- - - — _ - -- — 
 
TO 
 
 THE KING. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I ROM the ambition natural to man, all authors are desirous, that their works 
 should be placed in the most favourable point of view. This motive alone would 
 have urged me to solicit permission to lay mine at the feet of my Sovereign; a 
 Sovereign whose reign has been marked by the most rapid and distinguished 
 progress, in the arts, in commerce, and in the most sublime as well as the most 
 useful discoveries, altogether arising from Your Majesty’s immediate protection 
 and encouragement. 
 
 To be allowed to approach Your Majesty, and mix my tribute with others of 
 so much higher importance, is a most flattering distinction. It is further my 
 particular felicity, that the tribute I offer is of such a nature as to accord with the 
 scope of Your Majesty’s private studies. 
 
 The very close manner in which the model of the Edystone Lighthouse was 
 examined by Your Majesty, soon after the building itself was completed, has left 
 the most lasting impression upon my mind, of the critical knowledge which Your 
 Majesty has acquired in the art of building; and the earnest attention Your 
 Majesty was then pleased to bestow upon the subject, has emboldened me, at this 
 distant period, to present it once more to Your consideration. 
 
 It certainly requires an apology, that I have not more early acquitted myself 
 of a work, that then seemed to engage Your Majesty’s curiosity; the delay, 
 however, as it has given me time to mature my thoughts, and has afforded proof 
 of the stability of the structure, may possibly render the book more worthy of 
 acceptance: and it will be a further excuse, that I can with truth say, I have 
 ever since been employed in works, tending to the immediate benefit of Your 
 Majesty’s subjects; and indeed so unremittingly, that it is not without the greatest 
 exertion, that I am enabled, even now, to complete the publication. 
 
 b 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 I have it not in my power to present Your Majesty with a fine piece of writing, 
 or of drawing; neither literature, nor the fine arts, having been much the objects 
 of my study; but I humbly submit to Your Majesty, a plain account of the 
 construction of a plain and simple building, that has nevertheless been ac¬ 
 knowledged to be, in itself, curious, difficult, and useful; and as such, I trust, 
 worthy of observation. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Your Majesty’s 
 
 Most dutiful subject, 
 
 and most obedient servant, 
 
 J. SMEATON. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Having in some part or other of the following work delivered the whole of what I would 
 wish to say relative to the building, the history, and the description of the Edystone Lighthouse, 
 I have little to offer by way of Preface, but what regards myself; or, my reader. 
 
 WHEN I recommenced the composition of this work, in the year 1784; as I bad then written 
 several essays in the Philosophical Transactions, in which I had been happy enough to make my- 
 self understood; I did not suppose it a matter of difficulty to give a distinct account of the pro¬ 
 gress and structure of the Edystone Lighthouse. I considered the account of every operation as 
 a separate essay; and conceived, that by joining them altogether, I should produce the hook I 
 meant to write. The motive to this undertaking will be found fully explained, in the latter part 
 of the following Introduction; but the time it has taken, and the difficulties I have met with, 
 have been, beyond all comparison, greater than I expected. 
 
 THE Introduction was the essay with which I began; but this Preface being written after 
 every constituent part of the work is gone through, I now find reason to change my first opinion, 
 and am convinced, that to write a book, tolerably well, is not a light or an easy matter; for, as I 
 have proceeded in this work, I have been less satisfied with the execution. In truth I have found 
 much more difficulty in writing, than I did in building; as well as a greater length of time, and 
 application of mind, to be required. 1 am indeed now older by 35 years, than I was when I first 
 entered upon the enterprise; and therefore my faculties are less active and vigorous ; but when I 
 consider that I have been employed full seven years, at every opportunity, in forwarding this 
 book ; having all the original draughts and materialslto go upon ; and that the production of these 
 original materials, as well as the building itself, were dispatched in half that time, I am almost 
 tempted to subscribe to the sentiment adopted by Mr. Pope, that 
 
 “ Nature s chief Masterpiece is writing well.” - Roscommon 
 
 It is true that I have not been bred to literature, but it is equally true, that I was no more bred 
 to mechanics; we must therefore conclude that the same mind, has, in reality, a much greater 
 facility in some subjects, than in others. How I am to succeed as a writer, is yet to be tried, 
 and I shall readily submit to the decision of the impartial Public. I can say with great truth, 
 that I have taken much pains, and have left nothing undone, that appeared necessary to the full 
 information of my reader upon the subject : and I hope, that however I may be defective other¬ 
 wise, I have not fallen short of an explanation, to those whose leisure, and patience, may give 
 them leave to go regularly through the detail. 
 
 AS it is not a kind of work, that I could expect to find interesting to many readers, I have 
 printed but a small edition in point of number; which renders it necessary to lav a heavier tax 
 upon the curiosity of those, who may be inclined to acquaint themselves with the subject, than I 
 could have wished ; at the same time, if the whole edition were sold, it will a good deal fall short 
 of reimbursing my expences. Could I have published within four or five years of the completion 
 of the Lighthouse, the performance was then so much talked of, that I should certainly have 
 ventured to have printed a considerable impression; but the novelty having yearly worn off, down 
 to the present time, the expectation must now be rated very low; especially if it be considered, 
 that most part of my readers were then unborn : and, the greatest real praise of the edifice, being 
 that nothing has happened to it, nothing has occurred to keep the talk of it alive. The public 
 curiosity, therefore, will be with more difficulty excited afresh. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 PFRH APS I ought to make an apology for the largeness and fineness of my paper, as an ar¬ 
 ticle apparently enhancing the expence.-When 1 have seen a set of fine prints, produced with 
 great labour and cost, spoilt as representative pictures, by being folded into a book, I could not 
 Lt much regret il : and, the expedient of binding up the prints into a separate book, while 
 the letter-press matter is of a different size, I can only look upon as the necessary choice of two 
 ev il s ■ for I suppose it must lie unhandy, and disagreeable, to have the book upon one shelf, and 
 the prints belonging to it on another. On this account I intended from the beginning, to bring 
 , nv prints w ithin the compass of half a sheet of imperial paper, and to have the letter-press work 
 of the same size*, though the paper should be coarse.-I therefore made choice ot a sample ot an 
 ordinary paper of the imperial size, and engaged my friend Mr. Whatman to make me the quan 
 til v ■ but he, willing to shew himself a patron of the work, gave me a paper of the best fabric, 
 at the same price I must have paid for the coarse. To Mr. Whatman therefore my reader is 
 obliged for the superior goodness of the paper.—I do not however mean to pass the supposition 
 ,on my reader, that the prints, I either meant, or have been able, to procure, are ol that de- 
 hemselves to demand all the attention 1 have had towards them. They are in reality 
 geometrical lines, drawn to explain geometrical and mechanical subjects. If 
 on the appearance of anything further, it Is to render it more explanatory and 
 
 but yet, if a right line or circle, is drawn 
 
 .^ o circle, if the paper is flat; but let that piece of flat 
 
 be folded into one, two, or more angles, the natural appearance of the figures is destroyed; 
 and figures, that are in themselves complex, are rendered still more so. By this treatment, good 
 prints are in reality spoilt, and bad ones rendered still worse. 1 am therefore rather surprised, 
 that the learned have not much attended to this matter. 
 
 u f 
 
 licacy as in 
 little more th 
 any of them p 
 
 descriptive. They are in reality not meant as pictures 
 upon paper, it will appear a right line or 
 paper 
 
 AS 1 speak and even write a provincial language, and, as 1 have already mentioned, was not 
 bred to letters, 1 am greatly obliged to my friends in the countryf, for perusing and abundantly 
 correcting my manuscript: and last of all, to my friend Dr. Blaguen, who has been so obliging 
 as to overlook the greatest part of the printed proofs, with much advantage to the work. I say 
 the greatest part; as in justice to him, I must observe, I was obliged to send several of the sheets 
 ■ithont his seeing them. Whenever therefore a more than ordinary deficiency 
 
 to the 
 
 press. 
 
 occurs in point ot diction, my 
 
 reade: 
 
 r may 
 
 conclude that sheet never went to Dr. Blag den. 
 
 IF I am asked why, being so slenderly equipped as a writer, I set about it at all ; and did not 
 wholly commit il to some oilier person? My answer is, that I consider this, as of the nature of a 
 commentary ; anil that in an executive matter of art, the artist must write for himself; as he only 
 can feel the force of his subject, so as to give it energy. I do not apprehend it to he ol the na¬ 
 ture of a commentary that the style should he polished ; only that it should explain the subject, 
 in the most easy and familiar manner. If 1 have failed in this last respect, I have fallen short of 
 my hopes and wishes.—It is possible some discordancies may he met with on a strict perusal, not¬ 
 withstanding the care and pains I have bestowed.—As it is, I commit it to its fate; having no 
 presage it will he used worse than it deserves. 
 
 * One of my plates, indeed, somewhat exceeds the imperial in size; but that was not the case, when it was engraven, in the year 
 1762 : which seems to shew, that the size of this paper is somewhat lessened since that time. 
 
 t Mr. Walton, formerly my colleague in the Derwentwater Receivership: and after him the Reverend Mr. Michell, well known 
 to the public. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE SEVERAL SECTIONS; BEING AN EPITOME OF THE WORK. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Page 1. PH AROS the most celebrated lighthouse of anti¬ 
 quity. General description and dimensions.—Size of its base 
 uncertain. Distance at which it could be seen.—Compared by 
 Josephus to the Phasael at Jerusalem. 
 
 P. 2. Apparent mistake of Josephus relative to the size of the 
 Pharos. Reconciled.—Pharos built by Sostratus. His inscrip¬ 
 tion ; by permission of Alexander according to Pliny.—-Other¬ 
 wise intimated by Lucian.—Lucian’s invective adopted by mo¬ 
 dern historians; but rejected.—The reasons. 
 
 P. 3. The Pharos cost 800 talents. Their value uncertain.—• 
 Destroyed; the occasion and time uncertain; yet subsisting com¬ 
 plete in the 12th century.—By Abulfeda’s account, about 400 
 years ago, it was reduced in height; since then destroyed. Most 
 probably by an earthquake. Subsisted 1600 years. 
 
 P. 4. Other lighthouse towers have obtained the same appel¬ 
 lation.—The Tour de Cordouan upon the French coast, the most 
 remarkable of the modern ones.—Finished in 1610 by Lewis de 
 Foix, a French architect.—Built upon a bare rock 500 fathoms 
 long and 250 broad. Liable in storms to a great surf.—Its foun¬ 
 dation described.—Surrounded by a circular wall. Not a place 
 of defence.—Principal dimensions of its elevation.—Accommo¬ 
 dation for the lightkeepers. 
 
 P. 5. Architecture highly finished. The rooms described in 
 the first and second story.—Third story described.—Original 
 lantern. 
 
 P. 6. Decoration of the King’s apartment.—Different orders 
 of architecture in the building.—Architect reproved, by Belidor, 
 for using a profusion of ornaments. Vindicated. - Lantern da¬ 
 maged by the original fires. Taken down and fire kindled below. 
 Found there inadequate, and restored.—The new lantern. 
 
 P. 7. Reflectors applied to the new lantern.-Edystone 
 
 lighthouse an object of public curiosity. Awakened by the com¬ 
 pletion of the present building in 1759.—The model shewn to 
 their present Majesties and several of the Royal Family.—The 
 author requested to publish an account of his proceedings.—His 
 reason for complying therewith. 
 
 P. 3. Progress made in 1763. Reasons why discontinued till 
 1783.—Proposes beginning with a description of the rocks; and 
 of the former buildings thereon. 
 
 B 0 0 K I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 CONTAINING A GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE EDYSTONE 
 ROCKS. 
 
 §. 1. Rocks described as in nature independent of any building. 
 
 2. Name. Its probable origin. 
 
 3. Course of the tides. 
 
 4. Situation, with respect to the coast—to the Ramhead, the 
 Start, and Lizard Points. 
 
 5. Situation respecting the Bay of Biscay, and the Atlantic 
 Ocean. 
 
 6. The violence of the sea augmented on these rocks by their 
 particular form and position. 
 
 7. Effect of the ground swell augmented by an upright face, 
 naturally formed on the rock. 
 
 8. Further augmented by the particularity of the tide. 
 
 9. Flow of the tide upon the rock. 
 
 10. A rocky bottom extends considerably from the rocks, a 
 cause of impediment in the mooring of a proper attendant vessel. 
 
 11. Component matter or substance. A peculiar species of 
 laminated granite, in Cornwall called a killas.—Elastic. 
 
 12. General directions. Time and flow of the tides. Proper 
 time of setting forward from Plymouth, for visiting the Edystone. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIGHTHOUSE 
 UPON THE EDYSTONE, BUILT BY MR. WINSTANLEY. 
 
 §. 13. A lighthouse upon the Edystone desirable. 
 
 14. First attempted by Mr. Winstanley. 
 
 15. Peculiarity of Winstanley’s genius—prompted him not only 
 to attempt difficult enterprizes, but in a difficult mode. 
 
 16. Erections by Winstanley on the Edystone. 
 
 17. A narrative of the building, begun in 1696, and more than 
 four years in hand.—Many difficulties, as the sea in calm weather 
 would mount and fly more than 200 feet. 
 
 §• 18. The first summer spent in making twelve holes, and fixing 
 twelve great irons into the rock. 
 
 19. The second summer in making a solid body or round pillar. 
 
 20. The third season, the pillar enlarged at its foundation, and 
 the superstructure raised to 80 feet high. Lodged therein soon 
 after Midsummer.—Great distress by a storm. Finished the 
 building and put up the light the 14th November 1698. 
 
 21. The fourth year, finding that in the winter the sea had 
 buried the lantern at times, though above 60 feet high ; he en¬ 
 compassed the former building with a new work, took down the 
 upper part, and raised it to 120 feet high; and yet in time of 
 storms the sea appeared to fly 100 feet higher than the vane. 
 
 22. Besides the narrative—Winstanley gives the situation of 
 the lighthouse; and some account of the Edystone rocks. 
 
 23. A further account of the rocks and of the tides. 
 
 24. An orthographic elevation from Winstanley’s perspective. 
 —Literal references.—Critical observations. 
 
 25. Great merit in Winstanleynot only to undertake but atchieve 
 what had been generally deemed impracticable. An anecdote. 
 
 26. In 1703 repairs wanted, and Mr. Winstanley went off to 
 superintend the same.—An anecdote.—A violent storm arose, 
 the lighthouse and all therein perished. 
 
 27- Extracts from a book intitled the Storm. —Describes the 
 loss of the lighthouse, and of Mr. Winstanley.—The model of it 
 in Essex broke to pieces at that time.—A Virginia ship lost soon 
 after. 
 
 CIIAP. III. 
 
 ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND LIGHTHOUSE BUILT ON THE 
 EDYSTONE BY MR. RUDYERD. 
 
 §. 28. The great utility of Winstanley’s lighthouse.—Desirable 
 to have one there. Not impracticable.—An act passed in 1706, 
 and the work begun the same year. 
 
 29. The privilege and duties vested in the corporation of the 
 Trinity House, Deptford Strond. A term granted to Captain 
 Lovel. 
 
 30. Captain Lovel engaged Mr. John ltudyerd to be his en¬ 
 gineer, then a silk mercer on Ludgate Hill, assisted by Mr. Smith 
 and Mr. Norcutt, shipwrights.—Mr. Rudyerd endeavoured to 
 avoid the errors of his predecessor, by aiming at simplicity. 
 
 31. Mr. Rudyerd completed his design and published a print 
 with explanations. 
 
 32. An orthographic elevation from the print. 
 
 33. Mr. Rudyerd did not distinguish himself by any after-work. 
 The print seems taken from some previous drawing. ’ 
 
 34. Mr. Rudyerd’s description of the situation, and general 
 construction of his building.—The upright timbers described as 
 composing the outside shell, different from the real number. 
 
 35. Proposes cutting the inclined surface of the rock into steps 
 —executed imperfectly. 
 
 36. Methodof formingdovetail holes for fixing his iron branches. 
 
 37. Method of running in those iron branches with lead. 
 
 38. Method of establishing a solid basement of wood. Situation 
 of the branches.—In number 36. 
 
 39. Method of keying and fixing the branches. A material im¬ 
 provement. Winstanley’s less perfect. 
 
 40. Rudyerd, besides the fastenings of his timber work de¬ 
 scribed, applied the great principle; weight is most effectually 
 resisted by weight. 
 
 41. Strata or courses of Cornish moorstone inlaid. 
 
 42. Tonnage of the stone; and description of the courses of 
 wood. Particular courses furnished with compass timbers.— 
 Places of the compass timbers. Well-hole for the stairs described. 
 Reference to the plans of the moorstone courses. Upright bars. 
 
 43. The ascent to Rudyerd’s entry door by an iron ladder. 
 
 44. Well-hole for the stairs and passage in the 2d set of moor¬ 
 stone courses. Their tonnage.—.id set of moorstone courses. 
 Their tonnage. Timber courses up to the store room floor. 
 
 45. Height of the store room floor. From the rock to this floor, 
 denominated the solid. 
 
 46. Floor of Rudyerd’s store room as high as Winstanley's 
 state room ; regulated by the height of the unbroken waves. 
 
 47. Application of the upright bars. The connection after. 
 
 48. Mode of building the rooms above the solid to the balcony 
 floor. 
 
 49. The main column a simple frustum of a cone. General 
 dimensions. 
 
 50. Method of joining the upright timbers by scarfs. The di¬ 
 mensions. Caulked with oakum.—The whole a piece of ship- 
 wrightry; the moorstone considered as ballast. Its tonnage. 
 
 51. The windows and doors, like the port-holes of ships. Two 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 projecting parts beyond the frustum ; the cornice at top—and the 
 kant at bottom. 
 
 §. 52. Description and dimensions of the lantern; and height 
 of the light.—Height and base of this lighthouse. 
 
 53. The rock represented in the plate as it appeared in 1756; 
 and the building, as it stood previous to its demolition in 1755. 
 —Technical description. 
 
 54 . Use of the balcony and rails.— No cranes used as in Win- 
 stanley’s.—The chink in the rock pointed out, where one of Win- 
 stanley’s crane chains was jamblcd fast in the storm of 1703. 
 
 55 . Useful instructions to engineers to be drawn from this 
 building. 
 
 56. Temporary light fixed by Rudyerd. The manner of it.— 
 The building finished in 1709. 
 
 57 . Anecdote that arose in the course of this building.—Be¬ 
 haviour of Lewis XIV. 
 
 58. Account of materials used in the construction of this 
 building. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 CONTAINING SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS AND OCCUR¬ 
 RENCES FROM FINISHING MR. KUDYERDS LIGHTHOUSE 
 
 TO THE TOTAL DEMOLITION THEREOF. 
 
 §. 59, About 1715, Captain Lovel being deceased, his property 
 therein sold, and purchased by Messrs. Weston, Noyes, and 
 Chectham, in shares. 
 
 60. House needed no material repairs till 1723. Worms then 
 discovered in the timbers. Mr. Holland appointed to make the 
 necessary repairs. 
 
 61. Experiments on sheathing the timbers with copper. Sec .— 
 Found not fully to answer. 
 
 62. Storm in 17-14 tore away 30 pieces of the uprights. Re¬ 
 paired by Mr. Jessop.—Mr. Holland promoted to be King’s 
 builder at Deptford, recommended Mr. Jessop. 
 
 63. The house attended originally by two men, a difficulty 
 arose. Afterwards attended by three.—This furnished a season¬ 
 able relief. 
 
 64. Anecdote of lightkeepers living together without speaking. 
 Anecdote of a man’s commencing lightkeeper to avoid confine¬ 
 ment. 
 
 6 .5. Fatal catastrophe of this building.—Recital of particulars. 
 
 66 . How the building caught fire, not certainly known; but 
 began in the cupola.—The author’s conjectures. Began 2d De¬ 
 cember at two in the morn.; one of the lightkeepers exerted him¬ 
 self to quench the fire. Frustrated by want of water. Singular 
 instance of receiving melted lead into his stomach. 
 
 67 . The fire seen from the shore, and a fishing boat sent off by 
 Mr. Edwards.—The men found retreated to the cave in the rock, 
 to save themselves from the falling fire. 
 
 68 . Landing on the rock impracticable. Contrivance to take 
 off the men. One of them ran away as soon as landed.— 1 he 
 sufferer by the lead sent home to be taken care of. 
 
 69. Efforts of Mr. Tolcher, collector of the light duties, and 
 his son. Landing impracticable. The fire communicating itself 
 to the solid, and not likely to be stopped there. 
 
 70. Admiral West, commander ol the fleet in Plymouth Sound, 
 sent out a boat with an engine, and attended by Air. Jessop the 
 surveyor. Remarkable incident to the boat.—The engine broke, 
 and further attempts baffled. 
 
 71. The only remaining hopes from a change of the wind. 
 Reasons why.—Became one great body of red hot matter. Burnt 
 for five days. 
 
 72. Henry Hall, who had received the lead, put under the care 
 of an eminent surgeon, for some days grew better, taking his me¬ 
 dicines and swallowed other things; but died on the 12th.—On 
 opening the stomach, a piece of solid lead was taken out. 
 
 73. An account of the case transmitted by the surgeon to the 
 Royal Society. At first disbelieved.—Experiments on animals, 
 tried by the surgeon, in support of his character. Animals found 
 to sustain the operation.—These experiments corroborated by the 
 testimony of others.—The surgeon censured for cruelty to ani¬ 
 mals.—Vindicated. 
 
 74 . Suggestions of some, how some part of the building might 
 have been saved. The expedient in the author’s opinion could 
 not have been successful; nor any other practicable.—Nothing, 
 as it would seem, could have saved it, but a storm.—Its duration 
 49 years. 
 
 BOOK IT. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF PREPARATORY MATTERS TOWARDS 
 
 BUILDING THE PRESENT LIGHTHOUSE UPON THE EDY- 
 
 STONE ROCK, WITH STONE. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE DESTRUC¬ 
 TION OF MR. RUDYERDS LIGHTHOUSE IN DECEMBER 
 
 17.5.5, TO MR. SMEATON’S DEPARTURE FROM LONDON 
 
 TO PLYMOUTH, IN MARCH 1756. 
 
 §. 75. The proprietors having the remainder of a term of more 
 than half a century, strenuously apply themselves towards re¬ 
 building. Difficulties arose and stated. An act to empower 
 
 Mrs. Iloffslegger to sell part of her property.—Three eighth shares 
 represented by the Westons. A fortunate circumstance.—Con¬ 
 sidered it not as a work for a general undertaker in the building 
 way; but for some one of a natural mechanic genius. 
 
 §. 76. Mr. Weston considered the Royal Society as likely 
 to furnish or recommend a proper person.— Applied to Lord Mac¬ 
 clesfield, then president; who recommended the author. Then 
 in the country, and unknown to Mr. Weston.—Pointed out a 
 friend to write to him.—The author wrote to by Mr. B. Wilson, 
 that he was made choice of to rebuild the Edystone lighthouse. 
 The author conceiving this building to have been of stone, could 
 not imagine it could be totally destroyed Ly fire.—Desired further 
 information. Answered, that it was a total demolition; and he 
 was absolutely chosen to this work. 
 
 77. Returns to London. An interview with Mr. Weston; 
 papers, plans, and models of the late structure explained by Mr. 
 Weston.—Great bias in favour ol' the old building. A ques¬ 
 tion suggested. Answered satisfactorily. 
 
 78. The plans and models being sent to the author, were 
 attentively considered. Not sufficient to make out the precise 
 plan of any of the preceding architects. Had been compiled 
 from occasional observations.—Hence led to consider those pre¬ 
 conceptions the author had formed, of its being a stone structure. 
 An interview desired with the body of the proprietors upon a 
 leading question. 
 
 79. The author states the advantages of a stone building. 
 The proprietors the certainty of success in one of the same 
 structure as the last. Universally believed the safety of the late 
 building was owing to its compliancy.—The objections answered;' 
 and reduced to a simple question.—Determined in a satisfactory 
 manner. 
 
 80. The author’s reasoning, on the difference in structure of 
 stone and wood. An enlargement of the base very eligible. 
 
 81. The figure of the bole of an oak furnished an idea. 
 Reasoning upon its figure. The column of greatest stability.— 
 References to a figure. 
 
 82. Bond of the stone to the rock, and to one another.— 
 Cramping considered. Objections. Of great consequence, by 
 all possible means, to save time upon the rock.—Dovetailing con¬ 
 sidered. Sparingly practised in masonry. An idea, taken from 
 a method sometimes practised, of fixing the kirbs of the walking 
 paths in London streets.—Sketch of the method. An example 
 from Belidor of a sort of upright dovetail stones, in the floor of 
 the great sluice at Cherbourg.—The idea of dovetailing maturated. 
 
 83. Fair section made out for a stone building.—The sloping 
 of the rock advantageous to the strength of the foundation. 
 
 84. Another interview proposed with the proprietors.—On 
 exhibiting those original sketches, they declared their entire 
 satisfaction ; and proposed they might be shewn to the proper 
 boards: and, if they approved, to prepare for execution.—In the 
 author’s opinion, matters not ripe for this. He ought to see the 
 rock, and lake real dimensions, to enable him to make a working 
 model. Approved by the proprietors: and that it should have 
 the same general form and conveniences as the last. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND 
 
 OCCURRENCES ON MR. SMEATON S FIRST JOURNEY TO 
 
 PLYMOUTH, IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 1756. 
 
 §. 85. Arrival at Plymouth. Interview with Mr. Jessop, who 
 appeared likely to answer the character the author had had 
 of him.—Openings of his proposal of a stone building, and Mr. 
 Jessop’s objections.—The late house in a state of decay by the 
 
 86. Wind not favourable to go out to the rock. Waited on 
 Commissioner Rogers. Directs artificers to make tools for trial 
 of the rock. 
 
 87. The 2d of April sailed out near the rock. Viewed it, but 
 could not land. 
 
 88. 2d voyage, April the 5th. Landed and staid 21 hours. 
 General observations.—Traces of Winstanley’s irons.—Obser¬ 
 vations on Rudyerd’s iron branches and steps.—Upper part of the 
 rock damaged by the fire.—Tried the workableness of the rock. 
 
 89. No appearance of impracticability of a stone building. A 
 more safe and certain way of landing highly desirable.—Often 
 difficult, after a vessel had delivered her cargo, to get out again 
 from the Gut.—An attending vessel in company, necessary. 
 
 90. April 9th. Wind favourable, went out at midnight, but 
 obliged to return.—No prospect of success at sea till the 14th.— 
 Looked out for a work-yard. Its necessary properties.—No place 
 to be had in or about Plymouth.—Emparcombe the work-yard 
 used by Rudyerd; not suitable to a stone building.—Mill Bay the 
 most likely situation. 
 
 91. Excursion to see the moorstone at Hingstone Downs. 
 Manner of working it.—Price.—Rendered low by the regularity 
 of its splitting. 
 
 92. April 14th. The 4th voyage proved unfavourable to land. 
 An hard gale ; bore away to the harbour of Fowey.—This harbour 
 described.—Mistakes concerning it.—Fowey, or Foy harbour the 
 key of the Edystone service. 
 
 93. Went to Lanlivery. Found Walter Treleven, who wrought 
 moorstone for Rudyerd. Described the manner. The moor¬ 
 stone here different from that of Hingstone Downs, and more 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 suitable to the author’s purpose. Manner of its carriage by land. 
 —Walking paths of Westminster Bridge chiefly from hence. 
 
 §. 94. Blew hard till 19th. Went out the ,5th time for Edystone. 
 A calm ; anchored 4 miles from it, succeeded by an hard gale, 
 and with difficulty regained Plymouth.—Hence the expediency 
 of a store vessel to be moored near the rock appeared to the 
 author. Approved by Mr. Jessop, who recommended a particular 
 construction for that purpose. If a floating light was moored 
 there, it might answer both purposes. 
 
 9.5. A piece of Portland stone cut out of the King’s dock, that 
 had been perforated by a kind of small shell-fish ; like wood with 
 the worms.—Pieces of marble rock found to be perforated in a 
 similar manner. Portland stone not eligible for the outside of the 
 lower works of the Edystone.—This stone likely to last longer 
 than wood ; but the author’s ideas not confined to an a<re or two. 
 —Those perforations chiefly confined to low water mark. Un¬ 
 necessary to run any risque, moorstone being undeniable. 
 
 96. April 22. I he 6th voyage. Landed on the rock before 
 6 morn. Staid till noon. Operations interrupted by the ground 
 swell. Relaiuled at 2 , and staid till 9 at night.—Boat laid in the 
 Gut all night. Next morn landed at 5, and went on till 11. 
 Obliged to retreat by a ground swell, which was succeeded by an 
 hard gale of wind. Observations on its effects till 5; then re¬ 
 turned. 
 
 97. Account of the operations on the rock. Instrument for 
 taking certain points of the rock.—Construction and use of the 
 instrument.—Improvements in this apparatus.—Thirty-five pri¬ 
 mary points herewith determined. Manner in which many more 
 were deduced from those originals. The measures hence deduced 
 laid down to a scale. 
 
 98. The 7th voyage unsuccessful in landing. Bore away to 
 Falmouth.—Excursion from thence to Constantine. Interview 
 with Mr. Box a moorstone worker there.—A capital workman, 
 but had chiefly applied to small works.—Author determined to 
 use Portland stone for the inside works; and on account of the 
 difficulties of carriage, to reduce the size first intended of the 
 granite pieces.—Returned by way of the Edystone; not landing, 
 returned to Plymouth. 
 
 99. Report of 40 fish prize ships in Plymouth, to be sunk near 
 the Edystone.—The weather appearing favourable, the author pro¬ 
 ceeded to sea; but this attempt rendered fruitless, by a change 
 of weather. On return waited on the commissioner; and re¬ 
 monstrated against this measure: he proposed to consult Adm. 
 Mostyn, who commanded at Plymouth. Delays dangerous. The 
 author wrote to a proprietor, who applied to the Admiralty to 
 give Other orders. Next day saw Adm. Mostyn, who then re¬ 
 lieved him from his apprehensions. 
 
 100. Weather bad till May 14. The author in this interval 
 turned his thoughts on the subject of facilitating the landing; 
 and on the proper mode of carrying on the works upon the rock. 
 —An expedient described by Mr. Jessop.—Mr. Jessop a man of 
 judgment, but not of invention.—Approved the author’s plan. 
 Substance of letters to the proprietors thereupon. 
 
 101. A stone building consisting of a greater tonnage, would 
 take more time than if of wood. Ineligible to take a greater time 
 in the whole than formerly. Expedition must therefore be pro¬ 
 cured by art. The means pointed out.—Further means. A store 
 vessel and two sets ot workmen.—Mode of payment, such as to 
 make it their interest to do their best.—Plan for carrying on the 
 works, and management of the workmen. 
 
 102. May 11th, the 9th voyage commenced. Practicable, but 
 hazardous, to go into the Gut.—The author considers how to re¬ 
 medy this inconvenience.—To level the Sugar Loaf rock, in itself 
 a great work. The use of transport buoys and a windlass of a 
 new contrivance * seemed applicable.—Approved by Mr. Jessop, 
 who suggested improvements. 
 
 103. Landed at 7 morn, and staid till 11 ; obliged to quit on 
 account of rain ; but the most material measures now obtained. 
 
 104. May 15th, the 10th voyage, landed at IlfM. Quitted at 
 2^-A. All observations now completed. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 CONTAINING TRANSACTIONS AND OCCURRENCES DURING 
 
 TIIE AUTHOR’S RETURN FROM PLYMOUTH TO LONDON, 
 
 IN MAY 175G. 
 
 §. 105. The author in his return to London visited the quarries 
 that were likely to furnish freestone to Plymouth. 
 
 106. The quarries at Beare in Devonshire. Account thereof. 
 
 107. Visited Portland. Recommended to Mr. Roper, agent 
 at Portland for .... Tucker, Esq. of Weymouth. 
 
 108. First object of curiosity the Portland quarries. Descrip¬ 
 tion of the strata.—The Portland cap.—Manner of working the 
 merchantable beds into blocks for sale. 
 
 109. Description of the carriages for the stone, and method of 
 using them. 
 
 110. The best freestone to be had here, in any quantity, rough 
 scappelled, but not hewn. 
 
 111. The pier for shipping adjoining to Weymouth Road.— 
 Portland lighthouses visited.—The strata of this island, various, 
 and curious to the naturalist. The most striking curiosity to the 
 author was the Portland beach. Renders it doubtful whether 
 Portland is properly an island. The beach described.—Seemed 
 to the author not to have had its origin at a very remote period. 
 —Loose in its component parts, but not shifting; and rests on a 
 blue clay. 
 
 §. 112. The author not having met with a full account of the 
 beach, was willing to give such a one, as the time employed on 
 tins visit would allow; to excite the able naturalist to a more 
 full investigation. A singularity obtains in the manners and 
 customs of the Portland quarrymen. 
 
 ll.'S. Settled with Mr. Roper and determined ; the best mode 
 would be to send moulds to direct the scappelling. Proceeded 
 to view the quarries at Purbeck. 
 
 114. The peninsula commonly called the Island of Purbeck. 
 Corf Castle. The mortar examined. 
 
 115. Swanage the principal town. The quarries viewed, and 
 the strata described.—Manner of working them. Strata of marble 
 raised here; such as seen in many of our old cathedrals. The 
 paving stone from hence having for many years past supplied the 
 London markets wholly; now come at with more difficulty. 
 
 116. Strata called Purbeck Portland; quarries chiefly near St. 
 Alban’s Head. Manner of working, and qualities.—Departed 
 from hence to London. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 CONTAINING TRANSACTIONS IN LONDON, AFTER THE 
 AUTHOR’S FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 §. 117. The author attended the proprietors. Account of 
 proceedings, as already related. The leading question, whether 
 to rebuild with stone entirely, or entirely with timber; or partly 
 with both. Time, a principal consideration; that stated as re¬ 
 lative to the different modes. An estimate not practicable for the 
 whole business; as the greatest part of it would be widely open 
 to accidents. But whichever mode the proprietors chose, the 
 author would endeavour to perform in the most substantial man¬ 
 ner and at the least possible expence. 
 
 118. Unanimously determined to rebuild with stone; and in 
 the very best manner. Reasons for waving their own immediate 
 interest, in this determination. 
 
 119. The author could not think himself justified in suppress¬ 
 ing these reasons. 
 
 120. A stone building being resolved upon ; the author was 
 directed without loss of time to prepare such models and designs, 
 as should fully explain the proposition to themselves; and to 
 those boards, they should think it right to consult. The time 
 and means left to the author. 
 
 121. Good effect of leaving him unfettered.—Main object to 
 digest such a scheme as should go progressively on, according to 
 opportunities, without derangements. With this view, having 
 got sufficient dimensions, applied himself to the making an ac¬ 
 curate model of the rock. The time spent in a mature diges¬ 
 tion, likely to be more than saved by avoiding unnecessary work. 
 —-A first principle, to cut the rock as' little as could be helped. For 
 this end a second model was necessary, to shew the manner of 
 applying the new work thereto.—The author determined to make 
 both these models with his own hands. 
 
 122. llis reasons, for executing these models himself.—In 
 other matters he availed himself of the hands of others. The 
 purchase tackle. 
 
 123. Viewed the Neptune buss, then fitting out for a floating 
 light; chiefly to judge whether applicable as a store vessel, in the 
 building service. Description of her.—Observed that if situated 
 in a certain position she might answer that double purpose.— 
 Declaration of a proprietor thereon. 
 
 124. The 13th July, the two models executed by the author 
 exhibited to the proprietors. 
 
 125. Being fully considered, by the proprietors, they declared 
 their entire approbation of the whole of the author’s proposition ; 
 and desired him to explain the scheme to the Admiralty and Tri¬ 
 nity House; and adjourned their meeting to the 17th, in expect¬ 
 ation of those exhibitions being over.— The Board of Admiralty 
 appointed the 15th, when the author attended, and met with their 
 thorough approbation of his scheme.—The 17th no appointment 
 received from the Trinity House; and the season fast advancing, 
 the proprietors determined the author should set out for Ply¬ 
 mouth on Monday morning the 19th of July. 
 
 126. During this absence from Plymouth a constant corre¬ 
 spondence with Mr. Jessop. Final instructions from the pro¬ 
 prietors.—One of the proprietors delegated their agent, in cor¬ 
 responding with the author; and managing affairs. 
 
 127. The author set out according to appointment for Plymouth. 
 
 128. The original designs and models, except that of the rock 
 as the author found it, differ from the building, as it now stands 
 executed; yet is sufficient to explain the mode of the building. 
 Concise explanation of several plates. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF PROCEEDINGS FROM TIIE 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK UPON THE ROCK IN 
 175G, TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND SEASON IN 
 JUNE 1757- 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE PROGRESS OFTHE WORK DONE UPON 
 THE EDYSTONE. FROM (THE AUTHOR’S) ARRIVAL AT 
 PLYMOUTH IN JULY 1750 TO THE TIME OF MOORING 
 THE NEPTUNE BUSS. 
 
 §. 129. Arrival at Plymouth, 23d July 1756. Met Mr. Roper 
 at Dorchester. Found Hancock’s sloop and other vessels pro- 
 
 • Author finds, in 1739, that windlasses on this principle have been used in the Severn barges time immemorial. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ucrly prepared by Mr. Jessop.—Neptune buss arrived, and lay in 
 St one house Creek. Not likely to be applied to the use intended. 
 Sloop got ready for temporary service. Weather now unsuitable, 
 and had been so for some time past. 
 
 130. Weather still unfavourable till 3d August. Mr. 1 nomas 
 Richardson appointed foreman of one of the companies. W illiurn 
 I lill of the other. Mr, Jessop, general assistant. M ages settled. 
 —Mr. Delacombe agreed with for half an acre of ground for a 
 work-yard at Mill Bay. Mr. Harrison arrived as clerk to the works. 
 
 131”. The 3d August first company went out. Wind became 
 contrary ; and the author was rowed to the rock in the yawl, and 
 begun to fix the center, and lines ot the work. After which, 
 obliged to return with the sloop to Cawsand Bay.—The weather 
 becoming more unfavourable, returned to Plymouth. 
 
 13'2. The 5th, went out again, came to an anchor, and at¬ 
 tempted to moor the sloop, but obliged to desist. The company 
 landed and worked four hours with good effect.- The 6th, work¬ 
 ed both morning’s and evening’s tide. Got nearly the whole of 
 the work laid out. 
 
 133. Reasons for not using gunpowder in performing this work. 
 
 134. 'pile 7th being Saturday, the companies changed upon the 
 
 rock._The lines on° the rock completed. Distribution of the 
 
 seamen. 
 
 135. Settled weather attended with land and sea breezes. The 
 advantage thereof. 
 
 136. The work pursued without interruption till the 15th ot 
 August. 
 
 137. Cable found greatly damaged by the sharpness of the 
 rocks at bottom. Place of the moorings shifted. 
 
 138. The 13th August, vessel fitted out by the Trinity House 
 as a floating light, exhibited the same. The ground cable again 
 cut by the rocks. One-third of the work of this season now dis¬ 
 patched. Extraordinary wages made last week, by the favour¬ 
 able weather. Position of the floating light. Judged two miles 
 to the westward of the rock. Of no iise to the artificers, unless 
 to shelter them when driven westward, by distress of weather. 
 
 139. Sunday the 15th, a rough sea obliged the hands to slip 
 their moorings and bring the sloop into Cawsand Bay. Returned 
 on Tuesday mom, but weather still unfavourable. This day the 
 1st draughts for stone sent to Portland. This afternoon the sloop 
 came again into Cawsand Bay. Lay there till Thursday. 1 hen 
 again went out, but obliged to return. Companies changed in Caw¬ 
 sand Bay.—Hill’s company attempted to go out, but obliged to put 
 back. Sunday got out; laid hold of the moorings, and landed ; 
 but after halfan hour obliged to quit.—Next night the sloop’s 
 ground cable being again cut, obliged to go into Cawsand Bay. 
 
 140. The author next day received order from the proprietors 
 to make use of the Neptune buss. Adapted her to the service with 
 little alteration.—The 27th, wind and weather moderate. Hill 
 and Co. again went out in the sloop. The buoys being gone, they 
 came to an anchor. Enabled to make short tides. The moorings 
 recovered by sweeping. Sloop again moored. August 29th, buss 
 cleared of unnecessary stores, and made ready. Wind, though 
 moderate, unfavourable for carrying out the buss. Richardson’s 
 company rowed out in the yawl and changed upon the rock. 
 
 141. 31st. Buss brought out of Stonehouse Creek. Warped to 
 one of the King’s buoys in Hamoaze. Sept. 1st, wind not in fa¬ 
 vour, endeavoured to make a tack, hut the vessel would not stay. 
 Came to an anchor.—Next day wind fair; but being moderate, 
 and the buss an heavy sailor, made but little way. Came to an 
 anchor in the evening 2{ miles from the rock. Dispatched sharp 
 tools to the company at work.—Friday 3d, got the vessel out and 
 were assisted by Richardson’s company in warping her to her 
 birth ; proceeded to moor. 
 
 142. The chain moorings described.—Mode of mooring as ori¬ 
 ginally intended. A necessary alteration in the mode. 
 
 143. Manner of laving down the moorings described.—Safe 
 completion of this business. 
 
 144. September 4th. Work examined, and judged one half, for 
 tills season, to be completed.—The sloop brought home. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 and the weather continuing bad, came home in the little yawl, 
 with an oar for a mast and a blanket for a sail. This evening Hill 
 and Co. got out. 
 
 §. 151. The season far advanced. The author forms a scheme to 
 avoid weighing the buss’s chain moorings.—Approved by Mr. 
 Jessop, who suggests improvements. 
 
 152. The 13th, the great yawl broke adrift in a hard gale of 
 wind.—Only 231 hours worked in October. Little wanting but 
 levelling.—Clinch of the cable damaged by the rocks, and re¬ 
 paired. 
 
 153. Nothing to hinder the commencement of setting the stone 
 foundation next season. Richardson ordered to return at the end 
 of their w r eek, though they were not relieved by the other com¬ 
 pany. Instance of great difference of the weather at Edystone 
 and at Plymouth. Both buoys of the mooring anchors broke loose. 
 
 154. Machinery, &c. of the work-yard got ready for use. Ex¬ 
 periments on the strength of the tackle. 
 
 155. A better appearance of weather in November. Hill’s com¬ 
 pany went out. The author went off with a carpenter, &c. to make 
 wooden moulds from the rock. Prevented by weather. Having 
 landed, reports the state of the works. 
 
 156. The 12th Nov. the buoy chain completed. Experiment 
 of its strength. Edystone boat sent out with provision ; but re¬ 
 turned without being able to get out. Attempted again the 15th 
 without success; and this evening the buss arrived in Mill Bay. 
 Since Oct. 2, the work had amounted only to 33r hours. 
 
 157. Buss’s bottom become very foul, was cleaned, and again 
 prepared for sea. 
 
 158. The author with proper assistants sailed the 21st Novem¬ 
 ber. Retarded by an accident; and the slow sailing of the buss 
 even when clean.—Bridle cable being hard laid, and stiff by the 
 water, came in very tardily. Somewhat damaged by the rocks. 
 The 22d at 3 morning, the swivel got above water; and the buoy 
 chain attached thereto. The fore lock clinched by the author.— 
 Fresh of wind obliged the Edystone boat to go home. Circum¬ 
 stances hindered the quitting the moorings till 3 A. 
 
 159. The wind become unfair for Plymouth, steered for Fowcy. 
 —Night dark and stormy, missed the harbour. Breakers ahead. 
 By great exertion the Vessel got about. Heaved down by stress 
 of wind, gunnel frequently under water. Company in great jeo¬ 
 pardy. Concluded to stand out to sea. Escaped the rocks, but 
 split their sails, the main sail excepted. 
 
 160. Tuesday, 23d, at break of day, obliged to cut. the only re¬ 
 maining yawl adrift. M ore the vessel and stood in lor the land ; 
 which saw about noon, and judged the Lizard. Discerned land 
 right ahead, which proved the Land’s End, but upon the weather 
 bow. Evening more moderate, bent fresh sails, and made an at¬ 
 tempt to get into Mounts Bay.—Stood off the land during the 
 night; and at two on Wednesday morning wore the vessel. Saw 
 land soon after day-light, which proved the Land’s End, still more 
 to windward than the day before. Came to an anchor. Wind fresh 
 right from the land. A consultation on measures. Resolved to 
 attempt to make Scilly. 
 
 161. Saw a vessel from the east, which bore down upon them, 
 and proved to be the White Hart of Pool, bound for Guinea. 
 Could get no relief from her; but learnt the course for Scilly. Pre¬ 
 pared for sailing for those islands, very early the next morning. 
 
 162. Thursday 25th, at two morning, began to heave in the 
 cable; while doing, the wind ceased, and a breeze in favour sprang 
 up, which enabled the company to steer for Plymouth. At four 
 on Friday morning abreast of Ram Head, and at six at an anchor 
 in Plymouth Sound. 
 
 163. The relation of the work of the season completed.—Con¬ 
 cludes with the commendation of a deserving seaman. Safety of 
 the vessel and company, in the late adventure, principally due to 
 the activity and alertness of John Bowden. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 CONTAINING TIIF. TRANSACTIONS OF THE WINTER OF 
 
 1756. AM) OF THE FOLLOWING SPRING 1757, TO THE 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE OUTWORK OF THE ENSUING 
 
 SEASON. 
 
 SEQUEL OF THE OPERATIONS UPON THE ROCK, OE THE 
 FIRST SEASON OF 1756. 
 
 §. 145. The buss being satisfactorily moored; nothing now to 
 hinder but bad weather.—Draughts sent to Portland for the foun¬ 
 dation courses. 
 
 146. Companies worked regular tides from 27th August to 14th 
 September. Manner of preparing wooden moulds for the exact 
 cutting of the stones.—Moulds necessary to every different size 
 and shape of stone. 
 
 147. A West India ship and a man of war’s tender sa%’ed from 
 driving upon the N. E. rock.—Manner of splitting stones by the 
 key and leather. Winstanley’s chain released. 
 
 148. Sept. 14th and 15th, an hard gale at S. W. The first 
 since the bliss was moored, and was found to ride perfectly easy. 
 The work examined by the author and the state of it described. 
 
 14 1 *. Unsettled weather. Work further examined. Difference 
 of level of the foundation courses. The yawl having parted her 
 grapling rope, and lost her grapling in endeavouring to weigh it; 
 occasioned the expedient of the transport buoy, before suggested, 
 to be put in use. 
 
 150. The 2d Oct. an hard gale of wind brought Richardson 
 and Co. home in the yawl, having no sharp tools. Hill and Co. 
 prevented going out.—The 8th, the seamen wanting provisions, 
 
 164. The most interesting facts related, without strictly con¬ 
 forming to time.—Mr. William Tyrrel chosen foreman of the 
 work-yard. 
 
 165. General design and contrivance of the work-yard explain¬ 
 ed.—Proper to use as large stones as the situation and service 
 would admit. 
 
 166. Modern buildings in general composed of stones rather 
 small than large. The reason thereof. Advantages of large pieces. 
 
 167. The size of stones most proper for the Edystone work 
 pointed out.—Stones of a ton and upwards, not to be managed in 
 the work-yard without machinery; or an increase of labour.— 
 Reasons for trying every course to its neighbour. 
 
 168. Vessels arrived with stone from Portland in December 
 1756. The masons began to work. Difficulty in getting the moor- 
 stone brought home on account of its size. Dispatched a vessel 
 from Plymouth with proper tackle. 
 
 169. Moorstone though hard yet friable, and difficult to bring 
 to an ariss. Necessary to do the principal part of the work at 
 home. Mode of agreement for doing a certain part in the coun¬ 
 try. The prices agreed for.—Reasons for employing more than 
 one contractor. 
 
 170. Construction of additional vessels necessary for the service 
 of the ensuing year. The service best performed by small vessels. 
 —Size of vessels pointed out.—The number. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 §. 171. Yawls: the sort pointed out.—A large yawl purchased. 
 The smaller made at home. Why to he preferred for the Edystone 
 service, to those made at Deal. Drawing of a yawl preserved ; and 
 referred to; and the larger boats described, which answered the 
 service. 
 
 172. The importance of obtaining cement, the most perfect 
 that it was possible to make. Nothing of the resinous or oily 
 kind could possibly answer in this situation. Only such as would 
 become hard, without being ever dry. 
 
 173. The author resolves to winter at Plymouth, and go 
 through a course of experiments on cements. 
 
 174. A journey to the west, the spring of the year 1757. The 
 church of Lost with iel viewed, that had suffered much by lightning. 
 —Its damages described. 
 
 175. The author went out to the Edystone to get the moulds 
 made of the work upon the rock. Viewed the work, but could 
 not land. The moorings in good order.—Several other attempts; 
 but could not land till 23d April. The moulds then got in part 
 made; but hindered from proceeding by a neglect of the car¬ 
 penter. Completed on the 30th. 
 
 176. The work of the moulds for the foundation rendered in¬ 
 convenient by being denied the use of the public rooms. 
 
 177. Much hindrance last season by our seamen being fre¬ 
 quently detained by the men of war’s cutters to impress seamen. 
 The author suggests a remedy. 
 
 178. The vessels from Portland with stone for the Edystone, 
 detained by fear of French privateers; and an order from the 
 Admiralty for a convoy obtained thereupon. 
 
 179. The stone in Mill Bay work-yard being all wrought up, 
 masons employed in quarrying marble for cubes for inlaying be¬ 
 tween the courses. The tinners employed in boring holes through 
 the stones for trenailing them down. 300 trenails purchased. 
 
 180. A combination among the workmen, and William Hill, 
 one of the foremen of the rock companies, discharged. 
 
 181. The premium per hour given the last season proposed to 
 be reduced ; agreed to by the workmen. 
 
 182. The commanding officer of the fleet at Portsmouth being 
 applied to, for a convoy for the stone from Portland; regular 
 answers were received, yet no convoy ever attended this service. 
 
 183. Five fathom of large chain lor the moorings arrived from 
 London in May. Prepared to begin the work of the season, as 
 soon as weather permitted; but previous to the relation of it, the 
 author proposes to give an account of his experiments on cement. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 CONTAINING EXPERIMENTS TO ASCERTAIN A COMPLETE 
 COMPOSITION FOR WATER CEMENTS; WITH THEIR RE¬ 
 SULTS. 
 
 §. 184. The common tarras composition recognized. Some 
 assertions of workmen concerning mortar unsupported.—Salt¬ 
 water by them disapproved.—The author’s reasoning thereupon. 
 
 185. Enquiry into the effect of limes being imperfectly burnt. 
 Great waste hereby in works at large; but did not hinder the 
 author’s experiments. 
 
 186. Method of making mortar for trials. 
 
 1S7. Common lime and sand would not stand the water test. 
 Question 1st. Concerning lime from stones of different hard¬ 
 ness.—The investigation. Comparison of chalk lime with that 
 of Plymouth marble. 
 
 Quest. 2d. Concerning the difference of salt and fresh water 
 for making water mortar.—The investigation. 
 
 Quest. 3d. Difference resulting from different qualities of lime¬ 
 stone.—Investigation. That of Aberthaw in Wales approved. 
 
 188. The notion of workmen examined concerning repeated 
 beatings of mortar. 
 
 Quest. 4th. If tarras mortar is better by repeated beatings. 
 Investigation with Aberthaw lime. 
 
 189. Shell lime for water building examined. 
 
 190. Plaster of Paris for water building examined. 
 
 191. Lime of Bridistow in Devonshire examined. 
 
 192. Chemical examination of limestones proposed. 
 
 193. Method of the chemical analysis of limestones. 
 
 194. Trial of white chalk, Plymouth marble, and plaster. 
 Aberthaw limestone tried, and also Bridistow. 
 
 195. Pure limes not the best for water building. The best 
 generally contain clay. 
 
 196. Tarras, its properties recounted, and not answerable 
 where subject to become dry. 
 
 197. Another property of tarras unfavourable for some uses. 
 Terra puzzolana recommended by Belidor, and some procuredfor 
 trial. 
 
 198. Puzzolana tried andapproved; and bestwith Aberthaw lime. 
 
 199. The best method of making grout, or liquid mortar, 
 necessary to be known ; and proposed to be examined. 
 
 200. Investigation of the best method of making grout.— 
 Plaster for this purpose tried and rejected. 
 
 201. Some account of tarras and puzzolana.—Method of the 
 preparation of tarras in Holland for use. 
 
 202. Puzzolana described. In great quantities near Mount 
 Vesuvius. That used for the Edystone from Civita Vecchia. 
 That from Naples of an inferior quality. 
 
 203. Tarras and puzzolana agreeing in several obvious pro¬ 
 perties, other similar substances tried, but without success. 
 
 204. Composition of Edystone mortar being determined; en¬ 
 quiry how and where to procure the lime. That of Watchet re¬ 
 
 commended ; to which place the author determined to take a 
 journey. 
 
 §. 205. Journey to Watchet. Saw specimens of work done with 
 that lime, and that of Aberthaw. 
 
 206. Watchet pier satisfactory as to the mortar work. Manner 
 in which the strata of lyas stone lie. Those used for burning into 
 lime are got from the sea shore.—Then but little demand for this 
 lime, and the reason.—A quantity burnt to ascertain the bulk and 
 weight. The mode of package agreed upon and described. 
 
 207. Blue lyas stone of Watchet described; white lyas analysed. 
 Unfit for water works. 
 
 208. Author proposes an account of what has occurred to him 
 on this subject since. 
 
 LIMES SINCE EXAMINED. 
 
 209. That of Barrow in Leicestershire. 
 
 210. White lyas of Somersetshire compared with cluncli lime 
 of Sussex ; a species of chalk described, containing clay, and good 
 for water building. The lime of Darking in Surry esteemed of 
 the same kind. 
 
 211. Sutton lime of Lancashire. The stone analysed and de¬ 
 scribed. Good for water building. 
 
 212. Gray lime of Berryton near Petersfield, Hampshire, a 
 chalk lime containing clay, like the cluncli. A water lime.— 
 A water lime of the chalk kind also near Guildford. 
 
 Blue lyas limestone at Lyme in Dorsetshire, also esteemed good 
 water lime.—Table containing the results of water limestones 
 analysed. 
 
 213. Trials for asuccedaneum for tarras or puzzolana ; smith's 
 forge scales found equal in quality,but not to lie had in quantity. 
 
 214. Minion described. Inferior to puzzolana.—A particular 
 red stone, found equal to forge scales, but could not find it in 
 quantity. 
 
 215. Means of increasing the quantity of good water mortar. 
 
 216. The use of sand in mortar. 
 
 217. The proportion of increase of bulk of mortar by different 
 quantities of sand. 
 
 218. Pursuit of the subject and introduction of pebbles. 
 
 219. Trial of clay in the composition of mortar, hurtful. 
 
 220. Stones naturally flat-bedded recommended for water 
 building. 
 
 221. Flat backing recommended in preference to rough rubble. 
 
 222. Table containing 20 compositions of water mortar suited 
 to different situations and circumstances. 
 
 Observations on the table—in seven different heads. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSTRUC¬ 
 TION OF THE STONE WORK, &c. UPON THE ROCK, FROM 
 
 THE BEGINNING TO THE FINISHING OF THE BUILD¬ 
 ING. WITH AFTER OCCURRENCES. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILD¬ 
 ING UPON THE ROCK. 
 
 §. 223. Sd June, 1757, sailed out of Plymouth Sound to begin 
 the work of the season. A difficulty arose in getting up the moor¬ 
 ings. The manner of obviating it described.—Some danger at¬ 
 tending this operation, was performed by the author. The buss 
 successfully moored. 
 
 224. The fender piles, the shears, and windlass, and the trans¬ 
 port buoy fixed. 
 
 225. The first stone landed; got to place and fixed, Sunday 
 the 12th June, 1757. Next day the first Course completed. 
 
 226. The 14th, the second Course begun. A fresh gale arose, 
 obliging the workmen to quit the rock.—Things secured in the 
 best manner possible. The gale increasing, impracticable to get 
 out of the Gut; otherwise than by passing the Sugar Loaf. Yawls 
 could not both recover the buss. The Sea-horse yawl made her 
 way westward to the floating light.—An hard struggle to the light 
 yawl to regain the buss.—Next morning the wind shifted; and 
 the Weston, obliged to quit the transport buoy and get into port. 
 Afternoon the Sea-horse yawl got back in safety from the floating 
 bght. 
 
 227. The work proceeded with. The ISth, hands again obliged 
 suddenly to quit the rock ; and the Weston to go into port.—Se¬ 
 veral disasters described. The most considerable, the loss of 
 several pieces of stone.—The author returned to Plymouth, to 
 expedite the forming fresh stones instead of those lost.—In car¬ 
 rying out the stones, a gale of wind arose, obliging the vessel to 
 run into Fowey harbour. 
 
 228. The 30th June the lid Course closed; and the Hid 
 begun.—A new tool contrived for getting up lost stones.—Further 
 progress reported. 
 
 229. Weather unfavourable.—Afternoon of the 5th July the 
 work renewed ; and pursued the next day. In the night the 
 Charming Sally of Biddeford wrecked upon the rocks, though the 
 weather was fine. 
 
