PETERHEAD, a sea-port town of Scotland, in Aber deenshire, is agreeably situated on a peninsula and small island, called Keith Inch, which is the most easterly point of Scotland, being within 300 miles of the Naze of Nor way. The town was originally built in the form of a cross. The principal street is an oblong and spacious square, and many of the houses are elegant, while all of them are neat and clean. The town house, built at the head of the prin cipal street, is a spacious and handsome building, with a spire of granite 110 feet high. The established church, which is also large and commodious, has a fine granite spire, and the Episcopal chapel is a neat modern build ing. The Burghers, Antiburghcrs, and Methodists have also chapels. There is a coffee-room, and public rooms for the accommodation of those who drink the mineral waters. There arc likewise friendly societies here, and a library association for purchasing books.
The mineral springs at Peterhead have long been cele brated. They contain iron, soda, muriate of lime, sulphate of zinc, sulphate of soda, and muriate of soda, and a cer tain quantity of fixed air.
Peterhead has two harbours, the north and the south. The south one, protected by two piers and a jetty of gra nite, and having an area of about five acres, has fourteen feet of water at spring tides, and could contain about 120 sail of vessels. The annual revenue is about 14251. The north harbour, with a dry dock, is now constructing, with the liberal contribution of 10,0001. from the Commission ers for Highland Roads and Bridges. When this is com pleted, ships may sail from Peterhead, whatever be the direction of the wind. Peterhead has fifteen vessels em ployed in the Greenland fishery, amounting to about 1300 registered tons.
Peterhead was erected into a burgh of barony by George Earl Marischal in 1593. It was purchased in 1738 by the Governors of the Merchant Maidens' Hospital of Edin burgh, who, along with the council elected by the feuars, nominate the magistrates.
Peterhead had an extensive manufactory of thread, woollen, and cotton cloths, besides a salt work. See The Beauties of Sco!iaurt. vol. iv., and The Edilburgh Gazet teer, vol. v. p. 18.