ELGIN, a royal burgh of Scotland, and the county town of Morayshire, lies upon the banks of the Lossie, about seven miles from where that ricer falls into the Moray Frith. It is supposed to have derived its name from _ridgy, a Norwegian general, who, in the begin ning of the 10th century, when Siward, Earl of the Ork nies, spread his conquests over the northern parts of Scotland, is said to hale built a town southward of Diir fun's. This description corresponds with the scite of Elgin; and the supposition is farther confirmed by the inscription on tl e common seal of the town, Sigillum com mune civitatis de Hclgyn. This town consists of one street above a mile in length, intersected by seven small er streets or lanes; and the houses which front the prin cipal street ate generally of three stories. Near the centre of the town, and in the middle of the street, which here widens very much, are huddled together the town house, the sheriff-court-house, and the county jail ; and near to these is the parish church, a low irregular build ing, all of which both deform and encumber the street. At the west end of the town, on a green mount called Lady Hill, are the ruins of a royal fort. The area with in the svall which surrounds the summit of the hill is 85 yards in length by 45 in breadth; and from the remains of the interior buildings, it would seem, that they once formed a square. This fort was destroyed by Robert de 13ruce, when he surprised the English garrison which then held it, on his unexpected return from the He brides.
Elgin was at an early period erected into an Episco pal see, and was adorned with the palaces of ecclesias tics, and the endowments of monks. The chapel of the monastery of the Grey Friars, is still almost entire, but the monastery itself has been long occupied as the habi tation of a private family. The Bishop's palace, now the property of the Duke of Gordon, is but a mean building, and can scarcely be distinguished from the ordinary dwellings. The ruins of the cathedral stand at the east end of the town, and display both magnificence and ele gance. This pile is in the form of a cross, 264 feet long, and 35 broad, of Gothic architecture, and stands clue east and west. It had five towers; two on the corners of the west end, 84 feet high, exclusive of the steeples ; two on the east, 60 feet; and one in the middle, 198 feet. The grand entrance is by the west, through an arched gateway 24 feet high, and 24 feet broad at the base. Above this gate was a window in the form of an acute angled arch, 27 feet high, and 19 wide ; and on the east gable was a parallel range of five windows, each ten by two feet ; above these, five more, each seven feet high ; and over all, a circular window about 10 feet in diame ter. On both sides of the church, eastward from the transept, were aisles 18 feet broad outside the walls, having each a large window, and above these a range of windows six feet in height. The whole is richly or namented with carved devices and embellishments. But the most beautiful part of the building is the chapter house, which communicates with the choir by a vaulted vestry. It has the form of an octagon 34 feet high, and
27 in its greatest breadth. Its vaulted roof is support ed by a clustered pillar nine feet in circumference, from the top of which ribs stretch along the roof to each an gle of the octagon. Except where it joins the choir, there is a window on each side ; and in the north wall are five stalls in niches for the bishop and dignified cler gy. The middle stall intended for the bishop or dean is larger, and raised a step higher than the rest. This cathedral was built by Bishop Andrew de Moray in 1224. In 1390 it was burnt down, together with the town of Elgin, by Alexander, (son of Robert II.) called the " Wolf of Badenoch," in resentment against Bishop Barr. It was soon after, however, restored to its former magnificence, and Bishop Innes laid the foundation of the great tower, and made some other additions to the building. In 1506, the great tower fell, and although Bishop Foreman began to rebuild it in the following year, it was not completed till about 32 years after. The Whole cathedral remained entire till 1568, when the coun cil at Edinburgh ordered the lead to be taken from the cathedral churches of Aberdeen and Elgin, and sold for th. maintenance of the Regent Murray's soldiers. Being thus uncovered and exposed to the weather, it soon after be ;an to riecay, and the great tower fell down in 1711. 'The remains of a high stone wall still exists, which in closed the cathedral and burying ground, witrhouses and small gardens for 22 canons and dignitaries of the see.
Among the buildings of this town, it may be proper to include an intended hospital for the sick poor of the town and county. The funds, now amounting to near ly 40,0001., which are to be appropriated to this pur pose, were left by Dr Alexander Gray, a native of El gin, who died some years ago in India. The trustees have already fixed upon a very elegant plan for the building, and it promises to be a great ornament, as well as benefit to the town and neighbourhood.
The situation of Elgin seems to have been chosen without any regard to the advantages of trade or com merce, being seven miles from the nearest seaport; but rather for security and subsistence. It stands in the middle of a rich and fertile country, from which sup plies could at all times have been easily drawn. The morass of Strathcant formed its defence on the south ; its own castle on the west ; and on the north and east winds the river Lossie, over which are five stone bridges of two arches, within the short extent of two miles. The trade of the town arises entirely from the supply demand ed by the surrounding district, and its only manufac tures are those which are necessary for domestic purpo ses. The council of the burgh consists of 17 members, annually elected by themselves, resident burgesses only being eligible ; and their revenue is about 2001. a year. In 1811, the town and parish contained 1258 families, and 4602 souls. See Pennant's Tour in Scotland ; and An Account of the Antiquities, 19"c. in the Province of Moray, pp. 16-24. (ft)