Retrospective \'il'W of ilushandry — InvcrncsS'shirc, 5^1 



JnvcrTiesS'shire. 



Mr Telford, engineer, spent a great part of the .summer In taking 

 the levels and lining of the great Caledonian Canal, from Fort W'il- 

 Jiam to Inverness, a distance of sixty mllc^, only twenty of -vvhicli 

 require cutting, the remainder being iresh water lochs, and an arm 

 of the sea. There are a great number of men already employed in the 

 quarrying of stones, and in the erecting of wooden b;<rr;icks for the 

 work people ) but no general commencement of the undertaking will 

 take place till the beginning of next spring, when it certainly wiil pro- 

 ceed with vigour. INlr Teltord's estimate of the expence of roads and 

 bridges proposed to bp executed in the Highland districts, amounts to 

 L.I 92,000, whereof it is intended to raise one half by an assess- 

 ment upon the landed proprietors of the different counties In which 

 such roads and brI4gts arc respectively situated, and the other half go- 

 vcrnpient mean to supply. The gentlemen of this county (a few ex- 

 cepted) have already come forward with a voluntary otfer of their 

 share of the expence 5 and if those, who hpve not consented, refuse to 

 meet the liberal views of goveniment, an application will be made to 

 parliament for power to assess theni in their several proportions. The 

 general advantages to the north of Scotland, and in particular to this 

 county, that must result from the public works now in contemplation, 

 ought to silence all opposition, and cause the proceedings, in every 

 stage, to be forwarded with the greatest diligence and alacrity. 



1 formerly mentioned that the Caledonian canal avIU rmi thrxDugh 

 my farm, fully more than a mile, and on that account 1 must suffer con- 

 siderably. Besides, it approaches within 250 yards of tlie front of my 

 house, and will cut through several of my fields. I hardly think it 

 possible that a suitable compensation can be awarded to me ; for as 

 tenant the injury done will be great in the hr'^t Instance, thojgh even- 

 tually the proprietor may be amply benefited. 



Morayshire, 



Observing, with niuch satisfaction, in your valuable miscellany, 

 Jlin anxious desire to promote and animate that spirit o^ improvement 

 in Agriculture and Rural Economy wlilch is so rapidly spreading m 

 all directions, and hoping that it will be agreeable to you to receive 

 some account of the improvements in Morayshire lately undertaken, 

 and of those soon intended, 1 send you tlie following sketch. 



The most prominent is that by which our communication with the 

 eastern and southern divisions of the kingdonr W\\\ at all times be kept 

 open — A Eridgk over tkk Spey at Fochab>:rs. Whether this 

 object be viewed as the only link wanted to complete the vast chain, 

 of bridges from Cornwall to Inverness, and therefore truly a national 

 one ', — or, merely as a local accommodation to the agriculture, com- 

 merce, and comfort of this particular diitrict, it Is peculiarly inter- 

 esting. The facility which this bridge will afford to the anxious tra- 

 veller, to the mail, and even to the conveyance of troops and military- 

 stores 



