Gazetteer of Scotland

A' BE
ABERDEEN (OLD), olim Aber-
don ; an ancient borough in the coun-
ty of the same name, and formerly an
episcopal see. It is pleasantly situated
on an eminence, on the river Don,
about a mile N. of the city of New
Aberdeen, andnearly the same distance
from the sea. It is a place of great an-
tiquity, and was of considerable im-
portance so long ago as the end of the
§th century, when, according to tra-
dition, King Gregory the Great con-
ferred on it some peculiar privileges.
But no authentic records are extant
prior to the year 1154, in which year
David I. translated the episcopal see
from Mortlach to this place ; and in
thesame year the town of OhlAber-
deenwas erected into a free borough of
barony, holding directly of the crown.
This charter has been renewed by
many successive sovereigns, and was
finally confirmed by a charter from
King George I, by which the power
of electing their own magistracy is
.vested in the free burgesses of the
town. The magistrates are a provost,
S bailies, a treasurer, and council,
with the deacons of 6 incorporated
trades. There is a neat town-house,
built about 10 years ago by the com-
munity ; and a Trades' Hospital for
decayed freemen and their widows.
There is also an hospital for 12 poor
men, founded in 15:32 by Bishop Wil-
liam Dunbar. The King's College, the
chief ornament of the place, is a large
and stately fabric, situated on the E.
side of the town. It appears that
there existed, so long ago as the reign
of Malcolm IV, a " stud'mm ge?zerale in
collegia canonicorum Aberdoniensium"
which subsisted till the foundation of
this college by Bishop Elphinstone.
In the year 1594, Pope Alexander, by
a bull dated Eeb. loth, instituted, in
the city of Old Aberdeen or Aberdon,
an university, or " stud'mm generate et
wiiversitatis studii generalis," for the-
ology, canon and civil law, medicine,
the liberal arts, and every lawful fa-
culty, privileged to grant degrees, ac-
cording to the merits of the students,
which degrees " bestowed all privi-
leges, &c. ubicunque terrarum, which
belong to.any other university." James
IV. applied for this bull on the sup-
plication of Bishop Elphinstone, who
is considered 2s the founder. Though
this- bull was granted in 1491, the col-
AB£
lege was not founded till the year
1506. It was dedicated to St. Mary %
but, being taken under the immediate
protection of the king, the sainted
Virgin gave place to royal patronage,
and it was denominated King's Col-
lege. King James IV. and Bishop
Elphinstone endowed it with very
large revenues. The bishop of Aber-
deen for the time was declared to be
chancellor of the university ; but up-
on the abolition of episcopacy the pa-
tronage became vested in the hands of
the crown. The building is ancient^
and contains a chapel, library, mu-
seum, and common-hall ; rooms for
the lectures ; and a long uniform range
of modern houses for the accommo-
dation of the professors, and such stu-
dents as choose to reside in the col-
lege. Behind is the garden of the col-
lege, and the principal's house and
garden. The library and museum are
well furnished. There are a number of
bursaries for poor' students, the funds*
for the support of which amount to
about 17,0001. The session lasts five
months, beginning in November. The
officers are, a chancellor, generally a
nobleman of high rank ; a rector, en-
titled lord rector ; a principal, a sub-
principal, and a procurator, who has
charge of the funds. The professors-
are of Humanity, Greek, three of Phi-
losophy, Oriental Languages, Civil
Law, Divinity, and Medicine. The
annual number of students is from. 3 29
to 1\60. Hector Boethius was the first
principal of the college, and was sent"
for from Paris for that purpose, on a
salary of 40 merks Scots, or 2l. 3s. 4d.
Sterling. In Old Aberdeen there was
formerly a very magnificent cathedral,
dedicated to St. Machar, which, with
the Bishop's palace, fell a sacrifice to
the religious fury of the reformers.
Two antique spires, and an aisle, now
used as the parish church, are its
only remains. The cathedral was
founded in 1154, when the bishopric
wis translated from Mortlach ; but,
having become ruinous, or not being
of sufficient elegance, it was demo-
lished, and a new one founded by Bi-
shop Alexander Kinninmonth, in 1357.
This was nearly SO years in building,
and was finished by Bishop Elphin-
stone. In the cathedral was a valua-
ble library, which was almost totally
destroyed at the Reformation. The