ELGINSHIRE

ELGINSHIRE, is the middle district of the ancient county of Moray. It is bounded on the north by that branch of the German ocean called the Moray Frith; on the east and south-east by Banff-shire; on the south-west, by Inverness-shire; and on the west by the counties of Inverness and Nairn. It extends about 42 miles in length, and its average breadth is about 20. The southern part is rocky and mountainous, called the district of Braemoray, which is occupied with extensive forests. The lower parts, towards the north, are rich and fertile; but might easily be rendered more productive.

Elginshire, productive. The principal rivers are, the Spey, Find-horne, and Liffie; all of which abound with salmon. It contains two royal boroughs, viz. Elgin, the county town, and Forres; and several considerable towns, as Grantown, Garmouth, Liffiemouth, &c. The principal seats are Gordon-castle, the seat of the duke of Gordon; Castle Grant, the seat of Sir James Grant; Altyre, the seat of Colonel Cumming, &c. Morayshire abounds with many remains of antiquity; the principal of which are the magnificent cathedral of Elgin, the priory of Plufcardine near the town of Elgin, the bishop's palace at Spynie, the castles of Lochindorb, Dunhail, and the dun of Relugas, in the parish of Edenkeillie. The ancient Scottish historians, particularly Fordun and Buchanan, give accounts of the Danes landing in Moray, about 1008, when Malcolm II. marched against them, and was defeated near Forres: after this they brought over their wives and children, and were in possession of the country for some time; until they were finally expelled by that monarch, after the victories gained over them at Luncarty near Perth, at Barrie in the county of Angus, and at Mortlach in the county of Banff. There are many monuments of that nation; the most remarkable of which is Stuene's stone or pillar, on the road from Nairn and Forres, in the parish of Rafford. Except freestone, limestone, and marl, no mineral substance of value has been discovered.