 230. The 12th, the Hid Course completed, and the IVtli begun. 
 A sudden violent gust of wind, which as‘suddenly ceased. 
 
 231. Company driven home in bad weather for want of provi¬ 
 sion. An alarming accident; but without hurt to the people. 
 —Seamen pressed from a vessel laden at Portland with 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 stone for the Edystone; but discharged by an order from the 
 Admiralty. 
 
 §. l-io. Various interruptions; yet July :! 1, Course IYth com¬ 
 pleted, and I be Yth begun. 5th August the work visited and Yth 
 Course completed. A cramp applied to remedy an accidental 
 defect. An additional boat called the Assistant, Samuel Medling, 
 master, brought out her first cargo of stone; a gale of wind arose, 
 obliging her to seek an harbour. The Edystone boat also came 
 out. Lime and puzzolana being much wanted ; an expedient 
 contrived to get a cask of each from on board her. Course VI 
 begun. 
 
 233. A meridian traced on Course Vlth. The sea for the first 
 time never having washed over the work at high water; this 
 opportunity was taken to repair the pointings. The method 
 thereof; and observations. 
 
 234. The 9th of Aug. four vessels arrived from Portland with 
 stone. The 11th, the Vlth Course completing the basement was 
 closed in. Recapitulation of this part of the work. 
 
 235. Method of setting and fixing the stones described. 
 
 236. Further descriptions. 
 
 237. Method of making the mortar. Simple machinery used 
 for hoisting the stones. 
 
 23S. Further detail of the manner of setting. Application of 
 wooden wedges. 
 
 239. Oaken trenails used and described. The manner of 
 grouting. 
 
 240. The 11th August, Course Yllth begun. The method of 
 fixing it described; with its centre plug, &c. 
 
 241. An accident to the author. 
 
 242. Further detail of the method of proceeding with Course 
 VII, being the first circular course. 
 
 243. Difficulties described in landing the stones. 
 
 244. 'fhe works upon the rock visited by Mr. Weston. Man¬ 
 ner of fixing the cubic joggles described. Those cubes might 
 possibly have been dispensed with; but in such a situation, no¬ 
 thing should be omitted. 
 
 245. The author’s reasons for using the joggles, in preference 
 of other methods of steadying the work. 
 
 240. This building intended to be a column of proportionably 
 equal strength. Short reasonings upon it. 
 
 247- Mr. Weston returned the 18th to Plymouth, leaving the 
 author to sec Course VII wholly closed. An hard gale arose, 
 while working with links upon the rock. Things put in the best 
 posture. The weather growing worse, the author returned to 
 Plymouth. On the 28th it came to be a violent storm.—The 
 29th, the author looked out with his telescope, and missed the 
 shears; next day confirmed ; and went out to reconnoitre the 
 works; leaving orders for new shears. The shears and triangles 
 gone ; and also two of the largest stones which had been left 
 chained upon the work. Damages to the windlass and its frame. 
 '1 he buss rode well. 
 
 248. Richardson sent word the 1st Sept, that the two large 
 stones could be weighed. The 3d, the new shears set up, and 
 the work recommenced that had been interrupted by bad weather 
 since the 18th.—The method of getting up the stones described. 
 
 249. The weather favourable. Course VII completed. Mr. 
 Weston, accompanied by the author, went to see the 1st stone of 
 the Vlllth Course laid; which performed, Mr. Weston returned. 
 —The season continuing favourable, the Vlllth Course com¬ 
 pleted in five days; ami on the 20th, the IXth far advanced, 
 when the works were again interrupted by bad weather. 
 
 250. During the late favourable time, there had been uncom¬ 
 monly low tides, which produced an hindrance in shipping the 
 stones. An expedient made use of by Mr. Jessop. A ma¬ 
 levolent intention to retard the progress of the work brought to 
 
 251. On the 26th the work recommenced. A great swell in 
 the Gut from easterly winds. Great difficulty and hazard in 
 landing the stones, necessary to complete the IXth Course. 
 
 252. Best method of going into and out of the Gut described. 
 
 253. state and progress of the works considered. Being the 
 eve of October, resolved to put a period to the outwork of the 
 season.—The shears and windlass taken down. An imminent 
 danger escaped in getting the transport buoy on board. 
 
 254. October 1st, the Neptune buss prepared to cast off her 
 moorings. The author, attended by Mr. Jessop and the masons, 
 revisit the rock; and rectified every thing that appeared amiss. Re¬ 
 turned to Plymouth with the companies. The buss came in the 
 next day, and laid up for the winter.—An incident described. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 COMPREHENDING TIIE ACCOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS 
 
 FROM (THE AUTHORS) LEAVING PLYMOUTH IN OC¬ 
 TOBER 1757, TO THE CONCLUSION OP THE WORKING 
 
 SEASON OF 1758. 
 
 §• 255. Tempestuous weather till March. The great buoy on 
 the moorings carried away. A reward offered lor recovery of the 
 moorings. New chains bespoke. 
 
 256. The proceedings proposed to be laid before the Board of 
 Trinity House. A day appointed.—The author’s work and pro¬ 
 positions received the approbation of that honourable corporation. 
 —A set of mooring chains offered by that board, and the author 
 desired to acquaint them with his future proceedings. 
 
 2j 7. The sweeping for the moorings proving unsuccessful, the 
 author took a journey to Plymouth to expedite that operation. 
 
 §. 258. Reports the progress of the works at Mill Bay. Express 
 arrives to carry him back to attend the House of Commons. 
 Consultation with Mr. Jessop and the seamen about the sweeping. 
 Expedients proposed. 
 
 259. Author returned the 30th. One of the anchors hooked, 
 and secured. The 2d May, went out to weigh the anchor ; got 
 it to the surface, but a fresh gale coming on, obliged them to 
 lower it to the bottom.—Bad weather till the 11th.—In this in¬ 
 terim a further expedient proposed; attended with success; and 
 the buss, after some difficulties, moored. 
 
 260. The author landed on the rock. Reports the condition 
 of the work, after the winter. All well; except the fender piles, 
 all gone. 
 
 261. The 14th May', the Portland stone work all finished in 
 the work-yard. The 16th, new fender piles fixed, as also the 
 shears, windlass, and transport buoy. The boats loaded with stone, 
 and the first went out to the transport buoy. All being ready to 
 begin, an unforeseen disaster retarded the works for some time. 
 
 262. The author attended to lay the first stone of this year, 
 but prevented by ground seas from the 16th to the 23d May; 
 when without any distress of weather, the buss got loose ; and a 
 fresh gale obliged her to return to Plymouth Sound. A buoy 
 being placed on the western anchor, concluded all safe. 
 
 263. Bad weather till the 3d June. The buoy of the anchor 
 then gone ; therefore came to an anchor with the buss. Enquiry 
 made at the floating light. The buoy seen floating, and two fishing 
 boats in sight.— 1 he sweepings for the anchor recommenced, and 
 continued, but without success; by bad weather obliged to return. 
 
 264. Strong suspicion of the Polparra fishermen. Search made, 
 which confirmed suspicions of the cork buoy being cut up for crab 
 pots and seines. 
 
 26.5. Frequent attempts to recover the moorings; and not¬ 
 withstanding a declaration from the seamen, that they would not 
 return till they had succeeded, yet all endeavours proved abor¬ 
 tive. 
 
 266. The chain lately made in London arrived ; and the corpo¬ 
 ration’s chain from Falmouth repaired. The 1st July, the buss 
 sailed with the new ground tackle. Was moored, and the work 
 recommenced. Consolation for the late disasters. 
 
 267. On the 5th July the Xth Course completed ; but the Xltli, 
 being interrupted by bad weather, not till the 18th. 
 
 268. The 8th Aug. the fundamental solid completed, with the 
 XIVth Course. The well-hole for the stairs to be now begun; 
 the difference of construction described. 
 
 26.9. The entry and well-hole begun with the X Yth Course ; and 
 the weather proving good, on the 20th the XVIIIth Course was 
 completed; which finished the entry and doorway. An accident 
 happened, which might have been fatal; but without material 
 damage. 
 
 270. A succession of bad weather, so that the solid was not 
 completed till the 24th Sept. In this interval an accident hap¬ 
 pened, by which the workmen were detained upon the rock, being 
 the only one of the kind.—One leg of the shears was also unfixed 
 by hard weather, but in this state of the building, they could not 
 fall: nor was any damage done, which accounts for a former ac¬ 
 cident mentioned § 248. 
 
 271. A wish to complete the 1st room, and make the building 
 useful to keep a light thereupon, induced the author to proceed 
 beyond the present period with the building this year. The prac¬ 
 ticability as well as utility thereof set forth. Also the method of 
 performing it. The proposal communicated to the Trinity House 
 and the proprietors. 
 
 272. The 26th Sept. Course XXV, being the first of the super¬ 
 structure, completed. Mode of construction very different from 
 the former. Account of it, and particularly of the joggles.— 
 Joint stones necessary. Described.—Cramps necessary. 
 
 273. Method of applying the cramps. 
 
 274. The 30th Sept. Course XXVIII, being the first chain 
 course, was completed; as was the 2d chain course, XXIX, the 
 next day.—The reason of the chain courses.—Preferable to 
 cramps, and taken from a like construction in the dome of St. 
 Paul’s. — Method of leading in the chains.—Extreme precaution 
 allowable in such a situation, where time is not materially lost. 
 
 275. Oct. 2d, the centre for the first floor set up. Described. 
 All the stones for the floor got into, and upon the building; but, 
 in making this effort, the boat Weston had a narrow escape from 
 a gale arising. The author returned to Plymouth, went out again 
 the 5th, and saw the two first stones of the floor set. The shears 
 and windlass taken down, as being done with this season.— 
 Broken weather till the 7th; materials arrived for covering the 
 building, and stores for furnishing the same. The floor proceeded 
 with, but foul weather appearing, every tiling put in the best pos¬ 
 ture of defence.—The author returned to Plymouth, leaving 
 orders with Mr. Jessop. A storm ensued. 
 
 276. Next morning, Oct. 9th, the author looked out with his 
 telescope, but the air being very hazy, could discern the house 
 and the sea breaking over it,but nothing ofthe buss. The after¬ 
 noon somewhat less hazy, but no appearance of the buss ; which 
 created apprehensions.—The 10th, air more clear; distinct view 
 of the budding. The buss really gone. This a day of double re¬ 
 gret, as it brought the author a negative upon his proposal, for 
 exhibiting a light from the house during the winter, § 271. 
 
 277. The same evening at 10, Mr. Jessop returned to Plymouth 
 from Dartmouth Harbour, where the buss lay. Described 
 the particulars of this storm since the 8th.—The 11th, John 
 Bowden sent to Dartmouth to take charge of the buss. Every' 
 thing prepared for the author to go out the next morning 
 
with a set of workmen, to do what they could in securing things 
 against the winter. A gale of wind at East came on, which ren¬ 
 dered it to no purpose to attempt to go out.—This continuing for 
 several days, brought home the buss on Friday the 13th, and on 
 Sunday came on a storm, and a continuance of bad weather. The 
 author left the necessary orders, and departed for London the 
 25th Oct. 1758. 
 
 CHAP. Ill, 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF 
 
 THF. FOURTH AND LAST YEAR’S WORK, TOTHE FINISH- 
 
 ING OF THE BUILDING IN THE YEAR 1759. 
 
 §■ 278. The lantern, balcony rails, &c. made in London. Bad 
 weather at Plymouth, which was terminated by a violent storm ; 
 so that the works on the rock could not be visited till March, 
 .transport buoy gone, as well as the buoy on the moorings, and 
 the south tender pile. All the work of the building firm as it was 
 left; and the triangle standing, with the stone suspended ; vet a 
 large stone washed from the top.—Seamen swept for the moorings. 
 A further expedient proposed, and rewards offered, but all ineffec¬ 
 tual. A new chain ordered; and an old chain and anchors procured. 
 
 279. Iron pillars for the lantern, cast by Mr. Prickett. Cop¬ 
 per sash frames, by Mr. Kinman. Lantern framed, and balcony 
 
 made by Mr. Broadbent. 
 
 280. The author repeatedly attended the Trinity Board, who 
 expressed their approbation of his proceedings. Consulted upon 
 the proposal of an optician, respecting the figure of the glass of 
 the lantern. 
 
 28). The author arrived at Plymouth 22d June; found all the 
 stone work prepared, and all in forwardness. A violent storm 
 the 13th had damaged the Neptune buss. Repaired, and with 
 the seamen then in search of the moorings. Five of the best 
 hands demanding more wages, discharged.—A bridle cable laid 
 pliant, requested by the seamen; and prepared.—The old chain 
 carefully examined and repaired, and every necessary put on 
 board the buss the 2d of July. Also the new chain, which arrived 
 this evening from London bv land. 
 
 282. 3d July, went out with the buss. Calms, &c. next day 
 completed the mooring. Position described.—Completed the 
 transport buoy; the shears and windlass set up. The work 
 examined by the author, and found all sound and firm. Proceeded 
 in setting the floor. A large stone found wanting. Probably washed 
 from the store room. Expedient to supply its place.—July 5th, 
 the sea quiet. South fender pile fixed. 'The rock quitted the 
 first time for want of work. The stone arrived in the afternoon. 
 Next morning the first floor completed, and centre cleared. 
 
 283. New method of hoisting the stones adapted to present cir¬ 
 cumstances described. The shelter procured by the completion of 
 a room gave an opportunity to leave the tools and materials on re¬ 
 tiring.—Uncertain weather. Working at nights now discontinued. 
 
 284. Author went out to instruct Richardson’s company in 
 leading the chains of the second floor. Message from Lord Edge¬ 
 combe respecting the Duke of York.—Staid to see one of The 
 chains leaded in, and returned to Plymouth. 
 
 28.5. Next day shewed the model of the lighthouse to Prince 
 Edward, Duke of York. Attended his Royal Highness to Mill 
 Bay to see the works there; which met his approbation. Author 
 rowed off in a six-oared barge, and landed at six the next morn¬ 
 ing. The second floor begun. 
 
 28G. July 21st, second floor finished. A room or story built 
 complete in 7 days. Proceeded to fit the iron work of the door 
 hooks for leading. Block tin wanted for this use, forgot to be 
 brought out. An expedient for remedy. The method of leading 
 described. 
 
 287. A seaman missing and recovered. The third floor begun, 
 and completed the 29th. Two stories built in 13 days.—Adv 
 weather. The copper ball completed at Plymouth/ 
 
 288. Weather uncertain. 1 he 6th Aug. the author visited the 
 work, the XLVth or Cove Course in hand, and completed with its 
 two chains the 8th. This day an uncommon rainbow.—The 9th, 
 the elliptical centre for the balcony floor set. The Weston ar¬ 
 rived with stone, and in part delivered; but taken with a sudden 
 fresh of wind. All hands ordered to her assistance ; had a nar¬ 
 row escape, and obliged to return to Plymouth. The balcony 
 floor begun; wind fresh obliged all hands to quit. The author 
 returned to Plymouth. 
 
 2S9. Aug. 16. Weston delivered. The moveable shears 
 taken down, and the windlass fitted to hoist the smaller pieces 
 through the manholes or hatchways.—The 17th the main column 
 completed. Its dimensions. 
 
 290. Balcony rails set up and completed. Proceeded in fixing 
 the ports for the windows; and for temporarily securing the man¬ 
 hole at top. The manner thereof described. Stone for the lan¬ 
 tern arrived and unloaded.—The 1st course of the lantern being 
 set, the author returned the 18th, leaving directions with Mr. 
 Richardson for that and the stairs in the well-hole. 
 
 291. The lantern coming by land from London, for expedition’s 
 sake, by the carriers inattention was left at Exeter. Arrived the 
 evening of the 20th.—21st, the groundsel of the lantern applied 
 and fitted to the stone work. Progress reported to the Trinity 
 House. 
 
 292. The iron ribs of the cupola put upon the platform to form 
 the copper roof upon it. Method of the construction.—The 24th 
 Sept, the last course of the stone work of the lantern completed. 
 
 293. The 27th, Richardson and his company returned from the 
 Edystone, having completed the whole of the stone work the 26th. 
 
 . .— r ..- coppersmith taken ill. 
 
 1 runty House desire to know the day that a light could certainly 
 be exhibited in the building. The author’s answer.—Wanting the 
 principal artificer, the author worked at the copper-work of the 
 cupola. The second coppersmith taken ill, as the first had been. 
 A workman requested of another master, but refused. Assisted 
 by the brazier of the dock-yard. The Duke man of war, of 80 
 guns, drove by bad weather into Mill Bay. Grounded on the 
 soft mud, and got off without damage. 
 
 296. Directed by the corporation of Trinity House to fix the 
 day of lighting; so as to enable them to give a week’s notice by 
 advertisement. 
 
 297. 1 he 12th Sept, the author sailed with necessary materials 
 
 id workmen for completion of the house. Returned to expedite 
 
 the remaining work.—King’s yard brazier set to work on the cop¬ 
 per funnels. 
 
 298. I lie 15th, two cargoes of materials landed. Workmen 
 begun their respective operations. 
 
 299. Manner of leading the iron groundsel of the lantern upon 
 the stone. 
 
 300. The 17th, the copper cupola arrived. The shears and 
 tackle set up, and the cupola hoisted. The method of hoisting 
 described.—The ISth, the ball arrived, and screwed on by the 
 author. The cabin bedsteads completed. The author and Mr. 
 Jessop removed their beds from the buss to the house. After that 
 bad weather came on, and cut off all communication with the buss. 
 
 301. The 2lst all the copper sash-frames were got fixed: An 
 accident to two of them in coming from London. How reme¬ 
 died. Artificers brought out, but could not be landed; a third 
 coppersmith taken ill. The distemper said to be epidemic. 
 
 302. The 23d, artificers landed. The glazing of the lantern 
 begun: 24 iron cramps fixed in the cupola by the author, assisted 
 by a mason; the manner described.—The lead covering com¬ 
 pleted. Two more of the artificers taken ill. 
 
 303. The 2Sth, joiners finished their work. The articles de¬ 
 scribed ; and the manner of fixing thereof. 
 
 304. Reasons for •the present disposition of the rooms to their 
 respective uses. 
 
 305. Two chests of candles arrived and other stores. Cross 
 bars brought out, and two smiths to fix them ; but being only half 
 the number wanted, sent back to make more. 'Ibe author pro¬ 
 ceeded to fix them. A painter deterred from coming out, on ac¬ 
 count of the number taken ill. A mason employed in that work. 
 Those taken ill sent home.—An accident to the author, which if 
 unattended would probably have proved fatal. 
 
 306. The 29th, the glazing completed. The fixing the cross 
 bars proceeded with, and their intention described, 'flic prin¬ 
 cipal glazier taken ill. 
 
 307. I he 1st Oct. the disposition of 8 pair of cross bars de¬ 
 scribed. The copper funnel for the kitchen fire was completed 
 and tried. Also the tackle for hoisting the chandeliers. Tried 
 the lantern by lighting candles in the day-time.—Two light- 
 keepers brought out, but could not land. Letters conveyed into 
 the house by a keg. Its contrivance and use described. 
 
 308. The conductor for lightning begun to be fixed. The 
 manner of it. One of the proposed lightkeepers happened an acci¬ 
 dent ; the other was intimidated, and refused to enter upon his 
 employ. 
 
 309. The 4th, stores, water, and materials landed. Every 
 thing essential to the maintenance of a light completed, and three 
 of the workmen agreed with to keep the light. An express this 
 day sent from the Edystone to the board of Trinity House ; giving 
 notice for lighting the 16th instant. Notice also given to the 
 ter of the floating light. The sick glazier and disabled light- 
 keeper sent back to Plymouth,—A great sea about the rocks, a 
 sensible motion in the house. The rocks elastic.—A ground sea 
 mounting only to the windows of the kitchen, did not sensibly m< 
 the building. The unhurt lightkeeper apologized, and came ii.._ 
 the house.—The 7th, the house began to be cleared. The elec¬ 
 trical conductor completed. 
 
 310. The 8th, two boats arrived with stores; and also the re¬ 
 mainder of the cross bars ; too great a swell for the great boats to 
 go into the Gut; their stores put on board the buss. Afterwards 
 removed by the yawls to the house. All the stores then intended 
 got in, except four casks of water. The painting finished. The 
 cross bars all fixed. The clock set up. Orders given to those who 
 were to keep the lights. 
 
 311. The 9th Oct. at one in the morning the yawl brought the 
 remaining four casks of water, and began to remove the men, beds, 
 tools, &c. All got on board the buss at four; and begun to unmoor. 
 Found the eastern chain parted from the western. One of the links 
 of the bridle part of the chain much worn. At four in the after¬ 
 noon all the moorings got on board, and with a fair wind came to 
 an anchor in Plymouth Harbour. Great joy to those on board, 
 being without loss of life or limb to any o 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ing in the buss, till Oct. l.5th.—'The author then prepared to go 
 out, to be present at the lighting; but prevented by a reverse ot 
 
 §. 3l a. The 19th went out,landed,and found all well. The house 
 lighted on the 16th as directed ; and every thing answered well. 
 Seas in the late bad weather broke up high. Window ports shut 
 to windward, and stuffed with oakum. Motion of the house sen¬ 
 sible.—A further supply of coals, water, and small stores, com¬ 
 pleted the provision for six months. At the proprietors expence. 
 Reasons for this provision. 
 
 3 i t. A fresh coat of paint laid upon the pillars of the lantern 
 to change their'colour. The reasons thereof. Gave the inside 
 of the cupola another coat of paint. The ventilation of the lan¬ 
 tern proved complete. The floating light vessel unmoored, and 
 went into harbour. Lightkeepers exercised in their business. 
 The author slept in one of the cabin beds. Noise of the sea upon 
 the rocks remarkable in moderate weather,—Outside painting 
 finished. An iron hand-rail fixed, and the rough steps in part 
 cut in the rock, completed. Coat of amber varnish over the 
 whole painting omitted, till spring. Instructions in writing from 
 the proprietors to the lightkeepers framed and hung up. Ex¬ 
 horted to a diligent discharge of their duty. 
 
 315. The 20th Oct. at noon, sailed for Plymouth. Wind con¬ 
 trary. Remarkable appearance of the light at different distances. 
 Accounted for. 
 
 316. Comparative appearance of the light from the Iloa at 
 Plymouth. 
 
 317. The appearance of the lighthouse from the Hoa, and the 
 seas breaking upon it in clear weather after a storm. Combined 
 with what the author observed of the gathering and breaking of 
 the seas upon the rocks, when he was in the building, furnished 
 the idea given in the frontispiece. Winstanley’s account not ex¬ 
 aggerated. 
 
 OCCURRENCES AFTER LEAVING PLYMOUTH. 
 
 318. Stormy weather the remainder of the year 1759. The 
 house visited the 3th January 1760. Boat could not land. Small 
 stores conveyed into the house by the keg ; and a letter conveyed 
 to the boat from Henry Edwards. Bad weather described. Put 
 in great fear by the motion of the house. Some small damages. 
 —The 10th again visited, but could only land in the small boat. 
 Seamen examined, but could not find the mortar any where 
 started. 
 
 319. The 8th Feb. stores landed. The house examined by 
 Bowden; found nothing amiss, except one pane of glass broke, 
 as reported by Edwards. All well; but the south fender pile 
 gone. 
 
 320. Soon after this, a violent storm reported by Admiral 
 Boscawen to the Admiralty. No accounts from Plymouth. The 
 author wrote to Mr. Jessop. The house reinspected; but no 
 damage, except to a part of the electrical strap. Lightkeepers 
 well, and no complaint. 
 
 321. In June 1761, Mr. Weston wrote to theauthor, informing 
 that Mr. Jessop was then dead; and Mr. Richardson appointed 
 surveyor in his stead. As desired, the author in answer advised 
 concerning the renewal of the painting, and the electrical strap. 
 
 322. The strength of the building doubted by the advocates 
 for wood, in case of a storm of the greatest degree of violence,— 
 One of this kind happened in the year 1762. Mr. Richardson 
 being unequal to the relation; the effects were described by Ur. 
 Mudge.—His letter inserted. 
 
 323. This letter being wrote immediately after the storm, and 
 mentioning that the lantern had suffered nothing, the author de¬ 
 sired his friend to write a circumstantial account, after the house 
 had been visited. Extract of Dr. Mudge’s 2d letter.—Nothing 
 was disturbed, except a small matter of putty from the glass of 
 the lantern. Further descriptions of the effects of the storm.— 
 Great damages done in the Harbour and Sound. 
 
 324. The author called into Cornwall in the year 1766. Visits 
 the Edystone.—Extract of his report to the proprietors of its 
 state and condition. 
 
 325. The author called a second time into Cornwall in 1777. 
 Inspected the lighthouse. Found things in good condition as 
 before reported. 
 
 326. The author having a call to Plymouth Dock in 1787, 
 again inspects the lighthouse ; trigonometrical operations for de¬ 
 termining its distance from the land. 
 
 327. The condition materially and substantially the same as 
 before, and particularly described. In the interval since 1777, 
 Mr. Richardson dead. 
 
 328. The iron work very little injured. Methods originally 
 taken, with intention to prevent injury thereof from the salt water. 
 —Described. 
 
 329. The lustre of the gilding of the ball impaired, but not 
 effaced.—Some derangement by late storms to the lead cover of 
 the balcony. The author apprized the agent hereof, and how it 
 should be rectified. 
 
 330. Reasons why lightkeepers are readily procured to the 
 Edystone, and stay long there. The lighthouse an healthy and 
 comfortable habitation. Anecdote. 
 
 §. 331. The inscriptions upon the building. 
 
 General abstract of the progress of the work of the Edystone 
 lighthouse. 
 
 APPENDIX; 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT 
 THE PRESENT LIGHTS UPON THE SPURN POINT, 
 DIRECTION ol- THE HONOURABLE CORPORATION 
 TRINITY HOUSE, DEPTFORD ST ROND, LONDON 
 
 332. A patent granted to Mr. Angell in 1676, for continu¬ 
 ing lights on the Spurn Point, which he had erected at the request 
 of masters of ships using the northern trade.—Before the year 
 1766, the land had grown out to so great a length, that the po¬ 
 sition of the lights, so far from being useful, were in many cases 
 become hurtful. An act for removing them passed in 1766, and 
 the direction of the building given to the corporation of Trinity 
 House of London. Also to erect temporary lights. 
 
 333. The author employed on this occasion by that body. 
 Attended the committee at the Spurn Point in June 1766; who 
 examined the situation, and fixed the places of the new light¬ 
 houses and temporary lights.—The author’s opinion requested 
 concerning the practicability of building with brick. Answered. 
 Committee of opinion the new buildings should be placed as near 
 the then present Point as possible. The principle of the low 
 light machine, called a swape, recommended for the temporary 
 lights. 
 
 " 334. The author received directions from the Trinity House, 
 London, stating the situations and dimensions of the new light¬ 
 houses and temporary lights.—The order. 
 
 335. Early in 1767, the author produced a set of designs for 
 the lighthouses and temporary lights to the board of 1 rinity 
 House. Approved, and passed the common seal. Delivered to 
 Leonard Thompson, Esq. who proceeded to the execution of the 
 temporary lights ; which gave satisfaction.—Mr. Thompson find¬ 
 ing difficulties jn the erection of the lighthouses, the erection de¬ 
 volved on the Trinity House ; and the 7th April 1770, Mr. Taylor 
 of York became the contractor. 
 
 336. May 1771, the author appointed surveyor. Since the year 
 1766, the sea had considerably encroached upon the eastern coast 
 of the Spurn Point. An alteration in the situation proposed to the 
 board, and agreed to. The piling increased.—The contractor in¬ 
 terrupted by thq agents of Mr. Angell. An amendment of the 
 act found necessary, and the works stopped above a year. Latter 
 end of 1772 the high light begun ; its situation also altered. The 
 distance of the lights stated. 
 
 337. In the year 1774, the author remarked the rate at which 
 the coast was wearing away. Danger to the low lighthouse 
 thence apparent. 
 
 338. In 1776, a great storm took away the entire site of the old 
 lighthouse. Brought down a part of the circular court wall of 
 the low lighthouse. The method of stopping further progress for 
 the present. 
 
 339. To defend this lighthouse for a permanency, appeared to 
 the author impracticable. A repair of the breach recommended, 
 and a temporary defence as long as easily tenable. The present 
 high light machine to be applied as a low light. Approved by 
 the board and executed. 
 
 340. This accident did not materially retard the work. 
 
 341. The houses desired to be lighted before the ensuing 
 winter. Stone coal of Yorkshire of the nature of kennel recom¬ 
 mended, and agreed to be tried. 
 
 342. The 5th Sept. 1776, the fires were kindled with stone coal, 
 and gave entire satisfaction,—The high light machine immedi¬ 
 ately removed into the line of direction. Its situation described : 
 made moveable on rollers. 
 
 343. In the first winter some defects at sometimes shewed 
 themselves in the funnels as to venting the smoke. A remedy ap¬ 
 plied to the low light; afterwards applied to the high light.— 
 April 1777, the author visited the Spurn Point lighthouse, and 
 certified the whole works contracted for by Mr. Taylor were 
 finished. The lights had given entire satisfaction ; and the court 
 wall of the low light standing in good condition. 
 
 344. Inconvenience of the Spurn Point for want of fresh water. 
 The author ordered a well to be sunk towards the middle of the 
 peninsula. Reasons for this procedure. Water obtained, which 
 though not perfectly fresh, was but barely brackish. 
 
 345. The author visited the Spurn Point in 1786, took a survey 
 of it. The well then destroyed, though it had been very useful. 
 The isthmus described, over which the sea breaks into the Hum¬ 
 ber. 
 
 346. The low lighthouse being demolished by the sea, its use 
 supplied by the temporary light machine.—Manner of its demo¬ 
 lition. 
 
 347. An unexpected circumstance in the appearance of the 
 lights, surprised the author, which he is at a loss to account for. 
 
 348. fhe Spurn lights uncommonly brilliant. 
 
 349. The principle of the air draught of this lighthouse ex¬ 
 plained. 
 
 Technical references to the Plates, page 193 . 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 1 HE building of Watch Towers, now called Lighthouses, for the direction of mariners, has 
 doubtless, from the obvious utility thereof, had its rise in the earliest ages; and in several in¬ 
 stances has been the object of royal magnificence. None however was so much celebrated 
 amongst the ancients, as the Pharos of Alexandria, which has been accounted one of the seven 
 wonders of the world. This famous tower was built by the Ptolemies kings of Egypt and suc¬ 
 cessors of Alexander ; it is supposed to have been finished about 283 years before the Christian 
 era, that is, 2070 years since, and had the name of PHAROS from the island; upon a rock at 
 the eastern end of which it was built, so that its walls were washed by the sea. It was a square 
 edifice of a white hard stone, and was built in a style astonishingly superb. According to the 
 Nubian Geographer, a writer of the 12th century*, its height was 300 cubits; that is, 547 feet 
 English measure ; and a fire upon the top of it was constantly kept, burning in the night, to light 
 such ships as sailed near these dangerous coasts, which are said to be full of sands, and shelves 
 of rocks: and according to Josephus j~, it could be seen at the distance of 300 stadia; that is 
 414- English miles £. 
 
 THE size of its base is not so well ascertained ; and indeed, as a Lighthouse, it is not so ma¬ 
 terial. A scholiast on Lucian takes upon him to assert, that it was a stadium in base ! but this 
 must have been a random stroke; as it would make the Pharos to have been greater in bulk than 
 the great Pyramid, and therefore in that respect taking place of it as one of the Wonders. The 
 same scholiast also asserts, that it could be seen at the distance of 100 miles; but this is quite 
 impossible: for a tower 547 feet high, cannot be seen above 29 miles from the surface of the sea; 
 the rest of the distance mentioned by Josephus, must be obtained by an elevation of the ob¬ 
 server’s eye above the sea; which at the height of 111 feet, would enable him to gain a sight of 
 the fire upon the tower at the distance of 300 stadia: and an elevation of this kind we may very 
 well suppose to be afforded from the tops of the masts of their largest ships, especially when 
 lifted up upon the top of the waves of the sea: whereas to see the fire at the distance of 100 
 miles would not only require the tower itself to be 560 yards in height; but the observer’s eye 
 to be elevated as much: a situation which does not seem afforded in this flat country. 
 
 JOSEPHUS in another place, speaking of a magnificent building called the Phasael at Je- 
 rusalem§, says it was 40 cubits in length and breadth, and about 90 cubits in height; and in its 
 appearance resembled the Tower upon the Pharos, which gave a light to those who were sailing 
 to Alexandria : but in its circuit it was much bigger.—According to this account the Pharos could 
 not be so much as 73 feet in base, so that if the walls of it were 20 feet in thickness upon the 
 
 * Geog. Nub. p. 94. Paris Latin Edit. 1619. 
 
 t Joseph. Bell. Judaic. 1. iv. ch. 11. 
 
 t It perhaps may not be amiss to observe, that this reduction of the ancient measures to those of England, is on the supposition 
 that the Egyptian cubit, and which I understand was likewise the cubit used all over Palestine, Asia Minor, &c. consisted of 
 21,888 inches nearly; as has been ascertained from the pillar still remaining on an island in the Nile, upon which the cubits supposed 
 to be marked thereon 2000 years ago, are still used for the original purpose of measuring the height of its inundations. For though 
 the Nilometer now standing is said to have been erected in the 8th or 9th century by Osmar, yet it is supposed to be an exact copy, 
 in the upper part at least, of the ancient one. And there is still the less doubt that this was the true measure of the cubit, as this 
 remarkable circumstance has been noticed concerning it; that 400 of those cubits making a stadium, 500 such stadia make a degree 
 of the meridian ; agreeing with sufficient exactness to the modern measures, to shew that this measure of the cubit was not a mere 
 arbitrary assumption; but intended to be the 200,000th part of a degree: The base of the great Pyramid, being a stadium of this 
 measure. 
 
 § Joseph. Bell. Jud. 1. v. ch. 3. 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 ground, the clear liollow area it would contain could be only 33 feet square; a space in appear¬ 
 ance (though there may be supposed rooms above each other) unequal to the containing a gar¬ 
 rison, that C;esar. is said to have thrown into it; that by commanding the narrow passage by it 
 into one of the harbours, lie secured by his ships the necessary supplies*. 
 
 It however is not difficult to conceive how in this article Josephus might be mistaken, with 
 regard to the relative bulk of the Pharos ; for as lie describes the Phasael; viz. that after rising a 
 considerable part of its height upon a large base, it was contracted on all four sides, by a broad 
 platform with battlements round it; and that in the middle of this area there rose up a second 
 building to a considerable height further; and as this description entirely agrees with that which 
 the Nubian Geographer gives of the Pharos; it is probable the resemblance Josephus had in 
 view, was chiefly this of the outward form : now if Josephus had been in use to see the Phasael 
 iu the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, and the Pharos at a distance only; its height being in ap¬ 
 pearance lost by distance, he would suppose the circuit of its base to be less, in proportion to the 
 less apparent bulk of the Pharos ; for, if the Pharos was in reality double the Phasael in bulk (as 
 it probably might have been) yet as it was more than three times the height of the Phasael, Jo¬ 
 sephus would be liable to have been deceived in the comparison of bulk or circuit; unless he had 
 measured them both, or jut :!ged otherwise than from distant views. 
 
 THIS magnificent structure, called even by Cjesar wonderful, was the work of SOSTRATUS 
 of Cnidus: and we are informed by Pliny “I*, that Ptolemy very nobly permitted the name of 
 the architect to be inscribed upon the building; who accordingly cut the following inscription 
 upon the solid stone. SOSTRATUS THE CNIDIAN, THE SON OF DEXIPHANES, TO 
 THE GODS PRESERVERS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO USE THE SEA. 
 
 LUCIAN it seems has dropped a passage that has given a different turn to this business; 
 which I should not have mentioned, had it. not been to rescue the great architect from so invi¬ 
 dious an aspersion. Lucian, though a satirist, and joker of those times, in the present case 
 seems very grave; for in teaching his pupil the art of wri ling history, he bids him not to 
 look out to please his colemporaries, but to write for future times; and as an example bids 
 him consider what the Cnidian artist didj. V hen he had finished the work, he engraved 
 his own name upon the stone, and smearing it over with mortar, he engraved upon that, the 
 name of the king who then reigned; knowing that would happen, which did happen; that 
 in a short period of years, the letters falling off with the mortar, there would come to view the 
 inscription before set forth. 
 
 This account of the matter, though resting upon the sin gle authority of Lucian, yet accords 
 with that propensity of human nature, to lower all great characters, so much better than that of 
 Pliny, that it seems currently adopted by the modern compilers of ancient history§; and indeed 
 the story tells well enough in common conversation; yet as it appears to contain the evident 
 marks of falsity, arising from the impracticability thereof, I have therefore no doubt but that 
 Pliny’s account is the truth. 
 
 Let us for a moment imagine the work to be done in modern London instead of ancient Alex¬ 
 andria: Can any one conceive it possible to get so many letters engraved of so large a size, and so 
 deep, as to be suitable to so lofty a building; without its being known to several persons concern¬ 
 ed in the execution; and in consequence soon getting to the ears of the king? Besides, it would not 
 be easy to make use of any plaster or partial coating, the surface and colour of which could not 
 be distinguished from that of the stone, in those critical examinations, that a public building of 
 such eclat would unavoidably undergo upon its first completion. In reality the king could have 
 little doubt 9 !' his own name being celebrated to posterity as the finisher of so great and useful a 
 
 * Crasar Cora, de Bell. Civ. 1. iii. sect. 112. t Plin. 1. xxxvi. cliap. 12. J Lucian de scribend. hist. § 52. 
 
 § See Dissertation sur le Phare d’Alexandrie, par Moi/ntfaucox. Acad. Royal des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres. Vol. vi. p. 577, 
 dated 7th Jan. 1721. 
 
THE PHAROS. 3 
 
 wort; this being generally ascribed to PTOLEMY PHILADELPHIA, the same who founded 
 the Alexandrian Library. 
 
 IN respect, to the expence of it, all ancient authors agree that it cost 800 talents; but as modern 
 authors differ very greatly in the value of those talents; and we are furthermore at a loss to judge 
 what proportion subsisted betwixt the value of work, and that of money in those times, compared 
 with our own ; we are as much unable to compare its cost, as we are its real bulk, with any of 
 the structures of modern times*. 
 
 AN edifice of so great a size, so well built, and of such durable materials, as this building is 
 described to have consisted of, one might very well have expected to be existing at this day : but 
 this is not the case; there is indeed still a Lighthouse, but of a much more humble form, rising 
 out of the midst of an irregular castle or garrison, kept in this island, and which is now called 
 Farion. Upon what occasion this famous building was destroyed or met its destruction, history 
 is, as far we know, totally silent: but the Nubian Geographer mentioned before, speaks of it, not 
 only as a building subsisting in his time, but in perfect good condition: for, he says, there is 
 nothing like it in the whole world, for the fineness of the edifice, or the strength of its structure; 
 for, besides that it is built of the hardest Tiburtine stones, these stones are also joined together 
 with melted lead, and so firmly connected that they cannot be loosened from one another; for the 
 sea beats against the very stones wherewith it is built, upon the north sidef. 
 
 ABU L1EDA an Arabic writer who lived in the 14th century, amongst the stupendous monu¬ 
 ments of Egypt£, describes the Pharos as being 180 cubits high; that is 120 cubits less than it 
 had been described by former authors; and particularly the Nubian Geographer, who seems the 
 most particular, and best founded : so that whether some decay happening in the upper works 
 (where indeed it was most likely to happen) had occasioned its height to be reduced, as the least 
 expensive mode of repair; or that Abulfeda measured by some other cubit than the ancient one; 
 or that he has spoke of the dimensions at random, or by hearsay, is now uncertain: but still, as 
 the lower and most solid parts were remaining about 400 years ago, it is evident that some extra¬ 
 ordinary fate must have happened to it since that time; which cannot be accounted for merely by 
 the neglect of it, consequent upon the ruin of that empire. To have pulled it down would have 
 been a work of so much labour, that even a wanton desire of destruction would have been foiled 
 in the attempt: and it is scarce possible to see that the demolition thereof could answer any real 
 purpose. Nor can we suppose that it has been undermined by the sea’s gaining upon the rocks 
 it was built upon; as those are said to be of granite. It seems therefore the most likely that it 
 has been destroyed by the shake of an earthquake, at the same time producing a subsidence : and 
 to this, the observations of modern travellers give some sort of countenance; as it is said that the 
 foundations or ruins of art, are still seen amongst the rocks of the island Farion, under the sur¬ 
 face of the water. At any rate we have authentic testimony of this stupendous tower’s having 
 subsisted for a period of 1600 years§. 
 
 UROM this Lighthouse, as the most celebrated, structures of this kind have generally obtain- 
 
 * The computations of the value of those 800 talents in English money, by different authors, differ no less than from 330,000 to 
 80,000 pounds sterling. 
 
 t The height of 300 cubits mentioned by this author, he leaves in no doubt, as to their being the ancient cubit; because, he also 
 says, the height of this building is 100 statures of man ; so that taking the cubit, as before, at 21,888 inches, the stature of man will 
 come out 5 feet 54. inches; agreeable to the stature of the Egyptians, which is said to be rather low than tall. 
 
 t Abulfeda’s description of Egypt translated from the Arabic into Latin by Professor Miciiaei.is. 
 
 § Abulfeda mentions, that there was formerly, viz. about the beginning of Mahomedanism, in this Lighthouse, a Speculum 
 formed of Chinese steel, in which the shipping could be seen in the port of Constantinople ; but of which it was deprived by the in¬ 
 triguing practices of the Christians.—That such a Speculum might be formed, and erected with such intent, is not to be disputed : 
 but Constantinople being distant from Alexandria no less than 700 miles, as it was impossible for an observer at the former to see the 
 Pharos, so it was as impossible for a person on the Pharos to see any thing at Constantinople; it being equally impossible that any 
 thing could be seen by reflexion, which an observer at the Speculum could not see by a direct view: and therefore if such a Spe¬ 
 culum ever existed, its removal may be accounted for, without having recourse to the intriguing arts of Christians, or others; namely 
 by its not answering the end for which it was made. 
 
4 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ed the same name ; as the Faro di Messina and others: but the most remarkable amongst the 
 moderns is the Tour de Cordouan situated near the coast of France, upon a small island near the 
 mouth of the river Garonne in the bottom of the bay of Biscay. 
 
 THIS LIGHTHOUSE was begun above 200 years ago, in the reign of Henry II. of France; 
 was 26 years in building; was finished in the reign of Henry IV'. in the year 1610; and was the 
 work of Louis de Foix a celebrated French architect. 
 
 THE island upon which it is built is dry at low water, and wholly covered with the tide at 
 hio-h water. It is a bare rock, the upper surface of which, except its natural asperities, is nearly 
 level, and at low water is about 500 fathoms in length, from north to south, and 250 fathoms in 
 breadth from east to west. It is surrounded with detached rocks, which giving a resistance to 
 the seas, they break upon them in blowing weather, with an horrible noise : and the access to 
 this tower is rendered very difficult by the great surf that generally breaks upon it; so that 
 nothing larger than boats of three tons burthen can approach it with safety; and that only 
 by one passage of sixty fathoms wide, reaching within 100 fathoms of the tower, where there is 
 a sand, upon which the boats ground at low water. 
 
 ON the level rocky surface above described, and nearly in the middle of the island, the build¬ 
 ing is founded ; and the base fills a circle of no less than 135 feet in diameter, English measure.— 
 Upon the whole extent of this base, the work is carried up entirely solid with masonry (except 
 the opening of the stone stairs) to the height of eight feet, or thereabouts, which I suppose to be 
 nearly on a level with the surface of the sea at high water. A cavity is then left in the middle 
 of the area, of above 20 feet square, to form the cellar, and a fresh water cistern ; this rises eight 
 feet more, including the arches that cover it. The remainder of the area is built up quite solid 
 with masonry (except the opening before mentioned) to the level of the top of the arches; 
 the whole there making one regular floor or platform; but as the outside surface is built sloping 
 or battering (as it is termed) from the perpendicular, the diameter of the greatest circle is there 
 reduced to 125 feet.—The stone stair-case begun, and carried up in the solid, from about four 
 feet high above the rock, to the platform already described, is on the east side, being that next 
 the shore. The ascent from the rock to the beginning of the stone stairs, is on the outside, by a 
 wooden ladder, and the entry is shut by strong wooden doors, on the outside. 
 
 Within the circumference of this platform, at the distance of 12.1 feet, is drawn a circle of 100 
 feet diameter; and the space of 12j feet between the inner and outward circles, limits the thick¬ 
 ness of a circular wall; which is carried up somewhat battering on the outside, and perpendicular 
 within, to the height, of 12 feet, being 11 feet thick at the top; which circular figure, renders this 
 wall, which in itself is so stout, still more able to resist the action of the western seas, in like man¬ 
 ner as the parapet of a Mole.—There seems in the whole building no idea of defence against the 
 attacks of an enemy; yet to defend the entry against small thieves and plunderers, a lodgment, 
 in fortification called a Machicoulis, is built upon the wall over the stairs. 
 
 IN the middle of this clear area of 100 feet diameter, the base of the tower is begun upon a 
 circle, the diameter of which is 50 feet; and the building is carried up from thence, by diminish¬ 
 ing stories, to the height of 115 feet; at which level is the base of the lantern, which originally 
 was of stone, and domed over; the doming being supported upon eight stone pillars or mullions, 
 with openings between them for the passage of the light; and it was finished above, with small 
 spire-like ornaments. 
 
 THERE being according to this description a space of 25 feet between the inside of the cir¬ 
 cular wall, and the outside of the tower; this space is in part occupied by several small rooms, 
 which were built within the parapet, and served as lodgings for four light-keepers; and also for 
 store-houses, for the reception of the different articles necessary for their own maintenance, as 
 well as for the light itself: so that the light-keepers having nothing to do in the several other 
 apartments of the tower (the cellar excepted) but to go up a circular stair-case, carried up (partly 
 
THE TOUR DE CORDOUAN. 5 
 
 in the thickness of the wall, and partly on the outside) from the level of the platform, to the com¬ 
 mencement of the lantern; the dilferent apartments ol the tower are by that means preserved 
 clean, and free from incumbrance. 
 
 THOSE different stories and apartments being highly finished, and ornamented within and 
 without, a further description of a subject but little known in England, will I doubt not be agree¬ 
 able to my reader.—There are four different stories that principally distinguish themselves on the 
 outside, and are ornamented with columns of differen t orders. Those of the base story are Doric, 
 the next seem to be a species of the Ionic, the third are Corinthian, and the uppermost, w hich 
 ornament the lantern, are of the Composite order. 
 
 THE principal room on the ground floor is a great Hall of 22 feet square, by 20 feet high, 
 to which are annexed two wardrobes, and other conveniencies; the whole arched over. Above 
 this, on the first floor, is the king’s apartment, comprehending a grand Saloon 21 feet square, and 
 20 feet high; a Vestibule, two wardrobes, and other conveniencies, which are arched over with 
 flat elliptical arches. The next floor above, or second chamber floor, is taken up by the Chapel, 
 where mass is performed, as often as the weather will permit the officiating priest to attend. 
 This is a circular room covered with a dome, the internal diameter of which is 31 feet; its height 
 from the floor to the top of the cornice of the Corinthian pilasters, wherewith the inside of the 
 chapel is ornamented, is 22^- feet, and the dome being higher than hemispherical, makes the 
 whole height near 40 feet. The inside of the dome is a rich Mosaic, and receives light from 
 eight luthern windows regularly disposed. There is also a circular opening in the crown of 
 the dome, of four feet diameter, not open to the sky as that of the Pantheon; but being sur¬ 
 rounded with a circular balustrade, and covered with the inferior lantern, it will have much the 
 same appearance as the dome of St. Paul’s, when looking up from the floor on the inside. 
 
 The diameter of this third story, or inferior lantern, is 14 feet within. It is surrounded 
 with a circular parapet, forming a Balcony round it; the internal diameter whereof is 21 feet, 
 and it forms the cap of the solid stone cover of the dome of the chapel. This lantern is enriched 
 on the outside with eight Corinthian Pilasters, applied to the eight supporting pillars, or mul- 
 lions, between which are eight glazed windows, 2-^ feet wide, and seven feet high. The inside, 
 which in this story is less ornamented than it is without, is 20 feet up to the square; and being- 
 covered with an hemispherical cupola, its whole height is 27 feet; and if is closed with a solid 
 stone arch, which serves as a basement to the lantern for the light.—The lantern just described 
 seems destined to no particular use; serving only to give, by an agreeable figure, and a just 
 gradation of diminution, the required Elevation of the principal light: if may however he con¬ 
 ceived to be of occasional use; for being- 
 in any of its windows, at pleasure, and give a full light in any direction, for any particular 
 service for which it may be wanted. 
 
 The original lantern for the light was of a diameter somewhat exceeding five feet clear, 
 within, and nine feet without; and, as already said, was externally ornamented with eight 
 pillars of the Composite order. The unglazed openings between the supporting pillars, be 
 but little bigger than the solid mullions, those openings therefore could scarcely exceed twelve 
 inches wide in the clear. The height of this lantern was 17 feet to the top of the cupola, which 
 was of stone; and there, a perforation was left in the middle of it about 18 inches in diameter, by 
 which the smoke of the fire might ascend into another little turret of 2^ feet external diameter; 
 and pass out of its openings, which somewhat resembled pigeon-holes. This little turret ivas 
 capped over with a solid stone cupola, upon which a small stone spire or pinnacle was erected, 
 that terminated the whole at the height of 31 feet above the floor of the lantern of the light. 
 The total height of the building therefore was 146 feet English measure, above the base of the 
 tower; and 162 feet above the surface of the rock. 
 
 BESIDES the ornaments already described, the king’s apartment was decorated with the 
 arms of France, and also with the busts of Hexry II. and Henry IV. in niches: likewise with 
 
 — 
 
6 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 a figure in stone representing Mars, with his proper attributes; and a female figure in stone, 
 holding a palm in one hand, and a crown in the other. The bust of the architect Louis he 
 Foix was placed in the chapel: to which the busts of Louis XIV. and of Louis XV. were 
 added in the year 1735. 
 
 I have here described the ornamental parts as being of the Greek and Roman orders, to which 
 indeed they the most nearly refer; but a number of ornamental parts and mouldings, derived 
 , from the Gothic architecture, are intermixed; such as turrets, pinnacles, &c. the composition of 
 the w hole is however in a style really grand and striking. 
 
 M. Belidor, from whose description and draughts* I have extracted what relates to this 
 tower, seems to blame the architect; and much to lament that so great a profusion of ornaments 
 should have been bestowed upon so inhospitable a place"} - . But here it seems to me, that M. 
 Be li dor somewhat mistakes the matter. Had this building been erected at the cost of private 
 adventurers; their endeavours no doubt ought to have merited the approbation of their fellow 
 citizens, though they had contented themselves with merely doing what was necessary; provided 
 they had not stopped short of doing that in the best way: but as this work appears to have been 
 undertaken and carried on by a Series of Kings, who probably had the Pharos of Alexandria in 
 view; the Tour de Cordoiian must have been intended by them, not only as a work of public 
 utility, but as a work of Magnificence: for, according to Mr. Pope, “ ’tis only use that sanc- 
 “ lifies expence.” 
 
 TO the above account it is necessary to add, that the fire made in the lantern was of oak 
 wood, deposited in a kind of large chafing-dish, elevated about six feet above the floor of the 
 lantern; and that the bulk of the fire must necessarily exceed the bulk of the mullions; otherwise, 
 when a mullion interposed to the eye of the spectator at a distance* he would perceive little, or 
 rather, would not be able to perceive any light: this, in consequence produced a larger bulk of 
 fire than otherwise might have been necessary; so that after the period of a century from the 
 finishing of the building, it was found, that the fire had calcined the inside of the walls, and to 
 prevent its falling^, the French court ordered the lantern to be taken down in the year 1717 , 
 and the fire to be lighted below.—The change however had not long subsisted before the whole 
 marine complained of their not being able to see the light at sea, at the distance of two leagues§, 
 as they used to do: and in the year 1720 this occasioned M. le Comte de Toulouse, Admiral 
 of France, and M. lf. Marechal d’Asfeld, Director of the Fortifications, to give the super¬ 
 intendence of this tower to M. Bitri, Engineer in Chief at Bourdeaux; who diligently applied 
 himself to establish the light at its ancient height, and to remove the inconveniencies of the 
 former; one of the most material, being the bulkiness of the stone mullions, which stopped a 
 great part of the light that the fire gave. 
 
 HE therefore contrived, upon the platform which was the base of the former, to erect a lan¬ 
 tern or cage of iron, consisting of four principal pillars, and supporting a cupola above, which 
 was finished with a large ball, and a vane, 36 feet above the platform; and was completed in 
 the year 1727, with all the success that was expected; after the public had shifted with having 
 the fire below for the term of ten years II. 
 
 1 HERE is one thing described of this new lantern, that should not pass unnoticed; as it was 
 * Architecture Hydraulique, Tom. iv. p. 151. 
 
 t “ II est seulment ficheux, qu’im aussi bel edifice soit place dans le lieu le plus ingrat du monde, qui ne meritoit point assure- 
 ment la depense qu’on y a faite ; inais voila comme cn usent assez ordinairement, ceux qui ne sont qu’ architects; qui mettent sans 
 distinction, des ornaments par-tout, sans trop se soucier de remplir l’objet principal.” Belidor, Tom. iv. p. 152. 
 
 t From this circumstance it appears that this tower is built of a calcareous freestone, such as Portland, Bath Stone, &c. 
 
 § Deux Lieues. Belidor, Tom. iv. p. 153. 
 
 II It may here be remarked, that this entire change of principle in the re-construction of the lantern, took place many years after 
 the establishment of a lighthouse upon the Edystone. 
 
THE EDYSTONE. 
 
 I apprehend, the first attempt of the kind. The lantern being entirely open, the smoke could 
 escape on all sides: instead therefore of composing a funnel in the upper works as before, or 
 forming an hollow cupola internally; the area of the great circle of the cieling of the cupola, was 
 made the base of an inverted cone, whose Apex projected downwards about three feet: the 
 entire sloping surface of this cone was then covered with tin plates, which becoming so many re¬ 
 flecting surfaces, served to increase the light of the fire, and made it to be perceived at a greater 
 distance *. 
 
 1 HE CONSTRUCT ION of a Lighthouse upon the Edystone Rock, has from its very origin, 
 been considered as one of the artificial wonders of this kingdom: and so great was the curiosity 
 of the public, at the completion of the present building, in the year 1759 ; and such were the 
 numbers, by the intercession and recommendation of friends, that for some years after flocked 
 daily to see the model; that, to avoid having the whole of my time consumed in satisfying their 
 curiosity, I found myself under a necessity of deputing Mrs. Smeaton, to shew and explain the 
 model. I was honoured also with the command of his present MAJESTY, to shew and explain 
 the same to himself, and our gracious Queen: when his Majesty shewed such a degree of at¬ 
 tention to, and criticism thereon, as I have scarcely met with from any of his subjects. It was 
 also exhibited to the late Princess Dowager of Wales, and the Duke of Cumberland, at 
 their especial requests; and the late Duke of York was pleased to honour the works themselves 
 with his inspection, while they were carrying on at Plymouth. 
 
 T lie seeming avidity that the public shewed to be made acquainted with the detail of the con¬ 
 struction of this building, concurred with other considerations, that I will presently mention, in 
 determining me, to listen to the wishes of my friends, in publishing an account thereof; together 
 with such matters, as in point of utility or curiosity related thereto, and might be acceptable: but 
 nothing more effectually weighed in my mind, than the earnest request of the gentlemen who 
 employed me in the work itself; and more especially as this was strengthened by the same re¬ 
 quest, from several gentlemen of the Trinity House; that I might publish an account of my pro¬ 
 ceedings; together with as much as I had learnt concerning the former buildings; to the end, 
 that il any future unforeseen accident, should unhappily cause the destruction of the present edi¬ 
 fice, posterity might not be at a loss for the discovery of the errors and imperfections both of the 
 present and former buildings; so as to avoid or pursue the principles already followed, as the 
 improved genius and skill of the age should judge to be most expedient. 
 
