have hitherto prevented them from accomplishing that branch of work, although it was, at first, deemed to be the most essential part of the whole. With a view of diminishing the expense of transporting lime, coals, and other weighty articles, across the quay, to and from the barges in the basin, at this place, rail ways were constructed by the company, in the year 1816, at an expense of upwards of L.250 sterling. But, although two years have elapsed since this branch of work was completed, none of those who are engaged in the lime and coal trade have availed themselves of the advantage of these rail ways, but continue the former mode of loading the barges with lime and coal, by means of wheel barrows and labourers. The expenditure upon the works of the canal, at and previous to the 31st of December, 1808, were― L.2,154 10 4. 251 10 2,134 3 8 the execution of the Earthen part of the Canal, including Boats and Utensils. 19,917 0 0 constructing 17 Locks, 5 Aqueducts, and 56 accommodation Bridges, 20 Culverts, and other works of Masonry, including superintendence, management, and incidental expences 19,438 14 9 Total Expenditure at this date..... L.43,895 18 10 There are, at present, seventeen barges employed upon the canal, and two fly boats, for carrying passengers betwixt Aberdeen and Inverury. These last, which are let from year to year to a tacksman, pass and repass twice every day, during the season, from the first day of April to the first day of December. The rent, for the year 1818, payable by the tacksman, is L.275 sterling. The tonnage transported upon the canal, for 1817, and two preceding years, was as follows:Bolls of Lime. Bolls of Coals. Tons of Dung.. Tons of Slates. Tons of Goods. The gross amount of the tolls, for goods and commodities transported upon the canal, for the year 1817, was L.859 19s. 7d. CHAPTER CHAPTER II. Of the public buildings in Aberdeen-the Town-house and Prison-the Cross-the Record Office-Town's Mills-Public Wells, Lamps, &c.-Bridges of Dee and Don. OF THE TOWN HOUSE AND PRISON, The earliest information which we have obtained of the prison occurs in the Chamberlain's Accounts of Scotland for the year 1358, when William de Meldrum, sheriff of the county, was allowed, in his account with the chamberlain, L.4, which he paid for wood, iron, and other materials, used in building the prison of Aberdeen. In the year 1394, King Robert III. granted to the burgesses and community a charter,* dated 20th of October, by which he permitted them to build a tolbooth and court house, eighty feet in length, and thirty in breadth, in any part of the town except in the middle of the market place, This edifice was accordingly soon afterwards erected, on the north side of the Castlegate, on the site of the present town house. On the east end of it stood the old prison, on the top of which was a small spire. In the year 1615, this part of the fabric was demolished, and a new jail erected in its place, consisting of that part of the present old work which fronts the street. It consisted of four vaults over each other, with a platform roof, and battlement; and the expense, being 5000 merks, was defrayed from the public funds of the town. In the year 1627, a square tower was erected over this building, for the basement of the present steeple,† which, although small, is very elegant, and does great credit to the builder. It was completed, in the course of the two subsequent years, at the expense of about L.1657, Scottish money. In the year 1726, the old clock being completely decayed, a new one, the workmanship of Andrew 3 F 2 * Archives of the town. + The weather cock, on the top of the spire, is 120 feet from the level of the street. Andrew Dunlop of London, was provided in its place, and the expense of it, being about L.100 sterling, paid from the guild wine fund. It remained in the steeple till the year 1817, when it was replaced by a new one, constructed by Mr. Gartly of Aberdeen. In the course of the year 1704, a considerable addition was made to the prison by the erection of three cells on the north side, which are appropriated to persons confined for crimes; and the expense of this work, being upwards of L.5000, Scottish money, was defrayed from the funds of the treasury. When the mason lodge was erected, about the year 1755, two additional apartments, destined for those who are under confinement for debts, and some other accommodation, were added to the east end of the prison; and the entry, which was formerly from the east, was altered to the south, where a stair, with a double flight and a porch, was built, serving as an entry to the court room, as well as to the jail. In this part of the building, over the entry to the Lodge Walk, is a room, or repository, for preserving the valuable public archives belonging to the corporation, with the council registers downward from the year 1398, church registers, public accounts, and many papers of moment regarding the affairs of the town. This room is formed upon a stone arch, and is vaulted above. It is well adapted for the purpose, being free from dampness, and the records are deposited, with the greatest regularity, in presses of the most improved construction, disposed around the room; and, to guard against accident from fire, the door and window shutters are formed of iron. The prison now consists of the following apartments :-One