iS6 Hints for the Improvement of the Highlands, Aug; 



may be forined, peculiarly adapted as a central point for carrying 

 on the deep-fca herring fifhery, has lately been acquired by that 

 public-fpirited Society conflituted for the fpecial purpofe of im- 

 proving the Britifh Fidierles. The Society is certainly well dif- 

 pofed to make every pofiible effort which its moderate capital will 

 admit of, to promote fo ufeful an undertaking ; but it is to be 

 confidered, that it h.:? a new fcttlement entirely to create ; that 

 the harbour of AVick is not only of importance to that neighbour- 

 hood, but m.ay afford flieltcr and protection to a number of veffels 

 employed, both in the coafting trade, and in foreign commerce ; 

 and, in faft, that it lays a foundation for eflablifhing the deep-fea 

 herring fifliery, from which this country would derive more profit 

 and naval llrength, than from almoft any new undertaking to 

 which its attention can be directed. 



3. The expence of the propofed Naval Stations, amounting only 

 to 6o,oool , 27,5001. of which it is propofed fliall be raifed by 

 private fubfcription, docs not feem to require any further explan- 

 ation, than what is contained in the Report. 



4. The Caledonian Canal is undoubtedly a great national ob- 

 ject ; and I have no doubt, if peace had continued for fomc 

 years, that numbers of perfons would have readily taken a con- 

 cern In it, as a fair mercantile fpeculation. At prefent, it can 

 only be executed by the public ; and, when completed, the na- 

 tion would not only be indemnified for the expence, by the ad- 

 vAntages of v/hich it would be produ6live ; but if it anfwered 

 the obje(fls in view, of fhortening and rendering fafer and more 

 commodious the communication between the eaftern and the 

 wedern coafts of the iiland, it would yield a confiderable furplus 

 income to the exchequer. 



If the public were, in the courfe of feven years, to be at 

 the whole expence that is above fuggefted, amounting in all to 

 501,4501.; what is it, conipared to the benefits which may 

 be expelled from that expenditure ? Is it poffible to fuppofe, 

 t!r.it the nation, either dIrecSlly or indlre£tly, would not be be- 

 nefited, even in a financial point of view, to a m^uch greater ex- 

 tent than the intereft of the fum expended, namely, 25,0001. 

 per cTinuni ? But when it is confidered, that, at fo moderate an 

 expence, the commerce of the country will be facilitated ; that 

 many thoufands of induflrious or ufeful inhabitants will be pre- 

 vented from abandoning their native country ; and that the foun- 

 dation of improvement will be laid in many extenfive and valu- 

 able diftrl^ls ; who can refufe giving every poffible aid to mea- 

 fures, of a nature {q> peculiarly beneficial and important ? 



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