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the beacon； counting in all twenty…nine； and at low…water the landing…master's crew； consisting of from twelve to fifteen seamen； were employed in transporting the building materials； working the landing apparatus on the rock； and dragging the stone waggons along the railways。
＇Friday； 8th June＇
In the course of this day the weather varied much。 In the morning it was calm； in the middle part of the day there were light airs of wind from the south； and in the evening fresh breezes from the east。 The barometer in the writer's cabin in the beacon…house oscillated from 30 inches to 30。42； and the weather was extremely pleasant。 This； in any situation； forms one of the chief comforts of life； but； as may easily be conceived； it was doubly so to people stuck； as it were； upon a pinnacle in the middle of the ocean。
＇Sunday； 10th June＇
One of the praam…boats had been brought to the rock with eleven stones； notwithstanding the perplexity which attended the getting of those formerly landed taken up to the building。 Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman builder； interposed； and prevented this cargo from being delivered； but the landing… master's crew were exceedingly averse to this arrangement； from an idea that 〃ill luck〃 would in future attend the praam； her cargo； and those who navigated her； from thus reversing her voyage。 It may be noticed that this was the first instance of a praam…boat having been sent from the Bell Rock with any part of her cargo on board； and was considered so uncommon an occurrence that it became a topic of conversation among the seamen and artificers。
＇Tuesday； 12th June＇
To…day the stones formerly sent from the rock were safely landed； notwithstanding the augury of the seamen in consequence of their being sent away two days before。
＇Thursday； 14th June＇
To…day twenty…seven stones and eleven joggle…pieces were landed； part of which consisted of the forty…seventh course； forming the storeroom floor。 The builders were at work this morning by four o'clock； in the hopes of being able to accomplish the laying of the eighteen stones of this course。 But at eight o'clock in the evening they had still two to lay； and as the stones of this course were very unwieldy； being six feet in length； they required much precaution and care both in lifting and laying them。 It was only on the writer's suggestion to Mr。 Logan that the artificers were induced to leave off； as they had intended to complete this floor before going to bed。 The two remaining stones were； however； laid in their places without mortar when the bell on the beacon was rung； and； all hands being collected on the top of the building； three hearty cheers were given on covering the first apartment。 The steward then served out a dram to each； when the whole retired to their barrack much fatigued； but with the anticipation of the most perfect repose even in the 〃hurricane…house；〃 amidst the dashing seas on the Bell Rock。
While the workmen were at breakfast and dinner it was the writer's usual practice to spend his time on the walls of the building； which； notwithstanding the narrowness of the track； nevertheless formed his principal walk when the rock was under water。 But this afternoon he had his writing…desk set upon the storeroom floor； when he wrote to Mrs。 Stevenson … certainly the first letter dated from the Bell Rock LIGHTHOUSE … giving a detail of the fortunate progress of the work with an assurance that the lighthouse would soon be completed at the rate at which it now proceeded； and； the PATRIOT having sailed for Arbroath in the evening； he felt no small degree of pleasure in despatching this communication to his family。
The weather still continuing favourable for the operations at the rock； the work proceeded with much energy； through the exertions both of the seamen and artificers。 For the more speedy and effectual working of the several tackles in raising the materials as the building advanced in height； and there being a great extent of railway to attend to； which required constant repairs； two additional millwrights were added to the complement on the rock； which； including the writer； now counted thirty…one in all。 So crowded was the men's barrack that the beds were ranged five tier in height； allowing only about one foot eight inches for each bed。 The artificers commenced this morning at five o'clock； and； in the course of the day； they laid the forty…eighth and forty…ninth courses； consisting each of sixteen blocks。 From the favourable state of the weather； and the regular manner in which the work now proceeded； the artificers had generally from four to seven extra hours' work； which； including their stated wages of 3s。 4d。； yielded them from 5s。 4d。 to about 6s。 10d。 per day besides their board； even the postage of their letters was paid while they were at the Bell Rock。 In these advantages the foremen also shared； having about double the pay and amount of premiums of the artificers。 The seamen being less out of their element in the Bell Rock operations than the landsmen； their premiums consisted in a slump sum payable at the end of the season； which extended from three to ten guineas。
As the laying of the floors was somewhat tedious； the landing…master and his crew had got considerably beforehand with the building artificers in bringing materials faster to the rock than they could be built。 The seamen having； therefore； some spare time； were occasionally employed during fine weather in dredging or grappling for the several mushroom anchors and mooring…chains which had been lost in the vicinity of the Bell Rock during the progress of the work by the breaking loose and drifting of the floating buoys。 To encourage their exertions in this search； five guineas were offered as a premium for each set they should find； and； after much patient application； they succeeded to…day in hooking one of these lost anchors with its chain。
It was a general remark at the Bell Rock； as before noticed； that fish were never plenty in its neighbourhood excepting in good weather。 Indeed； the seamen used to speculate about the state of the weather from their success in fishing。 When the fish disappeared at the rock； it was considered a sure indication that a gale was not far off； as the fish seemed to seek shelter in deeper water from the roughness of the sea during these changes in the weather。 At this time the rock； at high…water； was completely covered with podlies； or the fry of the coal…fish； about six or eight inches in length。 The artificers sometimes occupied half an hour after breakfast and dinner in catching these little fishes； but were more frequently supplied from the boats of the tender。
＇Saturday； 16th June＇
The landing…master having this day discharged the SMEATON and loaded the HEDDERWICK AND DICKIE praam…boats with nineteen stones； they were towed to their respective moorings； when Captain Wilson； in consequence of the heavy swell of sea； came in his boat to the beacon…house to consult with the writer as to the propriety of venturing the loaded praam…boats with their cargoes to the rock while so much sea was running。 After some dubiety expressed on the subject； in which the ardent mind of the landing…mas