 It is indeed as natural for me to wish, there may never be any occasion to resort to this trea¬ 
 tise for that End; as it would be presumptuous to say there never could. He only who first 
 created the atoms, can ascertain what is the full extent of those powers, that may possibly be 
 combined, towards the destruction of the mass; but with respect to myself, it would surely be 
 more creditable that the building should be permanent, than that it should be said to be well 
 contrived, and the means of its restoration well described: and further, though the situation of 
 this building is so peculiar, that there may not in the whole world be an occasion of erecting a 
 structure perfectly similar; yet I have myself always found, that exact accounts of buildings 
 which were in any degree remarkable, and actually executed, were much more instructive to my 
 mind, than systematical writings-)-: and Avhen a new method of operation, or a new Idea is once 
 
 * We are told by the same author, that in fact it had this effect; but it would have been more satisfactory if we had been told, 
 how long it continued to have that effect: as a reflecting surface placed directly above the fire, and exposed to the smoke, must be 
 expected in a little time to get such a tarnish, as could not easily be rubbed of}': and it may be a further query, whether the supe¬ 
 riority of the light, might not altogether proceed from the lessening of the interposing solids; and from their having a fire grate con¬ 
 taining 225 lb. French weight, of pit coals, which are said to be laid on at once, and to last the whole night; in lieu of a much smaller 
 fire of oak wood; (which though it gave a great flame for the time, yet is said scarcely to have lasted three hours) rather than from 
 the reflection of the tin plates. 
 
 t Previous to my entering upon the building of the Edystone Lighthouse, I perused Price’s account of Salisbury Cathedral, and 
 the Parentalia of Sir Christopher Wrex, with particular satisfaction : and though another stone for the base for the statue of Czar 
 
8 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 sent forth, it is impossible to say, to how many good purposes it may by ingenious men be 
 applied. 
 
 IN consequence of my determination to publish ; some progress was made in the present 
 work, between the time of completing the building, and the year 1763 ; and his Majesty having 
 signified his pleasure to honour the design with his patronage, several drawings were prepared, 
 and engraven, some of which were executed by the late celebrated Mr. Euward Rooker : but 
 by the time matters were brought into this train, I found myself so exceedingly pressed with 
 business in my profession of a civil Engineer; and this being shortly after succeeded by an ap¬ 
 pointment, to be one of the receivers of the Derwentwater Estate for Greenwich Hospital * j that, 
 together with the hurry naturally attending the commencement of such an appointment, obliged 
 me to suspend at that time, the further prosecution of the subject; and the consequent succes¬ 
 sion of engagements, not only in this, but at the same time in some of the principal undertakings 
 in this kingdom, in my line of profession, which called me forth almost against my will f, put a 
 total stop to any further proceeding upon the description of the Edystone Lighthouse, till the 
 year 1783 ; when a severe attack upon my health rendered it adviseable, for the preservation of 
 life, to desist from entering upon any fresh undertakings; by which means at the end of that 
 year, I had so far got myself cleared of the pressure of former engagements, and was so far re¬ 
 covered in point of health, as seriously to begin to think once more of recommencing my design. 
 
 I shall now proceed to give an account of the Edystone Rocks, and circumstances relative 
 thereto, principally from my own observations on the spot, during the time of erecting the pre¬ 
 sent Lighthouse; and of former Buildings thereon, so far as at this time I am able to collect the 
 particulars. 
 
 Peter may not be wanted, amongst all the monarehs of Europe, yet the account given of that great operation by Carburi, cannot 
 but inspire every artist that reads it, with new ideas, accompanied by a wish that it had fallen to his own share to execute the same. 
 
 * This arose from the patronage of the Earl of Egmont, then first Lord of the Admiralty, to whom I had not the honour of being 
 personally known; and the good offices of my much honoured friend the present Lord Howe, then one of the Lords, and now first 
 Lord of the Admiralty. 
 
 t In the spring of the year 1767 the Speaker’s Warrant was served upon me to oblige me to attend the House of Commons, upon 
 the proposition of the Forth and Clyde Canal, then proposed to be made from sea to sea in the south of Scotland. 
 
BOOK I. CHAPTER 1. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE EDYSTONE ROCKS. 
 
 1. -L HE subject I have before me, will I conceive be rendered more perspicuous, by beginning 
 with a general description of the Edystone Rocks, as they exist in nature, independently of any 
 building; as this will at once explain the source and reason of those difficulties, that must neces¬ 
 sarily arise in the construction of an edifice upon them. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 2. THE Edystone Rocks are supposed to have got this appellation from the great variety of 
 contrary Sets of the tide or current amongst and in the vicinity thereof; both upon the tide of 
 Flood, and the tide of Ebb : and this uncertainty of the current, would be still further increased, 
 from the following circumstances, to those who might not formerly be fully acquainted with the 
 general Set of the Channel-Tide in these parts. 
 
 3 . THE turn of the tide to the eastward from the west, and the contrary ; that is to say, up 
 channel and down, not happening at the time of high and low water, as is commonly the case in 
 tide rivers; but the change of direction or time of Still Water, being when the water has flowed 
 to half its height from low water, and when it has fallen from high water to half its ebb, it is said 
 to change its direction at Half Tide; and the technical term for this disposition of the tides is, 
 that they are said to run Tide and Half Tide : and it would be so in this district of the channel, 
 whether there were any rocks here to interpose and disturb the regular Set of the tide, or not: 
 which compounded with the particular Sets, occasioned by the interposition of this Congeries of 
 irregular rocks, makes the currents in reality so irregular, that there is much need of a knowledge 
 of the local situation, to shun the danger of coming near them ; and therefore they may very pro¬ 
 perly be termed (as they are) the Edystone Rocks. 
 
 SITUATION. 
 
 4. THE Edystone Rocks are situated nearly S. S. W. from the middle of Plymouth Sound, 
 according to the true meridian ; which I always mean when not otherwise particularly expressed; 
 that is, allowing two points of variation (as in the present times) of the north end of the magnetic 
 needle to the westward; this will make their bearing by the compass, from the middle of the 
 Sound, now, at or about S. W. and the distance, as nearly as I can collect it from observations, 
 is 12 j miles; and from the same point in the Sound to the Jetty Head called the Barbican in the 
 port of Plymouth is l-i- mile more, which makes the distance of the Edystone from the port of 
 Plymouth to be nearly 14 miles. See Map of the Coasts, No. 2. 
 
 The promontory called Ram-Head is the nearest point of land to the Edystone, which bears 
 from thence south, scarcely one point west, distant about 10 miles ; and consequently by the com¬ 
 pass is nearly S. W. b. S.—Those rocks are nearly in a line, but somewhat within that line, which 
 joins the Start, and the Lizard points: and as they lie nearly in the direction of vessels coasting 
 down and up the channel, they must, before a lighthouse was established thereon, have been very 
 dangerous, and often fatal to ships under such circumstances; and many rich ships and other 
 vessels, have in former times been actually lost upon those rocks, particularly such as were home¬ 
 ward bound from foreign Ports : it being even now, a common thing in foggy and thick hazy 
 
 D 
 
II) 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. J. 
 
 weather, for homeward-bound ships, from long foreign voyages, to make the Edystone Light¬ 
 house, as the first point of land of Great Britain ; so that in the night, and nearly at high water, 
 when the whole ranges of these rocks are covered, the most careful mariner might run his ship 
 upon them, if nothing was placed there by way of warning. 
 
 5. I W ILL by this time suppose my reader to have also laid before him the chart No. 1, of 
 the Seas surrounding the Edystone lighthouse; from which he will see, that a line drawn from 
 the Lizard point, to the nearest point of land upon the coast of France towards Usliant, will form 
 the openings of the headlands of the British Channel, into the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic 
 Ocean; these headlands being distant from each other about 31 leagues. It is further observable, 
 that the lighthouse lies, not so much as one half of that opening, in a north-east direction, with¬ 
 in, or up Channel of the said line ; and that the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Ocean lie open to the 
 Edystone, from the S. h. W. point to the W. b. S.; and in consequence, that it lies open to the 
 swells of the Bay and Ocean, from all the south western points of the compass; which swells 
 are generally allowed by mariners to be very great and heavy in those seas, and particularly in 
 the Bay of Biscay. It is to be observed, that the soundings of the sea from the south westward 
 towards the Edystone, are from 80 fathoms to 40, and every where till you come near the Edy¬ 
 stone, the sea is full 30 fathoms in depth; so that all the heavy seas from the south-west, come 
 uncontrouled upon the Edystone Rocks, and break thereon with the utmost fury. 
 
 G. A CIRCUMSTANCE that greatly tends to augment the force and height of the seas so 
 breaking upon those rocks, is their particular form and position, as will in part be understood 
 from the general Plan of the Edystone rocks No. 3, by which it will be seen, that they not only 
 stretch across the channel in a north and south direction to the length of above 100 fathoms; but 
 that they lie in a sloping manner toward the south-west quarter: and the sloping (or stiving of 
 the rocks as it is technically called) does not cease at low water, but still goes on progressively, 
 so that at 50 fathoms westward, there is 12 fathoms water; nor do they terminate altogether, at 
 the distance of a mile; but at two miles distance there is doubtless clean Ground, being a white 
 sand, as common to this part of the channel.—From this configuration it happens, that the seas 
 coming uncontrouled from the deep water, and rather suddenly at last, though gradually meeting 
 the slope of the rocky bottom, they are swelled to that degree in storms and hard gales of wind, 
 as to break upon the rocks, with the most dreadful violence ; as may in some degree (and in some 
 degree only) be comprehended from the Tablet in the Title page. Nor is the effect of this slope 
 less sensible, in proportion, in moderate weather; and it is frequently very troublesome even in 
 calm weather; for the libration of the water, caused in the Bay of Biscay, in hard gales at S. W. 
 continues in those deep waters for many days, though succeeded by a calm ; insomuch, that wlien 
 the sea is to all appearance smooth, and even, and its surface unruffled by the slightest breeze, 
 yet those librations still continuing, which are called the Ground Swell, and meeting the slope 
 of these rocks, the sea breaks upon them in a frightful manner, so as not only to obstruct any work 
 being done upon the rock, but even the landing upon it, w hen, figuratively speaking, you might 
 go to sea in a Walnut-shell. 
 
 7- A STILL further circumstance, that even yet increases the difficulty of working upon 
 the rock in moderate weather, will he apprehended from considering the particular plan and ele¬ 
 vation No. 7 of what is now called the House Rock; every building having been made upon it, 
 as the largest and highest; where, in the plan, upon the line A B, there is a sudden drop of the 
 surface of the rocks, forming a step, of about 41 or 5 feet high ; this face or front exhibited in 
 the upright view, also by the letters A B, somewhat overhangs the perpendicular towards the 
 west; so that the seas which in moderate weather come swelling towards this step, meet so sud¬ 
 den a check thereby, that they frequently fly to the height of 30 and 40 feet, even when people 
 are working upon the rock ; and the broken water coming down upon the area of the lighthouse, 
 the workmen must of necessity be thoroughly wetted, and often do their business in a very un- 
 coinfortable situation. I would not however be understood that this is the case, at all times in 
 moderate weather; but only when the ground swells come home from the Bay; for when the 
 wind is in any of the easterly or northerly points, that is, quite round from the south, by the E. 
 
THE EDYSTONE ROCKS. 
 
 and N. to the west point, if moderate it produces no such effect; but yet, after a ground swell 
 has been raised by a hard gale of wind at S. W. a wind blowing only moderately from the favour¬ 
 able points, will not quell it in less than 4 or 5 days time; and it is to be noted, that the south¬ 
 westerly are the most prevalent winds of this part of the country, in the summer months, (when 
 alone any thing can here be attempted with success) and that when the wind blows very fresh at 
 any point, all work here must cease*. 
 
 8. FROM what has already been observed, it will appear, that the turn of the current of 
 the tide from the westward towards the east is at half flood; and that it remains in the same di¬ 
 rection from that time forwards to high water, and afterwards till the half ebb: hence as the 
 current of the tide, will in consequence during the whole of the time from half flood to half ebb, 
 aid the ground swell from the west; and the water at this time is also high upon the rocks, it 
 will > ery rarely admit of any business being done upon the rock, in the most moderate weather, 
 during this interval; which of course at once cuts off half the time, in the period of every tide. 
 
 9- 1 HE particular declivity of the rocks in a state of nature, will be readily judged of, by 
 
 having recourse to Plate No. 6 that contains the elevation of the last Ligh thouse; which is shewn 
 by a south view at the low water of a spring tide. The high water of the same tide, supposed 
 unagitated, would not rise to the top of the Peak of the rock, as it stood at the time of my taking 
 the elevation, by three feet perpendicular; but the seas are scarcely ever so quiet here, as not to 
 break entirely over it at high water. The sudden drop, step, or break of the house rock to the 
 west, will be best explained by examining the Plate No. 9, containing the section of the present 
 building >•; which section being upon the east and west points, distinctly shews this drop, or over¬ 
 hanging step, that creates so much trouble; there being, here, no other part of the rock before 
 it, to hide it from the eye. 
 
 10. IT has been noticed, that the rocky ground at the bottom, extends considerably to the 
 westward of the visible rocks; it does so also to the east, and to the north; in general, 14 to 20 
 fathoms deep at low water, at the distance of from a quarter, to half a mile ; and, as I apprehend, 
 still deeper to the southward; but of this last I have no minutes, having had no occasion to be 
 particular there.—This rocky bottom is also another natural impediment to the working upon 
 the rock ; for every undertaker must alike experience the necessity of having a vessel of a com¬ 
 petent size, to receive and lodge himself, his workmen and materials; and to have it moored in 
 such a situation as to be sufficiently near, to effect a landing on the rock with small boats, when¬ 
 ever it shall appear practicable so to do; and carry to, and return from the same what materials 
 he has occasion for. No man would however think of mooring his vessel to the south of 
 rocks ; because, it it broke loose with a hard gale at south, he would be intercepted by the rocks 
 in his passage home; or if moored to the west or east, if broke loose by hard gales from those 
 quarters respectively, he would inevitably be driven upon the rocks, and the more perilous would 
 be his situation, by being in the drift of the channel’s tide ; but on all the northern points, the 
 land being within sight, no very heavy seas can ever come from this quarter; and therefore, if 
 here he was to break loose from moorings, he will have every advantage in getting into port: 
 but in this situation, though eligible for mooring, for the reasons abovementioned, the rocks arc 
 so very sharp, that a vessel lying at anchor in moderate weather, is in danger of having her cable 
 or hawser chafed asunder, and of losing her anchor. Nothing therefore is to be done here pro¬ 
 perly without chains; and the weight thereof, that is necessary to prevent their being broke, or 
 cut by the violent blows to which they will unavoidably be subject from those sharp rocks, is 
 such as must render them unwieldy and troublesome in the management; especially to a vessel 
 that for other reasons, cannot be encumbered with hands; and in reality, 1 found more difficulty 
 and hindrance from this circumstance of a rocky bottom, than I could possibly have imagined. 
 
 * This perhaps cannot be better illustrated than by observing; that to set the workmen forward, at different periods o? the work, 
 when there was to be a change in the mode of construction; I have been obliged to continue on board our store vessel at an anchor, 
 frequently a week, sometimes 10, 12, 14, and once 18 days together, even in the months of July and August; when though the swell 
 was quite gentle every where else ; yet was it so furious upon the rocks, as to prevent our landing, though the common artificers were 
 to be paid 6d. an hour for their work there. 
 
BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 THE COMPONENT MATTER OR SUBSTANCE. 
 
 11. THE congeries of rocks called the Edystone, appear to me to be all of the same kind of 
 stone, and of a kind so peculiar, that I have not seen any stone exactly like it in Cornwall or 
 Devonshire, or indeed in any part of the kingdom; but the most similar to it that I have seen, 
 was in Scotland, yet that varied in some degree from it. It is of the kind that in Cornwall they 
 call a Ivillas or hard slate* ; but the substance thereof appears to be the same nearly, as the Moor- 
 stone or Granite of that county; and it is in every respect quite as hard. It differs from the 
 Moor-stone in this; instead of being composed of grains or small fragments, united by a strong 
 cement, interspersed with a shining talky substance, as the Cornish Moor-stone in general ap¬ 
 pears to be ; it is composed of the like matter formed into Laminse commonly from one-twentieth 
 to one-sixth part of an inch in thickness; the shining talky particles lying between the Laminae-j-. 
 It coheres as strongly together as Moor-stone, if split according to the direction of the grain; 
 but if attempted to be split across the grain, it is abundantly harder, and therefore, when 
 worked by tools, it can by no means be brought to an Arriss or sharp corner; because the tex¬ 
 ture is so much stronger one way than the other, that the force which is necessary to make an 
 impression in the harder direction, is sufficient to crumble off the Laminae from each other in 
 that where they are less united. This stone is also in a considerable degree elastic, as will be 
 shewn in the sequel, especially in endeavouring to divide it with the grain, which lies accord¬ 
 ing to the. stiving of the rocks ; and is nearly one foot dip to the westward, in two feet horizontal, 
 that is, in an angle of about 26 degrees with the horizon. The kind of work which can the most 
 easily be done upon this rock is in boring or drilling holes into it, crossways of the grain, as 
 will be observed in its proper place; every thing else goes on with much labour, and difficulty, 
 except that of splitting it in the direction of the grain. 
 
 GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 
 
 12. THE time of the tides here, that is of high and low water, is nearly the same as at Ply¬ 
 mouth, viz. Vj at full and change of the moon. The common Spring tides flow from 16 to 18 
 feet, and the equinoctial tides from 18 to 20 feet; neap tides flow from 11 to 12 feet, and some¬ 
 times to 14 feet. 
 
 The proper time of sailing from Plymouth for the Edystone is at high water at Plymouth : 
 because the Ebb Tide from Plymouth Sound, will assist in getting out of the Sound, and then 
 meeting the Channel’s tide running eastward, the current will naturally set you so much east, 
 that if your wind is slack, the return of the current to the west, at half ebb at the Edystone, will 
 bring you back thither, in course, before low water, and give you the best chance of landing. 
 The most favourable wind, both for going out, landing, lying there and returning, is at N. W.; 
 for that wind not only answers for the passage both ways ; hut being a Land-wind, it must blow 
 hard before it raises any considerable sea at the rock ; and the landing-place being on the east 
 side of the house rock, that reef, stretching north and south, becomes a Pier or Mole for break¬ 
 ing off the sea, from half ebb to low water, and from thence till half flood; which interval of 
 time, when the weather permits, is the best for landing and staying there. The most unfavour¬ 
 able wind for every purpose is the S. W. as will easily be conceived from what has been already 
 described. 
 
 • Price’s Mineral. Cornub. explanation of terms, p. S23. 
 
 t This is the account of it that I received from my ingenious friend the late Mr. William Cookworthy of Plymouth, Chemist, 
 who had been very curious in his researches upon the fossils, and particularly the Moor-stone of Cornwall; having found that to be a 
 substance, which being acted upon by an intense fire, becomes the proper basis of China-ware; and a species of Moor-stone having 
 been found by him not discoloured by the talky matter, a manufactory upon this principle has since been carried on at Bristol. 
 
 Having tried the specific gravity of Moor-stone and that of Edystone, I find the difference inconsiderable: Moor-stone being 
 2,625: Edystone 2,639 times that of water. 
 
WINSTANLEY'S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 13 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIGHTHOUSE UPON THE 
 EDYSTONE BUILT BY MR. WINSTANLEY. 
 
 13. -L HE many fatal accidents that were frequently happening to ships by running upon the 
 Edystone rocks, and particularly to those that were homeward-bound, we must suppose to have 
 made it a thing very desirable to have a Lighthouse built thereon, and that for many years before 
 any competent undertaker appeared : for, from the circumstances which have been fully stated 
 in the preceding account of the natural state of these rocks; it would appear to those then best 
 acquainted with them, that the difficulties necessarily attending such an undertaking, were likely 
 to prove insuperable: and perhaps in reality it may have been a peculiar advantage to every un¬ 
 dertaker, and to the undertaking itself, that no one could, previous to the actual commencement 
 of the work, he fully sensible of the difficulties which would inevitably attend it; and which he 
 must surmount or fail of success. 
 
 14. HOWEVER, formidable as it was, we learn that in the year 1696, Mr. Henry Win- 
 stanley of Littlebury in the countjr of Essex, Gent, was not only hardy enough to undertake it, 
 but was furnished with the necessary powers to put it in execution. This it is supposed was 
 done in virtue of the general powers lodged in the Master, Wardens and Assistants of Trinity 
 House at Deptford Strond, to erect sea marks, &c. by a statute of Queen Elizabeth, whereby 
 they are impowered “ to erect and set up beacons, marks and signs for the sea, needful for avoid¬ 
 ing the dangers; and to renew, continue and maintain the same.”—But whether Mr. Win- 
 stanley was a proprietor or sharer of the undertaking under the Trinity House, or only the 
 directing engineer, employed in the execution, does not now appear. 
 
 15. THIS gentleman had distinguished himself in a certain branch of mechanics, the 
 tendency of which is to raise wonder and surprize. He had at his house at Littlebury a set of 
 contrivances such as the following :—Being taken into one particular room of his house, and there 
 observing an old slipper carelessly lying on the middle of the floor ; if, as was natural, you gave it 
 a kick with your foot, up started a Ghost before you: if you sat down in a certain chair, a couple 
 of arms would immediately clasp you in, so as to render it impossible to disentangle yourself till 
 your attendant set you at liberty : and if you sat down in a certain arbour by the side of a canal, 
 you was forthwith sent out afloat to the middle of the canal, from whence it was impossible for 
 you to escape, till the manager returned you to your former place.—Whether those things were 
 shewn to strangers at his house for money, or were done by way of amusement, to those that 
 came to visit the place, is uncertain, as Mr. Winstanley is said to have been a man of some pro¬ 
 perty : but it is at least certain, that he established a place of public exhibition at Hyde Park 
 Corner, called Winstanley’s Waterworks, which were shewn at stated times, at one shilling 
 each person : the particulars of those waterworks are not now known ; but, according to the taste 
 of the times, we must naturally suppose a great variety of jets d’eau, &c.* 
 
 Those paiticulars relative to Mr. Winstanley are indeed of little importance at present, 
 either to the public or to the design of this publication, otherwise than as they may serve to give 
 a sketch of the talents and turn of mind of this original undertaker; and to account for the whim¬ 
 sical kind of buildings that he erected upon the Edystone, for the purpose of a Lighthouse ; as it 
 
 • It appears that the exhibition of these waterworks continued some years after the death of Mr. Winstanley, as they were exist¬ 
 ing in the month of September 1709, being mentioned in the Tatler of that date. 
 
u 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. II. 
 
 would seem, from the design thereof, that it was not sufficient for his enterprizing genius, to 
 erect a building upon a spot, where of all others it was the least likely to stand unhurt; but that 
 he would also give it an elevation, that in appearance should be the most liable to subject it to 
 damage from the violence of wind and seas. 
 
 16. THE following comprehends an account of two different buildings that he erected there, 
 and is chiefly extracted from what was written upon the large copper plate print addressed to 
 Prince George of Denmark, then Lord High Admiral of England, containing a perspective 
 elevation of his finished Lighthouse; which, drawn orthographic-ally and reduced to the same 
 scale as the subsequent buildings are adjusted to, is shewn in Plate No. 5 of the present work. 
 The account I refer to, is intituled by Mr. Winstanley, 
 
 “ A NARRATIVE OF THE BUILDING. 
 
 17- “ THIS Lighthouse was begun to be built in the year 1696, and was more than four 
 
 years in building : not for the greatness of the work, but for the difficultie and danger in getting 
 backwards and forwards to the place; nothing being or could be left safe there for the first two 
 years, but what was most thoroughly affixed to the rock, or the work at a very extraordinary 
 charge : and though nothing could be attempted to be done but in the summer season, yet the 
 weather then at times would prove so bad, that for ten or fourteen days together, the sea would 
 be so raging about these rocks, caused by out-winds, and the running of the ground seas coming 
 from the main ocean; that although the weather should seem, and be most calm in other places, 
 yet here it would mount, and fly more than 200 feet, as has been so found, since there was lodg¬ 
 ment upon the place : and therefore all our works were constantly buried at those times, and ex¬ 
 posed to the mercy of the seas* ; and no power was able to come near, to make good or help any 
 thing, as I have often experienced with my workmen in a boat in great danger; only having the 
 satisfaction to see my work imperfectly at times, as the seas fell from it, and at a mile or two 
 distance; and this at the prime of the year, and no wind or appearance of bad weather : yet 
 trusting in God’s assistance for a blessing on this undertaking; being for a general good, and 
 receiving most inexpressible deliverances, I proceeded as follows. 
 
 18. £i TPIE first summer was spent in making 12 holes in the rock, and fastening 12 great 
 irons'}* *° the work that was to be done afterwards; the rock being so hard, and the time 
 so short to stay by reason of the tide or weather, and the distance from the shore, and the many 
 journeys lost that there could be no landing at all; and many times glad to land at our return at 
 places, that, if the weather permitted, would take up the next day to get to Plymouth againt. 
 
 19- “ THE next summer was spent in making a solid body, or round pillar twelve feet high, 
 
 and fourteen feet diameter; and then we had more time to work at the place; and a little better 
 landing, having some small shelter from the work, and something to hold by; but we had great 
 trouble to carry off and land so many materials, and be forced to secure all things as aforesaid 
 every night § and time we left work, or return them again into the boats. 
 
 20. “ THE third year the aforesaid pillar or work was made good at the foundation from 
 
 the rock to 16 feet diameter, and all the work was raised, which to the vane was eighty feet. 
 Being all finished, with the lantern, and all the rooms that were in it, we ventured to lodge there 
 soon after Midsummer, for the greater dispatcli of this work. But the first night the weather 
 came bad, and so continued, that it was eleven days before any boats could come near us again; 
 
 • See the tablet in the title page. 
 
 f One of the irons about 31 inches diameter octagon, was cut out in the operations of 1756. 
 
 t From this description it appears that they had not any store vessel to lie at moorings by way of constant retreat; but performed 
 the work by single journeys. 
 
 § Hence it appears they did not work in the night. 
 
WINSTANLEY’S LIGHTHOUSE. I3 
 
 and not being acquainted with the height of the seas rising, we were almost all the time drowned 
 Wlth ' Ve ‘; and 0l ; r ™ as bad a condition, though we worked night and day, as much 
 
 as posable to make shelter for ourselves. In this storm we lost some of our materials, although 
 we did what we could to save them ; but the boat then returning, we all left the house to he re¬ 
 freshed on shore ; and as soon as the weather did permit, we returned again and finished all and 
 put up the light on the 14th of November 1698 j which being so late in the year, it was three days 
 efore Christmas before we had relief to get on shore again, and were almost at the last extre- 
 nuty for want of provisions; hut by good Providence, then two boats came with provisions, and 
 the family that was to take care of the light, and so ended this year's work*. 
 
 21. “ 1 HE fourth year, finding in the winter the effects the sea had upon the house and 
 burying the lantern at times, although more than sixty feet high ; early in the spring, I en¬ 
 compassed the aforesaid building with a new work of four feet thickness from the foundation, 
 making all solid near twenty feet high; and taking down the upper part of the first building, 
 and enlarging every part m its proportion, I raised it 40 feet higher than it was at first, and 
 made it as ,t now appears; and yet the sea, in time of storms, flies in appearance, ohe hundred 
 feet above the vane; and at times doth cover half the side of the house and the lantern, as if it 
 were under water-)-.” 
 
 22. BESIDES the above narrative, this print of Mr. Winstanley’s contains the fob 
 lowing information. 
 
 “ This Lighthouse bears from Plymouth (or the entrance of the Sound) S. by W. and from 
 the Ram Head, S. half a point eastwardly; and is distant from the anchoring in the foresaid 
 Sound 4 leagues, and from Ram Head about 3 leagues and an half; which is the nearest shore 
 from the said house : and the Isle of Maystone bears from the Lighthouse about N. E. by N. and 
 is also four leagues distant; so that ships coming from the East or West, have much the same ad¬ 
 vantage of the light, that are bound for Plymouth. All the rocks near this house are on the 
 eastward side, but stretching north, and most southwardly ; all are covered at high water; but 
 on the west side, any ship may sail close by the house, there being 12 or 13 fathoms water, and 
 no hidden rock ; but towards the E. by N. about a quarter of a mile distant from the house, lies 
 an hidden rock that, never appears, but at low spring tides, and therefore, not so well known, is 
 the more dangerous. 
 
 Though Mr. Winstanley has not himself left any particular representation of the building, described as the produce of these 
 three years work; yet I am enabled to present the curious reader with the elevation thereof in plate No. 4. This is drawn orthogra- 
 phically to the same scale as the rest; from a perspective print said to be drawn at the rock by Jaaziell Johnston, painter. I never 
 saw but the single copy in my possession, and therefore at this time I must suppose it extremely scarce. 
 
 From the appearance of the basement, it would seem to be of stone; and though Mr. Winstanley does not say in his description 
 of the 2d year’s work, which was that of making a solid body, or kind of round pillar, that it actually was of stone ; yet from the man- 
 ner of the expression one would infer that to be the case; and which will appear more probable if we may suppose Mr. Winstanley 
 and Ins workmen ignorant at that time, of the proper manner of composing a cement capable of becoming hard under the utmost 
 violence of the sea; and in want thereof, he would doubtless after a winter’s exposure, find the joints of his solid pillar to be much 
 washed, and the work itself looking ragged : it was therefore a natural expedient to surround the former pillar as described in the 3d 
 year s work, with a case of stone of a foot thick; and not only to make the joints with all imaginable care, but to surround every 
 joint with a hoop or girdle of iron or copper plate, of some inches in breadth, to hold in and secure the mortar from the wash of the 
 sea; which mode of security is inferred from the representation. 
 
 The height of the stone pillar here represented is 12 feet above the rock upon the upper side, and 17 feet on the lower side; it 
 must therefore be supposed, in speaking of 12 feet high, Mr. Winstanley means above the rock on the higher side; or, as the print 
 from whence this is taken, appears to be made from an Eye Draught, it may be an inaccuracy in the draughtsman. 
 
 The elevation appears to be taken from the south at half tide, or when the sea is overflowing the landing-place; which of course 
 occasions the rock to make a smaller appearance in this draught, than in any of the rest. 
 
 A is the eye-bolt and ring upon the landing-place. B the sloping surface of the rock. C the stone basement. D the store room. 
 E the state room. F the open gallery. G the kitchen. And H the lantern for the lights. 
 
 t See the tablet in the title page; which yet is short of the height described by Mr. Winstanley by .50 feet. 
 
lG 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. TI. 
 
 23 “ THE sea ebbs and flows at this rock on spring tides 19 feet, and at high water all the 
 
 rocks are covered, though a smooth sea; and it is high water at the same time as at Plymouth ; 
 but it runs tide and half tide, so that it runs East 3 hours after it is high water, and yet the sea 
 falls lower; and it runs West 3 hours after it is low water, and yet the sea riseth. At low tides, 
 especially spring tides, three great ranges of rocks appear very high, and lie almost parallel, 
 stretching towards the S. E. and N.W. the house standing the most West of all. The fore- 
 mentioned hidden rock is a full cable’s length from all these rocks, and lies as aforesaid*. 
 
 24. THE plate No. 5 I have already had occasion to remark is drawn ortliographically from 
 Mr. Winstanley’s perspective elevation, from whence the above narrative is taken, and wherein 
 
 A represents the rock at low water.-B the landing place, covered at half tide, and all the 
 
 time the current runs East.-C the entry door.-D E the basement, which in the fourth 
 
 year he describes to have been added to the original one of 16 feet, so as to make an addition of 
 four feet in thickness on every side; from hence it seems, that on the west side at D, it has been 
 a work of stone ; the joints appearing to have been covered with hoop plates, as before described 
 of the original base ; whereas the east side E has the same appearance of having been wood ; and 
 to have been bound together with iron straps, as the whole of the superstructure evidently was. 
 
 _F is the store-room with a projecting cabin to the south-east.-G the state-room. H the 
 
 kitchen._1 the open gallery or platform.-Iv the lodging-room.-L the attending, or 
 
 look-out room.-M the lantern for the lights, surrounded by a gallery or balcony. 
 
 N. B. The base is supposed completely to contain the original stone base of 16 feet diameter, 
 which with the addition of four feet all round, makes the base of this second structure to be 24 
 feet diameter ; and it appears to be partly round, and in part a polygon : but the works above the 
 base are evidently upon a dodecagonal plan, or polygon of 12 sides, till they rise to the base of 
 the look-out room, wdiere, with all above, the building assumes an octagonal figure. 
 
 25. IT is very unnecessary for me to enter into a further criticism upon either of those struc¬ 
 tures, as, with the information that I have collected, my reader will abundantly do that for him¬ 
 self; it is sufficient to say, that it was no small degree of heroic merit in Mr. Winstanley to 
 undertake a piece of work, that before had been deemed impracticable ; and by the success which 
 attended his endeavours to shew mankind, that the erection of a building upon the Edystone was 
 not in itself a thing of that kind : and it will be a further confirmation of the exceeding violence 
 of the seas upon those rocks; and of the augmented shock by the interposition of a building, 
 when I mention, that on my first going to Plymouth in the year 1756, I was informed by an 
 old gentleman who remembered both Mr. Winstanley and his lighthouse, that after it was 
 finished, it was commonly said, that in time of hard weather, such was the height of the seas, that 
 it was very possible for a six-oared boat to be lifted up upon a wave, and driven through the open 
 gallery of the lighthouse. 
 
 26. EXCEPT the above, I have met with no occurrences concerning this building till the 
 month of November 1703, when the fabric needing some repairs, Mr. Winstanley went down 
 to Plymouth to superintend the performance thereof : and we must not wonder, if from the pre¬ 
 ceding accounts of the violence of the seas, and the structure of the Lighthouse, the common 
 sense of the public led them to suppose, this building would not be of long duration ; and the 
 following is an anecdote which I received, to the same effect from so many persons, that I can 
 have no doubt of the truth of it. 
 
 Mr. Winstanley being amongst his friends previous to going off with his workmen, on ac- 
 
 * For a more perfect account of the general shape and situation of the Edystone rocks, see the general plan thereof Plate No. 3; 
 relative to which it is to be noted, that at the beginning of this century, the variation of the compass by Mr. Flamsteed was N. 7° j 
 westerly; whereas it is now become nearly 2 points of the compass to the W. of N.; which, with the common inaccuracy of reputed 
 bearings, sufficiently accounts for the difference of those given by Mr. Winstanley, from these set down in this plan. 
 
WINSTANLEY’S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 17 
 
 count of those reparations; the danger being intimated to him, and that one day or other the 
 Lighthouse would certainly be overset; he replied, “ He was so very well assured of the strength 
 “ of his building, he should only wish to be there in the greatest storm that ever blew under the 
 “ face of the heavens, that he might see what effect it would have upon the structure.” 
 
 It happened that Mr. Winstanley was but too amply gratified in this wish; for while he 
 was there with his workmen and light keepers, that dreadful storm began, which raged the most 
 violently upon the 26th November 1703 in the night; and of all the accounts of the kind, which 
 history furnishes us with, we have none that has exceeded this in Great Britain, or was more 
 injurious or extensive in its devastation. 
 
 The next morning, November 27th, when the violence of the storm was so much abated, that 
 it could be seen whether the Lighthouse had suffered by it, nothing appeared standing, but, upon 
 a nearer inspection, some of the large irons, whereby the work was fixed upon the rock ; nor 
 were any of the people, or any of the materials of the building, ever found afterwards ; save only 
 part of an iron chain, which had got so fast jambed into a chink of the rock, that it could never 
 afterwards be disengaged, till it was cut out in the year 1756.- 
 
 27- THE above accounts are what I have received from old people at Plymouth ; the follow¬ 
 ing anecdotes are extracted from a book, published soon after the melancholy accident to Mr. 
 Winstanley and those with him, entituled The STORM, printed London 1704. 
 
 “ The loss of the Lighthouse called the Edystone at Plymouth, is another article, of which we 
 never heard any particulars, other than this; that at night it was standing, and in the morning 
 all the upper part of the gallery was blown down, and all the people in it perished ; and by a 
 particular misfortune, Mr. Winstanley the contriver of it; a person whose loss is very much 
 regretted by such as knew him, as a very useful man to his country. The loss of that Light¬ 
 house is also a considerable damage ; as ’tis very doubtful whether it will ever be attempted 
 again; and as it Avas a great securitie to the sailors; many a good ship having been lost there in 
 former times. 
 
 • 
 
 “ It was very remarkable, that, as Ave are informed, at the same time the Ligh thouse above- 
 said Avas bloAvn doAvn, the model of it in Mr. Winstanley’s house at Littlebury in Essex, above 
 200 miles from the Lighthouse, fell down and Avas broke to pieces*.” Page 223. 
 
 “ At Plymouth they felt a full proportion of the storm in its utmost fury; the Edystone has 
 been mentioned already; but it was a double loss; in that the Lighthouse had not been long 
 down, Avhen the Winchelsea, an homeAvard-bound Virginia man, was split upon the rock where 
 that building stood, and most of her men droAvned.” P. 212. 
 
 * This however may not appear extraordinary, if we consider that the same general wind that blew down the Lighthouse near 
 Plymouth, might blow down the model at Littlebury. 
 
18 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. III. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND LIGHTHOUSE BUILT UPON THE EDYSTONE BY 
 
 MR. RUDYERD. 
 
 28. The great utility that the Lighthouse of Mr. Winstanley had proved itself to be of, 
 during its continuance, would of course prompt mankind to wish for another in its place; and the 
 loss of the Winehelsea Virginia man just mentioned, with others that may naturally be supposed 
 to have shared the same fate, would doubtless prove powerful incentives to awaken the atten¬ 
 tion of those most nearly concerned, to attempt a work, that with whatever difficulties it might 
 in reality he attended, yet Mr. Winstanley’s building had demonstrated to be a thing, not in 
 its own nature impossible or impracticable. 
 
 It was not however begun afresh cpiite so soon as it might naturally have been expected ; for 
 Mr. Winstakley’s Lighthouse having been destroyed the 26th November 1703, it was not till 
 the spring of tlie year 1706, that an act of parliament of the 4th of QUEEN ANN was passed 
 for the better enabling the Master, Wardens and Assistants of Trinity House at Deptford 
 Strond, to rebuild the same; so that in the steps necessary for this, we must suppose some ob¬ 
 struction ; but the work itself w r as begun in the July following*. 
 
 29- BY l his act of parliament, the duties payable by shipping, passing the Lighthouse, were 
 vested in the corporation of Trinity House at Deptford Strond, and it included powers to them 
 to grant a lease thereof to an undertaker or undertakers, such as they should approve. In con¬ 
 sequence of these powers they agreed with a Captain Lovel or Lovet lor a term of 99 years, 
 commencing from the day that a light should be exhibited, and continuing so long as that ex¬ 
 hibition should last during the said term. 
 
 30. UPON this foundation Captain Lovet engaged Mr, John Rudyerd to be his en- 
 
 * Extract from the preamble to this act 4th of Ann, chap. 20th. 
 
 “ And whereas there now is, and time out of mind has been, a very dangerous rock called the Edystone lying off of Plymouth in 
 the county of Devon, upon which divers ships and vessels have been cast away and destroyed: and whereas upon application some 
 time since made to the said Masters, Wardens and Assistants by great numbers of masters and owners of shipping to have a Lighthouse 
 erected upon the said rock, offering and agreeing in consideration of the great charge, difficulty, and hazard of such an undertaking, to 
 pay the said Master, &c. one penny per ton outwards, and the like inwards, for all ships and vessels which should pass such Lighthouse 
 (coasters excepted, which should pay twelvepence only for each voyage) they the said Master, &c. having a due regard to the safety 
 and preservation of the shipping and navigation of this kingdom, did in the year 1696 cause a Lighthouse to be begun to be erected 
 on the said rock : and in three years time a light was placed therein; and the said Lighthouse in the term of five years was, with 
 much hazard and difficulty, and at a very great expence, fully built and completed to the great satisfaction of the flag officers and 
 commanders of the fleet and ships of war, and of all others concerned in trade and navigation : the same being not only useful for 
 avoiding the dangerous rock upon which it was built, but also a guide and direction to ships passing through the channel from and to 
 all parts of the world. And whereas the said Lighthouse was preserved and kept up for several years notwithstanding the great force 
 and violence of the wind and sea (to which it was exposed) until the late dreadful storm in November 1703, when the same was blown 
 down and destroyed: and whereas it was found by experience that the said Lighthouse (during the standing thereof) was of public 
 use and benefit to this kingdom, a means to preserve her Majesty’s ships of war, and the shipping, lives, and estates of her subjects. 
 —And forasmuch as the speedy rebuilding the said Lighthouse is absolutely necessary for avoiding the dangers attending the trade 
 and navigation of this kingdom ; and in regard the same work is of great charge, hazard and expence, and all due and proper en¬ 
 couragement ought to be given thereunto; to the end therefore that the said Master, &c. may be encouraged to new-erect and build, 
 or cause to be new-erected and built the said Lighthouse with all convenient speed, and constantly keep and maintain the same for 
 the benefit of the navigation and trade of this kingdom, be it enacted, &c.” It then proceeds to enact the payment of the duties 
 above mentioned, and double on foreign vessels “ from and after the kindling or placing a light useful for shipping in the said Light¬ 
 house.” 
 
RUDYERD’S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 19 
 
 gineer or architect and surveyor: and the event has shewn that he made a very proper choice- 
 though ,t does not appear that Mr. Rubyerd was bred to any mechanical business, or seientifical 
 profession, being at that tone a Silk Mercer who kept a shop upon Ludgate Hill, London ■ nor 
 do we find that in any other instance he had distinguished himself by any mechanical perform¬ 
 ance before or after : yet this is no proof but that he might have made these kind of subjects his 
 private amusements; and it is indeed true, that a natural genius with very slender experience 
 wdl go much further in Design, than experience alone is capable of- but when genius and a 
 competent experience are united in the same person, it is to be looked upon as a happy com¬ 
 bination ; and their productions likely to be the most complete and perfect. However, Mr. 
 Rudyerd’s want of personal experience, was in a degree assisted by Mr. Smith and Mr Nor 
 cutt, both shipwrights from the king's yard at Woolwich; who worked with him the whole 
 time he was building the lighthouse. 
 
 It is not very material now in what way this gentleman became qualified for the execution of 
 tins work; it is sufficient that lie directed the performance thereof in a masterly manner, and so 
 as perfectly to answer the end for which it was intended*. He saw the errors in the former 
 building and avoided them ; instead of a polygon he chose a circle for the outline of his building 
 and carried up the elevation in that form. His principal aim appears to have been use and sim¬ 
 plicity; and indeed, in a building so situated, the former could hardly be acquired in its full ex¬ 
 tent without the latter. He seems to have adopted ideas the very reverse of his predecessor • for 
 all the unwieldy ornaments at top, the open gallery, the projecting cranes, and other contrivances 
 more for ornament and pleasure, than use, Mr. Rudyerd laid totally aside; he saw that how 
 beautiful soever ornaments might be in themselves, yet when they are improperly applied and 
 out of place; by affecting to shew a taste, they betray ignorance of its first principle, Judgment: 
 for whatever deviates from propriety is erroneous, and at best insipid. 
 
 31. IN like manner as Mr. Wisstasliy ; Mr. Rudyerd also, after the completion of his 
 work, published a print entituled a Prospect and Section of the LIGHTHOUSE on the EDY- 
 STONE ROCK off of PLYMOUTH ; and he dedicated it to Thomas Earl of Pembroke, then 
 Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland ; rvitli this motto, Punt nature coercet art. 
 The drawing by B. Lena, the engraving by I. Sturt, both eminent artists of their time. This 
 prim I suppose to be very scarce, not having seen any other but the single copy I have in my own 
 possession. 
 
 32. THE Plate No. 6 is an orthographic elevation and section of Mr. Rudyerd’s Liglit- 
 
 * Since writing the above, on perusal of the MSS. by my valuable and learned friend the Rev. Mr. Michell, he has communi¬ 
 cated to mean anecdote concerning Mr. Rudyerd, when I least expected it: and as it is in itself curious, and comes so well authen¬ 
 ticated, I will give it a place here; and perhaps it will come in better by way of note, than by being interwoven in the context: 
 
 The following particulars Mr. Michell had often heard his father repeat in his life-time, of this Mr. Rudyerd. They were both 
 born in Cornwall; and his father being IS years old when Mr. Rudyerd’s Lighthouse was begun, was at a time of life when he wa® 
 likely to pick up the current stories of the times; as well as sufficiently in the way to hear them, from his situation in the 
 ne.ghbourhood.—According to the late Mr. Michell’s account, Mr. Rudyerd’s father and mother were of the lowest rank of day. 
 labourers, with a large family of children; and in as low repute in all other respects, as in point of rank; being looked upon as a 
 worthless set of ragged beggars, whom almost nobody would employ, on account of the badness of their characters. Our Mr. Rud¬ 
 yerd, however, was from a child of a very different disposition from the rest; born with a good head, and an honest and a good 
 heart, in short the very reverse of the rest of the family, so that he was considered by them as a sullen boy ; as he would not associate 
 with them in going out upon their pilfering schemes; and probably on that account, as hath been supposed, he ran away from them; 
 and by good luck, and from something promising in his aspect, got into the service of a gentleman, supposed at Plymouth ; and in 
 this station he appeared to so much advantage to his master, and became so great a favourite with him, that he gave him the oppor¬ 
 tunity of reading, writing, accounts and mathematics; in all which he made a very ready and great progress; and afterwards his 
 master assisted him very greatly in life, by procuring him some employment that raised him above the rank of a servant, and laid the 
 foundation of his future success in the world.—The above account strongly evinces that though education and example may do much; 
 yet that there is something in natural disposition, that is not totally to be eradicated by education. Had Mr. Rudyerd’s parents 
 been of the most amiable character, if one of their children had turned out the reverse, who would have wondered ? We should readily 
 have explained it, that it arose from ill impressions from without: but the wonder in this case is, that in spite of all the force of evil 
 example, here is a mind capable of emancipating itself, by the most violent of all remedies, that young people generally take, that of 
 separation from parents and houshold by flight. 
 
BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 40 
 
 house. The maimer of it, is herein copied, on account of the compendium thereby suggested ; 
 which shews part of the outside and part of the inside, so as to be at once, both an elevation and 
 a section; this seems worthy of imitation, as it avoids a greater multiplicity of designs than the 
 subject necessarily requires: but the proportions of the several parts of the structure, are designed 
 and drawn from fresh materials. 
 
 33. \YHETHER it was owing to a kind of indolence, that some ingenious men are subject 
 to, or to want of health, Lhat we hear nothing more of Mr. Rudyerd after the publication of 
 this print, does not now appear: I am rather inclined to suppose the latter; for had he continued 
 in health and vigour, even if he had some slight turn of the former kind, yet the eminent abilities 
 he shewed in this building, after finishing it with eclat , must have called him forth to the public 
 service on some other subject. I therefore must conclude, that even when the design for this 
 print was prepared for the engraver, Mr. Rudyerd’s application must have been slackened by 
 want of health ; and that the drawing must have been compiled from some sketch or sketches of 
 the building made antecedent to its execution : because in many particulars, it deviates from the 
 proportions the building actually had ; as fully appeared when there was occasion to examine it, 
 by after surveyors: and that, in some particulars, which could not afterwards be changed, nor 
 in reality were they. Yet as what is written upon the face of Mr. Rudyerd’s print, is the only 
 piece of writing of his that has been preserved, it will be proper to insert a transcript of it, point¬ 
 ing out by notes the principal inaccuracies thereof. 
 
 34. “ THIS Edystone Rock lyeth 3 leagues S. E. and N. W. of Ram Head*, and four 
 leagues from Plymouth. The building was begun in July 1706; a light put up thereon and 
 made useful the 28th July 1708, and completely finished in 1709- The rock stives from E. to W. 
 10 feet 11 inches in 24 feet, which is the diameter of the foundationf: 25 feet 6 inches is the 
 largest circle that can be drawn upon the rock$. The lace of the rock is divided into seven 
 equal ascents. There are 36 holes cut into the rock, from 20 to 30 inches deep ; 6 inches square 
 at top, narrowing to 5 inches at 6 inches deep, from thence spreading and flatting to 9 by 3 at 
 the bottom. They are all cut smooth within, and with great dispatch (though the stone was 
 harder than any marble or stone thereabouts) with engines for that purpose. Every cramp or 
 bolt was forged exactly to the bigness of the hole it was designed for; they weighing from 
 2 cw*' to 5 cw 1, each, according to their different lengths and substances§. These bolts served to 
 tye the solid to the rock. 
 
 He mentions further in the literal references, that the outside timbers (since called the up¬ 
 rights) were seventy-two in number; and so indeed they might have been intended, but the real 
 number was seventy-one. 
 
 35. AS nothing would stand upon the sloping surface of the rock without artificial means 
 to stay it; Mr. Rudyerd judiciously concluded, that if the rock was reduced to level bearings, 
 the heavy bodies to be placed upon it, would then have no tendency to slide; and this would be 
 the case, even though but imperfectly executed ; for the sliding tendency being taken away from 
 
 * It is supposed that by some error in the transcriber or engraver, these bearings should have been S. b. E. and N. b. W.; for then 
 thev will ao-ree tolerably with Mr. Winstanley’s account, and with the variation of the compass at that time. The distances are 
 doubtless according to vulgar reckoning. 
 
 t The diameter of this Lighthouse upon its base could not exceed 23 feet 4 inches, as I have fixed it; which I conclude from 
 the extent of the work upon the surface of the rock, by which it was reduced into steps or level bearings. 
 
 I The diameter of the base of the present Lighthouse is 26 feet, nor does its circumference any where come nearer the border than 
 one foot so that a circle of 28 feet, which is 2 feet and 6 inches larger than Mr. Rudyekd describes, may in reality be drawn upon 
 the rock : but the base was somewhat enlarged by cutting oft'the top of the rock in 1756. 
 
 § Several of the bolts, or, as since called, branches, here described, were cut out of the rock in the year 1756; and found to be 
 very different in dimensions and weight from what is here described; which seems rather what was intended before the work was 
 begun, than what really was done, as already hinted. See the detached figure of one of them in Plate No. 7. The ascents were in 
 reality very unequal. 
 
RUDYERD'S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 e ll,t uKimea mice ot tile rock was intended to have 
 
 reduced to a set of regular steps, which would have been attended with the same good effect, 
 the whole could have been reduced to one level; but in reality, from the hardness of the 
 
 rock, the shortness and uncertainty of the intervals in which this part of the work must have 
 been performed ; and the great tendency of the Laminae whereof the rock is composed, to rise in 
 spawls, according to the inclined surface when worked upon by tools, urged with sufficient force 
 to make an impression ; this part of the work, that is, the stepping of the rock, has been hut 
 imperfectly performed, though in a degree that sufficed. 
 
 36. THE holes made to receive the iron branches, appear to have been drilled into the rock 
 by Jumpers*, making holes ol about 21 inches diameter; the extremities of the two holes form¬ 
 ing the breadth for the branch, at tile surface of the rock were 71 . 1 ,1 . 1 . , 
 
 :c the holes sufficiently smooth and regularf. By this means lie obtained holes 
 
 of a dovetail shape, being 2-t inches wide, 71 broad at top, 8; at bottom, and 15 and 16 inches 
 deep ; and, as these could not be made all alike, every branch was forged to (it its respective hole. 
 The main pieces of each branch were about 4 1 inches broad at the surface of the rock, and 6 1 at 
 the bottom ; and this being first put down into the hole, the space left for a key would be 3 inches 
 at top, and two inches at bottom, which would admit it to be driven in so as to render the whole 
 firm, and the main branch fixed like a dovetail or Lewis—I shall now proceed to describe the 
 manner of filling the interstices with lead, so as to make all solid, and exclude the water. 
 
 37. THE holes being each finished, and fitted with their respective branches, and cleared 
 of water, a considerable quantity of melted tallow was poured into each hole : the branch and 
 key being then heated to about a blue heat, and being put down into tile tallow, and the key 
 firmly driven ; by these means, all the space unfilled by the iron, would become full of tallow, 
 and the overplus made to run over: when this was done, all remaining hot, a quantity of coarse 
 pewter, being made red hot in a ladle, and run into the chinks, as being the heaviest body, would 
 drive out the superfluous melted tallow: And so effectually had this operation succeeded, that 
 in those branches which were cut out in 1756, and had remained fast, the whole cavity had con¬ 
 tinued so thoroughly full, that not only the pewter, but even in general, the tallow remained 
 apparently fresh : and when the pewter was melted from the irons, the scale appeared upon the 
 iron, as it had come from the smith’s forge, without the least rust upop it.—1 have been the more 
 minute in this description, because it shewed the perfection of this method of fixing iron-work 
 into stone, even in the case, where the salts of sea water are ever in readiness to penetrate, could 
 they have found the least admission. 
 
 38. ALL the iron branches which are shewn, as I found them, in Plate No. 7, having been 
 fixed in the manner abovementioned; they next proceeded to lay a course of squared oak balks, 
 
 lengthwise upon the lowest step, and of a size to reach up to the level of the step above._Then 
 
 a set of short balks were laid crossways of the former, and upon the next step compoundedly, so 
 as to make good up to the surface of the third step.—The third stratum was therefore again laid 
 lengthwise, and the fourth crossways, &c. till a basement of solid wood ivas raised, two com¬ 
 plete courses higher than the highest part of the rock ; the whole being fitted together, and to 
 
 * The instruments so called are well-known tools for boring holes in the harder kind of stone. 
 
 + In this way I tried the making dovetail holes, and found the method very practicable: and in this way afterwards, in the course 
 of the work we made various temporary affixtures to the rock j and made the Lewis holes in the Moor-stones. 
 
 G 
 
BOOK J. CHAP. HI 
 
 ilie rock as close as possible, and the balks, in all their intersections with each other, trenailed 
 together. J hey were also fitted to the iron branches whc; they happened to fall in ; for the 
 branches do not seem to have been placed w ith an\ complete regularity or order, but rather 
 where the strength and firmness of the rock pointed out the properest places for fixing them: 
 they were however to appearance disposed, so as to form a double circle, one about a loot within 
 the circumference of the basement, and the other about three feet within the former; besides 
 which, there were two large branches fixed near the center, lor taking hold of the two sides of a 
 large upright piece of timber, which was called the Mast; by w Inch two branches, it was strongly 
 fixed down ; and being set perpendicular, it served as a center for guiding all the rest of the 
 succeeding work. 
 
 The branches were perforated, in their respective upper parts, some with three, and some 
 with four holes; so that, in every pair (collectively called a branch) there would be at a medium 
 seven holes; and as there were at least 36 original branches, there would be 252 holes, which 
 were about of an inch in diameter; and, consequently, were capable of receiving as many large- 
 bearded spikes or Jag-bolts, which being driven through the branches into the solid timber, 
 would undoubtedly hold the whole mass firmly down; and the great multiplicity of trenails in 
 the intersections, would confine all the strata closely and compactly together. 
 
 39 . 1 CANNOT omit here to remark, that though the instrument we now call the Lewis, is 
 
 of an old date; yet, so far as appears, this particular application of that idea, which Mr. Run- 
 y erd employed in fixing his iron branches firmly to the rock, was made use of for the first time 
 in this work : for though Mr. Winstanley mentions his having made 12 holes, and fixed 12 
 great irons in the rock, in his first year’s work ; yet he gives no intimation of any particular mode 
 of fixing them, but the common way w ith lead : and the slump of one of the great irons of Mr. 
 W i NSTAXLE y’s, that was cut out in the course of the work of the summer 1 /5G, was fixed in that, 
 manner; but we remarked, that the low end of this bar or stanchion was a little club-ended, and 
 that the hole was somewhat under-cut; so that, when the lead was poured in, the whole together 
 would make a sort of dovetail engraflmenl : however, when these irons, by great agitations be¬ 
 came loose, and the lead yielded in a certain degree, they would be liable to be drawn out; as 
 the orifice by which they entered, must have been large enough to receive the iron club. Mi. 
 Rim i nn’s method, therefore, of keying and securing, must be considered as a material acces¬ 
 sion lo the practical part of Engineery; as it furnishes us with a secure method of fixing ring¬ 
 bolts and eye-bolts, stanchions, ike. not only into rocks of any known hardness; but into piers, 
 moles, &c. that have already been constructed, for the safe mooring of ships; or fixing additional 
 works, whether of stone or wood. 
 
 40. IN this wav, by building stratum super stratum, of solid squared oak timber, which was 
 of the best quality*, Mr. Rudyerd was enabled to make a solid basement of what height lie 
 thought proper : but in addition to the above methods, he judiciously laid hold of the great prin¬ 
 ciple of Engineery, that. WEIGHT is the most naturally and effectually resisted by WEIGHT. 
 He considered, that all his joints being pervious to water, and that though a great part of the 
 ground joint of the whole mass, was in contact with the rock, yet many parts of it could not be 
 accurately so ; and therefore, that whatever parts of the ground joint were not in perfect contact, 
 so as to exclude the water therefrom, though the separation was only by the thickness of a piece 
 of post-paper, yet if capable of receiving water in a fluid statef, the action of a wave upon it 
 edgewise, would upon the principles of Hydrostatics, produce an equal effect towards lifting it 
 upwards, as if it acted immediately upon so much area of the bottom, as was not in close contact. 
 
 41. THE more effectually therefore to counteract every tendency of the seas to move the 
 
 * It is said that all the timber used in this building was winter felled. 
 
 t When water is received into the pores of wood or stone and other solid bodies, I do not consider it as in a state of fluidity. 
 
