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machine upon the bridge； a few stones were stowed upon the bridge itself；
and the remainder upon the building； which kept the artificers at work。
The stowing of the materials upon the rock was the department of
Alexander Brebner； mason； who spared no pains in attending to the safety
of the stones； and who； in the present state of the work； when the stones
were landed faster than could be built； generally worked till the water rose
to his middle。 At one o'clock to…day the bell rung for prayers； and all
hands were collected into the upper barrack…room of the beacon…house；
when the usual service was performed。
The wind blew very hard in the course of last night from N。E。； and to…
day the sea ran so high that no boat could approach the rock。 During the
dinner…hour； when the writer was going to the top of the building as usual；
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but just as he had entered the door and was about to ascend the ladder； a
great noise was heard overhead； and in an instant he was soused in water
from a sea which had most unexpectedly come over the walls； though now
about fifty…eight feet in height。 On making his retreat he found himself
completely whitened by the lime； which had mixed with the water while
dashing down through the different floors； and； as nearly as he could guess；
a quantity equal to about a hogshead had come over the walls； and now
streamed out at the door。 After having shifted himself； he again sat down
in his cabin； the sea continuing to run so high that the builders did not
resume their operations on the walls this afternoon。 The incident just
noticed did not create more surprise in the mind of the writer than the
sublime appearance of the waves as they rolled majestically over the rock。
This scene he greatly enjoyed while sitting at his cabin window； each
wave approached the beacon like a vast scroll unfolding； and in passing
discharged a quantity of air； which he not only distinctly felt； but was even
sufficient to lift the leaves of a book which lay before him。 These waves
might be ten or twelve feet in height； and about 250 feet in length； their
smaller end being towards the north； where the water was deep； and they
were opened or cut through by the interposition of the building and beacon。
The gradual manner in which the sea； upon these occasions； is observed to
become calm or to subside； is a very remarkable feature of this
phenomenon。 For example； when a gale is succeeded by a calm； every
third or fourth wave forms one of these great seas； which occur in spaces
of from three to five minutes； as noted by the writer's watch； but in the
course of the next tide they become less frequent； and take off so as to
occur only in ten or fifteen minutes； and； singular enough； at the third tide
after such gales； the writer has remarked that only one or two of these
great waves appear in the course of the whole tide。
＇Tuesday； 19th June＇
The 19th was a very unpleasant and disagreeable day； both for the
seamen and artificers； as it rained throughout with little intermission from
four a。m。 till eleven p。m。； accompanied with thunder and lightning； during
which period the work nevertheless continued unremittingly； and the
builders laid the fifty…first and fifty…second courses。 This state of weather
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was no less severe upon the mortar…makers； who required to temper or
prepare the mortar of a thicker or thinner consistency； in some measure；
according to the state of the weather。 From the elevated position of the
building； the mortar gallery on the beacon was now much lower； and the
lime…buckets were made to traverse upon a rope distended between it and
the building。 On occasions like the present； however； there was often a
difference of opinion between the builders and the mortar…makers。 John
Watt； who had the principal charge of the mortar； was a most active
worker； but； being somewhat of an irascible temper； the builders
occasionally amused themselves at his expense； for while he was eagerly
at work with his large iron…shod pestle in the mortar…tub； they often sent
down contradictory orders； some crying； ‘Make it a little stiffer； or thicker；
John；' while others called out to make it ‘thinner；' to which he generally
returned very speedy and sharp replies； so that these conversations at times
were rather amusing。
During wet weather the situation of the artificers on the top of the
building was extremely disagreeable； for although their work did not
require great exertion； yet； as each man had his particular part to perform；
either in working the crane or in laying the stones； it required the closest
application and attention； not only on the part of Mr。 Peter Logan； the
foreman； who was constantly on the walls； but also of the chief workmen。
Robert Selkirk； the principal builder； for example； had every stone to lay
in its place。 David Cumming； a mason； had the charge of working the
tackle of the balance…weight； and James Scott； also a mason； took charge
of the purchase with which the stones were laid； while the pointing the
joints of the walls with cement was intrusted to William Reid and William
Kennedy； who stood upon a scaffold suspended over the walls in rather a
frightful manner。 The least act of carelessness or inattention on the part
of any of these men might have been fatal； not only to themselves； but also
to the surrounding workmen； especially if any accident had happened to
the crane itself； while the material damage or loss of a single stone would
have put an entire stop to the operations until another could have been
brought from Arbroath。 The artificers； having wrought seven and a half
hours of extra time to…day； had 3s。 9d。 of extra pay； while the foremen had
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7s。 6d。 over and above their stated pay and board。 Although； therefore；
the work was both hazardous and fatiguing； yet； the encouragement being
considerable； they were always very cheerful； and perfectly reconciled to
the confinement and other disadvantages of the place。
During fine weather； and while the nights were short； the duty on
board of the floating light was literally nothing but a waiting on； and
therefore one of her boats； with a crew of five men； daily attended the rock；
but always returned to the vessel at night。 The carpenter； however； was
one of those who was left on board of the ship； as he also acted in the
capacity of assistant lightkeeper； being； besides； a person who was apt to
feel discontent and to be averse to changing his quarters； especially to
work with the millwrights and joiners at the rock； who often； for hours
together； wrought knee…deep； and not unfrequently up to the midd