Having now so considerable a party of workmen and sailors on the Rock,

it may be proper here to notice how their labours were directed.

Preparations having been made last month for the erection of a second

forge upon the beacon, the smiths commenced their operations, both upon

the lower and higher platforms, where forges had been erected. They

were employed in sharpening the picks and irons for the masons, and in

making bats and other apparatus of various descriptions, connected with

the fitting of the railways. The landing-master’s crew were occupied in

assisting the mill-wrights in laying the railways to hand. Sailors, of

all other descriptions of men, are the most accommodating in the use of

their hands. They worked freely with the boring irons, and assisted in

all the operations of the railways, acting by turns as boatmen, seamen,

and artificers. We had no such character on the Bell Rock as the

common labourer. All the operations of this department were cheerfully

undertaken by the seamen, who, both on the rock and on ship-board, were

the inseparable companions of every work connected with the erection

of the Bell Rock Light-house. It will naturally be supposed, that

about twenty-five masons, occupied with their picks in executing and

preparing the foundation of the light-house, in the course of a tide of

about three hours, would make a considerable impression upon an area

even of forty-two feet in diameter. But in proportion as the foundation

was deepened, the rock was found to be much more hard and difficult

to work, while the baling and pumping of water became much more

troublesome. A joiner was kept almost constantly employed in fitting

the picks to their handles, which, as well as the points of the irons,

were very frequently broken. At 8 o’clock, the water overflowed the

site of the building, and the boats left the rock with all hands for

breakfast. Several of the artificers would willingly have remained upon

the beacon to avoid the rolling motion and sickness incident to the

ship; yet, being all wetted, and those especially who were employed in

excavating the site of the light-house and railways, being completely

bespattered with the chips and particles elicited from the Rock, the

whole party embarked in the boats; but such as chose were at liberty to

return to the beacon with the smiths after breakfast.

[Sidenote: Interesting appearance of the Rock.]

Excepting at the erection of the principal beams of the beacon, the

Bell Rock this morning presented by far the most busy and active

appearance it had exhibited since the erection of the Beacon. The

surface of the Rock was crowded with men, the two forges flaming, the

one above the other, upon the Beacon, while the anvils thundered with

the rebounding noise of their wooden supports, and formed a curious

contrast with the occasional clamour of the surges. The wind was

westerly to-day, and the weather being extremely agreeable, as soon

after breakfast as the tide had sufficiently overflowed the rock to

float the boats over it, the smiths, with a number of the artificers,

returned to the Beacon, carrying their fishing-tackle along with them,

which had all been put in a state of requisition before they left the

shore. In the course of the forenoon, the Beacon exhibited a still more

extraordinary appearance than the Rock had done in the morning. The sea

being smooth, it seemed to be afloat upon the water, with a number of

men supporting themselves in all the variety of attitude and position;

while, from the upper part of this wooden house, the volumes of smoke

which ascended from the forges, gave the whole a very curious and

fanciful appearance.

[Sidenote: Artificers remain on the rock all day.]

The length of the day now afforded two tides with day-light. The boats,

therefore, landed the artificers at 5 o’clock P. M., and after three

hours’ work, as in the morning, all hands again left it at 8 o’clock,

and returned on board of the Tender. Those who had been left upon the

beacon, complained of being very tired, with supporting themselves so

long in one position without motion, or even a sufficient space to rest

their feet upon.

From the excellence of the weather, and for the greater conveniency of

the work, the Tender had been made fast to one of the Stone-lighter’s

floating buoys, to be nearer to the Rock than her own moorings, which

were placed at such a distance as might enable her, in casting off, to

clear the Rock on any tack. But, in the course of this tide, it was

observed that a heavy swell was setting in from the eastward; and the

appearance of the sky indicated a change of weather, while the wind was

shifting about. The barometer also had fallen from 30 to 29.60. It was

therefore judged prudent to shift the vessel to the SW. or more distant

buoy. Her bowsprit was also soon afterwards taken in, the top-masts

struck, and every thing made _snug_, as seamen term it, for a gale.

During the course of the night, the wind increased and shifted to the

eastward, when the vessel rolled very hard, and the sea often broke

over her bows with great force.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 8th.]

[Sidenote: Tender bears away for Leith Roads.]

Although the motion of the Tender was much less than that of the

Floating-light, at least in regard to the rolling motion; yet, she

_sended_ or pitched much. Being also of a very handsome build, and

what seamen term very _clean aft_, the sea often struck her counter

with such force, that the writer, who possessed the aftermost cabin,

being unaccustomed to this new vessel, could not divest himself of

uneasiness; for, when her stern fell into the sea, it struck with so

much violence, as to be more like the resistance of a rock than the

sea. The water, at the same time, often rushed with great force up the

rudder-case; and forcing up the valve of the water-closet, the floor

of his cabin was at times laid under water. The gale continued to

increase, and the vessel rolled and pitched in such a manner, that the

hawser by which the Tender was made fast to the buoy snapped, and she

went adrift. In the act of swinging round to the wind, she shipped a

very heavy sea, which greatly alarmed the artificers, who imagined that

we had got upon the Rock. But this, from the direction of the wind, was

impossible. The writer, however, sprung upon deck, where he found the

sailors busily employed in rigging out the bowsprit, and in setting

sail. From the easterly direction of the wind, it was considered most

advisable to steer for the Firth of Forth, and there wait a change

of weather. At 2 P. M. we accordingly passed the Isle of May; at 6

anchored in Leith Roads, and at 8 the writer landed, when he came in

upon his friends, who were not a little surprised at his unexpected

appearance, which gave an instantaneous alarm for the safety of things

at the Bell Rock.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 9th.]

The wind still continued to blow very hard at E. by N., and the Sir

Joseph Banks rode heavily, and even drifted with both anchors ahead,

in Leith Roads. The artificers did not attempt to leave the ship last

night; but there being upwards of fifty-people on board, and the decks

greatly lumbered with the two large boats, they were in a very crowded

and impatient state on board. But to-day they got ashore, and amused

themselves by walking about the streets of Edinburgh, some in very

humble apparel, from having only the worst of their jackets with them,

which, though quite suitable for their work, were hardly fit for public

inspection, being not only tattered, but greatly stained with the red

colour of the rock.

[Sidenote: Friday, 10th.]

To-day the wind was at S. E., with light breezes and foggy weather. At

6 A. M. the writer again embarked for the Bell Rock, when the vessel

immediately sailed. At 11 P. M., there being no wind, the kedge-anchor

was _let go_ off Anstruther, one of the numerous towns on the coast of

Fife, where we waited the return of the tide.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 11th.]

Before leaving Leith Roads, the muster-roll was called, to see that

all hands were on board; and we also shipped an additional seaman. The

vessel, therefore, required a great stock of provisions and water, and,

from her very hampered situation, with the stores and apparatus of

various kinds which she had on board, it became necessary to embrace

every opportunity of filling up the stock of water, as landsmen use a

much greater quantity of that indispensable article for every purpose

than seamen. Mr Taylor, who commanded the Tender, and whose attention

in this respect was quite indefatigable, sent the boat ashore at

Anstruther, at a very early hour this morning, for an additional supply.

[Sidenote: Work continued on the Rock till midnight.]

Throughout these twenty-four hours, the winds were variable and the

weather was hazy. At 6 A. M. the Sir Joseph got under weigh, and at

11 was again made fast to the southern buoy at the Bell Rock. Though

it was now late in the tide, the writer being anxious to ascertain

the state of things after the gale, landed with the artificers, to

the number of forty-four. Every thing was found in an entire state;

but, as the tide was nearly gone, only half an hour’s work had been

got when the site of the building was overflowed. During the period of

high-water, the boats were employed in bringing stores and provisions

from on board the Smeaton, which had also returned from Arbroath,

whither she had run for shelter. In the evening the boats again landed

at 9, and, after a good tide’s-work of three hours, with torch-light,

the work was left off at midnight.

[Sidenote: Appearance of the Rock at night.]

To the distant shipping, the appearance of things under night on

the Bell Rock, when the work was going forward, must have been very

remarkable, especially to those who were strangers to the operations.

Mr John Reid, principal light-keeper, who also acted as master of the

Floating-light during the working months at the rock, described the

appearance of the numerous lights situate so low in the water, when

seen at the distance of two or three miles, as putting him in mind of

Milton’s description of the fiends in the lower regions; adding, “for

it seems greatly to surpass Will-o’-the-Wisp, or any of those earthly

spectres of which we have so often heard.”

[Sidenote: Sunday, 12th.]

The weather was somewhat blowy to-day, and the wind veered from E.

to S.W. The boats landed at a quarter past 9 this morning, but not

without considerable difficulty, owing to a heavy swell of sea which

accompanied the change of wind. After continuing at work for three

hours and a half at the site of the building, and the fixtures for the

railways, the water came in upon the artificers, and the boats left

the rock with all hands, after having experienced some difficulty at

the entrance of the eastern landing creek, by the breach of the sea.

In this respect, the larger boats of the new Tender were not found to

be so well adapted for pulling through a swell of sea in these narrow

creeks, as the smaller boats of the Floating-light. The breadth of the

former being greater, the oars were more apt to get entangled with the

sea-weed and jutting points of the rock, so that it was with difficulty

they could be equally pulled on each side; and if they did not exactly

stem the sea, but got a preponderance to one side, the waves were

apt to throw them upon the shelving rocks. Smaller boats, under these

particular circumstances, would have been more handy, but of two evils

we are often left to choose the least, and the larger boats were found

to be more generally useful. For the conveniency of accommodating a

greater number of artificers, it was necessary to have the boats of as

large dimensions as the Tender could stow; it being hardly possible in

this service to have more than two upon deck, and one over the stern.

