Aberdeen. erosses. In the year 1631 this steeple was thrown down by a storm, but was soon after rebuilt in a more stately form. This college was founded in 1494, by William Elphinston bishop of this place, lord chancellor of Scotland in the reign of James III. and lord privy seal in that of James IV. But James IV. claimed the patronage of it, and it has since been called the King's College. The number of students in 1816-17 was 187. This college, and the Marischal College in the New Town, form one university, called the University of King Charles. The library is large, but not remarkable for many curiosities. Hector Boethius was the first principal of the college; and sent for from Paris for that purpose, on an annual salary of forty merk Scots, at thirteen pence each. The square tower on the side of the college was built by contributions from General Monk and the officers under him then quartered at Aberdeen, for the reception of students; of which about a hundred attend the college, many of whom lodge in it.

ABERDEEN, New, is the capital of the shire of Aberdeen. For extent, trade, and beauty, it greatly exceeds any town in the north of Scotland. It is built on a hill or rising ground, and lies on a small bay formed by the Dee, deep enough for a ship of 200 tons, and above two miles in circumference. The buildings (which are of granite from the neighbouring quarries) are generally four stories high; and have for the most part, gardens behind them, which give it a beautiful appearance. On the high street is a large church which formerly belonged to the Franciscans. This church was begun by Bishop William Elphinston; and finished by Gavin Dunbar, bishop of Aberdeen, about the 1500. Bishop Dunbar is said likewise to have built the bridge over the Dee, which consists of seven arches. In the middle of Castle street is an octagon building, with neat bas relievos of the kings of Scotland from James I. to James VII. The town-house makes a good figure, and has a handsome spire in the centre. The grammar school is a low but neat building. Gordon's hospital is handsome; in front is a good statue of the founder: it maintains forty boys, who are apprenticed at proper ages. The infirmary is a large plain building, and sends out between eight and nine hundred cured patients annually. But the chief public building in the New Town is the Marischal College, founded by George Keith earl Marischal, in the year 1593; but since greatly augmented with additional buildings. In both the Marischal and King's college the languages, mathematics, natural philosophy, divinity, &c. are taught. The number of students in the session of 18.6-17 was 212, besides 105 students of divinity, alternately attending each university. The convents in Aberdeen were, one of Mathurines or of the order of the Trinity, founded by William the Lion, who died in 12145 another of Dominicans, by Alexander II; a third of Observantines, a building of great lengh in the middle of the city, founded by the citi zens and Mr Richard Vans, &c.; and a fourth of Carme ites, or White Friars, founded by Philip de Arbuthnot in 15.0.

Aberdeen, including the Old Town, is supposed to contain 25,000 inhabitants. Its trade is considerable, but might be greatly extended by an attention to the white fisheries.

The harbour was long a great detriment to its trade, Aberdeen, and occasioned the loss of many lives and much property. A stranger could never depend upon finding it as he left it; while vessels lay at ancher in the road till the tide should make, they have often been wrecked by storms which suddenly arose. It was very narrow at the mouth, having the easterly rocky point of the Grampian mountains on the south, and a flat blowing sand on the north, extending along the coast for many miles. By the easterly and north-east storms the sand was driven in a long ridge across the harbour's mouth, and formed what was called the bar. Upon this bar the depth of water at low tide was sometimes not above three feet. Clearing away the sand, though but a partial and temporary remedy, was a matter of great expence to the community. If it was cleared one week so as to have five or six feet of water at ebb, a fresh storm the next week undid all that had been done. The town at last came to the resolution of erecting a strong pier on the north side of the harbour. This pier is 1200 feet in length, and gradually increases in thickness and height as it approaches to the sea, where the head or rounding is 60 feet diameter at the base, and the perpendicular elevation is 38 feet. The whole is built of granite, which is a very durable stone: many of the outside stones are above three tons weight, with hewn beds. It was built under the direction of Mr Smeaton; and other extensive improvements have since been executed, the whole of which have cost about 120,000l. About 150 vessels belong to the port of Aberdeen, whose aggregate burden amounts to 17,131 tons. The principal exports are grain, fish, thread, hosiery, cotton and linen goods.

Aberdeen, like most of the other royal burghs of Scotland, has long been encumbered by its debts. In 1789, the town debt was something less than 12,000l. but from various causes it had increased so rapidly since that period, that in 1819 it amounted to 232,7451. 10s. The whole of the town revenues being insufficient to discharge the interest of this debt, the treasurer was under the necessity in February 1817 of declaring the burgh insolvent; and in consequence of this step all the burgh property, feu-duties, and funds, were made over to trustees. The magistrates then in office, in an address to their successors, published 19th September 1817, ascribed the embarrassed state of the burgh chiefly to the secrecy and concealment fostered by the system of self-election, and to the want of some control on the part of the citizens over the town's affairs. The election that followed not having been regularly conducted, was challenged by the burgesses, and set aside by the Court of Session. It was now expected that the magistracy would be restored by a poll election the mode sanctioned by precedent in such cases; but the Privy Council issued a warrant in August 1818, directing the persons who had been in office previous to the irregular election, to meet and elect a new set of magistrates. This proceeding excited great dissatisfaction, not only because it appeared to be an infringement on the rights of the burgesses, but because it recalled those very men to office by whose mismanagement the affairs of the city had been brought to a state of insolvency, and most of whom had denounced the system as pernicious. The committee, of the House of Commons which sat in 1819 on the subject of burgh

reform,

shire.

