a county in Scotland, situate in the north-east, between 56° 52' and 57° 42' north latitude, and between 1° 49' and 3° 48' of longitude west from Greenwich. It is bounded by the German Ocean on the north and east; by the counties of Kincardine, Forfar, and Perth, on the south; and by those of Inverness and Banff on the west. Its greatest length is 87, and breadth 36 miles; with a circuit of about 200 miles, of which 60 are on the sea-coast. It has an area of 1985 square miles, or 1,270,740 acres, of which somewhat more than one-third is under cultivation; and contains 83 parishes, with parts of six others. This county is popularly divided into five districts. First, Marr, which is a mountainous district, particularly Braemar, the highland part of it; and is much frequented by tourists, on account of its wild and majestic beauties. Ben Macdhui, the highest mountain in Scotland, rises here to the height of 4299 feet, and in the vicinity are Cairntoul, Ben Avon, and Cairngorm, which attain respectively the height of 4245, 3967, and 4050 feet. The last is famous for a peculiar kind of rock crystals, known as Cairngorm stones. A few miles below Braemar is "dark Lochnagar," which rises to the height of 3800 feet. Second, Formartin, of which the land on the sea-coast is low and fertile; but hills and mosses are spread over the interior. Third, Buchan, the most extensive division next to Marr, having a bold precipitous shore of 50 miles, but generally a flat surface, the soil of which has been greatly improved. The Bullers of Buchan, about 6 miles south from Peterhead, is a natural curiosity, which has been often described by tourists. Fourth, Garioch, a large and beautiful valley, naturally very fertile. Before the Aberdeen—introduction of modern husbandry, it was termed the gra- shire, nary of Aberdeen. Fifth, Strathegie, the greater part of which consists of hills, mosses, and moors. On a compre- hensive review, it may be said, that, with the exception of the low grounds of Buchan, and the highlands of the south- west division, Aberdeenshire consists for the most part of tracts nearly level, but often bleak, naked and unfertile, though interspersed with many rich spots in a high state of cultivation. In extent, it is very nearly one-sixteenth part of Scotland.

The chief mineral wealth of the county is its granite, for which it has long been famous, and which has brought con- siderable sums into the county, besides supplying the inha- bitants with excellent stones for building and other purposes. As many stones have been raised from an acre of land under preparation for tillage, as brought from L30 to L50, for paving the streets of London. The exportation of granite to the capital employed at one time about 70 vessels of 7000 tons, and 400 men; and the value of all the stones exported yearly was stated at L40,000. The quantity exported in 1852, was 38,595 tons. Gneiss, granwacke, and old red sandstone, are also abundant; limestone, basalt, trap, and clay-slate, are found in various parts; sandstone, and millstone are quarried at Aberdour, slate at Culsa- mond and Lambhill; blacklead has been found near Huntly; and there is a manganese quarry in the vicinity of Aberdeen.

The principal rivers are the Dee and the Don. The Ythan and Ugie within the county, and the Deveron and Bogie on its boundaries, are also considerable streams. Mus- sels are plentiful near the mouth of the Ythan; and pearl mussels have been sometimes discovered at its lower ex- tremity. One of the jewels of the ancient crown of Scot- land, a valuable pearl, is said to have been found here. There are also several lakes well stored with pike, trout, eels, and other kinds of fish. The county is noted for its chalybeate springs at Peterhead, Fraserburgh, and at Pananich on the Dee, near Ballater.

The climate of Aberdeenshire, except in the mountain- ous districts, is rendered comparatively mild by its being bounded on two sides by the sea. The winters are not so severe as in some of the southern counties, but the springs are late, owing to the prevalence of easterly winds; and in au- tumn the weather is often wet and stormy. Wheat, how- ever, and all the other crops cultivated in Scotland, come to perfection; and the inhabitants, who are not subject to any organic diseases, sometimes live to a great age.