[Sidenote: Sixty persons on the quarter-deck at prayers to-day.]

About 1 P.M. the boats returned to the Tender in safety; and prayers

were soon afterwards read upon deck, when all hands, including the

boats crews from the Floating-light and Smeaton, being present, they

counted sixty individuals. Owing to the difficulty experienced in

getting clear of the rock this morning, and the swell of the sea still

continuing, a landing was not attempted in the evening.

[Sidenote: Monday, 13th.]

The wind blew fresh from the S.W. this morning, and the tides were

again getting into the state of neap; yet the ebb was very considerable

yesterday, and some parts of the rock were even dry about half an hour

before the calculated time. The boats landed to-day at 11, and left

the Rock again at half-past 2 o’clock P. M. The artificers were again

landed in the evening, but the tide did not leave the foundation-pit.

All hands, however, were employed on the higher parts of the rock, in

the tracks of the railways, where bat-holes were to bore and seats for

the cast-iron props or supports of the railways to level. After being

employed in this manner for an hour and a half, the boats returned to

the Tender.

[Sidenote: Artificers appear backward in landing on the Rock to-day.]

From the difficulties attending the landing on the rock, owing to the

breach of sea which had for days past been around it, the artificers

showed some backwardness at getting into the boats this morning; but

after a little explanation this was got over. It was always observable,

that for some time after any thing like danger had occurred at the

Rock, the workmen became much more cautious, and on some occasions

their timidity was rather troublesome. It fortunately happened,

however, that, along with the writer’s assistants and the sailors,

there were also some of the artificers themselves who felt no such

scruples, and in this way these difficulties were the more easily

surmounted. In matters where life is in danger, it becomes necessary to

treat even unfounded prejudices with tenderness, as an accident, under

certain circumstances, would not only have been particularly painful

to those giving directions, but have proved highly detrimental to the

work, especially in the early stages of its advancement.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 14th.]

[Sidenote: Tender sails for Arbroath.]

The wind was at south this morning, accompanied with very heavy

showers of rain; and though the boats effected a landing at 12 noon;

yet, during the whole tide, there was not less depth than 15 inches

of water on the highest part of the site of the building, while the

sea was continually ranging into it. The artificers were, therefore,

employed on the higher parts of the eastern railway-track. After an

hour and three-quarters work, the boats returned to the Tender, which

had already cast off from her moorings, and kept plying about till

they left the rock with the artificers, when she immediately sailed

for Arbroath, and got into the harbour at 6 P. M. Here the artificers

were employed in the work-yard for six days, until the return of

spring-tides. During this interval ashore, the smiths were busily

employed in giving the picks and other tools a thorough repair. Every

measure was also adopted that could possibly facilitate the fitting up

of the railways, without the aid of which the blocks of stone could not

possibly be conveyed along the rugged surface of the rock after they

were landed.

[Sidenote: First entire course removed from the platform.]

The operations at the rock, both in the preparation of the foundation

of the building, and in the fitting up of the railways for landing the

materials, became more and more urgent as the work advanced ashore. The

first course had now been removed from the platform, and the greater

part of the second was laid in its place; and, in the course of three

weeks, it was also expected to be in readiness to ship for the rock,

while a number of the higher courses were in a considerable state of

forwardness. Some of the Aberthaw limestone having been burnt, and

reduced to a state of powder, it was put into casks, while equal

quantities of pozzolano and clean sharp sand were also made up in the

same manner, to be used in building up the inequalities on the south

east or lowest part of the margin of the foundation-pit, that by this

means the water might be more speedily pumped out, and a longer period

of the tide obtained for carrying on the work.

[Sidenote: Trial of the landing apparatus.]

It being apparent, from the present state of things, that we should

be ready for building in the course of the next spring-tides, if

the weather proved favourable, it was necessary to have all the

apparatus for landing the stones at the rock in a working state. While

at Arbroath, the writer had a trial made of one of the new praams

or stone-lighters, by towing her into the bay of Arbroath, with a

large stone upon deck, where the sloop Smeaton had been previously

anchored with her gaff-boom and tackle rigged. This experiment was

made in pretty rough weather, when the block of stone was lifted with

the tackle in and out of the Smeaton’s hold, and again placed on

the praam’s deck, as was to be done in the operation of landing at

the rock. The apparatus is represented in Plate XI., and the trial

was highly satisfactory, the tackle requiring only some trifling

alterations. The Smeaton was then brought into the harbour and trimmed

with ballast, consisting of pieces of granite, neatly fitted into her

hold, over which a platform was laid, which completed her for the

service of taking the stones from Arbroath to the Bell Rock.

[Sidenote: Monday, 20th.]

[Sidenote: Tender sails for the Rock.]

Things on shore having been thus arranged, the writer again embarked on

the 20th in the Sir Joseph Banks Tender, and sailed for the Bell Rock

at 1 P. M., accompanied by the sloop Smeaton, and having on board of

both vessels sixty-two artificers and seamen. At 8 the Floating-light

was hailed, and at 9 the Tender and Smeaton were made fast to their

respective buoys.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 21st.]

[Sidenote: Fifty-eight artificers land.]

At 3 o’clock this morning, the bell was rung, as a signal for landing

at the rock. From the number of artificers, it required considerable

management and exertion on the part of the landing-master to get them

properly seated in the four boats belonging to the Tender, the Smeaton,

and Floating-light, which last attended the rock during the morning

tides, and assisted in all the operations of the landing-master’s

department. At 4 o’clock fifty-eight persons landed; but the tides

being extremely languid, the water only left the higher parts of the

rock, and no work could be done at the site of the building. A third

forge was, however, put in operation, during a short time, for the

greater conveniency of sharpening the picks and irons, and for purposes

connected with the preparations for fixing the railways on the rock.

[Sidenote: Advantage of a Bell as a signal at the Rock.]

The weather towards the evening became thick and foggy, and there was

hardly a breath of wind to ruffle the surface of the water; had it not

therefore been the noise from the anvils of the smiths who had been

left on the Beacon throughout the day, which afforded a guide for the

boats, a landing could not have been attempted this evening, especially

with such a company of artificers. This circumstance confirmed the

writer’s opinion with regard to the propriety of connecting large bells

to be rung with machinery in the light-house, to be tolled day and

night during the continuance of foggy weather, by which the mariner may

be forewarned of too near an approach to the Rock, while every distant

object is obscured in the mist.

The tides went so little back at the Rock to-day, that no work was done

excepting to the railways; it being impossible to pump the water out of

the foundation-pit, as the tide never left the south-eastern margin of

it. After remaining two hours, all hands returned towards the Tender,

where guns were occasionally fired, horns sounded, and the ship’s bell

tolled, as signals for the boats to find their way from the Rock to the

vessels; and, in this manner, the whole party got safely on board about

8 o’clock P. M.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 22d.]

At 6 A. M. the artificers landed, but the foundation could only be

partially cleared of water, so as to enable a few hands, standing

ankle-deep in water, to work round the edges where the site of the

Light-house was highest. After two and a half hours’ work, the boats,

with the artificers, returned to their respective ships.

[Sidenote: Building materials landed for the first time this season.]

This morning several casks of pozzolano, lime and sand were landed,

to make mortar, in order to build round the lower edges of the

foundation-pit. This being something like an approximation to the long

wished-for commencement of building the Light-house, the artificers

thought the opportunity too good to pass over in silence, and the casks

were accordingly landed under a salute of three hearty cheers. At half

past 6 P. M. the boats again landed upon the rock, but, even when the

tide was at the lowest, the water stood to the depth of 18 inches upon

the site of the building, and no work was done. This was rather a

relief to the smiths, who having no irons to sharp, got rapidly forward

with the necessary fixtures for the railways.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 23d.]

[Sidenote: Small ruble walls built instead of cofferdam.]

The weather continued to be extremely mild, and the winds were

generally from the eastward and southward, accompanied with thick

and hazy weather, which, in communicating with the rock, was not

only irksome but even dangerous. At 7 o’clock this morning, the tide

proving more favourable, the artificers began to work. At 9 the rock

was again overflowed, and the boats returned to the Tender after two

hours’ work. Part of the operations of this morning’s tide consisted in

building up the crevices and inequalities of the rock round the margin

of the foundation, with pozzolano mortar, and the chips produced from

the excavation, with a view to dam out the water. These little walls

varied from six inches to eighteen inches in height; a small sluice

or aperture being formed in one of them by which the water, during

ebb-tide, was allowed to drain off.

It formed part of the writer’s original design, as formerly noticed, to

erect a cast-iron coffer-dam of about five feet in height, round the

site of the building; but the surface of the rock was so irregular,

that the difficulty of tightening it, and also of emptying the

contained water, so as to get the benefit of it during ebb-tide, would

have been so great, that, taking these circumstances into account,

together, with the loss of time which would attend the erection of such

a preparatory work, the idea of a coffer-dam was laid aside, soon after

entering upon the actual execution of the work.

[Sidenote: Inconveniencies of foggy weather.]

