| CHAP. I. |
| Name, Situation, Dimensions, and Natural History, of the Bell Rock.—Depth of Water, and Current of the Tides in its Vicinity. |
| Page |
| Origin of the Names Inch-Cape and Bell Rock. Tradition of a Bell erected by one of the Abbots of Aberbrothock. | 67–68 |
| Situation, Dimensions, and Mineralogy of the Rock. Wasting effects of the Sea. Proofs of its having occupied a higher Level. | 69–71 |
| Plants, Animals, Insect destructive to Timber. Experiment with pieces of Timber fixed to the Rock. Mussels attempted to be planted upon it. Habits of Fishes. | 72–74 |
| Depth of Water upon the Rock, and at the distance of 100 yards from it. Tides at the Rock. Not accounted for by Writers on the subject. Progress of the great Waves of the Tide. Periods of High-water at different places in the Firth of Forth. Currents at the Mouth of the River Dee. Water salt at bottom and fresh at top. Phenomenon of in and off shore Tides. Tides of Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. | 75–81 |
| CHAP. II. |
| Position of the Bell Rock.—Designs for the Light-house.—Bill by Lord Advocate Hope in 1803.—Bill by Lord Advocate Erskine in 1806.—Report of the Committee of the House of Commons.—Passing of the Bill. |
| Dangerous Position of the Rock. Sir Alexander Cochrane’s Letter to the Light-house Board. Great Storm in 1799. Expence of the Light-house, as estimated by the Public. Designs by Captain Brodie and Mr Cooper. Captain Brodie’s remuneration. The Writer’s first visit to the Rock in the year 1800. Pillar-formed Building compared with one of Stone. Mr Telford requested to give a Design. Mr Downie’s Pillar-formed Design. | 81–93 |
| Bell Rock Light-house proposed at the Convention of Royal Burghs. Lord Advocate Hope’s Bill is lost in the House of Lords in 1803. | 94–95 |
| The Light-house Board consults Mr Rennie, who visits the Rock with Mr Hamilton, and the Writer. The Commissioners take the sense of certain Ports relative to the measure. Reports of the Traders in Leith and Berwick. Resolution of the Board to apply again to Parliament. | 94–98 |
| Lord Advocate Erskine’s Bill 1806. Mr Hamilton and the Writer go to London on this business. Loan from Government doubtful. Board of Trade favourable to the Loan. Memorial to the Board of Trade. Sir Joseph Banks’s exertions. Bill read first and second times. Report brought up by Sir John Sinclair. Report of the Committee. Bill meets with some opposition at the third reading, but is passed. | 100–105 |
| CHAP. III.—1807. |
| Floating-light Ship.—Commencement of the Operations on the Rock.—Erection of the Beacon-House, and Progress of the Works. |
| The Act provides for the mooring of a Floating-Light. Fishing Dogger purchased, fitted out and moored, under the direction of a Committee of the Trinity-House of Leith, and named the Pharos. Peculiar construction of her Lanterns and Moorings. She sails for her station. A Committee from Arbroath joins the party at the Isle of May. Is anchored in a temporary birth. Her moorings unexpectedly slip over-board, and are recovered with much difficulty. Description of the Pharos. | 107–114 |
| Commencement of the Operations at the Rock. Sloop Smeaton. Positions of the Beacon and Light-house fixed upon. First trip of the Artificers to the Rock on the 7th August. Rate of Wages. Letter from Aberdeen Masons. Lines from Dibdin. | 115–120 |
| Erection of the Beacon-House. Work commenced 18th August. Method of fixing iron-bats into the Rock. Landing-master’s duty. Indications of the state of the Weather. Dangerous situation of the Rock in Foggy weather. Artificers amuse themselves with fishing while the Rock is under water. The fixing of the Smith’s Forge completed. Valuable services of the Smiths on the Bell Rock. Much wanted at the Edystone. The Seals desert the Rock. | 120–126 |
| Hampered state of the Artificers on ship-board. Inconveniencies of the Pharos as a Tender. Difficulty of getting on board. Artificers become expert rowers. Their rations of Provisions. “Saturday-Night at Sea.” | 127–130 |
| Reasons for continuing the works upon the Rock during part of Sundays. Preparations for having Prayers on deck. Prayer composed by the Reverend Dr A. Brunton. Some of the Artificers decline working on Sunday. Additional Pay for Sunday’s work. | 131–135 |
| Artificers work knee-deep in water during neap-tides. Operations at the Rock entirely confined to the Beacon. Description of the operation of boring holes in the Rock. Difficult situation of the Smiths. | 135–137 |
