按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 called Sandenesse； ther is to be seen a grosse bulk of
a building； vaulted and flatted above （the Blockhous they call it）；
begun to be builded anno 1513； for guarding the entree of the
harboree from pirats and algarads； and cannon wer planted ther for
that purpose； or； at least； that from thence the motions of pirats
might be tymouslie foreseen。 This rough piece of work was finished
anno 1542； in which yer lykewayes the mouth of the river Dee was
locked with cheans of iron and masts of ships crossing the river；
not to be opened bot at the citizens' pleasure。〃*＇7＇ After the
Union； but more especially after the rebellion of 1745； the trade
of Aberdeen made considerable progress。 Although Burns； in 1787；
briefly described the place as a 〃lazy toun；〃 the inhabitants were
displaying much energy in carrying out improvements in their
port。*＇8＇ In 1775 the foundation…stone of the new pier designed by
Mr。 Smeaton was laid with great ceremony； and； the works proceeding
to completion； a new pier； twelve hundred feet long； terminating in
a round head； was finished in less than six years。 The trade of
the place was； however； as yet too small to justify anything beyond
a tidal harbour； and the engineer's views were limited to that
object。 He found the river meandering over an irregular space about
five hundred yards in breadth； and he applied the only practicable
remedy； by confining the channel as much as the limited means
placed at his disposal enabled him to do； and directing the land
floods so as to act upon and diminish the bar。 Opposite the north
pier； on the south side of the river； Smeaton constructed a
breast…wall about half the length of the Pier。 Owing； however；
to a departure from that engineer's plans； by which the pier was
placed too far to the north； it was found that a heavy swell
entered the harbour； and； to obviate this formidable inconvenience；
a bulwark was projected from it； so as to occupy about one third of
the channel entrance。
The trade of the place continuing to increase； Mr。 Rennie was
called upon； in 1797； to examine and report upon the best means of
improving the harbour； when he recommended the construction of
floating docks upon the sandy flats called Foot Dee。 Nothing was
done at the time； as the scheme was very costly and considered
beyond the available means of the locality。 But the magistrates
kept the subject in mind； and when Mr。 Telford made his report on
the best means of improving the harbour in 1801； he intimated that
the inhabitants were ready to cooperate with the Government in
rendering it capable of accommodating ships of war； as far as their
circumstances would permit。
In 1807； the south pier…head； built by Smeaton； was destroyed by a
storm； and the time had arrived when something must be done； not
only to improve but even to preserve the port。 The magistrates
accordingly proceeded； in 1809； to rebuild the pier…head of cut
granite； and at the same time they applied to Parliament for
authority to carry out further improvements after the plan
recommended by Mr。 Telford； and the necessary powers were
conferred in the following year。 The new works comprehended a
large extension of the wharfage accommodation； the construction of
floating and graving docks； increased means of scouring the harbour
and ensuring greater depth of water on the bar across the river's
mouth； and the provision of a navigable communication between the
Aberdeenshire Canal and the new harbour。
＇Image＇ Plan of Aberdeen Harbour
The extension of the north pier was first proceeded with； under the
superintendence of John Gibb； the resident engineer； and by the
year 1811 the whole length of 300 additional feet had been
completed。 The beneficial effects of this extension were so
apparent； that a general wish was expressed that it should be
carried further； and it was eventually determined to extend the
pier 780 feet beyond Smeaton's head； by which not only was much
deeper water secured； but vessels were better enabled to clear the
Girdleness Point。 This extension was successfully carried out by
the end of the year 1812。 A strong breakwater； about 800 feet long；
was also run out from the south shore； leaving a space of about 250
feet as an entrance； thereby giving greater protection to the
shipping in the harbour； while the contraction of the channel； by
increasing the 〃scour；〃 tended to give a much greater depth of
water on the bar。
＇Image＇ Aberdeen Harbour。
The outer head of the pier was seriously injured by the heavy
storms of the two succeeding winters； which rendered it necessary
to alter its formation to a very flat slope of about five to one
all round the head。*＇9＇
＇Image＇ Section of pier…head work。
New wharves were at the same time constructed inside the harbour；
a new channel for the river was excavated； which further enlarged