1803. Improvements carrying on at Caithnefs In 1802. *ji^ 



cr danger; and tlie afcent, inftead of being fo uncommonly 

 fteep, will not cxcjcd one foot in thirty, in any p.irt of it. 

 There is every reafon to hope tiiat fomcthlng eflcctual will 

 be done for the Roads and Bridges of the North, in the courfe 

 of the enfuing SefTion of Parliament. 



5. The EJlahl'iJJjment cf Various Nfiu Branches of ManufaBure are 

 in contemplation, feveral propoials having been given in for 

 that purpofe \ in particular — for an Woollen Manufacture — 

 for the Spinning and Weaving of Hemp — for the Making of 

 Bricks and Tiles — for the Manufacture of Soap and Candles, 

 &c. &c. Ship-building has already begun at Ham, and a 

 Roperie at Cafllehill. The branches formerly eflablifh- 

 ed in this county have fucceeded fo well, that a gentleman 

 in the fouth of Scotland, who had taken a fhare in tliem., 

 to the amount of 25I., and who probisbly never expedled to 

 hear of it again, was lately agreeably furprifed to be inform- 

 ed, that he might receive 65 1. for his fliare in the concern. 



(5. Some farmers from the fouthern parts of Scotland, have al- 

 ready taken farms in Caithnefs, and more are expecled. 

 There is every reafon to believe, that when the prejudices 

 againft a northern foil and climate are removed, numbers 

 will be glad to fettle in a diftridl: where they will enjoy many 

 advantages, amply compenfating for any inconveniences to 

 which they may be fubje^led. An excellent fyflem of im- 

 provement is now adopted •, that of letting the old ftock land, 

 and a part of the adjoining commons, to fubi\antial farmers, 

 on improving Icafes -, and then to divide the remainder cf 

 the commons amiong the fmaller tenants, whom it is necef- 

 fary for that purpofe to remove. By thefe judicious mea- 

 fures, the population of the country is preferved, whilft its 

 improvement will be rapidly accelerated. 



'-^. The Cultivation oflVafics Is going on with fpirit, and with as 

 much fuccefs as could be expected, in a feafon fo little cal- 

 culated for improvement. One proprietor has ploughed 

 between 500 and 600 acres of wafte land ; the whole of 

 which, and even more, would have been under crop this 

 year, had the weather been favourable. The plan of di- 

 viding commons, alfo, by a fubmillion to the gentlemen in 

 the neighbourhood, is found to anfwer. An extenfive and 

 valuable tx^Oiy amounting to about 2500 acres, has been di- 

 vided this year, at a very moderate expcnce ; and another, 

 K 3 exceeding 