| Wind-Gauge much wanted, to afford a better nomenclature to Seamen. Difficult passage with the boats from the Rock to the Tender. Life-Buoy streamed on this occasion. A Tender is ordered exclusively for the service of the Rock. Some of the Artificers apply for leave ashore. Landing made upon the Rock after a gale. | 138–141 |
| Method of fixing the great iron-stanchions into the Rock. Longest day’s work hitherto had upon it. Smeaton brings off a cargo of stones for making the experiment of landing them. Various methods suggested for this critical operation. Stones first landed on the Rock. Mode originally adopted for attaching the Stone-lighters to their moorings. Smeaton breaks adrift. Perilous situation of those on the Rock. Pilot-boat fortunately comes to their relief. The Boats have a rough passage to the Floating-light. The Smeaton bears away for Arbroath. Indispensable utility of the Beacon-house. Eighteen of the Artificers decline embarking for the Rock. The boats, nevertheless, proceed with the remaining eight. Captain Pool’s account of the drifting of the Smeaton, | 142–152 |
| The comparative level of the site of the Building ascertained. Full complement of Buoys moored. Floating-light rides out a strong gale. State of the vessel. The Writer consults with the Officers of the ship relative to the probable effect of her breaking adrift. The gale takes off. Appearance of the Sea on the Rock. The Floating-light breaks adrift. Her cables supposed to have been cut by a piece of wreck. Difficulty of managing this vessel. She is anchored and moored in a new station. Her Light is first exhibited on the 15th of September 1807. | 153–164 |
| Light-house Yacht for a time becomes the Tender at the Rock. Artificers agree to continue on board of her beyond the term of their engagement. An accident happens to one of the Boats. | 164–165 |
| The Smeaton arrives at the Rock, 18th September, with the Beams of the Beacon-house. Preparations made, and four of the principal ones erected. Method of raising them, and fixing the great Iron-Stanchions. Seven hours’ work upon the Rock in one ebb-tide. The remaining two principal, and four of the supporting beams, erected. | 166–171 |
| The Boats have some difficulty in leaving the Rock. Shipping dispersed in a gale. Land again after an absence of four days. Smith’s Forge removed from the Rock to the Beacon. Writer lands at Arbroath, after having been four weeks afloat. | 172–174 |
| The vessels are again separated in a gale. A landing effected at the Rock. State of the Beacon. Working hours extended. Beacon-works finished for the season. Mr John Rennie, and his son Mr George, visit the Rock. Number of days during which the Artificers were at work. | 175–180 |
| Progress of Operations in the Work-yard. Writer visits the Rock 22d November. State of the Beacon. Professor Playfair’s observations about the unlocking of Screws. State of the Floating-light. | 181–188 |
| CHAP. IV.—1808. |
| Shipping.—Implements.—Building Materials; and Progress of the Works. |
| Praam-boats built with a water-tight ceiling or lining. Method of mooring the Praam-boats. Attending boats, one of which is fitted up as a Life-boat. | 187–188 |
| Railways, Waggons, Sheer-crane, Moveable-beam-crane, Sling-cart, Carpenters’ Jack, Lewis-bat, Moulds, Coffer-dam, Pumps, Winch-machine. | 189–196 |
| Mineralogy of eastern coast. Report of Messrs Rennie and Stevenson, about Stone. The use of Granite resolved upon. Mortar of the Ancients. Attention of the Moderns to this subject. Mortar of the Edystone and Bell Rock, Lime, Pozzolano, Sand, Water, Cement. Oaken trenails, and Wedges. | 196–204 |
| The Writer visits the Rock 30th March. Floating-light’s crew. Light comparatively |
| feeble. Landing at the Rock difficult. State of the Beacon. |
| Propriety of converting it into a Barrack. Bread and Water chest. Advantages |
| of the Beacon to Shipping. | 205–208 |
| Impress-service affects the Operations. Protection-Medal and Descriptive Ticket. Light-house Yacht on the station as a Tender. Preparatory works. Use of Granite restricted to lower courses of the building. Use of Sandstone extended. Mr Skene’s contract for supplying Granite. | 209–212 |
