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214 TRAVELS
The town had been anciently built on a fpot fituated a quar-
ter of a mile diftant from where it now ftands: it dates its origin
from the introduction of chriftianity into this country. After be- .
ing nearly confumed by fire, it was rebuilt, and put under better
regulations, by the care and attention of Peter Brake, Rik{drots and
governor-general of Finland, about the middle of the feventeenth
century. There was formerly a mint at Abo. Inthe time of
popery this town had two monafteries within its precincts. From
the year 1714 until 1721, Abo remained under the dominion of
the Ruffians, from whom it experienced the moft cruel treatment.
In the year 1743, at the conclufion of peace between Ruffia and
Sweden, this city was finally delivered from the feverities and
dangers to which it had been expofed.
The caftle, in the language of the country called Abo-hus or
Abo-flot, is fituated at the mouth of the river Aura, upon a cape
bounded on three fides by the water: this is one of the moft an-
cient fortrefles of the country. It was well fortified under the
kings, Albrecht, Charles VIII., Knutfon, and Guftavus Vafa. Be-
fides four towers, which were deftined to oppofe the approach of,
an enemy to the harbour, it had on the fouth fide a high wall
with a triple rampart of earth, and a double ditch. A new build-
ing has been added to the old ftru€ture, but in a different ftyle of
mafonry. Abo-hus was the refidence of Duke John, and the
prifon of King Eric XIV.in the fixteenth century. The old
caftle, which contains a church and a confiderable arfenal, is con-
ftructed of brick walls extremely folid, and furrounded by finall
earthen
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