ATLANTIC AND LOCHFINE. 419 



Of this nature arc the objects principally recom- 

 mended in thele Ihrcts -, (he improvement of the 

 Highlands and the fiftu nesof that country, 10 which 

 the propofcd canal will be thr ne. 



I apprehend that many perloi Hucnced 



by a difinterclled patriotic zeal, and others oy left 

 honourable motivrs v- II propofc to execute this 

 work by means of a fubknption, to be refunded, 

 agreeable to the ufual method, by tonnage dues 

 upon fuch craft as frull navigate the fame. To pre- 

 vent thofe perfons, and the public, Irom being de- 



vrd, it i> nccelfrry that the matter be flared in 

 its true light. When a canal is propofcd to be ex- 

 ecuted upon this plan, the parties concerned have 

 at lead a ftrong probability, if not an abfolute 

 certainty, of being repaid at the rate of 5 to 7 $, or 

 10 percent, annually. At prcfent, the public funds 

 produce 5 percent, or upwards, without any trouble 

 whatever; which is equ*l to 7 i per cent, upon a 

 given lum expended in the manner now propofed, 

 fuppofing that the canal had a profiab'.iry in its fa- 

 vour, of producing that amount. J h. loweft ex- 

 pence of the propoled canal, 12 fee: deep, with 14 

 locks, will amount to 60,000 1. The tonnage to be 

 raifed on that capital to pay 7 f per cent, will be 

 4,500!. annually, befidcs icpairs, collecting the 

 dues, and contingent expences, which m.iy be lL- 

 at 500!. annually ; the whole, 5000!. We are next 

 to confider whether the tonnage of the canal will 

 A that annual fum. 



I he navigation in qucflion is not general, buc pro- 

 vincial; calculated chiefly tor the benefit of a con- 

 fiderablc body of indigent people, who, by means 

 of this canal, and other public afiifunce, may be 

 brought into the line of aftion; and, in proccfs of 



tnd to the northern extremity of Scotland, by the (honed road, 

 6c 700 miles, and the expenditures of i-nglnod io foreign 

 jo years, amount to 400,000,000 L At 

 home, dunng that period, (he hath expended upon inUod 

 vigasion, ol. 01. od. 



D D a time, 