| The Sir Joseph Banks Schooner takes her station as Tender at the Rock. The Writer begins the operations of the season 25th May. State of the Foundation-pit. Difficult landing. It is found necessary to excavate the Rock further, to a greater depth. Artificers much afflicted with sea-sickness. Misunderstanding about their Pay. Sailors men of all-works, | 212–218 |
| Mortar Gallery fitted up. Smeaton ballasted from the Bell Rock. Fish caught in great abundance. | 218–219 |
| First entire course completed in the hewing, and laid on the platform in the Work-yard at Arbroath, on the 4th June. Its cubical contents. Certainty of commencing the building operations this season. Arrangements with the artificers. How employed. Interesting appearance of the Rock. They remain there all day. Tender bears away for Leith Roads. The work is continued on the Rock till midnight. Its appearance. Artificers backward in landing, owing to the appearance of the weather. | 220–226 |
| First entire course of the building removed from the platform, to be shipped for the Rock, 14th June. Trial of the Landing apparatus. Fifty Artificers land. Small ruble-walls built instead of coffer-dam. Advantages of a Bell as a signal in foggy weather. Force of the Sea upon the Rock. Artificers sail for Arbroath. Pay and premiums of the Artificers this month. They embark again for the Rock on the return of Spring-tides. How employed. | 227–235 |
| Foundation-stone prepared, landed at high-water. Laid 10th July, with masonic ceremony. | 235–237 |
| Price of Granite advanced. A raft of Timber goes adrift. State of things at night on extinguishing the torches at the Rock. First or foundation course, consisting of 18 stones, finished 26th July. Force of habit exemplified in landing on the Rock. Cargo of the first entire course landed 28th July. The Smeaton makes a second trip in twenty hours. 4 stones are laid. Advantage of cranes compared with sheer-poles. Mr Smeaton’s plan in the use of trenails and wedges followed. | 239–244 |
| A party of gentlemen have a narrow escape at the Rock. First entire course completed 12th August. One of the artificers disabled in the work-yard at Arbroath. He receives an annuity. Granite stones much wanted for the work. Second entire course completed. Pumping of water discontinued at the Rock 10th September. One of the artificers, by an accidental bruise, loses a finger. Progress of the works stopped for want of Granite. The Building brought to a level with the higher parts of the Rock. | 244–249 |
| Great difficulty of landing. Two stones are loosened by the force of the Sea. Praam-boats ride out a gale with great ease. 31 stones laid in 6½ hours. One of the boats cannot be got out of the eastern-creek. 15 stones laid. Weather very boisterous. Engineer’s Clerk most active. | 250–253 |
| Unfortunate loss of James Scott, a sailor. His mother gets a small annuity. 17 stones laid. Building closed for the season 21st September. Summary of Operations. Shipping dispersed in a gale. State of things at the Rock after the gale. The Writer sails on his annual trip to the Northern Light-houses. Visits the Bell Rock on his return. Arrangements for the Winter months. | 253–256 |
| CHAP. V.—1809. |
| Progress of the Works. |
| Railways injured. Bracing-chains unlocked. Proofs of strong currents in the Sea. Travellers or Drift-stones found upon the Rock. Progress of works in the Yard at Arbroath. Exertions in the Quarries. Captain Calder’s letter to Mr Stevenson. Drift-stones removed. Joisting of platform lifted. A vessel in danger of being wrecked at the Rock. Cast-iron anchors. | 257–262 |
| Purchase of sloop Patriot. Floating-Light encounters heavy Seas. 12th course completed by the stone-cutters. Employment of Shipping. Patriot condemned. Opinion of Mr Solicitor-General Boyle. Two Praam-boats launched. Floating-light under the charge of Mr John Reid. Two sets of moorings laid down. Tender slips her moorings. Other three sets of moorings are laid down. | 263–266 |
| Artificers cannot land. The sailors account for the unsettled state of the weather. The Writer visits the Rock 1st May. Some timber is landed. Tender in danger of drifting upon the Rock. Joiners and millwrights get high premiums. Works make rapid progress. One of the floating-buoys gets water-logged. Great exertions made to complete the circular reach of the railway laid round the Building. Attempt made to erect a crane. | 266–271 |
