43* CANAL BETWEEN INVERNESS 



fire fides of the ifland, which no enemy could annoy 

 or interrupt. 



1 hus the three above-mentioned canals would 

 open a circumnavigation, within the heart of the 

 kingdom, to the unfpeakable benefit of commerce 

 and the fifhcries. A veflel fetting out from Inver- 

 nefs to Edinburgh on the eaft fide of the Ifland, 

 might return by Glafgow, the Hebrides, and other 

 parts on the weft fide; and fo, vice verfu, as might 

 feem molt beneficial to the parties concerned, 

 vernefs, which is well fituated for commerce, would 

 become the emporium of the north, a centrical port 

 between the Atlantic and the eaft fca, fupplying 

 navigators in ftorcs and provifions, employ- 



ment to the induftrious, and diffufmg univerial 

 comfort amongft a people whofe patience is com- 

 pletely exhaufted. 



This circumnavigation, amounting to about 500 

 miles, would include almoft the whole trading 

 of Scotland : a circumftance which requ. moft 



fcrious attention ; and the more fo, when we confi- 

 der with what facility it might be accomplifhed, and 

 the fmallnefs of the expencc, compared to the folid 

 and permanent advantages to the Highlands in par- 

 ticular, and to the trade of thefe kingdoms in ge- 

 neral, as will appear by the following ftatcment : 



Completing 6 miles of the canal be- T 

 tween the Forth and Clyde, 7 f&et ~, 

 water, by which vefiels of i OO tons, [ * . 

 built on a certain conftrudlion, I a rea J 

 would fave near 500 miles* and 

 elude privateers. 



Cutting 2 miles of land, and deep- 

 ening 20 miles of rivers, or rather, 

 by making canals on the fide 



thefe rivers 10 feet deep, between 

 For: William and Invernefs, \v.' 

 would favc near 200 miles. 



. i6 4 ,ooo 



Cutting 



