completed the twenty-fourth course, reckoning above the first
entire one, and the twenty-sixth above the rock. This

finished the solid part of the building, and terminated the
height of the outward casing of granite, which is thirty-one

feet six inches above the rock or site of the foundation-
stone, and about seventeen feet above high-water of spring-

tides. Being a particular crisis in the progress of the
lighthouse, the landing and laying of the last stone for the

season was observed with the usual ceremonies.
From observations often made by the writer, in so far as

such can be ascertained, it appears that no wave in the open
seas, in an unbroken state, rises more than from seven to nine

feet above the general surface of the ocean. The Bell Rock
Lighthouse may therefore now be considered at from eight to

ten feet above the height of the waves; and, although the
sprays and heavy seas have often been observed, in the present

state of the building, to rise to the height of fifty feet,
and fall with a tremendous noise on the beacon-house, yet such

seas were not likely to make any impression on a mass of solid
masonry, containing about 1400 tons,

[Wednesday, 30th Aug.]
The whole of the artificers left the rock at mid-day,

when the tender made sail for Arbroath, which she reached
about six p.m. The vessel being decorated with colours, and

having fired a salute of three guns on approaching the
harbour, the workyard artificers, with a multitude of people,

assembled at the harbour, when mutual cheering and
congratulations took place between those afloat and those on

the quays. The tender had now, with little exception, been
six months on the station at the Bell Rock, and during the

last four months few of the squad of builders had been ashore.
In particular, Mr. Peter Logan, the foreman, and Mr. Robert

Selkirk, principalbuilder, had never once left the rock. The
artificers, having made good wages during their stay, like

seamen upon a return voyage, were extremely happy, and spent
the evening with much innocent mirth and jollity.

In reflecting upon the state of the matters at the Bell
Rock during the working months, when the writer was much with

the artificers, nothing can equal the happy manner in which
these excellent workmen spent their time. They always went

from Arbroath to their arduous task cheering and they
generally returned in the same hearty state. While at the

rock, between the tides, they amused themselves in reading,
fishing, music, playing cards, draughts, etc., or in sporting

with one another. In the workyard at Arbroath the young men
were almost, without exception, employed in the evening at

school, in writing and arithmetic, and not a few were learning
architectural drawing, for which they had every convenience

and facility, and were, in a very obliging manner, assisted in
their studies by Mr. David Logan, clerk of the works. It

therefore affords the most pleasing reflections to look back
upon the pursuits of about sixty individuals who for years

conducted themselves, on all occasions, in a sober and
rational manner.

IV - OPERATIONS OF 1810
[Thursday, 10th May]

The wind had shifted to-day to W.N.W., when the writer,
with considerable difficulty, was enabled to land upon the

rock for the first time this season, at ten a.m. Upon
examining the state of the building, and apparatus in general,

he had the satisfaction to find everything in good order. The
mortar in all the joints was perfectly entire. The building,

now thirty feet in height, was thickly coated with FUCI to the
height of about fifteen feet, calculating from the rock: on

the eastern side, indeed, the growth of seaweed was observable
to the full height of thirty feet, and even on the top or

upper bed of the last-laid course, especially towards the
eastern side, it had germinated, so as to render walking upon

it somewhat difficult.
The beacon-house was in a perfectly sound state, and

apparently just as it had been left in the month of November.
But the tides being neap, the lower parts, particularly where

the beams rested on the rock, could not now be seen. The
floor of the mortargallery having been already laid down by

Mr. Watt and his men on a former visit, was merely soaked with
the sprays; but the joisting-beams which supported it had, in

the course of the winter, been covered with a fine downy
conferva produced by the range of the sea. They were also a

good deal whitened with the mute of the cormorant and other
sea-fowls, which had roosted upon the beacon in winter. Upon

ascending to the apartments, it was found that the motion of
the sea had thrown open the door of the cook-house: this was

only shut with a single latch, that in case of shipwreck at
the Bell Rock the mariner might find ready access to the

shelter of this forlornhabitation, where a supply of
provisions was kept; and being within two miles and a half of

the floating light, a signal could readily be observed, when a
boat might be sent to his relief as the weather permitted. An

arrangement for this purpose formed one of the instructions on
board of the floating light, but happily no instance occurred

for putting it in practice. The hearth or fireplace of the
cook-house was built of brick in as secure a manner as

possible, to prevent accident from fire; but some of the
plaster-work had shaken loose, from its damp state and the

tremulous motion of the beacon in stormy weather. The writer
next ascended to the floor which was occupied by the cabins of

himself and his assistants, which were in tolerably good
order, having only a damp and musty smell. The barrack for

the artificers, over all, was next visited; it had now a very
dreary and deserted appearance when its former thronged state

was recollected. In some parts the water had come through the
boarding, and had discoloured the lining of green cloth, but

it was, nevertheless, in a good habitable condition. While
the seamen were employed in landing a stock of provisions, a

few of the artificers set to work with great eagerness to
sweep and clean the several apartments. The exterior of the

beacon was, in the meantime, examined, and found in perfect
order. The painting, though it had a somewhat blanched

appearance, adhered firmly both on the sides and roof, and
only two or three panes of glass were broken in the cupola,

which had either been blown out by the force of the wind, or
perhaps broken by sea-fowl.

Having on this occasion continued upon the building and
beacon a considerable time after the tide had begun to flow,

the artificers were occupied in removing the forge from the
top of the building, to which the gangway or woodenbridge

gave great facility; and, although it stretched or had a span
of forty-two feet, its construction was extremely simple,

while the road-way was perfectly firm and steady. In
returning from this visit to the rock every one was pretty

well soused in spray before reaching the tender at two o'clock
p.m., where things awaited the landing party in as comfortable

a way as such a situation would admit.
[Friday, 11th May]

The wind was still easterly, accompanied with rather a
heavy swell of sea for the operations in hand. A landing was,

however, made this morning, when the artificers were
immediately employed in scraping the seaweed off the upper

course of the building, in order to apply the moulds of the
first course of the staircase, that the joggle-holes might be