The boats landed this evening, when the artificers had again two

hours’ work. The weather still continuing very thick and foggy, more

difficulty was experienced in getting on board of the vessels to-night,

than had occurred on any previous occasion, owing to a light breeze of

wind which carried the sound of the bell, and the other signals, made

on board of the vessels, away from the Rock. Having, fortunately, made

out the position of the sloop Smeaton, at the N.E. buoy,--to which we

were much assisted by the barking of the ship’s dog, we parted with the

Smeaton’s boat, when the boats of the Tender took a fresh departure for

that vessel, which lay about half a mile to the south-westward. Yet

such is the very deceiving state of the tides, that although there was

a small binnacle and compass in the landing-master’s boat, we had,

nevertheless, passed the Sir Joseph a good way, when, fortunately, one

of the sailors catched the sound of a blowing-horn. The only fire-arms

on board, were a pair of swivels of one inch caliber; but it is quite

surprising how much the sound is lost in foggy weather, as the report

was heard but at a very short distance. The sound, from the explosion

of gunpowder, is so instantaneous, that the effect of the small guns

was not so good as either the blowing of a horn, or the tolling of

a bell, which afforded a more constant and steady direction for the

pilot. It may here be noticed, that larger guns would have answered

better, but these must have induced the keeping of a greater stock of

gunpowder, which, in a service of this kind, might have been attended

with risk. A better signal would have been a bugle-horn, the tremulous

sound of which produces a more powerful effect in fog, than the less

sonorous and more sudden report of ordnance.

[Sidenote: Friday, 24th.]

The artificers landed to-day, both with the morning and evening tides.

During the first, they had two hours and three-quarters, and in the

latter, two hours and a quarter, making together five hours work; the

weather still continuing thick and foggy, with the wind at south-east.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 25th.]

The boats landed this morning at a quarter from 8 o’clock, and the

artificers left off work at half-past 10. During the evening’s tide,

the operations were again continued with torch-light, from half-past 7

till 11 o’clock P. M., having to-day had four hours and three-quarters

work upon the rock.

[Sidenote: Force of the sea upon the Rock.]

A remarkable fact may here be mentioned as an evidence of the force of

the sea upon the Bell Rock. The reader may remember, that the mushroom

anchor, with its chain and buoy, which had drifted during the very

hard gale of the 6th September 1807, were found upon the Rock after

the gale: at that time the buoy and chain were taken up, but the

anchor having got into a pretty large hole or cavity of the rock, no

convenient opportunity occurred for lifting it last season. No doubt,

however, was entertained that a mass of iron, weighing about a ton,

without any timber or buoyant matter attached to it, would remain in

this position undisturbed, till a convenient time should occur for

recovering it. But, at the commencement of the works this season, to

the surprise of every one, the anchor in question could not be seen.

To-day, however, it was discovered at the opposite side of the Rock,

by one of the smiths who was at work upon the highest platform of the

beacon; and the weather being extremely fine, it was weighed or lifted

by the landing-master’s crew. For this purpose, spars were laid across

two boats, between which the anchor was made fast: as the tide rose the

boats floated, and the anchor thus suspended, was conveyed to one of

the vessels in the offing; when a chain and buoy being attached to it,

it was again laid down in a proper _birth_, as the moorings of one of

the praam-boats.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 26th.]

The weather kept still very favourable for the operations at the rock,

though, from the prevailing fogs, it was not only inconvenient, but

hazardous, to ply even in the short distance between the rock and the

vessels in the offing. The boats landed this morning at half-past 8,

and again returned to the Tender at 12. In the evening, they landed at

half-past 8 and continued with torch-light till half-past 11 P. M.,

having had five hours work during the two tides.

[Sidenote: Monday, 27th.]

The weather was still thick and hazy, but the sea kept smooth, and the

tides were very favourable, so that in the morning, the artificers were

at work from half-past 8 till half-past 11 o’clock; and in the evening,

from a quarter past 9 till midnight; or had altogether five hours and

three-quarters work to-day.

The writer wishing, in such favourable weather, to try the

practicability of bringing the Stone-lighters directly into the landing

creeks of the Rock, with the stones and building materials, by which

great facility might occasionally be given to the work, in landing

the stones directly from the vessels, instead of doing it on all

occasions by loading and discharging the praam-boats; an experiment was

accordingly made this evening, and the sloop Smeaton was towed into

the eastern creek, when it was ascertained that her cargo, in such

weather, might have been very speedily landed. But when the tide left

the rock, the vessel heeled to the one side, her sails hung loose,

and she had so much the appearance of a wreck, that the sight cast an

immediate gloom particularly upon the countenances of the seamen, to

whom a vessel, in this state, could not be viewed without some degree

of horror. Whether it was partly from this circumstance, or that the

tide and weather would so seldom answer this nice operation, or that

the landing-master’s crew had become so expert in transporting the

praam-boats, the idea of laying the stone-vessels upon the rock, was,

from this night’s experiment, completely abandoned.

[Sidenote: Tuesday 28th.]

Land in the morning at 9, and continue at work till 1 P. M., and

again in the evening, when the work is continued by torch-light, from

half-past 10 till half-past 12, having had five hours’ work to-day.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 29th.]

The wind was at south-east this morning, with gentle breezes and clear

weather. The boats landed at 11 A. M., and the foundation pit having

been speedily cleared of water, the work was continued till half-past

1. P. M., being three hours. The evening tides now falling late, and

becoming neap, no landing was made this night.

[Sidenote: Monday, 30th.]

[Sidenote: Artificers leave the Rock. Progress of the works.]

The boats landed the artificers on the rock at half-past 11 this

morning, but the tides being extremely languid, there was only about an

hour’s work got upon the site of the building, and about 2½ hours’

at the Railways. Finding that little more could be got done during the

present set of spring-tides, on returning to the vessel at 3 P. M., she

was got under way, and sailed for Arbroath, which she reached at 7 P.

M.; but, being too early in the tide for getting into the harbour, the

author landed with the boat, and felt not a little satisfied with the

progress and success of the work. The site of the building had been

excavated as low in some parts as it was necessary or proper to carry

it, and there was now a good prospect of having it completely prepared

in the course of the next spring-tides. About 100 feet of the eastern

branch of the Railway had also been laid, while the best of the season

was still to come. The business of the work-yard was going on with no

less vigour ashore. The greater quantity of the stones wanted from

Aberdeen for the courses in hand, had been brought to Arbroath, and

the supply was becoming both more regular and abundant from the quarry

of Mylnefield. The second course, which contained very weighty stones,

being 18 inches in thickness, was now nearly all laid down upon the

platform in the middle of the work-yard, where each stone was carefully

fitted and marked as it was to lie in the building, in the same manner

as had been done with the first course.

[Sidenote: The Artificers’ pay and premiums this month.]

It so happened that the artificers employed afloat, or, at the Bell

Rock, were upon this occasion ashore on the regular pay-day, which took

place on the first of every month. The seamen’s wages were paid once

a quarter, and their premiums at the end of the working season. Such

of the artificers as had been off at the Rock this month, had each

a considerable sum to receive for wages and premiums, say L. 6, the

stated wages being L. 1 for six days; and having no disbursement to

make for victuals, the situation of those afloat became enviable, and

the workmen who had not been at the Rock, now began to make application

for what they called their _turn afloat_. This change was not a little

gratifying, considering the hesitation and backwardness shewn last

season to this part of the service.

[Sidenote: 1808, July.]

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 5th.]

[Sidenote: Artificers embark for the Rock.]

At 11 o’clock P. M., the Sir Joseph Banks Tender set sail from

Arbroath for the Bell Rock, to commence the operations for the ensuing

spring tides, having on board 38 masons, 6 joiners, 3 smiths, and the

landing-master’s crew, consisting of 12 seamen, in all 59. The winds

being variable, the vessel only got a short way off the shore in the

course of the night, and did not reach her moorings till the next day

at noon.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 6th.]

[Sidenote: Commence operations for the ensuing Spring-tides.]

Landed on the Rock, with the three boats belonging to the Tender,

at 5 P. M., and began immediately to bale the water out of the

foundation-pit, with a number of buckets, while the pumps were also

kept in action with relays of artificers and seamen. The work commenced

upon the higher parts of the foundation, as the water left them, but it

was now pretty generally reduced to a level. The pumps were laid in a

diagonal position as represented in Plate XI.; four men wrought at the

cross handle and guided the pump-spear, to which a rope was attached,

and in this manner, about 20 men could be conveniently employed at

each pump, and it is quite astonishing in how short a time so great a

body of water could be drawn off. The water in the foundation-pit at

this time, measured about two feet in depth, on an area of 42 feet in

diameter; and yet it was drawn off in the course of about half an hour.

After this, the artificers commenced with their picks, and continued

at work for two hours and a half, some of the sailors being at the

same time busily employed in clearing the foundation of chips, and in

conveying the irons to and from the smiths on the beacon where they

were sharped. At 8 o’clock, the sea broke in upon us, and overflowed

the foundation pit, when the boats returned to the Tender.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 7th.]

[Sidenote: How employed.]

The landing-master’s bell rung this morning about 4 o’clock, and at 5

the boats landed the artificers, when the pumps and buckets were set

to work to clear the foundation-pit of water. The pumps, as formerly

noticed, were left upon the Rock, being fixed between four bars of

iron, batted or wedged into it, upon which plates were fitted with

forelocks, which kept them from shifting. It was common also to drive

a few wedges of iron between the pumps and these fixtures, for greater

security against their being lifted by the pressure of the water,

which, in spring tides, was from 12 to 14 feet in depth. At half-past

5, the foundation being cleared, the work commenced on the site of the

building. But from the moment of landing, the squad of joiners and

mill-wrights was at work upon the higher parts of the Rock, in laying

the railways, while the anvils of the smiths resounded on the Beacon,

and such columns of smoke ascended from the forges, that they were

often mistaken by strangers at a distance, for a ship on fire. After

continuing three hours at work, the foundation of the building was

again overflowed, and the boats returned to the ship at half-past 8

o’clock. The masons and pickmen had, at this period, a pretty long day

on board of the Tender, but the smiths and joiners were kept constantly

at work upon the Beacon; the stability and great conveniency of which

had now been so fully shewn, that no doubt remained as to the propriety

of fitting it up as a barrack. The workmen were accordingly employed,

during the period of high-water, in making preparations for this

purpose.

