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＇Sunday； 16th July＇
Besides laying； boring； trenailing； wedging； and grouting thirty…two stones； several other operations were proceeded with on the rock at low…water； when some of the artificers were employed at the railways； and at high…water at the beacon…house。 The seamen having prepared a quantity of tarpaulin； or cloth laid over with successive coats of hot tar； the joiners had just completed the covering of the roof with it。 This sort of covering was lighter and more easily managed than sheet…lead in such a situation。 As a further defence against the weather the whole exterior of this temporary residence was painted with three coats of white…lead paint。 Between the timber framing of the habitable part of the beacon the interstices were to be stuffed with moss； as a light substance that would resist dampness and check sifting winds； the whole interior was then to be lined with green baize cloth； so that both without and within the cabins were to have a very comfortable appearance。
Although the building artificers generally remained on the rock throughout the day； and the millwrights； joiners； and smiths； while their number was considerable； remained also during the night； yet the tender had hitherto been considered as their night quarters。 But the wind having in the course of the day shifted to the N。W。； and as the passage to the tender； in the boats； was likely to be attended with difficulty； the whole of the artificers； with Mr。 Logan； the foreman； preferred remaining all night on the beacon； which had of late become the solitary abode of George…Forsyth； a jobbing upholsterer； who had been employed in lining the beacon…house with cloth and in fitting up the bedding。 Forsyth was a tall； thin； and rather loose…made man； who had an utter aversion at climbing upon the trap…ladders of the beacon； but especially at the process of boating； and the motion of the ship； which he said ‘was death itself。' He therefore pertinaciously insisted with the landing…master in being left upon the beacon； with a small black dog as his only companion。 The writer； however； felt some delicacy in leaving a single individual upon the rock； who must have been so very helpless in case of accident。 This fabric had； from the beginning； been rather intended by the writer to guard against accident from the loss or damage of a boat； and as a place for making mortar； a smith's shop； and a store for tools during the working months； than as permanent quarters； nor was it at all meant to be possessed until tile joiner…work was completely finished； and his own cabin； and that for the foreman； in readiness； when it was still to be left to the choice of the artificers to occupy the tender or the beacon。 He； however； considered Forsyth's partiality and confidence in the latter as rather a fortunate occurrence。
＇Wednesday； 19th July＇
The whole of the artificers； twenty…three in number； now removed of their own accord from the tender； to lodge in the beacon； together with Peter Fortune； a person singularly adapted for a residence of this kind； both from the urbanity of his manners and the versatility of his talents。 Fortune； in his person； was of small stature； and rather corpulent。 Besides being a good Scots cook； he had acted both as groom and house…servant； he had been a soldier； a sutler； a writer's clerk； and an apothecary； from which he possessed the art of writing and suggesting recipes； and had hence； also； perhaps； acquired a turn for making collections in natural history。 But in his practice in surgery on the Bell Rock； for which he received an annual fee of three guineas； he is supposed to have been rather partial to the use of the lancet。 In short； Peter was the FACTOTUM of the beacon…house； where he ostensibly acted in the several capacities of cook； steward； surgeon； and barber； and kept a statement of the rations or expenditure of the provisions with the strictest integrity。
In the present important state of the building； when it had just attained the height of sixteen feet； and the upper courses； and especially the imperfect one； were in the wash of the heaviest seas； an express boat arrived at the rock with a letter from Mr。 Kennedy； of the workyard； stating that in consequence of the intended expedition to Walcheren； an embargo had been laid on shipping at all the ports of Great Britain： that both the SMEATON and PATRIOT were detained at Arbroath； and that but for the proper view which Mr。 Ramsey； the port officer； had taken of his orders； neither the express boat nor one which had been sent with provisions and necessaries for the floating light would have been permitted to leave the harbour。 The writer set off without delay for Arbroath； and on landing used every possible means with the official people； but their orders were deemed so peremptory that even boats were not permitted to sail from any port upon the coast。 In the meantime； the collector of the Customs at Montrose applied to the Board at Edinburgh； but could； of himself； grant no relief to the Bell Rock shipping。
At this critical period Mr。 Adam Duff； then Sheriff of Forfarshire； now of the county of Edinburgh； and EX OFFICIO one of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses； happened to be at Arbroath。 Mr。 Duff took an immediate interest in representing the circumstances of the case to the Board of Customs at Edinburgh。 But such were the doubts entertained on the subject that； on having previously received the appeal from the collector at Montrose； the case had been submitted to the consideration of the Lords of the Treasury； whose decision was now waited for。
In this state of things the writer felt particularly desirous to get the thirteenth course finished； that the building might be in a more secure state in the event of bad weather。 An opportunity was therefore embraced on the 25th； in sailing with provisions for the floating light； to carry the necessary stones to the rock for this purpose； which were landed and built on the 26th and 27th。 But so closely was the watch kept up that a Custom…house officer was always placed on board of the SMEATON and PATRIOT while they were afloat； till the embargo was especially removed from the lighthouse vessels。 The artificers at the Bell Rock had been reduced to fifteen； who were regularly supplied with provisions； along with the crew of the floating light； mainly through the port officer's liberal interpretation of his orders。
＇Tuesday； 1st Aug。＇
There being a considerable swell and breach of sea upon the rock yesterday； the stones could not be got landed till the day following； when the wind shifted to the southward and the weather improved。 But to…day no less than seventy…eight blocks of stone were landed； of which forty were built； which completed the fourteenth and part of the fifteenth courses。 The number of workmen now resident in the beacon…house was augmented to twenty…four； including the landing…master's crew from the tender and the boat's crew from the floating light； who assisted at landing the stones。 Those daily at work upon the rock at this period amounted to forty…six。 A cabin had been laid out for the writer on the beacon； but his apartment had been the last which was finishe