^86 MiiJor-Gener/iI RoY^s Account of the 



prefied, by his Royal Highnefs the late Di>ke of Cumberland, at 

 the battle of Cullodeii in the following year, convinced Go- 

 vernment of what infinite importance it would be to the State, 

 that a country, fo very inacceilible by nature, fhould be tho- 

 roughly explored and laid open, by eftabhfhing military pofts 

 in its inmoft receffes, and carrying roads of communication to 

 its remotefl: parts. With a view to the commencement of 

 arrangements of this fort, a body of infantry was encamped at 

 Fort Auguftus in 1747, under the command of the late Lord 

 Blake NEY, at that time a Major*General ; at which camp my 

 much refpe6led friend, the late Lieutenant-General Watson, 

 then Deputy Quarter-Mafler-General in North Britain, was 

 officially employed. This officer, being himfelf an engi- 

 neer, aiflive and indefatigable, a zealous promoter of every 

 ufeful undertaking, and the warm and fteady friend of the in- 

 duftrious, firft conceived the idea of making a map of the High- 

 lands. As affiftant Quarter-Mafter, it fell to my lot to begin, and 

 afterwards to have a confiderable fhare in, the execution of tbat 

 map; which being undertaken under the aufpices of the Duke 

 of Cumberland, and meant at firft to be confined to the 

 Highlands only, was neverthelefs at lafl: extended to the Low- 

 lands ; and thus made general in what related to the mainland 

 of Scotland, the iflands (excepting fome lefler ones near the 

 coaft) not having been furveyed. 



Although this work, which is ftill in manufcript, and in an 

 unfinlfhed flate, pofl'effes confiderable merit, and perfedlly an- 

 fwered the purpofe for which it was originally intended ; yet, 

 having been carried on with inflruments of the common, or 

 even inferior kind, and the fum annually allowed for it being 

 inadequate to the execution of fo great a defign in the heft 

 manner, it is rather to be confidered as a magnificent military 

 4 jketch, 