[Sidenote: Foundation stone prepared.]

The foundation-pit now assumed the appearance of a great platform, and

the late tides had been so favourable, that it became apparent that the

first course, consisting of a few irregular and detached stones for

making up certain inequalities in the interior parts of the site of

the building, might be laid in the course of the present spring-tides.

Having been enabled to-day to get the dimensions of the foundation or

first stone accurately taken, a mould was made of its figure, when the

writer left the Rock, after the tide’s work of this morning, in a fast

rowing boat, for Arbroath; and upon landing, two men were immediately

set to work upon one of the blocks from Mylnefield quarry, which was

prepared in the course of the following day, as the stone-cutters

relieved each other, and worked both night and day, so that it was sent

off in one of the Stone-lighters without delay.

On returning to the Rock, the writer found that the artificers had been

able to land regularly, both at the morning and evening tides, and that

they had added eight hours to the working period. He was, however,

extremely sorry to find that he had missed the visit of his excellent

friend Mr Patrick Neill, who, in the zeal of his pursuits in botany and

natural history, had expressed a strong desire to examine the fuci and

animals upon the Bell Rock, and had taken the opportunity of a passage

with the Smeaton from Leith. But his engagements did not admit of his

remaining till the writer’s return; and he had left the rock in a boat

going to the Redhead, about seven miles east from Arbroath, where he

expected to overtake the writer, but instead of which, they unluckily

passed each other under night.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 9th.]

The weather still continued to be very agreeable, the wind being

moderate and chiefly from the S.W. At 6 A. M. the signal bell was

rung for embarking for the Rock. At 7 the artificers landed, and

began to clear the foundation-pit of water, and the work continued

from a quarter past 7 till half-past 11, having had three hours’ and

a quarter’s work, when the Rock was again overflowed, and the boats

returned to the Tender.

[Sidenote: Foundation stone landed at high-water.]

The site of the foundation-stone was very difficult to work, from its

depth in the Rock, but being now nearly prepared, it formed a very

agreeable kind of pastime, at high-water, for all hands to land it upon

the Rock. The landing-master’s crew and artificers accordingly entered

with great spirit into this operation. The stone was placed upon the

deck of the Hedderwick Praam-boat, which had just been brought from

Leith, and was decorated with colours for the occasion. Flags were also

displayed from the shipping in the offing, and upon the Beacon. Here

the writer took his station with the greater part of the artificers,

who supported themselves in every possible position while the boats

towed the praam from her moorings, and brought her immediately over

the site of the building where her grappling anchors were let go. The

stone was then lifted off the deck by a tackle hooked into a Lewis-bat,

inserted into it; when it was gently lowered into the water, and

grounded on the site of the building, amidst the cheering acclamations

of about sixty persons. The landing of this stone at high-water became

necessary, from there being still a want of a sufficient length of

railway for conveying it along the Rock at low-water to the site of

the building. But this method was rarely resorted to, as it was apt

to skirt or break the edges of the stones; and as a continuation of

good weather was not to be calculated upon, it was observed as a rule

never to land more stones in any one tide than could be built, because

the force of the sea was more than sufficient to remove the heaviest

stones, as we have seen in the case of the first six blocks of granite

which were landed by way of experiment, and also of the cast-iron

mushroom anchor, which was drifted about the Rock, although it weighed

upwards of a ton.

The boats landed at half-past 7 this evening, and the artificers

immediately began to bale and pump the water from the foundation-pit,

and the work was afterwards continued by torch-light till a

quarter-past 11, having had three hours’ and a quarter’s work this tide.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 10th.]

[Sidenote: Foundation-stone laid with masonic ceremony.]

The wind to-day was variable, with gentle breezes varying from S.E. to

N.E.; and every thing being in a state of preparation for laying the

foundation-stone, which had yesterday been landed with so much eclat,

the sailors again displayed their flags at all points, and a cheerful

happiness was discernible in every countenance. At half-past 8 the

boats landed the artificers, and the weather being remarkably fine, as

many of the crews of the Floating-light, the Tender and the Smeaton, as

could be spared from their respective ships, landed this morning, to

witness the long-wished-for ceremony of laying the first stone of the

Light-house. We had, besides, an acquisition to our numbers, in a party

consisting of about sixteen persons from Dundee, who came to the Rock,

just as preparations were making for laying the stone.

Whether we consider this building as an erection of great difficulty,

or, in a nautical point of view, as adding much to the comfort and

protection of the mariner, and safety of property, upon a range of

coast extending almost to the whole eastern shores of Great Britain,

its importance is evident. If it be proper, therefore, on any occasion,

to attach importance to the act of laying the first stone of a public

building, that of the Bell Rock Light-house cannot be said to yield

to any in point of celebrity, either for the peculiarity of its

situation, or the importance of its object. Under these considerations

it is obvious, that but for the perilous and uncertain nature of any

arrangement which could have been made for this ceremony, instead of

its having been performed only in the presence of those immediately

connected with the work, and of a few accidental spectators from

the neighbouring shore, counting in all about eighty persons, many

thousands would have attended upon an occasion which must have called

forth the first dignitaries of the country, in conferring the highest

honours of masonry. The writer may, however, confidently affirm, that,

situate as the work was, nothing could add to the satisfaction felt by

all present, in having now got matters in so advanced a state, as to be

able to commence the building operations.

At 11 o’clock, the foundation stone was laid to hand. It was of a

square form, containing about 20 cubic feet, and had the figures or

date of 1808 simply cut upon it with a chisel, a derrick or spar of

timber having been erected at the edge of the hole and guyed with

ropes. The stone was then hooked to the tackle and lowered into its

place, when the writer, attended by his assistants Mr Peter Logan, Mr

Francis Watt, and Mr James Wilson, applied the square, the level, and

the mallet, and pronounced the following benediction: “May the Great

Architect of the Universe complete and bless this building,” on which

three hearty cheers were given, and success to the future operations

was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm.

[Sidenote: Prayers read after the tide’s work.]

By 12 o’clock noon, the tide had overflowed the site of the building,

and the boats left the Rock after a tide’s work of three hours and a

half. On returning to the ship, prayers were read, when every heart

perhaps felt more than ordinary thankfulness. The artificers were again

landed in the evening at half-past 8, and continued at work, with

torch-light, till a quarter past 12, having been three hours and three

quarters’ at work, or seven hours in all to-day.

[Sidenote: Monday, 11th.]

The boats landed at 9 o’clock this morning, and after three hours’ and

a quarter’s work, they left the Rock at a quarter past 1 P. M. The

artificers landed again in the evening, and work with torch-light from

10 to a quarter past 12, having had two hours’ and a quarter’s work.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 12th.]

After clearing the foundation-pit of water, by means of the two pumps

and a number of buckets, the work commenced at a quarter past 10, and

left off at half-past 12 noon, having had two hours’ and a quarter’s

work. In the evening, the artificers again landed at 9, but it was not

till a quarter past 11 that the water was cleared out, and it began to

overflow the site of the building again at midnight, so that only three

quarters of an hour’s work was got upon the Rock with the evening tide.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 13th.]

Land at a quarter before 10 A. M., and begin to work at half-past 10,

and left off at a quarter from 1 P. M., having had two hours’ and a

half. In the evening at 12 o’clock, the foundation-pit was cleared of

water; but at a quarter past 12, the sea broke into it again, so that

no work was done, owing to the state of the tide.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 14th.]

[Sidenote: Tender leaves the Rock.]

Land to-day at half-past 12 noon, and had one hour’s work. But the

tides being now in the state of neap, the Tender sailed with the

artificers and landing-master’s crew to Arbroath, to wait the return

of spring-tides. The work now put on a very promising appearance.

The first stone had been laid, and the levelling of the site of the

building was in such a state, as to afford every prospect of being able

to commence the building of the first entire course, after a few good

tides. The _reach_ of the Railways from the site of the building, to

the eastern landing-place, was also in a state of great forwardness,

and the other parts of the apparatus being now in readiness, there was

every prospect of making rapid progress after the foundation course was

laid, and building operations were fairly begun.

[Sidenote: Price of granite advanced.]

In the work-yard, however, things had not so prosperous an appearance,

as a number of blocks of granite were still wanting to complete the

first four courses of the building; and such was the urgency of

the demand, lest the work should be stopped in its progress, that

the writer authorised Mr Gildowie of Aberdeen to advance the price

of stone, according to circumstances, as an additional stimulus to

the exertions of the quarriers. From this state of matters, it was

now pretty obvious, that not more than two or three courses of the

light-house could be built this season.

[Sidenote: Friday, 22d.]

[Sidenote: Artificers sail for the Rock.]

To-day, at 1 o’clock P. M., the Tender left Arbroath for the Bell Rock,

having on board 16 masons, 5 mill-wrights and joiners, 2 black-smiths,

and 13 seamen, in all 35 persons, including the officers of the ship.

The wind was at E. N. E., with light breezes and fine weather; but as

it fell calm, the boats left the Tender at 5 P. M. with the artificers,

while yet about 5 or 6 miles from the rock: but owing to the strength

of the ebb-tide, it was found impossible to reach it in time for

the tide, and they returned to the vessel at 9 P. M. without having

effected a landing.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 23d.]

