[1] Renard, “Les Phares” (Paris, 1867).

[2] Tor is Celtic for a height, as in the tors, or granite hills, of Dartmoor.

[3] As Mr. Stevenson says (in his “Treatise on Lighthouses”), a notion so fanciful as this deserves little consideration.

[4] Suetonius, “Claudian,” 20.

[5] Author of an ??ap???? ??sp????, circa A. D. 190.

[6] Strabo, Edit. Oxon., 1867, p. 184.

[7] See Dr. Smith’s “Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography,” vol. i., sub. nom.

[8] Pliny, “Hist. Nat.,” xxxvi. 18.

[9] These measurements amount to 576 feet; but we fear the Arabian writer was incorrect in his calculations.

[10] Renard, “Les Phares,” p. 16.

[11] Rev. J. Puckle, “Church and Fortress of Dover Castle” (ed. 1864).

[12] Strabo, xiv., p. 364; Pliny, xxxiv. 18.

[13] See Report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861.—Edinburgh Review, Jan. 1862, p. 173.

[14] This proportion will be slightly modified, but not materially, if we deduct the harbour and pier lights from the English, Scotch, and Irish totals.

[15] We refer to the Exhibition of Lighthouse Models in the Industrial Museum.

[16] Stevenson, “On Lighthouses,” pp. 60, 61.

[17] Edinburgh Review, Jan. 1862, pp. 178, 179.

[18] To be more exact than have been the majority of authors who have written on lighthouses, we must add that a small revolving apparatus, with three reverberators (probably with spherical shells), had been planted at the mouth of the port of Marstrand, in Sweden, prior to 1783. The French engineer, however, had thought out the invention for himself, in ignorance that it had been elsewhere realized, and his was the merit of imagining a system so complete and so rational in all its parts, that nothing has since been added to or taken from his conception.

M. Leonel Reynard informs us that we are likewise wrong in attributing to Argand the idea of a lamp with a double current of air. It is to TeulÈre that it should, in the main, be attributed. However, this engineer, who has asserted the priority of his claim to the invention of the reflectors, and the system of eclipses, has not insisted upon that of the lamp. He limits himself to saying that Argand entertained the same idea as himself, and derived great profit from it.

[19] Stevenson, “On Lighthouses,” pp. 92, 93.

[20] Stevenson, “On Lighthouses,” pp. 105–107.

[21] From the Greek d??pt???, an optical instrument with tube for looking through. ???pt??? is from d??, through; and ?pt?a?, I see.

[22] From ????, entire; and f?? light.

[23] These figures are the results of experiments made with an instrument invented by Mr. Thomas Stevenson, and called the Marine Dynamometer.

[24] Alan Stevenson, “On Lighthouses,” Weale’s Series, pp. 169, 170.

[25] “Smeaton and Lighthouses” (ed. 1844), pp. 24, 25; Smiles, “Lives of the Engineers,” ii. 17.

[26] It is obvious that this could never have happened had the modern regulation been in force which forbids the lantern, after the light is once exhibited, being left without the presence of a keeper.

[27] This is Smeaton’s own statement, but the reader is referred, for Mr. Alan Stevenson’s view of it, to p. 98.

[28] Smiles, “Lives of the Engineers,” ii. 38.

[29] “Smeaton and Lighthouses” (edit. 1844), pp. 57, 58.

[30] Smiles, “Lives of the Engineers,” ii. 45.

[31] Robert Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” p. 17 (Edit. 1824).

[32] Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” p. 23.

[33] A “park,” Scottice for a “field.”

[34] Is it necessary to remind the reader that Honduras, on the Bay of Campeachy, is famous for its mahogany?

[35] Written by the great novelist in the Album of the Lighthouse, when he visited it in 1816.

[36] Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” p. 125. To prevent the repetition of useless references, we would here acknowledge that in the following pages we have closely followed Mr. Stevenson’s own narrative.

[37] Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” p. 157.

[38] Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” p. 180.

[39] Stevenson, “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” pp. 222, 223.

[40] “Smeaton and Lighthouses,” p. 97.

[41] Stevenson’s “Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse,” pp. 52–57.

[42] Stevenson, “Proposals for the Illumination of Beacons and Buoys” (ed. 1870).

[43] In one of the Paris water-pipes, 3120 feet long, M. Biot was able to keep up a conversation, in a very low tone, with a person at the other end.

[44] Alan Stevenson, “Account of the Skerryvore Lighthouse” (ed. 1848), p. 41.

[45] A. Stevenson, “Account of the Skerryvore Lighthouse,” p. 143.

[46] We think, however, that this statement is in great need of verification.

[47] Walter White, “A Londoner’s Walk to the Land’s End,” pp. 192, 193.

[48] Virgil, “Æneid,” transl. by Conington, bk. iii. 420.

[49] Practical Mechanic’s Journal for 1842, p. 265.

[50] Our account of the French lighthouses is mainly taken from M. RÉnard’s interesting brochure, “Les Phares” (Hachette, 1867).

[51] Michelet, “La Mer.”

[52] RÉnard, “Les Phares,” pp. 145–158.