RUDYERD’S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 23 
 
 building, in any direction, he determined to interpose strata of Cornish Moor-stone between those 
 of wood ; and accordingly having raised his foundation solid, two courses above the top of the 
 rock, he then put on five courses, of one foot thick each, of the Moor-stone*. These courses were 
 as well jointed as the workmen of the country could do it; to introduce as much weight as pos¬ 
 sible, into the space to contain them : they were however laid without any cement; but it appears 
 that iron cramps were used to retain the stones of each course together, and also upright ones to 
 confine down the outside stones; for though Mr. Rudyerd makes no mention of the cramps, I 
 learnt this circumstance by conversing with a person actually employed in the preparation of 
 the stone; as will be more fully stated hereafter. 
 
 42. WHEN five feet of Moor-stone were laid on, which according to the dimensions would 
 weigh 120 tons; he then interposed a couple of courses of solid timber as before; the use of 
 which was plainly for the more effectual and ready fastening of the outside uprights to the solid, 
 by means of Jag-bolts f, or screw-bolts; and that these bolts might the more effectually hold in 
 the wood, in every part of the circle (which could not be the case with timbers lying parallel to 
 each other, because in two points of the circle opposite to each other, the timbers would present 
 their ends towards the bolt) he encompassed those two courses with circular, or what is tech¬ 
 nically called compass timbers, properly scarphed together, and breaking joint one course upon 
 the other. We must not however suppose, that these courses were composed wholly of circular 
 timbers to the center, but that the circles of compass timbers on the outside, were filled up with 
 parallel pieces within; and that the compass timbers were, in the most favourable points, jag- 
 bolted to the interior parallel pieces. 
 
 The two uppermost courses, after clearing the rock, and before the five Moor-stone courses 
 came on, were furnished with compass timbers, as well as some others below, which are also dis¬ 
 tinguished in Plate No. 6, exhibiting the orthographical elevation and section beforementioned of 
 Mr. Rudyerd’s Lighthouse, as it stood antecedent to its demolition by fire in the year 1755. 
 
 The two courses of wood above the Moor-stone courses beforementioned, terminated the entire 
 solid of the basement; for a Well Hole was begun to be left upon these courses for stairs in the 
 center, of six feet 9 inches in the square; and hereupon was fixed the entry door, or rather, one 
 course lower, making a step up, just within the door; in consequence of this, the entire solid 
 terminated about nine feet above the higher side of the base, and 19 feet above the lower side 
 thereof^. 
 
 The detached sketch Fig. 2, Plate No. 6 gives the plan of the five Moor-stone courses in¬ 
 cluded in the entire solid, compiled from old working draughts, that appear to have been given 
 out by Mr. Rudyerd during the course of the work, for forming and fixing these courses : the 
 continued lines represent the joints of course No. 1 ; and the dotted lines, those of course No. 2, 
 which shew how they broke joint upon one another : and the courses being alternately of these 
 different figures, they would mutually break joint in the same manner.—In the original draw¬ 
 ings, they were represented by black lines and red lines.—From hence it appears, that though 
 no cramps are represented, yet besides the mast in the center, there are ten holes of about two 
 inches diameter each ; eight of them forming an octagon round the center, and two more in two 
 of the opposite stones that abut upon the mast: and I have no doubt, but that the use of those 
 holes was for the passage of iron bars or bolts, which firmly laying hold of the two compass 
 
 * In Mr. Rudyerd’s print six courses of Moor-stone are exhibited in this place; but in reality there were but five, as many oc¬ 
 casions of repair have afterwards evinced; which is a further argument, that the print was compiled from a design or sketches made 
 before the building was erected. 
 
 t Jag or bearded bolts or spikes, are such as with a chissel have a beard raised upon their angles, somewhat like that of a fish-hook, 
 so that when driven forcibly into the wood, those beards, by laying hold, oppose their being drawn out again. 
 
 J The difference in the declivity of the base from that mentioned § 34 is to be attributed to the difference betwixt the original 
 design and the execution. 
 
BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 24 
 
 courses under the Moor-stone, then passing through the five Moor-stone courses, and lastly 
 through the two compass courses above the Moor-stone, would, besides the upright cramps, be 
 a further means of tying all those nine courses firmly together as one solid ; that solid being 
 firmly tied by the trenails to the courses below, and those ultimately to the branches. This mode 
 of binding appears still the more probable, as in Mr. Ridyerd’s copper-plate representation, 
 there is the appearance of iron bars proceeding through all the courses of stone, and to the ter¬ 
 mination of the solid at the store-room floor; but of these I find no traces either in the said draw¬ 
 ings, or the building above the entire solid, further than has been already described. 
 
 43. IN Mr. Winstasley’s house, the entry was from the rock into an internal staircase, 
 formed in the casing mentioned in the work of the 4th year, upon the S. E. side; he therefore 
 needed only a few external steps, as shewn in Plate No. 5. But Mr. Rudyf.rd’s entry door, 
 being full eight feet above the highest part of the rock, lie would consequently need a ladder. 
 This he made of iron of great strength ; and being open, whenever the seas broke upon this side 
 of the house, they readily found their passage through, without making any very violent agitation 
 upon it. 
 
 44. THE two compass courses terminating the entire solid, having been established, as 
 already mentioned, he again proceeded with five Moor-stone courses; of which Pig. 3 is the plan, 
 Plate No. 6, nearly the same as the former; allowing for the necessary difference, resulting from 
 there now being a central well hole for the stairs, and a passage from the entry door, as 
 described, to the well hole: this passage was 2 feet 11 inches wide, and as it appears, took up 
 the whole height of the five courses. The weight of these five courses, according to the dimen¬ 
 sions, amounted to 86 tons. 
 
 He then again proceeded with two compass courses, covering the door head and passage, so 
 as now to leave no other vacuity, than the well hole; and upon these he laid four Moor-stoue 
 courses*, the weight of which amounted to 67 tons. He then proceeded with two compass 
 courses, and after that, with beds of timber cross and cross, and compass courses interposing; 
 and last of all, with one compass course, upon which he laid a floor over all, of oak plank of 
 three inches thick, which made the floor of the store-room. 
 
 45. THE height of this floor above the bottom of the well, was near 18 feet; above the foot 
 of the mast 33 feet; above the rock on the higher side 27 feet; and above the foot of the building- 
 on the lower side 37 feet. In all this height, no cavity of any kind was intended for any pur¬ 
 pose of depositing stores, &c.—From the rock to the bottom of the well, all was solid, as we have 
 shewn ; but as the building increased in height, and consequently was more out of the heavy 
 stroke of the sea, a less degree of strength and solidity would lie equivalent to the former, and 
 therefore admit of the convenience of a staircase within the building, with a passage into it: 
 which last, being made upon the east side, would be withdra wn from the heavy shock of the seas 
 from the south-west quarter, and the rock being there highest, the ascent by the iron stair upon 
 the outside, would be the least; the whole therefore to the height of the store-room floor, as 
 abovementioned, having been made with all possible solidity, was denominated the solid. 
 
 46. THE height of Mr. Rudyerd’s store-room floor, was fixed as hi gh as the floor of Mr. 
 W instax ley’s state-room, which was over his store-room*f*: .and as many were doubtless still 
 living who had seen and examined Mr. Winstanley’s Lighthouse, during the four years that it 
 stood in a finished state; and as in that time there would be an opportunity of knowing from expe¬ 
 rience, to what height the unbroken water of the waves mounted in bad weather; we may very 
 well suppose, that Mr. Rudyerd regulated the height of his solid from that information. 
 
 • Mr. Rudyehd’s design shews five courses; but this is clearly a mistake, as might be seen at any time, by counting them in the 
 staircase. 
 
 t See § 24 and Plate No. 5. 
 
RUDYERD S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 25 
 
 47- WE have already seen, that the two compass courses of wood, which capped the first 
 bed of moorstone, and terminated the entire solid, were forcibly screwed down by ten large iron 
 bars or bolts to the beds of timber below the moorstone, and these by the trenails and branches to 
 the rock. We must suppose this precaution to have been taken, to prevent any derangement from 
 the heavy strokes of the sea in storms and hard gales, which were liable to happen in the very 
 finest part of the season, before there was any proper opportunity of connecting the upper part of 
 the work with the lower, by means of the upright timbers, that were to form the outside case ; 
 because, till the work was brought to that height, there could be no proper means of beginning 
 to fix them : and as we do not find any traces or mention of binding the upper courses with the 
 lower, after the staircase was set forward; we must suppose that the outside casing had been 
 then begun from the rock, and carried on progressively, so as to become a bond of the upright 
 kind: for, all such timbers as were high enough, having been screwed fast to the compass 
 courses, would be thereby secured to the lower courses; otherwise, from what I have myself 
 experienced of the situation, I should have expected, that whenever the two courses of compass 
 timber were put upon the second bed of moorstone, if a hard gale should have come on at South- 
 West, it would not only have lifted up and carried away the timber beds, but possibly would 
 have deranged the moorstone courses; notwithstanding the upright cramps to the outside stones. 
 
 48. THE solid being- in this manner completed, the upper part of the building comprehend¬ 
 ing four rooms, one above another, was chiefly formed by the outside upright timbers ; having 
 one Kirb or circle of compass timber at each floor, to which the upright timbers were screwed 
 and connected; and upon which the floor timbers were rested. The uprights were also jag- 
 bolted and trenailed to one another, and in this manner, the work was carried on to the height 
 of 34 feet above the store-room floor; and there terminated by a planking of three inches thick, 
 which composed the roof of the main column, as well as served for the floor of the lantern, and 
 of the balcony round it. 
 
 49. THUS the main column of this building consisted of one simple figure, being an elegant 
 frustum of a cone, unbroken by any projecting ornament, or any thing whereon the violence of 
 the storms could lay hold ; being, exclusive of its sloping foundation, 22 feet 8 inches upon its 
 largest circular base; 61 feet high above that circular base; and 14 feet 3 inches in diameter at 
 the top : so that the circular base was somewhat greater than one-third of the total height, and 
 the diameter at top was somewhat less than two-thirds of the base at the greatest circle. 
 
 50. THE junction of the upright timbers upon each other, was by means of Scarfs, as they 
 are technically called in ship-building and carpentry; that is, the joining of timbers end to end 
 by overlapping. The Limbers were of different lengths from 10 to 20 feet, and so suited, that 
 no two joinings or scarfs of the uprights might fall together. The number of uprights compos¬ 
 ing the circle was the same from top to bottom; and their number being 7L their breadth at 
 the bottom would be one foot nearly; their thickness there was 9 inches; and as they diminished 
 in breadth towards the top, they also diminished in Lhickness. The whole of the outside seams 
 was well caulked with oakum, in the same manner as in ships; and the whole payed over with 
 pitch, consequently upon a near view, the seams running straight from top to bottom, in some 
 measure resembled the fluting of columns; wjiich in so simple a figure, could not fail to catch 
 the attention of the beholder, and prove an agreeable engagement of the eye. 
 
 The whole of the building was indeed a piece of Shipwrightry: for it is plain from the pre¬ 
 ceding account, that the interposed beds of moorstone had nothing to do with the frame of the 
 building, it being entire and complete exclusive thereof: the beds of moorstone could therefore 
 only be considered in the nature of ballast, and amounted, from what has been before stated in 
 the whole, to the weight of above 270 Tons. 
 
 51. ALL the windows, shutters and doors were composed of double plank, cross and cross 
 and clinked together; which falling into a rabbet, when shut, their outside formed a part of the 
 
 H 
 
20 
 
 BOOK I. CHAP. III. 
 
 general surface, like the port-holes in a ship’s side; without making any unevenness or pro¬ 
 jection in the surface.—There were however, two projecting parts terminating this frustum; 
 one at the top, and the other at the joining with the rock; the utility of which seems to render 
 them indispensable. They were each of them a projection of about 9 inches. The top pro¬ 
 jection, which is in the nature of a cornice, consisted of a simple bevil, and the use of it was very 
 great; for in time of storms and hard gales of wind, when, according to the accounts of Mr. 
 Winstanley’s building, the broken sea rises to a far greater height than the whole structure, 
 it would be likely to break the windows of the lantern, unless there was something to throw 
 it off, as their use does not admit of any defence by shutters. Therefore Mr. Ruuyerd applied 
 this simple cornice, judging it sufficient to have the effect of throwing off the sea in time of 
 storms; and yet not of so much projection, as that the sea at the height of 71 feet above the 
 foot of the building could have power enough to derange it. 
 
 The bottom projection, which has been called the Kant, and which fills up the angle formed 
 between the uprights and the sloping surface of the rock, so as to guard the foot of the uprights 
 from that violence of action which the waves naturally exert when driven into a corner, was cer¬ 
 tainly a very useful application: but whether it was originally constructed by Mr. Rudyerd him¬ 
 self, or was applied some time after, upon finding a want thereof, is at present uncertain.—I am 
 rather inclined to think the latter, and that for two reasons: First, there is nothing of the 
 kant shewn in Mr. Rcdyerd’s print of the building; the feet of the uprights being shewn 
 as applied to the naked steps, both in section and elevation, without any thing of the kant; 
 but as there were in reality many other deviations, I am more strongly inclined to think it 
 was not there, upon the first completion, for the second reason; that is, because the iron stanchions 
 or branches, that were let into the rock by way of confining the kant in its place, were not 
 fixed into the rock in the method of Key and Dovetail, as Mr. Rudyerd had done all his 
 principal and original branches; but were fixed in with club ends, in the way of Mr. Win¬ 
 stanley’s irons: w'hereas a workman versed in Mr. Rudyerd’s method, would not only find 
 it much more firm, but even more easy in the execution, than the old method. 
 
 52. UPON the flat roof of the main column, as a platform, Mr. Rudyerd fixed his lantern, 
 which was an octagon of 10 feet 6 inches diameter externally. The mean height of the window 
 frames of the lantern above the balcony floor, was nearly nine feet, so that the elevation of 
 the center of the light above the highest side of the base was 70 feet; that is, lower than the 
 center of Mr. Winstanley’s second lantern by seven feet; but higher than that of his first by 
 24 feet.—The width of Mr. Rudyerd’s lantern was however nearly the same as that of Mr. 
 Winstanley’s second: but instead of the towering ornaments of iron work, and a vane that 
 rose above the top of the cupola no less than 21 feet, Mr. Rudyerd judiciously contented 
 himself with finishing his building with a round ball, of 2 feet 3 inches diameter, which ter¬ 
 minated at three feet above the top of his cupola. The whole height of Mr. Rudyerd’s lantern, 
 including the ball, was no more than 21 feet above his balcony floor; whereas that of Mr. 
 Winstanley, including the iron ornaments, was above forty. 
 
 The whole height then of Mr. Rudyerd’s Lighthouse, from the lowest side to the top of the 
 ball, was 92 feet, upon a base of 23 feet 4 inches, taken at a medium between the highest and 
 lowest part of the rock that it covered. 
 
 53. IN the elevation of this building, contained in plate No. 6, the rock is represented at 
 the low water, as seen from the South, in the manner I found it in the year 1756; to which, the 
 present plate of the elevation of his Lighthouse is adapted, from the best documents concerning 
 it that have come into my hands. 
 
 A shews the rock.-B the landing place. 
 
 aa the steps or flats to which the rock was reduced.-bb the branches.-cc, &c. floors of 
 
 wood laid lengthwise of the steps.-dd floors laid crossways of the same.— — ec courses of com- 
 
RUDYERD'S LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 27 
 
 pass timber.-D five courses of moorstone, which with two courses of compass timber marked 
 
 E completed the entire solid, to the top of which led 
 
 F the iron ladder to G the entry door, and through GH the entry or passage into-HI 
 
 the well-hole for the staircase.-KL the mast.-M five courses of moorstone, the height of 
 
 which composed the entry or passage. 
 
 N two beds of compass timber, making good the passage to the stairs. 
 
 O four beds of moorstone, capped with two beds of compass timber, after which succeeded 
 courses of timber alternately cross and cross, with compass courses interposed as shewn in the 
 section. 
 
 PQ shew the upright timbers, as they appeared externally, being 71 in number. 
 
 pq the same in the upright section. 
 
 I the store-room floor, and R the door of the store-room; which was so much further to the 
 North than the entry, that when casks and stores were drawn up perpendicularly by a tackle, 
 suspended from above, they would clear the iron ladder. 
 
 S the state-room.-T the bed-chamber.-V the kitchen.-W the balcony._X the 
 
 lantern.-Y the lantern door into the balcony; and—Z the cupola and ball. 
 
 ff four curved pipes for venting the smoke from the candles in the lantern. 
 
 g the top of the copper funnel, which passed through the lantern, from the kitchen fireplace 
 which was of brick. 
 
 h the upper bevil, or projection by way of cornice for throwing off the sea, to prevent it 
 from breaking the lantern windows in time of storms; which was necessary, though the panes 
 were of ground Glass, on account of strength. 
 
 i knees to strengthen the junction of the uprights with the balcony floor, and also in part to 
 support the weight of the lantern. 
 
 kkk the original kirbs of compass timbers to form the uprights to a circle, and support the 
 weight of the floors. 
 
 mmm Kirbs applied of late years for strengthening the frame of the building. 
 
 nn the kant at the foot of the uprights, and oo one of the stanchions by which the kants were 
 fastened down. 
 
 54. SUCH a platform as the balcony round the lantern was absolutely necessary, on account 
 of cleaning the outside of the windows; which gather a saline incrustation upon them, every 
 storm and hard gale of wind; and the rails not only served the purpose of preventing persons 
 from tumbling over, but were of use in hoisting the flag, as a signal to the shore, that something 
 was wanted. This is sufficiently explained by Plate No. 5: but the flag-staff was not always in 
 one fixed place, as there represented; as it could occasionally be lashed to the most proper part 
 of the rails for its exhibition to the shore; and to suit the wind, so as that the flag might fly clear 
 of the building. 
 
 Also instead of any cranes as shewn by Mr. Winstanley, a pair of tackle blocks were occa¬ 
 sionally, when wanted, hooked to the hand-rail of the balcony, and taken in when done with; 
 for there was little chance of getting any thing into the house, except when a boat could lie in 
 the Gut, and then it might be landed directly into the store-room. 
 
 The chink at p is the place where a part of a chain, apparently one of Mr. Winstanley's 
 crane chains, was jammed in so fast on the destruction of that Lighthouse, that it remained so 
 during the whole continuance of Mr. Rddyerd’s Lighthouse, and was shewn as one of the 
 curiosities of the place. 
 
 55. I HAVE endeavoured to describe this building with all possible minuteness, because it 
 affords a great, and a very useful lesson to future Engineers. We are sure that a building such 
 as Mr. Wl nstanley’s, was not capable of resisting the utmost fury of the sea; because, in four 
 years after its completion, it was totally demolished thereby: but Mr. Rudyerd’s building hav¬ 
 ing sustained the repeated attacks of that element in all its fury, for upwards of 46 years after 
 
28 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 its completion; and then being destroyed, not by water, but by fire; we must conclude, it was of 
 a construction capable of withstanding the greatest violence of the sea in that situation. And by 
 withstanding it there, this Lighthouse proves the practicability of a similar erection in any like 
 exposure in the known world: for, having attentively read and considered what is contained in 
 the respective voyages of Anson, Byron, Cook, and Phipps, the most scientific navigators that 
 modern times have produced, I do not find in all their accounts, such an exposure to the sea’s 
 uttermost violence, as at the Edystone Rocks. 
 
 56. Mr. RUDYERD informs us, as abovementioned, that a light was put up in this build¬ 
 ing the 28th July, 1708, and that it was completely finished in 1709*- The means of exhibiting 
 this light, would have been not only curious, but useful, had it been, handed down to us. The 
 best information that I have been enabled to procure upon this point is, “ that a light was ex¬ 
 hibited from the house in a lantern, that was raised upon eight fir Balks, which butted upon the 
 solid, and were weather-boarded with deal.”—At this time we must suppose that the solid was 
 completed; and, in a great part, its exterior casing also; but that this casing was not got much 
 above the solid: if therefore those eight pillars were raised, so as to be capable of hoisting a light 
 above the floor of the third room; then, in the course of that summer, they might very well 
 perfect the two low rooms, for lodging the lightkeepers, during the ensuing winter; and finish 
 the two remaining rooms and principal lantern, the next season of 1709, as Mr. Rudyerd re¬ 
 lates; that being the fourth and last summer of the progress of that work. 
 
 57- THE following anecdote has been related to me by such a variety of persons, that I 
 cannot doubt of its having some foundation in truth, though no mention has been made thereof 
 by Mr. Rudyerd. The relation will therefore I trust be acceptable to my readers, as it at once 
 shews the great estimation in which this building has been held by foreigners, even such as were, 
 at the very time, enemies of this country. 
 
 LEY IS the XIV. being at war with England, during the proceeding with this building, a 
 French privateer took the men at work upon the Edystone rock, together with their tools, and 
 carried them to France; and the captain was in expectation of a reward for the achievement, 
 Y\ liile the captives lay in prison, the transaction reached the ears of that monarch: He imme¬ 
 diately ordered them to be released, and the captors to be put in their place; declaring, that 
 though he was at war with England, he was not at war with mankind; he therefore directed 
 the men to be sent back to their work with presents; observing that the Edystone Lighthouse 
 was so situated, as to be of equal service to all nations having occasion to navigate the channel 
 that divides France from England")'. 
 
 58. I HAVE seen a paper in the hands of one of the present proprietors, upon which were 
 put down the quantities of materials said to have been expended in the construction of this build¬ 
 ing: viz. 500 tons of stone; 1200 tons of timber; 80 tons of iron, and 35 tons of lead; and of tre¬ 
 nails, screws, and rack-bolts 2500 eacht. 
 
 * This is further ascertained by the following extract from the preamble of an act of the 8th of Anne, chap. 17. 
 
 “ And whereas the said Master, Wardens, and Assistants (of Trinity House) having a due regard to the safety and preservation 
 of the shipping and navigation of this kingdom, did soon after the passing of the said act, (4th of Anne, chap. 20.) cause the said 
 Lighthouse to be begun, and to be rebuilt; and by the great care and diligence of the persons employed therein, the said work was 
 carried on with such expedition, that a light useful for shipping was placed therein on the 28th July 1708; and the said Lighthouse 
 hath since, with much hazard and difficulty, and at a very great expence been fully built and completed, to the great satisfaction of 
 the flag officers and commanders of her majesty’s fleet and ships of war, and of all others concerned in trade and navigation.” 
 
 t Mr. Rudyerd remarks upon the face of his print, that “ to expedite the work and to protect the workmen, these four men of war, 
 at sundry times, were appointed to this station, viz. 1st, The Roebuck of 42 guns.—2d, The Charles Galley of 36.—3d, The Swal¬ 
 low’s Prize of 32.—4th, The Albrow of 24.” Which appointment was probably in consequence of the accident above related. 
 
 t This must be supposed the account of rough materials, otherwise the stone and timber must greatly exceed the real 
 quantity. 
 
CONTAINING SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS AND OCCURRENCES FROM THE 
 FINISHING MR. RUDYERD’S LIGHTHOUSE, TO THE TOTAL 
 DEMOLITION THEREOF, 
 
 59. FROM the time of finishing the Lighthouse in 1709, we have no further particulars till 
 about the year 1715, when Captain Lovet, the proprietor of the lease, under the Corporation 
 °f the Trinity House, beforementioned, being deceased, his property was sold at public biddings 
 by a Master in Chancery, in consequence of a decree and directions from that court: when it was 
 
 eston. Esq; Richard Noyes, Esq; of Grays Inn; 
 
 and -Cheetham, Esq ; an Alderman of Dublin. The agreement of the purchasers was to 
 
 divide the leasehold property thus acquired into eight shares, of which Mr. Weston had three, 
 Mr. Noyes two, and Mr. Cheetham three. 
 
 60. THIS house, we are told, stood in no need of any material repairs for some years ; hut 
 in or about the year 1723, defects were discovered, which required great attention : for now it 
 
 that some parts of the uprights were decayed at the but ends, by means of a 
 small worm, which had eaten some inches into them, especially those on the lowest side of the 
 house. Hereupon the gentlemen proprietors appointed Mr. John Holland, then a foreman 
 shipwright in his Majesty’s dock-yard at Plymouth, to survey and direct the repairs; which he 
 very judiciously did, from time to time, till he was advanced to the office of assistant builder in 
 Woolwich Yard : on which occasion, the overseeing and conducting of the repairs was transferr 
 to a creditable shipwright at Plymouth dock; upon whose reports of the state of the buildiu°-, 
 from time to time, Mr. Holland gave directions in what manner to proceed : but this not being 
 so satisfactory to the proprietors, as when under the immediate inspection and direction of Mr. 
 Holland; and some considerable repairs being necessary in the year 1734, Mr. Holland, by 
 leave of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, was sent down to Plymouth to conduct 
 the same. 
 
 This is the period when the structure of that edifice, and the defects it was liable to, became 
 better understood; for one of the gentlemen principally interested, followed Mr. Holland to 
 Plymouth, and residing there a considerable time, made many observations in his visits to the 
 building; and seeing how the works were carried on, formed such a plan for the future con¬ 
 ducting of this structure, as might probably have preserved it for a number of years, against 
 the attacks of those elements to which from its critical situation it was the most obviously 
 exposed *. 
 
 61. IN this place it may be proper to take notice of an experiment which was tried in 1734, 
 to prevent the ill effects that might happen from the worm: and that was by covering the outsides 
 of 15 pieces of the uprights, at the bottom of the house, with copper, and their insides with 
 lead ; and two pieces were covered entirely with copper, as high as the worm destroyed : hut I 
 
 * In this year Mr. Holland made a very curious draught of the Lighthouse, in which every one of the outside upright timbers 
 was distinctly represented; so that every one of them could numerically be referred to; and the places and nature of the scarfing or 
 joinings distinguished. This was done by supposing the whole of the uprights to be separated at one particular joint, from top to 
 bottom ; and then all the rest opened till they were brought into one plane: the figure thus formed would become a kind of Evolute of 
 the surface of the whole building; and was peculiarly adapted to illustrate the experiments, reports and repairs that were then carry¬ 
 ing on, and might from time to time thereafter be wanted or recommended: this draught distinctly represents the kant at the bottom • 
 and hereby it was first known, that the real number of uprights was 71 ; and not 72 as had been before imagined. 
 
30 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 am informed, this did not thoroughly answer expectation; for in 1744, one of those pieces that 
 was entirely coppered, was taken out, and found to he worm-eaten* * * § . 
 
 62. THE latter end of 1744 after all the necessary repairs were finished, there happened a 
 dreadful storm on the 26th September, which being irom the East, tore away no less than 30 
 pieces of the uprights all together f; which in part made an opening into the store-room: this 
 disaster however, by great exertion, was entirely repaired by the 14th December following, under 
 the inspection and direction of Mr. Josias Jessop, then (and indeed until his death no more 
 than) that species of foreman shipwright, called a Quarter-man in Plymouth dock. This person, 
 whose modesty and ingenuity caused him to be deservedly respected by many, Mr. Holland 
 recommended to the proprietors to be their overseer, which they still rank among the eminent 
 services he did tliem^. 
 
 Mr. Holland, who had been promoted to be King’s Builder at Deptford Yard, continued 
 his good offices to the time of his death, which happened not lill the year 1752; and then the exe¬ 
 cution of the important office of repairing this building, was solely intrusted to Mr. Jessop, who 
 discharged his duty herein, with the greatest integrity, diligence and accuracy, till the calamity 
 happened, which totally destroyed the building, and which could neither be foreseen nor 
 avoided. 
 
 63. IT seems that for many years after the establishment of this Lighthouse, it was attended 
 by two men only; and indeed the duty required no more; as the principal part of that, besides 
 keeping the windows of the lantern clean (and in general the rooms) was the alternately watching 
 four hours, and four hours, to snuff and renew the candles; each at the conclusion of his watch 
 taking care to call the other and to see him on duty before he himself retired : but it happened, 
 that one of the men was taken ill and died ; and notwithstanding the Edystonc Flag was hoisted, 
 yet the weather was such for some time, as to prevent any boat Irom getting so near the rocks as 
 to speak lo them§.—In this dilemma, the living man found himself in an awkward situation; being 
 apprehensive that if he tumbled the dead body into the sea, which was the only way in his power 
 to dispose of it, he might be charged with murder; this induced him tor some time to let the 
 dead corpse lie, in hopes that the boat might be able to land and relieve him from the distress 
 he was in.—By degrees the body became so offensive, that it was not in his power to get quit of 
 it without help ; for it was near a month before the attending boat, could eflect a landing; and 
 then it was not without the greatest difficulty that it could be done when they did land. To 
 such a degree \\ as the whole building filled with the stench of the corpse, that it was all they 
 
 * It will now seem that this experiment of plate copper (which I have from the best authority) that did not succeed in prevent¬ 
 ing and destroying the worm, is not easily to be reconciled with the present practice of sheathing ships bottoms therewith, which is 
 held to be an effectual remedy, as being a poison to the worm : this we may however infer, that this, as well as many other good pro¬ 
 positions, have been given up too hastily: for though here was a trial of 10 years, yet the practice was condemned as ineffectual upon 
 a single instance.—On consulting my scientifical friends respecting this fact, ingenious reasons have been suggested, why the con¬ 
 stant state of immersion that takes place in a ship’s bottom, may more effectually convey the poison into the wood, than where it is 
 forsaken by the sea every tide; and even that the strokes of the sea may at the Edystone be so great as to wash the poison out again 
 from the wood, that in a situation of less violence could gradually and slowly insinuate itself; and probably something of this kind 
 may have been the case : but on lately conversing with a very intelligent builder of one of his Majesty’s yards, I am informed, that it 
 is not uncommon for the timber of ships to be eat by the worm under the copper sheathing, where the joints have not been carefully 
 closed ; so that in fact it is not so much its being a poison, as the means of their total exclusion, by a coating that they cannot pene¬ 
 trate, that prevents their destroying the wood: we may therefore, rather impute the want of success in the year 1734, to their not 
 being skilful to close the joints of the copper plates sufficiently compact. 
 
 t It was in this storm that Admiral Balchen was lost in the Victory. 
 
 f After the appointment of Mr. jEssor, and in consequence of the numbers of uprights torn away in the storm of 1744, which 
 enabled him to see further into the construction of the solid than had been known before; he made a still more accurate Evolute, 
 and also a model of the Lighthouse, and it is principally from the measures of this Evolute, that I have compiled the present draught, 
 Plate No. 6. 
 
 § The signal, when any thing was wanted by the Lightkeepers, was to hoist a large flag upon a flag-staff from the balcony rails (as 
 has been observed in the references to the Plates No. 5 and 6) on the leeward side, so as to be fully extended by the wind, clear of 
 the building; which could easily be seen in moderate weather from the heights about Ram-Head: and that it might never be hung 
 out in vain, it was a rule, that the person who carried the first notice to the agent at Plymouth, received from him half a guinea; the 
 agent immediately on this proceeded to hire and send out a boat, to land, if possible, and at least to know what was wanted. 
 
RUDYERD'S LIGHTHOUSE.—SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS. 31 
 
 ooul,l do to get the dead body disposed of, and thrown into the sea; and it was some time after 
 at before the rooms could be got freed from the noisome stench that was left. This induced 
 proprietors to employ a thud man; so that in case of a future accident of the same nature, or 
 the sickness of either, there might be constantly one to supply the place. 
 
 This regulation also afforded a seasonable relief to the Lightkeepers ; for ever since there were 
 three it has been an established rule, that in the summer, in their turns, they are permitted 
 each to go on shore, and spend a month among their friends and acquaintance. 
 
 64. WHETHER the abovementioned two men, of which one died 
 the following account that I found very current in the country, referred 
 ceding them, is now uncertain : hut a boat landing there with visitants 
 frequently happens in the summer season) after examining the place and 
 to one of the men, how very comfortably they might there live in a state 
 says the man, “ very comfortably, if we could have the use of our tong 
 month since my partner and I have spoke to each other.” The appoin 
 likely put a stop to this piece of unseasonable taciturnity ; for though w 
 to find two, yet it is scarcely probable there should be found three toge 
 
 were the two to which 
 ; or it was a couple pre- 
 of curiosity (as not un¬ 
 structure; they observed 
 of retirement. “ Yes,” 
 ,‘ues; but it is now a full 
 tment of three has most 
 e have seen it is possible 
 ■ther of this mind*. 
 
 Being now upon the chapter of anecdotes, I will proceed to give one, that shews how very 
 different. the ideas of mankind are concerning the nature of confinement. It happened in some 
 one of the last years of the continuance of the late building; and I was told the story by the 
 very skipper who bore a part in the conversation. Says the skipper to a shoemaker in his boat 
 w ho he was carrying out to be a lightkeeper; How happens it, friend Jacob, that you should ehuse 
 to go out to be a lightkeeper, when you can on shore, as I am told, earn your half crown and three 
 shdlmgs a day in making leathern hosef; whereas the lightkeepers salary is but £. 25 a year 
 which is scarce ten shillings a week! Says the shoemaker, I go to be a lightkeeper because I 
 don't like confinement! After this answer had produced its share of merriment; he at last ex¬ 
 plained himself, by saying, that he did not like to be confined to work. 
 
 65. 
 
 buildiiiQ 
 
 WE 
 
 now come to the last awful scene, containing the fatal catastrophe of this celebrated 
 
 On the 22d of August 1755 the workmen returned on shore, having finished all necessary re¬ 
 pairs of that season : between which time and the 2d of December following, the attending boat 
 had been off several times to the Edystone, and particularly on the 1st of December, and had 
 landed some stores, when the lightkeepers made no manner of complaint; and said all was right, 
 except that one or two ol the bricks in the kitchen fire-place, had been loosened by a late storm^. 
 
 66. WHAT in reality might occasion the building’s first catching fire, it has never been 
 possible fully to investigate; but from the most distinct account, it appears to have commenced 
 in the very top of the lantern, that is, in the cupola. 
 
 If I might hazard conjectures, I would suppose, that the whole building being of wood, and the 
 heat ol the candles in the lantern considerable^ and this repeated every night for between 40 
 and 50 years together, we may well suppose the wood above them, and particularly the lining of 
 thin boards that supported the uppermost cover of sheet lead, to be brought into a perfect state 
 of dryness and inflammability; and this of course being covered with a thick crust of soot, col- 
 
 * It is very possible I might have passed over this anecdote in silence, had it not been alluded to in one of the speeches of Lord 
 North, in the time of the late war, where he gives this as an instance how the public service is liable to be obstructed by private dis- 
 sentions : however just this remark, yet as it may be a satisfaction to the maritime part of the public to know it; I beg leave to say, I 
 never heard that this line of the public service was ever intermitted or obstructed by this or any dissentions among the parties them¬ 
 selves. 
 
 f Leathern pipes so called. 
 
 + This is another proof of the violent agitation this building was put into by storms and hard gales of wind. 
 
 § Viz. 24 candles burning at once, five whereof weighed two pounds, and it was usual to go into the lantern to snuff them every 
 half hour. J 
 
32 
 
 BOOK I CHAP. IV. 
 
 lectod by receiving the smoke of the candles, the whole together would become m reality a mass 
 of tinder and matches. Now if we can suppose it possible for a single spark to fly from one of 
 the candles, and lodge itself in this mass of combustible matter, the consequence is obvious : or, if 
 we suppose, that in length of time, the copper funnel in passing the cupola, had been corroded 
 by the sails of the sea falling into it in storms, and also by the pit-coal soot from the kitchen fire, 
 so as to open a hole into the upper part in the cupola, by which, a spark might issue from the 
 fire below, the consequence would be the same*. But whether either of these may be esteemed 
 a probable account of the origin of the fire, or not, it is certain, that when the lightkeeper then 
 upon the watch (about two o'clock in the morning of the 2d of December) went into the lantern 
 •„ usual to snuff the candles, he found the whole in a smoke ; and upon opening the door of the 
 lantern into the balcony, a flame instantly burst from the inside of the cupola : he immediately 
 endeavoured to alarm his companions; but they being in bed and asleep, were not so ready in 
 comimr to his assistance as the occasion required.—As there were always some leathern buckets 
 kept in the house, and a tub of water in the lantern ; he attempted as speedily as possible to ex¬ 
 tinguish the fire in the cupola, by throwing water from the balcony with a leather bucket, upon 
 the outside cover of lead ; by this time, his comrades approaching, he encouraged them to fetch 
 up water with the leather buckets from the sea ; but as the height would be at a medium full 70 
 feet, this, added to tile natural consternation that must attend such a sudden and totally unex¬ 
 pected event, would occasion this business of bringing up water, at tile best to go on but slowly. 
 Meanwhile, the flames gathering strength every moment, and the poor man, though making use 
 of every exertion, having the water to throw full four yards higher than Ins own head, to be of 
 any service ; we must by no means be surprised, that under all these difficulties, the fire, instead 
 of being soon extinguished, would increase; and what put a sudden slop to further exertions, 
 was the following most remarkable circumstance. 
 
 As he was looking upward with the utmost attention, to see the direction and success of the 
 water thrown ; on which occasion, as physiognomists tell us, the mouth is naturally a little open , 
 a quantity of lead, dissolved by the heat of the flames, suddenly rushed like a torrent from the 
 roof, and fell, not only upon the man’s head, face and shoulders, but over bis cloaths; and a part 
 of it made its way through bis shirt collar, and very much burnt bis .neck and shoulders: from 
 this moment be had a violent internal sensation, and imagined that a quantity of tins lead had 
 passed bis throat, and got into his body. Under this violence of pain and anxiety, as eveiy at¬ 
 tempt had proved ineffectual, and the rage of the flames was increasing, it is not to be wondered 
 that the terror and dismay of the three men increased in proportion; so that they all found them¬ 
 selves intimidated, and glad to make their retreat from that immediate scene of horror, into one of 
 the rooms below: where they would find themselves precluded from doing any thing; for had 
 they thrown down ever so much water there, it could not have extinguished what was burning 
 above them; nor indeed, produce any other effect, than that of running down into the rooms 
 below; and from thence finally through the staircase, back again into the sea : they seem there¬ 
 fore to have had no other resource or means of retreat, than that of retiring downwards from 
 
 room to room, as the fire advanced over their heads. 
 
 • 
 
 67. HOW soon the fire was seen from the shore, is not very certain ; but early in the morn- 
 in° - it was perceived by some of the Cawsand fishermen"j", and intelligence thereof given to Mr. 
 Edwards of Rarne in that neighbourhood, a gentleman of some fortune, and more humanity. 
 This prompted him immediately to send out a fishing-boat and men, to the relief of the people he 
 supposed in distress upon the Edystone^;, 
 
 * This supposition is not without grounds, as the lightkeepers, after the accident, declared, that the fire broke out from the chim¬ 
 ney or funnel into the cupola; but were not believed then, as the whole of it that passed through the lantern was of copper. 
 
 t Cawsand Bay is a capacious bay within the confines of Plymouth Sound; it lies just within the Sound, on the west side; the 
 southermost point of this bay is Point Penlee, which is also the extreme point of Plymouth Sound on the west side; and the two fish¬ 
 ing towns of Kingston and Cawsand are situated at the bottom of the bay. See the Map, No. 2. 
 
 t I am informed by my esteemed friend Dr. Mudge of Plymouth, that the philanthropy of this worthy gentleman on this occasion, 
 cost him his life; for his exertions gave him so violent a cold as to bring on complaints of which he shortly after died. 
 
RUDYERD'S LIGHTHOUSE 
 
 -SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS. 33 
 
 The boat and men got thither abort ten o’clock, after the fire had been burning full eight 
 “T., „* ree !i ? htke ?P erSWere »<* only driven from all the rooms, and the 
 and red-hot bolts, &c. upon them, they were 
 rock (See Plate No. 6 Letter q, also 
 a state of stupefaction ; it being then 
 
 stair-case, but to avoid the falling of the timber 
 found sitting in the hole or cave on the East side of the 
 Plate No. 14 Letter X) under the iron ladder, almost in 
 low water. 
 
 68 . 
 
 AT tins time the wind was castwardly, and did not blow very fresh ; hut just hard 
 ! n .° U i'. t0 make , a , lamil ” S "pon the rook, at the proper landing-place (which is on the East side) 
 
 all boat, 
 (I to the large boat, 
 
 quite impracticable, or attended with the utmost hazard 
 
 the men were to be taken off; for the ground swell upon the West side produced so great a surf 
 upon the sloping surface, that no boat could attempt to land there. They however fell upon the 
 following expedient: having a small boat with them, they moored their principal boat by a grap- 
 l.ng to the westward; but as near the rock as they durst; and then launching the 
 they rowed it towards the rock, veering out a rope, which they had faste 
 
 till they got near enough to throw a eoil of small rope upon the rock; which having been laid 
 hold of by the men, they one by one fastened it round their waists, and jumping into the sea, 
 they were towed into tile small boat; and from thence delivered into the large one : and as they 
 found that it was out of their power to do any further service, this boat hastened to Plymouth to 
 get the men relieved. No sooner however were they set on shore, than one of them made oft) 
 and has never since been heard of: which would on the first blush induce one to suppose, there 
 was something culpable in this man ; and if it had been a house on shore one would have been 
 tempted to suspect he had been guilty of some foul play; but the circumstance of its being a 
 Lighthouse, situated so as to afford 110 retreat in the power of its inhabitants, seems to preclude 
 I he possibility of its being done wilfully; as he must know, he must perish, or be in extreme 
 danger of so doing at least, along with the rest. I would therefore rather impute his sudden 
 flight, to that kind of panic, which sometimes, on important occasions, seizes weak minds; making 
 them act without reason, and 111 so doing commit actions the very reverse in tendency of what 
 they mean them to have; and of which they have afterwards occasion to repent: but the man 
 already described to have suffered so much by the melted lead, was sent to his own house at 
 Stonehouse, a village near the place where they landed. 
 
 09 . IT was not long after the alarm was made at Cawsand, that the dreadful news reached 
 Plymouth ; and as from the composition of the structure, it was thought that a considerable part 
 of it might be saved, at least ol the foundation, endeavours were not wanting for that purpose ; 
 for Mr. Alderman Tolcher, the agent and collector of the duties, who was a perfect enthusiast 
 for the welfare of the Lighthouse; and his son Mr. Joseph Tolcheb, immediately went out to 
 sea; both gentlemen were ever, but then more than ever, indefatigable in their endeavours for 
 its preservation. When they came there, alas 1 what could they do ! There was no landing, ex¬ 
 cept at the imminent hazard of their lives; and if landed, they could not do any thing. They 
 could therefore only have the supreme mortification to behold, that after the rooms and all the 
 upper works were totally destroyed, the fire was rapidly communicating itself into the solid ; and 
 there being many beds of solid timber above all the stone, their connexion with those below, by 
 means of the mast and stairs in the well-hole, and by the upright timbers on the outside, would 
 not suffer a doubt to remain, that after such a mass of fire was generated above, it would gra¬ 
 dually communicate itself to the beds of timber interposed between those of Moor-stone, ancTby 
 that means consume the whole. 
 
 70. THE late worthy Admiral West, who then lay with a fleet in Plymouth Sound, on 
 hearing of the accident, immediately sent out a sloop properly manned, with a boat and an en¬ 
 gine therein, which also carried out Mr. Jessop the surveyor ; this vessel also arrived early in the 
 day on which the fire happened. In endeavouring to make a landing of the engine, on the 
 West side, it being then about low water, the boat, men and engine were at once tossed upon 
 the rock by a wave, which on its retreat left them thereon ; and before the engine was got out of 
 
BOOK I. CHAP. IV. 
 
 the boat another wave came, act them afloat, anti swept them back again to them former situ¬ 
 ation. British Tars are not dismayed with small matters; however, this accident sufficiently 
 tauw]it them to he thankful for an escape with their lives; and to make no further attempt to 
 land - yet they notwithstanding tried to play the engine from the boat; but the agitation of the 
 sea near the rock was such, that they very soon broke the engine pipe; and so ended this well 
 meant expedition, in a total disappointment. 
 
 71. THE only hopes that then remained, were from a great addition to the wind, which 
 then blew; or a shift of wind to the S. W. quarter: for, the rocks being nearly perpendicular on 
 the East side ; and the seas being ill some measure broken by the South Reef stretching on the 
 East side of the House Reef, (see Plate No. 3 .) it is only in hard gales of wind that the sea breaks 
 in quantity and bodily over the house reef from the East towards the West; whereas, the wind 
 if only fresh at S. W. increases the ground swell, which is almost constant (more or less) from that 
 quarter to a degree that would infallibly have put out the fire : but if we are believers 111 Fate, 
 we must suppose that this building, had been destined to a total destruction : for the wind con¬ 
 tinued almost invariably at the same quarter, and will, the same degree of strength ; so that there 
 was constantly sea enough to prevent all attempts to land, and yet not enough to cause the seas 
 to break so high, and in such quantity as to put out the tire. 
 
 In the succeeding days, it was observed that the interposed beds of timber were sufficient to 
 heat the Moor-stone beds red hot; and that the whole mass became one great body of red hot 
 niatter Nor was it till the 7 th of the same month, that the joint action of the wind, the fire 
 a r ,d the seas totally completed the catastrophe so fatally begun ; and then left no other evidence 
 of the destruction they had made, than that the greatest number of the iron cramps and branches 
 were left standing upright upon the rock. 
 
 70 WE will now return to the poor unfortunate man, who had received so peculiar an in- 
 arv by the melted lead. His name was Henry Haee of Stonehouse near Plymouth, and 
 hough aged 94 years, being of a good constitution, he was remarkably active considering Ins 
 ime'of life: he had invariably told the surgeon who attended him (Mr. Spry, now Ur. Spry 
 f Plymouth, who constantly administered the proper remedies to such burns and hurts as could 
 ,e perceived) that if he would do any thing effectual to his recovery, he must relieve Ins stomach 
 com the lead which he was sure was within him : and this lie not only told Dr. Spry, hut those 
 bout him, though in a very hoarse voice; and he also said the same thing to Mr. Jrssop, who 
 vent to see him several times during his illness, and who gave me this informal,on. 1 he reality 
 ,f the assertion seemed however then incredible to Dr. Spry, who could scarcely suppose ,t pos- 
 ihle that any human being could exist, after receiving melted lead into the stomach ; much less 
 hat he should afterwards be able to hear towing through the sea from the rock ; and also the 
 atigue and inconvenience from the length of time he was in getting on shore, before any reme- 
 lies could be applied. The man did not shew any symptoms however of being either much 
 vorse, or of amendment, till the sixth day after the accident, when he was thought to lie better : 
 le constantly took liis medicines, and swallowed many tilings both liquid and solid till the tenth 
 ,r Seventh day; after which he suddenly grew worse ; and the twelfth day being seised with cold 
 ■veals and spasms, he soon afterwards expired. 
 
 Mr. Jessop was desired by Dr. Spry to attend the opening of the body ; but being averse to 
 sights of that kind, lie excused himself from seeing tile operation ; as did also the daughter of the 
 deceased, and another woman who was in the house. On opening the stomach Dr. Spry found 
 therein, a solid piece of lead of a flat oval form, which weighed Seven Ounces and five drachms, 
 and this he immediately shewed to the two women, and afterwards to Mr. Jessop. I have also 
 seen the piece of lead since in the hands of Mr. Toucher, and it appeared to me, as if a part of 
 the coat of the stomach firmly adhered to the convex side thereof. 
 
 73. BY a letter of the 19th December, Dr. Spry transmitted an account ot this very singular 
 
RUDYERD'S LIGHTHOUSE.—SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS. 35 
 
 case to the Royal Society, inclosing the exact weight and figure of the lead; but that learned 
 body thinking the circumstance very unlikely and extraordinary, and doubting the truth of it, the 
 reading of the paper was deferred till a further elucidation was received. 
 
 As Dr. Spry had on this occasion been deprived of the benefit of eye-witnesses; and sup¬ 
 posing his character called upon, not only as a professional man, but as a man of veracity- he 
 endeavoured to support himself by experiments of the same kind upon different animals.-lHe 
 therefore tried what would happen by pouring melted lead down the throats of dogs and fowls, 
 to the amount of, from six drachms to six ounces ; and found that those animals survived tile ope¬ 
 ration, till they were killed to extract the lead: and Dr. Spry says, lie kept one dog with lead 
 in his stomach, with intent to try how long he might survive. 
 
 The account of these experiments is contained in a letter of the 30th January 1756, from Dr. 
 Spry, addressed to Lord Macclesfield, then President of the Royal Society; and it was fur¬ 
 ther corroborated by a letter from the late Dr. Huxham of Plymouth, F.R.S. to the late Sir 
 William Watson, F.R.S. who speaks not only to the ingenuity and veracity of Dr. Spry, but 
 ol his being himself eye-witness to tile extraction of a lump of lead of near three ounces weight, 
 f rom R>e crop of a cock, that previous to being killed, though lie seemed dull, yet readily pecked 
 and swallowed several barley-corns that were thrown to him*. 
 
 Though the authenticity of this wonderful (and till this instance unheard of) capacity of ani¬ 
 mal bodies was thus investigated f ; yet Dr. Spry was still so unfortunate as to fall under a 
 censure of a different kind ; that of cruelty towards tile animals, in trying the experiments 
 mentioned. 
 
 For my own part I cannot but think that Dr. Spry was somewhat hardly used : he attempted 
 no experiments upon other animals, till he found his account disbelieved by the most eminent of 
 his profession ; his character therefore and future prospects in life were endangered, he beino- 
 then a young gentleman of some expectations. What therefore was the comparison between the 
 lives ot a few dogs and poultry, to the loss of character of a man bred to a profession, upon his 
 success in which, as depending upon the good opinion of others, must depend likewise that be¬ 
 nefit and utility which he might be of to his fellow-subjects? Such however was Dr. Spry’s lot, 
 that in establishing his abilities in his profession, he was then by some stigmatized with the 
 imputation of inhumanity. 
 
 74. IT has been thought by many, that if the poor lightkeepers, when in the midst of their 
 distress, had been possessed of reflection enough to have thrown out their combustible stores, 
 such as chests of Candles, Coals, &c. there might have been a probability of saving the whole, or 
 some part of the solid of the Lighthouse; in which case, the repair would have been ready and 
 easy ; and the following summer might have been sufficient for its reinstatement: but in my own 
 opinion, the doing of this could not have retarded the progress of the fire a single hour; for, 
 in the three upper rooms there was little more to burn than in the store-room, had it been emptied 
 of stores ; and the same communication by the uprights, would have taken place here, as above; 
 and the store-room floor, being itself, and every thing underneath it, of wood, for a depth or 
 thickness of between six and seven feet; and this open in the center by a square of above six feet, 
 in which were included the stairs and the mast, there could be no want of communication for the 
 fire, from the rooms to the solid, even exclusive of all the stores : nor can I conceive any thing 
 within the reach of human art could have saved the building, even if the rock had been acces¬ 
 sible ; unless there had been time enough for shipwrights or carpenters to have been sent out with 
 
 * Those that are further curious on this subject, will find a full account thereof in the 4'lth vol. of the Philosophical Transactions, 
 page 477, wherein Dr. Spry fully describes the complaints and method of treatment of his patient; and in the succeeding articles 
 are other particulars above referred to. 
 
 t Though there is at present no doubt of the fact of the lead being taken out of the man’s stomach after he had survived it 12 
 days ; yet these experiments by no means prove, that it would not be instant death to the human species, in by far the greatest num¬ 
 ber of cases. 
 
36 BOOK I. CHAP. IV. 
 
 proper tools, before the fire had got so low as the store-room : then indeed it would have been 
 very practicable to have cut the uprights quite round the building, where they were only a single 
 thickness, as was the case above the store-room floor; and by supporting the Saw-gate with 
 wedges, the whole of the superstructure, together with the mast, might have been expeditiously 
 severed from the solid : but even after this, under the circumstances beforementioned, it would 
 have been very problematical, whether a battery of chain shot from a ship of war, carrying heavy 
 metal, could have so speedily and effectually dispersed the superstructure so severed, as to have 
 prevented its fragments from setting fire to the solid below : and to such a mass of combustibles, 
 had the solid caught fire, a single fire-engine, or even two, which would be rather more than 
 could have been worked upon the rock, with any degree of convenience, would have proved 
 very inadequate. 
 
 Nothing therefore, as it seems, but a storm, or hard gale of wind at South-west, as already 
 hinted, could have effectually put out the fire, so as to have saved any material part of the build¬ 
 ing, which, after a duration of forty-nine years from its commencement, was doomed to inevitable 
 destruction, by an element, not so much as thought of as an Enemy ; or guarded against, as such, 
 in its erection. 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF PREPARATORY MATTERS TOWARDS BUILDING THE 
 PRESENT LIGHTHOUSE UPON THE EDYSTONE ROCK WITH STONE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF MR. 
 RUDYERD’S LIGHTHOUSE IN DECEMBER 1755 , TO MR. SMEATON’S 
 DEPARTURE FROM LONDON TO PLYMOUTH IN MARCH 175b\ 
 
 75. -L HE Lighthouse happily effected by Mr. Rudyerd, having been totally consumed by fire 
 in December 1755, as before related ; and the Proprietors, having the remainder of a term therein 
 of above half a century, they immediately applied themselves in the most strenuous manner to¬ 
 wards the erecting of another Lighthouse in the place of that which had been, both for them¬ 
 selves and the public, so unfortunately destroyed. In this however there arose some difficulties; 
 for a space of 30 years having elapsed, since the purchases of shares by the three families which 
 I have mentioned, § 59, in this interval a number of changes (as might reasonably be expected) 
 had happened in the property. Some shares of the Lighthouse having been devised by will to 
 be divided amongst children, and settlements on marriage having taken place with respect to 
 other shares thereof; the claimants therefore were now become numerous. The whole interest 
 of the third person mentioned, Mr. Cheethaju, being three shares, was however at this time 
 vested in a Mrs. IIofslegger, they having been settled upon her in marriage; and on this ac¬ 
 count, the principal impediment occurred; for without the expenditure of a considerable sum of 
 money, such as it might be supposed three-eighths of the erection would cost, the whole of her 
 shares could not be valued at any thing; no duties being payable while no light was exhibited* : 
 and as her estate in the Lighthouse was only for life, it was not to be expected that she should 
 advance a sum of money, from the expenditure of which the greatest benefit might probably 
 devolve upon her successors. In consequence of this circumstance, an early application to Par¬ 
 liament took place, and an act was obtained enabling Mrs. Hofslegger to sell so much of her 
 property and interest in the Lighthouse, as would pay for that share of the building she was 
 to retain. 
 
 On the other hand it may be reckoned among -the fortunate circumstances attending this 
 Catastrophe, that the three-eighths purchased by the Weston’s, not only remained in that fa¬ 
 mily, but continued so far united, that, though separately taken they were in different branches, 
 yet the executive part for the whole of these shares was in one person : and as at this time the 
 claimants under the Noyes’s family were more than a dozen in number, it still more fortunately 
 happened, that Robert Weston, Esq; from his having for years past taken a most discreet part, 
 respecting the management of this property, and having so considerable a share in his own 
 person, had the utmost trust and confidence reposed in him by the whole body of the proprietors: 
 but it may be reckoned among the most fortunate of all the circumstances for the future under¬ 
 taking, that this gentleman was not. more remarkable for his strict integrity, than for his dis¬ 
 cernment and universal Philanthropy. 
 
 * An early piece of justice, which indeed has always marked the Proprietors, appeared by their advertisement in the Gazette, and 
 other newspapers, in the first fortnight after the accident happened, importing that the duties had ceased till a fresh exhibition of a 
 light; and that the money which had been, or should be paid by ships, after the demolition, would be returned by the agents who 
 received it. 
 
 L 
 
33 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. I. 
 
 He considered that lliis was not a work proper to be advertised ; or put into the hands of a 
 general undertaker in the building way; and that it would not be better for the ornaments to be 
 derived from the five Orders; that it was a work of a very peculiar kind ; and that to reinstate 
 it, would not so much require a person who had merely been bred, or had even rendered himself 
 eminent, in this, or that given profession; but rather one who from natural genius had a turn for 
 contrivance in the mechanical branches of science; and that such a one would be the most likely 
 person to take into consideration the peculiarities, the advantages, and disadvantages of the 
 situation, as well as other circumstances : in short, that it required a person who would not stand 
 in need of being led by the actual execution of a similar performance; but who solely from the 
 nature of the thing, would be likely to find out the proper methods of executing a building of 
 the like kind with that, which had approved itself upon an experience of near 50 years; such a 
 person being the most likely to discern how far the late building was defective, how far these 
 defects were capable of a remedy; and what improvements could be made upon the former 
 construction. 
 
 76. IN this view Mr. Weston laid aside those prejudices of the ignorant, who consider the 
 Royal Society as a body of theoretic Men only, having nothing amongst them practical, or ap¬ 
 plicable to the real business of human life; he well knew that though in a multitude there might 
 be many of that denomination; yet that there were also many real artists in this body: and that 
 since its institution by King CHARLES the Second, the most important inventions, applicable 
 1o the greatest purposes of human life, had originally sprung from the joint labours of ingenious 
 men, either actually members, or connected by correspondence with those who were so : and this 
 without a view to any particular emolument or reward. 
 
