a town of Renfrewshire, in Scotland, situated about six miles west of Glasgow, on the river White-Cart, over which there are two stone-bridges of two arches each, and one which consists of three arches. The town is very ancient; but was of much less consequence formerly than it is at present. The old part of it runs from east to west upon the south slope of a ridge of hills, from which there is a fine prospect of the city of Glasgow and the adjacent country; but to the southward, the view terminates in a ridge of green hills, about two miles distant. Including the late buildings and suburbs, it is fully a mile long, and nearly as much in breadth. On the east side of the river Cart, stand the abbey and new town; which last was lately freed off by the Earl of Abercorn, and already consists of a number of handsome buildings. The streets are here laid out in a regular manner, but (rather unfortunately for the conveniency and elegance of some of the houses) not in right angles. Here the Earl of Abercorn has built, at his own expense, one of the largest, most commodious, and most elegant inns in Scotland. In the vicinity of this his Lordship is likewise to build several convenient and necessary market-places. A little way south of the inn stands the abbey-church, the only one which Paisley, before the year 1735, required. This church, when entire, has been a most noble building, and consisted of several distinct and separate places of worship: what now remains of this magnificent Gothic structure is not yet unworthy the notice of the curious in antiquities. The next church, called the Laigh-Church, is built in form of a Greek cross, very well laid out, and capable of containing a great number of people. The one called the High-Church, is a very fine building; and as it stands on the top of a hill, its lofty spire is visible at a great distance. This church is an oblong square of 82 feet by 62 within the walls, built of free-stone well smoothed, having rustic corners and an elegant stone cornice at the top. In the construction of the roof (which is a pavilion covered with slate, having a platform covered with lead on the top), there is something very curious, and it is admired by every person of taste. The Middle or New Church is a very neat building, on much the same model with the High Church, but not quite so large. Besides these, there are also two Seceding Meeting-houses and a Church of Relief. The town-house is a very handsome building of cut stone, with a tall spire and a clock. The flesh-market has a genteel front of cut stone, and is one of the neatest and most commodious of this kind in Britain. Butchers-meat, butter, cheese, fish, wool, and several other articles, are sold here by what they call the tron-pound, of 22 English ounces and an half.

The poor-house is a large building, very well laid out; and stands opposite to the quay, in a fine free air. It is supported by a small tax laid upon the inhabitants quarterly.

Close by the Abbey-Church is the Earl of Abercorn's burial-place, the greatest curiosity in Paisley. It is a vaulted Gothic chapel, without pulpit, pew, or any other ornament, but has the finest echo perhaps in the world. When the end door (the only one it has) is shut, the noise is equal to a loud and not very distant clap of thunder. If you strike a single note of music, you hear the sound gradually ascending, with a great number of repetitions, till it dies away as if at an immense distance, and all the while diffusing itself through the circumambient air. If a good voice sings, or a musical instrument is well played upon, the effect is inexpressibly agreeable. The deepest, as well as the most acute tones, are distinctly reverberated, and these in regular intervals of time. When a musical instrument is sounded, it has the effect of a number of instruments of a like size and kind playing in concert. When a number of different instruments in unison sounds the same note, a good ear is able to distinguish the variety of sound produced by each. A single instrument sounding a particular note, and then instantly its fifth, or any other concordant note, the two sounds can be heard, as it were, running into and uniting with each other in a manner peculiarly agreeable. But the effect of a variety of instruments playing in concert, is particularly charming, and must excite such emotions in the soul as it is impossible to describe. In this chapel is the monument of Marjory Bruce; she was daughter of Robert Bruce, and wife of Walter, great steward of Scotland, and mother of Robert II. In this same chapel were interred Elizabeth Muir and Euphemia Ross, both consorts to Robert II. In 1160, a fine monastery was founded by Walter, great steward of Scotland; but of this there are scarce any vestiges now remaining. The vestiges of the Roman camp and praetorium, at the west end of the town, are at present almost annihilated. It was supposed to be vaulted underneath.

The inhabitants of Paisley, in 1746, were computed at no more than 4000; but from a very accurate survey which has just been made, the number of families in Paisley and suburbs is found to be 3723; and allowing 4½ persons to each family, the number of inhabitants will be 16,753.

Paisley is now the first manufacturing town in Scotland, and is greatly celebrated on account of some of its branches. The manufacture of silk gauze, in this respect, first claims our notice. This branch is brought here to the utmost perfection, and is wrought to an amazing variety of patterns. It has been just computed, that there have been no less than 5000 weavers employed in Paisley and in the country adjacent, in this branch, last year (1781); and the number of widowers, warpers, clippers, and others necessary in other parts of the silk-manufacture, has been likewise computed to be no less than 5000. Each loom will produce in average value 70l. yearly; the whole will then be 350,000 l.

The linen branch is likewise carried on here to a very considerable amount, particularly the manufacture of lawns; and vast quantities of foreign yarn are annually imported from France, Germany, &c. for this branch, besides what is made of our home-manufactured yarn. It appears from the stamp-master's books, that from 1st November 1780 to 1st November 1781, there were stamped at Paisley no less than 1,248,843 yards, value 105,930l. 19s. 10½. The making of white stitching thread was introduced into this town about 50 or 60 years ago. A gentleman in this place lately discovered the method of making what is called glazed white-thread, to as great perfection as that made by Mr Leland and Son, London. The value of this branch is computed at about 60,000l. annually. There are also several manufactures of a more local nature. There are three of hard-soap and tallow-candles, and one of black-soap. The candles, especially the moulded ones, are reckoned the best and most elegant that have been made in Scotland; and great quantities is sent into England, to America, and to the West Indies. The annual amount of these last branches are estimated at nearly 20,000l. There are also two or three tan-works, and a porter brewery, in town; and in the neighbourhood there is a cooper's work, a calico printing work, and two works for the cotton spinning manufacture.

The river on which Paisley stands runs from south to north; and falls into Clyde, after it has joined the conflux of the rivers Grief and Black-Cart at Inchinnan bridge, about three miles below the town. At spring-tides, vessels of 40 tons burthen come up to the quay. The communication by water is of great importance to the inhabitants; for in this way they are frequently served with fish of different kinds, and can send their goods and manufactures to Port-Glasgow and Greenock, and to Glasgow likewise; and now, when the canal is finished, they have also a communication with the frith of Forth.

Paisley was created a burgh of barony in the year 1488; and the affairs of the community are managed by three bailies, of which the eldest is commonly in the commission of the peace, a treasurer, a town-clerk, and 17 counsellors, who are annually elected upon the first Monday after Michaelmas. It gives the title of baron to the earls of Abercorn; the first of whom was a younger son of the Duc de Chatellerault. The black-book of Paisley, frequently mentioned in Scottish history, was a chronicle of the public affairs and remarkable events, kept by the monks who resided in the monastery already mentioned. It agreed in every material fact with the Scotti-chronicon of Fordun; and is by many thought to be the same performance.