e on the north and the
other on the south side of the peninsula. The latter, which is the
oldest, was formed in the year 1773, from plans by Mr Smeaton, the
great engineer of those days; and the north harbour in 1818, from those
by Mr Telford. Piers run out from the shore, which is lined by fine
quays.

We had to wait the whole day before proceeding on our voyage, so we had
time to see a great deal of the town, and something of the
neighbourhood. We paid a visit to the hospital, and were glad to find
that the poor mate and the captain's son were going on very well.

Next morning broke bright and beautiful, with a fine northerly breeze,
which raised our spirits; and sailing out of the harbour, we stood
towards Buchan Ness, on the summit of which stands a stone tower, with a
light flashing from it at night, to show the approach to Peterhead. We
sighted Slaines Castle, from which we steered a direct course for
Aberdeen. About ten o'clock, the distance run being about thirty miles,
we sighted the Girdlestone Lighthouse, on the southern side of the river
Don, on which Aberdeen stands. Crossing the bar, we found ourselves in
a wide bay. Several vessels and a number of boats were standing towards
the spacious quays, backed by the fine granite-built houses of New
Aberdeen.

On landing, we noticed the massive appearance imparted to the houses by
the granite of which they are composed.

Our first visit was to Marischal College, the great seat of learning in
the north, where Captain Dalgetty, that redoubted soldier of fortune,
according to Scott, obtained his education. We went through the museum,
library, and observatory, saw a good collection of paintings, and were
especially struck by the handsome way in which the whole building is
furnished.

Hurrying on, however, to the old town, on the south bank of the Don, we
visited the parish church of Old Machar, a grand and venerable building.
The pillars in the transept have their capitals beautifully carved in
oak. We then went to King's College, a large quadrangular edifice,
including the chapel, built of granite. The examination hall contains a
collection of the portraits of the old Scottish kings and the early
principals of the college,--a Bishop Elphinstone, the founder, being
among them. We were amused by seeing the students, of whom there were
between two and three hundred, walking about dressed in red gowns. They
belong to all ranks of society, many labouring