§ The House having resolved into a Committee of Sup ply, to which the Accounts presented by Mr. Wharton on the 21st of April and on the 1st of May were referred; the following sums were voted:—30,000l. for roads and bridges in the Highlands of Scotland,—40,000l. for the Canal between the east and western coasts of. Scotland. Upon the question upon this vote
Mr. Abercrombywished to know whether there was any likelihood that this would be soon completed, or whether it was intended that this vote should be continued annually. This project was take up in the first instance for the purpose of affording employment to the Highlanders who for want of employment were emigrating to other countries; but he was informed, that in point of fact, the greater number of the labourers now employed, were from Shropshire.
§ The Speakerbelieved that he could answer the question of the hon. and learned gentleman. Though he bad himself no concern with the original projection of this work, he had no difficulty in saying, that from all the attention he had paid to the subject, and all the information he had received 787 respecting it, he was led to entertain a favourable opinion of its utility. With respect to the progress which had been made in the execution of the work, he had to observe that it was reported to be half-finished in 1809, and consequently must be more than half finished at present. The grant proposed this year was 10,000l. less than last year, which arose from the progress made in the work rendering a smaller expenditure necessary. The average number of persons employed was 7,000, but within the last six months that number had been reduced, lest the employment of so many labourers, on such an undertaking, should have the effect of raising the price of labour in the neighbourhood. An occurrence however had taken place within the last six weeks Which it might be desirable to state to the Committee, and it was this—that owing to the pressure of the times great numbers had been thrown wholly out of employment on the north-western parts of Scotland, of whom about 500 persons, who would otherwise have been destitute, obtained employment on this canal. He felt it due to the engineers to state that hitherto no unforeseen difficulties had occurred in the execution of the work. Any gentlemen who wished for information on this subject, would find in the fourth Report respecting it, a body of documents containing the opinions of the merchants of Liverpool and other mercantile persons as to the utility of the canal for commercial purposes, independent of the public advantage of facilitating the passage of frigates from the eastern to the western coast of Scotland. As to the description of persons employed, be should say that the result of an inquiry he had directed to be made on the subject shewed the number of persons from England employed in the work not to exceed twenty; and if his recollection served him right, he could state them to be only six.
The Resolution was then agreed to.