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the rock； as the sharpening of the irons was rather behind； from their being so much broken and blunted by the hard and tough nature of the rock； which became much more compact and hard as the depth of excavation was increased。 Besides avoiding the risk of encumbering the boats with a number of men who had not yet got the full command of the oar in a breach of sea； the writer had another motive for leaving them behind。 He wanted to examine the site of the building without interruption； and to take the comparative levels of the different inequalities of its area； and as it would have been painful to have seen men standing idle upon the Bell Rock； where all moved with activity； it was judged better to leave them on board。 The boats landed at half…past seven p。m。； and the landing…master； with the seamen； was employed during this tide in cutting the seaweeds from the several paths leading to the landing…places； to render walking more safe； for； from the slippery state of the surface of the rock； many severe tumbles had taken place。 In the meantime the writer took the necessary levels； and having carefully examined the site of the building and considered all its parts； it still appeared to be necessary to excavate to the average depth of fourteen inches over the whole area of the foundation。
＇Saturday； 28th May＇
The wind still continued from the eastward with a heavy swell； and to…day it was accompanied with foggy weather and occasional showers of rain。 Notwithstanding this； such was the confidence which the erection of the beacon had inspired that the boats landed the artificers on the rock under very unpromising circumstances； at half…past eight； and they continued at work till half…past eleven； being a period of three hours； which was considered a great tide's work in the present low state of the foundation。 Three of the masons on board were so afflicted with sea…sickness that they had not been able to take any food for almost three days； and they were literally assisted into the boats this morning by their companions。 It was； however； not a little surprising to see how speedily these men revived upon landing on the rock and eating a little dulse。 Two of them afterwards assisted the sailors in collecting the chips of stone and carrying them out of the way of the pickmen； but the third complained of a pain in his head； and was still unable to do anything。 Instead of returning to the tender with the boats； these three men remained on the beacon all day； and had their victuals sent to them along with the smiths'。 From Mr。 Dove； the foreman smith； they had much sympathy； for he preferred remaining on the beacon at all hazards； to be himself relieved from the malady of sea…sickness。 The wind continuing high； with a heavy sea； and the tide falling late； it was not judged proper to land the artificers this evening； but in the twilight the boats were sent to fetch the people on board who had been left on the rock。
＇Sunday； 29th May＇
The wind was from the S。W。 to…day； and the signal…bell rung； as usual； about an hour before the period for landing on the rock。 The writer was rather surprised； however； to hear the landing…master repeatedly call； ‘All hands for the rock！' and； coming on deck； he was disappointed to find the seamen only in the boats。 Upon inquiry； it appeared that some misunderstanding had taken place about the wages of the artificers for Sundays。 They had preferred wages for seven days statedly to the former mode of allowing a day for each tide's work on Sunday； as they did not like the appearance of working for double or even treble wages on Sunday； and would rather have it understood that their work on that day arose more from the urgency of the case than with a view to emolument。 This having been judged creditable to their religious feelings； and readily adjusted to their wish； the boats proceeded to the rock； and the work commenced at nine a。m。
＇Monday； 30th May＇
Mr。 Francis Watt commenced； with five joiners； to fit up a temporary platform upon the beacon； about twenty…five feet above the highest part of the rock。 This platform was to be used as the site of the smith's forge； after the beacon should be fitted up as a barrack； and here also the mortar was to be mixed and prepared for the building； and it was accordingly termed the Mortar Gallery。
The landing…master's crew completed the discharging from the SMEATON of her cargo of the cast…iron rails and timber。 It must not here be omitted to notice that the SMEATON took in ballast from the Bell Rock； consisting of the shivers or chips of stone produced by the workmen in preparing the site of the building； which were now accumulating in great quantities on the rock。 These the boats loaded； after discharging the iron。 The object in carrying off these chips； besides ballasting the vessel； was to get them permanently out of the way； as they were apt to shift about from place to place with every gale of wind； and it often required a considerable time to clear the foundation a second time of this rubbish。 The circumstance of ballasting a ship at the Bell Rock afforded great entertainment； especially to the sailors； and it was perhaps with truth remarked that the SMEATON was the first vessel that had ever taken on board ballast at the Bell Rock。 Mr。 Pool； the commander of this vessel； afterwards acquainted the writer that； when the ballast was landed upon the quay at Leith； many persons carried away specimens of it； as part of a cargo from the Bell Rock； when he added； that such was the interest excited； from the number of specimens carried away； that some of his friends suggested that he should have sent the whole to the Cross of Edinburgh； where each piece might have sold for a penny。
＇Tuesday； 31st May＇
In the evening the boats went to the rock； and brought the joiners and smiths； and their sickly companions； on board of the tender。 These also brought with them two baskets full of fish； which they had caught at high…water from the beacon； reporting； at the same time； to their comrades； that the fish were swimming in such numbers over the rock at high…water that it was completely hid from their sight； and nothing seen but the movement of thousands of fish。 They were almost exclusively of the species called the podlie； or young coal… fish。 This discovery； made for the first time to…day by the workmen； was considered fortunate； as an additional circumstance likely to produce an inclination among the artificers to take up their residence in the beacon； when it came to be fitted up as a barrack。
＇Tuesday； 7th June＇
At three o'clock in the morning the ship's bell was rung as the signal for landing at the rock。 When the landing was to be made before breakfast； it was customary to give each of the artificers and seamen a dram and a biscuit； and coffee was prepared by the steward for the cabins。 Exactly at four o'clock the whole party landed from three boats； including one of those belonging to the floating light； with a part of that ship's crew； which always attended the works in moderate weather。 The landing…master's boat； called the SEAMAN； but more commonly called the LIFEBOAT； took the lead。 The next boat； called the MASON； w