 Under these circumstances, Mr. Weston applied to the late Earl of Macclesfield, the then 
 President of the Royal Society; a nobleman scarce known to him, but by public character. On 
 communicating the object of his visit, Lord Macclesfield told him, that there was one of their 
 Body whom he could venture to recommend to the business; yet that the most material part of 
 what li e knew of him was, his having within the compass of the last seven years, reconnne nded 
 himself to the society by the communication of several mechanical inventions and improvements; 
 and though he had at first made it his business to execute things in the instrument way (without 
 having ever been bred to the trade) yet on account of the merit of his performances, he had been 
 chosen a member of the society* : and that for about three years past, having found the business 
 of a Philosophical Instrument Maker not likely to afford an adequate recompence; he had wholly 
 applied himself to such branches of mechanics, as he (Mr. Weston) appeared to want; that he 
 was then somewhere in Scotland, or in the north of England, doing business in that line : that 
 what, he had to say further of him was, his never having known him undertake any thing, but 
 what he completed to the satisfaction of those who employed him ; and that Mr. Weston might 
 rely upon it, when the business was stated to him, he would not undertake it, unless he clearly 
 saw himself capable of performing it. 
 
 This kind of character which the noble Earl was pleased to honour me with, proved fully sa¬ 
 tisfactory to Mr. Weston, and as his Lordship did not know how to direct tome, he learnt from 
 him, that as I was well acquainted with Mr. B. Wilson an eminent painter in Great Queen- 
 street, he would probably get a direction to me from that gentleman. 
 
 Upon this, he immediately applied to Mr. Wilson, who undertook to write to me (being then 
 in Northumberland) which he did very laconically, signifying that I was made choice of as a 
 proper person to rebuild the Edystone Lighthouse : this was early in the month of January 175ti. 
 —I had at that time, but barely heard that the Edystone Lighthouse was destroyed by Fire ; 
 and having seen a popular print of it, 1 understood that it was a building very critically placed 
 out at sea, upon a single rock : but as I bad no doubt that its foundation part at least, was built 
 with Stone, though its upper works had ihe appearance of timber, I could not readily conceive 
 how it could be totally destroyed. I concluded therefore, that the object was to repair or restore 
 the Upper Works : and therefore I received the call without joy, or indeed much emotion of 
 
 Fellow of the Royal Society 15 March 1753. 
 
FIRST PROCEEDINGS TOWARDS REBUILDING. 
 
 any kincl; concluding, as 
 ments, the meaning was, 
 other candidates. 
 
 most public works of consequence were undertaken upon advertise- 
 tliat I should return to London to give in my proposals along with 
 
 I therefore returned my friend for answer, that I supposed it was meant I should go back to 
 town in order to form a scheme, which if it had the good luck to be thought preferable to that of 
 others, I was to he employed in the Repair of the building: if this was the case, I had engae-e- 
 ments and prospects before me, that I could not leave upon any uncertainty; but that if I was 
 absolutely chosen to this business, I should think it so great an honour done me, that in one 
 month 1 would divest myself of all other engagements, and attend the gentlemen ill town. To 
 this I received an answer from my friend, even more laconic than before. That it was a total 
 demolition, and that as Nathan said unto David " Thou art the Man." 
 
 77- HAVING acquitted myself of the business in which I had been engaged in the Nortli 
 I arrived in London the -23d February 1756; and the next day, agreeable to a message I had re¬ 
 ceived for that purpose, waited on Robert Weston, Esq; till then totally unknown to me. The 
 hours spent in this interview, were taken up in my attention to a relation of the nature of the 
 structure of the former Lighthouses of Mr. Winstaxley and Mr. Rudyero ; and in examining 
 
 several plans, models and drawings in Mr. Weston's possession, that referred thereto._1 was 
 
 till then, I may say, almost a total stranger to those structures and their situation (which in¬ 
 deed by the description now given of them appeared very formidable) as I never happened 
 to have been in those parts; and a mechanical description of them never fell in my way : but 
 from the information now given me, I thought a little time and study would make me suf¬ 
 ficiently master of the subject, to enable me to give my opinion in general, what plan it would 
 be best to pursue. 
 
 It is true I found myself at first under some little restraint, from that freedom I would ever 
 wish to exert; by discovering in the course of this day’s conversation, a strong propensity in this 
 gentleman for pursuing the former design ; I mean that of Mr. Rudyerd: but when what has 
 been already said upon that structure is considered, I must own that Mr. Weston’s attachment 
 was very reasonably founded. There were other circumstances too, which might have been a still 
 greater clog and impediment to the scope of my thoughts, had the gentlemen Proprietors suffered 
 themselves to have been biassed thereby; I mean a partial View to their own immediate Interest. 
 But I was soon released from every supposition of this kind ; for on putting the query, that if any 
 improvement could be made in the stability or durability of the structure, whether the Proprietors 
 would wish to adopt it; though it should incur a greater expence than a mere re-erection of the 
 last building ? He replied, with an emphasis which gave me no doubt of his sincerity; that if there 
 was a possibility of rebuilding the Lighthouse in any better or more durable manner than it had 
 been, though almost half of the original lease from the Corporation of Trinity House was then 
 expired, yet the matter being now in their hands, they should think themselves bound, for the 
 sake of posterity, to do every thing that lay in their power to render the new building not only 
 effectual for their own time, but as permanent as possible.—And, on coming away. Mil Weston 
 said, I was not to think myself at all indebted to him, or any of the Proprietors for the under¬ 
 taking I was likely to be engaged in; since if either he or they could have heard of any person 
 more capable of designing and executing such a work, he should not have seen me at his house 
 that day : which valediction, though in the gross sense, it might be said to contain little of Obli¬ 
 gation ; yet as it at once shewed me that I was likely to be received with that degree of trust and 
 confidence which is so essential to the success of an arduous undertaking; it thereby became a 
 pleasing earnest of that disposition in the Proprietors, which must ever be satisfactory to an 
 artist; that of wishing to have his work, whatever it might be, performed in the best manner- 
 and therefore could not in this sense, fail to be more highly agreeable than anv other kind 
 of compliment. 
 
 78. THE models and drawings having been sent to me, I endeavoured by a full considera¬ 
 tion of them, to investigate the particular plan of the respective architects; but could not trace 
 
40 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. I. 
 
 out that of either of them to my perfect satisfaction. They afforded me just so much light as to 
 enable me to discern the want of more information : and I found upon further enquiry, that 
 neither the models, drawings or prints were coeval with the structures they were intended to re¬ 
 present, except the print of Mr. Winstanley’s Lighthouse published by himself in the year 
 1699, before referred to ; for as to the models, &c. relative to Mr. Rud verb's, save a few original 
 drawings, that shewed how some of the courses of stone were laid, as I have already mentioned, 
 they were all of a late date, chiefly since the year 1734; and rather useful for repairing than re¬ 
 building the house; exhibiting no more of the inside Avork, than what was discovered by the 
 openings that were made at the time such repairs were carried on; so that at best those could 
 afford but very defective information, as to the particular original design; though they had been 
 necessary for conducting the repairs of that building. 
 
 From similar observations, the models had also been framed; but to render these more com¬ 
 plete, to appearance, imagination was taken in to supply what never could have been obtained by 
 real inspection : for, as no models, draughts or sections, that had been made at the time the house 
 was built (except as before mentioned) were handed down to posterity; conclusions were drawn, 
 from the things that were apparent, with respect to the inward structure; so that when any part 
 of the case, or outside timbers that covered them, were taken off to be repaired, the models and 
 drawings that were in consequence made by such kind of piecemeal discoveries, were in reality 
 the best evidences I have seen of the nature of the structure, and therefore could not give me a 
 full information. 
 
 This being the case, after all I could glean from the drawings and models, as well as every 
 insight into the nature of the work, that Mr. Weston from several interviews could give me; I 
 was naturally led to consider what could he done by an erection entirely of Stone; as along with 
 greater natural permanency of materials than wood, it would not be liable to destruction by fire; 
 against which no absolute defence (as it appeared to me) could be applied, if rebuilt with timber. 
 In fact, on first hearing of the late Lighthouse having been destroyed, I had conceived that the 
 interior part of the foundation, and indeed for a considerable height, must have been a solid body 
 of stone, though the outside might have been covered with wood, (as it appeared from the only 
 figure of it I had ever seen) ; and which I supposed might have been thought necessary by the 
 builder, to prevent that wash of the joints, that a very exposed situation might subject it to, in 
 case the cement was not of the very best kind possible for water-works : and such having been 
 my thoughts, my imagination was in consequence carried to suppose how such a building might 
 have been put together in the most effectual manner. Coming therefore to town with these 
 ideas, and finding how very short the best account of the real structure fell of answering my con¬ 
 ceptions ; I was encouraged, from the declaration of the only Proprietor I had seen, as being the 
 sense of the rest, as well as from the apparent utility to the public, and possibly in the end to the 
 Proprietors themselves, to turn my thoughts towards the practicability of a stone building: which 
 proposition appearing in a light more favourable, in proportion as I thought more upon it; in a 
 verv few days I became so satisfied, that I desired an interview with the body of Proprietors 
 upon a primary and leading Question. 
 
 79. AT this meeting I stated the great advantages that would arise from a Stone Building, 
 which indeed were quite obvious to all; but the difficulty was, how such a building could be 
 carried into execution; for though the Proprietors unanimously declared, that they would make 
 no objection to any reasonable expence in procuring that durability and safety, which would be 
 the evident result, if a building with stone could be effectually established ; yet they very properly 
 observed, that as the late building had fully answered the end, for almost half a Century; were 
 any thing to fail, in case they altered the mode of the structure, for any Reason whatever, how¬ 
 ever laudable, they should be condemned by the public, for having attempted an alteration, 
 though even for the service of the public; and the loss must fall upon themselves as individuals, 
 if, on any account whatever, they should not succeed.—They likewise observed, that it had been 
 generally thought by the best judges, that the safety and continuance of the late building, had in 
 a great measure depended on the elasticity of the materials of which it was chiefly composed ; 
 
FIRST PROCEEDINGS TOWARDS REBUILDING. 
 
 41 
 
 which enabled it to give way to the violent shocks of the sea, to which it was exposed: and that 
 it was said, by those best acquainted with it, that its motion in violent storms was so great, that 
 frequently the Trenchers were thereby thrown from the shelves in the upper rooms: and that 
 most undoubtedly, in these great agitations, something must give w'ay, which a stone building 
 could not be expected to do, unless in the case of a total overthrow. 
 
 In answ'er to this I observed, that the great agitation which the late building was subject to, 
 arose from its want of Weight, as well as want of Strength; that what 1 proposed would be 
 both much heavier and much stronger; and therefore if the building would not give way to the 
 Sea, the Sea must give way to the building. I further observed, that I had not met them at so 
 early a time to debate the mode of construction of a stone building, or its properties; but to ask 
 them a simple question : and that was, if I could convince their own understandings, that a 
 building could be made with stone, not only so as to be more durable, but even more safe from 
 every accident that could be foreseen, and not likely to be attended with a charge enormously 
 more large, whether they would prefer such a Building to the last, which they had experienced 
 could be consumed by fire ? because, if not, it was to no purpose to spend time in ascertaining 
 the mode of doing a thing that must ultimately be rejected ; but rather apply that time as early 
 as possible, towards investigating the best method of composing a structure upon similar princi¬ 
 ples with the former: I say similar Principles, because, as already shewn, there did not at that 
 time appear to exist, any precise design of the former building: but that, if under the proviso 
 mentioned, they would prefer a stone building; the onus probandi should be upon me; and if 
 upon trial I could not satisfy their minds, as well as my own, of the practicability of my propo¬ 
 sition, I would then quietly give it up, and as strenuously apply myself to what should upon the 
 whole appear the most eligible : and as it would not take up much time to produce something 
 in a rough way; as I understood it was too early in the season for any operations upon the place, 
 no very material time could be lost. On this they unanimously agreed, that I should make the 
 attempt to convince them, and if convinced, they would act accordingly; unless controuled by 
 some superiour power. 
 
 80. IN reflecting upon the late structure, with a wish to retain as much of it as possible, 
 consistent with the different nature of the material I had then in view, it appeared that the ge¬ 
 neral form and size of the building, and distribution of the rooms of the house, were very proper 
 and judicious. It appeared also most evidently, that had it not been for the mooi'stone courses, 
 inlaid into the frame of the building, and acting therein like the ballast of a ship, it had long 
 ago been overset, notwithstanding all the branches and iron-work contrived to retain it: and that 
 in reality the violent agitation, rocking or vibration which the late building was described to be 
 subject to, must have been owing to the nai’rowness of the base on which it rested ; and which, 
 the quantity of vibration it had been constantly subject to, had rendered, in regard to its seat, in 
 some degree rounding, like the Rockers of a cradle. It seemed therefore a primary point of im¬ 
 provement, to procure, if possible, an enlargement of the base, which from the models before me 
 appeared to be practicable. Tt also seemed equally desirable, not to increase the size of the 
 present building in its Waist; by which I mean that part of the building between the top of the 
 rock, and the top of the solid; and the Plate No. 6. (which has already been fully described) 
 being supposed in my Reader’s view, I must imagine him quite as well informed as I could he, 
 at the time I am now describing. If therefore I still kept strictly to the conical form, a neces¬ 
 sary consequence would be, that the diameter of every part being proportionably increased by 
 an enlargement of the base, the action of the sea upon the building would be greater in the same 
 proportion; but as the strength increases in proportion to the increased weight of the materials, 
 the total absolute strength to resist that action of the sea, would be greater by a proportional 
 enlargement of every part, but would require a greater quantity of materials : on the other hand, 
 if we could enlarge the base, and at the same time rather diminish than increase the size of the 
 waist and upper works; as great a strength and stiffness would arise from a larger base, accom¬ 
 panied with a less resistance to the acting power, though consisting of a less Quantity of Mate¬ 
 rials, as if a similar conical figure had been preserved. 
 
 M 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. I. 
 
 43 
 
 81. ON this occasion, the natural figure of the waist or hole of a large spreading Oak, 
 presented itself to my imagination. Let us for a moment consider this tree : suppose at twelve or 
 fifteen feet above its base, it branches out in every direction, and forms a large bushy top, as we 
 often observe. This top, when full of leaves, is subject to a very great impulse from the agitation 
 of violent winds; yet partly by its elasticity, and partly by the natural strength arising from its 
 figure, it resists them all, even for ages, till the gradual decay of the material diminishes the co¬ 
 herence of the parts, and they suffer piecemeal by the violence; but it is very rare that we hear 
 of such a tree being torn up by the roots. Let us now consider its particular figure.—Con¬ 
 nected with its roots, which lie hid below ground, it rises from the surface thereof with a large 
 swelling base, which at the height of one diameter is generally reduced by an elegant curve, 
 concave to the eye, to a diameter less by at least one-third, and sometimes to half of its original 
 base. From thence its taper diminishing more slow, its sides by degrees come into a perpendi¬ 
 cular, and for some height form a cylinder. After that a preparation of more circumference 
 becomes necessary, for the strong insertion and establishment of the principal boughs, which 
 produces a swelling of its diameter.—Now we can hardly doubt but that every section of the 
 tree is nearly of an equal strength in proportion to what it has to resist: and were we to lop off 
 its principal boughs, and expose it in that state to a rapid current of water, we should find it as 
 much capable of resisting the action of the heavier fluid, when divested of the greatest part of its 
 clothing, as it was that of the lighter when all its spreading ornaments were exposed to the 
 fury of the wind : and hence we may derive an idea of what the proper shape of a column of the 
 greatest Stability ought to be, to resist the action of external violence, when the Quantity of 
 Matter is given whereof it is to be composed. 
 
 In Plate No. 13. Fig. 1. is a sketch representing the idea I formed of this subject. It is 
 farther observable, in the insertions of the boughs of trees into the bole, or of the branches into 
 the boughs, (which is generally at an oblique angle) that those insertions are made by a swelling 
 curve, of the same nature as that wherewith the tree rises out of the ground ; and that the 
 greatest Rake or Sweep of this curve, is that which fills up the obtuse angle; while the acute 
 angle is filled up with a much quicker curve, or sweep of a less Radius : and Fig. 2. of the same 
 plate represents my conception of this matter.—In this view of the subject, I immediately rough- 
 turned a piece of wood, with a small degree of tapering above; and leaving matter enough 
 below, I fitted it to the oblique surface of a block of wood, somewhat resembling the sloping 
 surface of the Edystone Rock; and soon found, that by reconciling Curves, I could adapt every 
 part of the base upon the rock to the regularly turned tapering body, and so as to make a figure 
 not ungraceful; and at the same time carrying the idea of great firmness and solidity. 
 
 82. THE next thing was to consider how the blocks of stone could be bonded to the rock, 
 and to one another, in so firm a manner, as that, not only the whole together, but every indivi¬ 
 dual piece, when connected with what preceded, should be proof against the greatest violence of 
 the sea : for, I plainly saw, from the relations I had got, that as every part of the work, even in 
 the most favourable seasons, was liable to be attacked by violent storms; if any thing was left to 
 the mercy ol the sea and good fortune, the building of the Edystone Lighthouse with stone 
 would be tantamount to the rolling of the stone of Sisyphus. 
 
 On this head I considered the nature of Cramping; which, as generally performed, amounts 
 to no more than a Bond upon the upper surface of a course of stone, without having any direct 
 power to hold a stone down, in case of its being lifted upward by an action greater than its own 
 weight; as might be expected frequently to happen at the Edystone, whenever the mortar of 
 the ground bed it was set upon was washed out of the joint, when attacked by the sea before it 
 had time to harden; and though upright cramps to confine the stones down to the course below, 
 might in some degree answer this end; yet as this must be done to each individual stone, the 
 quantity of iron, and the great trouble and loss of time that would necessarily attend this method, 
 would in reality render it impracticable; for it appeared, that Mr. Winstanley had found the 
 fixing 12 gieat irons, and Mr. Rudyerd 35, attended with such a consumption of time (which 
 arose in great measure from the difficulty of getting and keeping the holes dry, so as to admit of 
 
FIRST PROCEEDINGS TOWARDS REBUILDING. 
 
 ■ pouring in of melted lead) that any method which required still much more, in putting the 
 work together upon the rock, would in consequence inevitably, and to a very great degree pro¬ 
 crastinate the completion of the building. It. therefore seemed of the utmost consequence to 
 avoid this, even by any quantity of time and moderate expence, that might be necessary for its 
 performance on shore; provided it prevented hindrance of business upon the rock- because of 
 time upon the rock, there was likely to be a great scarcity; but on the shore a very sufficient 
 plenty. J 
 
 This made me turn my thoughts to what could be done in the way of dove-tailing._In 
 
 speaking however of this as a term of art, I must observe that it had been principally applied to 
 works ol Carpentry: its application in the masonry way had been but very slight and sparing; for 
 m regard to the small pieces of stone that had been let in with a double dovetail, across the° joint 
 of larger pieces, and generally to save iron, it was a kind of work even more objectionable than 
 cramping; for though it would not require melted lead, yet being only a superficial bond, and 
 consisting of far more brittle materials than iron, it was not likely to answer our end at all — 
 Somewhat more to my purpose I had occasionally observed in many places in the Streets of 
 London, that in fixing the Kirbs of the walking paths, the long pieces or Stretchers were 
 retained between two Headers or bond pieces; whose heads being cut dovetail-wise, adapted 
 themselves to and confined in the stretchers : which expedient, though chiefly intended to sav 
 iron and lead, nevertheless appeared to me capable of more firmness than any superficial 
 fastening could be ; as the tye was as good at the bottom as at the top, which was the very thing 
 I wanted; and therefore if the tail of the header was made to have an adequate bond with the 
 interior parts, tile work would in itself be perfect. 
 
 What I mean M ill be rendered obvious by the inspection of Fig. 3. in Plate No. IS._ Some¬ 
 
 thing of this kind I also remembered to have seen in Belidor’s description of the stone floor of 
 the great sluice at Cherbourgh, where the tails of the upright headers are cut into dovetails, for 
 their insertion into the mass.of rough masonry below, and Fig. 4. of the same Plate is taken from 
 Belidor’s Plate*. 
 
 From these beginnings I was readily led to think, that if the blocks themselves were, both 
 inside and out, all formed into large dovetails, they might be managed so as mutually to lock one 
 another together ; being primarily engrafted into the rock : and in the round and entire courses, 
 above the top of the rock, they might all proceed from and be locked to one large center-stone.— 
 After some trials in the rough, I produced a complete design, of which Fig. 5. Plate 13. is the 
 exact copy; the dotted lines representing the course next above or below, which in the original 
 was drawn from the same center, on the other side of the paper; so that looking on each side 
 separately, each course was seen distinctly; or looking through the paper, the Relation of the 
 two courses, shewing how they mutually broke joint upon one another, was clearly pointed out: 
 and this method of representation was pursued throughout; but not being practicable in copper¬ 
 plate work, I am under the necessity of introducing the method by dotted lines, though attended 
 with some degree of confusion of the main design. 
 
 83. IN like manner, upon the ideas assumed, concerning the particular figure of tile outside 
 of the building, with the draughts and models of Mr. Rudyerd's Lighthouse before me; it was 
 not long before I made out a fair section of a stone building, such as to me appeared practicable on 
 the principles before mentioned. Figure 6. in the same Plate, is a reduction of it to half the size 
 of the original; which, with the copy of the first fair plan, shewing how all the stones compos¬ 
 ing the same course were to be mutually locked together, by a new method of dovetailing, I am 
 the more inclined to insert, as a part of this work ; because I esteem these Prototypes more per¬ 
 fect in themselves, as a general scheme, than what was on further consideration actually adopted 
 and executed ; because many things were obliged to be varied, in order to render the whole more 
 suitable to the situation, which would not have been varied had it not been on account of parti¬ 
 cular considerations: and those variations, together with the reasons for the same, will be pointed 
 out in the detail of the parts, in the progress of the work. 
 
 ESS 
 
44 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. I. 
 
 It is obvious that in this method of dovetailing, while the slope of the rock was making good; 
 by cutting the steps (formed by Mr. Rudyerd) also into dovetails, it might be said, that the 
 foundation stones of every course were engrafted into, or rather rooted in the rock ; which would 
 not only keep all the stones in one course together; but prevent the courses themselves (as one 
 stone) from moving or sliding upon each other.—But after losing bold of the rock, by getting 
 above it; then, though every stone in the same course would be bonded in the strongest manner 
 with every other, and might be considered as consisting of a single stone, which would weigh a 
 considerable number of tons, and would be further retained to the floor below by the cement, so 
 that when completed, the sea would have no action upon it but edgeways; yet as a force, if 
 sufficiently great might move it, notwithstanding its weight, and the small bold of the sea upon 
 it; and break the cement before time had given it that hardness which it might be expected to 
 acquire afterwards; I had formed more expedients than one, for fixing the courses to one another, 
 so as absolutely to prevent their shifting; but deferred the choice of these expedients till a stone 
 building had been approved and resolved upon.—I also foresaw that though the cement in the 
 bed of each course, while remaining entire, by excluding the water, would in reality take away 
 the whole tendency of the sea to lift it; yet while a course was unfinished, and the mortar not 
 sufficiently set or hardened, the violent action of the sea upon the cement in that state, might 
 entirely wash it out; and then the sea would act in the same manner in lifting, as if there had 
 never been any cement put in: I therefore formed a variety of temporary expedients to prevent 
 this, while the course was unfinished; for after a course was once finished and the cement was 
 hardened, there could be no danger of such a thing happening: but I shall not trouble my 
 reader with a recital of those expedients at present, as they will more properly come in along 
 with the reasons of my choice, in the detail of the actual proceedings. 
 
 84. WHILE I was digesting and settling my mind upon these matters, l had frequent 
 conferences with Mr. Weston, who had actually, two or three limes, been upon the rock; and 
 as from him I learnt that if I was then at Plymouth, a probability of landing upon the rock so 
 early in the season was not to be expected ; I took so much time as maturely to arrange my 
 thoughts, previously to a full explanation of my general scheme, and yet to leave time for the 
 necessary preparatory steps, in case what I had then in contemplation should not be approved 
 of.—I therefore, as early as was consistent with these circumstances, desired another interview 
 with the body of Proprietors; when by the help of the two drawings above referred to in Plate 
 No. 13. Fig. 5. and 6. I fully explained my design above stated; with which after mature con¬ 
 sideration, they declared their perfect satisfaction: and that the scheme, was not only in itself 
 practicable; but, as appeared to them, the only means of doing the business effectually for the 
 general good of the public.—They however observed, that though they themselves were unani¬ 
 mous in this opinion; and though the condition of their receiving the light duties* was that of 
 maintaining a light upon the Edystone Rock; and that though neither the form, nor materials 
 of the building for that purpose were prescribed to them; yet they thought it right, not to rest 
 ihe determination of these matters with themselves only, but to have the concurrence of the Board 
 of Admiralty, and of other superior opinions; which being taken, it seemed to them (on sup¬ 
 position of their approbation) that I should not then have any thing to do, but to go down to 
 Plymouth and prepare for the execution. 
 
 To this I observed, that we were not yet ripe for taking those opinions; for at present the 
 scheme was so much in Embryo, that it existed merely as a work of imagination, formed from 
 the representations and informations, 1 had then received : but that when I came to see the 
 Edystone Rock, with my own eyes, and observed its nature and situation; it was a possible case, 
 that I might myself be of a different opinion; and ultimately recommend a structure as near 
 alike, as we could tell how to make it, to the last.—That the necessary steps seemed to be, that, 
 since the new scheme, had in its outlines been honoured with their approbation; it was now, or. 
 
 • Viz. One Penny per ton upon all British ships, outward or homeward-bound, that pass the Edystone; on, or from foreign 
 voyages. One shilling per vessel on coasters; and double these duties op foreign ships when they come into British ports. The 
 King’s ships being all free. 
 
FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 45 
 
 as soon as the season should become likely to obtain a landing, would be proper for me to go Lo Ply¬ 
 mouth, and make my own observations; and take such exact dimensions of the rock itself, as would 
 be necessary to enable me to erect a structure upon it of either kind : as also to examine into the 
 nature and distance of such materials, as should appear to be necessary; by which means, on my 
 return, I should not only be able to advise as to the sort of building; but to make an exact model 
 of the rock, and of the fabric I should ultimately propose upon it; all which, if approved by the 
 Proprietors themselves, it would be then time to submit it to the opinion of the superior Boards : 
 for, we should cut but a small figure indeed, if after having received their approbation, we should 
 find ourselves under the necessity of telling them, that what we had proposed was premature, and 
 would not do; and that we were obliged to recur to the former construction. 
 
 This proposition being approved of by the Proprietors, it was determined that the Lighthouse 
 should have the same general Form and Convenience, as the last; but as to the matter, whether of 
 wood or of stone, or what kind of stone, should be referred to my further enquiry and report. 
 
 It being yet rather too early in the season, for my journey to Plymouth to be of any probable 
 use, I employed the residue of my time in preparing such instruments and necessary matters in 
 London, as I foresaw might be useful; however, to lose no material time, it was concluded I should 
 set out for Plymouth on the 22d of March 1756, where I arrived on the 27 th. 
 
 CHAP II. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND OCCURRENCES 
 ON MR. SMEATON’S FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH 
 IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 1756. 
 
 85. In my journey to Plymouth, I had nothing to regret but the loss of time that I suffered, 
 which was occasioned chiefly by the badness of the roads.—Notice having been given of my 
 coming, I had an early visit from the persons who expected me ; and in particular from Mr. Josias 
 Jessop, with whose general character, as given to me, I have already made my reader acquainted. 
 To him I w r as principally referred for what information and assistance I might stand in need of; 
 and had the satisfaction to find him perfectly to answer the character that had been given me of 
 i; who besides being an approved workman in his branch as a shipwright, I found a compe¬ 
 tent draughtsman and an excellent modeller, in which last he was accurate to a great degree; he 
 therefore appeared to be a very fit person to overlook the exact execution of a design given. 
 
 To him I soon hinted the probability of building the house with stone, at which he seemed 
 much surprized, and asked me how I meant to fasten the outside Timbers: I told him, that if it 
 was built with stone, I meant to use no timber at all about it; at which he was astonished, and 
 said, it would be impracticable in that situation; or if it could be done, it would not stand : but 
 on endeavouring to come at his reasons for thinking so, I found it was no other than the idea of 
 security, which had been generally conceived to have arisen, from the rocking of the late wooden 
 house.—After shewing him the sketches of my design, and explaining the same to him, as I had 
 done to the Proprietors, he seemed to be tolerably satisfied ; and said, that as I proposed to do 
 without cramps or iron, in binding the lower part of the works together, it would certainly be a 
 great saving, both of expence, and, what in this case was more valuable, of Time. 
 
 He also observed to me, that the worms had brought on so general a decay in the foundation 
 part of the late Lighthouse, not only of the outside timbers, which could easily be shifted*, but 
 also of the interior ground timbers, that several of them had in his time been obliged to be shifted ; 
 and that this generally proved an operation, not only tedious and difficult, but even in itself im¬ 
 perfect ; as the new timbers put in, could scarcely be brought to an equal bearing with the others : 
 and that in consequence (the greatest number shifted having been on the S. VV. quarter) the whole 
 
 * The term shifting a timber in Shipwrightry signifies in general the substitution of a piece of: 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. II. 
 
 46 
 
 building had got a considerable List or leaning to the S. W. where the rock was lowest; and that 
 from this cause of decay, as well as the necessity of repairs, every year growing more and more 
 pressing, it must have become in a course of years, not only exceeding difficult, but very expensive 
 to have kept standing; even if any adequate remedy should have been found out against the worms 
 attacking the new timbers, as many of the old ones were in a very decayed and porous state at 
 the time of the destruction of the late building. 
 
 86. I WAS impatient to go off to the rock; but though the wind was fair at N. W. which was 
 the favourable quarter; yet it had blown so hard, that Mr. Jessop assured me we could not effect 
 a landing upon it for a day or two longer at the soonest; I therefore turned my thoughts to other 
 mailers.—I waited upon Frederick Rogers, Esq; Commissioner at Plymouth Dock, who with 
 great civility and politeness assured me, that no assistance to my undertaking, which he could 
 give, should be wanting. T also went to some of the artificers recommended by Mr. Jessop to 
 give directions for tools, to make trial of the manner, and with what expedition we might be able 
 to work the rock ; and also instruments and utensils to enable us to take a plan thereof. 
 
 87- THE 2d of April being the first day there was any probability of landing on the rock, we 
 set sail; it being at that time near the height of the spring tides, the wind easterly and moderate. 
 We got within a stone’s cast of the rock, but could not attempt to land, as the sea broke upon the 
 landing-place.—Though we could not land, yet as the tide was at its low ebb, I had a good view 
 of the rock, and an early opportunity of correcting many errors that I had been led into by the 
 incorrectness of the several models and draughts which had come to my hands; and indeed I never 
 should have had an adequate idea of this very turbulent place without seeing it. 
 
 88. ON the 5th of April we made our second voyage, the wind at N. W. and very moderate, 
 so that though we went out of Sutton Pool at Plymouth before the water began to ebb, yet we 
 did not arrive at the Edystone till it was nearly low water; and then I was rejoiced with setting 
 my foot, for the first time, upon the Edystone. We staid there hours; that is, till the sea 
 began to break from the west side over the rock at the landing-place; which my experienced 
 guides pointed out as the last warning for our departure. Having employed myself while upon 
 the rock in taking a general View of the whole, I could not perceive any remains of the house, 
 either upon it, or about it; except the greatest part of the iron branches which had been fixed by 
 Mr. Rudyerd ; and some of the moorstones, which might be discerned lying in the bottom of the 
 Gut: we sounded 12 feet water then upon them, which compared with former observations of 
 Mr. Jessop, shows that the Gut was fdled up full two feet perpendicular, by their having tumbled 
 into it, and there meeting with a place of repose. 
 
 I then observed such traces of the situations of the irons fixed by Mr. Wixstanley, as that it 
 would not be difficult to make out his plan and the position of the edifice ; from whence it appeared 
 very probable that Mr. Wixstanley’s building was overset all together; and that it had torn 
 up a portion of the rock itself along with il, as far as the irons had been fastened in it. 
 
 On this view I soon perceived that Mr. Rudyerd’s iron Branches, as then called, were much 
 smaller and shorter than he had described them to be at the bottom of his print; that many of 
 them were loose, and some broken and bent: and I remarked that in regard to the steps, de¬ 
 scribed to be cut upon the rock, there were only five of them, of which the traces were remaining : 
 so that there was but one flat or tread of a step above the centre of the house; and the upper part 
 of the surface of the rock above that, was a sloping plain as it hail been at first. Three steps, of 
 the five now remaining, seemed to have been but faintly cut, and the uppermost but one was so 
 imperfect, that I supposed a large spawl or splinter had come from it; and this appeared the more 
 probable, as the uppermost step was so shaken, that another large spawl might have been easily 
 raised from it, by a slight action of a wedge. Above the uppermost step the rock seemed to be of 
 a softer nature, was cracked in many places, and probably had received some damage from the 
 fire. None of the steps appeared to have been cut with much regularity, either as to level or 
 square; but to have all the marks of hurry upon them.—In the center of the house a slight 
 footing was cut for the mast, suitable to a square of 18 inches, with large iron branches answerable 
 
FIRST JOURNEY - TO PLYMOUTH. 47 
 
 to two of its sides; and a small hole bored in the center of about 1 ( inch diameter, being six inches 
 deep. By consulting Plate No. 7 . many of the' above matters will be made apparent to the eye. 
 
 I then proceeded to try the degree in which the rock was workable, and found that from a flat 
 surface indifferently taken, I could with a pick sink a hollow at the rate of five cubic inches per 
 minute; and could cut or drill a hole with a jumper of 1 inch diameter, at the rate of one inch 
 deep »' ^e minutes. I also tried a method of forcing two holes into one by a square flat-faced 
 bruiser, or Pummel; so that, if there should be occasion, I might be able to make a continued 
 groove ; or let in an iron branch, in the manner of Mr. Rudyerd, and I had the satisfaction to 
 find that the whole succeeded to my wishes. 
 
 89. IN considering what had occurred, there was not any thing that put on the appearance of 
 Impracticability in the fixing a stone building; but I was forcibly struck with the idea that nothin- 
 would more immediately tend to expedite our work, than the securing a more safe and certain laiuf- 
 mg; as by that means we might frequently be enabled to work upon tile rock, when otherwise 
 we could not land thereon, or get off again when landed. I therefore lost ,10 time in turning my 
 thoughts to this subject, as a matter of great importance : for as I saw it must frequently happen, 
 when the vessels cannot get in, and must in such case lie off the rock, waiting for a favourable 
 time to enter the Gut; that in the interim, tides might change, ground si 
 shift, and storms arise, which would of course make it advisable to return to Plymouth, if pos¬ 
 sible, though the purpose of the voyage was unperformed : it seemed therefore of the greater 
 consequence that no practicable opportunity should be lost, for want of proper expedients. 
 
 At this time my knowledge of these sources of uncertainty, in a great measure depended on 
 the relation of others; but my own after-experience, in the course of the performance of this work, 
 has most fully and amply verified them ; and I may add, that when vessels had got with some 
 facility into the Gut, they frequently could not get out again without extreme danger : for as the 
 larger sort had not room to turn in it, they were in reality obliged to go out stern forward in 
 case they came in the right way : the Sugar-Loaf Rock (See Plate No. 3 .) being so critically 
 placed, and shallow water on both sides of it, that it prohibits a thorough passage. Indeed I was 
 told, that by the skill and expertness of those seamen who had frequently attended the service of 
 the Edystone, not only row-boats, but the attendant vessels, after having delivered their cargoes, 
 had been carried quite through at the top of an high tide, with a fair wind and smooth water*; 
 but this neither is, nor ought to be, attempted in common. 
 
 I lie two voyages I had made, were in a small sailing vessel of about ten or twelve tons burl 
 built on purpose for attending upon the late house by Mr. Totem, the agent, and was called 
 the Edystone Boat.—By the experience of these two voyages, it occurred to me, that while the 
 Lighthouse was standing, if the boat should have happened to be staved upon the rocks, while 
 lying in the Gut, there was a possibility ol the men being saved by getting into the house, as the 
 lightkeepers would have been ready to throw out a rope and assist them : but if any accident of 
 the kind was to happen now that the house was down, and no shelter or protection to be had, there 
 was but a chance of their being saved ; and these considerations being likely to cast a damp upon 
 every exertion to land, I determined to go out no more without another sailing-boat to attend, 
 and accordingly hired a fishing vessel of an equal size with the Edystone boat. 
 
 90. 1 U E 9th of April the wind and weather having become favourable for another attempt, 
 
 we set forward at midnight between the 9tll and 10th, the wind being then at N. VP. and so 
 moderate, that to expedite our passage we used our oars: but by the time we got a-breast of the Ram 
 Head, it had veered to S. W. and began to blow so hard, that in three hours, finding we had made 
 little progress towards the Edystone,we returned and re-landed atPlyn 
 
 * The Sugar-Loaf is overflowed at half tide 
 
 t The mention of this voyage might very well have been Spared; but the brief recital of it, and of such other fruitless attempts 
 as occurred upon this visit to Plymouth, will serve as a sample, and (better than any form of general words) make my reader sensible 
 of the great difficulty and uncertainty that naturally attends the landing upon the Edystone Rocks. 
 
 f 
 
48 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. If. 
 
 It was not till the 14th that we had any prospect of success at sea; the intervals between these 
 attempts were therefore filled up in looking out a place proper for a work-yard; which to answer 
 the purposes of a stone building, I considered should have the following properties : 1st, I hat it 
 should be accessible not only to the boats or craft immediately employed in the service, but to 
 such larger sloops and vessels as were to be employed in bringing stone from the respective 
 quarries : for this purpose, it was necessary, that there should be a wharf or quay, or the capacity 
 of erecting one ; against which there might be nine feet, or at least eight feet depth of water at 
 the high water of Neap tides. 2dly, That this should be in a harbour, interior to that of Ply¬ 
 mouth Sound, where vessels might lie sheltered and in safety from all winds. 3dly, That it 
 should be readily accessible to vessels coming in with their cargoes from the sea. 4thly, That 
 the navigation outward for our own craft to the Edystone, should be attended with as little in¬ 
 tricacy, difficulty and uncertainty, as possible; in short, that there should be no material obstruc¬ 
 tion to their getting out at high water into Plymouth Sound. 5th, and lastly. That there should 
 be a level area to the amount of about 50 yards square, or a capacity of making such a one. 
 
 With this view I searched all the likely places I could hear of in and about Plymouth, to the 
 amount of eight or ten in number; but found them all to be wanting in some of the requisites; 
 or previously occupied in such a manner as to make it too expensive for us to acquire an esta¬ 
 blishment in them. It is unnecessary to mention the particulars and the reasons for rejection, 
 except what relates to one of the situations, that had been the work-yard of my predecessor, and 
 on that account may deserve a more particular notice. 
 
 This place, which is called Emparcombe, tradition has pointed out to be the spot where Mr. 
 Rddveed framed and fitted up his works ready for the sea. It is situated upon the east side ot 
 an interior bay that proceeds from the Harnoaze* behind Mount Edgecombe-f\ The principal 
 trace that remained of his works, was a row of cottage-houses, said to have been originally erected 
 for the lodgment of himself and his workmen£.—From the discretion that Mr. Rudyerd had 
 shewn in his general proceedings, I could not doubt but that this place which he had pitched 
 upon, must fully have answ ered his purpose : but as, in case of a stone building, the tonnage 
 of the materials to carry olf, was likely to be considerably more than double of Mr. Rudyerd s, 
 I found it very indifferently suited to mine ; for it seemed wanting in every requisite except the 
 second ; and was peculiarly defective in the first: and I could scarcely imagine he had made choice 
 of it for any other reason, than that of his workmen being retired from the bustle that attends the 
 town of Plymouth in time of war, and that it did not in the least interfere with the King’s works. 
 
 Indeed I found no procurable place, completely made to my hands ; but that which seemed the 
 most nearly to contain all the requisites, or the capacity of making them, was in a field adjacent 
 to Mill Bay, about a mile west from Plymouth. This bay, and particularly the west side of it, 
 w r as well screened from all winds, for all kind of vessels that we could want. Its entry was suf¬ 
 ficiently wide, but yet not too much so; the water deep and the headlands bold : and though 
 the mouth is well protected from the surge of the Sound, by the island of St. Nicholas, now more 
 o-enerally called Drake’s island ; yet the passage out to the Sound, as well as the coming in, is 
 very easy and safe. The greatest objection was, a want of depth of water towards the west shore; 
 especially where, in other respects, the ground lay the most commodious for a work-yard : but it 
 appeared that this inconvenience (amounting to about three feet want of depth in the shallowest 
 part) might be remedied by first clearing a passage through the mud, and then sinking the natural 
 bottom, which appeared to be a strong hard clay, so as to form a channel of sufficient width for 
 the passage of vessels : and thus the business as to the obtaining of a work-yard was brought to 
 a point ready for application to the proprietor of the field. See Plates No. 2. and 17. 
 
 91. THE weather still continuing unfavourable, my next excursion was to visit the nearest 
 place to Plymouth where Moorstone which in reality is the true Granite, was found and worked ; 
 
 • The Harnoaze is that part of the harbour opposite the King’s Docks near Plymouth; being the broad outfall of the river Tamar 
 into the Sound. 
 
 t See the Plan No. 2 of Plymouth Sound, and of the interjacent sea including the Edystone. 
 
 t In the year 1787 I found at this place more respectable buildings. 
 
and that was about fifteen miles from Plymouth, up the river Tamar, near Calstock, to which 
 place I understood that river was navigable. The moorstone is found upon Hingstone Downs; 
 and here I was first shewn the method of working it: which was by splitting it with a great 
 number of wedges applied to holes or notches, cut (or, as they term it, pooled) in the surface 
 of the stone, at the distance of about four inches, more or less, according to the size and supposed 
 strength of the stone. These pool-holes are sunk with the point of a pick, much in the way that 
 is done for the splitting ol hard quarry-stones in general.—Here I was informed, that the harder 
 the quality of the moorstone, the more exactly in general it could be spli L to the size or scantling 
 required; and on the contrary, that the more soft and capable of being worked with the pick or 
 other tool, the less regularly it would split: so that to bring this kind of stone to a true square, 
 the same quantity of labour, whether of the harder or the softer 
 
 would 
 
 species.—The moorstone of this place 
 maining, the stones were not of so large a 
 
 l to be of the harder species ; 
 > I expected to have 
 
 but of the quantity re- 
 th. 
 
 i enquiring 
 
 s to the prices of the work, I foresaw it would be to no purpose to ask the ex¬ 
 pence of shaping stones to the particular figure I wanted; because the workmen being totally 
 unused to any work of that sort, the question would only have puzzled them, and the answers of 
 course would at best have been indistinct, if not tending to mislead : I therefore founded my en¬ 
 quiries upon the price at which they could produce Ashler*, by the foot superficial, when brought 
 to a true square; and what was their price per gallon in forming stone Troughs, some of which 
 I found they were in the practice of making. By answers to the first, I was enabled to form a 
 judgment, at what price they could work moorstone by the foot, to a perfect regularity, after it 
 > split into the proper scantlings for that purpose ; and from the price of working out the 
 hollows of stone troughs, I could judge of the expence of hollowing out the work by downright 
 dint of labour of the pick, where no advantage could be derived from the use of the wedge or the 
 hammer. 
 
 The operation of splitting granite is very curious ; for, the apparent texture being without any 
 particular direction, the parts seeming to be irregularly and coarsely huddled together, somewhat 
 resembling a Plum Pudding; one would not imagine, that any degree of regularity could take 
 place in their division by splitting ; but the case is so far otherwise, that gate-posts are afforded in 
 the rough square, at a very moderate price; and I have in this country frequently seen posts of 
 Granite twelve feet long, and not above eight inches square, used instead of wood, for the mere 
 purpose of supporting a Hovel, no part of them being so much as an inch out of straight, or flat: 
 but it is to be constantly observed, that the strength of the stone, on each side of the bisection, is 
 so managed, as to be nearly equal, otherwise the split will constantly encroach upon the weaker 
 side. Indeed without this remarkable property in granite of splitting regularly, it would have 
 been of little use in human life : for it is of so hard a nature, that steel will not cut it; and yet 
 hard steel will bruise it; so that the prominent parts being gradually crumbled away by repeated 
 blows, its surface can be brought to a great degree of regularity: and as the splitting procures 
 plain surfaces nearly regular, as already observed, the accidental prominences can be reduced to 
 regularity by a moderate degree of labour. 
 
 92. ON the 14th of April we went out to sea between five and six in the morning, for the 
 fourth time, the wind being then at East, and very moderate; but it had been at N. W. the pre¬ 
 ceding evening, which determined us to get every thing ready for the morning’s tide. We had 
 scarcely got out of the Sound before it became 
 
 were now against us, but I determined to run out to the Stone; for though itw: 
 
 : should effect a landing, yet as the wind 
 commonly called Foy; a port about six leagues to the N. W. from the Edystone, and a place I 
 wanted to visit on account of there being in that part of the county, a much more considerable 
 quantity of moorstone, as well as hands employed in working it, than I had yet seen, we proceeded 
 in our voyage. As we ran further out, the wind became more fresh, and when we got out to the 
 length of the Edystone, it blew hard: there was no possibility of landing; but I caused our boat 
 
 .»*. vit! 
 
50 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. II. 
 
 to lie off and on, at the distance of about one hundred fathoms, to observe the action of the sea 
 upon the rocks, when the wind blew from the S. E. quarter; which indeed was very violent, the 
 seas being broken into a very large and heavy spray. On steering for Fowey we stood before 
 the wind, and therefore though the gale increased, still our little boat and attendant behaved very 
 well: we however had so much sea as to make a safe harbour very acceptable to us; and as 
 Fowey was pointed out to me, as a place of refuge when the wind came round in such a manner 
 as to prevent our return to Plymouth, it became expedient to examine its most material properties 
 with attention. 
 
 The entrance of this harbour is rather narrow for large ships; but the headlands are very 
 bold, and there is nothing to fear but what is in view. There is deep water both in the entrance 
 and in the harbour itself, which is considerably enlarged in width after passing the head¬ 
 lands; in short, when you are in il, it is both safe and commodious.—As the depth of the water 
 enables merchant ships of almost any size to go in or out, at anytime of the tide, when the wind 
 serves, this harbour becomes of consequence; being critically situated in the bottom of the ex¬ 
 tensive bay formed between the Ram-Head and Headman's Point; and where many good ships, 
 had mariners been sufficiently acquainted with it, might have found a safe retreat from bad weather 
 and shipwreck ; it is therefore to be lamented, that from erroneous accounts, formerly given in 
 some of the pilot-books concerning ibis harbour, ships have not ventured to go into it, when they 
 might very safely have done so, owing to the false idea entertained of it; which was that of' its 
 being a tide harbour, with a Bar at its mouth; than which nothing can be more contrary to 
 the truth. 
 
 In fact, Fowey Harbour may be called the Key to the Edystone service : for as from the 
 Edystone, Plymouth Sound and Foy Harbour lie nearly at a right angle; when it blows right 
 a-head from Plymouth Sound, a vessel steering to Foy will have the wind upon her beam; and 
 as this will be a wind from the land, there never can be any great sea from that quarter, at so 
 moderate a distance from the shore; so that any good sea-boat, may make her course good to 
 Fowey: and should the wind be due North, a vessel may yet run under shelter of the Deadman, 
 and afterwards turn into Foy: but if the wind is to the Westward of the North, she may then 
 run undeii protection of the high land at the Bolt point to the Eastward, and get into a small 
 harbour called Yealm ; though in the course of my experience, we seldom had occasion to use 
 it: for it never happened when the wind was too far to the West to get into Fowey, but we 
 could always fetch Plymouth Sound, by making a single Tack or two at the most. 
 
 95. NEXT morning the 15th, the wind blew hard at S. W. we therefore set out for Lan- 
 livery, about six miles from Foy; and here we found Walter Treleven and son, to whom I 
 was directed as the principal people in this district for working of moorstone. Walter aged 60 
 acquainted me, that he worked at the stone-work for the late Lighthouse under his elder brother 
 Peter Treleven, who had the contract under Mr. Rudyerd. He informed me, that none of 
 the stones used therein were above a ton weight; that they were all cramped with iron, each to 
 its neighbour; and the outside courses to those below ; but so, that none of the cramps could be 
 seen on the outside; that they were all finished at that place, being tried together upon a floor¬ 
 ing of boards, and the cramps let in, and that the cramps were made from a pattern lie had from 
 Mr. Rudyerd.— Peter Treleven, aged 80, was still alive, but so infirm and ill that he could 
 not see us : I therefore desired his brother Walter to ask him a few questions; and particularly 
 whether there was any kind of mortar or cement used in the stone-work ; it being Mr. Jessop’s 
 notion, from what lie had observed, that there was not, which Peter Treleven confirmed : but 
 it seems that neither he nor Walter had ever the curiosity to go upon the Edystone Rock. 
 
 We then went to see the stone, and the way by which it was to be carried down to the water 
 side to be shipped. The pieces of stone are here in general of much larger sizes than those we saw 
 at Hingstone Downs, and are of a quality much more free to work, but will not split so true, as I 
 had before been informed. I saw one stone apparently without crack or flaw, which curiosity 
 prompted me to measure, and found it to contain no less than 400 tons*. The distance of the 
 
 * The moorstone or granite of this country that is wrought for sale, not only at this place, and at Hingstpne, but every where that 
 
51 
 
 FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 place of working the moorstone to Parr, the place of shipping it, is about three miles, through 
 very bad roads, and by means of carriages but indifferently contrived, which in this country they 
 call Ploughs : they were not then in practice of drawing above a ton and a half at a time, and to 
 move this, they were obliged to yoke a team, consisting of a great many bullocks and horses. I 
 made similar enquiries here, to those I made at Hingstone, to ascertain the price of work, and 
 found it upon the whole to amount nearly to the same as there. The stone here, though of a 
 quality considerably softer, was yet very sufficiently hard for any purpose of building, and 
 equally unperishable by the eflects of weather, with the hardest: and as the quality of its being 
 more easily to be worked with the pick, seemed better adapted to produce the dovetail shapes 1 
 had in view, at a moderate price, and as stones could be got here of any size that could be moved 
 from the place, the stone of this district seemed upon the whole more likely to suit my proposed 
 operations, than what I had before seen. 
 
 We were informed that a great part of the stone wherewith the walking paths of Westminster 
 Bridge were laid, were gotten from this place. It distinguishes itself, by being of a much 
 coarser grain, with long white spar-like pieces, frequently of two inches and upwards in length, 
 and which from similarity they there call Dog’s Teeth; whereas the moorstone of Hingstone, 
 was of a smaller and closer grain, and much interspersed with the black Mica or Talc which is 
 one of its component parts.—The morning of Saturday the 16th, the wind still continuing fresh 
 at S. W. we this day took the opportunity of returning to Plymouth by sea from Fowey *. 
 
 94. ON Sunday and Monday the 17 th and 18th, it blew very hard at N. W. On Tuesday 
 morning the 19th, the weather being very fine, clear and calm, we went out the fifth time for 
 the Edystone; but the little breeze there was being right a-head, we tacked and rowed the 
 whole day; and at night found ourselves about four miles from the rock. As the day was per¬ 
 fectly serene, we had the mortification of seeing every thing calm and quiet about the rock, 
 without being able to get near it. Upon the turn of the tide in our disfavour, we dropt anchor, 
 in hopes of completing our voyage the next day’s tide ; but in the night it began to rain and blow 
 so hard from the S. E. that we were glad to weigh anchor and come home ; and in returning, 
 the wind veering to the N. E. and blowing very hard almost right a-head, we had a laborious 
 work in turning to windward and regaining Plymouth. 
 
 The event ol this last voyage pointed out to me very strongly, that the much greater tonnage 
 of the stone, which must be necessary to be carried out and fixed, in case of a stone building, 
 than was necessary in the compositions of my predecessors, would make the uncertainty and 
 delay that they have described to be attendant upon their voyages, in order to fix their work, 
 bear far heavier upon my scheme than upon theirs; and thereby occasion the whole time of the 
 performance to be lengthened; a circumstance that would be very disagreeable to all concerned. 
 It therefore appeared to me, that had a vessel been fixed within a quarter of a mile, or some 
 such competent distance from the rocks, and which should be capable of lodging the workmen 
 with all their tools, and loose materials; the several pieces of wrought stone only excepted; that 
 then the workmen might by means of small row boats or Yawls have effected a landing both of 
 themselves and their materials; and have been at work upon the rock the greatest part of that 
 day; which we, as voyagers, lost the whole of in fruitless labours and endeavours, to get to the 
 place of action. On consulting Mr. Jessop upon this idea, he recommended that we should 
 build a strong and very well found sloop of about. 50 tons burthen, with iron chains for mooring 
 her upon the rocky ground, which, as has already been observed, every where prevails in the 
 vicinity of the rocks of the Edystone : and that her inward lining or ceiling, as it is termed, should 
 be caulked equally well with the outside planking : so that the outside planking might then 
 
 I have had an opportunity of observing it, is not produced from quarries; but lies in pieces, generally roundish, upon the surface of 
 the earth, somewhat sunk into the same ; and this is used in preference, as being the most easy to come at: but the Miners find, that 
 it lies underground in very thick and solid Strata, through which they are frequently obliged to sink Shafts or pits, for a great number 
 of fathoms. It is called Moorstone from its being generally found upon the high grounds of this country, which are chiefly moors. 
 
 * Doubtless it was this port that Mr. Winstanley mentions, § 18, that he was frequently obliged to go to for shelter, and that it 
 took him the greatest part of the next day to get back to Plymouth. 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. If. 
 
 52 
 
 suffer threat, derangement, and even be in part destroyed by touching upon the rocks, while the 
 inside remaining entire and watertight, would be sufficient for the buoyancy of the vessel; and 
 if sloo.p-rigged, she would lie very snug and close while at her moorings ; and in case of being ac¬ 
 cidentally broken loose by a heavy storm, she would be easily manageable and got under way, so 
 as to be able to reach some port; either Plymouth, or to the East or West, and be easily replaced 
 after the gale was over. To this scheme there appeared only one objection, and that was the 
 difficulty there might be in clearing the water from between the Plankings; but that it seemed, 
 might readily be obviated by making two pumps; one to act between the plankings, and the 
 Other within the vessel. But being apprized that a vessel was then fitting out in the river 
 Thames, with chain moorings, not only to enable her to lie upon the rocky ground ; but to con¬ 
 tinue there all winter, as a temporary floating Light; in some degree to supply the want of a 
 Lighthouse ; we concluded, that in case this vessel was ordered to be moored sufficiently near the 
 rocks, to answer the double purpose of the Building and of the Light; that, provided there was 
 sufficient room and accommodation, the expence of the Store-Vessel above proposed might be 
 saved ; and therefore it was proper to postpone our putting any thing in hand relative to this ob¬ 
 ject, till the determination in respect to the floating light-vessel was known : and in case that did 
 not turn out to our purpose, the other expedient might then be adopted. 
 
 95. DURING this interval on shore, I occupied myself in various miscellaneous matters, 
 and in procuring the best information I could of such things as it appeared necessary to have 
 some knowledge of before the principal work was set about. In particular, qn repeating my 
 visit to Commissioner Rogers, he took an opportunity of shewing me a piece of Portland Stone, 
 that had been cut out from a part of the King’s Docks there, which had been wholly lined with 
 that material.—This specimen had been drilled with a great number of holes, something similar 
 to the perforations made by the worms of ships ; and as this had doubtless wholly happened since 
 the stones were placed there, it was a circumstance of a kind somewhat alarming. These holes 
 I observed had been made by a small kind of shell-fish, something like a muscle, and that they 
 were in general much smaller at the entry on the outside, than they were within ; and apparently 
 enlarging as the shell of the fish had grown in size. I was further informed, that these holes 
 had appeared most numerous, or at least were of the most material ill consequence, near the draw- 
 gales of the sluices, by which the water is drained off’ from the docks : for by this means, those 
 sluices had become so leaky, that it became necessary from time to time to cut out several of the 
 injured stones, and replace them with new ones. 
 
 Afterwards in looking among the marble rocks upon the shore of Mill Bay, near the place I 
 had pitched upon as proper for our work-yard, I found several detached pieces of those rocks, 
 that had in like manner been drilled through, resembling a honeycomb; and I likewise found 
 some, near low watermark, where the solid rock had been entered in the same manner; from 
 which I perceived, that the Portland stone had not suffered merely on account of its want of 
 hardness; for the marble, which is much harder, seemed to be equally penetrable; nor had the 
 pieces thus pierced suffered any decay in the nature of a rot; because the intermediate parts, be¬ 
 tween the holes, seemed to retain their original hardness: from these circumstances it appeared 
 probable that every kind of calcareous stone might be subject to the like defect; and therefore that 
 Portland stone ought not to be used for the outside of the Edystone Lighthouse, especially of the 
 lower works : though it might be used with great advantage for the works within, on account of 
 the greater ease with which it might be wrought. 
 