Aberdeen reform, reported on the case of Aberdeen. From this report, it appears that the town lands, which were forAberdeen merly very extensive, had been alienated, with the reservation of very inadequate feu-duties. The fishings of the Dee and Don, now producing about 10,000l. ayear, were alienated for an annual feu-duty of 271. 78. 3d. The lands belonging to charitable establishments, of which the magistrates were only trustees, had been sold, and the proceeds applied to the city expenditure. The amount due to the various charities when the town became insolvent was about 80,000l. for which the charities receive only four per cent. The sum of 127,000l. had been borrowed under an act of Parliament, for building wet and graving docks, but the works were never executed. These, and other large sums borrowed by the magistrates, appear to have been dissipated in some ill-conducted plans of local improvement, which have made very trifling returns; and not only the citizens were ignorant of the burdens which were thus accumulating over their property, but very few of the magistrates themselves seem to have fully, understood the state of the town's affairs. A statement, purporting to be an abstract of the town's affairs, was annually exhibited to the burgesses at Michaelmas; but this appears rather to have been for the purpose of deception than information; for, in 1810, when the town actually owed upwards of 140,000l. the whole debt, according to the statement shewn to the burgesses, was only 6874l. 178. 4d. The facts brought to light by the insolvency of Aberdeen, have roused the burgesses of most of the large burghs in Scotland to attempt some reform in the municipal government. Whether they shall succeed, may depend on circumstances; but it cannot be doubted that the existing system has a great tendency to encourage a wasteful expenditure, to repress public spirit, and to create jealousies between the magistrates and those whose welfare it should be their study to promote.

From a round hill, at the west end of the city, flow two springs, one of pure water, and the other of a quality resembling the German Spa. The population of Aberdeen in 1811 was 21,639. Aberdeen, with Aberbrothick, Brechin, Montrose, and Inverbervy, returns one member to parliament.

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 Aberdeenof all strangers, by their stupendous craggy precipices. shire. 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 huse bandry, 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 Fra-erburgh. 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 esti mated at about 8400l. There are several quarries in the parish of Aberdour, which yield excellent millstones. 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 bolls 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, tale, 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.

85 Udney

Population in 1811
See ABERDEENSHIRE, SUPPLEMENT.

ABERDOUR, a small town in Fifeshire, Scotland, on the frith of Forth, about ten miles north-west of Edinburgh. In old times it belonged to the Viponts; in 1126 it was transferred to the Mortimers by marriage, and afterwards to the Douglases. William, lord of Liddesdale, surnamed the Flower of Chivalry, in the reign of David II. by charter conveyed it to James Douglas, ancestor of the present noble owner the earl of Morton. The monks of Inchcolm had a grant for a burial place here from Allan de Mortimer, in the reign of Alexander III. The nuns, usually styled the Pour Clares, had a convent at this place.

ABERFORD, a market town in the west riding of Yorkshire, stands in a bottom; and is about a mile in length, and pretty well built. It is near a Roman road, which is raised very high, and not far from the river Cock; between which and the town there is the foundation of an old castle still visible. It is 181 miles north-by-west from London. W. Long. 2. 45. N. Lat. 55. 52.

ABERGAVENNY, a large, populous, and flourishing town in Monmouthshire, seated at the confluence of the rivers Usk and Gavenny. It has a fine bridge over the Usk, consisting of fifteen arches; and being a great thoroughfare from the west part of Wales to Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, and other places, is well furnished with accommodation for travellers. It is surrounded with a wall, and had once a castle. It carries on a considerable trade in flannels, which are brought hither for sale from the other parts of the county. It is 142 miles distant from London. W. Long. 3. N. Lat. 51. 47. Abergavenny appears to have been the Gibbanium of Antoninus, and the town of Usk his Burrium. Population 2815 in 1811.

ABERNETHY, JOHN, an eminent dissenting minister, was the son of Mr John Abernethy, a dissenting minister in Coleraine, and was born there on the 19th of October 1680. When about nine years of age he was separated from his parents, his father being ob

1322

1137

Total, 116,836

122,921

135,075

flight of the bird is more rapid, with respect to the flight of the shot." In this way of considering the matter, the flight of the bird represents the motion of the earth, and the flight of the shot represents the motion of the ray of light.

