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timber； having been erected at the edge of the hole and guyed with ropes；
the stone was then hooked to the tackle and lowered into its place； when
the writer； attended by his assistants … Mr。 Peter Logan； Mr。 Francis Watt；
and Mr。 James Wilson； … applied the square； the level； and the mallet； and
pronounced the following benediction： ‘May the great Architect of the
Universe complete and bless this building；' on which three hearty cheers
were given； and success to the future operations was drunk with the
greatest enthusiasm。
＇Tuesday； 26th July＇
The wind being at S。E。 this evening； we had a pretty heavy swell of
sea upon the rock； and some difficulty attended our getting off in safety； as
the boats got aground in the creek and were in danger of being upset。
Upon extinguishing the torchlights； about twelve in number； the darkness
of the night seemed quite horrible； the water being also much charged with
the phosphorescent appearance which is familiar to every one on
shipboard； the waves； as they dashed upon the rock； were in some degree
like so much liquid flame。 The scene； upon the whole； was truly awful！
＇Wednesday； 27th July＇
In leaving the rock this evening everything； after the torches were
extinguished； had the same dismal appearance as last night； but so
perfectly acquainted were the landing… master and his crew with the
position of things at the rock； that comparatively little inconveniency was
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experienced on these occasions when the weather was moderate； such is
the effect of habit； even in the most unpleasant situations。 If； for example；
it had been proposed to a person accustomed to a city life； at once to take
up his quarters off a sunken reef and land upon it in boats at all hours of
the night； the proposition must have appeared quite impracticable and
extravagant； but this practice coming progressively upon the artificers； it
was ultimately undertaken with the greatest alacrity。 Notwithstanding
this； however； it must be acknowledged that it was not till after much
labour and peril； and many an anxious hour； that the writer is enabled to
state that the site of the Bell Rock Lighthouse is fully prepared for the first
entire course of the building。
＇Friday； 12th Aug。＇
The artificers landed this morning at half…past ten； and after an hour
and a half's work eight stones were laid； which completed the first entire
course of the building； consisting of 123 blocks； the last of which was laid
with three hearty cheers。
＇Saturday； 10th Sept。＇
Landed at nine a。m。； and by a quarter…past twelve noon twenty…three
stones had been laid。 The works being now somewhat elevated by the
lower courses； we got quit of the very serious inconvenience of pumping
water to clear the foundation…pit。 This gave much facility to the
operations； and was noticed with expressions of as much happiness by the
artificers as the seamen had shown when relieved of the continual trouble
of carrying the smith's bellows off the rock prior to the erection of the
beacon。
＇Wednesday； 21st Sept。＇
Mr。 Thomas Macurich； mate of the SMEATON； and James Scott； one
of the crew； a young man about eighteen years of age； immediately went
into their boat to make fast a hawser to the ring in the top of the floating
buoy of the moorings； and were forthwith to proceed to land their cargo；
so much wanted； at the rock。 The tides at this period were very strong；
and the mooring…chain； when sweeping the ground； had caught hold of a
rock or piece of wreck by which the chain was so shortened that when the
tide flowed the buoy got almost under water； and little more than the ring
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
appeared at the surface。 When Macurich and Scott were in the act of
making the hawser fast to the ring； the chain got suddenly disentangled at
the bottom； and this large buoy； measuring about seven feet in height and
three feet in diameter at the middle； tapering to both ends； being what
seamen term a NUN…BUOY； vaulted or sprung up with such force that it
upset the boat； which instantly filled with water。 Mr。 Macurich； with
much exertion； succeeded in getting hold of the boat's gunwale； still above
the surface of the water； and by this means was saved； but the young man
Scott was unfortunately drowned。 He had in all probability been struck
about the head by the ring of the buoy； for although surrounded with the
oars and the thwarts of the boat which floated near him； yet he seemed
entirely to want the power of availing himself of such assistance； and
appeared to be quite insensible； while Pool； the master of the SMEATON；
called loudly to him； and before assistance could be got from the tender；
he was carried away by the strength of the current and disappeared。
The young man Scott was a great favourite in the service； having had
something uncommonly mild and complaisant in his manner； and his loss
was therefore universally regretted。 The circumstances of his case were
also peculiarly distressing to his mother； as her husband； who was a
seaman； had for three years past been confined to a French prison； and the
deceased was the chief support of the family。 In order in some measure
to make up the loss to the poor woman for the monthly aliment regularly
allowed her by her late son； it was suggested that a younger boy； a brother
of the deceased； might be taken into the service。 This appeared to be
rather a delicate proposition； but it was left to the landing…master to
arrange according to circumstances； such was the resignation； and at the
same time the spirit； of the poor woman； that she readily accepted the
proposal； and in a few days the younger Scott was actually afloat in the
place of his brother。 On representing this distressing case to the Board；
the Commissioners were pleased to grant an annuity of 5 pounds to Scott's
mother。
The SMEATON； not having been made fast to the buoy； had； with the
ebb…tide； drifted to leeward a considerable way eastward of the rock； and
could not； till the return of the flood…tide； be worked up to her moorings；
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so that the present tide was lost； notwithstanding all exertions which had
been made both ashore and afloat with this cargo。 The artificers landed
at six a。m。； but； as no materials could be got upon the rock this morning；
they were employed in boring trenail holes and in various other operations；
and after four hours' work they returned on board the tender。 When the
SMEATON got up to her moorings； the landing…master's crew
immediately began to unload her。 There being too much wind for towing
the praams in the usual way； they were warped to the rock in the most
laborious manner by their windlasses； with successive grapplings and
hawsers laid out for this purpose。 At six p。m。 the art