20'4 Hints for the Improvement of the Highlands, Aug. 



to the amount of about twelve millions fterling. What might 

 not then be efFecSled in this country, were fimilar meafures to be 

 purfued ? 



Tlie Northern part of Scotland, to which the Report referred 

 to the Committee principally relates, poiTeires within itfelf various 

 refources, which may render it one of the molt valuable poiTeflions 

 belonging to the Britifh crown. 



Though (except along the coaft) it is in general unfit for agricul- 

 tural operations, yet it produces a fupcrior breed of cattle ; and, 

 it has lately been afcertained, might mxaintain a fine-wooled breed 

 of fneep. The hills alfo are full of mines and minerals of the 

 moll valuable forts, and the fea-coafts abound with fiih of the 

 greatefl variety and value. 



The number of inhabitants in the Northern Highlands may be 

 calculated at above two hundred thoufand fouls. But as in thofe 

 mountainous dilbicls, more efpecially fmce inoculation has been 

 introduced, population increafes as fall as in North America, 

 unlefs new means of occupying the people, are from time to time 

 pointed out, perpetual emigrations mull be the necelTary confe- 

 cjucnce. 



For the purpofe of furnifhing fuch employment, the Report re- 

 ferred to the Committee very properly fuggells, i. Roads; 2. 

 Bridges ; 3. Harbours *, 4. Naval Stations \ and 5. Canals. Some 

 obfervations on thefe, Ihall be fubmitted to the reader's confidera- 

 tion. 



Roczds. — The moft important means of improvement certain- 

 ly is roads of communication, as that is the foundation on which 

 the whole fyftem mull depend. That there ought to be a road 

 from one extremity of die iiland to the other, with branches dir 

 verging from the main road, w^hcre neceflary, is efTential in va- 

 rious points of view, as, r. Fqr the purpofe of communication 

 with the feat of government ; 2. For the eauer conveyance by poll 

 of comm.ercial inteUigence •, and, 3. That the cattle and Iheep 

 reared in thofe remote diilricls, may be conveyed with the greater 

 eafe and fafcty to the more fertile counties, where they are pre- 

 pared for confumption. The roads alluded to in Mr Telford's 

 Report, are fo efl'ential for thofe purpofes, that this part of the 

 plan does not require any particular explanation. It is to be ob- 

 ierved, that the diftricts through which thofe roads are to be con- 

 duced, though unable to make any great exertion, yet would 

 i.ioll readily contribute v/hat they could, to promote fo important 

 ;in objciS:. 



Bridges. — It is well known, that no roads can be complete 

 without bridges, and that they are particularly neceflary in a 

 country, where even the fmallell: dreams are apt to be unexpe6l« 

 edJy Iwelled iutp torren-^) ^r*d foon bsconie dangerous to the 



travelkrl 