The district of Marr, containing almost half the county, abounds in natural woods, which are a source of wealth to their proprietors, and of profitable employment to the inha- bitants. This county is so well adapted to the growth of trees, that it is only necessary to shut out the cattle by in- closures, and the birds and winds supply it with seeds that soon rise into vigorous plants. These woods consist chiefly of Scotch fir; and the timber, especially what grows in the forests of Braemar, has been thought superior to any that Scotland has imported from the north of Europe. About a tenth part of the whole surface of the county is under wood; and the trees found in the peat mosses indicate the exist- ence of still more extensive forests in former ages. The forests abound in deer and grouse; and partridges, and other kinds of game, are plentiful in all the higher parts of the county.

Ruins of ancient edifices are seen in different parts of the county. In the Garioch district, on the summit of a coni- cal hill called Dun-i-deer, are the remains of a castle, sup- posed to be about 700 years old. They stand within a still older vitrified wall, which encircles the summit of the hill, and formed a British fort of unascertainable antiquity. Such forts would seem to have been rather places of temporary Aberdeen- refuge than of permanent residence. The ruins of two build- ings, supposed to have belonged to Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, are still pointed out. One of them, situate at Castletown of Braemar, was his hunting seat; the other stands in a small island in the Loch of Kinnoir. A wooden bridge, which connected it with the land, has been found in the lake. The castle of Kildrummy, which in 1150 was the property of David Earl of Huntingdon, must have been a princely edifice, covering nearly an acre of ground; and its venerable remains still show the power and grandeur of the chieftains by whom it was inhabited. In the same district are some ancient subterraneous retreats, supposed to have been used by the Picts as places of refuge from an invading enemy.

The agriculture of Aberdeenshire has been very greatly improved of late years: potatoes, turnips, and clover, as well as wheat and other crops, are now cultivated according to the best courses of modern husbandry. Farms, however, are still generally of a small size, compared with those of the south-eastern counties; and the buildings, though much im- proved, are for the most part less convenient and comfort- able. Here, as in every other part of Scotland, a lease for nineteen years is the most common bond of connection be- tween the landholder and farmer.

In most parts of Aberdeenshire, cattle are a more impor- tant object to the tenantry than corn. Great numbers of cattle are now sent to London, the annual value of which is estimated at L360,000. The whole value of agricultural exports is estimated at L750,000 a-year. The productive qualities of the county have been greatly enhanced by gen- eral drainage, and the introduction of bone-dust and guano. Of the former, there were imported in 1852, 3861 tons, and of the latter, 5508 tons. During the same year, there were exported, of oats, barley, and bear, 56,132 quarters; of but- ter, 2568 cwt.; eggs, 7273 barrel-bulk; pork, 6950 cwt.; sheep and lambs, 5240. About two-thirds of the population depend entirely on agriculture; oatmeal, prepared in dif- ferent ways, is the principal food of the labouring classes.

The sea-fishing employs a number of hands. The Green- land whale-fishery is carried on by ships fitted out from Peterhead and Aberdeen.

The old staple manufacture, the knitting of stockings, has declined greatly for many years; but those in wool, cotton, and flax, are upon an extensive scale, and employ a large proportion of the inhabitants. There are also establishments for making sail-cloth, twine, paper, &c.; and, from the char- acteristic ingenuity and enterprise of the people, Aberdeens- hire has been gradually assuming a high rank among the manufacturing counties of Britain.

A share of our foreign trade, chiefly with the north of Europe, has been long enjoyed by this county; and the re- cent improvements on the harbour of Aberdeen must con- tribute essentially to the extension of its commerce. In 1807 a canal was opened from the harbour of Aberdeen to the town of Inverary, a distance of 18½ miles, the expense of which was about L44,000. The facilities which this canal affords for the conveyance of coal, lime, and the excellent stone so abundant in the tract of country through which it is cut, have already proved highly beneficial to the agricul- ture of the county, as also to the prosperity of Aberdeen; but it will be superseded by the North of Scotland Rail- way.

The valued rent of the county is L235,665, 8s. 11d. Scots; but the real rent for the lands and houses is probably not less than L800,000 sterling.

The principal seats in Aberdeenshire are, Aboyne Castle, the Earl of Aboyne; Haddo House, the Earl of Aberdeen; Huntly Lodge, the Duke of Richmond; Keith Hall, the