Confiderable improvements may ftill be made on this harbour. By carrying the fouth pier farther into the sea, ships of any burden that are employed in trade might find fhelter here. Without extending the pier, the channel. may be deepened two or three feet, and the two harbours might be joined into one, by cutting the bridge which divides the town from the Quenzie. If this was accomplished, it would fave many valuable ships from being wrecked, which cannot, from ftrong wefterly gales, fetch any of the friths, or any of the harbours betwixt them, but might reach this harbour; and if the two harbours were united, they could go out to fea with any wind, which would remove the great inconvenience to which fhips are fo frequently subjected by being confined in the South Harbour from contrary winds. I have seen this harbour full of fhips, which were detained for upwards of fix weeks by the wind blowing from the S. or S. E.

This improvement has been pointed out to the inhabitants by fome engineers, whom they have confulted: there can be no doubt of its being practicable, and of its utility when executed. By an eftimate from Mr John Gwyn, the whole expence for making the two piers already finished, and uniting the two harbours, was only L. 6891: 3:6 Sterling; but were it three times this expence, the advantages are obviously fo immensely great, that it should be attempted, and if once begun, there can be little doubt it would be executed. Perhaps it could not be eafily effectuated by the inhabitants of this town; but the benefit they would receive from this improvement is fo great, that I hope fome time foon they will seriously think of commencing it, even if they fhould mortgage the whole of their town's funds for that purpose, or lend fome of their private property on the fecurity of the certain advance of revenue from the increased number of fhips that would enter the harbour;

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harbour; befides, it would be attended with fuch advantages to the trade and navigation of this island in general, that it is to be hoped, on a proper representation, it might be accomplished by a general contribution, or aid from Government, or by obtaining an act of Parliament for raifing the fhore-dues. The joining the two harbours was part of the original plan when the two new piers were erected. When this work was begun, they had little profpect of receiving fo much money as was afterwards obtained; and from what happened then, it gives encouragement to expect that money would not be wanting, if fo useful an improvement was commenced. The Governors of the Merchant Maiden Hofpital are much interested in this plan being carried into effect; the rife of their rents for lands near the town, and the value of feus would be fo much increafed, that the advantages accruing to them cannot easily be calculated; befides the fatisfaction of contributing to make Peterhead the greatest and most thriving town in the north of Scotland.

It deferves attention likewise, that in time of war, this being a head-land, is the place where privateers moft frequently keep their station, and pick up ships which might find shelter here, but for want of accefs to a harbour, are obliged to beat up against the wind for feveral days.

Mineral Well.-A little to the weft of the entrance to the South Harbour is the mineral well, the virtues of which have been known above 200 years.

It has long been called the Wine Well. The country people who refort hither in fummer, and the greatest part of the inhabitants of this parish ftill give it the fame name. Whence it should have received this appellation is not eafy to say, nor is it of great importance to determine. From the water fparkling in a glafs, and exhilarating the fpirits,

it may have been compared to Champagne; but this conjecture is not fupported by any record or tradition.

An analysis of this water is given by Dr Laing. From the result of his experiments, in 12 lb. avoirdupois weight of water, there are found,

This water has long been defervedly in repute, for general debility, disorders of the ftomach and bowels, flatulencies and indigeftion, nervous complaints which flow from these causes, and difeafes peculiar to the fair fex; and in all these disorders, I can from 30 years obfervation and experience affirm, I know of no remedy more efficacious, when attention is paid at the fame time to regimen, exercife, and amusement, and taking now and then a gentle emetic or laxative, as circumftances may require. In moft cafes where the mineral water is ufed, the cold bath is proper, and promotes its good effects, which are an increafe of appetite, strength, and spirits.

There is no difeafe for which people refort to the well more frequently than gravel, though with a confiderable degree of hazard, as I have seen numerous inftances of nephritic paroxyfms brought on by the use of the water, and where calculi are formed in the kidneys or bladder, this effect is naturally to be expected.

The water, as a cleanfer and tonic, may have fome VOL. XVI.

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effe&

effect in preventing the disease altogether; but after a perfon has for fome time been afflicted with it, I think the cafe is very different, and cannot fee fufficient reasons for recommending the water but with the utmost caution. If the water, from the quantity of fixed air, is fuppofed to have a power to diffolve calculous concretions, fixed air may be given in any quantity, and is frequently recommended, without any of the ftimulating ingredients which are found in Peterhead water; and if it is fuppofed to operate as a cleanser by its diuretic qualities, liquids may be given that are less irritating.

Perhaps I may exprefs myfelf ftrongly; but the fimple idea of driving gravel or fmall calculi through the kidneys, ureters, or urethra, with cold iron, has always affected me with fome degree of terror, especially when we must be ignorant of the quantity of gravel to be discharged, or the fize, shape, and furface (whether smooth or rough) of the calculi that are to pass through thefe paffages.

When a nephritic paroxyfm happens without the use of any medicine, and is probably an effort of nature from irritation, to throw off the peccant matter, how careful are we to avoid every thing which may produce or increase inflammation, and to prefcribe the gentleft diuretics, and the mildeft

*Perhaps a steady ufe of common fpring water, in place of ale or beer, might be equally ferviceable, and lefs dangerous in preventing gravel. A gentleman, aged 42, with whom I am acquainted, has for these last 20 years of his life fearce tafted any malt liquor, from an apprehenfion of gravel, and has confined himself to drinking cold water. His grandfather and great-grandfather died of that diforder; his father was cut for the ftone. He himself has hitherto kept entirely free from this complaint. From a fedentary life, and fevere ftudy, he has at prefent fome complaints, which probably are unconnected with gravel; but being apprehensive of that disorder, he is thinking of trying the Peterhead water, because his father thought he received benefit from it, who, after having tried it for pear 30 years, was cut for the stone.

mildeft diluents, to relax and footh, by fomentations and opiates, rather than irritate by tonics and flimulants.

The mineral water is fometimes recommended for a suppreffion of urine. When this proceeds from great debility, or a paralytic affection of the longitudinal fibres of the bladder, it may then be fometimes ferviceable; but when there is any fufpicion of inflammation, or when it proceeds from fpafm, I fhould not think it fafe to recommend the water; and confidering the difficulty of determining from which of thefe caufes the diforder may proceed, the utmoft caution is more neceffary.

Dr Laing has recommended it like wife for dropfy. Of the propriety of this I have great doubts. There are many diuretics prescribed in that diforder, which are certainly more efficacious, and when tonics are, indicated, they may be given in a more concentrated form; when the disease proceeds only from relaxation, perhaps no great danger is to be apprehended from ufing the water; but when it proceeds, which is frequently the cafe, from obftructions in the liver, I should be afraid to recommend it. I would not wish to interdict a dropfical perfon, who may have a great thirst, the use of drink; but perhaps a folution of cream of tartar, in common water, which is gently laxative, diuretic, and deobftruent, and which has been fo ftrongly recommended by Dr Home in his Clinical Lectures, in dropfical cafes, would be more proper for allaying thirst.

It is really not poffible precifely to afcertain what quantity of the mineral water may be taken in cafes where it is proper to use it freely.

It is prudent to begin with small quantities, and increase the dofe as the stomach, or the ftrength of the person will permit. When the appetite is mended, and the water paffes off eafily, the perfon need not be uneafy at thinking be has taken too large a quantity. I have known it drunk with