room, fronting the street, appropriated to burgesses of guild under confinement for debt, being thirteen feet six inches by eleven, and, in height to the top of the arch, eleven feet. The room backward is eleven feet three inches by eleven feet eight inches, and of the same height with the former. In the old work there is a low room, fifteen feet by eight, and eleven feet high; and, over it, another room, fifteen feet by fourteen feet eight inches. The stock room above is fifteen feet square; and the long room twenty three feet eight inches by eleven feet, having no fire place. In this room all the prisoners are permitted to walk, in the day time, unless where their misbehaviour or particular particular circumstances prevent that indulgence from being granted. There are also two other rooms, but one of them is a dungeon, having no fire place in it, nor any light. In these wretched apartments there are generally from forty to fifty persons lodged, on an average, during the whole year; but, at present, there are only fifteen debtors and eight delinquents under confinement, besides an indigent lunatic. There are no convicts in the jail, the whole persons of that description having lately effected their escape by breaking the prison. Although the abridgement of personal liberty hath ever been held to be one of the most odious restrictions upon the rights of mankind, yet disorders inseparable from society render it indispensably necessary to impose restraint upon those who have offended against the laws of their country, for preventing escape from justice: and when debtors refuse to pay the just demands of their creditors, or are, perhaps, not in a situation to do so, they must submit to close confinement, which the law authorises. For many ages, such was the inattention or inhumanity of our legislators, and still more of those who were entrusted with the execution of the laws, that the preparatory act of commitment for trial was often the severest of all punishments. The feelings of humanity in this respect never were roused till loudly called forth by the benevolent Howard, who, by his indefatigable exertions, and by the suggestions of his wisdom, at length accomplished the amelioration and improvement of the national prisons and hospitals, which were the favourite objects of his pursuits. In almost every part of the kingdom, the old jails have been demolished, and new ones erected upon improved plans, each vieing with another in point of magnificence, and also in accommodation, as far as consistent with restraint, to the unfortunate persons for whom they are designed. Far otherwise is the state of the jail of Aberdeen. It is almost a loathsome dungeon, inconvenient, and deprived of light and proper air, having neither ventilator, water pipe, or any means by which the prisoners can be relieved from noxious vapours. There is, however, a prospect of these grievances being remedied. A new court house and jail were projected, some years ago, to be built at the expense of the town and the county, and an act of parliament obtained, authorising the execution of this this undertaking, according to a plan which has been adopted. The work is commenced, and the situation of prisoners will, in a short time, be rendered much more comfortable than it has hitherto been. In the mean time, the humanity of Mr. Brown, the jailor, is exercised in attending to the cleanliness of the prison, the walls of which are frequently washed with lime and water. Some years ago, a benevolent citizen bequeathed a sum of money for providing a salary of L.50 sterling, yearly, to a chaplain, for performing, every Sunday, the necessary ordinances of religion to the prisoners, and for attending such of them as had occasion for spiritual consolation. The prisoners are at liberty to purchase, where they please, their own provisions, which are brought to them by the jailor's servants; and admittance can be obtained to the prison three times a day, both in summer and winter Mr. Alexander Brown is the present jailor, and his salary, which is about L.100 sterling, is paid to him by the magistrates of Aberdeen, from the public funds under their management. His jail fees from debtors are sixpence sterling each night, but those who are burgesses of guild pay one half only. The town house has undergone many alterations and improvements since it was originally erected. In the year 1670, the present court room was fitted up, and a part of the front wall modernised; and, in 1729, an addition of thirty feet was made to the west end of the building, for the purpose of a stair-case. About the year 1750, the town hall was projected, over the court room and clerk's chamber, and the whole front wall of the edifice made uniform, and of the same height. This room was elegantly finished, according to the fashion of the time, being forty six feet eight inches long, twenty nine feet broad, and eighteen feet high in the roof, including the alcove. It has five large windows in front, and is ornamented with a chimney piece of variegated marble, executed in Holland. Over it is a fine perspective view of the town, taken from the hill of Torrie, on the south side of the river, by Mr. William Mosman, landscape painter, about the year 1756. On the back wall are an original full length picture of Queen Anne, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, and a half length |