tering this creek； the seaman at the bow…oar； who had just entered the service； having inadvertently expressed some fear from a heavy sea which came rolling towards the boat； and one of the artificers having at the same time looked round and missed a stroke with his oar； such a preponderance was thus given to the rowers upon the opposite side that when the wave struck the boat it threw her upon a ledge of shelving rocks； where the water left her； and she having KANTED to seaward； the next wave completely filled her with water。 After making considerable efforts the boat was again got afloat in the proper track of the creek； so that we landed without any other accident than a complete ducking。 There being no possibility of getting a shift of clothes； the artificers began with all speed to work； so as to bring themselves into heat； while the writer and his assistants kept as much as possible in motion。 Having remained more than an hour upon the rock； the boats left it at half…past nine； and； after getting on board； the writer recommended to the artificers； as the best mode of getting into a state of comfort； to strip off their wet clothes and go to bed for an hour or two。 No further inconveniency was felt； and no one seemed to complain of the affection called ‘catching cold。'
＇Friday； 18th Sept。＇
An important occurrence connected with the operations of this season was the arrival of the SMEATON at four p。m。； having in tow the six principal beams of the beacon…house； together with all the stanchions and other work on board for fixing it on the rock。 The mooring of the floating light was a great point gained； but in the erection of the beacon at this late period of the season new difficulties presented themselves。 The success of such an undertaking at any season was precarious； because a single day of bad weather occurring before the necessary fixtures could be made might sweep the whole apparatus from the rock。 Notwithstanding these difficulties； the writer had determined to make the trial； although he could almost have wished； upon looking at the state of the clouds and the direction of the wind； that the apparatus for the beacon had been still in the workyard。
＇Saturday； 19th Sept。＇
The main beams of the beacon were made up in two separate rafts； fixed with bars and bolts of iron。 One of these rafts； not being immediately wanted； was left astern of the floating light； and the other was kept in tow by the SMEATON； at the buoy nearest to the rock。 The Lighthouse yacht rode at another buoy with all hands on board that could possibly be spared out of the floating light。 The party of artificers and seamen which landed on the rock counted altogether forty in number。 At half…past eight o'clock a derrick； or mast of thirty feet in height； was erected and properly supported with guy…ropes； for suspending the block for raising the first principal beam of the beacon； and a winch machine was also bolted down to the rock for working the purchase…tackle。
Upon raising the derrick； all hands on the rock spontaneously gave three hearty cheers； as a favourable omen of our future exertions in pointing out more permanently the position of the rock。 Even to this single spar of timber； could it be preserved； a drowning man might lay hold。 When the SMEATON drifted on the 2nd of this month such a spar would have been sufficient to save us till she could have come to our relief。
＇Sunday； 20th Sept。＇
The wind this morning was variable； but the weather continued extremely favourable for the operations throughout the whole day。 At six a。m。 the boats were in motion； and the raft； consisting of four of the six principal beams of the beacon…house； each measuring about sixteen inches square； and fifty feet in length； was towed to the rock； where it was anchored； that it might ground upon it as the water ebbed。 The sailors and artificers； including all hands； to…day counted no fewer than fifty…two； being perhaps the greatest number of persons ever collected upon the Bell Rock。 It was early in the tide when the boats reached the rock； and the men worked a considerable time up to their middle in water； every one being more eager than his neighbour to be useful。 Even the four artificers who had hitherto declined working on Sunday were to…day most zealous in their exertions。 They had indeed become so convinced of the precarious nature and necessity of the work that they never afterwards absented themselves from the rock on Sunday when a landing was practicable。
