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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
were soon to be brought to a close； the landing…master's crew having； in
the meantime； shifted on board of the PATRIOT。 In leaving the rock； the
writer kept his eyes fixed upon the lighthouse； which had recently got into
the form of a house； having several tiers or stories of windows。 Nor was
he unmindful of his habitation in the beacon … now far overtopped by the
masonry； … where he had spent several weeks in a kind of active retirement；
making practical experiment of the fewness of the positive wants of man。
His cabin measured not more than four feet three inches in breadth on the
floor； and though； from the oblique direction of the beams of the beacon； it
widened towards the top； yet it did not admit of the full extension of his
arms when he stood on the floor； while its length was little more than
sufficient for suspending a cot…bed during the night； calculated for being
triced up to the roof through the day； which left free room for the
admission of occasional visitants。 His folding table was attached with
hinges； immediately under the small window of the apartment； and his
books； barometer； thermometer； portmanteau； and two or three camp…
stools； formed the bulk of his movables。 His diet being plain； the
paraphernalia of the table were proportionally simple； though everything
had the appearance of comfort； and even of neatness； the walls being
covered with green cloth formed into panels with red tape； and his bed
festooned with curtains of yellow cotton…stuff。 If； in speculating upon
the abstract wants of man in such a state of exclusion； one were reduced to
a single book； the Sacred Volume … whether considered for the striking
diversity of its story； the morality of its doctrine； or the important truths of
its gospel … would have proved by far the greatest treasure。
＇Monday； 2nd July＇
In walking over the workyard at Arbroath this morning； the writer
found that the stones of the course immediately under the cornice were all
in hand； and that a week's work would now finish the whole； while the
intermediate courses lay ready numbered and marked for shipping to the
rock。 Among other subjects which had occupied his attention to…day was
a visit from some of the relations of George Dall； a young man who had
been impressed near Dundee in the month of February last； a dispute had
arisen between the magistrates of that burgh and the Regulating Officer as
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
to his right of impressing Dall； who was BONA FIDE one of the protected
seamen in the Bell Rock service。 In the meantime； the poor lad was
detained； and ultimately committed to the prison of Dundee； to remain
until the question should be tried before the Court of Session。 His friends
were naturally very desirous to have him relieved upon bail。 But； as this
was only to be done by the judgment of the Court； all that could be said
was that his pay and allowances should be continued in the same manner
as if he had been upon the sick…list。 The circumstances of Dall's case
were briefly these：… He had gone to see some of his friends in the
neighbourhood of Dundee； in winter； while the works were suspended；
having got leave of absence from Mr。 Taylor； who commanded the Bell
Rock tender； and had in his possession one of the Protection Medals。
Unfortunately； however； for Dall； the Regulating Officer thought proper to
disregard these documents； as； according to the strict and literal
interpretation of the Admiralty regulations； a seaman does not stand
protected unless he is actually on board of his ship； or in a boat belonging
to her； or has the Admiralty protection in his possession。 This order of
the Board； however； cannot be rigidly followed in practice； and therefore；
when the matter is satisfactorily stated to the Regulating Officer； the
impressed man is generally liberated。 But in Dall's case this was
peremptorily refused； and he was retained at the instance of the
magistrates。 The writer having brought the matter under the
consideration of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses； they
authorised it to be tried on the part of the Lighthouse Board； as one of
extreme hardship。 The Court； upon the first hearing； ordered Dall to be
liberated from prison； and the proceedings never went further。
＇Wednesday； 4th July＇
Being now within twelve courses of being ready for building the
cornice； measures were taken for getting the stones of it and the parapet…
wall of the light…room brought from Edinburgh； where； as before noticed；
they had been prepared and were in readiness for shipping。 The honour
of conveying the upper part of the lighthouse； and of landing the last stone
of the building on the rock； was considered to belong to Captain Pool of
the SMEATON； who had been longer in the service than the master of the
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
PATRIOT。 The SMEATON was； therefore； now partly loaded with old
iron； consisting of broken railways and other lumber which had been lying
about the rock。 After landing these at Arbroath； she took on board James
Craw； with his horse and cart； which could now be spared at the workyard；
to be employed in carting the stones from Edinburgh to Leith。 Alexander
Davidson and William Kennedy； two careful masons； were also sent to
take charge of the loading of the stones at Greenside； and stowing them on
board of the vessel at Leith。 The writer also went on board； with a view
to call at the Bell Rock and to take his passage up the Firth of Forth。 The
wind； however； coming to blow very fresh from the eastward； with thick
and foggy weather； it became necessary to reef the mainsail and set the
second jib。 When in the act of making a tack towards the tender； the
sailors who worked the head…sheets were； all of a sudden； alarmed with the
sound of the smith's hammer and anvil on the beacon； and had just time to
put the ship about to save her from running ashore on the northwestern
point of the rock； marked ‘James Craw's Horse。' On looking towards the
direction from whence the sound came； the building and beacon…house
were seen； with consternation； while the ship was hailed by those on the
rock； who were no less confounded at seeing the near approach of the
SMEATON； and； just as the vessel cleared the danger； the smith and those
in the mortar gallery made signs in token of their happiness at our
fortunate escape。 From this occurrence the writer had an experimental
proof of the utility of the large bells which were in preparation to be rung
by the machinery of the revol