At half-past 5 A. M., the Tender was made fast to the south-west buoy,

when the artificers landed. The two pumps were immediately set to work,

and at half-past 7 the work commenced, and continued till a quarter

past 9, when the site of the building was again overflowed, and the

boats left the Rock after an hour and three-quarters’ work. In the

evening the work commenced at 7, and left off at half-past 9, after two

hours’ and a half’s work.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 24th.]

[Sidenote: A raft of timber goes adrift.]

The wind was at S.S.E., with strong gales, accompanied with a heavy

breach of sea, so that the boats could not land, and there was

consequently no work done to-day. The ship had also such a rolling

motion, that the people could not be collected on deck, as usual,

for reading prayers. The wind was at east, accompanied with a pretty

heavy swell of sea to-day, so that it was not without considerable

difficulty that the boats landed, when two hours’ and a quarter’s work

were got, having been on the Rock from three quarters past 7 till 10

A. M. But in this state of the weather a landing was not attempted in

the evening. In the course of this night, a raft of six Norway logs,

intended for laying the railways over certain gullies or inequalities

of the rock, drifted from one of the floating buoys to which it had

been made fast. It was afterwards picked up by some fishermen in the

Firth of Forth, near Anstruther, who were paid L. 2 for their trouble,

in name of salvage and expences.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 25th.]

The weather was more settled to-day, and the sea had become much

smoother. At a quarter past 8 A. M. the work commenced, and left off

again at half-past 11, after an excellent tide’s work of three hours

and a quarter. The masons were chiefly employed at the foundation

of the building,--the millwrights and joiners at the railways,--the

blacksmiths were kept busy at both operations,--while the

landing-master’s crew took part in the whole.

The boats landed again in the evening at 8 P. M., and the foundation

having been cleared, the artificers began to the low-water works

at a quarter past 9, and continued till 11. After an hour and

three-quarters’ work they left the rock, but the joiners and

blacksmiths had been employed on the beacon since morning.

[Sidenote: State of things, at night, upon extinguishing the torches.]

The wind being at S.E. this evening, we had a pretty heavy swell of sea

upon the rock, and some difficulty attended our getting off in safety,

as the boats got a-ground in the creek, and were in danger of being

upset. Upon extinguishing the torch-lights, about twelve in number, the

darkness of the night seemed quite horrible; the water being also much

charged with the phosphorescent appearance which is familiar to every

one on ship-board, the waves, as they dashed upon the rock, were in

some degree like so much liquid flame. The scene, upon the whole, was

truly awful.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 26th.]

[Sidenote: The first, or foundation course is finished to-day.]

The work on the rock began this morning at 9 o’clock, and left off

at a quarter past 12 noon, when the tide overflowed the site of the

building. The masons then went on board of the Tender, but the smiths

and joiners, as usual, continued their operations on the beacon. The

weather being moderate, the boats landed again in the evening, at a

quarter past 10, and left off at midnight, having had altogether four

hours’ and three quarters’ of low-water work to-day, when the last of

the eighteen detached pieces of stone, forming the Foundation-course,

were laid. The several holes or cavities in it, varying in depth from

six to eighteen inches, had now been built up with stones, exactly cut

and fitted to their respective places, as represented in Plate XV.; and

which brought the whole surface to a uniform level.

[Sidenote: The force of habit exemplified in landing at night on the

Bell Rock.]

In leaving the Rock this evening, every thing, after the torches were

extinguished, had the same dismal appearance as last night, but so

perfectly acquainted were the landing-master and his crew with the

position of things at the Rock, that comparatively little inconveniency

was experienced on these occasions, when the weather was moderate:

such is the effect of habit, even in the most unpleasant situations.

If, for example, it had been proposed to a person accustomed to a

city life, at once to take up his quarters off a sunken reef, and

land upon it in boats at all hours of the night, the proposition must

have appeared quite impracticable and extravagant; but this practice

coming progressively upon the artificers, it was ultimately undertaken

with the greatest alacrity. Notwithstanding this, however, it must

be acknowledged, that it was not till after much labour and peril,

and many an anxious hour, that the writer is enabled to state, that

the site of the Bell Rock Light-house is fully prepared for the First

entire course of the building.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 28th.]

[Sidenote: First cargo of an entire course landed.]

The sloop Smeaton had accordingly loaded the first cargo of cut stone

at Arbroath for the Light-house, consisting of twenty blocks of the

First entire course, and had last night come to her moorings; and

this morning the praam-boats were employed in landing her cargo upon

the Rock. From the want of a complete line of Railway from any of

the landing-places to the site of the building, this operation could

only be effected at high-water, when the stones were let down, one

after another, upon the unincumbered area of the foundation of the

Light-house, by means of a slip-rope passed through the Lewis-bat of

each stone. This, as before noticed, was by no means a very desirable

mode of landing the materials, and was indeed, one that could rarely be

resorted to, except in the finest weather. The artificers having landed

at 9 A. M., the foundation was cleared of water by 10, when the masons

made preparations for commencing the building operations. Having had

two hours’ and three quarters’ work, they left the Rock, after laying

the blocks of stone which had been landed, in a compact and regular

manner upon the site of the building.

[Sidenote: Friday, 29th.]

The wind was at east to-day, with a gentle breeze. At 10 A. M. the

workmen landed, but the tides becoming neap, it was two hours and a

half before the foundation could be cleared of water, and at a quarter

from 2 P. M. it was again overflowed, having only had an hour and a

quarter’s work with the morning tide, when the twelve remaining blocks

of the Smeaton’s cargo were laid to hand, and ready for being built

with mortar. In the present state of the tides, it was not judged

necessary to land this evening.

[Sidenote: The Smeaton makes a second trip for a cargo in 20 hours.]

The Smeaton having been unloaded yesterday forenoon, she was again

dispatched to Arbroath for another cargo of the First course, which she

got on board that same night by 12 o’clock, and had returned to her

moorings at the Bell Rock this morning; Captain Pool, with his usual

activity, having only been absent from the Rock about twenty hours.

In the mean time, the writer visited the operations of the work-yard,

to ascertain more fully what prospect there was of having a supply of

prepared stones for continuing the works of this season, to the extent

of three or four courses of the Light-house. Some arrangement also was

necessary for the removal of Cranes and other articles of machinery for

the use of the building operations.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 30th.]

[Sidenote: Tender sails for Arbroath.]

The Tender left her moorings at the Rock this morning for Arbroath,

with such of the artificers as could be spared. Those left shifted

on board of the Smeaton, and were to be employed at the Beacon, and

in laying the Railways, now much wanted, for transporting the stones

along the Rock. They also attended to the arrangement of the materials

landed upon the site of the building, where, from the lowness of its

situation, they lay in safety. In the work-yard considerable progress

had now been made with the Second entire course of the building, and

after much trouble, the necessary blocks of granite had at length come

to hand, for completing it, but still many stones were wanting for the

higher ones.

[Sidenote: 1808, August.]

[Sidenote: August, Wednesday, 3d.]

[Sidenote: Returns to the Rock.]

The Tender sailed this afternoon from Arbroath, having on board two of

the cranes already alluded to, as in preparation for the work, upon a

new construction, as will be seen in Plate XIV. These were intended

to be erected on the site of the building, for laying the stones in a

more perfect and expeditious manner than had hitherto been followed

in operations of this kind. She carried also forty-seven persons,

including artificers and seamen; but as the winds were light, little

progress was made during the afternoon, for, as yet, the utility of the

Steam-boat, in cases of this kind, had not been developed.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 4th.]

[Sidenote: Four stones laid.]

At 4 o’clock this morning the Tender reached her moorings, and was made

fast to the south-west buoy, as laid down upon Plate V. At 5 o’clock,

32 artificers and 11 seamen landed upon the Rock, from three boats.

The landing-master’s crew transported one of the cranes from on board

of the Tender, on one of the praams, and landed it at high-water upon

the Rock. Having again landed in the evening, the foundation-pit was

cleared of water by 6 o’clock, when the Crane was set up and properly

guyed with ropes. The center-stone and three others were then laid with

mortar, and trenailed to the Rock. After two hours’ work, the site of

the building was again overflowed, and at 8 o’clock the artificers

returned on board of the Tender.

[Sidenote: Advantages of the new cranes over sheer-poles.]

As the stones were all dove-tailed into one another, they required

to be laid perpendicularly into their respective places, which was

also essential to preserving a proper bed of mortar under them. This

could only be effected in a speedy and dextrous manner by means of a

crane; but it will further be seen, from the angular figure of the

stones, that this could not be effected by one of these machines of

the ordinary construction, as has formerly been noticed. It had been

recommended to the writer to use the common sheer-poles, with which

the Edystone Light-house was built, which, notwithstanding all the

improvements in machinery, were still chiefly in use for laying heavy

stones; but sheer-poles, besides being difficult to preserve on a

sunken rock, could neither have laid the materials so well, nor with

a tenth part of the expedition, as the crane with the moveable beam

delineated in Plate XIV.

[Sidenote: Mr Smeaton’s plan of Trenails and Wedges followed.]

