CHAP. VII. 



GREENOCK LEITH- SOUTHAMPTON. 



215 



of Edinburgh, in 1804. Neither of these schemes was 

 carried out to the full extent, chiefly for want of 

 funds ; but the improvements effected at the former port 

 were considerable, and at Leith two large docks, 1500 

 feet long, and two small ones, 750 feet long, constructed 

 along the shore between the old tidal harbour and the 

 village of Newhaven, provided a large amount of addi- 

 tional accommodation for the growing trade of that port. 

 He was also consulted in 1805 respecting the improve- 

 ment of Southampton ; and the measures which he then 

 recommended in his elaborate and able report formed 

 the beginning of a series of works of almost national 

 importance. Mr. Rennie's clear-sighted prognostications 

 of the future prosperity of the port arising from its 

 great natural advantages in respect of security, capa- 

 bility of extension, the excellent anchorage of South- 

 ampton Water, the central situation of the place on the 

 south coast, and its moderate distance from London 

 have been amply fulfilled; its subsequent connection 

 with the capital by railway having given an impulse to 

 its improvement and prosperity far beyond what even 

 his sagacious mind could at that time have foreseen. 1 



1 It would occupy much space to 

 mention in detail the various harbours 

 in the United Kingdom which Mr. 

 Rennie was employed to examine, re- 

 port upon, and improve ; but the fol- 

 lowing summary may suffice : In 

 England, lie examined and reported 

 on Rye Harbour (1801); Dover 

 (1802); Hastings projected harbour 

 (1806); Berwick, where he con- 

 structed the fine pier at the mouth of 

 the Tweed, 2740 feet in length (1807) ; 

 Margate Harbour (carried out 1808) ; 

 Liverpool Docks, on which he made 

 an elaborate report (1809); North 

 Sui iderland (1809) ; Shoreham (1810) ; 

 Newhaven (1810); Harbour of Refuge 

 in the Downs, north of Sandown 

 Castle, on which he made a careful 

 report (1812); Prince's Dock, Liver- 

 pool, of which he furnished the de- 

 si-ns (1812); Bridlington (1812); 



Sidmouth (1812) ; Rye, a second re- 

 port (1813) ; Blyth(1814); Ramsey, 

 Isle of Man (1814) ; Port Leven, 

 Mount's Bay, Cornwall (1814); Bridge- 

 water (1814) ; Whitehaven (1814) ; 

 Scarborough (1816); the improve- 

 ment of the navigation of the river 

 Tyne (1816); Yarmouth (1818); 

 Fishguard, Wales (1819) ; Kidwelly, 

 Wales (1820) ; and Sunderland 

 (1821). He also suggested vari- 

 ous improvements, many of which 

 were carried out, in the following 

 harbours of Scotland, besides those 

 above mentioned : Loch Buy, Isle of 

 Skye (1793) ; Port Mahomack, near 

 Tarbet Ness (1793); Kirkcudbright 

 and Saltcoats (1799); Craigmore, 

 near Boroughstoness (1804) ; Mont- 

 rose (1805); Ayr, where the im- 

 provements recommended by him 

 were carried out (1805) ; Peterhead 



