arid Central Highiands of Scotlarid. 133: 



"m the northern lochs, some considerable shoals having ap-' 

 pcaied, intelliaence was dispatched to Greenock; but owing, 

 to the Hidirect course of the post, and the difficulties ot" some, 

 parts of the circuitous journey, several weeks elapsed before 

 any advantage could be taken of the information *. 



The lines that have been sugcested, or nearly such lines, 

 are, m the opinion of the committee, the radical lines of 

 road, as they mav be termed, from which in process of 

 time various rannlications will be formed, when the bene-, 

 fits of these begin to be perceptibly difiiised. 



From consideration of the connection of tlie fifth question 

 with what precedes, the committee in so far depart from 

 Mr. Telford's arrangement as to put next in order the an- 

 swer to it. They are fully persuaded of the reality of those; 

 views, both of public and individual benefit,, which the 

 statement of the question includes; and they think it highly 

 reasonable that the land-owners should, according to their 

 respective abilities, unite with government in executing 

 these plans by copitributing a certain proportional part ot" 

 the expense, varying with the difl'erent circumstances of 

 their several situations. But the committee humbiy report 

 their opinion, that it would be advisable for the lords of the 

 treasury, after weighing such suggestions as have been made,- 

 and consulting their surveyor, to select the lines of road 

 wiiich more immediately, and in a national view, invite the 

 public aid ; and then, after the selection is made known, it 

 will be the duty as well as the interest of land-owners, to 

 coiTie forward w ith their proposals, stating, with regard to 

 each separately, those local considerations which seem to 

 fix the proportion of public aid that may fairly be solicited. 

 In answer to query second, the committee have no doubt 

 tliat the Caledonl;ui canal, formed on the scale suggested 

 (suflicient for the passage of large trading ships and fri- 

 gates), will be attended with the greatest national advan-» 

 tage. In respect to these objects, indeed, the benefit must 

 be so incalculably great, that this truly useful undertaking 

 assuredly merits the attention and exertions of government. 

 The euinmittee have equally little doubt in concurring with 

 the opinion inferred in the third question, that, by opening 

 a frte eommunieaticjn iVom the eastern to the western sea, 

 it would be highly beneficial to the fisheries, particularly by 

 tran»:ftrring tlie skill in the cod and ling fishery, possessed 

 by the people ou the eastern coast, by whom it is certainly 



" Tlic ordinary course of the post is one wcct; from Loxford to 

 ttrngw;, and inntiuT from Tongue to Tain, being ou th? Unc by In- 

 Wiriicst. to lidinbiirjjli. . ' 



t" 1 3 better 