Stones laid at the depth of about 14 feet under high-water mark,

required more than merely laying them on their respective beds, and

trusting to their own gravity. For this purpose nothing seemed to be

so well adapted as the oaken trenails which Mr Smeaton used in the

erection of the Edystone Light-house. Two jumper-holes, of an inch and

a half in diameter, had accordingly been drilled through each stone,

which were continued or perforated to the depth of six inches into the

rock or course immediately below, which became the most tedious part of

the building operation. When the oaken trenail was inserted into the

hole, it had a saw-draught across the lower end, into which a small

wedge was inserted: and when driven home, it became quite firm. The

trenail was then cut flush with the upper bed of the stone, and split

with a chisel, when another wooden wedge was inserted and driven into

the upper end of the trenail, as represented in diagram 10. of Plate

X. Nor was this all, for, in following up Mr Smeaton’s principle, two

pairs of oaken wedges, as represented in Plate X., Fig. 11. were also

driven gently into the perpendicular joints, prior to grouting them

with mortar. The whole stones of a course had thus to be laid with

great nicety, corresponding to a number of checks and marks, previously

arranged in the work-yard, that the wedges might fit without trouble at

the Rock, and preserve the respective positions of the superincumbent

courses, and make band throughout the whole fabric.

[Sidenote: Friday, 5th.]

[Sidenote: 16 Stones laid.]

The boats landed the artificers this morning at half-past 5 o’clock,

and the foundation-pit being cleared of water, seven stones were laid

and secured with trenails by 8 o’clock. The artificers are again landed

at 6 P. M. and in the course of two hours nine additional stones were

laid.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 6th, till Wednesday, 10th.]

[Sidenote: 92 Stones laid.]

From Saturday the 6th till Wednesday the 10th inclusive, the weather

and tides were favourable, which afforded an opportunity of landing

both with the morning and evening tides, and in the course of these

five days twenty-six hours’ work were obtained, and ninety-two stones

were laid. The landing-master’s crew also continued their operations in

delivering the Smeaton, and laying her cargoes on the Rock.

[Sidenote: Thursday, 11th.]

[Sidenote: 11 Stones laid.]

The boats landed the artificers to-day at 9 A. M., and in about three

quarters of an hour the site of the building was cleared of water, when

eleven stones were laid in the course of an hour and three quarters.

There being a considerable swell in the sea to-day from south-east, the

praams could not land any materials upon the Rock at high-water, and

nothing could be done in this way at low-water, as the Railways were

not yet in a working condition.

[Sidenote: A party of Gentlemen narrowly escape being drowned.]

During the morning-tide, while the work was in progress, a very serious

accident was like to have happened to a party of gentlemen from Leith,

who came to see the operations at the Rock. They attempted to land in a

very small boat belonging to their yacht; but, as a considerable swell

of sea set round it in all directions, after several attempts, they

found this to be impracticable. The writer then hailed the gentlemen,

and advised them to return, and remain on board of their vessel,

until the state of the tide would enable him to send a proper boat

for them. In the mean time, however, a boat from the Floating-light,

pretty deeply laden, with lime, cement and sand, approached, when the

strangers, with a view to avoid giving trouble, took their passage

in her to the Rock. The accession of three passengers to a boat,

already in a lumbered state, put her completely out of trim, and, as

it unluckily happened, the man who steered her was not in the habit

of attending the Rock, and was not sufficiently aware of the run of

the sea at the entrance of the eastern creek. Instead, therefore, of

keeping close to the small rock called “John Gray,” the situation of

which will be seen in Plate VI., he gave it a _wide birth_, as the

sailors term it; a heavy sea having struck the boat, drove her to

leeward, and the oars getting entangled among the rocks and sea-weed,

she became unmanageable, and was thrown on a ledge by another heavy

swell, which instantly leaving her, she _kanted_ seaward upon her

gunwale, when the people, and part of the cargo, were thrown into

the sea. Before she righted, or any assistance could be rendered by

those on the Rock, another sea came which filled her and scattered

the passengers, eight in number, in all directions. Some clung to the

boat, others to the sea-weed, and two or three having got hold of

oars and loose thwarts, which floated about, were carried out of the

creek, to a considerable distance from the spot where the accident

happened. By the very prompt and active assistance of Mr James Wilson,

the landing-master, and his crew, the whole were, however, speedily

got out of the water, excepting a Mr Strachan, one of the strangers,

who had clung to the sea-weed upon a small insulated rock, bearing his

name, in Plate VI., to which it was impossible at this time of tide to

approach, without the assistance of a boat. Mr Wilson, with a dexterity

peculiar to himself, made towards this spot, where Mr Strachan, with

great resolution and perseverance, still kept his hold, although every

returning sea laid him completely under water, and even hid him from

the view of the spectators on the Rock. In this situation he must have

remained for ten or twelve minutes. When the boat reached the insulated

rock, the most difficult part was still to perform, as it required the

greatest nicety of management to guide her in a rolling sea, so as to

prevent her from being carried forcibly against Mr Strachan, who was

in danger of being struck with the stem of the boat, to which he lay

completely exposed. Notwithstanding the breach of the sea, however,

and the narrowness of the passage, the boat was conducted at the

proper moment close to Mr Strachan, without either touching him or the

insulated rock to which he clung, till he was lifted into the boat. Mr

Strachan was of course much exhausted, from having been so completely

overrun by the sea, and having had but a very short space for breathing

between the returning waves.

The gentlemen thus extricated in safety from the most imminent peril,

were immediately removed on board of their own vessel, no doubt very

thankful for the narrow escape they had made, and with grateful

recollections of the exertions made by Captain Wilson and his crew.

With regard to the people belonging to the Light-house service, none of

them were materially injured beyond the disagreeable ducking which they

experienced; but the boat was almost completely wrecked: her cargo was

also injured, and partly lost.

[Sidenote: Friday, 12th.]

[Sidenote: First entire course completed.]

The artificers landed this morning at half-past 10, and after an hour

and a half’s work, eight stones were laid, which completed the First

entire course of the building, consisting of 123 blocks, the last of

which was laid with three hearty cheers. Immediately after this tide

the Tender left the Rock for Arbroath, with all hands on board; and

having a fine breeze at south, she got into the harbour at half-past 6

P. M., to wait the return of the spring-tides.

[Sidenote: Artificers are welcomed into Arbroath Harbour.]

Those on board felt not a little happy, when the ship, which, on her

passage, had been decorated with colours, intimating that the First

entire course was laid, was received with cheering from the workmen

ashore, and the inhabitants of Arbroath. The service of the Bell Rock

now became every trip more desirable with the artificers, who, having

been enabled to work both during the morning and evening tides, with

the exception of the evening of the 11th, the premiums over and above

their stated wages became more and more an object, while the experience

acquired in landing 123 blocks of stone, had fully established the

practicability of the whole operation.

[Sidenote: One of the Artificers disabled. He receives an annuity.]

On the writer’s arrival at the work-yard this evening, he learned, with

much regret, that an unfortunate accident had happened to one of the

masons, of the name of Hugh Rose, while employed in raising a block of

stone, of between two and three tons weight, with the carpenter’s jack,

represented in Plate X. The jack had not been set with sufficient care,

and slipped from under the stone, which instantly fell upon his knees.

For a considerable time Rose was thus kept in a sitting posture, with

a great part of the weight of this large stone resting upon his legs,

till relieved by the other workmen who came to his assistance, and

again applied the jack to raise the stone. His legs were, however,

sprained in a very painful and distressing manner, which kept him from

work for upwards of a twelvemonth. He was one of the best workmen

in the Yard, and a man of great bodily strength; but became so much

disabled by this accident, that the Light-house Board was afterwards

pleased to settle an annuity of L. 20 _per annum_ upon him.

[Sidenote: Friday, 19th.]

[Sidenote: Granite Stones much wanted.]

The work at this moment had much the appearance as if it would be

retarded, as several blocks of stone were still wanted from the

quarries at Aberdeen, to complete the Third entire course, the Second

being now ready to be removed from the work-yard to the Rock. This

course was 18 inches in thickness, the granite stones of which measured

from 4 to 7 feet in length, varying in breadth from 3 feet to 4 feet 6

inches. Stones of these dimensions could not be landed with safety at

high-water, but the railways on the Rock were nearly completed from the

eastern landing-place to the site of the building, so that every thing

was now in readiness for commencing the landing of the materials with

low-water.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 24th.]

[Sidenote: 10 Stones laid.]

Having made all the necessary arrangements for making dispatch with

the Third course, the writer sailed at mid-day on the 24th, with the

Tender, for the Bell Rock, having on board forty-three persons in all,

and the wind being favourable, the vessel was made fast to her buoy

at the Rock at 7 P. M. The Smeaton also came to her moorings with a

cargo of the Second course, when the landing-master’s crew brought

the praam-boat along-side, and was loaded with 10 stones, which were

landed, and laid this evening after three hours’ work.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 27th.]

[Sidenote: 136 Stones laid in 7 tides.]

The weather having been extremely favourable, regular tides’ work

were got both morning and evening, so that the Second entire course,

containing 136 stones in number, and 152 tons weight, was laid in the

course of seven tides; the sloop Smeaton having been kept constantly

plying between the Bell Rock and Arbroath, where, on her arrival, she

was immediately loaded, whether by night or day. From the favourable

state of the weather, the complete and effective condition of the

landing apparatus, and the dexterity of the landing-master’s crew, a

cargo of stones was discharged from the vessel, and landed on the Rock

in as short a time as the stones could be built, and the holes bored

into the course below, and trenails fixed into them. To facilitate the

lifting of the stones off the waggons, after they were brought on the

railways to the site of the building, and for laying them at once on

every part of its area, though measuring 42 feet in diameter, a second

crane was erected on the First entire course, as represented in Plate

IX., which thus admitted of the Second course being built with great

facility, without once requiring to shift the cranes horizontally;

as the beams, when extended in opposite directions, reached from the

centre to the extremity of the course.

[Sidenote: 1808, September.]

[Sidenote: Second course completed.]

