Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/41

ABERDARE ABERDEEN 21 was sent to Egypt to act against the French invasion of that country, and on March 8, 1801, he made good his landing at Aboukir in the face of a hostile force, but with considerable loss. He encamped near Alexandria, and was at- tacked by the French, and on the 21st the bat- tle of Alexandria was fought. Sir Ralph was severely wounded early in the action, but con- cealing his wound, he continued on the field, giving his orders, until after the action was over, and the French had been entirely defeat- ed. His dangerous condition was then made known. He died a week afterward, and his remains were conveyed to Malta and there in- terred. His widow was created a peeress as Baroness Abercromby, with succession. ABERDARE, a town and parish of Glamor- ganshire, S. Wales, at the junction of the river Dare with the Cynon, 20 m. K N. W. of Car- diff, and 4 m. S. W. of Merthyr Tydvil ; pop. of the parish (25 sq. m.) in 1861, 32,299; in 1871, about 40,000. In 1841 the population was but 6,471. The increase is due to the great extension of coal and iron mining. The coal is largely consumed in the iron mills of the town, and a considerable amount is export- ed. There are many fine public and private buildings, good water works, and a public park. ABERDEEN. I. New, the capital of the county of Aberdeen, Scotland, situated between the rivers Don and Dee, and near the mouth of the latter, 512 m. from London, and 114 m. N. byE. from Edinburgh; pop. in 1871, 88,125. It was styled New Aberdeen after its restora- tion in 1336, having been burned by EdwaVd III. It is incorporated by royal charter grant- ed by William the Lion in 1179. The public edifices, chiefly of granite, are the East and Aberdeen from the Cross. West church, the Marischal college, the royal infirmary, the town house and tolbooth or jail, the post office, mechanics' hall, and several oth- ers erected within the last few years. There is a fine one-arch bridge of 132 feet span over the river Dee, opening into Union street, which is 70 feet wide and a mile long, and is the chief thoroughfare of the city. Over the Don, at the N. end of the town, is a bridge of five arches and 75 feet span. There are about 50 religious edifices of all denominations, the largest number being Presbyterian. The Easfe and West church is a noble pile 170 feet long, with a spire 150 feet high. The town house and tolbooth are situated in Castle street, and have a spire 120 feet high. Marischal col- lege, founded by George Keith, earl maris- chal, in 1593, has an observatory and good collection of instruments, a museum, and a fine library. Since 1858 it has been incorporated with King's college as the university of Aber- deen, which has now 21 professors and over 600 students. Gordon's hospital, founded in 1729 by Robert Gordon, is a school for boys, who are admitted from 8 to 11, and kept until 15 years of age, and on quitting the foundation are entitled to receive an apprentice fee of 10 or 7. The other charitable institutions are the royal infirmary and lunatic asylum, the general dispensary, two ophthalmic institu- tions, the Cruickshank asylum for the blind, Dr. Carnegie's hospital for destitute female children, the Midbellie fund for granting pen- sions of 5 to 15 to widows, and the female orphan asylum, which is supported by volun- tary contributions, and whose inmates are trained for domestic service. The cross on the east of Castle street is a monumental structure of remarkable beauty. The market is com- modious, built in two floors, with galleries