Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

IBfmtorg,
„ ABERDEEN, &c.
&fceriieettg!)ire.
the upper part of the front is a spacious operation
room, lighted from above through a dome of thirty feet
in diameter. The whole is designed in a simple style
of Grecian architecture, and executed in dressed gra-
nite. From the elegance of the design and the heauty
of the materials, as we I as the situation of the building,
it forms an ornamental feature of the city from various
points of view, and is allowed to be a highly creditable
proof of the skill of the architect, the late A. Simpson,
Esq., to whose talents the city is indebted for some of its
most tasteful public buildings and private mansions. —
The L'tnatic Asylum consists of two buildings, one of
which was raised in 1800. the other in 1819. The in-
sufficiency of the old building for the purposes of the
institution rendering the erection of a more spacious
and commodious one necessary, an adjoining held of
three acres was purchased, and an elegant edifice erec-
ted according to a plan given bv the architect of the
Infirmary — the late Aichibald Simpson, Esq. Since
that period it has received additions, under the super-
intendance of VVii'iani Ramage, Esq., architect. — The
Asylum for the Blind, situated in Huntly-street, was
endowed by Mi-s Ciuickshauk, and opened in 1843;
there is accommodation lor forty inmates. The funds
of this charity have lately leceivad an important acces-
sion, from the bequest of the late Miss Janet Walker,
of Kirkhill. Several trades are taught, as the making
of baskets, mats, rope, twine, and weaving, &c. — The
Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb is
in Belmont-street, and is principally supported by
voluntary contiibutions. The average number of pupils
of both sexes is thirty. — The Poor's Hospital, for boys,
is in Upper Kiikgate; thai for the girls in the Gallow-
paf'e — The Medical Variety's Hall, King-street, has a
hand-nine front, with a portico of four Ionic columns.
It contains a library and museum, a large room for the
Meeting's of the societv, committee-room, &c. It was
bu'lt in 1818, at a cost of £2,000., from the plan of the
architect of the Infirmary. In the hall are some por-
tmits; among the rest, an original painting of Harvey,
by Vandyke ; there are also two"bv T. Giles, Esq. R.A.
which are both favourable specimens of the skill of this
distinguished native artist.
The weekly market is held on Friday; and the an-
nual fairs are Pasclial market, on the last Wednesday
in April, and a fair the last Wednesday ill August. At
Old Aberdeen, fairs on the last Thursday in April, and
on the Wednesday after the third Tuesday iu October
(old style).
Old Aberdeen stands about a mile to the north of
the city, on an eminence on the south hank of the river
Don. in the parish of Old Machar, of which it is the
capital. Formerly this town was the seat of the Bishop
of Aberdeen, but it now derives its only importance
from King's College and the Cathedral. Its charter
was renewed by George I., when a oower was con-
ferred of electing its own magistral es, which are now
provost, three baillies, a treasurer, and council, with
the deacons of six incoroorated trades. The principal
curiosity in the neighbourhood is tne old bridge, which
crosses the river Don by one Gothic pointed arch — the
only structure of the kind in Scotland, if not in the
United Kingdom. Mr. Kennedy, in his 'Annals of
Aberdeen,' states it to have been erected by Robert
Bruce. The parish of Old Machar lies in the peuinsula
betwixt the Dee and the Don, where they join the
ocean ; its length is about seven or eight miles, and its
greatest breadth four. The land rises in a gentle slope
from the sea, and is beautifully diversified by undulating
grounds. The windings of the Dee and Don — the
manufactories and the woods on the banks of the latter,
interspersed with many gentlemen's seats and villas,
together with the numerous admirable prospects of
the sea — impart a pleasing variety to the general ap-
pearance of the parish. Givat improvements in agri-
culture, at a very considerable expense, have been
effected, which have hcen the means materially to
enhance the value of the laud, and beautify the neigh-
bourhood of Aberdeen.
POST OFFICE, MARKET STREET, ABERDEEN,
Mr. WILLIAM MITCHELL, Post Master.
Arrival of the Mails.
Letters arriving "t»y the first South Mail from England and places abroad, Edinburgh, GLASGOw.&c.and also
by the Mail fiom Peterhead (arriving the previous night), are delivered by the letter carriers at seven
in the morning.
Letters arriving by;the second South Mail, and also by the North Mail from Inverness and Northern Coun-
ties, Elgin, Banff, Huntly. <*c. by the Peterhead Mail from Ellon, Mintlaw, Fraserburgh, &c.
and by Local Mails from Banchory, Methlic, &c, are delivered by the letter carriers at twenty minutes
past one in the afternoon.
j.i tiers arriving by the Mails from Ballater, Old Meldrum, Alford. Methlic, Portlethen, Mary-
culter, &c. are deliveied by the letter carriers at four iu the afternoon.
Departures.
The Box closes for the despatch of letters by the South Mail to England, &c, Edinburgh, Glasgow, &c. a'
ten minutes before twelve in the morning, and again at a quarter before two in the afternoon ; to Mon"
trose, Arbroath, Dundee, &c only, at a quarter before five in the afternoon.
The Box closes for the despatch of letters by the first Pkterhead Mail, also to Ellon, Mintlaw, Fraser-
burgh, &c. at six in the morning, and for Peterhead, Ban-choky, and Methlic, at twenty minutes
before four in the afternoon.
The Box closes for the despatch of letters by the first Inverness Mail for Inverury ; Huntly,Elgin,Banff,
&c. at twenty minute.s rjaai seven in the morning, and for the same places, together with the Northern
Counties, at twenty minutes before cue in the afternoon.
The Box closes forthe de'.xpatoh of litters by the Ballmer Mail, with Banchory, Aboyne, &c, at twenty
minutes past sevcu in ihe morning, and by the Loca: Minis for Alford, AIethlic, Porthlethen,Makv-
cuLTi-iR, Old Mf.ldi:um, <&c, at a quarter bcloie nve in the morning.
Letters may be posted for despitch by the /*>•« and &wnu&awu Mails, by the Ballater Mail, by the first
Inverness Mail, and by the Mail to Peterhead, Banchory, &c. within ten minutes after the closing of
the box, by the payment of a late fee o- one ^enuy.
Money Orders axe gtmited and paid :tou» nine in the morning until six in the evening (Sundays excepted).
Megisiradon of Letters— Letters to be registered should :<e presented at the office at least half an hour before
the closing of the respective Mails. fb'e registration fee is sixpence, whicli must be pre-paid in stumps.
Receiving Houses at 32 Union-street ; 121 Quay ; 237 Uroadford ; wid 43 High-street, Old Aberdeen.
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