Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

WESTERN ISLANDS, &c. 27
What particular parts of commerce are
chiefly exercifed by the merchants of Aber-
deen, I have not inquired. The manu-
facture which forces itfelf upon a ftranger's
eye is that of knit-ftockings, on which
the women of the lower clafs are vifibly
employed.
In each of thefe towns there is a col-
lege, or in ftrider language, an univer-
fity ; for in both there are profefTjrs of
the fame parts of learning, and the col-
leges hold their feflions and confer degrees
feparately, with total independence of one
on the other.
In Old Aberdeen ftands the King's Col-
lege, of which the firft prefident was
Hedor Boecc, or Boethius, who may be
juftly reverenced one of the revivers of elc
gant learning. When he ftudied at ".:ris,
he was acquainted with Erafmus, wh af-
terwards gave him a public teftlmony of
his