On completing the laying of the Second entire course, the Light-house

began to assume the appearance and form of a building; for, although

still under a part of the excavated rock, it was, nevertheless, 4

feet above the level of the lower bed of the foundation-stone,--a

consideration which was highly gratifying to those immediately

connected with the work. Having successfully completed this course, the

writer sailed with the Smeaton for Arbroath, accompanied by such of the

artificers as had been employed in building, and leaving the Tender

at the Rock, with the mill-wrights, joiners, smiths, and masons, who

worked at the Railways, and in preparing the upper part of the Beacon

as a barrack. After landing at Arbroath, the Smeaton was immediately

dispatched for Aberdeen, in quest of a few blocks of granite, still

much wanted for the courses in hand.

[Sidenote: Friday, 9th.]

[Sidenote: Artificers go off to the Rock. 10 Stones laid.]

Having now got the Third entire course nearly ready for shipping,

the Tender returned to Arbroath for the artificers, and a supply of

water and provisions; and sailed again this morning at two o’clock

for the Bell Rock, having forty persons on board. At 9 she was made

fast to the S.W. buoy, when the boats were hoisted out and landed the

artificers, who remained till 12 noon. These two hours were occupied

in adjusting the cranes, and making preparations for commencing the

building operations. A landing is again made in the evening at 9, and

at midnight the artificers returned on board of the Tender, having been

three hours on the Rock, when ten stones of the Third course were laid

and trenailed to the course below.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 10th.]

[Sidenote: Pumping of Water discontinued.]

Land at 9 A. M., and by a quarter past 12 noon, 23 stones had been

laid. The works being now somewhat elevated by the lower courses, we

got quit of the very serious inconvenience of pumping water to clear

the foundation-pit. This gave much facility to the operations, and was

noticed with expressions of as much happiness by the artificers as the

seamen had shewn when relieved of the continual trouble of carrying

the smiths’ bellows off the Rock, prior to the erection of the Beacon.

[Sidenote: One of the Artificers loses a finger.]

While the workmen were laying the closing or last stone of the former

course, John Bonnyman, one of the most active and expert of the

masons, met with an unlucky accident in the following manner. The

moveable beam of the building-crane having been lowered to a horizontal

position, for the purpose of laying the stone at the circumference

of the course, Bonnyman, who was directing it into its birth with

a small pince in his right hand, had inadvertently rested his left

hand on the beam, near the sheave or pulley, at its extremity, when

one of the links unfortunately caught his hand, and before the crane

could be stopped, the chain had passed over the middle joint of the

fore-finger, and cut it so nearly off, that he applied to the writer,

who was standing by, to relieve him of the almost detached part. But

having no great inclination for the performance of operations of this

kind, the severed parts were set together and bandaged in as careful

a manner as circumstances would admit, when the patient was sent in a

fast-rowing boat to Arbroath for medical aid. It was nevertheless soon

afterwards found necessary to amputate the finger, and Bonnyman became

a successful candidate for a light-keeper’s birth.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 11th.]

[Sidenote: Progress of the works stopped for want of granite.]

Having landed this morning at 10, the work was continued during four

hours, when 14 stones were laid; but its regular progress had now to

be stopped for a time, owing to the want of stones from the work-yard,

where some blocks of granite were waited for from the quarries. In the

afternoon the Smeaton arrived with a few hearting or interior stones of

the course in hand; but the wind having been for some days past in the

N.E., accompanied with a considerable swell of sea, it was not found

practicable to make a landing, and the praam-boat, after having been

loaded, was made fast to her moorings: consequently no landing was made

on the Rock with the night tide.

[Sidenote: Monday, 12th.]

[Sidenote: Building level with the higher parts of the Rock.]

The wind being still at N.E., the swell was so great that the boats

landed with much difficulty on the Rock this morning at half-past 11

o’clock, but could only remain for an hour and a half, owing to the

heavy sea which ran upon it. This tide was employed in completing the

boring of the trenail-holes, and in securing the stones which had been

laid. The cranes were also raised from the second to the third course,

which being 18 inches in thickness, the artificers who worked them now

stood nearly on a level with the highest parts of the Rock.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 13th.]

[Sidenote: Experience great difficulty in landing.]

The wind being still at N.E., accompanied with a heavy breach on the

Rock, no attempt would have been made to land to-day, had not the

writer felt a more than ordinary desire to examine the state of the

work, from the manner in which the sea broke upon the building. In

accomplishing this about noon, the boats were frequently put back, but

were at length successful, when it was found that the force of the sea

had raised two of the stones exposed to its immediate wash, which, in

the unfinished state of the course, formed an abrupt face to the waves.

These two stones were lifted perpendicularly off their beds, the one

to the height of 6, the other of 10 inches; but they were fortunately

still held by the trenails, and supported as if on stilts. Had this

not been timeously observed, the probability is, that the operation of

another tide might have swept them into deep water, which would have

been attended with much additional hazard, by delaying the work in its

present state, at so advanced a period of the season.

[Sidenote: Two Stones loosened but are again secured. The vessels slip

their moorings.]

The trenails of these stones having been drawn or bored out, the

stones were laid a second time, when every precaution was taken to

secure the mortar, by stuffing bagging-cloth round the joints, and

loading them with bars of iron. The guy-ropes of the cranes were also

tightened, and every thing put in as complete a state of security as

circumstances would admit. At 1 P. M. the boats again returned to the

Tender, which now rode so heavily at her moorings that it was found

necessary to get her under way, when she sailed for Arbroath with the

artificers. The Smeaton also slipped her moorings; but instructions

were previously given to Mr Pool, to keep as close as possible to

the loaded praam-boat, still riding at her moorings, that, in the

event of her breaking adrift, he might be at hand to take her in tow.

In the evening, however, the weather moderated considerably, and,

after landing the masons at Arbroath, to remain till the return of

spring-tides, the Tender returned to her station at the Rock, with the

workmen employed at the Beacon-house and Railways.

[Sidenote: Saturday, 17th.]

[Sidenote: 10 Stones are laid. The praam-boats ride out the gale.]

The Light-house Yacht having to-day returned from the Northern

Light-houses, she transported the builders from Arbroath to the

Rock, and supplied the Floating-light and Tender with provisions and

necessaries. By this means, the latter vessel was enabled to remain

at her moorings during the present neap-tides, by which the operations

on the higher parts of the Beacon made great progress. The writer also

embarked this morning in the Light-house Yacht, and having hailed the

Floating-light at noon, found that she had rode out the late gales

with great ease. At 3 o’clock P. M. the Yacht was made fast to a set

of moorings which had been laid down for her early in the season; and

at 5, thirty artificers landed, when 10 stones were laid in two hours

and a quarter. Notwithstanding the heavy seas which had run upon the

Rock since the completion of the Second course, every thing was found

in good order. The stones of the course in hand were all in their

respective places, and the joints were full of mortar. The cranes

also stood quite firm, with their guys and tackling. It was no less

satisfactory to find that the loaded praam rode at her moorings in

perfect safety, without having apparently shipped any sea during the

gale.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 18th.]

[Sidenote: 31 Stones laid in 6¼ hours.]

The artificers landed this morning at 5 o’clock, and continued at work

till a quarter past 8. The railways being now in a pretty complete

state, and a further supply of stones having been brought to the Rock,

the landing-master got 21 blocks conveyed from the eastern wharf to the

building. In the same manner, with the evening tide, 10 stones were

landed, and the work continued from half-past 5 to half-past 8, having

had six hours’ and a quarter’s work to-day, during which no fewer than

31 stones were laid.

[Sidenote: Monday, 19th.]

[Sidenote: 12 Stones are laid. The western track of Railway much

wanted.]

The artificers landed this morning, and continued at work for three

hours, when 7 stones were laid. The wind being at S.E. there was a very

heavy swell of sea in the eastern creek; and not having as yet been

able to lay the Railway-track to the western creek, the stones were

obliged to be landed on the eastern side of the Rock, which was often

attended with great disadvantage to the work. For it was only in the

very finest weather that materials could be dropped or lowered upon the

Rock at high-water; an operation which was further attended with great

inconveniency, from the sparse manner in which it was found necessary

to drop them from the praam, to prevent their being injured. The fear

also of a storm overtaking the work while the stones were in this

situation, was none of the least sources of uneasiness which attended

this practice: for, though the sea might not carry them entirely

off the Rock, they might nevertheless be so damaged, as to render

them unfit for the work, and the loss of a single stone could not be

replaced without returning to the work-yard, and having recourse to the

mould from which it was cut.

[Sidenote: One of the beams cannot be got out of the eastern creek.]

As the landing-master’s crew were in the act of towing one of the

praam-boats into the eastern creek this morning, an unlucky sea struck

her, and carried her upon the same ledge of the Rock, which, on the

11th of last month, had almost proved fatal to the Floating-light’s

boat. By the active exertions of the crew, however, the praam on the

present occasion was got off without sustaining much damage, her bottom

being only slightly rubbed; and the cargo, consisting of 7 blocks of

stone, with cement, &c. was landed in safety. The boats returned to

the Rock at 6 P. M., and left it again at 9, after having had three

hours’ work, and laid 5 stones, being all the materials that could be

got this tide, owing to the rough state of the weather; for it was not

till after three successive attempts had been made, that Mr Wilson

succeeded in getting the praam into the creek this evening, the wind

being at S.E., and still continuing to blow fresh with a heavy swell

of sea, insomuch, that it was found impracticable to get her out again

after unloading; and she, therefore, remained till the tide had flowed

sufficiently to float her over the lower parts of the Rock to the

westward.

[Sidenote: Tuesday, 20th.]

[Sidenote: 15 Stones are laid. The weather continues to be very

boisterous.]

