JOD A Survey and Report of the Coajis 



of unco.mie6^ed faiSls. SpccuIaUons, which too often, in- 

 dt;ecl, proceed from indoleut philofophers, are neceflary to 

 render natural hiftory an agreeable and even ufeful fcience. 

 VVc are, moreoverj fometiines able to difcover the final caufe 

 or intention of nature in her operations. And as to the ujus 

 partium, every philofopher mult confefs that this is a quef- 

 tion which ought never to be neglected. It is a kind of foul 

 to the fcience of anatomy. It is exct;edingly to be regretted, 

 however, that we are fo ofieu at a lof.s to deiermine the iifes 

 of parts even where the forms and ftmiture of thefe parts are 

 well known to us. — But let us not dcfpair. Nature intends 

 to reveal to us many things (precious in their kind), which 

 are now entirely unknown to us. I'hyfiology will, m time, 

 aflfume one of the higheft (lalions in the range of fure as well 

 as fplendid fciences. 



X.V. A Survey and Rrport of the Conjls and Central High- 

 lands of Scotland; made by the Command of the Right 

 Hononrahle the Lords Comimffloners of his Majejly's Trea~ 

 Jury in the Autumn of l8o3. By Thomas TelFORD, 

 Civil Engineer, Edinburgh, F. R. S. 



■Y MY LORDS, 



XN reporting upon the furvey T made in Scotland, in obe-. 

 dience to the inftru(9;i()ns I had the honour of receiving from 

 your lorddiips, dated the i ft of July 1802, I find the bufinefs 

 may be moft conveniently arranged under the following 

 heads : 



I. What regards rendering the intercourfe of the country 

 more perfcft, by means of bridges and roads. 



II. Afcerlaining various circumftances relative to the Ca- 

 ledonian canal, efpecially with regard to the fiippHcs of water 

 on the fummit level, and the belt communications from this 

 canal to the firtiing locks at the back of the Ifle of Skye. 



III. The meanti of promoting the fifheries on the eaft and 

 weft coafts. 



IV. The caufes of emigration, and the means of prevent- 

 ing it. 



V. Improving the means of intercourfe between Great 

 Britain and the northern parts of Ireland ; particularly as to 

 the bridges and roads between Carlilie and Port Patrick, an4 

 alfo the harbour of Port Patrick. 



Under each of ihofe heads are comprehended fubje6ls 

 highly deferving the attention of goverumeul j the more 



they 