Mr Clairaut too, in the Mem. de l'Acad. des. Sciences for the year 1746, illustrates this effect in a familiar way, by supposing drops of rain to fall rapidly and quickly after each other from a cloud, under which a person moves with a very narrow tube; in which case it is evident that the tube must have a certain inclination, in order that a drop which enters at the top, may fall freely through the axis of the tube, without touching the sides of it; which inclination must be more or less according to the velocity of the drops in respect to that of the tube; then the angle made by the direction of the tube and of the falling drops, is the aberration arising from the combination of those two motions.

Abernethy, liged to attend some public affairs in London; and his Aberration. mother, to shelter herself from the mad fury of the Irish rebels, retiring to Derry, a relation who had him. under his care, having no opportunity of conveying him to her, carried him to Scotland; and thus he escaped the hardships and dangers of the siege of Derry, in which Mrs Abernethy lost all her other children. He afterwards studied at the university of Glasgow, where he remained till he took the degree of master of arts; and, in 1708, he was chosen minister of a dissenting congregation at Antrim, in which situation he continued above 20 years. About the time of the Bangorian controversy (for which see HOADLEY), a dissension arose among his brethren in the ministry at Belfast, on the subject of subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith. In this controversy he became a leader on the negative side, and incurred the censure of a general synod. The agitation of parties began to be also felt among the members of his congregation. Many of them deserted him; which induced him to accept of an invitation to settle in Dublin, where his preaching was much admired. Here he continued for ten years, respected and esteemed. But his labours were terminated by a sudden attack of the gout in the head, to which he had been subject; and he died in December 1740, in the 60th year of his age. His writings, as was his character, are distinguished for candour, liberality, and manly sentiment. He published a volume of sermons on the Divine Attributes; after his death a second volume was published by his friends; and these were succeeded by four other volumes on different subjects: all of which have been greatly admired.

ABERNETHY, a small town in Strathern, a district of Perthshire in Scotland, situated on the river Tay, a little above the mouth of the Erne. It is said to have been the seat of the Pictish kings; and was afterwards the see of an archbishop, which was afterwards transferred to St Andrew's. In the churchyard of Abernethy, there is a tower of singular construction. It is of a circular form, is 74 feet in height, and 48 feet in circumference. The tower at Brechin is the only one of a similar structure in Scotland. The researches of the antiquarian have hitherto failed in discovering the uses of these insulated buildings. It has been supposed that they are of Pictish origin, and that they were intended as places of confinement for religious devotees in performing penance, and hence they have been denominated towers of repentance. Population 1635 in 1811.

ABERRATION, in Astronomy, an apparent motion of the celestial bodies, produced by the progressive notion of light, and the earth's annual motion in her orbit.

This effect may be explained and familiarized by the motion of a line parallel to itself, much after the manner that the composition and resolution of forces are explained.

M. de Maupertuis, in his "Elements of Geography," gives a familiar and ingenious idea of the aberration, in this manner: "It is thus," says he, "concerning the direction in which a gun must be pointed to strike a bird in its flight instead of pointing it straight to the bird, the fowler will point a little before it, in the path of its flight, and that so much the more as the

This discovery, which is one of the brightest that have been made in the present age, we owe to the accuracy and ingenuity of the late Dr Bradley, astronomer royal; to which he was occasionally led by the result of some observations which he had made with a view to determine the annual parallax of the fixed stars, or that which arises from the motion of the earth in its annual orbit about the sun.

The annual motion of the earth about the sun had been much doubted, and warmly contested. The defenders of that motion, among other proofs of the reality of it, conceived the idea of adducing an incontestable one from the annual parallax of the fixed stars, if the stars should be within such a distance, or if instruments and observations could be made with such ac curacy, as to render that parallax sensible. And with this view various attempts have been made. Before the observations of M. Picard, made in 1672, it was the general opinion, that the stars did not change their po- sition during the course of a year. Tycho Brahe and Ricciolus fancied that they had assured themselves of it from their observations; and from hence they concluded that the earth did not move round the sun, and that there was no annual parallax in the fixed stars. M. Picard, in the account of his Voyage d' Uranibourg, made in 1672, says that the pole star, at different times of the year, has certain variations, which he had observed for about 10 years, and which amounted to about 40′′ a year from whence some, who favoured the annual motion of the earth, were led to conclude that these variations were the effect of the parallax of the earth's orbit. But it was impossible to explain it by that parallax; because this motion was in a manner contrary to what ought to follow only from the motion of the earth in her orbit.

In 1674 Dr Hook published an account of observations which he said he had made in 1669, and by which he had found that the star y Draconis was 23" more northerly in July than in October: observations which, for the present, seemed to favour the opinion of the earth's motion, although it be now known that there could not be any truth or accuracy in them.

Flamsteed having observed the pole star with his mural quadrant, in 168 and the following years, found that its declination was 40" less in July than in December; which observations, although very just, were

yet

Aberration.