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It is likewise worthy remark, that they plough through their superficial ocreous ore, and plant their corn in it, which thrives well; so that one of your sprightly modern travellers, who say so many pretty things, would tell you, that they are an iron eating, as well as an iron making race.

IMPROVEMENTS OF THE HARBOUR OF LEITH.

The harbour of Leith has been found, for a great while past, to be too small for the trade carried on from that port, insomuch that it frequently happens that vefsels are under the necefsity of being unloaded across the decks of three, four, or even five vessels, it being im possible to get nearer to the quay. To remove this inconvenience, it has been long in agitation to have the harbour enlarged; and various plans have been given in to the magistrates of Edinburgh for that pur.. pose at different times; but in particular, about four years ago, when several of these plans were engraved and published. On that occasion the town council, under the mayoralty of John Grieve, made choice of one of these plans, (which was unfortunately deemed, by a majority of the mercantile people among the most objectionable that had been offered) and obtained an act of parliament for carrying it into effect. But after proceeding a certain length, difficulties arose which it was found would require a new act to remove. When the magis trates were about to apply for that act; the mercantile and sea-faring people in Leith, being now fully sensible of the great defects of the plan proposed, unanimously prepared themselves to oppose it. As there was not to be found a single dissenting vote on that occasion the magistrates thought it prudent to desist, and nothing more was done in that business; the harbour remaining not better at least, than it was before.

Of late, a gentleman of the name of Logan, in consequer ce of a more accurate investigation of the natural situation of the place than had formerly been made, more extended views, and a more thorough knowledge of marine architecture than his predecessors, has made out a new plan, that seems to be much preferable to any that had been formerly offered; and which, if carried into effect, bids fair to remove all the evits complained of, and to lay the foundation of a prosperity to the port of Leith, the utmost limits of which it is at present impofsible to see. His plan is not lefs simple than seemingly efficacious; it consists of three principal parts.

First, he proposes to convert the present harbour into a wet dock where vessels never will take the ground, and in which they will not be exposed to sustain any damage from inundations or other inconveniencies from the river. This wet dock, merely by widening the present harbour a little, and erecting proper wharfs all around, will afford about four times the accomodation for fhipping it has at present, without encroaching upon private property, except in a very mall degree. This is to be effected by making an entry for the river into the sea, not through the present harbour, but through the fofse that in old times formed the western defence of the citadel of North Leith, which will require only a very little deepening after clearing out the loose rubbish that has fallen into it; and by putting proper flood gates, (not locks) at the entry into the dock, for keeping the bason always at nearly the same height as the sea flows to at high water.

The second part of his plan consists in forming an outer harbour, by running a new pier in a curved direction from the citadel towards the point of the east peir at present, leaving a sufficient opening for an entry. Along this pier a range of warehouses may be erected, leaving on the inside only a narrow wharf so as to admit of hoisting bulEy goods, such as tobacco, sugar, rum, corn &c. that are to be warehoused, into these by means of a crane, directly from the vefsel without any expence of carriage, and returning them in the same way; or, for grain, by a spout directly into the hold of the vessel; the advantages of which, in an extensive corn trade especially, are evident : The cart way to be upon the outer side of the warehouses, with proper openings to the wharfs at convenient distances. This to be a tide harbour, as at present. Within it are to be placed, on the shore of North Leith, three dry docks for repairing vefsels, with convenient wood yards for each: and here also is to be formed a proper landing place for the ferry boats to ply at.

The third part of the plan is to convert the mouth of the river which will then be to the westward of the citadel, into a harbour similar to that in use at present, having a quay on each side all along at which vessels might conveniently load and unload, as well as in the present harbour: this would be particularly applicable to the coal vessels and others of small burden, which are not so apt to be strained by taking the ground as those of larger size.

By his plan, these three parts are necefsarily connected with one another so as to contribute to the perfection of the whole. By sluices properly contrived for the purpose, he has it in his power to deeen the bar, and keep it free of any accumulation of sand upon it for

ever, with very little trouble, and scarcely any expence; as also to sweep the harbour at pleasure and keep it at all times sweet and clean. By his plan too a provision is made for convenient buildingyards to almost any extent, without encroaching almost at all on private property, so that forty or fifty vefsels might be built at one time without the smallest inconvenience or difficulty to the parties. By the plan also a provision is made for extending the harbour to any afsignable degree that may be afterwards wanted, without encroaching upon private property, or diminishing in any degree the conveniencies to be at present obtained.

But what ought to recommend this plan in a particular manner to all parties cencerned, is, that the artist will undertake to prove that it may be carried into effect without laying one penny of additional dues upon the shipping entering this port; o subjecting the magistrates of Edinburgh to the necessity of encroaching upon the funds of that burgh; but that on the contrary it will add considerably to the revenue of the community, and the wealth of the place.

