Floating-light.

181–188 CHAP. IV.—1808. Shipping.—Implements.—Building Materials; and Progress of the Works. Praam-boats built with a water-tight ceiling or lining. Method of mooring the Praam-boats. Attending boats, one of which is fitted up as a Life-boat. 187–188 Railways, Waggons, Sheer-crane, Moveable-beam-crane, Sling-cart, Carpenters’ Jack, Lewis-bat, Moulds, Coffer-dam, Pumps, Winch-machine. 189–196 Mineralogy of eastern coast. Report of Messrs Rennie and Stevenson, about Stone. The use of Granite resolved upon. Mortar of the Ancients. Attention of the Moderns to this subject. Mortar of the Edystone and Bell Rock, Lime, Pozzolano, Sand, Water, Cement. Oaken trenails, and Wedges. 196–204 The Writer visits the Rock 30th March. Floating-light’s crew. Light comparatively feeble. Landing at the Rock difficult. State of the Beacon. Propriety of converting it into a Barrack. Bread and Water chest. Advantages of the Beacon to Shipping. 205–208 Impress-service affects the Operations. Protection-Medal and Descriptive Ticket. Light-house Yacht on the station as a Tender. Preparatory works. Use of Granite restricted to lower courses of the building. Use of Sandstone extended. Mr Skene’s contract for supplying Granite. 209–212 The Sir Joseph Banks Schooner takes her station as Tender at the Rock. The Writer begins the operations of the season 25th May. State of the Foundation-pit. Difficult landing. It is found necessary to excavate the Rock further, to a greater depth. Artificers much afflicted with sea-sickness. Misunderstanding about their Pay. Sailors men of all-works, 212–218 Mortar Gallery fitted up. Smeaton ballasted from the Bell Rock. Fish caught in great abundance. 218–219 First entire course completed in the hewing, and laid on the platform in the Work-yard at Arbroath, on the 4th June. Its cubical contents. Certainty of commencing the building operations this season. Arrangements with the artificers. How employed. Interesting appearance of the Rock. They remain there all day. Tender bears away for Leith Roads. The work is continued on the Rock till midnight. Its appearance. Artificers backward in landing, owing to the appearance of the weather. 220–226 First entire course of the building removed from the platform, to be shipped for the Rock, 14th June. Trial of the Landing apparatus. Fifty Artificers land. Small ruble-walls built instead of coffer-dam. Advantages of a Bell as a signal in foggy weather. Force of the Sea upon the Rock. Artificers sail for Arbroath. Pay and premiums of the Artificers this month. They embark again for the Rock on the return of Spring-tides. How employed. 227–235 Foundation-stone prepared, landed at high-water. Laid 10th July, with masonic ceremony. 235–237 Price of Granite advanced. A raft of Timber goes adrift. State of things at night on extinguishing the torches at the Rock. First or foundation course, consisting of 18 stones, finished 26th July. Force of habit exemplified in landing on the Rock. Cargo of the first entire course landed 28th July. The Smeaton makes a second trip in twenty hours. 4 stones are laid. Advantage of cranes compared with sheer-poles. Mr Smeaton’s plan in the use of trenails and wedges followed. 239–244 A party of gentlemen have a narrow escape at the Rock. First entire course completed 12th August. One of the artificers disabled in the work-yard at Arbroath. He receives an annuity. Granite stones much wanted for the work. Second entire course completed. Pumping of water discontinued at the Rock 10th September. One of the artificers, by an accidental bruise, loses