and Central Highlands, of Scotland, 303 



rain. It is of courfe a very dangerous ferry. This ferrv is 

 on the great coalt road eaftward from Invernefs and Fort 

 George, through the towns and cultivated country in Mur- 

 ray and Banfl-flilres, from whence it pafles throu'oh Frafer- 

 burgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen. 



Another branch of road alfo, ilrikes off at Fochabers, ou 

 the Spey, and pafles by Hunily and Inverury to Aberdeen. 



The necelfity of having a bridge over the Spey at this 

 place became fo urgent, that his grace the duke of Gordon 

 began a fubfcription in the adjacent country in order to raife 

 a part of the money iieceflary to defray the expenfe of a 

 bridge; his grace fet'a liberal example, and it has been fol- 

 lowed by moft of the gentlemen in that part of the country. 

 In confequence of this exertion, a contraA has been entered 

 into, and fome fteps have been taken towards carrying this 

 ufeful work into execution ; but unlefs government will grant 

 an aid equal to one- half the expenfe, the works muft Itil] be 

 left unfiuidied, and unfit for the.purpofes intended. 



The fituation fixed upon for this bridge is adjacent to the 

 ferry and town of Fochabers. At this place a rock pafles 

 quite through the river, at about from eigiit to ten feet below 

 the furfacc of ordinary low water; and, as far as I could 

 learn, it is the only place, unlefs at a great diftanceup the 

 country, where the rock pafles quite through the river. Oa 

 thefe accounts it was judicious to prefer iTfor ihe fituatioa 

 of the bridge; and it was fortunate this happened precifely 

 in the line of the prefent road. 



As one-half of the expenfe will be raifed bv fubfcription 

 in the neighbourhood, if government will defray the other 

 half, I underdaud it is propofed that the bridge fl'iall be free 

 of toll. The expenfe cannot be dated at lefs than 12,000 1. 



I have made plans and fe6lions for both thofe bridges. Oa 

 account of their beiny, fo nearly connefled with the'feats of 

 the two before-mentioned noblemen, I have introduced more 

 decorations than what are abfolutely neceflary for common 

 road bridges. This extra expenfe will not amount to much ; 

 but whatever it is, 1 propofe it fliall be defrayed by thofe no- 

 blemen. 



I lafl year produced plans and eftimates for the brido-es 

 over the rivers Beauley and Conon : I have again examined 

 the propofed fituations, and perceive (hat, on account of the 

 uncertainly of the foundations, and the alteration which muft 

 be made- in fome parts of the beds of ihe rivers, ii will be 

 necefli^iry to take the expenfes of each bridge at 5000I. iultead 

 of 4000 1. 



Ihelc two bridges are greatly wanted, in order to facilitate 



the 



