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The Report of the Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges.

NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF ROADS, BRIDGES, AND HARBOURS.

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County of Argyll-From Lochfeachan on the western coast, across Lochawe to near Inverary

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Counties of Argyll and Inverness-From Corpach-moss along
the west side of the river Lochie to Clunes, and a branch
from thence towards Locharkegg
County of Inverness-From Clunes to the head of Lochlochie
Counties of Inverness and Argyll-From Arisaig on the side of
Lochnagaul, to the ferry of Lochie, near Fort William
See Glenleduaig Road

County of Inverness-Over the river Beauley, five arches
In the Murray Frith, Banffshire

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County of Argyll-From Inversanda to the Sound of Mull
County of Inverness-From Inverness by kirk'of Daviot to the
kirk of Moy

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County of Argyll-From Corran Ferry at Ardgour, by Loch-
sunart, to the nearest convenient landing-place on the north
side of Lochmoydart

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860

Martinmas 1811.

Nethey Bridge
Orrin Bridge

See Strathspey

Peterhead Harbour
Portree Road

County of Ross-Over the river Orrin, three arches or two
bridges. (See 4th Report.)

On the east coast of Aberdeenshire

Potarch Bridge

100 feet.

1 Jan. 1812.

Isle of Skye, county of Inverness-From Portree to Sconser
County of Aberdeen-Over the river Dee near Kincardine
O'Neal, three arches

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Phiebuie Road, (or Inch
Laggan Road)

Counties of Inverness and Ross-From Rhiebuie in Strathcluny to Inch Laggan in Glengarry

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598

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The Report of the Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges.

NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF ROADS, BRIDGES, AND HARBOURS.

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Riddan Road

County of Argyll-A branch of the Glendaruel road, from the bridge ofĮ
Ballochindrain to head of Lochriddan

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1,440

1 Nov. 1811.

April 1811.

Sconser Road
Skibo Road
Snizort Road

Isle of Skye, county of Inverness-From Kyle-rhea, by Broadford, to
Sconser

23;

555

Whitsunday 1810.

County of Sutherland-From Drimuie of Golspie to the ferry over Dornoch Frith at Creich

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267

Martinmas 1811.

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Isle of Skye, county of Inverness-From the village of Portree to Buleagrumuie, and by Lochsnizort to junction with Stein road near Dunvegan Isle of Skye, county of Inverness-From the head of Lochsligichan, by Lochbrackadale and Dunvegan, to the fishing village of Stein District of Cowal, county of Argyll-From Strachur on Lochfine to Ardintenny on Lochlong

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County of Inverness-From Beauley to Easter Knockfin

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880

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County of Caithness-From Wick to Thurso

In the Isle of Mull, county of Argyll-From Tobermory by Ballachroy, Torloish-house, the ferry to Ulva, and to kirk of Salen, (with branch

On the west side of Lochfine, at the separation of Cantyre from the rest of Argyllshire

In the county of Elgin-Over the rivers Nethy, Aultmore, and Dualg, in Strathspey

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County of Sutherland-From Creich on the Dornoch Frith to Tongue

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Trotternish Road

Isle of Skye, county of Inverness-From the hill of Buleagrumuie on the Snizort road to the Aird of Trotternish

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135

Wick Bridge

County of Caitliness-Over the river Wick at the town of Wick,

156 feet.

1 June 1807.

Nov. 1809.

three arches

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

Travels in the Island of Iceland during the Summer of 1810. By Sir George Mackenzie, Bart. 1 vol. 4to. With 32 engravings. 31. 3s. Constable and Co.

No land,

O part of the world, so remote

been so much the object of public curiosity. Those who have been accustomed only to happier climates, feel a natural interest respecting the form which man and nature assume, in a situation so different, and under so severe a pressure of physical privation. But the grand point of view under which this island has claimed the attention of men of science, arises from the peculiarity of its physical structure. Instead of being, like the rest of the polar world, benumbed in perpetual frost, it exhibits a variety of phenomena, which seemed to be long only to the tropical regions. An eternal fire, burning beneath mountains of ice, and producing, by its incessant action, volcanoes, steaming exhalations, and an infinite variety of mineral combinations-such is the spectacle exhibited here, and here only. on the face of the earth. The moral aspect too of this island is considerably more interesting than might have been previously expected. Under a situation which seemed to doom its inhabitants to perpetual want and rudeness, Iceland excites much of the interest arising from civilized life and intellectual cultivation. She has her historians, her poets, and was, at one period of history, the grand repository of arts and learning for the northern world.

Notwithstanding these motives, which attracted towards Iceland the attention of men of research, the vi

sits to that country have hitherto been few, and with long intervals be-` tween each. Neither business nor amusement lured men to visit so ungenial a region, or to brave the tempestuous ocean which surrounds it. It was necessary that a pure and intre pid love of science should combine with leisure and independent fortune, to overcome so many difficulties and discouragements. Since the time of Sir

has been found who united all these requisites; and Scotland, though so favourably situated for such an expedition, had not yet contributed a traveller that was willing to undertake it. In supplying this deficiency, Sir George has made a most judicious use of that independence which he combines with so honourable a zeal for the interests of science. He has done what very few men duly qualified have the means of doing; and has well availed himself of his opportunities to present to the world a more ample view of the physical and moral condition of this remarkable island, than had been contributed from any former quarter.

