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the beacon…house； where he ostensibly acted in the several capacities of
cook； steward； surgeon； and barber； and kept a statement of the rations or
expenditure of the provisions with the strictest integrity。
In the present important state of the building； when it had just attained
the height of sixteen feet； and the upper courses； and especially the
imperfect one； were in the wash of the heaviest seas； an express boat
arrived at the rock with a letter from Mr。 Kennedy； of the workyard；
stating that in consequence of the intended expedition to Walcheren； an
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embargo had been laid on shipping at all the ports of Great Britain： that
both the SMEATON and PATRIOT were detained at Arbroath； and that but
for the proper view which Mr。 Ramsey； the port officer； had taken of his
orders； neither the express boat nor one which had been sent with
provisions and necessaries for the floating light would have been
permitted to leave the harbour。 The writer set off without delay for
Arbroath； and on landing used every possible means with the official
people； but their orders were deemed so peremptory that even boats were
not permitted to sail from any port upon the coast。 In the meantime； the
collector of the Customs at Montrose applied to the Board at Edinburgh；
but could； of himself； grant no relief to the Bell Rock shipping。
At this critical period Mr。 Adam Duff； then Sheriff of Forfarshire； now
of the county of Edinburgh； and EX OFFICIO one of the Commissioners
of the Northern Lighthouses； happened to be at Arbroath。 Mr。 Duff took
an immediate interest in representing the circumstances of the case to the
Board of Customs at Edinburgh。 But such were the doubts entertained
on the subject that； on having previously received the appeal from the
collector at Montrose； the case had been submitted to the consideration of
the Lords of the Treasury； whose decision was now waited for。
In this state of things the writer felt particularly desirous to get the
thirteenth course finished； that the building might be in a more secure state
in the event of bad weather。 An opportunity was therefore embraced on
the 25th； in sailing with provisions for the floating light； to carry the
necessary stones to the rock for this purpose； which were landed and built
on the 26th and 27th。 But so closely was the watch kept up that a
Custom…house officer was always placed on board of the SMEATON and
PATRIOT while they were afloat； till the embargo was especially removed
from the lighthouse vessels。 The artificers at the Bell Rock had been
reduced to fifteen； who were regularly supplied with provisions； along
with the crew of the floating light； mainly through the port officer's liberal
interpretation of his orders。
＇Tuesday； 1st Aug。＇
There being a considerable swell and breach of sea upon the rock
yesterday； the stones could not be got landed till the day following； when
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the wind shifted to the southward and the weather improved。 But to…day
no less than seventy…eight blocks of stone were landed； of which forty
were built； which completed the fourteenth and part of the fifteenth
courses。 The number of workmen now resident in the beacon…house was
augmented to twenty…four； including the landing…master's crew from the
tender and the boat's crew from the floating light； who assisted at landing
the stones。 Those daily at work upon the rock at this period amounted to
forty…six。 A cabin had been laid out for the writer on the beacon； but his
apartment had been the last which 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
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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 st