184 A Survey and Report of the Coasts 



better understood than by the natives of the western, from 

 the former to the latter of these shores, where the field for 

 its action is inexhaustible. 



With regard to query fourth, the committee arc well 

 convinced that the undertaking these public Avorks must 

 produce the united good consequences of checking the spirit 

 of euMgration, by aflbrding useful employment to a great 

 number of people, of unproving the habits of the country 

 by teaching lessons of systematic industry, and of aflbrding 

 at once the excitement to undertake, and the intelligence 

 afs well as (to a certam moderate extent) the means required 

 tor instituting those fishing and manufacturing establish- 

 ments, on which the future prosperity of the Ifighlands 

 must be founded. 



On the sixth question the committee have to observe, 

 that they are liilly aware of the comnurcial as well as other 

 national advantages derivable from the Caledonian canal ; 

 but witii regard to the question to what extent commercial 

 men would be ready to contribute individually towards car-> 

 rying the same into effect, the Highland Socict)' can have 

 no means of forming an opinion, other than by reference to 

 that general spirit of liberal enterprise which distinguishes 

 the commercial body. 



Adverting to a supplementary suggestion from Mr. Tel- 

 ford, the committee apprehend that it would be highly ex- 

 peuicnt to introduce a clause into any act of parliament on 

 the subject, authorizing and empowering proprietors of en- 

 tailed estates either to sell lands for defraying the expense 

 of contributing along with government to the making of 

 roads and bridges in the Highlands, or in their option to 

 make the same a debt, aflecting the subsequent heirs of 

 entail. 



It has been stated to the committee, that tutors and cu- 

 rators of minor proprietors, and trustees holding possession 

 of estates concerned in these improvements, might feel 

 some hesitation in venturing on the necessary outlays, as 

 entertaining a doubt of such acts of administration falling 

 within their powers. The committee are humbly of opi- 

 Bion, that it \vould be proper to add to the clause already 

 i^uggested, an enactment, that tutors and curators of a 

 minor heir of entail, or trustees in possession of an estate 

 already entailed, or which is directed to be entailed, should 

 tiave the same power of selling lands or charging the estate 

 that is by the act conferred \ipon heirs of entail themselves. 

 As alio that tutors and curators of. minors possessed of un- 

 eutftiied ^states, and trvistees hplding possession of such, 



shaulgl 



