268 Hints fit' the ImpTSvemeni of the Highlands, -Aug.' 



manufaclures eftablifiied in the north, more efpecially thofe which 

 we are at prefent obliged to import from foreign countries, as 

 Ofnaburghs, Silefi.is, and t!ie like. ■ And if the improvements 

 which are in contemplation were carried on, and fucceeded to 

 the extent tliat may be expected, there can be no doubt, that 

 thefe dillricls would furniih a new and advantageous market for 

 the manufacStures of England ; and rival, in that refpe^t, thofe 

 foreign colonies in the prmcipal benefit that can be derived from 

 them. 



6. Naval Strength. — It is impofnble, in this (i^ort paper, to give 

 any idea of the advantages which m-ght be expecled from thefe 

 improvements, in regard to cur fiilieries and naval ftrength. It 

 may be fuflkient to obferve, that an intelligent individual, the 

 Rev. Herbert Marfh, who jiiade particular inquiries into the 

 fubje6l, has given it in evidence before one of the Fifhery Com- 

 mittees, that the enltern coait of Caithnefs is the proper ftation 

 for eltablilliing the deep-fea fiHiery, and rivalling the Dutch in 

 that important branch of indullvy. 



Mode of cayyying the Plan into ^ffecl. 



The great difficulty regarding meafures calculated for public 

 improvement, is the mode of carrying them into effevfl \ fo as 

 to prevent the wafte of public money, and that the objects in 

 view may be obtained. If the plans abovementioned are fortu- 

 nate enough to obtain the fan6tion of Parliament, tliey muft, 

 in a great meafure, be carried on under the direction of the 

 Treafury. But as it is hardly poffible for the Treafury itfelf to^ 

 attend to the minutiiZ of fo many different undertakings, to en- 

 ter into proper bargains with the land-owners in the different 

 diftricls, or with the magilirates of the diflerent towns, or to 

 fee that the contracts are fairly executed, it would be proper to 

 refer thefe particulars to the Board of Truitees for manufac- 

 tures and other improvements in Scotland, who have hitherto 

 managed the fund entrufted to their care with much prudence 

 and fuccefs, and who could conduct this additional concern with- 

 out occafioning any farther expence to the public. In this way, 

 alfo, a moll defirable obj^ecT: may be obtained — that of making 

 fome progrefs in the courfe of the prefent year, which would be 

 of the utmoft importance, with a view of checking the fpirit of 

 emigration. Indeed, the lofs of one year in carrying on any 

 great national undertaking, ought always, if poffible, to be a- 

 voided. 



Oii the whole, it cannot be doubted, if thefe meafures are 

 purfued with proper fpirit, that, in the words of Lord Bacon, 

 they iL'ill prove a Jource of glory ^ Ji^^^^g^h^ and commodity to the em" 



pire ; 



