ABERDEENSHIRE

ABERDEENSHIRE, an extensive county in Scotland, is bounded on the north and east by the German ocean; on the south by the counties of Kincardine, Angus, and Perth; and on the west by Banff, Murray, and Inverness shires. It extends in length about 85 miles, from south-west to north-east, and about 40 in breadth, from the mouth of the river Dee to where it is bounded by the shire of Banff. Its extent in square miles may be estimated at 1986. It comprehends the districts of Marr, Garioch, Aberdeen Proper, and great part of Buchan. The district of Marr, which may be considered as the centre of Scotland, is wild, rugged, and mountainous; some of the hills rising with precipitous sides, to the height of 2000 feet above the level of the sea. The sides of the hills are covered with extensive natural forests; in many places impenetrable to human footsteps. Buchan is less hilly; but very barren, bleak and inhospitable to the view. The rest of the country is more fertile, having a gradual descent from the central district eastward to the sea. The coast is in general very bold and rocky.

The Boilers or Bullers of Buchan, arrest the attention of all strangers, by their stupendous craggy precipices. The soil, in so extensive a district, is as various as can be well supposed. The state of agriculture in the interior parishes of the county is very rude; but the example of many patriotic proprietors is producing wonders even in the most barren soils. Prejudices in husbandry, when deeply rooted, are with difficulty overcome; but even these are yielding to a more regular and modern system. A navigable canal, extending 18 miles, from the harbour of Aberdeen to Inverury, was opened in 1807. It is 23 feet wide, by 3 feet 9 inches deep; and is raised to the height of 168 feet above low water mark by 17 locks. The principal rivers of Aberdeenshire are, the Dee and Don, the Ythan, the Ugie, and the Cruden. The Deveron also forms its boundary with Banffshire for many miles. All the rivers have been long celebrated for the excellence of the salmon with which they abound. The rents of the fishings are estimated at 2480l. per annum, and the produce at upwards of 10,000l. Besides the fishings of the rivers, the sea coast of Aberdeenshire abounds with all kinds of excellent fish; and a number of fishing vessels are fitted out from the sea ports of the county, particularly Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Under the article of fisheries, we may mention the celebrated pearl fishing in the river Ythan. In this river some pearls have been found, which sold singly so high as 21. and 31. With regard to mineralogy, little wealth of that description has hitherto been found in this county. The granite quarries are the most valuable articles. From those in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, 12,000 tons and upwards are annually exported to London, the value of which may be estimated at about 8400l. There are several quarries in the parish of Aberdour, which yield excellent mill-stones. There is a quarry of blue slate wrought in the parish of Culsalmond, and a vein of manganese in the neighbourhood of Old Aberdeen. The county abounds with limestone; but, from the want of coal, it cannot be wrought to much advantage, except near a sea port. In Old Machar and Old Deer parishes, about 55,000 balls of lime are annually burnt, valued at 2750l. Some kelp is made on the coast, the value of which must be considerable. Plumbago, amethysts, emeralds, agates, asbestos, talc, mica, schistus, and other curious minerals, are found in many parts of the county. The principal manufacture carried on in the county, is the knitting of stockings and hose, in which all the women, and most of the old men and boys, are employed the greater part of the year. The other manufactures are too trifling to deserve particular notice. Aberdeenshire contains three royal boroughs; ABERDEEN, KINTORE, and INVERURY; and several large and handsome towns; as Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Huntly, and Old Meldrum. It is divided into 85 parishes.

The following account of the population of Aberdeenshire, at two different periods, is taken from the Statist. Hist. of Scotland.