1803. Hinii for the Improvement of the Highland/. ^6j 



traveller. No bridges can be more eilcntial than tliofe mentioned 

 by Mr Telford ; and the liim which it is propofed the public 

 ftiall contribute for their eredion, is not likely to be objcded to. 



Harbours. — If the fafety of commerce, or the improvement of the 

 fifheries, are objc(Sts vi^orth attending to in thole remote diftridts, 

 it is evident that they cannot be obtained without the advantage 

 of harbours. The advantages to be derived from the harbours re- 

 commended in Mr Telford's two Reports, c;ui hardly be quef- 

 tioned, both with a view to the fillieries, and to the general eom*- 

 merce of the country. In regard to the propofed harbour at 

 Wick, in particular, // is hi fact a fiational ohjecl ,- for it would 

 furnidi (lielter, not only to the ccafting trade, but to the foreign 

 commerce of the kingdom. Within thefe few years paft, about 

 30 velTels have been wrecked upon that coaft, the greater part of 

 whom, and their valuable cargoes, would probably have been fa- 

 yed, had there been a harbour there. 



Canals. — For many years pail, the idea of cutting a canal froju 

 Fort-Vv^illiam to Invernefs, has been recommended to the public 

 attention, and is at lafh fubmiitted to the confideration of Parha- 

 ment. As that fubjed is fo fully explained in the Report, it 

 feems unneceffary to dwell more upon it in thefe curfory obferva- 

 tions. 



Such are the means of improvement recommended in thefe Re- 

 ports. Let us next eonfider, i. The expence which the plan will 

 oceafion j 2. The advantages that may be dc;rived from it ; and, 

 3. What would be the bell mode of carrying it into effed:. 



The Expence. — i. It is propofed in the Report, that a fum not 

 •exceeding 96,0001. fliall be granted by the public, for certain roads 

 and bridges in the northern parts of Scotland, and that a fimilar 

 fum ihall be paid by the land- owners of thofe diflrifts where they 

 are to be made. The general principle of this propoial certainly 

 cannot be objected to : but it is fubmitted whether the proportions 

 to be expected from the land- owners ought not to vary, according 

 to fituation and circum (lances. It cannot be fuppofed, that di- 

 ftricls hitherto inaeceflible, can afford as much as thofe whicli 

 have already been enriched by comm.erce and intercourfc ; and ir 

 this is admitted, any difference of contribution that may arife in 

 confequence thereof, might be defrayed out of the fund arifmg 

 from the balance of the forfeited eilates, vrhich was originally 

 fpecially appropriated for the improvement of that part of the king- 

 dom. 



2. The expence of the harbours for the improvement of the 

 flflieries, is ftated at 6000I. ; but that fum is certainly inadequate 

 for fo important an obje61:. It is a fortunate circumilance, that 

 the property of a trad of country, where an admirable h?.rbour 



may 