The volume opens with a general view of the history and literature of Iceland. This relation throws light upon the causes which transported so large a measure of civilization and refinement into a region that seemed little formed to be their abode. Iceland grew under the calamities which af flicted all the neighbouring kingdoms. Above all, the tyranny of Harold king of Norway, in the ninth century, compelled a number of his most distinguished subjects to settle in Iceland. Being joined by many from other parts of Europe, who sought refuge from the calamities of war and devastation, they soon formed a pretty numerous community; and they esta blished a constitution, founded on the highest principles of feudal indepen

dance.

dence. They had a general assembly of the island, an elective monarch, and a code of laws, very judiciously adapted to their peculiar circumstances, Learning, in that age of turbu lence, could find shelter only in the corners and hiding-places of Europe, and Iceland afforded it a secure retreat. Besides the comparative tranquillity which it enjoyed, the long repose of its winter afforded ample leisure for literary pursuit. The Skalds, or poets of Iceland, were at this period by far the most celebrated of any in the north of Europe. Among the bards who adorned the courts of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, twothirds were Icelanders. The most celebrated fruit of their genius was the Edda, that grand repository of the religion and poetry of the nor thern nations. According to the researches of Sir George Mackenzie, this work appears to have been pro duced by a succession of bards, who added to and improved upon each other's labours. Their historians were not less pre-eminent over all o thers who then cultivated that department of literature. To them we are indebted for most of what we now know respecting the annals of the Scandinavian kingdoms.

elucidation than is here given. It is expressly stated that no force was employed; yet it appears that all the persons concerned in the surrender became the objects of popular hatred.

By this subjection, in whatever manner accomplished, Iceland purchased tranquillity at the expense of greatness. The yoke was mild, and seems to have improved the general condition of the inhabitants; but the race of poets and historians, who had flourished under the shade of freedom, were quickly extinct. Physical calamities combined with political degradation to annihilate the prosperity of Iceland. An epidemic is said to have carried off nearly twothirds of the population; and the ravages of pirates (we are sorry to say English pirates) completed the devastation. As soon, however, as Ice. land began to breathe from these calamities, she resumed also her literary pursuits. In 1530, a printing press was established, and Iceland again began to produce authors of merit. They no longer, indeed, occupied the same comparative station as before with regard to the neighbouring nations; but this was owing, not to their own deficiency, but to This brilliant era in Icelandic his- the unprecedented progress made by tory terminated about the middle of the rest of Europe. Nature, howthe 13th century, when the island ever, again began to persecute them. submitted to the dominion of the In the beginning of the 18th cenkings of Norway. The manner in tury, the small-pox was introduced, which this revolution was accomplish- and carried off about 10,000 of the ed, is extremely remarkable. It was inhabitants. The latter part of that preceded by a long period of violent century (1783) was distinguished intestine convulsion, the result of by a volcanic eruption, the most terwhich was, that the Icelanders de- rible apparently, which has ever been termined to submit to a foreign yoke, experienced on the face of the globe. as the only means of delivering them. The beds of rivers were filled up; selves from domestic misrule. On the cattle were destroyed; and a the subject of this proceeding, which thick cloud of smoke and ashes, duis perhaps unprecedented in the his- ring a year, covered the whole of tory of nations, we should have been Iceland. A famine was the consehappy to receive a more complete quence; and it must have been long

before

before the island could recover from so violent a shock. Yet, amid these severe calamities, letters were still cultivated with ardour; and, among other eminent names, Iceland can boast that of Torfæus, the well-known historian of Denmark and Norway. The government has uniformly continued to be mild and protecting.

Having thus surveyed the introductory part, we come now to the uartive of the voyage. Sir George landed first at Reikiavik, which place, and not Skalholt, is, contrary to general belief, the capital of Iceland, if such a name can be applied to a place which is described by Sir George in the following terms:

"Viewed from the sea, the capital of Iceland has a very mean appearance. It is situated on a narrow flat, between two hills, having the sea on the north-east, and a small lake on the south-west side. We landed for a short time in the evening; and had I not previously seen the fishermen, I should have been a good deal surprised at the odd figures that flocked about us. The Danish inhabitants, who seldom stir without tobaccopipes in their mouths, were easily distinguished. The beach slopes rapidly; but is extremely convenient for boats at all times of the tide. It is composed entirely of comminuted lava. There were two large wooden platforms, made to be occasionally pushed into the water, for the purpose of loading and unloading the larger boats. The anchorage is good; and the bay is defended from heavy seas by several small islands, which render it a very safe harbour.

"The houses, with the exception of one that is constructed of brick, and the church and prison which are of stone, are formed of wood, coated on the outside with a mixture of tar and red clay. The storehouses, some of which are very large, are built of the

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same materials, which in every case are put together very neatly. The longest range of houses extends along the beach; the other stretches at a right angle from it at the west end, and is terminated by a house which is used by the merchants as a tavern. At the east end of the town is the Toght-huus, or prison, which, having been white-washed by the usurper Jorgensen, is very conspicuous among the other dark-brown buildings. Behind this end of the street, which is on the beach, stands the house of the late governor, Count Tramp; and beyond that, near the lake, is the church; a clumsy building covered with tiles. It is in a sad state of dilapidation, the winds and rain having free access to every part of it. Though sufficiently large to accommodate some hundreds, it is not much frequented on ordinary Sundays. On particular occasions, such as a day of confirmation, it is much crowded. In the neighbourhood of the town there is a considerable number of cottages, all very mean, and inhabited for the most part by the people who work for the merchants. The whole population amounts to about five hundred. On the top of the hill to the westward, is an observatory, in which a few instruments are usually kept. At present they

are in the hands of two Danish offi cers, who are employed in surveying the coasts."

Sir George was hospitably received at Reikiavik; but his account of the manners and state of society is not extremely favourable. He complains of the immense quantities of wine and punch which he found it necessary to swallow. Many of the ladies seem to have very ill maintained their reputation, yet were not the less received into all companies. Nor do we find many symptoms of that love of literature which has been

supposed

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