^aii J^gnctihural IntelUgetite. -^^g-' 



Lewis XIV. of France did more good to his kingdom, and gain- 

 ed more lading honour to himfelf, by executing the celebrated 

 canal of Languedoc, than by all his warlike and political exer- 

 tions •, and, ib long as mankind are poflefled of common fenfe, 

 they will beflow greater praife upon the authors of meafures cal- 

 culated to promote their welfare and profpcrity, than upon thofe 

 who wafte their treafure and tlicir blood in the execution of 

 fchemes, brilliant perhaps at the time, but tending only to fpread 

 mifery and woe over the face of the earth.. The expence, of fucxi 

 works as are now to be. executed in the Highlands, ought always 

 to be defrayed out of the public purfe. It is a triile to the whole 

 body, but an immenfe fum to the few individuals immediately 

 concerned. Were a fyflem like the one now, for the firlt time, 

 adopted, to be fteadily adhered to, Britain, at no very dlftant pe- 

 riod, might be transformed into a kind of terreflrial paradife \ the 

 people would get employment at home, and be rendered content- 

 ed and happy •, the trade and agriculture of the country would 

 tlourifh in a degree greatly exceeding that of former times j and 

 the national income (which to the public is the fame thing as that 

 of individuals) would increafe in direct proportion with the meli- 

 orations produced. 



While we (late the benefits which mud follow a fteady adher- 

 ence to the fyflem now mentioned, it is but juftice to recognife 

 the fource from whence the m.eafures, now going to be executed, 

 mav be faid to have proceeded. We early conceived a favourable 

 opinion of INIr Addington's adminiftration, and on various occa- 

 fions have paid our tribute of approbation to the wifdom of his 

 meafures. Formed by nature with the mod happy and conciliat- 

 ing difpofitions, he regulates his conduO: by tlie dictates of the 

 pul3iic mind, and never perfids in forcing forward political regu- 

 lations, if they are generally difagi-eeable. A Prime-Minifter has 

 it in his pcv/er to do a great deal of good, and likewife to do 

 much harm. When the country are blefled with one that dudics 

 to patronize objects connected with internal profpcrity, they have 

 cauie to rejoice. Nay, the people are called to do more : They 

 are in duty bound to lupport the admiinidration of fuch a Mirnder 

 with vigour and perfeverancc, led in the event of a change tlicir 

 intered (hould fuder or Ije negleded. 



That indefatigable patriot, Sir John Sinclair Baronet, on the 

 prcfent occafion, alfo claims our notice, having communicated to 

 the Committee of the Houfe of Commons, appointed to confider 

 the plans for the improvement of the Highlands, a number of judi- 

 cic;r.s hints, the fubilance of which is given in the fird branch of this 

 number. Sir John is likewife engaged in extenfive fchemes for the 

 in.provement of the county of Caithnefs, a Iketch of which he lately 

 trHnfmittcd to us \ and we are extremely forry that our confined 



limits 