| The Smeaton sails for the Rock with the first cargo of stones this season. Floating-Light’s moorings examined. State of her moorings. Plants and Animals observed on the building. Builders commence operations 27th May. Lay 5 stones. Tender rides out a hard gale. Apparatus on the Rock, and state of the Sea, viewed from a boat at a distance. Landing very difficult. State of the Weather. | 272–277 |
| Zeal of the Writer’s Assistants. Eleven Artificers left upon the Beacon. They encounter a severe gale. The Tender at this time is very uncomfortable. Artificers relieved. Mr P. Logan’s account of the Beacon during the gale. James Glen’s exertions. State of matters at the Rock after the gale. Tender obliged to leave her station. Progress of the works at Arbroath. Patriot slips her moorings. Artificers divided into squads. Shipping belonging to the Light-house service. Building goes on, laying at the rate of from 12 to 20 blocks per day. Great exertions made to supply materials. | 276–284 |
| Artificers are unavoidably left all night upon the Beacon. Smeaton and Patriot slip their moorings. Remarkable breach of the Sea upon the Rock. 3 stones are in danger of being washed away. Great waste of mortar. 57 stones are laid in one day. Cooking commenced on the Beacon 24th June. Situation of mortar-makers and smiths upon the Beacon. Rope-ladder extended between the Beacon and Building. Work stopped by a simple mistake. 66 stones landed, and 38 laid on the 27th of June. The work can now be continued after the Rock is overflowed by the tide. | 284–290 |
| One of the artificers meets with a severe accident, of which, however, he recovers. Have 10 hours’ work to-day, and lay 59 stones. Writer visits the Carr Rock, with a view to the erection of a Beacon. Joiners, at their own desire, are now left on the Beacon. Considered a favourable omen for the inhabitation of the Light-house. | 290–294 |
| Tide for the first time does not overflow the building, 8th July. Number of joiners reduced. Balance-crane begun to be made. Tenth course completed. Building at the rate of 29 to 52 stones per day. The stone-lighters not loaded at Arbroath on Sundays, | 294–298 |
| William Walker, accidentally killed at Arbroath. His widow receives an annuity. One of the artificers remains alone on the Beacon. Artificers take possession of it, along with Peter Fortune. His character. The Praam-boats cannot approach the Rock. | 298–300 |
| An embargo is laid on shipping throughout the Kingdom. Mr Sheriff Duff’s exertions to get the Light-house shipping relieved. Operations at the Rock while the vessels are detained in port. The embargo is taken off the Light-house shipping. The propriety of stopping the Bell Rock vessels doubted. 78 stones landed, and 40 built, on the 1st August. Twenty-four artificers inhabit the Beacon-house. Mr Sheriff Duff visits the Rock. Building proceeds at the rate of from 22 to 23 stones per day. The Fly of Bridport narrowly escapes shipwreck on the Bell Rock. Mr Sheriff Hamilton visits the Rock. Additional supports for the Beacon-house landed. Sheer-crane broken. Some of the artificers get alarmed, and leave the Beacon. Effects of the late gale. | 300–306 |
| The Writer takes possession of his cabin on the Beacon 15th August. 52 stones landed, and eight built. One of the boats of the Floating-light loses her way in thick weather. An entire course of the building is laid in one day. Prayers read for the first time in the Beacon-house. The Smeaton arrives with the last cargo of stones for the solid part of the Building. Building operations for the season concluded, 25th August. Notice of the very proper conduct of the artificers. Floating-light breaks adrift. Probable height of the waves of the sea in free space. Inducements for stopping the building at this early period of the season. The Tender continues on the station, and the artificers occupy the Beacon-house for a time. Experience bad weather. | 306–311 |
| The Writer makes a trip to see the distinguishing-light at Flamborough-head in Yorkshire. Is overtaken with a gale, which he describes. Great want of a Public Harbour on the eastern coast of England. Progress of this gale traced from Shetland to Yarmouth Roads. Mr B. Mills of Bridlington, probably the first who suggested Distinguishing-lights with red colour. | 311–313 |
| The Writer sails for the Northern Light
s. State of the works when closed for the season. Stool or prop for a crane upon the Rock demolished in a gale of wind. Artificers visit the Rock. Large Buoy has drifted and Floating-light has had bad weather. | 313–315 |
| CHAP. VI.—1810. |