[53] Saint-Denys-Chef-de-Caux was formerly the port of the town now called Sainte-Adresse. Here Henry V. disembarked, in 1415, when he laid siege to Harfleur. But the sea, gradually encroaching on the Cape, has destroyed the village, the port, and the church where St. Denys was worshipped.

[54] It is almost unnecessary to say that Saint-Pierre here refers to the mascaret, or “bore,” of the Seine.

[55] These towers have recently undergone another alteration, and are now lit by the electrical apparatus; giving a light equal to 5000 Carcel burners, and visible for upwards of 27 miles.

[56] The second light-vessel established off the British coast was the Dudgeon (Lincolnshire), in 1736.

[57] The average length is 80 to 90 feet, and the burden from 160 to 180 tons. The Calshot, between Southampton Water and the mouth of the Medina (Isle of Wight), is only 100 tons.

[58] Others which occupy dangerous positions are, the Leman, the Ower, the Newarp, the Sunk, and the Kentish Knock.

[59] Founded on a chapter in M. RÉnard’s “Les Phares;” and an article in Chambers’s Journal, February 1870.

[60] See Article “Herculis ColumnÆ,” in Smith’s “Dictionary of Geography,” i. 1054.

[61] “Cornhill Magazine,” vol. i., pp. 224, 225.

[62] Longfellow.

[63] Compiled from the Admiralty List, and corrected up to April 1870.

[64] The height is given in English feet, from the base to the vane of the building.

[65] We condense the following report from the Dundee Advertiser, March 1, 1870:—

“On Tuesday night the Scurdyness Lighthouse, at the entrance to Montrose Harbour, was lit up for the first time, amid the rejoicings of the people of Montrose and Ferryden. From early morning the vessels in the harbour displayed numerous flags, and more than the usual stir was observable among the villagers on the opposite side of the river. Indeed, seldom have the Ferryden people manifested so much enthusiasm; but it is seldom that they have so much cause to rejoice. The want of a light at the Scurdyness has long been felt by the seafaring community. The rock-bound shore stretching between the Bell Rock and the Girdleness—a distance of nearly fifty miles—is perhaps one of the most dangerous parts of the east coast of Scotland, and has been the scene of numerous shipwrecks and great loss of life. At no point within these limits have so many disasters occurred as at the entrance to Montrose Harbour, now fortunately protected by the Scurdyness Light. Bounded on the one side by large outlying and in some instances hidden rocks, and on the other by a long stretch of sandy shore, whilst the channel itself is extremely narrow, the entrance to Montrose Harbour is very difficult for navigation, and particularly so when the weather is boisterous. Moreover, on the north side, and within a very short distance of the newly-erected lighthouse, is the Annat—a sandbank on which many vessels have been wrecked in attempting to make the harbour. The necessity, therefore, for a light on Scurdyness was very great, and has been long and deeply felt. Situated at the Point, on the southern side of the channel, the lighthouse, a substantial building, commands a clear-weather range of seventeen nautical miles. It is built on solid rock, the foundation being of stones from Benholm Quarry, and the tower itself of white brick. The entire height of the tower is about 100 feet and the lighthouse about 30 feet—in all, 130 feet from base to vane. The diameter at the base is 23 feet 2 inches, whilst at the top it is 16 feet. A spiral stair of about 140 steps leads to the top of the tower, after which the ascent to the various stories is by ladders. There is a room near the top, in which are deposited the stores. The light is fixed and white, of the second order (dioptric), and the mechanism for supplying the lamp with oil is of the most interesting nature. Oil is pumped up to the wick by clock-work; and an alarm sounds during the whole time the machine is in motion, so that any irregularity is immediately announced to the attendant. The light will be seen from about S. W. ¼ S., round by the east to about N.E. ¼ N., or as far as the land will permit. The bearings are magnetic, and from the vessel. A light of weaker power will be shown from the channel towards Montrose Harbour.”

[66] This lighthouse reflects a light on Arnish Beacon (see p. 274).

[67] Sgeirmaoile, or Skeirvuile.

[68] It was this lighthouse, we presume, which underwent so extraordinary an accident on Saturday, February 19th, 1870. About half-past ten A.M., the schooner Elizabeth and Jane, of Preston, approached the mouth of the channel opposite Fleetwood. Adjoining the channel mouth, and about three miles from the latter town, is situated a lighthouse upon screw piles. When about half a mile off the lighthouse, the captain of the schooner found he was drifting towards it, and, spite of all his exertions, he was unable to change her course, as the tide flowed rapidly inwards, and a dead calm prevailed. Before the anchor could get a “hold,” the ship ran bow foremost into the piles, which were all shattered by the collision, and taking up the body of the lighthouse—a huge sexangular timber frame, filled in with windows, and surmounted with “a large revolving (?) light”—carried it away on her forecastle. Two keepers were in the lighthouse, but neither was hurt. The vessel, however, was greatly injured, and some alarm was felt lest she should sink. However the accident was seen from the shore; a tug steamer came to her assistance, and, with the lighthouse on board, she was towed into port. Until a new structure can be raised, a lightship will be stationed in a suitable locality.

[69] Or Queenstown.