450 SITUATIONS FOR TOWNS 



Upon the whole, this opening or pafs to the terra 

 incognita of the Britifh dominions, accommodated 

 alfo with a place of general traffic, would be the 

 key to thofe numerous fhores, lakes and iflands, 

 whofe hofpitable and virtuous natives have been lefc 

 to the mercy of boifterous elements and unpropitious 

 feafons, to languifh and to pcrifh through neglect, 

 famine and defpair. This therefore becomes the firft 

 object of attention in the improvement of thefe 

 weftern coafts ; the ground-work of the whole ar- 

 rangement, worthy the immediate attention of the 

 legiflature, and calling ftrongly upon the feelings of 

 every liberal humane mind in both kingdom^. 



2. OB AN. The diftrict lying north of this place 

 is called Nether and Mid-Lorn. It is almoft en- 

 vironed with water, viz. The ocean on the weft, 

 Loch Etive on the north, and Lochfine on the eaft. 

 The coaft is every where indented witli founds, 

 lochs, bays and creeks, as Loch Craignifh, abound- 

 ing in fmall iflands; Loch Melfort, Loch Fechan, 

 the found of Kerrera, Oban bay, and the beautiful 

 Loch Etive ; whereon Hands the antient royal caftle 

 of Dunftaffhage. On the banks of thefe waters are 

 many tracts of good arable ground, and much 

 wood. The coaft is almoft covered with inhabited 

 fmall iflands, as Scarba, Lung, Torfa, Efdale, Seil, 

 and Kerrera. Thofe iflands, and fome part of the 

 oppofite coaft, afford inexhauftible quarries of excel- 

 lent flate. Some of them, afiifted by limeftone and 

 fea- wreck, produce good crops ; but neither the moft 



difcharge a moiety of their debts. This, the Englifh trader la- 

 ments, while, from his confidence in the people, he folicits frefli 

 orders. " I would fooner," lays he, " trade with my Scotch 

 " tnt-nds to the extent of three thoufand pounds annually, than 



ith America or the Weft Indies, for double that fum. Here 



" my money is generally iafe, my cuftomers arc within the reach 



: an annual journey ; if they cannot difcharge the old fcorc, 



cy do as far as their abilities enable them. If they were in 

 * better circumftances, my claims would be better paid." 



fertile 



