按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e lighthouse； which had recently got into the form of a house； having several tiers or stories of windows。 Nor was he unmindful of his habitation in the beacon … now far overtopped by the masonry； … where he had spent several weeks in a kind of active retirement； making practical experiment of the fewness of the positive wants of man。 His cabin measured not more than four feet three inches in breadth on the floor； and though； from the oblique direction of the beams of the beacon； it widened towards the top； yet it did not admit of the full extension of his arms when he stood on the floor； while its length was little more than sufficient for suspending a cot…bed during the night； calculated for being triced up to the roof through the day； which left free room for the admission of occasional visitants。 His folding table was attached with hinges； immediately under the small window of the apartment； and his books； barometer； thermometer； portmanteau； and two or three camp…stools； formed the bulk of his movables。 His diet being plain； the paraphernalia of the table were proportionally simple； though everything had the appearance of comfort； and even of neatness； the walls being covered with green cloth formed into panels with red tape； and his bed festooned with curtains of yellow cotton…stuff。 If； in speculating upon the abstract wants of man in such a state of exclusion； one were reduced to a single book； the Sacred Volume … whether considered for the striking diversity of its story； the morality of its doctrine； or the important truths of its gospel … would have proved by far the greatest treasure。
＇Monday； 2nd July＇
In walking over the workyard at Arbroath this morning； the writer found that the stones of the course immediately under the cornice were all in hand； and that a week's work would now finish the whole； while the intermediate courses lay ready numbered and marked for shipping to the rock。 Among other subjects which had occupied his attention to…day was a visit from some of the relations of George Dall； a young man who had been impressed near Dundee in the month of February last； a dispute had arisen between the magistrates of that burgh and the Regulating Officer as to his right of impressing Dall； who was BONA FIDE one of the protected seamen in the Bell Rock service。 In the meantime； the poor lad was detained； and ultimately committed to the prison of Dundee； to remain until the question should be tried before the Court of Session。 His friends were naturally very desirous to have him relieved upon bail。 But； as this was only to be done by the judgment of the Court； all that could be said was that his pay and allowances should be continued in the same manner as if he had been upon the sick…list。 The circumstances of Dall's case were briefly these：… He had gone to see some of his friends in the neighbourhood of Dundee； in winter； while the works were suspended； having got leave of absence from Mr。 Taylor； who commanded the Bell Rock tender； and had in his possession one of the Protection Medals。 Unfortunately； however； for Dall； the Regulating Officer thought proper to disregard these documents； as； according to the strict and literal interpretation of the Admiralty regulations； a seaman does not stand protected unless he is actually on board of his ship； or in a boat belonging to her； or has the Admiralty protection in his possession。 This order of the Board； however； cannot be rigidly followed in practice； and therefore； when the matter is satisfactorily stated to the Regulating Officer； the impressed man is generally liberated。 But in Dall's case this was peremptorily refused； and he was retained at the instance of the magistrates。 The writer having brought the matter under the consideration of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses； they authorised it to be tried on the part of the Lighthouse Board； as one of extreme hardship。 The Court； upon the first hearing； ordered Dall to be liberated from prison； and the proceedings never went further。
＇Wednesday； 4th July＇
Being now within twelve courses of being ready for building the cornice； measures were taken for getting the stones of it and the parapet…wall of the light…room brought from Edinburgh； where； as before noticed； they had been prepared and were in readiness for shipping。 The honour of conveying the upper part of the lighthouse； and of landing the last stone of the building on the rock； was considered to belong to Captain Pool of the SMEATON； who had been longer in the service than the master of the PATRIOT。 The SMEATON was； therefore； now partly loaded with old iron； consisting of broken railways and other lumber which had been lying about the rock。 After landing these at Arbroath； she took on board James Craw； with his horse and cart； which could now be spared at the workyard； to be employed in carting the stones from Edinburgh to Leith。 Alexander Davidson and William Kennedy； two careful masons； were also sent to take charge of the loading of the stones at Greenside； and stowing them on board of the vessel at Leith。 The writer also went on board； with a view to call at the Bell Rock and to take his passage up the Firth of Forth。 The wind； however； coming to blow very fresh from the eastward； with thick and foggy weather； it became necessary to reef the mainsail and set the second jib。 When in the act of making a tack towards the tender； the sailors who worked the head…sheets were； all of a sudden； alarmed with the sound of the smith's hammer and anvil on the beacon； and had just time to put the ship about to save her from running ashore on the northwestern point of the rock； marked ‘James Craw's Horse。' On looking towards the direction from whence the sound came； the building and beacon…house were seen； with consternation； while the ship was hailed by those on the rock； who were no less confounded at seeing the near approach of the SMEATON； and； just as the vessel cleared the danger； the smith and those in the mortar gallery made signs in token of their happiness at our fortunate escape。 From this occurrence the writer had an experimental proof of the utility of the large bells which were in preparation to be rung by the machinery of the revolving light； for； had it not been the sound of the smith's anvil； the SMEATON； in all probability； would have been wrecked upon the rock。 In case the vessel had struck； those on board might have been safe； having now the beacon… house； as a place of refuge； but the vessel； which was going at a great velocity； must have suffered severely； and it was more than probable that the horse would have been drowned； there being no means of getting him out of the vessel。 Of this valuable animal and his master we shall take an opportunity of saying more in another place。
＇Thursday； 5th July＇
The weather cleared up in the course of the night； but the wind shifted to the N。E。 and blew very fresh。 From the force of the wind； being now the period of spring…tides； a very heavy swell was experienced at the rock。 At two o'clock on the following morning the people on the beacon were in a state of great alarm about their safety； as the sea had broke up part of the floor of the mortar galler