows:—“A large organ made and used by Watt when he had his shop in Glasgow, was disposed of by him, when he finally left this city. It came into the possession of the late Mr. Archibald M‘Lellan, coach-builder, Miller Street, Glasgow, and he had it fitted up in his elegant residence in that fine old street. I have heard it played by Mr. M‘Lellan. After his death it was sold, and purchased by Mr. James G. Adam of the Denny print-works. Mr. Adam died, and the organ was advertised for sale, in 1864, and purchased for 10l., by Adam Sim, Esq., of Coulter Mains, in whose possession it now is. Mr. Sim has authentic documents to prove that this organ was really James Watt’s.”