Elgin

Elgin. 1. A coast county of Scotland upon the southern shore of the Moray Firth, between the counties of Banff and Nairn on the E. and W. respectively, and having Inverness on the S. The area is 340,000 acres, of which 103,000 are under cultivation. In the south of the county there are hills interspersed with fertile valleys, and there is much forest and heath. The sea-coast is, for the most part, flat, though in the middle of the coast-line of 30 miles there eire sandstone cliffs At each end of the line there are mounds of sand and gravel. There are several lochs, and the rivers Spey, Findhorn, and Lossie have fine scenery and afford good salmon-fishing, while trout abound in the lochs. Granite, felspar, mica, slate, and sandstone are the components of the rocks in the south. There are large quarries of freestone, and some of slate. The climate is mild, dry, and wholesome, and the lowlands are, for the most part, fertile. The country exports corn, whisky, salmon, and timber, and unites with Nairn to return one member to Parliament. The principal towns are Elgin, Lossiemouth, Forres, and Burghead. Morayshire is a name by which the county is also known.

2. The capital of the county of Elgin, is a parliamentary borough, uniting with five other towns, called the Elgin Burghs, to send one member to Parliament. It is situated on the Lossie, five miles above Lossiemouth, and 37 miles E. of Inverness, and is on a gentle slope surrounded by wooded hills. The High Street runs for about a mile E. and W., and among the public buildings are several churches, a hospital, museum, market rooms, assembly rooms, and the Elgin Institution. There are only some fragments left of the cathedral, which was founded in 1224, and was the finest in Scotland and rivalled Melrose. The final touch in its ruin was given by the Regent Murrav, who stripped the lead from the roof in 1568. There are cloth factories, iron foundries, tanneries, and breweries, and a good trade in farm produce.