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running on it were unable to land。 The writer； however； had the
satisfaction to observe； with his telescope； that everything about the
beacon appeared entire： and although the sea had a most frightful
appearance； yet it was the opinion of every one that； since the erection of
the beacon； the Bell Rock was divested of many of its terrors； and had it
been possible to have got the boats hoisted out and manned； it might have
even been found practicable to land。 At six it blew so hard that it was
found necessary to strike the topmast and take in a third reef of the
mainsail； and under this low canvas we soon reached St。 Andrews Bay；
and got again under the lee of the land for the night。 The artificers； being
sea… hardy； were quite reconciled to their quarters on board of the
Lighthouse yacht； but it is believed that hardly any consideration would
have induced them again to take up their abode in the floating light。
＇Saturday； 26th Sept。＇
At daylight the yacht steered towards the Bell Rock； and at eight a。m。
made fast to her moorings； at ten； all hands； to the amount of thirty； landed；
when the writer had the happiness to find that the beacon had withstood
the violence of the gale and the heavy breach of sea； everything being
found in the same state in which it had been left on the 21st。 The artificers
were now enabled to work upon the rock throughout the whole day； both
at low and high water； but it required the strictest attention to the state of
the weather； in case of their being overtaken with a gale； which might
prevent the possibility of getting them off the rock。
Two somewhat memorable circumstances in the annals of the Bell
Rock attended the operations of this day： one was the removal of Mr。
James Dove； the foreman smith； with his apparatus； from the rock to the
upper part of the beacon； where the forge was now erected on a temporary
platform； laid on the cross beams or upper framing。 The other was the
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artificers having dined for the first time upon the rock； their dinner being
cooked on board of the yacht； and sent to them by one of the boats。 But
what afforded the greatest happiness and relief was the removal of the
large bellows； which had all along been a source of much trouble and
perplexity； by their hampering and incommoding the boat which carried
the smiths and their apparatus。
＇Saturday； 3rd Oct。＇
The wind being west to…day； the weather was very favourable for
operations at the rock； and during the morning and evening tides； with the
aid of torchlight； the masons had seven hours' work upon the site of the
building。 The smiths and joiners； who landed at half…past six a。m。； did
not leave the rock till a quarter…past eleven p。m。； having been at work；
with little intermission； for sixteen hours and three… quarters。 When the
water left the rock； they were employed at the lower parts of the beacon；
and as the tide rose or fell； they shifted the place of their operations。
From these exertions； the fixing and securing of the beacon made rapid
advancement； as the men were now landed in the morning and remained
throughout the day。 But； as a sudden change of weather might have
prevented their being taken off at the proper time of tide； a quantity of
bread and water was always kept on the beacon。
During this period of working at the beacon all the day； and often a
great part of the night； the writer was much on board of the tender； but；
while the masons could work on the rock； and frequently also while it was
covered by the tide； he remained on the beacon； especially during the
night； as he made a point of being on the rock to the latest hour； and was
generally the last person who stepped into the boat。 He had laid this
down as part of his plan of procedure； and in this way had acquired； in the
course of the first season； a pretty complete knowledge and experience of
what could actually be done at the Bell Rock； under all circumstances of
the weather。 By this means also his assistants； and the artificers and
mariners； got into a systematic habit of proceeding at the commencement
of the work； which； it is believed； continued throughout the whole of the
operations。
＇Sunday； 4th Oct。＇
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The external part of the beacon was now finished； with its supports
and bracing…chains； and whatever else was considered necessary for its
stability in so far as the season would permit； and although much was still
wanting to complete this fabric； yet it was in such a state that it could be
left without much fear of the consequences of a storm。 The painting of
the upper part was nearly finished this afternoon； and the SMEATON had
brought off a quantity of brushwood and other articles； for the purpose of
heating or charring the lower part of the principal beams； before being laid
over with successive coats of boiling pitch； to the height of from eight to
twelve feet； or as high as the rise of spring…tides。 A small flagstaff having
also been erected to…day； a flag was displayed for the first time from the
beacon； by which its perspective effect was greatly improved。 On this； as
on all like occasions at the Bell Rock； three hearty cheers were given； and
the steward served out a dram of rum to all hands； while the Lighthouse
yacht； SMEATON； and floating light； hoisted their colours in compliment
to the erection。
＇Monday； 5th Oct。＇
In the afternoon； and just as the tide's work was over； Mr。 John Rennie；
engineer； accompanied by his son Mr。 George； on their way to the harbour
works of Fraserburgh； in Aberdeenshire； paid a visit to the Bell Rock； in a
boat from Arbroath。 It being then too late in the tide for landing； they
remained on board of the Lighthouse yacht all night； when the writer； who
had now been secluded from society for several weeks； enjoyed much of
Mr。 Rennie's interesting conversation； both on general topics；