A. D. 1788. 175 



The ad [z^ Geo. Ill, c. 44] againfl blank infurances not proving fuf- 

 ficient to prevent many miichiefs and inconveniencies, it was now en- 

 ad;ed, that every policy upon any vefTel or goods fhould contain the 

 names of the perlons interefted as configners or conlignees, or of the 

 perfbns giving orders to make the infurance. [c. 56.] 



The lord proved and magirtrates of Edinburgh were empowered to-' 

 borrow money for enlarging, deepening, and othervvays improving, 

 their harbour of Leith, making a new balin, quay, &c. and improving 

 the roads to the harbour *. [c. 58.] 



In conlequence of tliis act the bridge at the head of the harbour was 

 pulled down ; and inftead of it there was ereded a new one with a 

 draw-bridge in the middle^ which permits fmall velTels to go near a' 

 quarter of a mile farther up the river, whereby room is made in the 

 deeper part of the harbour for the larger veflels. 



The ad for improving the harbour of Whitehaven, and the roads 

 leading to it, was continued, [c. 6i.] 



Three ads were alio palled for regulating the Ihipping, trade, wharfs, 

 quays, &c. and improving the police, of the commercial city of Brillol. 

 l<cc. 65, 66, 67.] 



Mr. Granville Sharp, the generous and philanthropic friend of the" 

 Africans, chartered a veilel to carry out fifty of them to the fettlemenc 

 of free Negroes, eftabliilied at Sierra Leona in the preceding year, and 

 fupplied them with provilions, tools, arms, and a fum of money to buy 

 hve flock upon the coafl f. His benevolence was dilappointed, partly 

 by the worthleffuefs of fome of the objeds of it, eleven of whom de- 

 ferted before the vefTel failed, and partly by the cruel avarice of the 

 mafler of the veflel. But, before they arrived at Sierra Leona, the col- 

 ony was almofi: entirely deferted ; and even -the few white people fettled 

 in it had migrated to the flave fadories. 



July 25'" — In confequence of the complaints made by the merchants 

 trading between the dominions of the Eafl-India company and thofe of 



* In the beginning of the y ear 1 77 1 Mr. Thomas /Zvn ripe for conceiving the utility of fuch improve- 

 Catanach, who had fpent moil of his life in Hoi- ments. In the year 1786 the want of fuch a fcour- 

 land, made a viht to Edinburgh, his native city, ing power, as was recommended by Mr. Catanach, 

 and carried with him a model, neatly executed in was unfortunately experienced by many veflels get- 

 mahogany and braf?, for enlarging and improving ting aground on the bar, which was then raifed 

 the harbour of Leith by means of a draw-bridge, higher than ufual by a continuation of eaiterly 



and for keeping the vefllls afloat, and fcouring out, winds 1 find the want of the fcouriiig power, 



or deepening, the harbour and the bar by means and the cafy acquil'ition, as alfo the negledt, of it 



of gates. But, when he prefented his model and at Ayr and Leith have likewife been obferved by 



plan, the effeft of his amor patr'hT, to the magif- Mr. Gray of Gerard ftreet, London, in his Ri^. 



trates of Edinburgh, he was civilly told, that, fiSiotis intended to promoie the fuuefs of the Scotch 



though they greatly approved of his plan, they Jifloing company. 



could not undertake the execution of it. He alfo f This outfit cod above ^900, of which go-: 



planned a haibour for fmall craft in the boggy vernment furnillied /,'200, and a friend of Mr. . 



valley between the old and the new town, where Sharp's 150 guineas, all the reft being out of Mr, ■ 



there had been for feveral ages a dirty ftagnant Sharp's ov.a pocket. 



pond. But it appeai-s that Edinburgh was not 4 . 