The artificers landed this morning at 6 o’clock, and left the Rock

again at a quarter past 10, having had four hours’ and a quarter’s

work, when seven stones were laid. In the evening, the artificers

landed at 6, and continued at work till 10, having had a tide of four

hours, in which time eight stones were laid. Owing to the surf of

sea upon the Rock to-day, it was with the utmost difficulty that the

heavy blocks could either be got out of the Smeaton into the praams,

or conveyed in safety to the Rock. It was only by the experience now

acquired, and the activity of the landing-master’s crew, that any thing

was done to the building during the whole of these spring-tides. Indeed

the Smeaton was forced to leave her moorings, and return to Arbroath,

before the whole of her last cargo could be delivered. In this state of

the weather, the workmen could not be regularly employed in building;

but there was so much to do with each course, in boring trenail holes,

and laying railways during the time of low-water, that the artificers

were always fully employed, when it was possible to land. During the

period of high-water, the mill-wrights and joiners were occupied in

framing the upper part of the Beacon-house.

[Sidenote: Wednesday, 21st.]

[Sidenote: Engineer’s clerk most active in dispatching the shipping.]

To-day the wind was at S.W., blowing a fresh gale, and it was not

expected that the Smeaton could have possibly returned from Arbroath,

with the remaining stones of the course in hand, consisting of 17

blocks, with which, from the advanced period of the season, and the

boisterous state of the weather, it was proposed to terminate the

building for this year. The Smeaton, however, got to Arbroath last

night, at a late hour; and Mr Lachlan Kennedy, Engineer’s clerk,--whose

department it was to attend to the dispatch of the vessels,--with

that promptitude and zeal in the service which uniformly marked all

his transactions, called the artificers in the work-yard barrack at

midnight, when they commenced, with torch-light, to cart the stones to

the quay, and had loaded the Smeaton, by half-past 2 A. M., so that she

saved tide out of the harbour, and at half-past 6 got to her moorings

at the Rock.

[Sidenote: The unfortunate loss of James Scott, one of the seamen.]

Mr Thomas Macurich, mate of the Smeaton, and James Scott, one of the

crew, a young man about 18 years of age, immediately went into their

boat to make fast a hawser to the ring in the top of the floating-buoy

of the moorings, and were forthwith to proceed to land their cargo, so

much wanted at the Rock. The tides at this period were very strong,

and the mooring-chain, when sweeping the ground, had caught hold of

a rock or piece of wreck, by which the chain was so shortened that

when the tide flowed, the buoy got almost under water, and little more

than the ring appeared at the surface. When Macurich and Scott were in

the act of making the hawser fast to the ring, the chain got suddenly

disentangled at the bottom, and this large buoy, measuring about 7 feet

in height, and 3 feet in diameter at the middle, tapering to both ends,

being what seamen term a _Nun-buoy_, vaulted or sprung up with such

force, that it upset the boat, which instantly filled with water. Mr

Macurich, with much exertion, succeeded in getting hold of the boat’s

gunwale, still above the surface of the water, and by this means was

saved; but the young man Scott was unfortunately drowned. He had, in

all probability, been struck about the head by the ring of the buoy,

for although surrounded with the oars and the thwarts of the boat which

floated near him; yet he seemed entirely to want the power of availing

himself of such assistance, and appeared to be quite insensible, while

Pool, the master of the Smeaton, called loudly to him: and, before

assistance could be got from the Tender, he was carried away by the

strength of the current, and disappeared! A signal of distress was

immediately hoisted, when one of the boats of the landing-master’s

crew instantly attended to Macurich’s safety, and picked him up in a

very exhausted state, but he happily soon recovered.

[Sidenote: His mother gets a small annuity.]

The young man Scott was a great favourite in the service, having had

something uncommonly mild and complaisant in his manner; and his loss

was therefore universally regretted. The circumstances of his case were

also peculiarly distressing to his mother, as her husband, who was a

seaman, had, for three years past, been confined to a French prison,

and the deceased was the chief support of the family. In order, in some

measure, to make up the loss to the poor woman for the monthly aliment

regularly allowed her by her late son, it was suggested, that a younger

boy, a brother of the deceased, might be taken into the service. This

appeared to be rather a delicate proposition, but it was left to the

landing-master to arrange according to circumstances: such was the

resignation, and at the same time the spirit of the poor woman, that

she readily accepted the proposal, and in a few days the younger Scott

was actually afloat in the place of his brother. On representing this

distressing case to the Board, the Commissioners were pleased to grant

an annuity of L. 5 to Scott’s mother.

[Sidenote: 17 stones are laid. The Building operations completed for

the season.]

The Smeaton not having been made fast to the buoy, had, with the

ebb-tide, drifted to leeward, a considerable way eastward of the

Rock, and could not, till the return of the flood-tide, be worked up

to her moorings, so that the present tide was lost, notwithstanding

all exertions which had been made both ashore and afloat with this

cargo. The artificers landed at 6 A. M., but as no materials could be

got upon the Rock this morning, they were employed in boring trenail

holes, and in various other operations, and after four hours’ work they

returned on board the Tender. When the Smeaton got up to her moorings,

the landing-master’s crew immediately began to unload her. There being

too much wind for towing the praams in the usual way, they were warped

to the Rock, in the most laborious manner, by their windlasses, with

successive grapplings and hawsers laid out for this purpose. At 6 P.

M., the artificers landed, and continued at work till half-past 10,

when the remaining seventeen stones were laid, which completed the

Third entire course, or Fourth of the Light-house, with which the

building operations were closed for this season.

[Sidenote: Summary of the Building operations at the Rock.]

The building, being now on a level with the highest part of the margin

of the foundation-pit, or about 5 feet 6 inches above the lower bed

of the foundation-stone, is computed to contain about 388 tons of

stone; consisting of 400 blocks, connected with 738 oaken trenails,

and 1215 pairs of oaken wedges. The number of hours of low-water work

upon the Rock this season, amounted to about 265, of which number only

80 were employed in building. It was further highly satisfactory to

find, that the apparatus, both in the work-yard at Arbroath, and also

the craft and building apparatus at the Rock, were found to answer

every purpose much beyond expectation. The operations of this season,

therefore, afforded the most flattering prospects of the practicability

of completing the solid part, or first 30 feet of the building, in the

course of another year.

[Sidenote: Sunday, 25th.]

[Sidenote: Shipping obliged to run for Arbroath.]

Owing to very heavy gales of wind from a north-eastern direction, the

Sir Joseph Banks Tender, the Sloop Smeaton, and Light-house Yacht,

were, on the 22d, obliged to slip their moorings, and proceed with

all hands for Arbroath. The Tender and the Smeaton again returned to

their stations at the Bell Rock on the 25th; the former to attend

the mill-wrights, joiners, and smiths, while they completed certain

operations connected with the Railways, and Beacon-house, that

everything might be left in as secure a state as possible for the

winter months; the crew of the Smeaton being at the same time occupied

in lifting the several sets of moorings, building-cranes, and other

apparatus connected with the works, which she carried to Arbroath.

[Sidenote: Appearance of things at the Rock after the late gale.]

[Sidenote: Writer sails for the Northern Light-houses.]

The writer having also sailed on the 25th in the Light-house Yacht,

on his annual inspection of the Northern Light-houses, wished, in

passing the Bell Rock, to have landed, but this he found impossible,

owing to the heavy sea which still ran upon it. The vessel, however,

sailed as near the Rock as possible, that he might, in some measure,

learn the state of matters after the late gales of the 22d and 23d.

He could discern that the Beacon was in good order, but found that

the strong Triangular-sheers of cast-iron, represented in Plate XI.,

at the Eastern wharf, were thrown down and broken to pieces; and that

the North-west buoy had drifted from its moorings. The circumstance

of the breaking of these sheers greatly surprised the writer, as they

consisted of bars of iron, whose cross section was about 10 inches;

having each four longitudinal ribs, of about an inch and a half in

depth, and thus forming a common circumference of 16 inches.

[Sidenote: 1808, October.]

[Sidenote: Monday 31st.]

[Sidenote: Visits the Rock on his return.]

After sailing by the Orkney Islands, and visiting all the Light-houses

on the coast of Scotland, the writer landed at Greenock on the 19th

of October, and soon afterwards returned to the works at Arbroath.

At half-past 11 A. M. on the 31st, he landed on the Bell Rock, and

remained till half-past 3 P. M., examining every thing minutely,

when he had the satisfaction of finding the stones and joints of the

building quite entire. The Railways and Beacon were also in good order;

while the moorings, and all the moveable apparatus, had been conveyed

to Arbroath.

[Sidenote: December.]

[Sidenote: Arrangements for the Writer.]

During the months of November and December, the affairs of the

work-yard went forward in the usual busy manner. A small squad of

artificers went off to the Bell Rock at each period of spring-tides,

when the weather permitted, with tools and implements to repair and

refit any temporary damage which the Beacon or Railways might sustain,

and likewise to examine the state of the several courses of masonry. In

the work-yard the masons were employed in hewing or cutting stones for

the next year’s operations; the joiners, in preparing the upper framing

of the accommodation part of the Beacon-house. The Tender was occupied

in carrying off the workmen who landed at the Rock; in relieving the

crew of the Floating-light in their turns ashore, and supplying that

ship with provisions and necessaries; while the sloop Smeaton made

several trips to the granite quarries of Aberdeen and Peterhead, and

the Light-house Yacht was laid up in ordinary at Leith.

In this state of arrangement, the business of the Bell Rock was left

during the winter months; and the writer is now to continue the

narrative, by giving the account of the operations of the year 1809.