I have seen the plan, and had the particulars explained, and I have no hesitation in saying that there appears not to me any physical obstruction which stands in the way of its being carried into full effect; and that if this were done it would form a much more convenient harbour than could be effected by any of the other plans I have seen; It would also lefs encroach upon private property than most of them. It would be likewise lefs expensive; and (though this part of the plan was not explained to me) I have no doubt that by a proper arrangement, all the money that could be wanted for this purpose, perhaps more, might be obtained without burdening the fhipping, the town of Edinburgh, or any individual in the smallest degree; and there can be no doubt but it would tend greatly to augment the trade of this port, and consequently add to the income that the town derives from it. On these accounts, the plan certainly deserves the serious attention of all the parties concerned; and their unanimous concurrence and warmest support, if, they fhall see it in the same light that I do.

N. B. It may be considered that I am at least impartial in this case, seeing I made out a plan myself for improving that harbour, which most persons who saw it judged superior to any of the others. This I did not present to the magistrates, or publish, because I found they had resolved to adopt another. But I have no hesitation in saying that the present plan is greatly superior to it; as it will effect the same purposes at a smaller expence and with lefs derangement

of private property, and also accomplishes several other objects not included in my plan, that are highly desireable.

HINTS ON DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

FROM AN OLD TRADESMAN TO YOUNG ONES.
LETTER V.

Continued from p. 139. and concluded.

Progrefs to bankruptcy of a diligent, sober young tradesman, withont lofs, misfortune, or evil intention.

A YOUNG man of good character, sets up in businefs with a moderate capital, and a good deal of credit, and soon after, marries a young woman with whom he gets a little ready money, and good expectations on the death of a father, mother, uncle, or aunt. In two or three years he finds that his business increases; but his own health, or his wife's, or his child's, makes it necefsary for him to take lodgings in the country. Lodgings are found to be inconvenient; and for a very small additional expence, he might have a snug little box of his own. A snug little box is taken, repaired, new modelled, and furnished. Here he always spends his sundays; and commonly carries friend or two with him just to eat a bit of inutton, and to see how comfortably he is situated in the country. Visitors of this sort are not wanting. One is invited because he is a customer; another, because he may assist him in his business; a third, because he is a relation of his own or his wife's; a fourth, because he is an old acquaintance; and a fifth, because he is very entertaining; besides many who look in accidentally, and are prevailed on to dine, although they have an engagement somewhere else. He now keeps his horse, for the sake of exercise: but as this is a solitary kind of pleasure which his wife cannot share, and as the expence of a whisky can be but triffling where a horse is already kept, a whisky is purchased, in which he takes out his wife and his child, as often as his time will permit. After all, driving a whisky is ut indifferent amusement to sober people; his

wife too is timorous, and ever since the heard of Mrs T-'s accident by the stumbling of her horse, will not set her foot in one; besides, the expence of a horse and whisky, with what is occasionally spent in coach hire, falls so little fhort of what his friend Mr H-s, asks for a job-coach that it would he ridiculous not to accept of an offer that never might be made him again. The job-coach is agreeed for ; and the boy in a plain coat with a red cape to it, that used to clean

knives, wait at table, and look after the house, becomes a smart footman with a handsome livery. The snug little box is now too small for so large a tamily. There is a charming house with garden and two or three acres of land, rather farther from London but delightfully situated, the unexpired lease of which might be had at a great bargain, The premises, to be, sure are somewhat more extensive than he should want; but, the house is new, and for a moderate expenee might be put in most excellent repair.

Botany, and sup

Hither he removes, hires a gardener being fond plies his own table with every thing in season, for little more than double the money the same articles would cost if he went to market for them. Every thing about him now seems comfortable; but his friend H.-s does not treat him so well as he expected. His horses are often ill matched, and the coachman sometimes even peremptorily re. fuses to drive a few miles extraordinary, for why, "he's answerable to master for the poor beasts." His expences, it is true, are as much as he can afford; but having coach-house and stables of his own, with two or three acres of good grafs, he might certainly keep his own coach and horses for lefs money than he pays to Mr H-s. A rich relation of his wife's too is dying, and has often promised to leave her something handsome. The job-coach is discharged; he keeps his own carriage; and his wife is now able to pay and receive many more vis ts than fhe could before. Yet he finds by experience, that an air ing in a carriage is but a bad substitute for a ride on horseback; in the way of exercise he must have a sadle-horse; and subcribes to a neighbouring hunt for his own sake, and to the nearest afsemblies for the sake of his wife.

During all this progrefs, his business has not been neglected; but his capital, originally small, has never been augmented. His wife's rich relations die one after another, and remember her only by triffling legacies. His expences are evidently greater than his income; and in a few eyears, with the best intentions in the world, wanting no good qualities but fore-sight to avoid, or resolution to retrench, expences which his busineis cannot support, his country house and equipages afsisted by the many good friends who almost constantly ine with, him, drive him fairly into the gazette. The country house is let,-the equipage is sold, his friends fhrug up their fhoulders-enquire for how much he has failed,-wonder it was not for more, say he was a good creature, and an honest creature,-but they always thought it would come to this-pity him from their souls, and hope his creditors will be favourable to him, and go to find dinners elsewhere. I am &c.

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