ich was finished； and he had not yet taken possession of it； for though he generally spent the greater part of the day； at this time； upon the rock； yet he always slept on board of the tender。
＇Friday； 11th Aug。＇
The wind was at S。 E。 on the 11th； and there was so very heavy a swell of sea upon the rock that no boat could approach it。
＇Saturday； 12th Aug。＇
The gale still continuing from the S。E。； the sea broke with great violence both upon the building and the beacon。 The former being twenty…three feet in height； the upper part of the crane erected on it having been lifted from course to course as the building advanced； was now about thirty…six feet above the rock。 From observations made on the rise of the sea by this crane； the artificers were enabled to estimate its height to be about fifty feet above the rock； while the sprays fell with a most alarming noise upon their cabins。 At low… water； in the evening； a signal was made from the beacon； at the earnest desire of some of the artificers； for the boats to come to the rock； and although this could not be effected without considerable hazard； it was； however； accomplished； when twelve of their number； being much afraid； applied to the foreman to be relieved； and went on board of the tender。 But the remaining fourteen continued on the rock； with Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman builder。 Although this rule of allowing an option to every man either to remain on the rock or return to the tender was strictly adhered to； yet； as it would have been extremely inconvenient to have the men parcelled out in this manner； it became necessary to embrace the first opportunity of sending those who had left the beacon to the workyard； with as little appearance of intention as possible； lest it should hurt their feelings； or prevent others from acting according to their wishes； either in landing on the rock or remaining on the beacon。
＇Tuesday； 15th Aug。＇
The wind had fortunately shifted to the S。W。 this morning； and though a considerable breach was still upon the rock； yet the landing…master's crew were enabled to get one praam…boat； lightly loaded with five stones； brought in safety to the western creek； these stones were immediately laid by the artificers； who gladly embraced the return of good weather to proceed with their operations。 The writer had this day taken possession of his cabin in the beacon…house。 It was small； but commodious； and was found particularly convenient in coarse and blowing weather； instead of being obliged to make a passage to the tender in an open boat at all times； both during the day and the night； which was often attended with much difficulty and danger。
＇Saturday； 19th Aug。＇
For some days past the weather had been occasionally so thick and foggy that no small difficulty was experienced in going even between the rock and the tender； though quite at hand。 But the floating light's boat lost her way so far in returning on board that the first land she made； after rowing all night； was Fifeness； a distance of about fourteen miles。 The weather having cleared in the morning； the crew stood off again for the floating light； and got on board in a half… famished and much exhausted state； having been constantly
rowing for about sixteen hours。
＇Sunday； 20th Aug。＇
The weather being very favourable to…day； fifty…three stones were landed； and the builders were not a little gratified in having built the twenty…second course； consisting of fifty…one stones； being the first course which had been completed in one day。 This； as a matter of course； produced three hearty cheers。 At twelve noon prayers were read for the first time on the Bell Rock； those present； counting thirty； were crowded into the upper apartment of the beacon； where the writer took a central position； while two of the artificers； joining hands； supported the Bible。
＇Friday； 25th Aug。＇
To…day the artificers laid forty…five stones； which 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； principal builder； 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 mortar gallery 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 forlorn habitation； 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