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as running。 After some dubiety expressed on the subject； in which the ardent mind of the landing…master suggested many arguments in favour of his being able to convey the praams in perfect safety； it was acceded to。 In bad weather； and especially on occasions of difficulty like the present； Mr。 Wilson； who was an extremely active seaman； measuring about five feet three inches in height； of a robust habit； generally dressed himself in what he called a MONKEY JACKET； made of thick duffle cloth； with a pair of Dutchman's petticoat trousers； reaching only to his knees； where they were met with a pair of long water…tight boots； with this dress； his glazed hat； and his small brass speaking trumpet in his hand； he bade defiance to the weather。 When he made his appearance in this most suitable attire for the service his crew seemed to possess additional life； never failing to use their utmost exertions when the captain put on his STORM RIGGING。 They had this morning commenced loading the praam…boats at four o'clock； and proceeded to tow them into the eastern landing…place； which was accomplished with much dexterity； though not without the risk of being thrown； by the force of the sea； on certain projecting ledges of the rock。 In such a case the loss even of a single stone would have greatly retarded the work。 For the greater safety in entering the creek it was necessary to put out several warps and guy…ropes to guide the boats into its narrow and intricate entrance； and it frequently happened that the sea made a clean breach over the praams； which not only washed their decks； but completely drenched the crew in water。
＇Sunday； 17th June＇
It was fortunate； in the present state of the weather； that the fiftieth course was in a sheltered spot； within the reach of the tackle of the winch…machine upon the bridge； a few stones were stowed upon the bridge itself； and the remainder upon the building； which kept the artificers at work。 The stowing of the materials upon the rock was the department of Alexander Brebner； mason； who spared no pains in attending to the safety of the stones； and who； in the present state of the work； when the stones were landed faster than could be built； generally worked till the water rose to his middle。 At one o'clock to…day the bell rung for prayers； and all hands were collected into the upper barrack…room of the beacon…house； when the usual service was performed。
The wind blew very hard in the course of last night from N。E。； and to…day the sea ran so high that no boat could approach the rock。 During the dinner…hour； when the writer was going to the top of the building as usual； but just as he had entered the door and was about to ascend the ladder； a great noise was heard overhead； and in an instant he was soused in water from a sea which had most unexpectedly come over the walls； though now about fifty…eight feet in height。 On making his retreat he found himself completely whitened by the lime； which had mixed with the water while dashing down through the different floors； and； as nearly as he could guess； a quantity equal to about a hogshead had come over the walls； and now streamed out at the door。 After having shifted himself； he again sat down in his cabin； the sea continuing to run so high that the builders did not resume their operations on the walls this afternoon。 The incident just noticed did not create more surprise in the mind of the writer than the sublime appearance of the waves as they rolled majestically over the rock。 This scene he greatly enjoyed while sitting at his cabin window； each wave approached the beacon like a vast scroll unfolding； and in passing discharged a quantity of air； which he not only distinctly felt； but was even sufficient to lift the leaves of a book which lay before him。 These waves might be ten or twelve feet in height； and about 250 feet in length； their smaller end being towards the north； where the water was deep； and they were opened or cut through by the interposition of the building and beacon。 The gradual manner in which the sea； upon these occasions； is observed to become calm or to subside； is a very remarkable feature of this phenomenon。 For example； when a gale is succeeded by a calm； every third or fourth wave forms one of these great seas； which occur in spaces of from three to five minutes； as noted by the writer's watch； but in the course of the next tide they become less frequent； and take off so as to occur only in ten or fifteen minutes； and； singular enough； at the third tide after such gales； the writer has remarked that only one or two of these great waves appear in the course of the whole tide。
＇Tuesday； 19th June＇
The 19th was a very unpleasant and disagreeable day； both for the seamen and artificers； as it rained throughout with little intermission from four a。m。 till eleven p。m。； accompanied with thunder and lightning； during which period the work nevertheless continued unremittingly； and the builders laid the fifty…first and fifty…second courses。 This state of weather was no less severe upon the mortar…makers； who required to temper or prepare the mortar of a thicker or thinner consistency； in some measure； according to the state of the weather。 From the elevated position of the building； the mortar gallery on the beacon was now much lower； and the lime…buckets were made to traverse upon a rope distended between it and the building。 On occasions like the present； however； there was often a difference of opinion between the builders and the mortar…makers。 John Watt； who had the principal charge of the mortar； was a most active worker； but； being somewhat of an irascible temper； the builders occasionally amused themselves at his expense； for while he was eagerly at work with his large iron…shod pestle in the mortar…tub； they often sent down contradictory orders； some crying； ‘Make it a little stiffer； or thicker； John；' while others called out to make it ‘thinner；' to which he generally returned very speedy and sharp replies； so that these conversations at times were rather amusing。
During wet weather the situation of the artificers on the top of the building was extremely disagreeable； for although their work did not require great exertion； yet； as each man had his particular part to perform； either in working the crane or in laying the stones； it required the closest application and attention； not only on the part of Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman； who was constantly on the walls； but also of the chief workmen。 Robert Selkirk； the principal builder； for example； had every stone to lay in its place。 David Cumming； a mason； had the charge of working the tackle of the balance…weight； and James Scott； also a mason； took charge of the purchase with which the stones were laid； while the pointing the joints of the walls with cement was intrusted to William Reid and William Kennedy； who stood upon a scaffold suspended over the walls in rather a frightful manner。 The least act of carelessness or inattention on the part of any of these men might have been fatal； not only to themselves； but also to the surrounding workmen； especially if any accident had happened to the crane itself； while the material damage or loss of a si