 1 was not indeed led into this opinion, by any doubt I entertained that a house built entirely 
 with this stone, would last much longer than a wooden fabric would have done; but in contemplat¬ 
 ing the use and benefit of such a structure as this, my ideas of what its duration and continued 
 existence ought to be, were not confined within the boundary of an Age or two; but extended 
 themselves to look towards a possible Perpetuity: and though it did not absolutely appear from 
 what I had seen and heard, that a Portland stone building placed upon the Edystone rock, would in 
 fact be penetrated by this kind of shell-fish; which seemed to be in a great measure confined to, and 
 under low Water-mark; yet in cases where it is not necessary, it is certainly unadvisable to run 
 
FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 53 
 
 the least risque ; for no one can say what the difference of situations may effect: and though the 
 building, if attacked by any kind of known animal, might very reasonably be expected to endure 
 much beyond the term which I understood the Proprietors had in their present grant; yet as I 
 knew it to be agreeable to their wishes, 1 concluded that to give it all possible safety and pro¬ 
 bability of permanency, it would be advisable to make use of Moorstone for the foundation, if 
 not for the whole of the outside work ; it being of a quality not found either liable to be impaired 
 by the above means, or subject to any kind of decay whatever by the injury of weather or time. 
 
 Fhe owner of the fishing vessel that had hitherto attended us, being weary of the service, I 
 hired a sloop of 25 tons burthen, with a commodious cabin, and decked over ; but being too large 
 to go into the Gut, it could only lie at anchor, and be used as an attendant Store Vessel. 
 
 96. THE 21st of April, the wind came about to the N. W. and was moderate; I therefore 
 determined upon another attempt, and accordingly at twelve at night, went on board and pro¬ 
 ceeded on our Sixth voyage. We had a light breeze from the North, which carried us out 
 leisurely to the Eclystone, without the least difficulty, where we were so happy as to effect a 
 landing between five and six, on the morning of the 22d; it was then nearly low water, and the 
 tide at dead of the neap. The day being perfectly serene, we staid upon the rock till twelve at 
 noon; which was till after high water: and though the sea at half a mile’s distance appeared as 
 smooth as the Thames in a calm day, yet a ground swell from the S. W. frequently run up very 
 high upon the rock ; and twice, a little after high water, ran over the highest point of it, though 
 the dead level of the surface of the sea at high water, was full nine feet below the summit. 
 My operations being now disturbed, we retreated to our vessels till two, when we again landed, 
 and I went on with my business till nine in the evening, having worked an hour by candle-light. 
 
 The weather continuing fine, the Edystone boat lay in the Gut all night, a thing scarcely 
 ever before attempted: the sloop to which Mr. Jessop and I retired, lying at half a mile’s distance 
 to the North. At five next morning the 23d, I again landed and pursued my operations till 
 eleven, when being a second time interrupted by the ground swell, we went to the sloop for re¬ 
 freshment, with an expectation of recommencing the work at two o’clock, as we had done the 
 preceding day: but about one o’clock the wind began to freshen from llie S. W. and at two it 
 blew so hard, as to render our attempt to row the yawl into the Gut ineffectual. The wind still 
 increasing, we lay at our anchors till five, in hopes of a change for the better; and then our 
 situation became so uneasy that we made a signal for Plymouth, where we arrived at half past 
 seven, which, though with the wind very fresh, and in our favour, was looked on as a quick 
 passage.—In lying off the rock with the wind somewhat fresh at S. W. I observed on the retreat 
 of the tide, that when the seas broke against the overhanging Breast of the rock on the West side, 
 see Plate No. 9. the broken sea would fly 30 or 40 feet high; whereas a much greater ground 
 swell at high water, meeting only with the regular slope, though it mounted much hi gher bodily, 
 yet scarcely broke at all. 
 
 97- IN this place, I think my reader will expect some general idea of what had employed 
 me upon the rock for three successive tides, amounting in the whole to full nineteen hours; and 
 this was the taking such dimensions as would enable me to make an accurate model of such part 
 of the surface of the rock as we were likely to have any concern with in the rebuilding: and 
 which was principally effected by the application of an instrument that I had prepared on pur¬ 
 pose; the idea whereon it was contrived I took from Leon Baptista Alberti’s treatise of Sta¬ 
 tues, added to Evelyn’s translation of Freart’s Parallel of Architecture. Wherein placing a 
 kind of dial upon the head of the statue, with an index or ruler, turning about on the center of 
 the dial, and from this ruler letting fall perpendicular lines, the several parts of the instrument 
 will shew the situation, distance from the center, and depression of any given point of a statue 
 below the plane of the dial, that the artist is desirous of ascertaining for his guidance; which in¬ 
 strument he calls a Definitor. 
 
 With this intent, I brought with me from London, the plate and index of a large Theodolite ; 
 being a foot in diameter, and sufficient to shew the single minutes of the degrees of the circle. 
 This plate I screwed firmly down upon the surface of a steady wooden three-legged stool, which 
 
54 
 
 BOOK II. CHAP. II. 
 
 when .set level, would overtop every part of the rock.—Being set up, it was so adapted to the 
 rock, that the center of the Theodolite was, as nearly as I could place it, perpendicularly over 
 that hole in the rock, which I considered as having been the center of the late building; and the 
 whole was adjusted to marks now fixed upon the rock, so that it could be taken down and set up, 
 as often as we might have occasion; and so as precisely to answer the same position of parts.—• 
 To the index of the Theodolite was screwed a ruler, 16 feet in length, and divided into feet, 
 inches and parts of inches, commencing from the center. This ruler was preserved from bend¬ 
 ing by its own weight, in any material degree, by a Rib raised upon its upper side; and it could 
 be brought justly horizontal by means of a pocket Spirit-Level being placed upon it. The figure 
 
 and manner of using it will be seen in the Elevation of the rock, shewn in Plate No. 7._It is 
 
 obvious that this index-ruler being carried horizontally round, along with the index of the Theo¬ 
 dolite, would successively pass over every point of a circle of 32 feet in diameter : and that, a per¬ 
 pendicular being lot fall from it, so as to answer to any point given upon the rock, within that 
 area, the index would mark the degree and minute of the circle in which it is placed. The 
 distance of that perpendicular from the center of the instrument would shew its distance from 
 the assumed center of the former building; and the height of the perpendicular would shew the 
 dip or depression of the given point below the plain of the instrument. The two former will be 
 sufficient for laying down an exact Plan of the surface of the rock, as reduced to an horizontal 
 plane; and this plan, being laid upon the plain surface of a proper block of wood or stone, and 
 holes being drilled into the block from the respective points, at right angles to its plain sur¬ 
 face, and to depths taken from the same scale as the plan was made by, will ascertain the respec¬ 
 tive points within the block, sufficiently for the forming a proper Model thereof.—The necessity 
 of an exact performance of this part of the work, was proportional to the difficulty I had to get 
 the proper measures taken; and indeed I was the more desirous that every thing relative hereto 
 should bo done with accuracy, as by that means many voyages and visitations would be saved, in 
 adapting the work to the rock, in the course of our future proceedings. 
 
 As we were liable to be exposed to fresh gales of wind through every stage of our operation, 
 was no trusting to the perpendicularity of Threads and Plumbets : I therefore pursued the 
 mg method.—Having made indelible marks with the point of a jumper, upon the surface 
 rock, at all notable places, I had a wooden measuring rod of about twelve feet long, and 
 :h square, divided into feet, inches and parts of inches, beginning from the bottom; this was 
 •vith a rounded end or shoe of iron, which being set upon the mark to be ascertained, the 
 * P ut into a perpendicular position, by means of a carpenters square, having a spirit-level 
 
 eing alternately applied to two sides of the rod, at 
 
 there 
 foil on 
 of the 
 1 l in< 
 shod ’ 
 rod was j 
 
 fixed upon one of its Limbs, the other limb I 
 
 right angles to each other. It was steadied in that position, by temporarily applying two slips 
 of deal, as Shores to two of its sides that were at right angles ; so that the lower end of the shores 
 stepping against some hole or prominence of the rock, the bottom of the rod. together with the 
 f the two shores, would form the base of an oblicpie triangular pyramid ; while the 
 ere held fast to the upright rod formed the Apex of tile pyramid*; this 
 retained very stiff and steady in a perpendicular position.—The upright 
 ex-ruler was brought round, till it stopped against the upright rod, 
 
 lower ends 
 part where the she 
 rod by this means 
 rod being thus fixed, the 
 
 and then was shoved up, or let down by a shorter piece of a rod, slided against the upright one, 
 till the index-ruler was brought to be truly horizontal, by means of the spirit-level being laid 
 upon it: thus the upright rod would mark upon the index-ruler the distance from the center 
 and that ruler would mark upon the 
 below the level of the instrument; the brass index at the 
 minute.—In this way I look off 35 in number of the most remarkable 
 
 upon the 
 
 plight rod, the dip of the point on which it stood, 
 time shewing the degree and 
 points, within the limits 
 
 above-mentioned ; observing to have one at each end upon the plain flat part of each step and so 
 placed, that a line might be stretched between them from the point marked at one end to’ that al 
 the other end ot the same step, without its being interrupted by the branches, or other impediments. 
 
 t might seem at first sight, that 35 points so determined, within a circle of 32 feet diameter 
 might be sufficient to lay down the included area, hut in reality it was not so ■ for when I had 
 taken three tnnes as many more, I had not completed the observations and measures I wished: 
 
 • The rods were here lashed together by a packthread. 
 
FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 55 
 
 die- rock itself, as well as the work my predecessors had made thereon, being so very irregular.— 
 : „ 33 P rimar y P olnls having been determined as above, the rest were obtained from them as 
 
 follows. A primary point being fixed at each end of each step, between which a line could be 
 stretched as before noted, the iron stanchions anti particularities of each step were readily taken 
 off upon their own level respectively, by means of parallels and perpendiculars: and by stretch!..- 
 a me jetween any other two of the primary points given, that were nearest and most advan¬ 
 tageously situated, the situation of any other points wanted could be determined—On my return 
 to Iymouth I made some progress in laying down to a scale, the measures taken upon paper 
 ' hlS ™ abled me to lurn m y thoughts towards a real design, which before had been only formed 
 rom imagination, assisted by such circumstances as I could lay together from former drawings, 
 models and verbal relations. 
 
 98. 1 HE 28th of April the weather turning out more promising than it had been since our 
 
 last return, I determined to attempt a Seventh voyage; and accordingly went 011 board, and lay in 
 Gawsand Bay that evening, to be ready for the first of the tide next morning. Our outset was 
 favourable enough, but we had not got above a mile south of the Ram-Head before a fresh of wind 
 from S. E. came on, and so suddenly, that our boat, which the seamen were heaving into the 
 sloop, filled with water, and narrowly escaped being lost. We notwithstanding pursued our 
 voyage towards the Edystone, but the sea breaking with violence upon the landing-place, we 
 could not attempt to land. However having received information of another place, where moor- 
 stone was worked, which might be got to the waterside, not far from Falmouth, and the wind 
 being now fair for that port, we bore away for it, and arrived there in the afternoon. The next 
 morning, we went 011 horseback to Constantine, a place about four miles from Falmouth ; where 
 I applied to Mr. Matthew Box, to whom I had been directed at Falmouth, as being the prin- 
 cipal and almost the only man for moorstone in these parts. 
 
 The moorstone here, appeared to be of a quality, better both to cleave and work, than any I 
 had before seen ; for I observed by a piece of it, then under the hands of Mr. Box, that it might 
 be cut and formed with a much superior degree of execution, than I had before conceived this 
 sort of stone to be capable of.—He was at this time executing a Grave-stone, of the elevated kind, 
 of which the pedestal of a column gives the idea; and in which he had formed the mouldings 
 with so much delicacy and propriety, that I could not help considering Mr. Box as a capital 
 artist in that kind of material; and therefore felt a secret joy in meeting with such a person.— 
 Such however is the nature of man, that he may be great in one branch of his profession, and 
 remain small in another : for on communicating the nature of my design to him, 1 quickly found, 
 that lie considered the forming and erecting of a well shaped Tomb-stone of Granite, as the greatest 
 of all human performances; and that having lived and been brought up in a retired part of the 
 country, from whence there never had been any considerable demand for moorstone, in point of 
 quantity, he had chiefly applied himself to the finishing of smaller works for the gentlemen of 
 the county within a moderate distance from him. He seemed therefore rather frightened than 
 pleased, when after I had explained a little of the nature and form of the work I should be likely 
 to need, I mentioned the extensive order that I might possibly give for this article; for, to the 
 execution of it he formed numerous difficulties, and did not know Avhat to ask, either for his stone, 
 his work, or for the carriage down to Falmouth. 
 
 On considering the result of this interview with Mr. Box, and having now examined all the 
 places I could hear of, where moorstone was worked, which lie tolerably convenient for water car¬ 
 riage to Plymouth ; I became convinced of the necessity of making use of Portland, or some other 
 free working stone for the inside work : for the granite, though preferable to all others in point 
 of duration; yet being at best of a stubborn nature, and the working thereof confined to few 
 hands, I perceived there would be no possibility of procuring so great a quantity in any reason¬ 
 able time, at a moderate expence, as the whole house would take, especially if worked in such 
 forms, and in so large pieces as would be required upon the principle of my first sketches.—The 
 difficulties also that equally occurred to them all, as to the Land Carriage, seemed to induce the 
 necessity, not only of confining the moorstone to the outside, but to take advantage of connecting 
 those with larger and heavier stones within, that were more easy to procure, in order to reduce 
 the size of the moorstone pieces, as much as would be consistent with the intended solidity of our 
 
56 
 
 BOOK II. CIIAP. I!. 
 
 work; that is, to stones from half a ton to a ton and a half; hut none to exceed two tons : and 
 this appeared the more proper, as even to procure a sufficient supply of those, for the outside 
 only, it might he necessary to give orders at all the places 1 had visited, at the same time. 
 
 The next morning, the 1 st of May, being very moderate and the wind in our favour for re¬ 
 turning, we weighed and went out to sea; but found a considerable swell from the S. E. raised by 
 the wind of the two preceding days ; and before wc cainc near the Edystone (where I proposed to 
 make a trial for landing if the weather should suit) the wind had come to the S. W. and blew 
 fresh, which by opposing the S. E. swell, raised it still higher: wherefore we came that night 
 into Cawsand Bay, and lay there to take the chance of the morning’s tide ; and be the more ready 
 in case the weather should be then in our favour; but it proving otherwise, we returned to Ply¬ 
 mouth, where we landed on Sunday morning the 2 d of May. 
 
 99 . WHILE 1 was prosecuting my work at home, of laying down the measures of the rock 
 upon paper, I was somewhat alarmed with a report which prevailed concerning a number of 
 Trench prizes that had been brought into the harbour, laden with fish; which having laid there 
 some time, were decaying and putrefying*. The report was, that by way of easily getting rid of 
 them, it. was intended to carry them out, and sink them near the Edystone : however this I could 
 not regard otherwise than as a false rumour; supposing that an idea of disposing of them near 
 that place, could never have been seriously adopted by any one in authority sufficient to give 
 that order.—Early in the morning of the 4t.h of May, the weather appearing favourable, we made 
 our Eighth attempt to go out to the Edystone; and as I was going aboard our sloop, advice was 
 sent to Mr. Jessop by Mr. Joseph Tolciker of the Custom-house, that (being appointed to that 
 service) he was going to see the covers of the Hatches of forty of the fish ships above referred to, 
 nailed down; and that they were intended to be carried out and sunk at the Edystone. This in 
 truth put me into a great consternation; but being unwilling to lose any opportunity of com¬ 
 pleting my measures upon the rock ; and concluding that this purpose could not be so speedily 
 executed as to prevent my having an opportunity of speaking with the officer deputed to carry 
 them out, l determined to proceed in my voyage; but we had not got abreast of the Ram-Head, 
 before a violent squall of wind and rain obliged us to return.—I immediately waited on Com¬ 
 missioner Rogers to learn the truth of the above-mentioned report; who so far confirmed it, that he 
 said they were to be sunk somewhere in the Neighbourhood of the Edystone : whereupon 1 told 
 him, that it was sufficient to undertake to make a building that should be able to withstand the 
 utmost violence of the sea : but it was too much to aid that powerful enemy with a thousand bat¬ 
 tering Rams, which these ships might be expected to prove, when broken to pieces by successive 
 storms, and driven against the works of the building. Being asked how far from the Edystone 
 it would be necessary to carry them; I told him it would not be safe at any moderate distance 
 East or West, lest the flux and reflux of the tide should bring the wreck upon the rock ; nor 
 nearer than three leagues to the South. \\ ith this lie promised to acquaint Admiral Mostyn, 
 uho then commanded at Plymouth, and to return me an answer the next day: but as con¬ 
 sequences of this kind seemed to have a tendency so dangerous and mischievous as to render the 
 omission of any means I could take to prevent it, inexcusable; especially as they might be more 
 easily foreseen than remedied, if the step was actually taken ; L therefore wrote the same day to 
 one of the Proprietors, who upon the receipt of my letter, applied to the Lords of the Aiimir a lty, 
 to send orders for these ships to be sunk in some place at a greater distance from the rock than 
 seemed intended : however, the day following 1 saw the Admiral, who politely assured me, that 
 nothing should be done, that could any way obstruct the building of the Edystone Lighthouse, 
 and that there was no such thing intended. 
 
 100 . AS the weather continued unpromising till the 11 th of May, l not only completed my 
 rou g h P lan of the rock as far as my measures had gone, but put together my thoughts, upon the 
 subject of facilitating the landing, as also upon the proper mode of carrying on the works upon 
 the rock with Expedition and at the least possible Expence, and communicated them by letter to 
 the Proprietors. 
 
 * It may be a necessary explanation at this time to say, that these were vessels that had been seized front the French before a formal 
 declaration of war. 
 
FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 57 
 
 On discoursing again with Mr. Jessop upon the subject of amending the landing at the Edy- 
 stone, he informed me of an expedient they had sometimes made use of; which was, that when 
 a vessel could not get into the Gut, so as to lie along-side the house when workmen were there 
 for repairs, but yet could get so near, as to be out of danger, the weather admitting a barrel or 
 log of wood with a rope fastened to it to be thrown from the rock ; they took this up into the 
 vessel or boat, and fastening timbers thereto they were successively hauled through the sea, and 
 so got upon the rock. This had frequently been done, and though it did sometimes miscarry, 
 and always took up time, yet it was the best method they had been able to devise; and the only 
 one they had ever practised : but this expedient would little avail me, as a stone building ap¬ 
 peared by every day’s reflection, and the experience of every voyage, more and more feasible, as 
 well as desirable ; and as rny proposed materials would not swim, a safe landing became a still 
 more important object. 
 
 Mr. Jessop was in truth the only person I had met "with, who seemed to have a competent 
 knowledge of the situation of the rocks; and though very careful and accurate in finishing what 
 he undertook, yet he was not a man of much invention. Fie had however a very clear and sound 
 judgment in whatever his practice and experience had put him into the way of knowing; and 
 though apparent- difficulties seemed to have kept his inventive faculties in awe ; yet from his long 
 experience, he generally proved an able adviser concerning the operations proposed to he per¬ 
 formed at the Edystone.—As I looked upon a tolerably safe way to get to and from the build¬ 
 ing, and to lie there, particularly if it was to be of stone, as almost a sine qnu non; and had on 
 this occasion fully communicated and explained my ideas to Mr. Jessop and received his appro¬ 
 bation, I took the first opportunity afterwards of acquainting the Proprietors therewith by letter, 
 in nearly the following terms. 
 
 “ I shall now describe the manner in which I propose not only to facilitate the landing upon 
 the rock, hut to increase the safety of vessels lying in the Gut.—The house-reef may in its na¬ 
 tural position he considex*cd as a piex*, break-water, or bulwark to vessels lying thei'e; and this 
 would have been very complete, had it not been for the following circumstances. The rock that 
 lies next to the northwards of that upon which the house is built, approaches nearly in height 
 to that of its neighbour ; and the top of it. is about fifteen feet from the house rock* ; hut between 
 those two rocks is a low part, gully or hollow that is covered at about half tide, over which the 
 sea breaks, even in fine weather, at low water, when there is any thing of a ground swell; and 
 the waves; cascade through this gap, into the Gut, as if, for the moment, an hundred mills were 
 at work ; which, when this takes place, not only endangers the filling of the boats, but raises 
 such a surge in the Gut, as to cause the vessels to lie very unsteadily. This gap I propose to 
 stop up, by first fixing an oak beam of at least twelve inches scantling upon a level from the 
 house rock, to the top of the north rock, very firmly with iron bolts at each end ; which beam is 
 to sei've as a Ridge-tree, somewhat in the manner of that for the roof of a house. Then to bolt 
 firmly down upon the sloping surface of the rock below, two other timbers or sills, one on each 
 side the ridge, in such manner, that tliree.-inch planks being well spiked down upon the ridge- 
 ti*ee and upon the sills on each side, should form a figure like the roof of a house. The force of 
 the sea tlierefoi’e, whichever way it comes, will he broken by running up the sloping planking, 
 and be prevented from running over in so large a quantity, whenever there is a probability of 
 working upon the rock -j~. 
 
 “ Moi'eover the east side of the house rock, though pretty nearly upright, is remarkably 
 ragged and indented; and particularly upon its most projecting partsijl, some of which consider¬ 
 ably overhang; if therefore there is not a constant care to keep a boat from touching when lying 
 alongside the i*ock, her gunnel would be liable to he damaged by its aspei’ities; and by its being 
 hooked under the projections, she would be subject to be overset even in the finest weather : and 
 
 • See Plate No. 14. 
 
 t This part of the proposition was never executed, principally for want of time at the proper season when it was possible to have 
 done it; but being satisfied of the practicability as well as utility thereof as a temporary expedient, it done, I give it here a place as 
 appurtenant to the subject. 
 
 t See the south views of the rock in Plates No. 6, 0, and 14. 
 
 Q 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. II. 
 
 58 
 
 this inconvenience and hazard, not only arises from the unsteadiness I hat is occasioned by the 
 cascading of the water through the gully before mentioned; but when there is a breeze east- 
 wardly, though not sufficient to occasion the sea to break upon the landing-place, or prevent 
 working; yet by the boats being driven against the rock, they would be subject to the disasters 
 above described ; and what is more material than what I have already mentioned, if the workmen 
 should he caught with a fresh of wind at East, the boats would be liable to be staved, whilst the 
 men were getting themselves and tools on board. —I had already found by my own experience, 
 that such kind of disasters we were subject to, and that we should be still much more liable to 
 them in the course of the erection : and for an evil so great, the more simple the means, the 
 better should the contrivance be esteemed by which it might be averted. To this end “ I pro¬ 
 pose to lix timbers by bolts, upon the most prominent or projecting parts of the rock, in the 
 manner of piles against the face of a quay, and at such distances as to be nearer together than 
 the length of our boats; by which means their gunnels and sides being made to slide up and 
 down against the piles, instead of the rock, there would he no danger of catching; and therefore 
 a greater degree of security would take place, as well as that less care and attention would by 
 that means become necessary*.” 
 
 101. WHATEY ER advantages might ultimately result to the public, from having a durable 
 stone building in lieu of a perishable wooden one, yet if the time that was necessary to be taken 
 up in the erection, was likely to be greater than had been taken up by former builders, which 
 was four summers, this would be a very sensible and striking objection to my proposition ; and 
 as the execution thereof would naturally require a greater time, in proportion to the whole ad¬ 
 ditional tonnage of materials; this led me to every consideration that had a natural or artificial 
 tendency to expedite the work.—I found that the customary payment of such artificers as had 
 gone out upon the repairs of the late building, was five shillings per day, (or 35 shillings per 
 week) from the time they held themselves ready to put their foot into the vessel to go out, to the 
 time they were re-landed and discharged; without having any regard to the time employed in 
 actual execution : what were the wages during the former buildings being in hand, I never could 
 learn : but as there always had been, so long as memory reached, a house to receive and lodge 
 the workmen, when they once got thither, the disappointments attending the difficulty of land¬ 
 ing’ and fruitless voyages were, under that circumstance, of less consequence : I was therefore so¬ 
 licitous to form such a scheme for carrying on the works, as should make the service full as eli¬ 
 gible to the workmen as formerly, at the same time that it should be their interest to exert them¬ 
 selves to the utmost; or at least to spend as much time upon the Rock as possible; and also, that 
 they should be enabled to bear their labour chearfully during their continuance there, by not 
 being subjected to any unreasonable degree of fatigue, by long periods of service. In conse¬ 
 quence of all this, the work would of course be performed, not only as expeditiously as possible, 
 but at an expence to the Proprietors, as low, in regard to the value of day labour, as could pos¬ 
 sibly be expected upon the former establishment. 
 
 Il therefore seemed to me to be necessary, not only to moor a store-vessel in the neighbour¬ 
 hood of the rocks during the working season, but to employ two complete sets of hands for the 
 outwork, to relieve each other in turns; so that whenever weather and tides would permit, the 
 work might be pursued day and night.— I hat the workmen should on no occasion fall short of 
 the common wages of the country for their support at sea, whether circumstances favoured or 
 not: but that their making extra Wages should depend upon the time they actually spent upon 
 the rock ; where in general, a reasonable degree of employment coidd scarcely be avoided : and 
 that it might be as much the interest of the seamen to use their best endeavours to get the work¬ 
 men landed, and to encourage them to stay as long as they could, without imminent danger; 
 their payment, as well as that of the foremen of each company, should all follow the same kind 
 °f proportion. Upon these ideas I drew up and transmitted Lo the Proprietors, the following 
 plan for carrying on the works; and which in effect, with very li ttle variation, was afterwards 
 carried into execution. 
 
 * Those 
 
 the purpose of a ladder, are represented at P. Q. Plate So. 14 . 
 
FTRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 59 
 
 PLAN F0R carrying on the works and management of the 
 
 WORKMEN. 
 
 I reasonable inducements be rendered preferable 
 
 1st, That the Edystone service should by e 
 to any other common employment. 
 
 discht e!r therefore ( “ “ P unishment ) an y one filing in his duty should be immediately 
 
 3d That the workmen should be divided into two companies; one company to be out at the 
 Rock, the other to be employed in the work-yard on shore. 
 
 4th, That every Saturday, the weather permitting, these two companies to change places- 
 but the out-company not to return home till the in-company is carried out to relieve them. ’ 
 
 5th, Every man to have certain fixed wages weekly; and the same whether out or in 
 
 bth, Every man to receive-per hour over and above the fixed wages, for every hour he 
 
 works upon the rock. ‘ 
 
 7lh, Every out-man to take all opportunities of landing upon the rock to work, when the 
 weather serves, whether night or day, Sundays or work-days. 
 
 8th, The in-company not to work either nights or on Sundays, except in case of necessity 
 and then 
 
 9lh, All extra work on shore to be paid for in proportion to double the fixed wages for the 
 like time. 
 
 lOlli, The seamen to be also at constant weekly wages, with an addition of a fee certain and 
 proportionable every tide’s work upon the rock. 
 
 lllh. Each company to have a foreman constantly with them while working upon tile Rock; 
 to be paid more than the common workmen, and in the same proportion. 
 
 14th, The engineer and his deputy, to go off alternately week for week ; and each week to >o 
 off as often, and stay as long as weather will permit, or the service require. 
 
 13th, In case of sickness, or necessary absence of either the engineer or deputy, the whole 
 (if possible) to be taken care of by the other. 
 
 14th, All persons to victual themselves, but a bowl of punch to be allowed each company on 
 their return on shore. J 
 
 lolh, 1 he foremen, workmen and seamen, to be paid every time the respective companies 
 return on shore. 
 
 16th, All work tools to be provided and repaired at the charge of the Proprietors, and to 
 have a mark put upon each of them peculiar to the Edystone. 
 
 17 th, Every person hurt or maimed in the out-service to receive his common wages while 
 under the surgeon's hands; and the Proprietors to pay the surgeon. This to be allowed on the 
 certificate of the engineer, deputy and agent. 
 
 18th, Any person desirous of quitting the service, to give a week's notice to the engineer or 
 deputy. 
 
 19th, The foreman on shore to take an account of every thing received into, or sent out of 
 the work-yard ; as also of the day’s works of the company, &c. with him; under the check of the 
 engineer or his deputy when on shore. 
 
 20th, All smith s and plumber s work to be seen weighed by the foreman, engineer or deputy 
 on shore ; and all timber or wood work to be measured, and other materials taken account of by 
 the same on receiving them. 
 
 21st, The foreman afloat to take account of lime and landings upon the rock, to be checjued 
 by the engineer or his deputy when afloat. 
 
 22d, An account of all matters done on shore to be given in weekly to the agent or accountant; 
 and of all things done afloat by the proper foreman at the time of landing. 
 
 The further consideration of these and many other matters, I referred to an interview with 
 the Proprietors, to whom I was now in hopes of soon returning. 
 
 102. IN the afternoon of the 11th of May, we set out on our Ninth voyage, and got to the 
 Rock in the evening; when we found the sea sufficiently quiet about it, to admit our landing; 
 
GO 
 
 BOOK U. CHAP. II. 
 
 but it being near dark, and blowing fresh at N. N. W. Mr. Jessop and the seamen thought it 
 not safe to go into the Gut that night, being of opinion that if the wind should a little increase, 
 or get nearer to the North, we should not be able to get out again*. 
 
 On this occasion the idea first occurred to me, that there might be a possibility of the water s 
 being sufficiently quiet for the boat to lie alongside the rock (which used to be the criterion of 
 the men being able to work thereon) and yet that the entrance or exit from the Gut might be 
 impracticable or dangerous: this struck me with a most sensible chagrin, insomuch that I scarcely 
 slept that night; partly with mortification at our present disappointment, and partly in contriving 
 means how to remedy so great' an inconvenience : for the plan I had before laid down for the 
 greater protection and security of the craft when lying in the Gut, would not have availed us in 
 such winds and tides as were now our obstruction ; and my scheme would still be imperfect, if 
 after I had made the lying there less dangerous, I should not be able to reach it, or get out 
 when there pressed with danger. 
 
 The blowing up of the Sugar-Loaf rock was undoubtedly the first thing that occurred ; but 
 this in fact would only be a partial remedy. To level the Sugar-Loaf to its base, would ol itself 
 be a serious work ; as it never could be set upon except when the sea was remarkably still and 
 quiet; and would of course take up that time which would be the most valuable towards getting 
 the house-rock cut for the proper reception of a stone foundation ; and of consequence prove a 
 considerable hindrance to the execution of the main design : nor could this matter be expedited 
 by an additional number ol hands for that service ; because as they could very rarely be applied, 
 the incumbrance arising from a greater number of men afloat, than the main service naturally 
 required, would prove a real obstruction to the general progress of the work: besides it the 
 Sugar-Loaf was in fact levelled with its base, yet as the Gut would remain barred up within a 
 small matter of low water, by flat rocks, which extend almost across it in that place ; to get a 
 clear passage to the South, with a sufficiency of water for the craft at low water, notwithstanding 
 it presented itself as far from impossible, yet seemed likely to prove a greater work than that of 
 the Lighthouse itself; and consequently not to be thought of at this tune. 
 
 Having observed the use that was made of Transport Buoys, in the moving and mooring the 
 king’s ships in the Hamoaze ; it struck me, that if a transport buoy of a size proportioned to out¬ 
 sort of craft and service, was moored with chains at the distance of about fifty fathoms directly 
 North from the Gut, to which one end of a suitable cable or hawser should be bent (that is, 
 fastened) and the other carried to the landing-place in the Gut; and to prevent its being fretted 
 against the rocks, so much of it as would be liable to touch, to be a chain; this cable and chain 
 being kept always in repair, during the working season, as there was nothing to hinder us from 
 sailing to this buoy, when vessels could keep the sea, they might lie there till it was a proper 
 time of tide to go into the Gut: and then by means of this communicating cable, we should be 
 able to bawl them into and out of the Gut against wind and tide ; and for facilitating of this with 
 a few hands, 1 proposed a windlass of a new Contrivance -j* to be put on board each of our larger 
 vessels that were to go into the Gut. Our buoy would also be attended with this further ad¬ 
 vantage, that in going out, the vessel having gained it, her sails might be set before she quitted 
 it; by which means she would gel underway, and shoot clear of the rocks, when the wind blew 
 northerly. 
 
 In the morning I communicated this proposition to Mr. Jessop, who thoroughly approved of 
 it; and added, that if a couple of eye-bolts, at a competent distance North and South of each 
 other, were fixed into the rocks on the East side of the Gut, to which ropes might be occasion¬ 
 ally fastened, these would keep the boats from striking against the house-rock, when the wind 
 was easterly; and such a contrivance would have been particularly useful the very last time we 
 went out of the Gut. 
 
 103. THE 12th of May we landed on the rock at seven in the morning, and staid till eleven, 
 the wind being at S. S. W. It having been moderate during the night, the boat lay very quiet; 
 
 • It has already been explained, that there is no passage to the southward, through the Gut, on account of the Sugar-Loaf rock. 
 
 t This was by means of Wheel and Pinion, scarce heard of for such a purpose at that time. 
 
FIRST JOURNEY TO PLYMOUTH. 
 
 61 
 
 but we at last found it advisable to quit it, but more on account of the rain than the wind, 
 (though that was becoming more fresh) as we were wet quite through, and what was worse our 
 papers were wet also : however having now taken all the most material measures, this circum¬ 
 stance reconciled me to every thing else.—At weighing to come home, our anchor having got 
 foul of the rocks, we parted our cable, and afterwards in endeavouring to weigh the anchor by 
 the buoy rope, we parted that also : so that we were obliged to leave the anchor behind us; the 
 risque of which would have been prevented, had we now had a transport buoy, such as that 
 proposed. 
 
 104. AS it was my wish entirely to complete my measures, if a favourable opportunity hap¬ 
 pened, without further loss of time; while I was preparing for my departure on the morning of 
 the 15th of May, the weather again appeared favourable, and we proceeded on our Tenth voyage. 
 We landed on the rock at half past eleven in the morning, and staid there till half past two in 
 the afternoon. The wind being then Easterly and beginning to blow a little fresh, we found it 
 proper to quit the place for fear of staving our vessel against the house rock, of which there would 
 have been much less danger, as she would have been far more manageable, had the proposed 
 fender piles, or Mr. Jessop’s proposition, been in use : for though we were six hands in the Edy- 
 stone boat, and used our utmost endeavours to prevent it; in coming out of the Gut the boat 
 struck against the north rock, and sprung a leak, though no considerable damage was done to 
 her. Having now completed all the observations I was desirous of making, which I was the 
 better enabled to do, as it was a low spring ebb, I took my leave of the rock for the present with 
 great satisfaction, and arrived at Plymouth that afternoon. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 CONTAINING TRANSACTIONS AND OCCURRENCES DURING MY RETURN 
 FROM PLYMOUTH TO LONDON IN MAY 1756. 
 
 105. In my return to London, I thought it necessary to take a view of the several places that 
 had been pointed out to me, from whence freestone could be shipped for Plymouth ; not so much 
 indeed to acquaint myself with the nature of the stone itself, of which I had seen samples before; 
 as to learn whether I could have the quantities worked upon the spot of such weight, dimensions 
 and forms as I concluded would be needful; and to inform myself of the charge of freightage, 
 and other particulars that I knew would be necessary to enable me to make any kind of estimate 
 of the cost of the building; which I must expect would be required Rom me by the Proprietors; 
 or at least that I should give them all the information that I possibly could, touching such things 
 as related to the proposed work. 
 
 106. WITH this view I first visited the quarries at Beare, near the S. E. corner of Devon¬ 
 shire, and near the sea-coast. I found the bed or Stratum of freestone worked here, was of a 
 considerable thickness ; and with so great a cover of earth upon it, that it was worked in under¬ 
 ground cavities; the superincumbent Strata of earth, &c. being supported by pillars formed by 
 detached parts of the Stratum left standing. Here the stone, which is of the calcareous kind, and 
 in point of hardness and texture much like the Bath stone, but whiter, lies in so solid and thick 
 a bed, that blocks might be cut out from it of any size required : and though the Stratum is very 
 compact (that is, free from fissures) yet it is of so soft and workable a nature, that I found the 
 workmen sawing out blocks from the general mass (or posts) with carpenter’s saws, which they 
 could do to any dimensions required ; and though this stone was capable of being thus wrought, 
 and was so free to the tool, yet I found that it hardened considerably after being exposed to the 
 
 R 
 
BOOK II. CHAP* III. 
 
 G 2 
 
 weather, as was manifest by the buildings that had been erected many years at the village of 
 Beare : the stone in the old buildings being in general covered with a kind of mossy coaling; 
 and workmen, with reason, look upon the stone so coated, as not to be in a state of waste or 
 decay. However, though hardened by time and weather, it yet seemed of a softer nature than 
 I would wish for the construction of a building, that in every step of its erection would be sub¬ 
 ject to the extreme violence of the sea. 
 
 107. MY next visit was to the Isle of Portland, at which place I had an address to Mr. 
 
 Ropru ; who was the principal agent, or manager at the quarries for- Tucker, Esq; of 
 
 Weymouth, the principal quarry-proprietor or worker there.— I found Mr. Roper a very plain, 
 sensible, intelligent person; and as this isle, as it is generally called, seemed to contain many 
 things that awakened my curiosity, I was very glad to accept of him for my conductor or guide; 
 and as being one of the principal residents upon the isle, and particularly versed in the works 
 peculiar to it, no person could better have fulfilled my wishes.—Upon the commencement of the 
 works of Westminster Bridge, some time about the year 1739, Mr. Roper was sent down by the 
 contracting mason, as foreman, with a gang of masons or stone-cutters from London ; who were, 
 according to moulds and drawings, to hew the stones upon the place, to save the freightage of 
 the waste: for, it is to be observed, that previous to this period, the stone sent from Portland 
 had always been shipped off in the rough, or rather what is called rough scappelled blocks; to 
 he sawn and fair wrought to the particular purposes, where wanted; and after the completion of 
 that work, having engaged with Mr. 1 ccker as superintendant of his quarries, he had remained 
 
 there c 
 
 • since. 
 
 108. IHE first thing that excited my curiosity, was the very subject I came upon, that is, 
 the quarries from whence the stone sent from Portland is produced.—The upper surface of the 
 island I found was tolerably flat; but elevated above the sea, according to the estimation of my 
 eye, at least 200 feet. The Stratum of stone that is wrought for sale, lies nearly parallel with 
 the upper surface of the island ; and with not much cover of earth or rubbish upon it. There 
 are several beds of stone lying in contiguity, one above another, varying in thickness in general 
 from two to four feet and upward. Those which are usually called the merchantable Beds (on 
 account of the blocks for sale being produced therefrom) are universally covered with a Stratum 
 called the Cap, which is formed entirely of a congeries of petrified sea-shells, of a great variety 
 of kinds, but in general so distinct and separate in their forms, that to the curious naturalist, 
 their species Seem very easy to be made out* : but as they in a considerable degree retain their 
 respective figures, (though 111 some places more, in some less) spaces or cavities are left between 
 
 them, which 
 
 consequently very 
 
 ch d 
 
 the coherence of the 1 
 
 ; but yet the cementing 
 
 principle is so strong, that the whole together is considerably harder than the merchantable 
 beds: and indeed so hard, that to get rid of it as easily as possible, it is generally blasted oil’ 
 w ith Gunpow der.—TV ere it not for these cavities, the cap-stone would not readily be worked with 
 tools ; or at least it would not be worth working at a place where there is so great plenty of stone 
 of a better quality : but as il is necessary to remove it in the course of working the better kind 
 of stone, though by far the greatest proportion is blasted into fragments, yet for the buildings on 
 the island, the cap-stone is in general use, and also for the piers and quay walls of Weymouth 
 Harbour; as also in the pier for shipping stone at Portland, blocks are used from the cap; and 
 indeed upon the whole, were it not for the expence of freight (which is the same as upon those 
 of the best quality) for various rough purposes under water, &c. the cap would make quite as 
 good and durable work, as the merchantable blocks. 
 
 When the merchantable beds are cleared of the cap, the quarry-men proceed to cross-cut the 
 large flats, which are laid bare, with wedges, in the way I have described as to the moorstone; 
 only the wedges are not so numerous, nor does Portland stone split so evenly as the Granite: and 
 frequently in the splitting, as well as other working of this stone, oyster and other fossil-shells 
 are discovered in the solid substance ol the merchantable stone.—The beds being thus cut into 
 
 s of the spiral kind, called Cornua Ammonis, some very large, and I saw one which when cleared from all 
 t in diameter. 
 
 ' There are n 
 
63 
 
 RETURN FROM PLYMOUTH. 
 
 a1"he? a 8 ’ t " U r m r With “ r 1 Ca " Cd * Kevel whi ' h is » hammer, and 
 
 pick* bva Zetitio H fu S ° * ° r ™ * hat “ “>™rds the s hape of a 
 
 1 ■ 7 a ,ep 7 ,0n ot 8turd y lllo " s “»» reduce, a piece of stone, by his Eye to the West 
 
 Z'Tt " e /“ t" ad ‘f ; and WOCkS ^ th “ S “ front half a ton. to .4 or eight tons 
 
 weight; or upwards, if particularly bespoke. b 
 
 uJlio™^ T'* C ° nStrUCti0n ° f th6ir “”*««. I could not but wonder 
 upon be„ e told, that such a very plan, piece of machinery, was all they had for o-ettiim the lavo-esf 
 blocks down to the water-side; but when I saw the application, my wondef ceasfd.-I have 
 
 aboveUe sea" Tt T' * l "T" ^ «* is considerably elevated 
 
 of the I t "l i Z ' n " ' lt d, " USl1 ‘ lle S reatest PCtt of the circumference 
 
 e n a^ b °i7n " T h a Z ^ ^ l-'Pcnd.cuIar, yet on the North side towards 
 
 It d“ no i d rS t 6 ’ ' nf “ T” m0derate - tI,0 "S h !t “ -tther quick every where, 
 
 -ltd d not indeed at once occur to me, that though i, would require a very great power to 
 
 haw large stones against Gravity, or up-hill ; and even a considerable one to dniw them upon 
 the plain ground ; yet in moving down-hill their gravity would assist then,.-The carriages are 
 a kind of Carts, consisting of nothing more than a pair of very strong solid low wheels (as well 
 as 1 remember) about a yard in diameter, and a very thick axle-tree, upon which is lived a stout 
 . planking or platform that terminates in a draught-tree for steerage and yoking the cattle to- 
 1 he wheels and platform being low, the blocks are the more easily loaded thereon and a neces 
 sary power is employed, according to the size of the block, to draw it to the commencement of 
 the descent. To tins place a quantity of blocks of different sizes have been, at leisure times ore 
 viously drawn; and one of these blocks, of a suitable size, such as experience has pointed out is 
 by a strong chain attached to the carriage, on which the other block is placed, which is then 
 drawn forward with the block ,n tow, till they are got sufficiently upon the slope of the road to 
 lincl an inclination in the loaded carriage to move the attached block; after which all the horses 
 and beasts of draught are taken off, except such as are absolutely necessary for the guidance ■ 
 and m this way (the descent being continual to the pier) two large stones are got down with a 
 degree of case and expedition, that would be almost impracticable with one alone, without more 
 comp heated machi nery. 
 
 110. I FOUND I could have every thing here, that I could desire in the freestone way; so 
 lar a, rough scappelling went; and at a price so moderate when delivered on board that the 
 freight, even to Plymouth would he a considerable part of the charge: hut that in regard to 
 hewing, after the work of Westminster Bridge was over, the hands brought here on that occasion 
 were dispersed; or the few which were left had engaged to work in the quarries: and that ex¬ 
 cept for such large undertakings as Westminster Bridge, what could be saved in freight would 
 not compensate the disadvantage of employing separate workmen at a distance : for, in regard to 
 the internal works ot the island, there was not enough of them to maintain stone-cutters; and 
 
 hough they had just built a new church, which I observed had been neatly worked, and chiefly 
 from the cap-stone, yet I found that workmen had been brought into the island to perform it. 
 
 111. FROM the practicability of the road in the way before mentioned, and also from the 
 circumstance of there being there the quietest water, the pier for shipping the stones is on the 
 north side, adjoining to Weymouth Road; so that the stone vessels, if catclled by a storm while 
 lying there for a freight, retreat into Weymouth Harbour. 
 
 I did not fail to visit the Lighthouses, built nearly on the highest part of the island ; hut as 
 
 th 
 
 ■ built up 
 
 pon the dry Land, and burnt coals, I found they contained nothing singular or 
 material to my present purpose.—The * r ' . 
 
 various Strata, of which this island appears to be com¬ 
 posed, would furnish speculation to the curious naturalist; but which the purpose of my pre- 
 sent visit dill not allow me time particularly lo attend to: but what struck me most with 
 wonder and amazement was the Portland Beach, which I could not enter the island in crossing 
 
 * The Kevel is a tool i 
 portion of the surface of a 
 means biting keenly upon the stone, brings off - a 
 
 ; the face of the hammer end not being flat, but hollowed according to the 
 e to two ot its opposite sides, that are parallel to the handle; and by tin's 
 urge shiver. The edge at the pick end is about half an incl 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. III. 
 
 64 
 
 llie salt-water creek from Weymouth, without remarking: and which perhaps renders it im¬ 
 possible to decide whether Portland is really and properly an Island or not*. This work ol na¬ 
 ture is an immense bank or mound, formed to appearance of round pebbles of promiscuous sizes, 
 the generality not exceeding the size of a pullet’s egg ; which by the action of the sea in Beating 
 them one against another (being of a very hard nature) are worn so smooth and round, that a 
 man can scarcely 
 
 ■lv walk 
 
 upoi: 
 
 the 
 
 ithout sinking to the ankles, or a horse to his knees at every 
 
 adorable slope, both towards 
 
 step. In consequence of the matter being so loose, it forms a consul 
 the sea and to landward. Il proceeds from the N. W. corner of the isle of Portland, and keeps 
 somewhat near a N. W. direction till it approaches the shore, at (I think) scarcely a mile distance. 
 
 tural coast of Dorsetshire, this conformation would not have been a matter altogether singular: 
 but on ascending the summit of the Beach, which is several feet above high-water mark, that I 
 might have a more distinct view of it (which I was fully enabled to do by its being low water 
 -when I first landed upon it) I found, that not only the part from the place where I stood, to its 
 junction with the island, made a portion of a regular curve; but that it was continued in a fair 
 Sweep as far as the eye could trace it, nearly parallel to the general range of the natural shore, 
 but without joining it; and in this way I was told it. proceeded almost to Abbotsbury, at the 
 distance of 14 miles, and there united with the shore; so that a person chusing to travel upon it 
 from Abbotsbury, might with much labour and patience go to Portland on dry land even at high 
 water. 
 
 A work of nature so regular in its form, must necessarily have a regular cause; what this 
 cause may be, seems not very obvious, but it certainly is well worthy the attention of the skilful 
 naturalist.—11 would seem not to have had its origin at a very remote period ; for the irregu¬ 
 larities that the sea had washed in the ancient coast were still very distinct upon the salt-water 
 creek (which as I have already said, everywhere runs behind it, till its final junction with the 
 shore,) whereas in any great length of time, they must have been so far acted upon by frost, rain 
 
 t beach, like an i 
 
 • bulwark, defends 
 
 and wind, as to have been obliterated ; since the presen 
 them from the immediate action of the sea’s making any further incroachments.—It would seem 
 also, that this beach was formed somewhat suddenly; so as to be, as it were, at once a defence 
 to the ancient coast: for had a quantity of pebbles been washed up from the sea, and brought to 
 the shore gradually, there does not appear to be any reason why the action that brought them 
 thus far, should drop them short of the shore, and not heap them upon it; in which case, no salt¬ 
 water creek would have been formed; for then the little irregular bays in the shore would have 
 been first filled up, and the whole mass brought forward in the same kind of fair curve, as we 
 now find it: but from whence such a mass of pebbles should come, as very soon to form so great 
 a Barricade as to shut out the sea, is a problem not seeming to admit of an easy solutionf. 
 
 It further appears, that this beach lying in such a direction as to receive the full action of the 
 S. W. seas, the component pebbles are of so loose a nature, that every tide makes an apparent 
 change in the manner of its slope to seaward; which being formed into a sort of steps, or benches, 
 answerable to the last high-water mark, these range regularly for a considerable length, and 
 seldom remain the same for several tides together.—In time of storms, great quantities of the peb¬ 
 bles are driven over the summit, and as there is no power acting in a contrary direction, to bring 
 them back again, one might at first be led to suppose the whole beach to be in a slow state of 
 progression towards the shore, and that in time it would fill up the salt creek : but in contra¬ 
 diction to this idea, I was told, that four, five, or six feet beneath the surface of the pebbles, 
 there is every where a strong mound of blue Clay, having the same general shape as the beach. 
 
 • If an island, witl 
 but if ?t be defined to l 
 be denominated an isla 
 
 Dr. Johnsoi 
 ’ a tract of la 
 
 is defined to be a Tract of Land s 
 d, whose component Strata 
 
 + On consulting Camden’s Britannia Svo. edit. 1.5 
 than at present; as he speaks of its being cut asundei 
 that Portland was formerly an island, though now anni 
 meatu longe se immitlit litlus, aggerque chesill die tus ej 
 quern auster cum ingruit, plerumque intersciiu/it, el aqui, 
 adnectilur." Camb. Brit, page 14 . N. B. The first I 
 
 10, it would seem, that in h 
 by the action of particular 
 xed to the continent. His 
 arenis agglomerates, freto tei 
 i e contra, consolidat. Hoc 
 dition of Camden was in the 
 
 i y justly 
 
 lust have been of far less bulk 
 g consolidated by others : and 
 of this beach, “ Fleamoso hinc 
 IX. mill. pass, obductus pra-tendilur, 
 ■Jam insula, nunc contbienti 
 
RETURN FROM PLYMOUTH. 
 
 This one can hardly imagine to he in a moving state : and though there may be an endless suc¬ 
 cession of pebbles constantly washing up from the sea, to supply the place of those washed over 
 the summit; yet still, why there is not a gradual incroachment upon the salt creek, does not rea¬ 
 dily appear. Was there any considerable discharge of land water by this creek, that would 
 doubtless keep it clear, and the reflux of the salt water may somewhat tend to the same end; 
 but yet its reflux seems far too languid to be sufficient for the purpose. 
 
 112. THOUGH I found my curiosity strongly excited by this singular and surprising work 
 ot nature, yet 1 had not time fully to satisfy myself as to facts; and as I have not since met Avith 
 auy adequate account of it, 1 am inclined to give a place to such particulars as I could relate 
 from my OAvn observations; as my doing this may excite more able naturalists to examine minutely 
 into the history of it, and it seems very Avell to deserve a more particular investigation.—As I 
 Avas struck with wonder at the construction of the Portland beach, 1 could not be wholly inat¬ 
 tentive to an anecdote which occurred here, respecting an equal singularity in the manners and 
 customs of the Portland Quarry men : for at that time those of the South Sea islanders were en¬ 
 tirely unknown to us ; and as I do not find the system of Portland has been touched upon by any 
 of our travellers or Tourists, my reader I trust will not be displeased, if I give him a short sketch 
 thereof in a note, as it occurred upon the place*. 
 
 113. HAVING settled my business with Mr. Roper; that the best Avay to get our stone 
 rough scappelled, nearly to the shape I required, would be to send rough moulds, ascertaining 
 the figure, Avith the thickness ot the course marked upon each mould, and each dimension to be 
 one inch bigger than the true size previous to being fair worked, we should not by this means 
 have much extra Weight; as only the medium of half an inch on a side would be to cut off, and 
 which would be sufficient to form the true figure; I then took leave of him and this curious 
 island : and though I had every reason to be satisfied both Avith the material and my correspond¬ 
 ent ; yet nevertheless in my passage from thence to London, I determined not to leave any thing 
 unseen that might contribute to my information ; and for that reason, to take a view of the state 
 of the quarries at Purbeck; from Avhence, for ages, London had been chiefly supplied with flat 
 paving stones, and steps. 
 
 
 ' I 
 
 When I was looking over the quarries at Portland, and attentively considering the operations; observing how soon the quarry- 
 men would cut half a ton of Spawlsfrom an unformed block, and what large pieces flew off at every stroke; how speedily their blows 
 followed one another, and how incessantly they pursued this labour, with a tool of from 18 to 20 pounds weight; I was naturally led 
 to view and consider the figure of the operative Agent; and after having observed that by far the greatest number of the quarrymen 
 were of a very robust, hardy form, in whose hands the tool I have mentioned seemed a mere Plaything; I at last broke out with sur¬ 
 prise, and enquired of my guide, Mr. Roper, where they could possibly pick up such a set of stout fellows to handle the Kevel, which 
 in their hands seemed nothing: for I observed that in the space of 15 minutes, they would knock off as much waste matter from a 
 mass of stone, as any of that occupation I had ever seen before would do in an hour.—Says Roper, we do not go to fetch those men 
 from a distance, they are all born upon the island, and many of them have never been further upon the main land than to Weymouth. 
 I told him, I thought the air of that island must be very propitious, to furnish a breed of men so particularly formed for the business 
 they followed.—The air, he replied, though very sharp, from our elevated situation, is certainly very healthy to working men; yet if 
 you knew how these men are produced, you would wonder the less; for all our marriages here are productive of children.—On de¬ 
 siring an explanation how this happened, he proceeded: “ Our people here, as they are bred to hard labour, are very early in a 
 condition to marry and provide for a family; they intermarry with one another, very rarely going to the main land to seek a wife; and 
 it has been the custom of the island from time immemorial, that they never marry till the woman is pregnant.” But pray, says I, 
 does not this subject you to a great number of bastards? Have not your Portlanders the same kind of fickleness in their attachments, 
 that Englishmen are subject to ? And in consequence, does not this produce many inconveniences ? None at all, replied Roper, “ for 
 previous to my arrival here, there was but one child, on record of the parish register, that had been born a bastard in the compass of 
 150 years. The mode of courtship here is, that a young woman never admits of the serious addresses of a young man, but on sup¬ 
 position of a thorough probation.—When she becomes with child, she tells her mother; the mother tells her father; her father tells 
 his father, and he tells his son, that it is then proper time to be married.”—But suppose, Mr. Roper, she does not prove to be with 
 child, what happens then ? do they live together without marriage ? or, if they separate, is not this such an imputation upon her, as 
 to prevent her getting another suitor? The case is thus managed, answered my friend: “ If the woman does not prove with child 
 after a competent time of courtship, they conclude they are not destined by Providence for each other; they therefore separate; and 
 as it is an established maxim, which the Portland women observe with great strictness, never to admit of a plurality of lovers at one 
 time, their honour is no ways tarnished : she just as soon (after the affair is declared to be broke off) gets another suitor, as if she had 
 been left a widow, or that nothing had ever happened, but that she had remained an immaculate virgin.”—But pray, Sir, did nothing 
 particular happen upon your men coming down from London ? Yes, says he, our men were much struck and mightily pleased with 
 the facility of the Portland ladies, and it was not long before several of the women proved with child : but the men being called upon 
 to marry them, this part of the lesson they were uninstructed in ; and on their refusal, the Portland women arose to stone them out of 
 the island ; insomuch that those few who did not chuse to take their sweethearts for better, or for worse, after so fair a trial, were in 
 reality obliged to decamp: and on this occasion some few bastards were born: but since then matters have gone on according to the 
 ancient custom. 
 
66 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 CHAP. 111. 
 
 114. HAVING made my entry into the Peninsula, or, as it is generally called, the Isle of 
 Purbeck, by the ruins of Corf Castle ; and observing that a considerable part of the out-wall was 
 in a remarkably leaning condition, something like the representation of the leaning tower of Pisa ; 
 I stopped to examine the masonry, and particularly the mortar, of a building that was capable 
 of so great a degree of inclination without falling to pieces.— t found its solidity, as usual in an¬ 
 cient buildings, did not consist in having been built with large hewn stones throughout, for the 
 interior filling of the walls was with rough Rubble, and fragments of the quarries ; the interstices 
 being entirely filled up with mortar, that undoubtedly had originally been fluid, and in that state 
 poured in: and from the nature of the component matter, as well as time, the whole mass had 
 become strongly cemented together. I found that the mortar was composed of lime (doubtless 
 originally of a good quality) with a considerable admixture of sharp sand and Pebbles. 
 
 115. ON going to Sandwich, or, as commonly called, Swanage, the principal town of the 
 quarrvmen, and having procured a guide, I first went to view the quarries where the flat paving 
 and steps were wrought. The Strata here are thin, some only of three inches, and seldom any 
 single layer above twelve inches; the whole of several contiguous beds, taken together, being at 
 that time, not much above a yard and an half in thickness. Having a good deal of cover of earth, 
 &c. upon them, they were then chiefly wrought underground ; and the whole of the merchant¬ 
 able stone being taken out, the incumbent matter was supported by building rough pillars with 
 stone of an inferior quality. 
 
