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by running out a substantial north…eastern pier； and this was
eventually carried out by Mr。 Telford in a modified form； proving
of substantial service to the trade of the port。 Since then a
large and commodious new harbour has been formed at the place；
partly at the public expense and partly at that of the inhabitants；
rendering Frazerburgh a safe retreat for vessels of war as well as
merchantmen。
＇Image＇ Banff。
Among the other important harbour works on the northeast coast
carried out by Mr。 Telford under the Commissioners appointed to
administer the funds of the Forfeited Estates； were those at Banff；
the execution of which extended over many years； but； though
costly； they did not prove of anything like the same convenience as
those executed at Peterhead。 The old harbour at the end of the
ridge running north and south； on which what is called the
〃sea town〃 of Banff is situated； was completed in 1775； when the
place was already considered of some importance as a fishing station。
＇Image＇ Banff Harbour。
This harbour occupies the triangular space at the north…eastern
extremity of the projecting point of land； at the opposite side of
which； fronting the north…west； is the little town and harbour of
Macduff。 In 1816； Mr。 Telford furnished the plan of a new pier
and breakwater； covering the old entrance； which presented an
opening to the N。N。E。； with a basin occupying the intermediate
space。 The inhabitants agreed to defray one half of the necessary
cost； and the Commissioners the other； and the plans having been
approved； the works were commenced in 1818。 They were in full
progress when； unhappily； the same hurricane which in 1819 did so
much injury to the works at Peterhead； also fell upon those at
Banff； and carried away a large part of the unfinished pier。
This accident had the effect of interrupting the work； as well as
increasing its cost； but the whole was successfully completed by
the year 1822。 Although the new harbour did not prove very safe；
and exhibited a tendency to become silted up with sand； it proved
of use in many respects； more particularly in preventing all swell
and agitation in the old harbour； which was thereby rendered the
safest artificial haven in the Murray Firth。
It is unnecessary to specify the alterations and improvements of a
similar character； adapted to the respective localities； which were
carried out by our engineer at Burgh Head； Nairn； Kirkwall； Tarbet；
Tobermory； Portmaholmac； Dingwall （with its canal two thousand
yards long； connecting the town in a complete manner with the Frith
of Cromarty）； Cullen； Fortrose； Ballintraed； Portree； Jura；
Gourdon； Invergordon； and other places。 Down to the year 1823；
the Commissioners had expended 108；530L。 on the improvements of
these several ports； in aid of the local contributions of the
inhabitants and adjoining proprietors to a considerably greater
extent； the result of which was a great increase in the shipping
accommodation of the coast towns； to the benefit of the local
population； and of ship…owners and navigators generally。
Mr。 Telford's principal harbour works in Scotland； however； were
those of Aberdeen and Dundee； which； next to Leith （the port of
Edinburgh）； formed the principal havens along the east coast。
The neighbourhood of Aberdeen was originally so wild and barren that
Telford expressed his surprise that any class of men should ever
have settled there。 An immense shoulder of the Grampian mountains
extends down to the sea…coast； where it terminates in a bold； rude
promontory。 The country on either side of the Dee； which flows
past the town； was originally covered with innumerable granite
blocks； one； called Craig Metellan； lying right in the river's
mouth； and forming； with the sand； an almost effectual bar to its
navigation。 Although； in ancient times； a little cultivable land
lay immediately outside the town； the region beyond was as sterile
as it is possible for land to be in such a latitude。 〃Any wher；〃
says an ancient writer； 〃after yow pass a myll without the tonne；
the countrey is barren lyke； the hills craigy； the plaines full of
marishes and mosses； the feilds are covered with heather or peeble
stons； the come feilds mixt with thes bot few。 The air is temperat
and healthful about it； and it may be that the citizens owe the
acuteness of their wits thereunto and their civill inclinations；
the lyke not easie to be found under northerlie climats； damped for
the most pairt with air of a grosse consistence。〃*＇3＇ But the old
inhabitants of Aberdeen and its neighbourhood were really as rough
as their soil。 Judged by their records； they must have been
dreadfully haunted by witches and sorcerers down to a comparatively
recent period； witch…burning having been common in the town until
the end of the sixteenth century。 We find that； in one year； no
fewer than twenty…three women and one man were burnt； the Dean of
Guild Records containing the detailed accounts of the 〃loads of
peattis； tar barrellis；〃 and other combustibles used in burning
them。 The lairds of the Garioch； a district in the immediate
neighbourhood； seem to have been still more terrible than the
witches； being accustomed to enter the place and make an onslaught
upon the citizens； according as local rage and thirst for spoil
might incline them。 On one of such occasions； eighty of the
inhabitants were killed and wounded。*＇4＇ Down even to the middle of
last century the Aberdonian notions of personal liberty seem to
have been very restricted； for between 1740 and 1746 we find that
persons of both sexes were kidnapped； put on board ships； and
despatched to the American plantations； where they were sold for
slaves。 Strangest of all； the men who carried on this slave trade
were local dignitaries； one of them being a town's baillie； another
the town…clerk depute。 Those kidnapped were openly 〃driven in
flocks through the town； like herds of sheep； under the care of a
keeper armed with a whip。〃*＇5＇ So open was the traffic that the
public workhouse was used for their reception until the ships
sailed； and when that was filled； the tolbooth or common prison was
made use of。 The vessels which sailed from the harbour for America
in 1743 contained no fewer than sixty…nine persons； and it is
supposed that； in the six years during which the Aberdeen slave
trade was at its height； about six hundred were transported for
sale； very few of whom ever returned。*＇6＇ This slave traffic
was doubtless stimulated by the foreign ships beginning to
frequent the port； for the inhabitants were industrious； and their
plaiding； linen； and worsted stockings were in much request as
articles of merchandise。 Cured salmon were also exported in large
quantities。 As early as 1659； a quay was formed along the Dee
towards the village of Foot Dee。 〃Beyond Futty；〃 says an old
writer； 〃lyes the fisher…boat heavne； and after that； towards the
promontorie calle