| Progress and Completion of the Works. |
| The Tender visits the Rock and Floating-light, 5th January. The Artificers cannot land again until the 11th March. Beacon rendered very secure. Landing extremely precarious in winter. | 317–319 |
| Retrospective view of the works. Mylnefield and Craigleith quarries. Practical inferences about concluding the works. Timber Gangway or Bridge. Operations commence for the season. Bridge erected at the Rock. One of the artificers gets himself hurt. | 320–324 |
| Writer proceeds to the Rock to begin the building operations, 1st May. Praam-boats ride easily. State of the Building, Beacon and Timber-bridge. Balance-crane landed upon the Rock. Position of the entrance-door. Artificers take possession of the Beacon for the working season. | 324–329 |
| The Smeaton arrives with the first cargo of stones for the season. No communication with the Rock, 12th May. Balance-crane ready for use. Theory of Sea and Land breezes. Smeaton slips her moorings, and is driven up to Leith. | 329–331 |
| Patriot sent to Mylnefield quarry for the last cargo of stones to be carried to Arbroath for the Light-house, 17th May. State of the lower part of the Beacon, from the effects of a marine insect. 23 blocks of stone landed, and raised with the new tackle. One of the stones in danger from the breaking of a bolt. The Smeaton makes rapid trips from Arbroath to the Rock with materials. Prayers read for the first time on the Building. Exertions of Landing-master’s crew. 35th course completed. Arrangements for the conduct of the works, and safety of the Beacon. Balance-crane shaft unfortunately breaks. | 332–336 |
| The Writer is welcomed in at the door of the Light-house, 26th May. Fixtures of the Hinges of the Door and Windows. Great expedition of the Shipping with the Materials. Patriot makes one trip in 33 hours. 36th course laid. King’s Birth-day observed, 4th June. | 336–339 |
| Stair-case of the Light-house completed, 5th June. Progress of works at Edinburgh. Artificers liable to accident. Boat and Life Buoy provided for the Beacon. Trenailing of the stones of the building discontinued. Number of persons inhabiting the Beacon. Fitting of the window-hinges tedious. Comforts of good weather. Balance-crane shifted. | 340–342 |
| Moveable beam-crane erected on Western Wharf. 2 stones upset by the force of the sea. A praam-boat is sent from the Rock without delivering her cargo. Floor of the Lightroom-store laid, 13th June. Mr John Reid gets leave on shore, after having been about three months afloat. | 341–344 |
| First letter written from the Bell Rock Light-house. Its floors, and those of the Edystone described. 31 persons lodged in the Beacon. Pay and premiums of the artificers at the Rock. Seamen find one of the lost sets of moorings. Experiment of collecting Gas from Fishes. Cause of ground swells. | 344–347 |
| Landing-master’s dress, and activity of his crew. Want of the Western Wharf seriously felt. Operation of shifting the Balance-crane. Western Wharf finished, 17th June. Remarkable state of the sea at the Rock. Landing-master’s crew have now more leisure. Disagreeable state of the weather. Responsible situation of the principal workmen. | 347–352 |
| Carpenter of Floating-light leaves the service. Patriot makes a trip to and from Arbroath in 24 hours. Attempts made to land stones at high water with the bridge apparatus. Process of landing stones. Seamen become discontented. The Writer’s correspondence on this occasion. He goes on board of the Tender. Dismisses two of the seamen. | 352–357 |
| Progress of the works at Arbroath. 62d course built at the Rock. The artificers are wetted by the sea on the top of the walls. Mr John Reid’s report regarding the Floating-light. Narrow escape of William Kennedy, one of the masons. | 357–361 |
| Writer describes his cabin. The distressing case of George Dall, an impressed seaman. Magistrates of Arbroath visit the Rock. Number of artificers reduced to 22. Narrow escape of the Smeaton at the Bell Rock. Advantage of alarm-bells. Artificers in the Beacon-house greatly alarmed. | 362–365 |
| Progress of the Light-room works. Mrs Dixon, the late Mr Smeaton’s daughter, visits the Bell Rock works at Edinburgh. Mr D. Logan joins the works at the Rock. The Patriot is 7 days in being cleared of a cargo. Progress of raising the stones to the top of the Light-house, | 365̵
APPENDIX.
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