 From observing the nature of the thicker layers of this stone, I was at first led to imagine that 
 this was the place from whence that peculiar kind of marble had been .obtained, of which those 
 long, slender, polished columns are formed, that are to be met with in most of the old cathedrals, 
 even at a great distance from Purbeck ; and which at those distant places are often taken for an 
 artificial composition*.— l was shewn a district of ground where flat paving stone had been for¬ 
 merly wrought in Strata near the surface; so that it was then easily come at, and in great plenty; 
 but the continual demand for the London Market, had in a great degree exhausted the quarries 
 so circumstanced, and reduced the product chiefly to what they got underground in the manner 
 I saw ; so that the flat paving had already very considerably advanced in price, and was likely to 
 ad vauce still much higher j\ 
 
 116. FROM hence I was carried to see the quarries where a species of stone was got in 
 blocks, much of the nature and colour of Portland, which is called Purbeck-Portland.—These 
 quarries are situated at, or near the point of high land, about three miles from Swanage, called 
 St. Alban’s Head. The strata of merchantable stone lie here in the upper part of the cliffs, as 
 they do at Portland ; but having more cover, they are in some measure worked underground. 
 Th is stone is of the like nature, and puts on so much the appearance of the Portland, that it is 
 often used in lieu of it. It is however inferior in colour, harder to work, and according to the 
 information I then got, not in general near so durable^. But what seemed to me likely for ever 
 to prohibit this field of stone from coming into competition with Portland, is; that as it cannot 
 bear the expence of land-carriage down to Swanage to be shipped, the workmen are obliged to 
 let it down with ropes from the place where it is wrought, to the surface of the sea, either into 
 vessels lying at the foot of the cliffs w here there is deep water, or where there is a dry Strand at 
 low water; but there being little shelter from the winds and seas, this can only be done in very 
 
 * That great naturalist Dr. Woodward, is however, it seems, of opinion, that those slender columns extant in many of our 
 cathedrals, are dug from the quarries of the same kind of stone at Petworth in Sussex. 
 
 t About the year 1764 the Calder Navigation in Yorkshire, having been opened, this gave water carriage to London of the im¬ 
 mense beds of flat paving (there called flags) from the quarries of Elland Edge and Cromwell Bottom; by which means the schemes 
 for new paving the cities of London and Westminster were carried into effectual execution. This is not a marble or calcareous stone, 
 like the Purbeck, but is of the grit kind; yet of so close and fine a grain, as to be equally strong and durable, and, like moorstone, 
 much less slippery to the shoes when wet. I mean the kind really produced at the above quarries; for there is stone from other 
 places, of the same appearance, furnished to the public under the same denomination, which is much inferior in hardness and 
 
 X The stone properly called Purbeck ashler, is of the same nature as the flat paving and steps, and sufficiently durable for all pur¬ 
 poses; but a great part of those Strata are under twelve inches; yet some of them run to 18 and 20 inches thick, as 1 am ow informed. 
 
RETURN FROM PLYMOUTH. C 7 
 
 moderate weather, and particular winds; wherefore the shipping it there, must necessarily be 
 somewhat precarious. For these reasons, though for the interior works of the Edystone the qua¬ 
 lity seemed not objectionable, and the stone could be afforded at somewhat less price than Port¬ 
 land ; yet from the uncertainty of shipping, being somewhat further from Plymouth, and few 
 hands, comparatively speaking, being employed here, to what were employed in the quarries of 
 Portland , it seemed a place much less capable of expediting my orders'; and therefore, that 
 Portland was to be preferred : expedition in getting the work forward being of so much greater 
 consequence to what I had in view, than any small difference in the price. 
 
 Immediately on leaving the isle of Purbeck, I pursued my journey to London, where I ar¬ 
 rived on Friday the 21 st of May; having taken no more than five days in performing the whole, 
 including all observations; and nothing further occurred in it which I think worthy the obser- 
 vation of my reader. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 CONTAINING TRANSACTIONS IN LONDON AFTER MY FIRST JOURNEY TO 
 
 PLYMOUTH. 
 
 117. Immediately on my return to London, I attended the Proprietors at a general 
 meeting, and laid before them a full account of all my proceedings, and the information 1 had 
 got 111 my late progress; together with my observations and thoughts relative thereto, which I 
 have already particularised in the course of my narrative. The great and leading point now to 
 he determined was, whether the house should be rebuilt entirely with stone, or entirely with 
 timber; or partly with one, and partly with the other.—One principal matter to be considered, 
 was that of Time, upon which subject I was fully examined ; and assured the gentlemen, as my 
 mature opinion, that if the building was to he entirely of stone, there appeared to me every de¬ 
 gree of probability of my being able, not only to complete it in the like space of time, that the 
 former Lighthouses had taken, which was four seasons ; but, if required, to exhibit a light upon 
 the building itself in the course of the third.—That upon the same reasonable grounds, it seemed 
 to be equally practicable to raise a building with a stone base, and a superstructure of wood, in 
 three seasons, and to build one of wood in the style and manner of Mr. Rudyird (with some 
 improvements) in two seasons.—On being examined respecting expence, I observed to the Pro¬ 
 prietors, that to make an estimate of a building in each of those ways, was no difficult matter; so 
 far as related to a certain given quantity of materials and the workmanship; but that, as in the 
 progress of the work we should lie so widely open to accidents, I could not undertake to make any 
 calculation of this part, which might not possibly be exceeded tenfold; and consequently could 
 not make any estimate of what tile whole expence of any structure might amount to, in such a 
 situation as the Edystone. The whole therefore that I was enabled to say with any propriety 
 was, that they being under tile necessity of building the house in one of the three ways; which¬ 
 ever they chose, it should be my most earnest endeavour, not only to perform tile work in the most 
 substantial manner, but at the least possible expence, consistent with the necessary degree of firm¬ 
 ness to give a reasonable expectation of durability. 
 
 118. I MUST here observe to the honour of tile Gentlemen concerned, that without debate, 
 it was almost immediately determined to rebuild the house entirely with stone, and in the very 
 
 • It should seem from the printed nocount of the loss of the Halsewell Indi.uon in the month of January 1786 , which happened 
 in the neighbourhood of these quarries; that the assistance of ropes, Sic. given to that very unfortunate crew, would indicate a gieater 
 number of quarrymen than would be inferred from the above account of mine, but it must he observed, that I am speaking of things 
 as they appeared to me above 30 years ago. 
 

 
 68 BOOK II. CHAP. IV. 
 
 best manner._The particular reason that induced the Proprietors to prefer that method, which 
 
 undoubtedly would be the most expensive to them, rather than either of those which would be 
 less so; as well as attended with less loss of time, it is impossible for me to pass over in silence. 
 
 _It seemed very imprudent indeed, as far as their own interest only was concerned, that they 
 
 should think, in the situation they then were, of launching out into any expences beyond what 
 was absolutely necessary.—The building which had been lately destroyed, had, as already ob¬ 
 served, stood near half a century, and had it not been destroyed by Fire, might, with proper at¬ 
 tention, have existed much longer. A building therefore upon a similar construction, would most 
 probably last for an equal length of time; or at least as long as their present interest in the 
 duties was to continue, and this would have been sooner executed, and have cost much less than 
 one entirely of stone.—The Proprietors had also, with an equal spirit of generosity, excluded 
 themselves from the reception of all profits, by voluntarily stopping the payment of the duties, 
 till a light could be exhibited, as has been already taken notice of.—The Gentlemen were, in¬ 
 deed, sufficiently sensible, that in all probability, the repairs of a stone building would be less 
 frequent than those of a wooden one ; but yet, when necessary, might be much more chargeable, 
 and even supposing they were not so, yet as a stone building would be much more expensive, as 
 well as hazardous in erecting, than any other, they would incur a present certain charge, to pre¬ 
 vent a future uncertain one ; so that it could not seem prudent, with respect to their own interest, 
 to lay out 3 or 4000/. now, with the expectation of saving the like sum in repairs 30 or 40 years 
 afterwards. This therefore was not the sort of consideration that determined the Proprietors to 
 erect a stone building; but their resolution was in reality founded on motives wherein self-in¬ 
 terest did not bear any share. They conscientiously considered the intention of the legislature, 
 in originally granting the duties, which they conceived were not given to the honourable cor¬ 
 poration of Trinity-House, and their Assigns, merely for their own emolument; but granted, 
 through that channel, as the recompence to those persons, who at a great pecuniary risque (besides 
 encountering other hazards) would procure such a degree of security, as might be the means of 
 saving from destruction, on this very dangerous rock, not only his Majesty’s fleets, but of pre¬ 
 serving the lives and properties of his trading subjects; and at the same time afford the like pre¬ 
 servation to the shipping of foreigners. This they considered as the sole intention of the legis¬ 
 lature, and that there might be no deficiency on their parts, in advancing so noble, so beneficial, 
 and so humane a design, they determined that this preservative of trade and navigation, should 
 be rendered as durable as Nature and Art could furnish means for doing.—Nor was their public 
 spirit confined to this object alone ; for they had launched out into another hazardous and charge¬ 
 able experiment, to supply the want of so useful an edifice, during the time that should be taken 
 up in building a new house, and preparing it for the exhibition of a light; and that was, by fit¬ 
 ting out a vessel for a floating Light: and though this was only considered as a temporary expe¬ 
 dient, yet from the nature of the service and situation in which it was to be employed, it was re¬ 
 quisite to make the experiment as valid and sufficient, as if its existence was intended to be of 
 long continuance; and therefore of itself was a serious concern. This was actually going on at 
 the very time of a new building’s being determined upon as above; and had been a considerable 
 time before, fitting out under the advice and direction of a committee, or of select members of 
 the Trinity-House : though till the 12th of May then last past, when the Merchants begun a 
 subscription, agreeing to pay the usual duties, the Proprietors were uncertain, whether there 
 would be a foundation, upon which they might be reimbursed a single shilling.—Even by the 
 prospect which this subscription opened, the Proprietors could not reasonably expect to receive 
 any great advantage by this undertaking; when the nature and hazard of it, as well as certain 
 charge of the Out-fit was duly taken into consideration : and with regard to the Lighthouse itself, 
 the very utmost benefit, that there was any probability might accrue to them, would greatly fall 
 short of reimbursing the difference of expence aud time, between erecting a building like the 
 former, and one entirely of stone. 
 
 119. SUCH were the prospects of those Gentlemen, and such were their determinations at 
 this time : in recording which, I have strictly adhered to matter of fact. Was my pen capable of 
 it, the Thesis would admit of great embellishment; however it luckily happens for me, that it 
 
TRANSACTIONS IN LONDON. 
 
 docs not need it: but the pen being in my hand, even after this long lapse of time: after all ac¬ 
 counts closed: all expectancies ended; and I may say, after all connection and almost all acquaint¬ 
 ance dissolved; it would yet be a violence to myself, to refrain from doing the Proprietors justice 
 so far as I have touched upon this head ; by informing the world (that part of it especially which is 
 most nearly interested in navigation and commerce) to whom, and to what principles they owe 
 the present structure of the Edystone Lighthouse. 
 
 now re¬ 
 nter one. 
 
 120. THE materials of which the main body of this house was to be rebuilt being 
 solved upon ; as well as that its outward form should as nearly resemble that of ihe for 
 as I should find consistent with the different nature of the chief material, and the improvements 
 that oflered themselves; to prevent any unnecessary delay in making Estimates, &c. the Gentle¬ 
 men were pleased to content themselves with such general ideas of expence and time as my ob¬ 
 servations enabled me verbally to make : I was therefore desired without loss of time, to apply 
 myself to making and providing such models and designs, as should enable me fully to explain 
 my proposition to themselves, and afterwards to such other bodies, as they should think it right 
 to consult: at the same time informing me, that though they were sensible that the season was 
 near approaching in which something might be expected to be done upon the rock ; yet they had 
 such confidence in my judgment, that being now myself apprized of what was to be done, they 
 left both the Time and the Means of its accomplishment to me. 
 
 121. ON this occasion I found myself totally unfettered ; and perhaps no resolution of the 
 Proprietors ever more conduced to the ultimate success of the work, than this, which set me so 
 much at liberty. Had they been of the same temper and disposition of by far the greatest part 
 of those who have employed me, both before and since, their language would have been. Get on, 
 get 071 , for Gods sake, get on! the public is in expectation, get us something speedily to shew, by 
 which we may gain credit with the public! This, however, was not their tone, which I looked 
 upon as a happy earnest from the Proprietors in the outset. 
 
 I considered, that though we should have a great increase of tonnage of materials to carry oul 
 and fix, beyond what former undertakers had had, yet that the whole hulk and weight, even as 
 the building was now to he executed, would in reality he no very great matter; and that, in the 
 present circumstance, the main object was to digest such a scheme as should go progressively on 
 as opportunity admitted, without being subject to great derangements, or having the same thing 
 to do twice over, on account of mistake or failure of the parts. It was with this general idea of 
 the matter, that I took so much pains, and spent so much time, in getting accurate dimensions of 
 the peculiarities of the rock, as I have already related ; and this part of the work having taken a 
 greater length of time than I expected; which arose from finding the rock more difficult of 
 access; and, from its irregularity, requiring a greater variety of dimensions than I had ima¬ 
 gined; yet as I had by perseverance fully accomplished my wish in this respect; the labour so 
 11 ployed would have been of less value, unless made use of to its proper intention; which was, 
 that of having an accurate resemblance of the rock at all Times to recur to; in order that, the 
 effect of any operation might, without going upon the rock itself, he judged of, so far as it de¬ 
 pended upon the peculiarity of its form.—I further considered, that though I was now upon the 
 verge of tile proper season for action; yet as we could not expect to carry out any materials, or 
 do any thing more this year, than cut the Rock to such a figure as should suit the building; and 
 as this figure could not be ascertained, without fully considering and determining the form and 
 dimensions of the building itself, so as to shew the manner in which it was to apply to the rock ; 
 
 I could readily see that the time which would be spent in such a mature digestion, would be 
 much more than saved by avoiding unnecessary and improper work, upon a body of so hard a 
 texture as that we had to deal with.—Had it been practicable to have cut the rock down to the 
 level of the lowest part of the intended base of the building, little previous contrivance or con¬ 
 sideration, would have been wanted for the purpose : hut besides that this would have been i 
 than the work of a full season ; the space which had been previously occupied by the rock so cut 
 down must have been made good by fresh Matter; and that could never be expected to be so per¬ 
 fectly firm and solid, as the unshaken parts of the rock itself: and besides, we should then have 
 
BOOK IT. CHAP. IV. 
 
 70 
 
 lost the rock as a Holdfast, and Buttress against the great South-west seas; which, so high as it 
 reached, was of the most effectual kind possible. 
 
 It; seeming therefore to be a first principle, to cut the rock as little as we could help ; and for 
 ibis end, to humour its irregularities as far as we could, so as to get a firm fixing for our work ; 
 on this account it appeared necessary, as the first step to he taken (from the dimensions already 
 obtained, and by the methods already specified) to construct a complete Model of the rock, in the 
 condition I found il: which being done, a second model might then he formed, shewing to what 
 the rock was to be reduced, with the manner of applying the work of the building thereto ; and 
 so as to describe the external general form, which would be the whole of what was then wanted, 
 for present determination ; and for adjusting the work of the approaching season. These models 
 I determined should be the work of my own hands; and this I foresaw, must in its own nature 
 be a work of Time. 
 
 1-2-2. THOSE of my readers, who are not in the practice of handling mechanical tools them¬ 
 selves, but are under the necessity of applying to the manual operations of others, will undoubt¬ 
 edly conclude, that I might have saved much time, by employing the hands of others in this mat¬ 
 ter : and on the idea of the design being already fixed, and fully and accurately, as well as dis¬ 
 tinctly made out ; that is, supposing the thing done, that was wanted to be done, it certainly 
 would have been so: and had I wanted a duplicate of any part, or of the whole, when done, I 
 should certainly have had recourse to the hands of others. But such of my readers, as are in the 
 use of handling tools, for the purpose of contrivance and invention, will clearly see, that provided 
 I could work with as much facility and dispatch as those I might happen to meet with and em¬ 
 ploy, I should save all the time and difficulty, and often the vexation, mistakes and disappoint¬ 
 ments that arise from a communication of one’s own ideas to others; and that when steps of in¬ 
 vention are to follow one another in succession, and dependance on what preceded, under such 
 circumstances, it is not eligible to make use of the hands of others. 
 
 I had also a further reason for undertaking this part of the work myself; which those who 
 shall peruse this account for the sake of information, may not be displeased to know.—I have 
 always found in subjects of mechanical invention and investigation, that 1 can seldom form an 
 original idea so complete, but that by laying it down in its proper dimensions on paper, I could 
 very much mature and improve it; and where the subject is attended with intricacy, it is in a 
 greater degree necessary: but in reducing this to a solid, as is the case in making a model, still 
 further corrections and advantages will often present themselves, that did not appear upon Paper: 
 and this in a much more eminent degree when the solid is produced from the drawing by the 
 artist’s own hand, than by the hand of another: and still further improvements will occur, by 
 going again over the detail, in constructing the work itself at large. Therefore to avail myself 
 of all possible advantages of previous light and information, 1 determined, from the paper ma¬ 
 terials that I had brought from Plymouth ; as well as those I carried thither; at once to construct 
 the models above-mentioned myself; in which work, though I was closely engaged till the month 
 of July; there was no impatience on the part of the Proprietors; as Mr. Weston visited me 
 almost daily, and was himself witness of the progress.—It may here be proper to say, that though 
 I thought it necessary to employ my own hands upon the models, yet I availed myself of those 
 of others, wherever I found them applicable : for having considered that I could not avoid having 
 occasion for at least one great Purchase-Tackle; I therefore gave out a design to a proper work¬ 
 man, to execute a pair of tackle-blocks, in the style and manner of those I had published the use 
 and figure of in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. 47, for the years 1752 and 1753; only that 
 instead of iron or metal plates for forming compartments for the Sheaves or pullies, these were 
 constructed with boards for the sake of lightness, and avoiding corrosion by the salt-water. Plate 
 No. 18. contains the design of these blocks*. 
 
 123. IN this interval, however, I took a day with the above-mentioned Gentleman to visit 
 
 * By afterwards employing the late Mr. Dcnstervjlle, an ingenious blockmaker at Plymouth, upon works of the like nature; 
 a species of new manufacture of ship’s blocks has arisen, now, and for a number of years past carried on by the present Mr. Dunster- 
 vii-le at Plymouth, and Mr. Taylor at Southampton.—The term Purchase Tackle has of late years been applied to this kind of blocks. 
 
TRANSACTIONS IN LONDON. 71 
 
 the vessel then fitting out in the river, for the purpose of the floating Light; and to do tins, be¬ 
 sides the natural impulse of curiosity, I was desirous of seeing how far its equipment might suit 
 the purposes of a Store-Vessel for our building service.—This vessel was called the Neptune 
 Buss, having been purchased for this service from a great number of busses, that had been fitted 
 out for the Herring Fishery, as a National Concern ; which project having then failed, the vessels 
 were sold. The Neptune was picked out as being remarkably well found and roomy, and her 
 burthen, as I recollect, when thus fitted, was about 80 tons.—For this intended service, she had 
 been heightened four Streakes ; her deck raised, and laid flush fore and aft; so that if a sea was 
 to break upon her, there would be no lodgment for the water; nor any where for it to enter the 
 vessel, if the hatchways were shut; and Lhose were not spacious: and furthermore in case this 
 vessel was to touch upon the rocks, she would not sink, unless broken to pieces; being so far 
 ballasted and loaded with fir timber, that though there should happen to be free admission of the 
 water through the bottom, she still would be Buoyant, even with her necessary stores on board. 
 This I thought an admirable contrivance for safety in such a service ; and though the timber took 
 up a good deal of room, yet in so large a vessel, there seemed to me a probability of there being 
 room enough, both for tie lightkeepers, and such of the Edystone workmen as must in their 
 weekly rotations necessarily remain there. I also found her fitted out with an excellent Wind¬ 
 lass, and was told, that large mooring chains were preparing : and in every respect, as far as my 
 judgment could carry me, she was exceedingly well calculated for the service intended, and 
 likely to do credit to thq.Gentlemen who had taken the direction of her works*. 
 
 On this occasion I observed to my worthy employer, Mr. Weston, that it was probable the 
 fitting out of this Buss, would be a saving of at least 4 or 500/. in the equipment of a store- 
 vessel, as I had formerly hinted, in case the corporation of Trinity-House should think proper 
 to order the Neptune to be moored within a moderate distance from the rocks, any where to the 
 N. or N. Westward of them; and as this might serve both the purposes, it would greatly relieve 
 the heavy expence they were likely to be at, not only in the floating light, but the stone build- 
 * n 8 i-—1° answered, that as the primary intention of a floating Light, was the preservation 
 
 of trade and navigation only; and as the corporation of Trinity-House, most of whom were 
 bred to the sea, had all along given their advice and assistance in the fitting out of this vessel; so 
 it was presumed they were the proper judges, where it ought to be moored to answer the end 
 best; and that for his part in particular, though he had presumed to suggest a hint to their more 
 mature consideration, yet he by no means wished to bias their judgments, from an attention to 
 the public welfare, by any reasons which might appear to be blended with a principle of self- 
 interest.—However, though thus fully answered, as I was sure it would be no very material im¬ 
 pediment to the works, I was determined not to be precipitate in purchasing, or agreeing for a 
 proper store-vessel, till I should know for a certainty, where the floating light was intended to be 
 moored ; and by that means give the Proprietors a chance of saving 500/. which I judged mi°-ht 
 be about the sum which a store-vessel fitted separately for our use would cost.—Upon the 8 th of 
 July I was informed that the buss with all her men, tackle, and furniture, sailed down llie river 
 for Plymouth, but the account of her arrival there (which was on the 17th of the same month) 
 was not returned, while I staid in town. 
 
 124. MY models and preparatory matters were now so far brought forward, that Tuesday 
 the 13th of July was appointed by the Proprietors for receiving my explanation of what I had 
 to lay before them. I accordingly attended, and submitted to their inspection a complete model 
 of the house-rock, in the state in which I had found it; and representing all the iron branches 
 broken and whole, of which model, Plate No. 7 . contains a reduced plan and elevation : and this 
 was accompanied with another model of the same rock, cut to the intended shape for receiving 
 the building; and therewith connected, a model of the building itself; shewing distinctly how 
 the work was to be adapted to each separate step in the ascent of the rock, as high as I proposed 
 to continue it; and particularly exhibiting the construction of the first entire course, after rising 
 
 * Those descriptions and anecdotes concerning the Neptune Buss, I should have entirely omitted, as being themselves of little con¬ 
 sequence now; had it not happened to me afterwards, to have even more connexion with her than I then expected ; and as this will 
 save so much explanation and description hereafter, I therefore give this part of it in the order of time. 
 
BOOK II. CHAP. IV. 
 
 72 
 
 lo the level of the upper surface of the rock ; to which a solid being fitted, this model shewed the 
 external form of the whole building, including the lantern; and by a complete section of this 
 on paper, to the same scale, the rooms and conveniencies on the inside were fully expressed : and 
 I must beg leave on this occasion to observe, that it was by now working in the solid, in forming 
 the model for the building, I perceived that for the security of the ground joint, which would 
 be subject to a superior action of the sea, to any other (as lying in the internal angle) it would 
 be necessary, not only that the bed of every stone should have a level bearing; but that every 
 outside piece should be grafted into the rock, so as to be guarded by a border thereof, at least 
 three inches in height before it; which would in reality be equivalent to the founding of the 
 building in a socket of three inches deep in the shallowest part. 
 
 125. THE whole having been now fully considered by the Proprietors, the greatest part of 
 whom attended this meeting; they were pleased after a full explanation and discussion to declare 
 unanimously, their entire approbation of, and satisfaction in the whole of my proposition ; and 
 therefore desired me to shew my models and draughts, and explain my scheme to the lords com¬ 
 missioners of the Admiral'tv, and to the corporation of the Trinity House : and one of the 
 Proprietors undertook to give intelligence of this to the Admiralty and Trinity House respectively, 
 which he did the next morning; also intimating, that I was then ready to depart for Plymouth, 
 and proposed to do so in a few days; and would Avait upon them with my models, &c. when they 
 chose to appoint: and the Proprietors having adjourned their meeting to Saturday the 17th, they 
 concluded that in this time those exhibitions would be over, and the sentiments of those respec¬ 
 tive bodies known. 
 
 The gentleman immediately received an answer in writing from the Admiralty, that their 
 Lordships would be glad to see the models at two o’clock the next day; at which time I accord¬ 
 ingly waited on them, accompanied by one of the Proprietors; and must own I was not a little 
 flattered by the thorough approbation their Lordships were pleased to express of my scheme*. 
 
 Saturday came without any other thing intervening, except my own preparations for my 
 journey. I met the Proprietors at the time appointed ; but as nothing had then been received 
 from the Trinity House, and the season was so far advanced, that all delays were dangerous, in 
 a case where winds and tides were concerned, and the present season in hazard of being in some 
 measure lost; therefore as the Proprietors could not answer it to the public, nor to the corpo¬ 
 ration of Trinity House, if they kept me in waiting; it Avas determined that I should set forAvard 
 early on the Monday morning following. 
 
 126. DURING the Avhole of my stay in London, I had kept a constant and regular corre¬ 
 spondence with Mr. Jessop, concerning the forwarding of such preparatory matters as I should 
 stand in need of on my return to Plymouth ; so that, in that respect, no time Avas lost.—During 
 this interval, the Proprietors had also appointed a clerk to assist me in all matters of account and 
 correspondence, and in whatever other business I should think proper to employ him. They 
 then proceeded to give me their ultimate instructions, which in one sense might be said to be as 
 particular, as in another they Avere general; and were nearly to the following eflect.—To com¬ 
 mence and carry on the Avorks Avith all possible dispatch.—To employ what persons, and Avhat 
 number of men I should think fit.—To retain, dismiss, or reward them at such times, and on such 
 occasions as I should judge right or convenient.—To agree or contract on their behalf, with any 
 person or persons on any account Avhatever, relative to the rebuilding of the Edystone Light¬ 
 house.—To direct the whole business and all persons I employed, and to exercise my discretion 
 in the largest extent.—And, in short, that I was to command without controul except from 
 themselves. 
 
 How much soever I was flattered by the thorough trust and confidence that those gentlemen 
 noAV appeared to have reposed in me ; yet 1 Avas not less pleased at their delegating one of the 
 Proprietors to act for them in the business of holding a correspondence with me, and managing 
 
 • Lord Anson was then at the head of thet Board, who together with Sir William Rowley were members of the corporation of 
 Trinity House. 
 
TRANSACTIONS IN LONDON. 
 
 and directing all such matters as I should have occasion at any time to resort to them for, of wliat 
 nature soever: and this judicious measure certainly tended to the speedy advancement of the works; 
 for in many instances while this work was carrying on, had I unfortunately been under the ne¬ 
 cessity of waiting for a resolution till the individual opinions of all, or a majority of the Pro¬ 
 prietors had been taken, much time would have been lost, and possibly seasons; for whatever 
 w isdom there may be in numbers, yet. it is a trite and just remark, that they are generally tardy 
 in their resolutions; and delays ought always to be avoided, when it is possible, in matters the 
 execution of which depends on Tides, Seas, and Winds : different judgments and different ideas 
 there must naturally be expected to be among many; but, in such a case, to enter into a debate, 
 as to the propriety of taking any step, perhaps absolutely necessary, and possibly at the very time 
 when that step should be taken, could have no other tendency except to delay and to increase 
 the expence; from the fatal consequences of such circumstances, I was however happily relieved 
 by the resolution of the Proprietors above-mentioned. 
 
 127* I AFTERWARDS understood that a verbal message was delivered by the secretary 
 of the T rinity House, appointing the Wednesday following for my waiting upon them w ith 
 the models, &c. but as this would necessarily have created a further delay of some days, the re¬ 
 mainder of the season now growing precarious, the Proprietors did not think it proper to coun¬ 
 termand my departure; I therefore set out. according to appointment, very early 011 Monday 
 morning the 19th of July for Plymouth ; but not without greatly regretting the not having had 
 the opportunity, as well as the advantage, of exhibiting my designs to the Elder Brethren of Tri¬ 
 nity House: whose approbation as professional men, I was sensible would have greatly con¬ 
 tributed to dispel the surmises, and that kind of distrust which must ever hang upon the minds 
 of those who feel their own judgment incompetent; and who yet think themselves called upon 
 to decide on so material a subject as I now had before me, though without having had the oppor¬ 
 tunity of its being properly laid before them : those, byway of security to their own, generally 
 fall in with the popular opinion ; which was, that nothing but WOOD could possibly stand upon 
 the Edyslone. However I consoled myself with the expectation of having a future opportunity; 
 and that as the whole purport of the present remaining season, was nothing more than cutting 
 the rock to a shape that must in every event, render it more apt for the reception of any structure 
 whatever; I could not fear that any labour would be lost, by any difference in judgment that 
 could possibly happen afterwards. 
 
 128. THE models that were prepared and exhibited as above related still remain in my 
 hands, and Plate No. 7- is, as already mentioned, taken therefrom; for being professedly an 
 exact, representation of the rock, in the condition I first found it; this admits of no change : but 
 the other model and section, containing the design for the Lighthouse (which as I have before 
 hinted, was subject to some change in entering on the detail of the work at large) no longer re¬ 
 mains an exact model of what was executed : nor at the completion thereof, had I any perfect 
 design of it in that finished state ; but having taken memorandums of the alterations, 1 have been 
 enabled to make out a due representation of the work as it now stands: and as the original 
 models, &c. served very well for many years to explain the nature of the work that had been 
 done; the difference not being very considerable, in like manner the present representations of 
 the work as really executed, will equally explain, what was formerly exhibited ; first to the Pro¬ 
 prietors themselves, then to the lords of the Admiralty, and afterwards to the honourable board 
 of Trinity House ; who to my great satisfaction entirely approved thereof. 
 
 Plate No. 8. contains the elevation or present appearance ol the Lighthouse, as seen from 
 the south.—Plate No. 9. contains a section of the whole as seen from the same quarter.—Plate 
 No. 10. contains the plans of the rock as cut into dovetails, with all the courses up to the top of 
 the rock.—Plate No. 11. contains the plans of the first whole or ground course, and of all the 
 courses above it.—And Plate No. 12. is an enlarged plan and section of the lantern. 
 
 u 
 
[ 74 ] 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF PROCEEDINGS, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT 
 OF THE WORK UPON THE ROCK IN 1756, TO THE BEGINNING 
 OF THE SECOND SEASON IN JUNE 1757 . 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK DONE UPON THE EDYSTON E 
 FROM MY ARRIVAL AT PLYMOUTH IN JULY 1736, TO THE 
 TIME OF MOORING THE NEPTUNE BUSS. 
 
 129- I ARRIVED at Plymouth on Friday the 23d of July 1756, having been met by Mr. 
 Roper at Dorchester, with whom all necessary matters were settled; among which, the price of 
 the stone, the mode of admeasuremen t, the number of feet (16) per ton, and the method in which we 
 were to receive a regular supply, were not the least material. On my arrival, 1 found that Mr. 
 Jessop had completely fitted up, for present service, Hancock’s Sloop, which I had before made 
 use of as an attendant; also, the Edystone boat; and a large yawl with sails and oars ; and had 
 likewise got other things in forwardness that had been committed to his charge; and I imme¬ 
 diately entered another able seaman, which, with our former crew that I had left on half pay, 
 made the number six. 
 
 The Neptune Buss I found was arrived, and lay in Stonehouse creek ; but without any order 
 for the exhibition of a temporary light: on the contrary, I now understood, that some difficulties 
 had arisen between the Trinity Board, and their lessees of the Lighthouse*; and that in con- 
 secjuence of this, two of the members of that corporation were then in the country, preparing an¬ 
 other vessel for that purpose. It seemed therefore to me most likely, that the Neptune Buss, if 
 not applied as a floating light, would he destined to be a store-vessel for the service of rebuild¬ 
 ing the Lighthouse ; and this occasioned me still to suspend all orders for the preparation of chain 
 moorings, till I saw the event of this business : but that our immediate service might not be 
 hindered, I ordered the sloop’s cable to be very well wormed and served "h and a new one to be 
 prepared in addition, in the same manner.—The weather proved not suitable to go out. to sea 
 when l came, and I was informed, that the season had never been very favourable for our service 
 since my departure from Plymouth in May : however, Sunday the 26th appearing promising, 
 though there was but little wind, and being desirous to reconnoitre the place, as our ground 
 cables for the sloop could not yet be got ready, T determined to try what we could do in rowing 
 out in our new yawl, with the aid of such breezes as might happen : the sloop being ordered to 
 follow us as she could; that in case a fresh of wind should arise from the north, which would be 
 
 * Said to be owing to an Application of the Merchants of London to that Corporation, that they would take the proposed tem¬ 
 porary light under their own management and direction. 
 
 t The worming of a cable is to inlay ropes so as to fill up the spiral furrows between the Strands of the cable, and to bring the sur¬ 
 face upon a level; which not only strengthens the cable, but enables it better to endure friction against the ground: and the serving 
 of a cable is the wrapping it round with another rope whose coils are close to each other, like the bass string of a Violin ; and to render 
 this still more effectual, the cable is often first bound round with canvas, and then the service-rope wound tight upon it, which was 
 done in the present case. 
 
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. 
 
 very unfavourable to our return, she might then get out to sea, and bring us back, or make her 
 comse good to land us at Fowey, or some other convenient port.—We went out about eight in 
 the morning; and with four oars, without assistance from the wind, got to the Edystone. I 
 landed there, staid an hour, found every thing exactly as I had left it; and after making some 
 remarks relative to fixing the center of our proposed building, got back to Plymouth at four in the 
 a ternoon. In our return we met the sloop in the entrance of the Sound, she not having been 
 able to g-et any farther. ° 
 
 i el 'r , AFlER * ,la y lhe weather came on had and rainy, and continued so till Tuesday 
 He ,n o J ugust; which a good deal retarded our work in preparing the cables, See However 
 the interval was of so much length as to allow us to prepare every thing fully for the sea.—1 
 made use of this time also „i preparing and establishing our working companies upon the plan I 
 late already mentioned, § 1U1.—1 made choice of and agreed with Mr. Thomas Richardson, a 
 master mason ot Plymouth, of good reputation, to act as foreman to one of the companies; and 
 a so will illiam Hill, who had been some time foreman to another master mason of the same 
 place, to act as my other foreman. I likewise entered three masons and nine tinners *, as a com¬ 
 pany to go out with Mr. Richardson to take the first turn or week, commencing from Saturday 
 the 31sl ol July.—Mr. .lessor I appointed my general Assistant. The wages of the foremen, 
 while out at sea, were to be 5 s. per day certain ; and for every hour spent upon the rock, the 
 further premium of Is. But when employed in the work-yard, or otherwise oil shore, their 
 wages were to be 3s. 6d. per day. The wages of the masons were to be 2s. 6d. per day certain 
 at sea, with a premium of 9d. per hour; and the tinners 2s. per day certain at sea, and 8d. per 
 hour. In the work-yard or on shore, the masons were to have 20d. and the tinners 18d. per 
 day; and to be paid for over time, when required to work, at the rate of double the price per 
 hour, that, their day wages came to, as proposed in my original plan : and that the seamen might not 
 want inducement to do their utmost in landing the workmen at the Edystone as early as possible 
 at every opportunity, and supply them with what was necessary for keeping them at work ; over 
 and above their weekly wages, which were settled at 8s. per week, they were all to receive a 
 premium for every landing upon the rook ; the master seamen of 2s. 6d. and the ordinary of 2s. 
 to make their advantage equivalent to that of the other workmen, in whatever service the seamen 
 (who were constantly on duty) might be employed.—Mr. Jessop as general assistant was to 
 have 10s. 6d. per day at sea, and 5s. per day at land, as he had been used to be paid; and every 
 one was to supply himself with victuals. 
 
 Ill this interval I also agreed with Mr. Deeacombe for half an acre of ground for a work- 
 yard ; being part of a field lying on the west side of Mill Bay (as before described, see Plate 
 No. 1 / , Fig. 1 .) which he rented of Lord Edocumbe, and which by permission of his Lordship, 
 was to be applied to this use; and I marked out the yard and agreed for the fencing it with 
 boards "jt \\ ithin this time Mr. John Harrison, the person made choice of as clerk to the Edy¬ 
 stone works, arrived from London, with whom I digested a plan for the keeping our accounts 
 and correspondence, and for the distinct noting of so great a variety of articles us must neces¬ 
 sarily occur, we found it expedient to open no less than 14 different books. 
 
 131. MATTERS being thus put in a train on shore, and the weather having become more 
 promising, on Tuesday morning the 3d of August, Mr. Richardson and company embarked in 
 the sloop with her ground tackle on board ; attended by myself and Mr. Jessop, and also the 
 yawl properly manned : the wind was favourable at N. W. on setting forward, but presently 
 changing to W. and afterwards to S. W. our progress towards the rock was not so speedy as we 
 all earnestly wished. Having got within two miles of the Edystone, and the weather being mo- 
 
 * The Cornish miners, as the general produce from the mines in Cornwall for ages past has been tin, are commonly called tinners; 
 and at this time many of them came to Plymouth to work as labourers. 
 
 t Upon this scite the Baths and Long Room have since been erected, as also the Marine Barracks. 
 
 t The general term for cables, anchors, and all other ropes and furniture for mooring or anchoring of vessels. 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. I. 
 
 derate, I went into the yawl attended by Messrs. Jessop and Rich 
 oars landed on the rock at half past four, where having brought some tools 
 
 proceeded to fix the center, and to lay down l 
 
 i of the intei 
 
 and by the help of 
 ith us for that pur¬ 
 led work upon the sur¬ 
 
 face of the rock; and being followed by Mr. Ri 
 traces of those lines, so as to be proceeded upon 
 
 lie with sharp picks left indelible 
 the workmen whenever they should be able 
 to land. This work however could not be farther prosecuted for the present; for at six the sea 
 began to be so unquiet, as to make it advisable to quit the rock, and return to the sloop : and 
 before the sloop could gain a proper place for mooring, the sea became so rough, that it was 
 judged impracticable to moor her that evening, or even to lie safely at anchor; we therefore went 
 to Cawsand Bay in hopes of better weather the next morning. 
 
 Wednesday the 4th, the wind having continued to blow fresh all the preceding night, and 
 still more so at four in the morning, I returned with Messrs. Jessop and Richardson to Ply¬ 
 mouth in the yawl to expedite matters on shore, leaving the company on board the sloop.— 
 Still the uncertainty of weather seemed to pursue this undertaking; but comfort, arose from 
 the reflection that as there had been opportunities to former undertakers enabling them to fix 
 and complete their respective works, it was by no means to be doubted but that circumstances 
 would again occur either sooner or later, so as to allow us effectually to pursue the present inten¬ 
 tion ; and that, whenever we could get a vessel well moored near the rocks, many opportunities 
 would be found of landing and pursuing the work, which otherwise must be lost by our being- 
 obliged to proceed from the shore, as was in reality the case in the instance just given. 
 
 132. 
 
 THURSDAY the 5th, the wind being moderate at W. I went on board the yawl at 
 seven in the morning attended by Messrs. Jessop and Richardson, and on reaching the sloop 
 in Cawsand Bay we immediately weighed and sailed ; and arrived off the Edystone at two, when 
 we again proceeded towards mooring the sloop ; but before we got our moorings down, the wind 
 again came on so fresh, that we had only the choice of dropping them in a situation not quite eli¬ 
 gible, or experiencing a further delay: the former was chosen, as the less of two apparent evils; 
 and upon doing this we found ourselves too near the S. E. reef, in which situation, in case of a 
 hard gale at N. W. and any failure in the moorings, the vessel would be upon the rocks before her 
 sails could be got up and set: however, being free from present danger, and every one anxious 
 to make a beginning, as the tide now served, the whole company landed upon the rock, and im¬ 
 mediately began the work, which was pursued for about four hours, when the sea advancing upon 
 us, we quitted the first tide’s work at half past eight, with which we had reason to be satisfied. 
 The yawl was then dispatched home with the blunt picks, with orders to return immediately ; as 
 the sloop being left with only her small boat, the yawl’s service would be wanted the next tide, 
 if favourable to land the company : and to avoid delay, directions were given, that the Edystone 
 boat was to bring out the tools when sharpened. 
 
 Friday the 6th, the yawl being returned in due time, all hands landed before sun-rise and 
 worked that tide six hours : in the afternoon’s tide, the company landed again, and continued the 
 work, by the light of links, till ten at night. At seven in the evening the Edystone boat arrived 
 with the sharp tools, and was immediately sent back with the blunt ones : and this day I got 
 nearly the whole of the work laid out, as is particularly expressed in Plate No. 10. Fig. 1. which 
 shews the dovetail recesses, and two new steps which were formed beloAv all the former, accord¬ 
 ing as it was ultimately finished for the reception of the stone-work : only that (to save a figure) 
 the first course of stone is here expressed as laid; the doing of which was in reality the begin¬ 
 ning of the work of the next season : the whole object of the work of this season being to get the 
 surface of the rock converted from the shape and condition in which we found it, according to 
 Plate No. 8. Fig. 1. to. that of the figure just referred to : we also made good dispatch with the 
 cutting of the rock, considering the exceeding toughness as well as hardness of it. 
 
 133. IT might seem at first sight, that a greater dispatch would have been made by the use 
 of Gunpowder in blasting the rock, in the same manner as is usual in the mines, and in procuring 
 limestone from the marble rocks in the neighbourhood of Plymouth : but though this is a very 
 ready method of working hard and close rocks, in proportion to the dispatch that could be made 
 
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. 
 
 77 
 
 by picks and wedges; yet as a rock always yields to gunpowder in the weakest part, and it is 
 not always easy to know which part is weakest ; it might often have happened, if that method 
 had been pursued, that instead of forming a dovetail recess such as was required, the very points 
 of confinement would have been lost.—Besides, the great and sudden concussion of gunpowder 
 might possibly loosen some parts that it was more suitable to the general scheme should remain 
 fast. For these reasons I had previously determined to make no use of gunpowder for this 
 purpose. 
 
 134. SATURDAY the 7th, the company again worked six hours in the morning’s tide; but 
 this being the day established for the change of the company, they had been but half an hour at 
 work, when William Hill and his company arrived in the Edystone boat, with sharp tools, 
 and landed, taking up the tools that Richardson’s company had in hand. 
 
 Having now completed the lines upon the rock*, 1 returned with Richardson and company, 
 leaving Mr. Jessop to attend Hill and his company for the following week. Our establishment 
 respecting seamen was as follows: three of the seamen being left with the Rock or Out-company; 
 one of them constantly remained in the store sloop ; and the other two attended the workmen 
 with the yawl, lying along side the rock at the landing-place in the Gut, to carry any thing that 
 might be wanted to or from the sloop. The other three attended the Edystone boat, being now 
 a passage-boat from the sloop or rock to the shore; and though such a kind of boat was easily 
 managed by two men in ordinary, yet, as expedition was most necessary in the calmest weather, 
 we now allowed three, that two might row, and the other steer. 
 
 135. I SHALL in this place take the opportunity of observing, that fine settled weather in 
 these parts is almost constantly attended with Land and Sea Breezes : for about sun-set, or often 
 before, the wind begins to blow afresh breeze from the northerly points, which is from the land 
 towards the sea; and in one, two, or three hours after sun-rise, it changes to the opposite direc¬ 
 tion, and blows a fresh breeze from the southerly points, that is, from the sea towards the land: 
 and this circumstance proved in reality one of the greatest advantages towards helping forward 
 our work; as by this means, the Edystone boat was enabled to make one regular trip every 
 twenty-four hours; it being so contrived that she should depart in the evening, and return some 
 time in the forenoon of the next day, sooner or later as the wind and tides served. 
 
 136. HAVING given this specimen of the mode of our operations in good weather, it is un¬ 
 necessary to proceed with the account by way of journal, though I. am sufficiently enabled to do 
 it, having kept a regular one from the 23d of July, the da.y of my arrival at Plymouth to begin 
 the works, to the completion of the same : a copy whereof was made out and sent weekly to Mr. 
 Weston, for the information of himself and the rest of the Proprietors. I shall therefore now 
 only remark that from the first tide upon the rock, which was the 5th of August, the work was 
 incessantly pursued at the average rate of about five hours per tide, with very little interruption, 
 till Sunday the 15th, when the wind began to blow fresh at S. E. and shall content myself with 
 remarking such occurrences as were more particularly deserving of our notice during this interval. 
 
 137- THE very evening I sailed with Richardson, &c. for Plymouth, the seamen on board 
 the sloop discovered a difference in the riding of the vessel, and that in all probability one of the 
 anchors had dragged : and getting sufficient help from the other seamen and company, to heave 
 up the ground cable, they found, that not only the service and worming were cut, but the cable 
 itself was so greatly injured by the sharpness of the rocks, though it had been down not much 
 more than twenty-four hours, that had the weather been rough, it would scarcely have borne to 
 have been heaved up.—Had this not been discovered, as the wind in the night came on to blow 
 
 * Here may be observed the great utility of the time employed in getting dimensions, and forming accurate models of the rock, 
 and of the work immediately connected with it, before the operation was actually begun ; for had the contrivance been to make out, 
 while the workmen were upon the place, it is easy to judge of the loss of time, and number of mistakes and incongruities, that must 
 have attended it. 
 

 BOOK III. CHAP. 
 
 fresh from the X. W. the cable would in all probability have parted, and the vessel gone upon 
 the S. E. reef of rocks; the consequence of which might have been fatal to all on board. Mr. 
 Jessop, however, after getting the cable refitted in the best manner possible, determined with the 
 assistance of Hill's company, to weigh the anchors and shift the moorings, so that the sloop 
 might have the chance of riding in a more safe situation; that is, at about 100 fathoms to the 
 north of the Gut, where it was judged the rocks might be less sharp, as the soundings were to¬ 
 lerably regular; and where also, in case of breaking loose, a north-west wind would shoot the 
 sloop clear of the house reef. This in reality was every thing that could be expected under such 
 a circumstance : for as a north wind proceeding from the nearest land is productive of the least 
 swell, there would in the distance of 100 fathoms be a probability of hoisting a sail, and steering 
 the vessel clear of rocks, through some of the passages (see the Plan, No. 3) : yet after all, w ith¬ 
 out some risque to every individual, there was no prospect of re-erecting the Edystone Light¬ 
 house. This operation having been performed the same evening, there was little or no time lost 
 to the work upon the rock. 
 
 
 138. OX Friday the 13th, which was in the course of Hill’s company’s week, the vessel 
 fitted out as a floating Light by the Trinity-House, sailed from Plymouth ; and being got out 
 to the vicinity of her place of destination, exhibited a light the same evening. Saturday morn¬ 
 ing the 14th, being the day of Richardson’s company going out to change, 1 went with them at 
 seven, and arrived at the rock at twelve : when I found the seamen on board the sloop busily em¬ 
 ployed in piecing the ground cable, which this forenoon had again parted, having been cut by 
 a rock in the same manner it had been on that day se’nnight. As soon as the cable was refitted, 
 
 the i 
 
 oorings were rep 
 
 laced, and 
 
 at four P. M. I landed upon the rock with Messrs. Jessop, 
 Richardson, and Co, and staid an hour to examine the work that had been done ; Hill’s com¬ 
 pany having worked every tide in the preceding week, amounting to 641 hours : and having found 
 the work properly executed, I returned on board the Edystone boat with Messrs. Jessop, Hill, 
 and Co, and landed at Plymouth the same evening.—From this view of the work upon the rock, 
 I judged that nearly one-thircl of the whole was already dispatched.—The great wages that had 
 been made this last week by Hill’s company (amounting to above three guineas extra by the 
 foreman, as also by the workmen in proportion) had the good effect of producing so much spirit 
 in them, and that of emulation in Richardson s company to do the same, that we now looked on 
 the performance of the work of this season as quite within our power: provided, that we got a 
 vessel in due time with chain moorings, which could better contend with the rocks, and keep her 
 in her due situation : and as this day the.Corporation’s vessel completed her moorings, I judged 
 it would not be long before the Neptune Buss would be delivered to my use. This was the more 
 desirable, because the floating Light lying as we judged at the distance of two miles, in a direc¬ 
 tion W. by N. by the compass, the vessel could not in that situation be of any use to us in carry¬ 
 ing on the building, notwithstanding the Light might be in a very proper situation to give 
 timely notice to homeward bound vessels from foreign voyages, they being most likely to be out 
 iu their reckonings, in coming into the Channel in foggy weather.—This however occurred, re¬ 
 specting the position of the floating Light; that in case we should happen in our yawl to be 
 caught with a fresh of wind from the Easterly points, so as not to be able to reach our store vessel 
 from the rock, we might find a place of refuge in the floating Light. 
 
 139- ON Sunday the 15th, the wind was so fresh at S. E. as to put a stop to the work upon 
 the rock ; and in the course of the day the sea became so rough that at five P. M. Mr. Richard¬ 
 son, and the seamen on board, fearing some greater damage might happen to the ir moorings, 
 slipped their Bridle Cable*, having put a sufficient buoy upon it, and brought the sloop into 
 Cawsand Bay, where she lay till Monday at midnight; but the weather then mending, they got 
 back to their moorings on Tuesday morning at four, and soon after made a landing; but could 
 
 • When a vessel is moored by laying down a cable upo 
 the middle of the ground cable is called the Bridle Cable. 
 
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. 
 
 79 
 
 stay only half an hour.—This day I dispatched draughts to Mr. Roper, according to which the 
 Portland stone for the two first courses above the rock were to he rough scappelled * ; it being 
 agreed on my former interview with him at Dorchester, that in order to save time, draughts for 
 the present would be sufficient. 
 
 In the afternoon of the day (Tuesday) that Mr. Richardson and Co regained the moor¬ 
 ings, they were able only to work a couple of hours upon the rock, before they were glad to get 
 on board their vessel, and soon after they were obliged to quit their situation, and come again 
 into Cawsand Bay; where adverse weather caused them to remain till Thursday evening; when 
 it becoming more promising, that matters might be expedited as much as possible, I went on 
 board the sloop, and sailed with the company to the Edystone; but found the weather there too 
 violent to attempt any thing upon the rock, or even to lay hold of the moorings; we therefore 
 judged it prudent again to return to Cawsand Bay with the sloop on Friday morning. 
 
 Saturday morning the 21st, Hill’s company, who had been employed at Mill Bay during 
 the past week in clearing away the mud, and deepening the channel, went in the Edystone boat 
 to Cawsand Bay, and the companies at this time shifted there. In the afternoon Hill’s com¬ 
 pany attempted to go out to sea; but the wind proving too fresh at South, they were obliged to 
 put back. Sunday morning they again attempted it, got out to, and laid hold of the moorings, 
 and landed ; but after staying half an hour, were obliged to quit the rock ; and in the afternoon, 
 though the weather was fine, and apparently favourable at Plymouth, yet there was so much sea 
 at the Edystone as to prevent their attempting to land. That no time migh t however be lost, on 
 Monday noon Mr. Jessop went out in the Edystone boat; but the wind being contrary, after at¬ 
 tempting to beat out, he came to an anchor in Cawsand Bay in the evening; and in the night 
 the sloop returned to the same place, having found the ground cable cut a third time. 
 
 140. THE next day I received an order from the Proprietors to make use of the Neptune 
 Buss as a store vessel, for expediting the work of the house : I therefore determined to lose no 
 time in getting her out to proper moorings; and having inspected her along with Mr. Jessop, 
 and found room sufficient in her for the men, without unloading any part of the timber that was 
 in her for buoying her up in case of accident (as has been already mentioned § 123.) we de¬ 
 termined to moor her without alteration, except unshipping the tackle belonging to the lantern; 
 which, however, was preserved entire, so that it. could have readily been replaced, in case any 
 accident had made it necessary to apply this vessel to the purpose for which she was originally 
 intended. 
 
 On Friday the 27 th the wind came fair, and the weather moderate; so that Hill and Co 
 went out in the sloop from Cawsand Bay, and got to the Edystone; but the buoys being driven 
 away, they were not able to regain the moorings ; they therefore came to an anchor, which en¬ 
 abled them to work every tide while they staid ; though on account of the ground swell from the 
 S. W. they made but short tides. During this time the moorings were recovered by sweeping 
 for one of the anchors, and the sloop was once more established thereat.—It was not till Sunday 
 the 29th that the Buss was cleared of unnecessary stores, and fitted for the service of the build¬ 
 ing; but the weather not suiting to carry her out, Richardson and Co, who were to have gone 
 in her, went out in the Edystone boat. The wind being then moderate, and there being appa¬ 
 rently good weather for working upon the rock ; finding they made but little way towards it, as 
 the wind was right ahead, the whole company, eager to get upon the rock, took to the yawl which 
 attended them, and making a great exertion, rowed out, and landed about noon, and received 
 the tools from the hands of Hill and Co. 
 
 141. TUESDAY 31st. This morning the wind being favourable, the Buss was brought 
 out of Stonehouse Creek ; but all, that from circumstances we were able to do this tide, was to 
 warp her out to one of the Transport Buoys belonging to his Majesty in Hamoaze. In the mean 
 time, that no opportunity might be lost to the Out-company on the rock, sharp tools and other 
 necessaries were dispatched in the yawl, along with Mr. Jessop; who returned the same even¬ 
 ing, reporting all well; Richardson and Co being close at work.—Wednesday morning, 1st of 
 
 * A term for such work as could be done with the Kevel before described. See § 109. 
 
80 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 September, I went on Board the Buss with Messrs. Jessop, Hill and Co, and four of the seamen. 
 There was a fresh breeze, which not being quite in our favour, we proposed, by making a tack, 
 to get the buss fairly out into the Sound ; but in attempting to tack, we found our vessel would 
 not stay, and after endeavouring at it twice more, we were glad to let go an anchor to prevent 
 falling upon the rocks; and thus we lost this day, to our no small mortification : and this was the 
 first of a train of incidents that gave me a less favourable idea of our new vessel than I had pre¬ 
 conceived ; and in the end satisfied me, that however completely the Neptune Buss was fitted for 
 the service for which she was intended, yet she was not at all adapted to our particular service, 
 insomuch that I had every reason from the sequel to say, that she proved not only the greatest 
 clog and impediment we met with in the whole course of the work, but the real source of almost 
 every disastrous event that happened to ns : so that had the Proprietors disposed of her in any 
 way, rather than destined her to our use, the charge of a new vessel constructed upon the plan 
 proposed § 93, would have borne no proportion to the difficulties, disappointments and losses the 
 service in reality suffered from her. 
 
 Thursday Sept. 2d. This morning the wind being at N. E. and of course favourable for 
 carrying the Buss out of the Sound, at the proper time of tide we weighed, and sailed about nine 
 in the morning; but before we got out to sea the wind became Easterly, and as we got without 
 the Heads, it came to S. E. so that the wind was then nearly upon our beam, and consequently 
 still fair ; but as it was not very fresh, we made but little way; and our way.was still less, on ac¬ 
 count of our vessel being so heavy a sailer : we continued however moving through the water; 
 and as we had reason to suppose the work was going briskly forward upon the rock by Richard¬ 
 son and Co, delays of every other kind seemed within the bounds of patience. About five o’clock 
 in the afternoon, judging the Out-company would be in need of sharp tools, I went in the yawl with 
 one of the seamen and two of Hide’s men, got to the rock, landed, and had the pleasure to find 
 Richardson and Co at work, and proceeding properly. In the mean time the Buss came for¬ 
 ward, and at eight in the evening, when she was about 2-^- miles from the rock, the wind dying 
 away, and the tide being against her, she came to an anchor; and soon after I returned to the 
 Buss with the blunt tools, and dispatched them with Hill, and four of his men in the yawl to 
 Plymouth, with orders to return as soon as they were sharpened. 
 
 Friday the 3d, there being a fresh breeze at N. E. we got under way this morning at five; but 
 it soon becoming Easterly and gentle, it was nine o’clock before we got near the rock : we then 
 dropped anchor, the rock being E. S. E. distant about half a mile. Richardson’s company 
 leaving the rock soon after, I sent for some of them to assist in warping the Buss to a proper po¬ 
 sition for dropping one of the mooring anchors : and being at that time joined by the hands in 
 
 the yawl, who were now returned from Plymouth, we proceeded to the business of mooring; 
 
 which to us was a considerable operation : but to make it intelligible to the reader, it will be ne¬ 
 cessary to describe the nature of the ground-tackle our vessel was furnished with for this 
 purpose. 
 
 142. WE had two mooring chains of 40 fathoms in length each ; and the bolt-iron of their 
 links being about 1 ' inches diameter; every fathom of this chain weighed 1201b. so that each 
 chain amounted to the weight of 2 tons 2 ’ cwt. and consequently the two chains to 4 tons 5‘- cwt. 
 this, with the two mooring anchors of 12 cwt. each, made the weight of anchors and chains to¬ 
 gether 5 tons 9 7 cwt. and with the further addition of a large swivel, with shackles and bolts, the 
 weight of iron in this set of moorings might fairly be accounted six tons. The laying these 
 
 down properly seemed so formidable a business, that I was told by my friends at Plymouth, the 
 
 force of hands and purchases we had, would never be sufficient for the purpose ; but that I should 
 be under the necessity of getting it done by the Master Attendant, and proper people from the 
 King’s Yard, with their Mooring Barges, &c. and to this I was seriously advised. I had no 
 reason to doubt of the good will and best assistance of the Commissioner, whenever it was in rea¬ 
 lity wanted; but always wishing to be master of my own operations, and foreseeing how much 
 delay might arise from the carrying out the King’s Mooring Barges so far to sea, where they 
 could not live but in fine weather, I was desirous that the moorings might be put down from the 
 Buss herself; and being clear in the operation, and having the assistance of six able seamen, to- 
 
gether with that of tlie two companies of stout hands, and the advice and experience of Mr. 
 Jessop, I proceeded to the business without apprehension of difficulty. 
 
