arid Central Highlands of Scotland. ^o^ 



lines were to be carried, to come forward with their furvey* 

 and efti mates, and fubicriptions to one-half the amount of 

 the expenfe, proving at the fame time, to the fatibfa6lion of 

 government, that the propofed Hnes would be of public as 

 well as private utility. It would be neceflary alfo to provide 

 that the works Oiould be fubftantially executed, and that the 

 land-owners or others intercfted fliould always lay out a cer^ 

 tain fum before government advanced an equal moiety. 



Means fliould be provided for the maintenance of the roads 

 and bridges after they have been completed; and for this 

 purpofe there ftould either be a fund rcferved, or a fmall toll 

 laid on, to go in aid of the ftatute labour of ihe country. A 

 very important confideration alfo, is the erefting and main- 

 taining proper inns upon the roads. 



Several of the houfes which were built by government 

 upon the military roads, are ftriking inftances of the necef- 

 fity there is of giving the people who are to keep the inns 

 fomething elfe to depend upon befides what arifes from fup- 

 plying travellers; there fliould be fonje land attached to the 

 houfe, at a rent to be fettled by reference. I am not prepared 

 to fay what the quantity fhould be, or of what particular de- 

 fcription; it is at prefent fufficient to point out the principle. 



Upon the whole, as far as regards the bridges and roads, I 

 can have no hefitation in ftating, that they are of the greateft 

 moment for promoting the improvement of the country, and 

 fn- ])erfe6ling the connexions with the fifhing lochs and the 

 Hebrides ; and T ihall hereafter endeavour to explain my rea- 

 fon for thinking that fome fhare of the emigrations is to be 

 attributed to the want of jiroper communications. 



Naval Stations. 



Before entering upon the fubjeft of the Caledonian canal 

 it will be proper to oblerve, that I again examined the Bay 

 of Cromarty, and have procured fome more information re- 

 f))e6ling it and the Murray Frith. 



Mr, Henderfon, the rcfident cuftom-houfc officer, a man 

 of refpccta!)ility, has, at my defirc, afcertained the depth of 

 water in the wells, and alfo what quantity flows from a fpring 

 about half a mile from the town. From this letter it npptars, 

 that at the depth of twenty feet from the furface of the j)lain 

 upon which the town (lands, there are four feet of water ia 

 their wells; when at Cromaity I learned, that at high fprings 

 this water is brackifli, but it is generally ufed for wafliin^, 

 and other doniefli'c purpofes. A^ the dillance of about half 

 a mile from the town there is a fine fpring, which was dif- 

 covered by the late Mr. Rofs during his inefi'eilual attempt 

 X a to 



