60 BOTANICAL TOlfll IN THE 



the celebrated capitals of England and France. We know only 

 four, which unite the banks of the fairest British stream, viz. the 

 bridges of Taymouth, Aberfeldie, Dunkeld, and Perth. There are 

 also two in the domain at Taymouth Park, but they are private 

 property ; so is the bridge of Dunkeld, though the public may 

 use it on payment of a fixed toll. There is a good ferry at Logie- 

 rait ; yet a few more bridges would be convenient. The distance 

 from Taymouth to Perth is thirty-seven miles, and allowing for 

 the bendings of the river, not very considerable, the distance may 

 be forty miles. Four bridges for this extent is rather a short 

 allowance. The distance between London and Windsor is about 

 twenty miles, and the number of bridges is nearly as many. The 

 population on the banks of the Thames above London Bridge is 

 probably one hundred times as many as the inhabitants of an 

 equal length of the Tay. 



The Perth, Dunkeld, and Blair of Athol railway will probably 

 increase the population of this beautiful and fertile tract ; at all 

 events it will supply the means of transporting the natural pro- 

 ductions of the country, viz. timber, cattle, sheep, horses, dairy 

 and agricultural produce, to remote parts of the kingdom, where 

 there is a good market for these necessaries. Instead of a carrier 

 conveying goods once a week, and a post-cart conveying letters 

 every other day, there will be daily intercourse established with 

 all the great marts of the South ; provisions will be as plentiful 

 and cheap in the Highlands as in Glasgow and Perth, and the 

 tide of population will flow upwards and onwards till the High- 

 land glens are as populous as the Carse of Gowrie. 



