LEITH. 



k 



pleted in 1817. Th<se two docks, comprehending near- 

 ly eight acre*, together with tl.roe graving docks, the 

 laee of property, fee. it is believed have cost about 

 50,000, raised partly by transferable bonds, granted 

 upon the security of the city of Edinburgh, together 



ith an advance, or loan, from government of 6t),(XX). 

 But when the whole of this magnificent design is exe- 

 cuted, it will extend to about twenty-three acres ; and, 

 according to the calculation of Mr. Stevenson, civil engi- 

 w ho allows 2,500 square feet to the birthage of a 

 vessel of 100 tow, these docks, together with the side 

 harbour, wUl contain upwards of 500 sail of this class 

 of shipping ; and the expence of the whole, however, 

 including the harbour at Newhaven, will probably re- 

 quire the sum of 5 or 600,000 Sterling. From the 

 unavoidably great expence wlu'ch such a weighty un- 

 dertaking has already cort, and the difficulties and ex- 

 pence still interposed between the new works and deep 

 water, the merchants are rather apt to take up a des- 

 ponding view of their own case ; nor is it much to be 

 surprised that the public feeling leans that way. Yet 

 when we reflect on the progress of commercial improve- 

 ment within the last 50 years, and look forward to 

 the advancement of the country, we are inclined to 

 take a more favourable view of this great undertak- 

 ing, and in this we are borne out by many circum- 

 stances. The connection of Leith with the capital 

 must always hold it up, while we every where see a 

 continued demand for the additional birthage of ship- 

 ping, not at Liverpool and London only, but in all con- 

 siderable ports throughout the kingdom. 



The only doubtful matter connected with the present 

 state of Leith, is the want of a sufficient depth of water 

 for the general trade of the port, until the new works 

 reach Newhaven. But with the most laudable inten- 

 tions, Provost Mackenzie and the present magistracy, 

 entering deeply into the case, have undertaken some 

 mtssiirtl for the improvement of the entrance to the 

 present harbour, as the one ultimately intended at Ncw- 

 naven may, from the unavoidable expence, be very dis- 

 tant. One obvious advantage, in regard to the present 

 harbour, would be to reduce the space between the 

 south and north pier, which i> so great as to render the 

 acceu to, or exit from it. extremely inconvenient ; and 

 it may also be added, that in the preM-nt condition of 

 the entrance to this harbour, it is perhaps without an 

 example in the whole kingdom. It may, indeed, be 

 tolerated as the access to a great bay of the sea, or na- 

 tural harbour of Urge extent, but is surely unsuitable 

 a* the approach to a small tide-harbour, built on both 

 aide* with prrjH-ndiculiir walla or qui<> 



The tra ,'i is now vt-ry extensive. The mer- 



chant* of Leith have 10 vessels employed in the 

 Greenland whale 6*hry. They carry on an extensive 

 trade with Russia, Denmark, and Sweden, and with 

 Hamburgh, Ostrnd, and t e sea-port towns in Holland. 

 They trifle alu to the port" in the Mediterranean, and 

 have begun to take a part in the direct trade to the 

 "West Indies and America. They have a very extensive 

 trade with London, und other towns on the eastern 

 coast of England ; with the inland towns on the Frith 

 of Forth ; and also with Glasgow, by means of the 

 Forth and Clyde Ca.ial. What effect will be produced 

 by the L'nion Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow 

 remain* to be seen. 



The following Tables will convey to our readers a. 

 correct jdea of the nature and extent of the trade of 

 Ltith. 



The following is a list of the goods most frequently, 



VOL. XII. fABI II. 



705 



and in the greatest quantities, imported into Leith : 



Ashes, pot and pearl; cheese, butter, flax, hemp, v.ood, 

 iron ; bark, oak and birch ; hides, horse, cow, and ox 

 skins, calf, sheep. &c. quills, seeds of all sorts, honey' 

 spirits, wines, coffee, sugars, fruits, horns, rags, cork^ 

 wool, oils, blubber, whale fins, dye stuffs, feathers, 

 drugs, tallow, pitch, tar, bristles ; linens, German and 

 Russia ; and marble. 



Note cjfthe quanti/ies of the several Articles undermen- 

 tioned Imported from Foreign Countries into the Port 

 of Leith, in the three Years ending 5th January 1818, 

 distinguishing each Year. 



Lejtb, 



The goods most frequently, and in the greatest quan- Exports. 

 tities, exported from Leitb, are as follow : Apothecary 

 ware, beer and ale, coals, cordage, corks, cotton manu- 

 factures, earthen-ware, fish of all kinds, glass of all 

 kinds, hardwares and cutlery, hats of all kinds, jewel- 

 lery, iron manufactures of all sorts, lead manufactures of 

 all sorts, leather manufactures of all sorts, machinery, 

 linen manufactures, molasses ; oil, train, of Greenland ; 

 painters' colours, plate, saddlery and harness, silk ma- 

 nufactures, soap, stationery, sugar, oil of vitriol, tin- 

 wares, and woollen manufactures. 



Note of the quantities of the unrfer- mentioned articles ex~ 

 ported from Leith in the three years ending 5lh Jan. 

 1818, distinguishing each year. 



