Gazetteer of Scotland

ABE
But no authentic records are extant,
prior to the year 1154 ; in which year
David I. tranflated the epifcopal fee
from Mortlach to this place ; and in
the fame year, the town of Old Aber-
deen was ere&ed into a free burgh of
barony, holding directly of the crown.
This charter has been renewed by
many fuccefftve fovereigns, and was
finally eftablilhed by a charter from
King George I., by which the power
of electing their own magiftracy is
veiled in the free burgeffes of the
town : the magiftrates are a provoft,
3 bailies, a treafurer, and council,
with the deacons of 6 incorporated
trades. There is a neat Tonun-boufe,
built about 10 years ago by the com-
munity ; and a Trades 1 Hofpital for
decayed freemen and their widows.
There is alfo an Hofpital for 12 poor
men, founded in 1532 by Bifhop Wil-
liam Dunbar. The King's College, the
chief ornament of the place, is a large
and ftately fabric, fituated on the E.
fide of the town ; (vide next article.)
There was formerly a very magnifi-
cent Cathedral, dedicated to St. Ma-
char, which with the Bifhop's palace,
fell a facrifice to the religious frenzy
of the reformers. Two very antique
fpires, and an aifle, now ufed as the
parifh church, are now the only re-
mains of it. The cathedral was found-
ed in 1154, when the bifhopric was
tran dated from Mortlach ; but, having
become ruinous, or wanting fufneient
elegance, it was demolifhed, and a
new one founded by Bifhop Alexander
Kinninmonth, in 1357. This was
nearly 80 years in building, and was
finiihed by Bifhop Elphinftone. In
the cathedral was a valuable library,
which was almoft totally deftroyed at
the reformation. The parifh of A-
berdeen (Old), or Old Machar,
is of confiderable extent, being about
8 milts long from E. to W., and from
4 to 5 broad, comprehending the fpace
(except that occupied by the town of
New Aberdeen) which lies between
the rivers Dee and Don. The furface
is agreeably diverfified by riftng
grounds, interfperfed with gentlemens
feats, villas, and plantations, and nu-
merous manufactories. Over the Don
there is a fine bridge of one Gothic
arch, built by Bifhop Cheyne, in 1281.
The arch is 67 feet fpan, and 34* feet
high from the furface of the river.
ABE
Near the banks of the Don, a rick
vein of manganeze has been lately
opened, and promifes to be of confi-
derable value. In 1793, the popula-
tion of the parifh of Old Aberdeen
was 8107 ; increafe 3163 fince 1755.
Aberdeen (Universities of)*
In this diftridt there are two Univer-
fities, viz. ift, King's College, fitu-
ated in the burgh of Old Aberdeen ;
and, and, Marischal College, fitu-
ated in the city. As thefe are diftincf
from each other, as colleges and uni-
verfities, we fhall notice them fepa-
rately. Various attempts have been
made to unite them ; but without ef-
fect. The crown is fuperior of both
colleges ; having fucceeded to the
King's College upon the abolition of
epifcopacy, and to the latter on the
attainder of the late Earl Marifchal ;
but has never interfered in the elec-
tion of their chancellors or rectors.
I. King's College. It appears that
there exifted, fo long ago as the reign
of Malcolm IV. a "Jludhun generale
incollegio canonicorum Aberdonienfium"
which fubfifted till the foundation of
this college by Bifhop Elphinftone.
In the year 1594, Pope Alexander, by
a bull dated Feb. 10th, inftituted, in
the city of Old Aberdeen or Aberdon,
an univerfity, or " Jludium generale et
univerfitatis Jlud'ti generalis," for The-
ology, Canon and Civil Law,Medicine,
the Liberal Arts, and every lawful fa-
culty ; privileged to grant degrees,
according to the merits of the ftu-
dents ; which degrees " beftowen all
privileges, &c. ubicunque terrarum,
which belong to any other univerfity."
James IV. applied for this bull on the
iupplication of Bifhop Elphinftone,
who is confidered as the founder.
Though this bull was granted in 1494,
the college was only founded in 1506,
and dedicated to St. Mary; but, being
taken under the immediate protection
of the king, it was denominated King's
College. King James IV. and Bifhop
Elphiftone endowed it with very
large revenues. The Bifhop of Aber-
deen, for the time, was declared to be
chancellor of the univerfity; but, upon
the abolition of epifcopacy, the pa-
tronage became vefted in the hands
of the crown. The building is an-
cient, containing a chapel,library, mu-
feum, common-hall, and rooms for
the lectures; and a long uniform range