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tationed； one at the bow； to use the boat…hook in fending or pushing off； and the other at the aftermost oar； to give the proper time in rowing； while the middle oars were double…banked； and rowed by the artificers。
As the weather was extremely fine； with light airs of wind from the east； we landed without difficulty upon the central part of the rock at half…past five； but the water had not yet sufficiently left it for commencing the work。 This interval； however； did not pass unoccupied。 The first and last of all the principal operations at the Bell Rock were accompanied by three hearty cheers from all hands； and； on occasions like the present； the steward of the ship attended； when each man was regaled with a glass of rum。 As the water left the rock about six； some began to bore the holes for the great bats or holdfasts； for fixing the beams of the Beacon… house； while the smith was fully attended in laying out the site of his forge； upon a somewhat sheltered spot of the rock； which also recommended itself from the vicinity of a pool of water for tempering his irons。 These preliminary steps occupied about an hour； and as nothing further could be done during this tide towards fixing the forge； the workmen gratified their curiosity by roaming about the rock； which they investigated with great eagerness till the tide overflowed it。 Those who had been sick picked dulse （FUCUS PALMATUS）； which they ate with much seeming appetite； others were more intent upon collecting limpets for bait； to enjoy the amusement of fishing when they returned on board of the vessel。 Indeed； none came away empty…handed； as everything found upon the Bell Rock was considered valuable； being connected with some interesting association。 Several coins； and numerous bits of shipwrecked iron； were picked up； of almost every description； and； in particular； a marking…iron lettered JAMES … a circumstance of which it was thought proper to give notice to the public； as it might lead to the knowledge of some unfortunate shipwreck； perhaps unheard of till this simple occurrence led to the discovery。 When the rock began to be overflowed； the landing…master arranged the crews of the respective boats； appointing twelve persons to each。 According to a rule which the writer had laid down to himself； he was always the last person who left the rock。
In a short time the Bell Rock was laid completely under water； and the weather being extremely fine； the sea was so smooth that its place could not be pointed out from the appearance of the surface … a circumstance which sufficiently demonstrates the dangerous nature of this rock； even during the day； and in the smoothest and calmest state of the sea。 During the interval between the morning and the evening tides； the artificers were variously employed in fishing and reading； others were busy in drying and adjusting their wet clothes； and one or two amused their companions with the violin and German flute。
About seven in the evening the signal bell for landing on the rock was again rung； when every man was at his quarters。 In this service it was thought more appropriate to use the bell than to PIPE to quarters； as the use of this instrument is less known to the mechanic than the sound of the bell。 The landing； as in the morning； was at the eastern harbour。 During this tide the seaweed was pretty well cleared from the site of the operations； and also from the tracks leading to the different landing…places； for walking upon the rugged surface of the Bell Rock； when covered with seaweed； was found to be extremely difficult and even dangerous。 Every hand that could possibly be occupied now employed in assisting the smith to fit up the apparatus for his forge。 At 9 p。m。 the boats returned to the tender； after other two hours' work； in the same order as formerly … perhaps as much gratified with the success that attended the work of this day as with any other in the whole course of the operations。 Although it could not he said that the fatigues of this day had been great； yet all on board retired early to rest。 The sea being calm； and no movement on deck； it was pretty generally remarked in the morning that the bell awakened the greater number on board from their first sleep； and though this observation was not altogether applicable to the writer himself； yet he was not a little pleased to find that thirty people could all at once become so reconciled to a night's quarters within a few hundred paces of the Bell Rock。
＇Wednesday； 19th Aug。＇
Being extremely anxious at this time to get forward with fixing the smith's forge； on which the progress of the work at present depended； the writer requested that he might be called at daybreak to learn the landing…master's opinion of the weather from the appearance of the rising sun； a criterion by which experienced seamen can generally judge pretty accurately of the state of the weather for the following day。 About five o'clock； on coming upon deck； the sun's upper limb or disc had just begun to appear as if rising from the ocean； and in less than a minute he was seen in the fullest splendour； but after a short interval he was enveloped in a soft cloudy sky； which was considered emblematical of fine weather。 His rays had not yet sufficiently dispelled the clouds which hid the land from view； and the Bell Rock being still overflowed； the whole was one expanse of water。 This scene in itself was highly gratifying； and； when the morning bell was tolled； we were gratified with the happy forebodings of good weather and the expectation of having both a morning and an evening tide's work on the rock。
The boat which the writer steered happened to be the last which approached the rock at this tide； and； in standing up in the stern； while at some distance； to see how the leading boat entered the creek； he was astonished to observe something in the form of a human figure； in a reclining posture； upon one of the ledges of the rock。 He immediately steered the boat through a narrow entrance to the eastern harbour； with a thousand unpleasant sensations in his mind。 He thought a vessel or boat must have been wrecked upon the rock during the night； and it seemed probable that the rock might be strewed with dead bodies； a spectacle which could not fail to deter the artificers from returning so freely to their work。 In the midst of these reveries the boat took the ground at an improper landing…place； but； without waiting to push her off； he leapt upon the rock； and making his way hastily to the spot which had privately given him alarm； he had the satisfaction to ascertain that he had only been deceived by the peculiar situation and aspect of the smith's anvil and block； which very completely represented the appearance of a lifeless body upon the rock。 The writer carefully suppressed his feelings； the simple mention of which might have had a bad effect upon the artificers； and his haste passed for an anxiety to examine the apparatus of the smith's forge； left in an unfinished state at evening tide。
In the course of this morning's work two or three apparently distant peals of thunder were heard； and the atmosphere suddenly became thick and foggy。 But as the SMEATON； our present t