ABERDEEN, capital of the county to which it gives name, and the principal city in the north of Scotland, consists, in reality, of two distinct towns, called Old and New Aberdeen, situated at the distance of about a mile from each other, and having separate privileges, char ters, and magistrates.
Old Aberdeen stands upon an eminence which rises from the bank of the river Don, about a mile from the sea. The history of its origin is unknown, but it must be one of the most ancient towns in Scotland ; for at the end of the ninth century, it seems to have been a place of importance, and is said to have received some pecu liar privileges from king Gregory the Great. His charter was lost, however, when the town was burnt by the English ; and the oldest authentic charter now ex tant, is that of David I. who, in the year 1154, trans lated the episcopal see from Morthelach to Aberdeen, which he erected into a free borough of barony, holding directly of the crown. This charter has been repeat edly renewed by different sovereigns, and was finally confirmed by an act of George I. which vests in the tree burgesses of the town the power of electing their own magistrates.
About the beginning of the 14th century, the citizens who had adhered to Robert Bruce, driven to despair by the atrocities of the English garrison, came upon them by surprise, and having seized the castle, put them all to the sword. Some English soldiers, who happened to be in the neighbourhood, advanced imme diately to revenge the death of their countrymen ; but they were met in the church-yard of St Nicholas by the Aberdonians, who defeated them with great slaugh ter. These disasters were afterwards amply revenged-.
In the y ear 1333, a fleet having been sent by Edward Ill. to ravage the eastern coast', of Scotland, a body of English troops landed by night, and failing upon N.Jer deen by surprise, butchered a great numb,:r of the in habitants; and were employed for six whole days in burning and pillaging the town. Three years alter. when Edward himself in person invaded Scotland, and penetrated with an army as far north as Inverness, the citizens of Aberdeen encountered a party of English troops who had landed at Dunnoter, and slew their leader. Enraged by this misfortune, Edward attacked Aberdeen on his ,return from the north, massacred the greater number of the inhabitants, and again reduced the town to ruins. A new city was soon erected, how ever, in a different situation, which, to distinguish it from that which had been destroyed, was called the New Town of Aberdeen. Aberdeen was so much en deared to David Bruce for its steady and zealous loyal ty to his father and himself, that he honoured it for some time with his residence, and erected there a mint from which he issued various coins. During the civil commotions which agitated Scotland in the year 1644. the marquis of Montrose approached this town with about 2000 men, and summoned it to surrender. With this summons, it was not likely that a town, which had on all occasions displayed so much spirit, would readily comply, particularly as it was defended by a force un der the command of lord Burleigh, not much inferior in number to that of the assailants. A battle accord ingly ensued, in which Montrose prevailed, and many of the principal inhabitants were slain.
Old Aberdeen, though now completely eclipsed by the splendour of the New Town, could once boast of several magnificent edifices, and still contains some respectable buildings. Over the Don there is a fine bridge of Gothic architecture, built by bishop Cheyne in 1281. The span of its arch is 67 feet, and its height front the surface of the river, 341 feet. But the prin cipal ornament of this town was its cathedral, dedicated to St Machar, whose former magnificence is strikingly indicated by two antique spires, and an aisle now occu pied as the parish church, which are its only' remains. It was founded in 1154, when the episcopal see was translated from Morthelach ; but having either become ruinous, or being deemed not sufficiently elegant, it was taken down, and founded anew by bishop Alexan der Kenninmouth in 1357. Nearly 80 years were oc cupied in building it, and it was at length completed by bishop William Elphinstone, who was lord chan cellor of Scotland, in the reign of James III. and keep er of the privy seal to the succeeding monarch. In the cathedral, there was a valuable library, which was de stroyed at the Reformation, by those worse than Sara cen barbarians, who demolished besides the venerable edifice itself. To the same munificent prelate, Aber deen is indebted for its university. In the year 1494, he obtained from pope Alexander a bull, impowering him to institute studium generale, et liniversitatis studii generalis, for theology, medicine, canon and civil law, the liberal arts, and every lawful faculty, with the right of granting degrees according to the merits of the stu dents. Twelve years elapsed after the date of this bull, before the college was founded. It was at first dedicated to the Virgin Mary; but, being greatly pa tronized by the king, it was afterwards denominated King's College. It is a large and stately structure, a chapel, library, museum, common hall; and lecture rooms. Connected with this college, there is a long row of modern houses for the accommodation of the professors, and such of the students as choose to reside there. Behind those buildings is the garden of the college, with a house and garden, appropriated to the principal. The museum is well furnished, and the library is valuable. A fund, amounting to about 7000/. is appropriated for bursaries to students who stand in need of such support. Ilector Boethius, well known for his history of Scotland, was invited From Paris to be its first principal, and was allowed a salary of 40 merks Scots, equivalent to 21. 3s. 4d. sterling. Besides nine professors, this college has a chancellor, general ly a nobleman; a rector, intitled lord rector; a princi pal, a sub-principal, and a procurator, who is intrust ed with the management of the funds. There is in Old Aberdeen a neat town-house, built a few years ago at the expense of the community, a trade's hospi tal for decayed burgesses and their widows, and an hospital for 12 poor men, founded by Gavin Dunbar, who died in 1532. The magistrates of this town are, a provost, three bailiffs, a treasurer, and council, with the deacons of six incorporated trades.