BANFFSHIRE, a maritime county in the north of Scotland, bounded on the north by the Moray Firth, on the cast and south by Aberdeenshire, and on the west by the county of Moray. The greater part of it was formerly included in the province of Moray, the bounds of which are supposed to have been nearly the same with those of the ancient terri tory of the Vacomagi. The south-west angle of the county is comprehended in the range of mountains distinguished by the name of the Highlands, and throughout this subdivision the Gaelic language is generally understood, though the English is also in Common use. This bleak district is named Strath Aven, and the inhabitants are said to be still enslaved to the superstitious notions of their savage ancestors. The other districts of the county, viz. Baivenie, Boyne, Enzie, part of Strathdovcran, and part of Buchan, present a variegated surface to the eye, and contain a large proportion of very fertile land, though not very highly cultivated. Strath-Isla on the east, Stratli-Fiddich and Glenlivet on the west, are pecu liarly fruitful. Throughout this county there are ma ny beautiful straths and glens, containing an immense variety of picturesque scenery. The woods, belong ing to the Duke of Gordon, Lord Findlater, and Lord Fife, are of very great extent, and a few magnificent houses are built on the romantic banks of the dif ferent rivers. On the boundary between the counties of Banff and Moray, the Spey, one of the finest and largest rivers in Scotland, is fed by the Aven, Livet, Fiddich, Dolan, &c. On the eastern boundary, the Doveran, and its tributary streams, the Boyne, the Isla, &c., water a rich and varied country. Some of the grandest and most interesting hills in Britain en liven this charming district. Cairn-gorum, on the extremity of the county, rises 4 030 feet above the level of the sea. Belrinnes is 2690 feet high, Knock. hill 2500, Bin of Cullen 1100. Some of thesehills arc planted to the very summit. The hills of Alvah, Benlagecn, Durn, Lurg, and Altinore, are also lofty and beautiful.
The climate, though healthy in general, is cold and wet. The soil ou the flat grounds is, for the most part, light and sandy ;—on the hills a deep clay is more prevalent. A prodigious quantity of lime stone is produced in the county ; hut, from the want of coal, it has never been very extensively used. The lands, upon the whole, when tolerably impro ved, yield very abundant crops. The late Earl of Foidlater made many laudable'exertions to promote the improvement of agriculture ; but, notwithstand ing the encouragement which he so liberally afforded, and the example which he set, the progress of that useful art, in Banffshire, has not been very rapid. ' Inclosures were very partially introduced a few years ago ; and the badness of the roads long operated as a great discouragement. It is to be hoped, however, that the public spirit and intelligence of the gentle men of this county will speedily overcome the few obstacles which still remain to be surmounted. On the banks of some of the rivers, large fields of un commonly rich pasture are to be found.
With the exception of a few small bays and creeks, the line of coast is bold and precipitous.
The principal minerals are limestone, granite, clay, slate, freestone, alum, Portsoy marble, iron, lead, quartz, topaz, asbestos, rock-crystal, &c. Mineral waters abound in various places. The chief manu factures are spinning, weaving, bleaching, tanning, flax-dressing, distilling. The salmon fishing on the Spey and the Doveran is of very great value to the proprietors. Vast quantities of haddocks, whitings, flounders, mackarel, turbot, cod, ling, tusk, skate, crabs and lobsters, are caught on the coast ; and of these, as well as of the salmon, a great proportion is sent to supply the London market.
Perhaps the greatest disadvantage under which Banffshire labours is the want of coal. In the inland parts of the county peat is the only fuel which the labouring classes are able to procure.