Having made fast a piece of very good new line； at about two…thirds from the lower end of one of the beams； the purchase…tackle of the derrick was hooked into the turns of the line； and it was speedily raised by the number of men on the rock and the power of the winch tackle。 When this log was lifted to a sufficient height； its foot； or lower end； was STEPPED into the spot which had been previously prepared for it。 Two of the great iron stanchions were then set in their respective holes on each side of the beam； when a rope was passed round them and the beam； to prevent it from slipping till it could be more permanently fixed。 The derrick； or upright spar used for carrying the tackle to raise the first beam； was placed in such a position as to become useful for supporting the upper end of it； which now became； in its turn； the prop of the tackle for raising the second beam。 The whole difficulty of this operation was in the raising and propping of the first beam； which became a convenient derrick for raising the second； these again a pair of shears for lifting the third； and the shears a triangle for raising the fourth。 Having thus got four of the six principal beams set on end； it required a considerable degree of trouble to get their upper ends to fit。 Here they formed the apex of a cone； and were all together mortised into a large piece of beechwood； and secured； for the present； with ropes； in a temporary manner。 During the short period of one tide all that could further be done for their security was to put a single screw…bolt through the great kneed bats or stanchions on each side of the beams； and screw the nut home。
In this manner these four principal beams were erected； and left in a pretty secure state。 The men had commenced while there was about two or three feet of water upon the side of the beacon； and as the sea was smooth they continued the work equally long during flood…tide。 Two of the boats being left at the rock to take off the joiners； who were busily employed on the upper parts till two o'clock p。m。； this tide's work may be said to have continued for about seven hours； which was the longest that had hitherto been got upon the rock by at least three hours。
When the first boats left the rock with the artificers employed on the lower part of the work during the flood…tide； the beacon had quite a novel appearance。 The beams erected formed a common base of about thirty…three feet； meeting at the top； which was about forty…five feet above the rock； and here half a dozen of the artificers were still at work。 After clearing the rock the boats made a stop； when three hearty cheers were given； which were returned with equal goodwill by those upon the beacon； from the personal interest which every one felt in the prosperity of this work； so intimately connected with his safety。
All hands having returned to their respective ships； they got a shift of dry clothes and some refreshment。 Being Sunday； they were afterwards convened by signal on board of the Lighthouse yacht； when prayers were read； for every heart upon this occasion felt gladness； and every mind was disposed to be thankful for the happy and successful termination of the operations of this day。
＇Monday； 21st Sept。＇
The remaining two principal beams were erected in the course of this tide； which； with the assistance of those set up yesterday； was found to be a very simple operation。
The six principal beams of the beacon were thus secured； at least in a temporary manner； in the course of two tides； or in the short space of about eleven hours and a half。 Such is the progress that may be made when active hands and willing minds set properly to work in operations of this kind。
＇Tuesday 22nd； Sept。＇
Having now got the weighty part of this work over； and being thereby relieved of the difficulty both of landing and victualling such a number of men； the SMEATON could now be spared； and she was accordingly despatched to Arbroath for a supply of water and provisions； and carried with her six of the artificers who could best be spared。
＇Wednesday； 23rd Sept。＇
In going out of the eastern harbour； the boat which the writer steered shipped a sea； that filled her about one…third with water。 She had also been hid for a short time； by the waves breaking upon the rock； from the sight of the crew of the preceding boat； who were much alarmed for our safety； imagining for a time that she had gone down。
The SMEATON returned from Arbroath this afternoon； but there was so much sea that she could not be made fast to her moorings； and the vessel was obliged to return to Arbroath without being able either to deliver the provisions or take the artificers on board。 The Lighthouse yacht was also soon obliged to follow her example； as the sea was breaking heavily over her bows。 After getting two reefs in the mainsail； and the third or storm…jib set； the wind being S。W。； she bent to windward； though blowing a hard gale； and got into St。 Andrews Bay； where we passed the night under the lee of Fifeness。
＇Thursday； 24th Sept。＇
At two o'clock this morning we were in St。 Andrews Bay； standing off and on shore； with strong gales of wind at S。W。； at seven we were off the entrance of the Tay； at eight stood towards the rock； and at ten passed to leeward of it； but could not attempt a landing。 The beacon； however； appeared to remain in good order； and by six p。m。 the vessel had again beaten up to St。 Andrews Bay； and got into somewhat smoother water for the night。
＇Friday； 25th Sept。＇
At seven o'clock bore away for the Bell Rock； but finding a heavy sea running on it were unable to land。 The writer； however； had the satisfaction to observe； with his telescope； that everything about the beacon appe