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But the number of vessels actually lost upon the reef was as nothing to
those that were cast away in fruitless efforts to avoid it。 Placed right in
the fairway of two navigations； and one of these the entrance to the only
harbour of refuge between the Downs and the Moray Firth； it breathed
abroad along the whole coast an atmosphere of terror and perplexity； and
no ship sailed that part of the North Sea at night； but what the ears of those
on board would be strained to catch the roaring of the seas on the Bell
Rock。
From 1794 onward； the mind of my grandfather had been exercised
with the idea of a light upon this formidable danger。 To build a tower on
a sea rock； eleven miles from shore； and barely uncovered at low water of
neaps； appeared a fascinating enterprise。 It was something yet
unattempted； unessayed； and even now； after it has been lighted for more
than eighty years； it is still an exploit that has never been repeated。 （1）
My grandfather was； besides； but a young man； of an experience
comparatively restricted； and a reputation confined to Scotland； and when
he prepared his first models； and exhibited them in Merchants' Hall； he
can hardly be acquitted of audacity。 John Clerk of Eldin stood his friend
from the beginning； kept the key of the model room； to which he carried
‘eminent strangers；' and found words of counsel and encouragement
beyond price。 ‘Mr。 Clerk had been personally known to Smeaton； and
used occasionally to speak of him to me；' says my grandfather； and again：
‘I felt regret that I had not the opportunity of a greater range of practice to
fit me for such an undertaking； but I was fortified by an expression of my
friend Mr。 Clerk in one of our conversations。 〃This work；〃 said he； 〃is
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unique； and can be little forwarded by experience of ordinary masonic
operations。 In this case Smeaton's ‘Narrative' must be the text…book； and
energy and perseverance the pratique。〃 '
（1） The particular event which concentrated Mr。 Stevenson's attention
on the problem of the Bell Rock was the memorable gale of December
1799； when； among many other vessels； H。M。S。 YORK； a seventy…four…
gun ship； went down with all hands on board。 Shortly after this disaster
Mr。 Stevenson made a careful survey； and prepared his models for a stone
tower； the idea of which was at first received with pretty general
scepticism； Smeaton's Eddystone tower could not be cited as affording a
parallel； for there the rock is not submerged even at high…water； while the
problem of the Bell Rock was to build a tower of masonry on a sunken
reef far distant from land； covered at every tide to a depth of twelve feet or
more； and having thirty…two fathoms' depth of water within a mile of its
eastern edge。
A Bill for the work was introduced into Parliament and lost in the
Lords in 1802…3。 John Rennie was afterwards； at my grandfather's
suggestion； called in council； with the style of chief engineer。 The
precise meaning attached to these words by any of the parties appears
irrecoverable。 Chief engineer should have full authority； full
responsibility； and a proper share of the emoluments； and there were none
of these for Rennie。 I find in an appendix a paper which resumes the
controversy on this subject； and it will be enough to say here that Rennie
did not design the Bell Rock； that he did not execute it； and that he was not
paid for it。 （1） From so much of the correspondence as has come down
to me； the acquaintance of this man； eleven years his senior； and already
famous； appears to have been both useful and agreeable to Robert
Stevenson。 It is amusing to find my grandfather seeking high and low for
a brace of pistols which his colleague had lost by the way between
Aberdeen and Edinburgh； and writing to Messrs。 Dollond； ‘I have not
thought it necessary to trouble Mr。 Rennie with this order； but I BEG YOU
WILL SEE TO GET TWO MINUTES OF HIM AS HE PASSES YOUR
DOOR' … a proposal calculated rather from the latitude of Edinburgh than
from London； even in 1807。 It is pretty； too； to observe with what
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affectionate regard Smeaton was held in mind by his immediate successors。
‘Poor old fellow；' writes Rennie to Stevenson； ‘I hope he will now and
then take a peep at us； and inspire you with fortitude and courage to brave
all difficulties and dangers to accomplish a work which will； if successful；
immortalise you in the annals of fame。' The style might be bettered； but
the sentiment is charming。
（1） The grounds for the rejection of the Bill by the House of Lords in
1802…3 had been that the extent of coast over which dues were proposed to
be levied would be too great。 Before going to Parliament again； the Board
of Northern Lights； desiring to obtain support and corroboration for Mr。
Stevenson's views； consulted first Telford； who was unable to give the
matter his attention； and then （on Stevenson's suggestion） Rennie； who
concurred in affirming the practicability of a stone tower； and supported
the Bill when it came again before Parliament in 1806。 Rennie was
afterwards appointed by the Commissioners as advising engineer； whom
Stevenson might consult in cases of emergency。 It seems certain that the
title of chief engineer had in this instance no more meaning than the above。
Rennie； in point of fact； proposed certain modifications in Stevenson's
plans； which the latter did not accept； nevertheless Rennie continued to
take a kindly interest in the work； and the two engineers remained in
friendly correspondence during its progress。 The official view taken by
the Board as to the quarter in which lay both the merit and the
responsibility of the work may be gathered from a minute of the
Commissioners at their first meeting held after Stevenson died； in which
they record their regret ‘at the death of this zealous； faithful； and able
officer； TO WHOM IS DUE THE HONOUR OF CONCEIVING AND
EXECUTING THE BELL ROCK LIGHTHOUSE。' The matter is briefly
summed up in the LIFE of Robert Stevenson by his son David Stevenson
（A。 & C。 Black； 1878）； and fully discussed； on the basis of official facts
and figures； by the same writer in a letter to the CIVIL ENGINEERS'
AND ARCHITECTS' JOURNAL； 1862。
Smeaton was； indeed； the patron saint of the Bell Rock。 Undeterred by
the sinister fate of Winstanley； he had tackled and solved the problem of
the Eddystone； but his solution had not been in all respects perfect。 It
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remained for my grand… father to outdo him in