$0$ A Survey and Report s/ the CoaJJs 



to find coal: from this circumftance it is called the Coal 

 Well. This fpriiig produces, on an average, upwards of 

 twenty hogfheads of water in an hour; this water might 

 be collcAed into a refervoir at a fmall expenfe ; from this 

 refervoir it might be brought to the fliore, which is a fhort 

 diftance, in pipes, and bv means of hofc run into calTc? in a 

 fhip's boat : to protect the boats, a fmall pier might be 

 formed at this place. 



Captain Duff, of the royal navv, who is well acquainted 

 with the countrv, and has navigated the Moray Frith in *■ 

 frigate, has been fo ohlitiing as to refolve feme queries which 

 I took the lilicrtv of tranfmitting to him through his brother- 

 in-law colonel Dirom. Captain Duff confirms the general 

 report of the excellence of the Bav of Cromartv, and the en- 

 trance to il; his opinion refpe6iing the navigation of the 

 Moray Frith is quite as favourable as I have been led to ad- 

 vance in mv laft report. From what he ftates it appears, 

 that ev'en with a contrary wind a fliip of war could clear the 

 headlands in forty-eight hours from the time of leaving the 

 Bay of Cromarty. From this account, perfons converfant in 

 naval affairs will be able to judoe how far this bay would be 

 foitable for a fquadron dcftined to watch the mouth of the 

 Baltic and protedl the coaft. It would be fingularly well fitu- 

 ated for convoys to vcffels coming from the wetlward through 

 the Caledonian canal, and when returning with the fame 

 trade ; after feeing the merchant fliips pafs Fort George, the 

 fliips of war would be clofe in with their own harbour. 



As an aid to this Nation, the harbour of Aberdeen might 

 be made to receive frigates. This harbour is not embayed, 

 and frigates might fail from it at all times. In my laft re- 

 port f ftated the expenfe which would attend improving this 

 harbour, and I diftinguifhed what extra expenfe would be 

 rci^uircd to render it capable of receiving frigates, which ap- 

 peared to be 33,7001. 



'1 lie niagifirates of the town, bv ivhofe fpirited exertions 

 feveral valuable improvements have already been et]'e(?ted, 

 have authorized me to fay, that thev are ready to co-operate 

 with government as far as their circumitances will admit. 

 If frigates were ftationed at Aberdeen, and larce (liips at 

 Cromarty, a naval protection would be inmiediatelv obtained 

 in that quarter at a very moderate expenle; and experience 

 would point out what future improvements were neceliary 

 upon this coaft. 



From Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraferburgh, a commu- 

 nication might be kept u|i with Cromnrly by means of (ig- 

 aats or a telegraph, or by land exprelfcs to Nairn, where 



the 