 According to the manifest intention of these moorings, the two 40 fathom chains were to he 
 joined together by one of the loops of the large swivel, the other end of each chain heipo- at¬ 
 tached to its respective mooring-anchor; one of the anchors therefore being laid to the westward 
 (or down channel) from the swivel, and the other anchor as much to the eastward, or up channel 
 from the same; the bridle cable proceeding from the bows of the vessel, being bent, or annexed 
 to the upper loop of this swivel, the vessel would ride thereby fairly in the middle between her 
 two anchors. It occurred to me, however, that according to this construction, either a consider¬ 
 able part of the two chains must be hoisted, and kept suspended above the ground by the bridle 
 cable, and hang continually upon the bows of the vessel, or else, if the swivel, in the up and 
 down motion of the vessel by the waves, was suffered to strike the ground, that there would be 
 danger, not only of cutting the cable, but of breaking the swivel, by its violently pitching upon 
 the rocks in storms and hard gales of wind. To prevent this, I considered, that the sea being 
 liable to come much more heavy and violent from the western than from the eastern points of 
 the compass, if 40 fathoms of chain were competent to the strain from the West, 40 fathoms 
 would be more than sufficient to resist the strain from the East; and consequently five or six 
 fathoms of it might be spared to act as a bridle; so that, instead of having the two chains joined 
 by the swivel, the western chain should be joined to the eastern at five or six fathoms from its 
 extremity, by a bolt and shackle, and the swivel be applied to the end itself. Thus the western 
 chain of 40 fathoms lying upon the ground, and 34 or 35 fathoms of the eastern also, and the 
 bridle cable being attached to the upper loop of the swivel, when the vessel was riding at her 
 moorings, there would be five or six fathoms of chain, besides the swivel, between any part of 
 the cable and the ground ; whereby not only the swivel itself would be preserved, but the cable 
 would be prevented from ever touching the rocks. Having prepared our ground tackle accord¬ 
 ing to this plan, we proceeded to lay them down as follows. 
 
 143. OUR vessel was anchored too much to the westward. Soon after Richardson’s com¬ 
 pany came on board, it became tide of flood; and the water having risen half its height, agree¬ 
 ably to what was mentioned, § 3. it would then begin to run from West to East; and therefore, 
 lest when we weighed anchor we should drive eastward with the tide, and overshoot our mark, 
 we immediately let go another small anchor or Catch, and paied out the Hawser* by which we 
 were riding; at the same time paying out the hawser of the catch-anchor; by which means the 
 vessel drove eastward till the whole of the first hawser was run out: we then weighed our first 
 anchor (by means of its buoy-rope with the yawl) and heaving in its hawser short, we again 
 dropped the first anchor, and paied out the hawser of the other; and thus alternately, weighing 
 and paying out, the Buss drove to her proper place, to the north of the rock ; where, at the 
 distance of about 300 fathoms, we found 20 fathoms water.—At this depth I thought it imprudent 
 to drop our mooring-anchors, in such manner as with their chains to run amain; as this might 
 break the anchor by its fall upon the rocks; or by cracking it we might afterwards be deceived: 
 so I took the resolution (in order to prevent damage) to lower the anchors and chains leisurely 
 and gradually. 
 
 The windlass of our Buss, though a very good one for general use, was totally unequal to 
 such a purchase ; and here indeed we should have been at a stand, or obliged to run some risk in 
 case we had not been better provided than my friends at Plymouth were aware of. This fur¬ 
 nished the first occasion of using the large purchase tackle of 20 sheaves, that I got prepared 
 while in London, and which is mentioned § 122. Those blocks being reeved and brought to¬ 
 gether, we fixed the standing block to the stern timbers of our vessel, and discharged from one 
 of the bows one of the mooring anchors, attached to its chain, which went over a strong iron 
 roller very well fixed, and secured upon a Davit-f-, in place of the Hawse hole, intended for the 
 
 * A rope of a smaller size than the cable, and laid or twisted in a less degree, so as to become more soft and pliant. 
 
 f A piece of strong timber 
 securely fixed upon the Deck. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. 
 
83 
 
 BOOK TIL CHAP. I. 
 
 bridle cable to bear upon, and facilitate the getting in of the cable, or weighing the moorings. 
 The anchor thus discharged remained suspended by about two fathoms of the chain, which, after 
 having passed the roller, was stopped from running further out by strong Salvagees *; then 
 bringing the chain along the deck to the moveable purchase block, and hooking it to one of the 
 links, we lowered the anchor perfectly at our ease, again stopping the chain with the salvagees, 
 when the moveable block was come near the Davit; and then extending the chain upon the deck 
 as before, the block was again hooked ; and in this way we proceeded flitting the tackle and 
 lowering till our anchor was grounded. As we foresaw that the tide running eastward would 
 be far spent before the first anchor was got to the ground, we previously determined to put down 
 the eastern anchor first: and it was grounded somewhat before the turn of the tide to the West. 
 
 In this position we staicl till Still water, and then having got the hawser of the small anchor 
 through the stern opening, and forward to the windlass, we were thereby enabled to heave the 
 vessel astern westward; in which we were soon assisted by the tide : and thus, the chain being 
 paied out, under the command of the great blocks, and the vessel being heaved westward by the 
 hawser, the whole of the chain was laid upon the ground in a straght line East and West: and it 
 is obvious, that after the whole of the eastern chain was let go, as far as its junction with the west¬ 
 ern chain, and that junction was completed, then the five or six fathoms of the eastern chain reserved 
 for a bridle, as well as the bridle cable affixed thereto, must be paied out, or let go with the other. 
 
 We proceeded as above till the whole of the western chain was gone out, except as much as 
 was necessary to reach to the ring of its intended anchor; which being upon the bow of the 
 vessel, and necessarily at some distance from the davit-roll, here occurred a difficulty in getting 
 the whole grounded in the same leisure manner, without the risk of letting the anchor and 30 
 fathoms of the chain go over board all together.—For this purpose, we got the anchor as near 
 the bowsprit of the vessel as possible ; and passed a small rope several times round the arms of 
 the anchor, and round the bowsprit of the vessel, as close as possible to the stem upon which it 
 rested, and made it very secure : we then let go the anchor from the bow, which of course be¬ 
 came suspended by the bowsprit, with the Peak upwards, and just above the water’s surface. We 
 now lowered the western chain till it became suspended by the anchor; which, with the chain 
 down to the ground, now hung at the bowsprit. In this situation a strong hawser, of a sufficient 
 length to reach to the bottom double, being passed under one of the arms of the anchor, and the 
 two parts being brought together over the davit-roll, and to the main blocks, the whole suspension 
 was in that manner purchased; and the small rope being loosened, the anchor and chain were 
 then let down by the double hawser: and still heaving the vessel westward, this western anchor 
 was quietly laid upon the ground; and both ends of the double cable being on board, we were 
 enabled, by letting one part go, to free it of the anchor.—We were so fortunate as to have an 
 exceeding line and calm day for this operation ; by which means the whole was performed with¬ 
 out the least accident. 
 
 144. ON Saturday the 4th of September 1 landed at six A. M. and found the work to be in 
 the following state. The two new steps at the bottom, and all the dovetails were roughed out, 
 and some of the beds brought to a level and finished; and I judged that full one half of the 
 work I intended to be done on the rock this season was completed. 
 
 While I was upon the rock, Mr. Jlssop, the seamen, and Hi ll’s company were employed on 
 board the buss, heaving in the stray cable, weighing the anchors, and getting the buss to rights 
 at her moorings. The tide’s work being done at ten, I returned to the buss with Richardson 
 and Company, and in the yawl to Plymouth ; which passage, being in a calm, was rowed in four 
 hours.—On Monday evening the 6th the sloop was brought home, and the seamen reported, that 
 on weighing her anchors, they found the ground cable almost cut in rags from end to end. 
 
 * Salvagees or Selvagees are ropes made with the yarns laid parallel and untwisted; being slightly bound together by passing a 
 single yarn round the bundle, which renders them not only the most pliable of all others, but the strongest possible to be made with 
 that number of yarns. Properly speaking, they are in the form of loops, or endless ropes; being made by passing a yam round two 
 fixed pins, as many times as is judged necessary for the strength intended; the distance of the pins regulating the length of the loops 
 
SEQUEL OF THE FIRST SEASON’S OUT-WORK. 
 
 CHAP. II 
 
 SEQUEL OF THE OPERATIONS UPON THE ROCK OF THE FIRST SEASON 
 
 OF 1756. 
 
 145. Our Buss being now satisfactorily moored, and a regular intercourse established be- 
 ween her and the shore, there was nothing to hinder the companies from changing regularly 
 every Saturday, except bad weather; nor from working upon the rock, whenever the least inter¬ 
 val of good weather concurred with a proper time of the tide to render it practicable: it will 
 therefore now be only necessary to recount such circumstances as happened out of the usual 
 course ot proceedings; or such as may deserve particular notice. 
 
 On Tuesday the 7th I dispatched to Portland the draughts for the six foundation courses 
 that were to be employed in bringing the rock to a level; which, with the draughts for eight 
 that I had before dispatched, completed the order for the whole quantity of Portland Stone to 
 be used in the solid up to the entry door; being all that we could expect to set in place the next 
 season. I lie rock was not indeed yet ready for completing the exact moulds for those stones 
 that were to fit into the dovetails made in it: but by ordering the stones large enough, and lieiim- 
 scappelled something near their proper form, it would prevent loss of time in waiting to get the 
 liue figure from the rock, as well as unnecessary waste. 
 
 _ 146. NOTHING happened to prevent the companies from working every tide from the 
 27th of August till the 14th of September, in which time they had worked 177 hours upon the 
 rock —In this interval, having procured a carpenter to be applied to that purpose, I began to 
 make the moulds for the exact cutting of the stones to their intended shapes. This was done by 
 laying down in chalk lines upon the floor of a chamber the proposed size and figure of each stone 
 being a portion of the plan at large of the intended course; and the carpenter having prepared 
 a quantity of Battens, or slips of deal board, about three inches broad, and one inch thick, shot 
 straight upon the edges by a plane; those battens being cut to lengths, and their edges adapted 
 to the lines upon the floor, and properly fitted together, became the exact representatives of the 
 pieces of stone whose figure was to be marked from them, when their beds were wrought to the 
 intended parallel distance. 
 
 It is obvious that there was no necessity for making moulds for a whole course after the work 
 became regular; as was the 7th course, after the six foundation courses brought the rock to a 
 level; it was sufficient to make one mould to each circle of stones, beginning with the centre 
 stone ; but as the six foundation courses were adapted to the particular irregularities of the rock, 
 and consequently could not be strictly regular, it was necessary that a separate mould should be 
 made for every separate stone, composing that part of the work. 
 
 147. DUR1 N T G this interval I visited the rock, and on arriving there the 8th of September, 
 was informed by Mr. Jessop that the preceding evening, there being a very strong tide, and no 
 wind, a "West Indiaman homeward bound, and a man of war’s tender were in great danger of 
 driving upon the N. E. rock ; but that he timely perceiving their danger, though they themselves 
 were not aware of it, ordered out the seamen and hands, who towed them off. 
 
 On this visit I staid two days; for as the working company had begun to take down the upper 
 
8i 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. II. 
 
 part of llie rock, it was necessary to concert, and put in practice the proper means of doing that, 
 without damage to what was destined to remain. I have already mentioned my resolution of not 
 using gunpowder; yet it was necessary, for the sake of dispatch, to employ some means more ex¬ 
 peditious, than the slow way of crumbling off the matter, by the blunt points of picks.—It has 
 been already noticed, that the Laminae composing the rock were parallel to the inclined surface: 
 and it was very probable that the chasm, into which Mr. Winstanley’s chain had been so fast 
 jambed that it never could be disengaged, extended further into the rock than the visible dis¬ 
 union of the parts : this made me resolve to try a method sometimes used in this country, for the 
 division of hard stones, called the Key and Feather; in order to cross cut this upper stratum of 
 the rock. The construction and operation of the key and feather is as follows. A right line is 
 marked upon the surface of the rock or stone to be cut, in the direction in yvhich it is intended 
 to be divided. Holes are then drilled by a Jumper at the distance of six or eight inches, and 
 about 1 ' inch in diameter, to the depth of about eight or nine inches; the distances however of 
 the holes and their diameters, as well as their depth, are to be greater or less, according to the 
 strength of the stone, in the estimation of the artist directing the work. The above dimensions 
 were what we used on this occasion. The Key is a long tapering wedge of somewhat less 
 breadth than the diameter of the holes, and so as to go easily into them; the length being three 
 or four inches more than the depth of the holes. The Feathers are pieces of iron, also of a wedge¬ 
 like shape; the side to be applied to the key being flat, but the other side a segment of a circle, 
 answerable to that of the holes; so that the two flat sides of two feathers being applied to the two 
 flat sides of the key; and the thick end of the feathers to the thin end of the key, they all together 
 compose a cylindric, or rather oval kind of body; which in this position of parts is too big to go 
 into the holes by at least one eighth of an inch ; that is, in the direction of a diameter passing 
 through the three parts; but in the other direction is no broader than to go with ease into the 
 holes.^ A key and a pair of feathers is made use of in each hole; and the feathers being first 
 dropped in, with the thick ends downwards, the keys are then entered between them; the flat 
 sides of all the keys and the feathers being set parallel to that line in which the holes are dis¬ 
 posed : the keys are then driven by a sledge hammer, proceeding from one to another, and being 
 forced gradually, as in splitting of moor-stone, the strongest stones are unable to resist their joint 
 effort • and the stone is split according to the direction of the original line, as effectually, and 
 much more regularly and certainly, than could be done with gunpowder, and without any con¬ 
 cussion of the parts. Had our rock been entirely solid, this way of working might not have been 
 applicable, on account of the crack’s going too deep ; but here, when it arrived at the joint where 
 the chain was lodged, the split part became entirely disengaged from the rest; and in this way 
 we were enabled to bring off the quantity of several cubic feet at a time : and thus the chain was 
 released after a confinement of above fifty years. The impossibility of disengaging it before now 
 appeared very evident; for the pressure had been so great by the rock’s closing upon it, as before 
 suggested, that the links in their intersections were pressed into each other, as completely as if 
 thev had been made of lead ; though the Bolt iron composing the chain had been at least five 
 heights of an inch in diameter. 
 
 148 ON Tuesday evening the 14th of September there came on a hard gale of wind at the 
 S W. and on Wednesday the 15 th, though the weather was moderate, yet the ground-swell, 
 raised by the S. W. wind the night before, prevented any landing upon the rock. This being 
 the first fresh of wind since the Buss was moored, those on board were not a little attentive to 
 
 j ier __On Thursday the 16th I again went off to the rock, and landed, finding Richardson and 
 
 Company at work, though it was the first tide they had landed, since the 14th : they acquainted 
 me that the Buss had rode perfectly easy in the gale of wind they had had, and that there was 
 no occasion to veer out any more cable than she usually rode with ; which at first had been 
 bawled in so tight as to keep the swivel from the striking ground, when right up and down. I 
 found the work now in the following situation.—The lowest new step (the most difficult to work 
 upon, because the lowest) with its dovetails quite completed.—The second step rough bedded, 
 and all its dovetails scappelled out.—The 3d step (being the lowest in Mr. Rudyerd’s work) 
 smooth bedded, and all the dovetails roughed out.—The 4th in the like state.—The 5th rough 
 
85 
 
 SEQUEL OF THE FIRST SEASON’S OUT-WORK. 
 
 bedded, and dovetails scappelled outAnd the sixth smooth bedded, and all the dovetails 
 roughed out.—Lastly, the top of the rock, the greatest part of the bulk whereof had been pre¬ 
 viously taken down by the Key and Feather method as low as it could be done with propriety, 
 was now to be reduced to a level with the upper surface of the sixth step; the top of that step 
 being necessarily to form a part of the bed for the seventh or first regular course; so that what 
 now remained was to bring the top of the rock to a regular floor by picks : and from what now 
 appeared (as all the upper parts, that had been damaged by the fire, were cut off) the new 
 building was likely to rest upon a basis even more solid than the former ones had done. 
 
 149- FROM the time of the hard gale upon the 14th, we found ourselves got into a series of 
 unsettled weather; yet the season did not seem so far spent, but that we might reasonably ex¬ 
 pect a return of the land and sea breezes, which constantly attended our works whenever they 
 went on uninterruptedly upon the rock ; we therefore kept ourselves in constant readiness to 
 seize the lucky minutes, that the works of this year, now brought very far forward, might be per¬ 
 fectly completed.—I attempted to go off several times, but was as often forced to return, until 
 Thursday the 30th, when I landed on the rock with Richardson and his company; but as only 
 about 20 hours work had been done upon the rock since I was there before upon the 16th, I 
 could not expect to find much change in the appearance. However I traced the outlines upon 
 the upper part of the rock for the border of the seventh course, all within which was to be sunk 
 to the level of the top of the sixth, and all without to be left standing as a border for defence of 
 the ground joint of the work with the rock ; and measuring the height of the top step above the 
 bed of the first, I found it to be eight feet four inches; which would now be the difference of 
 
 level, between the west or lowest side of the new building, and the east or highest._On the 
 
 company’s returning on board the Buss after this tide’s work, the yawl’s grappling got so fast 
 among the rocks, that it could not be weighed ; but in the attempt, it parted the grappling rope: 
 we therefore now laid down the Buss’s catch or Kedge anchor a little to the North of the Cut 
 that is, about 40 fathoms without the mouth of it*; and having bent to it a part of a sufficient 
 Hawser with a large buoy at the top, that when any vessel went in, she might make fast to this 
 buoy, instead of dropping her own anchor, or grappling; this for the present completely answered 
 the purpose of the Transport Buoy, mentioned § 102. as intended to be placed there. 
 
 J50. ON Saturday, 2d October, there being a hard gale at S'. W. Richardson and com¬ 
 pany having no sharp tools, or weather to work in, came home in the great yawl, leaving the Buss 
 to the care of the three seamen. In their way home they met Mr. Jessop with Hill and Com¬ 
 pany in Cawsand Bay; who had set out that morning to relieve them ; and where, after this at¬ 
 tempt, they remained wind-bound for two days, and then were forced to return to Plymouth ; so 
 that now both companies were at home together, and employed upon the works in Mill Bay. 
 
 The unfavourableness of the weather retarded our operations upon the rock for some time 
 insomuch that, upon the 8th of October, the three seamen who had been left in the Buss (having- 
 first secured every thing on board in the best manner they could) returned to Plymouth in the 
 little yawl; having put up an oar for a mast, and a blanket for a sail. This they were under a 
 necessity of doing; for as no boat had been able to get out to relieve them, since the departure 
 of Richardson’s company, they had nearly exhausted all their provisions. In their passage 
 home they met the Edystone boat going out with Hill and Company, who got on board the 
 Buss that evening. 
 
 151. THE equinoctial winds that now were reigning afforded me but little prospect of doing 
 much more work upon the rock this season; for though a more moderate interval of weather might 
 be expected, after those winds were spent, before the winter came on; yet as this might pro¬ 
 bably be exhausted in finishing the rock complete for receiving the stone the beginning of next 
 season, we might find it a difficult matter to get the Buss’s moorings weighed, after that was 
 done ; as it would require the same good weather to take them up, as to lay them down ; I there- 
 
 ihcre the sounding 15 (fathom) is marked ou the general plan of the rocks; Plate, No. £. 
 
8f) 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. II. 
 
 fore began to consider whether this operation might not be dispensed with; conceiving that if a 
 chain was affixed to the swivel, of a sufficient size to support so much of the main chains, as must 
 be raised from the ground, by bringing the swivel to the surface of the water; then a large buoy 
 (which would next year serve for the intended Transport Buoy) being fastened to the top ot 
 this subsidiary chain; the main chains, on taking away the bridle cable, might be lowered to the 
 bottom by this buoy chain ; and the buoy thus riding all winter by its own proper chain, would 
 afford us an easy means, not only of unmooring the Buss this autumn, but ol mooring her again 
 the next spring. 
 
 After advising with Mr. Jessop on the practicability of this method, and probability of its 
 success, I immediately bespoke the buoy chain ; which, as it must be made at Plymouth, would 
 take some time; to save which, by reducing its length, Mr. Jessop proposed that we should be 
 content with eleven fathoms of buoy chain to be attached to the swivel, and the rest of the ne¬ 
 cessary length for riding the buoy, to be of cable; which never coming to touch the ground, he 
 conceived, that the buoy might ride out the winter just as well as if it was attached to a chain only. 
 He farther proposed to fix an under-buoy at the top of the buoy chain, which would in part 
 support it, and being eight or nine fathoms under the surface of the sea, would be in a region 
 of much greater quietude than the surface, in time of storms; on account of which the upper or 
 floating buoy might be the less, and therefore be less subject to any misfortune : and also if by 
 any mischance the floating buoy should break loose, or be carried away, still the under buoy 
 would support its chain, so as to ride some fathoms from the ground, and in that case it might 
 easily be recovered by Sweeping *. 
 
 152. ON the 13th of October, the wind blowing very bard, the great yawl in riding at the 
 stern of the Buss broke loose, having parted a double hawser, and driving away at the rate of 
 four miles an hour, it was impracticable to follow her in the little yawl, which was then on board ; 
 and notwithstanding the speediest, and most diligent enquiries after her, we never could hear of 
 her again. This was a real loss, as it had proved a boat particularly adapted to our use. 
 
 The weather continued so variable and uncertain during the whole month ol October, that 
 the out-companies had worked only 231 hours.—It was Wednesday the 27 th before I saw any 
 chance of going oil' to examine the state of the work; and this day, the weather being moderate, 
 I went off, and got out to the Buss, but could not land. Richardson acquainted me that his 
 company had worked only 21 hours this turn; for though they had tolerably fine weather over 
 head, yet the sea had become so long in settling at this advanced season, that they were obliged 
 to return to the Buss, after two strenuous but unsuccessful attempts to land. He further re¬ 
 ported, that there was now very little wanting to finish the work of the season, but the levelling 
 of the top of the rock. He also acquainted me, that the seamen, by the help of the company on 
 board, had heaved up the bridle chain, till they could see the Clinch of the cable to the swivel; 
 and found it. somewhat damaged, as they judged by having touched the rocks; but the Avcather 
 coming on rough before they could do any thing at it, they were obliged to lower it as it was; 
 two days after however they again heaved it up, and repaired the clinch. The Buss in all the 
 past bad weather had indeed rode it out to admiration, having never shipped any water, or 
 needed the bridle to be veered out. 
 
 153. I NOW considered, that nothing remained to be done of this season’s work, that could 
 possibly hinder the beginning to set the foundation courses, at the commencement of the next 
 season ; as the top of the rock could be bro ught to a regular floor, and the dovetails in the upper 
 steps corrected, in the intervals that Avould necessarily happen, while the loAver courses were 
 setting. It therefore seemed unprofitable to continue the companies longer in a state of hard¬ 
 ship, merely for the sake of having it to say, that the Year’s Work as intended was entirely com¬ 
 pleted ; in consequence I Avas much inclined not to send out any more hands this season; and 
 ordered Mr. Richardson to return with his company at the conclusion of their week, though 
 the other company should not go out to relieve them ; which he did on Saturday the 30th, and 
 brought word that they had worked four hours the day after I had left them; and I could not 
 
 - * The operation of Sweeping will be fully explained hereafter. 
 
SEQUEL OF THE FIRST SEASON'S OUT-WORK. 87 
 
 but notice, tl.at on litis clay it was remarked at Plymouth, how very unpromising the weather was 
 
 the < sea T" i • ^7“ “ ^ »P«* between the laud and 
 
 iron 1 ’ d S “ T°“ Uybe rr n lym0Uth and ,he Ed y stone i and this shewed still more 
 strongly the great advantage of doing our work by a Store Vessel, in preference of separate 
 
 . oyages Mr. Richardson also reported that both the buoys had broke loose from the moor¬ 
 ing anchors, but that every thing else was well. 
 
 154. HAVING received advice from Mr. Tucker that three vessels were ready to load with 
 
 stone as soon as the weather would permit them to go to the pier, we now pushed forward the 
 completion of the work-yard, with its machinery, and conveniences, (See Plate No. 17 .) as also 
 t le channel up to the Jetty Head, so as to he ready to receive the Portland vessels • and that we 
 might have an assurance of the strength, and sufficiency of our shears, and tackle for heaving the 
 stones they should send us, I made the following trials.-First, I tried them by a strain from the 
 Capstand equal to what would be required in heaving the largest stones intended for the Light- 
 louse : then by a strain double the former; after that by one treble; during all which every 
 t mig stood firm; but on applying a quadruple force, a great hook upon which the large pur¬ 
 chase blocks were hung, gave way, by becoming straight, as if it had been a piece of lead but 
 no other damage was done: so that I was now well assured of the firmness of all the material 
 parts, as relative to the force to be employed, when in proper use : for from the above trials every 
 thing stood fast with eight ton weight upon the tackle-blocks : and now the work-yard was ready 
 for receiving the stone. J 
 
 155. THE month of November setting in with a better appearance of weather. Hill’s 
 company desired to take another turn, which was granted.—On Sunday the 7th, I went off in 
 the Edystone boat with Mr. Jessop, and carried out battens, and the carpenter, to mould off the 
 dovetails from the rock -: but there being but little wind, it was evening before we arrived at the 
 Buss. Hill informed me that they had worked Thursday night and Saturday afternoon tides, 
 that they had had violent weather on Friday, but rode it out Without fear or danger; -not having 
 veered out anymore cable, or shipped any water; agreeing with what had been reported by 
 Richardson. At twelve o’clock at night I landed with Mr. Jessop, Hill and Company and 
 the mould-maker, with the battens; the Company staid hours, but the night not provino- 
 favourable to make much progress with the moulds, I fully explained my meaning to Mr. Jessop°; 
 and left full directions with him about that business, which I doubted not, but his known care 
 and exactness would complete to my satisfaction, if the weather gave leave after my return. On 
 landing upon the rock this tide, I found the work as follows : viz. four or five of the dovetails in 
 the upper steps wanting some small amendment, that would employ as many men at each for 
 about four or five hours. The greatest part of the top of the rock was now brought to a regular 
 floor, but some part of the N. E. side wanted bringing down to a level. 
 
 156. ON the 12 th of November the buoy-chain for our Buss’s moorings was completed ; 
 and upon a trial thereof by means of our purchase tackle at Mill Bay, in manner as before, I found 
 it to bear a strain of six tons without any appearance of giving way, which T deemed fully suf¬ 
 ficient. Supposing that Hills Company, who were now going on in a second week, might 
 want provisions, as also Mr. Jessop who was with them ; the next morning (Saturday the 13th) 
 I ordered out the Edystone boat, hut meeting with bad weather, after beating all day and night, 
 it was obliged to return upon the 14th.—On the 15th I ordered the Edystone boat to make 
 another attempt early in the morning, and to get out, if possible; she sailed, hut the wind coming 
 South, and continuing to blow hard, she could not get out to sea; and at three o’clock this after¬ 
 noon we were surprised by the arrival of the Buss, which came to an anchor at the mouth 
 ol Mill Bay. Mr. Jessop informed me, that having scarcely one day’s provision on board, and 
 the weather then being, and seeming likely to continue so bad, that no boat could come off to 
 them, and the wind standing fair for bringing them in (not having any boat, in which they could 
 venture home) they all agreed to slip their cable and carry the Buss into harbour, lest the wind 
 should come foul upon them, after their provisions were all spent.—Accordingly, after having 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. II. 
 
 88 
 
 fixed buoys upon the cable, and secured them as well as they could, they set sail for Plymouth 
 this forenoon : but though the wind blew a hard gale, and they came in right before it, they 
 could not sail at a greater rate than three miles an hour. When they came abreast of the Ram- 
 head, they met the Edystone boat endeavouring to beat to windward, which was able to make 
 but little way; and the purpose of the voyage being now over, they returned in company with 
 
 the Buss._Mr. Jessop further reported that the weather had never permitted them to go upon 
 
 the rock since the night of Sunday the seventh, when I was there; which, notwithstanding all the 
 bad weather, was the only entire week since the commencement of the work, that one company 
 or the other did not land; and it appeared by the account, that since the 2d of October, being 
 40 days, the whole of the landings amounted but to 3 8 - 5 - hours. Considering therefore the rock- 
 work to be now as good as finished, I was thankful that we had in reality got through what might 
 be justly esteemed the most laborious and difficult part of our work.—Every thing was said of 
 the ease and buoyancy of the Buss’s riding at her moorings in all weathers, though nothing 
 could be said in favour of her as a Sailer. 
 
 157. THE Buss being thus prematurely arrived, there was a necessity of carrying her out 
 ao-ain for the purpose of fixing the buoy-chain of the moorings : we therefore determined to warp 
 her up to our Jetty Head in Mill Bay, that her bottom might be cleaned, previous to another 
 voyage; and indeed on laying her upon the ground, she appeared very much to need it; for 
 though she had been out of harbour but eleven weeks, the foulness her bottom had contracted was 
 amazing; for it was found to be grown over with a kind of sea-weed, resembling Hog’s Bristles; 
 which in some places were near six inches long. From hence I could not help concluding, that 
 though vessels while under sail in performing their voyages, do in time get much foulness, yet in 
 fact, their motion through the water rubs off many of the tender filaments of the weeds, which 
 prevents their growing so rapidly as when a vessel lies in the water, with a much less degree of 
 relative motion; as is the case with those at moorings, though in a Tide’s-way. 
 
 158. ON Sunday morning the 21st of November, the Buss being cleaned, and prepared for 
 the sea, and the wind fair for going out, I sailed in her at four in the morning with Mr. Jessop, 
 Hill and Company, and four of the seamen ; the other two with a part of Richardson’s Com¬ 
 pany being in the Edystone boat. As the wind was moderate at E. though our Buss was now 
 cleaned, and the Edystone boat had us in tow, yet it was twelve o’clock before we arrived at the 
 moorings : we had however a hindrance in our passage of about half an hour, by an accident to 
 one of the seamen, who in endeavouring to climb up the mast of the light yawl to rectify some¬ 
 thing, as he had been used to do in the large one, the boat oversetting he fell into the sea: as the 
 weather however was moderate, nothing further than a wetting was the consequence. 
 
 In getting in the bridle cable by means of its buoys; it being a ten-inch cable, having been 
 very hard laid at first, and having become harder by lying in the water, it was found to be so ex¬ 
 cessively stiff and troublesome to manage, that it was the work of all the hands for the whole 
 afternoon. In one place we found it damaged by fretting against the rocks, but being much 
 longer than experience shewed to be necessary for us, we cut it at the damaged place.—After re¬ 
 freshing ourselves, we began in the evening to heave up the ground chains by the bridle, which 
 employed all the hands for several hours; for though the operation of our large purchase-blocks 
 was very sure, yet having so many times to stop, overhawl, and flit, (as described in laying down 
 the moorings) to get in above 20 fathoms of bridle, the work could not go on very speedily ; and 
 indeed without the purchase-tackle, we could not have done it at all: however, at three o’clock in the 
 morning of the 22d, the swivel was got above water.—At this time the wind blew a smart breeze 
 at E. which gave us so much motion, that we found it exceedingly difficult, especially as it was very 
 dark, to get the forelock of the bolt and shackle clinched, by which the buoy chain was attached 
 to the great swivel : this was however effected ; and as much depended upon it, I did it myself: 
 but as from its stiffness we found it equally difficult to get the bridle cable unbent from the swivel, 
 and the men being much fatigued by the previous operations, it was thought best to let all stand 
 as it was till day-light. 
 
 At day-light the 22d, the wind blew very fresh at S. E. so that it was with great hazard, that 
 
SEQUEL OF THE FIRST SEASON’S OUT-WORK. 89 
 
 the Edystone boat lay alongside the Buss to deliver the great buoy on board : this was however 
 done without rn.sch.ef; but it then came on so very fresh, that it became expedient for the Edy- 
 slone boat to return home lor her preservation ; first receiving orders to come out again as soon as 
 the weather would perm.t, m case we did not follow her. The wind being now equally favour¬ 
 able for carrying ,n the Buss, and still increasing, to save time it was agreed to cut the clinch of 
 the bridle cable, and lower down the ground chains by the buoy chain, in the same gradual man 
 nerm Winch they were heaved up; and by twelve o'clock we had lowered it twelve fathoms- 
 wlule tins was dotng, one of our yawls broke loose, and before we were aware that it was gone 
 had driven away too far for us to attempt to recover it.-On driving a bolt through one of the 
 links of the buoy-chain, (intended as a stop to the under-water buoy as before mentioned) we 
 discovered a flaw in that link, which, though it did not appear of great consequence, yet desen ed 
 consideration, and, ,f possible, amendment: but as no extempore remedy, that could there be ap¬ 
 plied, offered itself, and we found the wind had not increased since morning, and that the Bus, 
 rode very well, as she was then circumstanced; our solicitude that nothing should be left in an 
 exceptionable state, prevailed upon us to abide where we were, till the Edystone boat should re¬ 
 turn, when we might send her back for something proper to secure that link.—This over-pre- 
 caution, as the wind was fair, and quite enough for us, cost us dear; for at three o’clock the wind 
 and sea had so much increased, that it became unsafe to ride any longer by the buoy-chain - we 
 therefore had no other alternative, but to launch the large floating buoy, and cast ourselves loose. 
 
 159. WE found the Buss go much better since her cleaning; yet the wind having by this 
 time veered to the North of the East, which was but one point before our beam, and therefore 
 m the common estimation of sailing fair for us ; we found in stretching someTength on our course, 
 that we could not fetch Plymouth Sound; and an attempt to make a tack with onr vessel as we 
 before had proved, would have been to no purpose. We therefore unanimously agreed lo steer 
 away before the wind for Fowey ; and as it then blew a hard gale and was quite in our favour 
 we expected to reach our port before it was dark ; which however we esteemed of the less con¬ 
 sequence, as almost every one on board had been there before ; and though we must expect the 
 night to lie dark, this being the day of the new moon, yet the headlands being bold, we concluded 
 ourselves under no difficulty; insomuch, that for my own part having been up most of the former 
 n.gl.l, and a good deal fatigued in lending a hand to the forenoon’s operations of ibis day I went 
 down to my cabin, and as it had been rainy, as well as stormy, I disencumbered 
 wet clothes, intending to repose till I heard we were come to an anchor 
 
 The persons on board were, four seamen. Hill’s company, Mr. Jessop and myself- in all 
 18 hands. For the space of about three hours, I had the satisfaction to hear every thing goiim- 
 on well over head ; and it was no small addition thereto, when 1 heard those on deck were alter¬ 
 ing their course, in order io run into the harbour; but suddenly an universal alarm and clamour 
 arose, insomuch that I ran upon deck in my shirt, it then raining hard, and blowing quite a 
 storm. It being very dark, the first thing I saw was the horrible appearance of Breakers, almost 
 surrounding us; John Bowden, one of tile seamen, crying out. For God’s sake heave hard at 
 that rape, it you mean to save your lives. I immediately laid hold of the rope, at which he him¬ 
 self was hawling, as well as the other seamen, though he was also managing the helm ; 1 not only 
 ban led with all my strength, but calling to, and encouraging.the workmen to do the same thing, 
 ill as little time as 1 have been describing our situation, the vessel’s head lvas brought round, so 
 that we no longer faced the breakers, which, from the darkness of the night, were almost the 
 only objects we could see; the vessel was then heaved down by the stress of the wind, her gun¬ 
 nel to the water; bill as we soon found she answered her helm, we concluded she was making 
 way. It would require a pen of a different sort from mine, to describe the jeopardy of our pre°- 
 seut situation, while we were uncertain whether or not wc should escape the rocks, on which the 
 seas were breaking with a tremendous noise ; we had been hut a little time in this situation before 
 our Jib was split to pieces, and to prevent our mainsail* from suffering the same fate, we were 
 obliged to lower its yard so much down the mast, that the sail did riot present above half its 
 surface lo the wind ; yet in this position the gunnel of the vessel was frequently dipped under 
 
 nyself of my 
 Fowey Harbour. 
 
 been noticed that the Buss u 
 
 li rigged, that is, with a 
 
gg BOOK III. CHAP. II. 
 
 water. Finding however our vessel to obey her helm, her head being Soulh by the compass, 
 the wind about F,. N. E. we began to collect ourselves so far as to consider what was besl lo be 
 done ; some saying we had overshot our port; whilst others alledged that we were short of it: in 
 this uncertainty it appeared ter me, that our best chance was to stand out to sea, upon the point 
 we then were; which though two points behind tin- beam (or large) we found was as near to tile 
 w ind as, under the circumstances we were in, we could make way to advantage. We knew our 
 vessel would float like a cork upon the water, till she was dashed to pieces upon the rocks. \\ e 
 could now see nothing of land on our lee side, yet the extreme darkness of the night, rendered 
 still greater by the rain, and the confusion of the elements produced by the violence of the w ind, 
 made it uncertain whether we should be able to see the boldest shore, if of a dark colour, at. the 
 distance of 50 fathoms. Our danger therefore seemed to be that of falling upon the rocks that 
 stretch away from Trewardreth Bay towards the Dead,nan*. In this perilous uncertainty we 
 continued nearly two hours, when having kept upon our point (S.) and meeting nothing, we 
 concluded that we must have weathered Deadman's Pointf; however we had still a violent stormy 
 night to contend with, and having split our foresail also, we were now under our mainsail only, 
 ami though it was lowered as above described, yet even still we frequently dipped our gunnel ill 
 the water; several times the sea broke over us; yet our deck being flush fore and aft, and our 
 vessel very buoyant, as before described, we shipped no water. 
 
 160. AT daylight on Tuesday the 33d we were out of sight of land, and having had the last 
 of our yawls in tow all the night, in which time she had gradually filled by the spray ot tile sea 
 (the Storm being not at all abated) we found she greatly retarded our way, without any pos¬ 
 sibility of clearing her of water; we agreed therefore to cut her adrift; which indeed nothing 
 but the apparent necessity of the tiling could have induced us to do, as the yawl might lie the 
 means of saving our lives, though the Buss had been lost : but the necessity of this measure will 
 appear, when ft is considered, that in our present condition we might possibly do better than 
 yield to the violence of the wind, which we found was driving us at a great rate towards the Bay 
 of Biscay. On being freed from the incumbrance of the yawl, we determined to wear the vessel, 
 and make the best point we could by standing in for the land ; and the vessel's head was now 
 
 ted tc> N. A\ 
 
 -About noon we got sight of the coast on our weather side, which on a nearer 
 uld also discern land almost right ahead. By this 
 
 we had on hoard 
 the vessel about, 
 some assistance 
 
 approach we judged to he the Lizard ; and coni 
 time the storm began to abate ; we therefore pursued our course, and before night perceived that 
 the land we had before seen right ahead was the Land's End, and that we had been driving so 
 much lo the leeward of our course, that the westernmost point of land we could see was now upon 
 our weather bow ; wc could therefore form no expectation, as the wind then stood, of fetching 
 any port of Great Britain. Towards evening it became more moderate, and 
 a spare fore sail, a niizen, and a storm jib, wc determined to set those sails, put 
 and make one great effort to beat to windward, and flattered ourselves that w ill 
 from the tide of Flood, we might he able to get into Mount s Bay. 
 
 We stood off the land at night, lying as close to the wind as we could make anyway, our 
 ship's head being about S. E. by E. wind al N. E. At two o'clock on Wednesday morning we 
 again wore the vessel, and stood on for the land at N. W. by N. which we saw soon after il was 
 daylight; we stood on this course till noon, when w e found I lint our vessel had not altered her 
 sailing properties ; for that, so far from having gained any thing to Eastward, since the preceding 
 day at the same hour, we had now got as much lo llie Westward ot the Land s End, as we w ere 
 yesterday of tile Lizard ; the Land's End bearing from us N. E. by N. distance by estimation 
 e joht leagues.—We were now fully convinced, that m this vessel, as the w ind stood, we could 
 not make any thing Eastward by sailing: we therefore lay to and sounded; and finding 4,0 
 fathoms water, bottom fine sand mixed with fragments of sea-shells, we let go an anchor, ill order 
 
 * A point of land East of the Lizard. See the 
 
 chart, No. I. 
 
 of Fowey: had we reall; 
 being wrecked on the rocky 
 
 )t our intended port, but had fallen short of it; having got into Lantippet Bay, to 
 port, and got into Trewardreth Bay, as then apprehended, we could scarcely have 
 
91 
 
 SEQUEL OF THE FIRST SEASON’S OUT-WORK. 
 
 tlml ,7 f® ht CO " 8id 7; vhat *° do - The wind ‘hough now moderate but fresh, seemed i„. 
 variably fixed to the N. E. we had therefore to consider, whether we should attempt to cross the 
 Bay of Biscay, and get mto some port of France, or Spain ; lie where we were, as lo„=- as we 
 could m expectation of a shift of w.nd m our favour; or endeavour to get into some port in the 
 ■ Ian,Is ot , tally. On mustering our hands, and our stores, we found we had not amongst us all 
 above a week s provisions, at short allowance; and this seemed inadequate to the attempting to 
 11 oss t e ay : for, if the wind should change, when we were almost over, we should he obliged 
 m obedience thereto, to return back again. In staying where we were, we might expend the 
 n hole Of our provisions, and at las, be left to’makesuch shift as we could : we therefore were una¬ 
 nimously of opinion, that the last proposition, though attended with the most immediate apparent 
 danger, from the roc ks said every where to surround those islands, yet, as it would put the 
 matter to the shortest issue, was the best to he adopted. We therefore resolved to shape our 
 course for Sc.%; but, having neither maps, charts, books, nor instruments on board, we could 
 none of us tell (having never been there) what point to steer upon from where we were, so as 
 with certainty to get within sight of the islands, especially should it come on foggy or hazy weather. 
 
 161. WHILE under this dilemma, we saw a sail to the East, steering directly to us ; we 
 therefore made a signal of distress, concluding, that if an enemy, the service we were upon would 
 protect us; yet the state of anxiety we were then in was such, that we would have compounded 
 for being earned to France rather than lie there with our present prospects.-The vessel bore 
 down upon us, and proved to be the White Hart of Pool, bound for Guinea : we told them onr 
 situation, and service ; but we having lost all our boats, and hers being stowed under deck we 
 could nether of us go on board the other; we learnt from her, however, what seemed very ma- 
 teruil to us to know that our course for SciUy was W. N. W*. We therefore determined to lie 
 Here till four o clock the next morning; that by gelt ing early under way, we might have it day- 
 l.ghl. by the time we could reach within sight of the islands ; and that by having the day before 
 us, we might have the better chance of making signals, and obtaining a pilot.-This evening the 
 wind became more gentle, and at midnight it was a calm. 
 
 m 0N Thurst % morning the 25th of November at two o’clock, the hands began to heave 
 
 ° Ur Cabie 1 for ' anchoring in 40 fathoms, this was likely to take up some time ; while it was 
 doing, between three and four o’clock, a gentle breeze sprung up at N. N. W. The joy and sa¬ 
 tisfaction wherewith this inspired the whole company, tended greatly to expedite the getting up 
 ol our anchor; and by the time it was got to tile Bows, the breeze was so much freshened at the 
 same point, that we did not hesitate in abandoning our proposed visit to Scillv; and in lieu thereof 
 directed the head of our vessel towards the Lizard.-The place where we anchored is referred to in 
 the ? eneral ma P J>y the mark * 40, South-West of the Land's End. As the day came on, the wind 
 still freshened at the same point; and we not only set our usual sails, but a topsail; and brought 
 out every yard of canvas we could muster, as well as some of our blankets, which we contrived to 
 set to some advantage as studding sails. Early in the day we passed the Lizard, and made our 
 course good, so that at nine in the evening we were abreast of tile Headman. Soon after mid¬ 
 night we began to get sight of the Floating Light; at lour on Friday morning the 26th, we once 
 more espied our old acquaintance the Ram Head; and at six came to an anchor in Plymouth 
 Sound ; not without thankful hearts for this deliverance, and to tile inexpressible joy and satis¬ 
 faction of all our friends, who had concluded we had either been cast away or carried to France. 
 And indeed such conclusions were not unreasonable ; for the Edystonc boat having been sent out 
 on Wednesday (which was the first day she could look out to sea) and not finding us, returned 
 with the melancholy tidings; and going out again on Thursday to make enquiry at the floating 
 light, where they met with a very unsatisfactory account of us, our friends were not without great 
 reason alarmed concerning us. 
 
 A few days after, the Buss was brought into Mill Bay, and laid upon the Beach, near the 
 Jetty Head, that she might be in daily view of those employed in the work-yard. 
 
 Had we therefore 
 assed by the island 
 
BOOK ITT. CHAP. II!. 
 
 92 
 
 163. HAVING now completed llie relation as to the work ol this season, I cannot injustice 
 avoid paying that tribute to a deserving poor man that I think due to him. 
 
 I found my mind very forcibly struck with the distinguished activity and presence ot mind 
 of our seaman John Bowden, upon the occasion of our missing the harbour ol Fowey. 1 was 
 fully convinced that had lie not been on board, the Buss would certainly have gone ashore, most 
 probably been dashed to pieces upon the rocks, and in the confusion and darkness of the night, 
 several of us would in all probability have lost our lives : and therefore that the safety of the 
 vessel, as well as ourselves, was owing to his expertness as a seaman. He had on all occasions 
 shewn himself to be an active, sober, modest, obedient man; and in the light ol a foremast sea¬ 
 man, he appeared to he quite a Genius ; for, if any thing went wrong with the tackle on board, 
 his readiness of thought, and invention, accompanied with an expeditiousness in the application 
 of something for supplying defects, and remedying, if not preventing, disasters, was beyond any 
 thing I had ever had the opportunity of observing amongst others of his class; and he was the 
 only seaman in that station 1 have ever met with, who never swore an oath, drank a dram, or was 
 seen disordered with liquor of any kind. Had I been an admiral, I could not have done less 
 than signally have rewarded his services : but though my employers had generously left it to 
 me to reward merit wherever I found it, I was obliged to be contented to do on this occasion 
 what was properly in my own power: 1 therefore put him upon the same footing with William 
 Smart, who was master of I he Edystone Boat, and had long been employed in the service of the 
 Proprietors; paid him the difference of the wages, and emoluments, from the time ol lus entry; 
 and further promised him the command of the first vessel that should be built in addition for our 
 service : which boon I know not whether he had more satisfaction in receiving, or I in bestowing; 
 but 1 was sure he could not be better satisfied with it, than I was convinced that he deserved it. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 CONTAINING TTIE TRANSACTIONS OF THE WINTER OF 1756, AND OF THE 
 FOLLOWING SPRING 1757, TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 
 OUTWORK OF THE ENSUING SEASON. 
 
 164. DURING this period, my operations were so numerous, diversified, and blended to¬ 
 gether, with respect to the time in which the several transactions were performed, that though I 
 suppose a minute detail thereof was very interesting and satisfactory to the Proprietors at the lime 
 thev were carried on, yet now such a particular relation would be unworthy of their attention, 
 and much less that of the. public: for which reason I shall only recount the leading or most in¬ 
 teresting facts, without always regarding the precise days on which they were performed ; unless 
 it should appear proper in some instances so to do. 
 
 1 have already mentioned, that our work-yard at Mill Bay was ready for the reception of 
 stone, and the employment of stone-cutters.: hut though I found that Messrs. Richardson and 
 Hill were very well qualified for the Outwork, yet as they had been but little used to the work¬ 
 ing of Portland stone, upon the exact performance of which the Frame (il I may so call it) of our 
 building depended; I was on that account induced to accept of the services of William Tyr¬ 
 rell, who had been one of the masons concerned in the preparation of the stone at Portland for 
 Westminster Bridge, and who, on the recommendation of Mr. Richardson (on whom I found I 
 could always rely,) offered himself as foreman over the stone-cutters, and to overlook the works 
 of the yard. 
 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRST WINTER. 
 
 93 
 
 105. THE general design and contrivance of our Work-Yard will appear by Plate No. 17 , 
 and the detail will be fully understood by the technical explanation of the plate; but to render 
 it sufficiently intelligible for the present, I take this opportunity of explaining the principal pro- 
 perties thereof: and though the plan of a mason’s work-yard may not appear to be a matter of 
 much concern, or susceptible of much invention, yet in our particular case, the successful carry¬ 
 ing on, and expediting of our works, depended more upon a convenient disposition of this, than 
 can readily be imagined. 
 
 From the beginning I always laid it down as a fundamental maxim, that on account of the 
 precariousness of weather to suit our purposes, (and without its being favourable, I think it has 
 already sufficiently appeared, that nothing is to be done upon the Edystone) if we could save one 
 Hour’s work upon the Rock by that of a Week in our Work-yard, this would always prove a 
 valuable purchase ; and that therefore every thing ought to be done by way of preparation, which 
 could tend to the putting our work together with expedition and certainty, in the ultimate fixing 
 of it in its proper place ; and tor this purpose, it was necessary to make use of as large and heavy 
 pieces of stone as, in such a situation as the Edystone, were likely to be capable of being managed 
 without running too great a risk. 
 
 166. THE common run of modern buildings, even of the largest size, are composed of pieces 
 in general not exceeding five or six hundred weight, except where columns, architraves, cornices, 
 and other parts are to be formed that indispensably recjuirc large single pieces; because stones 
 of this size and bulk are capable of being handled without the use of Tackles, or Purchases, 
 unless where they are to be raised perpendicularly : yet it appeared to me, that this choice of 
 general magnitude resulted only from the workmen's not having commonly attained all that ex¬ 
 pertness in the management of the mechanic Powers that they might have; in consequence of 
 which, they avoid, wherever they can, the necessity of employing them. This arises not from the 
 real nature of the thing, when properly understood ; for a stone of a ton weight is, when hoisted 
 by a proper tackle, and power of labourers, as soon and as easily set in its place, as one of a 
 quarter of that weight; and in reality, needs much less hewing than is necessary for the pre¬ 
 paration of four stones to fill up the same space ; nor needs this reasoning stop at stones of a 
 ton weight, but it might proceed even to as large sizes as are said to be found in the ruins of 
 Balbec * ; if there were not inconveniences of other kinds to set on the opposite side of the ques¬ 
 tion, as well as the want of quarries in this kingdom to produce stones of that magnitude. 
 
 167- THE size of the stones that could be used in the Edystone Lighthouse seemed limited by 
 the practicability of landing them upon the rock: for as nothing but small vessels, that were easily 
 manageable, could possibly deliver their cargoes alongside of the rock, with any reasonable pro¬ 
 spect of safety ; so no small vessels could deliver very large stones, because the sudden rising and 
 falling of the vessels in the Gut amounted frequently to the difference of three or four feet, even 
 in moderate weather, when it was very practicable for a vessel to lie there ; so that in case, after 
 a stone was raised from the floor of the vessel, her gunnel should take a swing, so as to hitch 
 under the stone, one of such a magnitude as we are now supposing, on the vessel’s rising, must 
 infallibly sink her; and bence it appeared, that much of the safety in delivering the cargoes 
 would depend upon having the single pieces not to exceed such weight, as could be expeditiously 
 hoisted, and got out of the way of the vessel, by a moderate number of hands, and by such sort 
 of tackles as could be removed from the rock to the store-vessel each tide : and on a full view of 
 the whole matter, it appeared to me very practicable to land such pieces of stone upon the rock, 
 as in general did not much exceed a ton weight; though occasionally particular pieces might 
 amount to two tons "I". 
 
 The general size of our building stones being thus determined upon at a ton weight, those would 
 
 • There are three stones lying contiguous in the plain part of a wall, that from the measures amount together to upwards of 1,500 
 tons. See Wood’s account of the ruins of Balbec. Descript. Plate 3d. Page 19- 
 
 t In the course of the building we have had instances of the boat’s gunnel hitching under a stone in the tackle, and so as to un¬ 
 hook it: yet we fortunately never suffered any damage by losing the stones, as .they always happened to fall from the gunnel into the 
 boat. 
 
 B B 
 
BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 94 
 
 have been far too heavy to he expeditiously transferred and managed, even in the work-yard, 
 unless our machinery rendered that easy, which would otherwise be difficult, without too great 
 an expence of labour : and as the moving and transferring the pieces of stone in the work-yard 
 would be greatly increased in quantity, by the very mode of attaining a certainty in putting the 
 work together upon the rock; this consideration made it still the more necessary, to be able to load 
 upon a carriage, and move the different pieces from one part of the yard to the other, with as 
 much facility (comparatively speaking) as if they had been so many bricks : for, that we might 
 arrive at perfect certainty in putting the work ultimately together in its place upon the rock, it 
 did not appear to be enough, that the stones should all be hewn as exactly as possible to moulds 
 that fitted each other ; but it was further necessary, that the stones in every course should be tried 
 together in their real situation in respect to each other, and so exactly marked, that every stone, 
 after the course was taken asunder, could be replaced in the identical position in which it lay 
 upon the Platform, within the fortieth part of an inch.—Nor was this alone sufficient; for every 
 course must not only be tried singly together upon the platform, and marked, but it must have the 
 course next above it put upon it, and marked in the same manner, that every two contiguous 
 courses might fit each other on the outside, and prevent an irregularity in the outline : and this 
 indeed, in effect, amounted to the platforming of every course twice : so that, in this way of work¬ 
 ing, every stone must be no less than six times upon the carriage; 1st, When brought into the 
 yard from the ship, to carry it to the place of deposition till wanted to be worked.—2utlly, When 
 taken up and carried to the Shed to be worked.—3tlly, After being wrought, to be returned to 
 its place of deposition.—4thly, When taken up to be carried to the platform.-—5thl y, When 
 finished on the platform to be returned to its place of deposition.—6thly, When taken up to be 
 carried to the Jetty, to be loaded on board a vessel to go to sea. 
 
 It. might at first sight appear superfluous, to try the courses together upon each other, as the 
 under and upper sides of all the courses were planes: and, in case the work could have been put 
 together upon the rock in the same way that common masonry generally is done, it would have 
 been so: that is, if we could have begun our courses by setting the outside pieces first, then it 
 would have been very practicable to have regulated the inside pieces thereto; but as our hope of 
 expedition depended upon certainty in every part of our progress, this required us to be in a con¬ 
 dition to resist a Storm at every Step : the outside stones therefore, unconnected with the inner 
 ones, would have scarce any fastening besides their own weight, and would be subject to the most 
 immediate and greatest shock of the sea ; and after completing the outward circle, the inner space 
 would be liable to become a receptacle for water : the necessity therefore of fixing the centre stone 
 first, as least exposed to the stroke of the sea, and of having sure means of attaching all the rest 
 to it, and to one another, rendered it indispensable that the whole of the two courses should be 
 tried together; that if any defect appeared at the outside, by an accumulation of errors from the 
 centre, it might be rectified upon the platform 11 '. 
 
 168 . THE second week in December three vessels arrived from Portland, and their cargoes 
 (amounting to about 120 tons) were landed, and stowed away in the yard with all possible facility; 
 and on Monday the 13th, the masons first began to work the stone, under the inspection of Mr. 
 Tyrrell, who that day entered as foreman of the yard.—I now found there was a likelihood of 
 meeting with difficulties and delays in getting the moorstone; for having some time since given 
 Course XI. to be roughed out by Walter Treleven, he came to Plymouth to inform me, that 
 he had prepared the same, according to the moulds and my directions; but having engaged a 
 
 * From a view of Plate No. 17, the reader will perceive that a vessel to be unloaded of stone being laid athwart the Jetty Head, 
 a pair of Purchase Blocks being suspended from the top of the Shears, and the tackle fall (or running rope) carried to the small Cap- 
 stand in the yard; the stones, being hoisted sufficiently high, can be delivered upon the four-wheel carriage that runs along the tim¬ 
 ber road, commonly called at the Collieries, where they are used, a ltail Road : and being landed upon the carriage, any stone can be 
 delivered upon any of the Bankers in the line of the work-sheds on either side: or the carriage being turned a quarter round upon the 
 Turnpike, or Turnrail at T, it can be carried along the road that goes up the middle of the yard, and be delivered upon any part of 
 its area destined for their deposition; all the stones marked for the same course being deposited together; from which place they can 
 be again taken up upon the carriage, run along the road, and be delivered upon any Banker in the line of sheds, or upon the Platform, 
 and afterwards returned back to the same place of deposition, ready to be carried to sea in their proper order: the particular modes 
 for the performance of which are explained in the description of this Plate, No. 17.—N. B. A Banker in a mason’s yard is a square 
 stone of a suitable size, made use of as a work-bench. 
 
95 
 
 TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRST WINTER. 
 
 master of a vessel to bring it to Plymouth that spring tide, he had been disappointed by him, as 
 he had been twice before by two others; all the three excusing themselves from their engage¬ 
 ment, on account of the largeness of the stones, which they alledged were unmanageable, the 
 larger sort of them weighing (to them the astonishing weight of) one Ton! Ami therefore, 
 unless I could myself induce some person to fetch them, they must stay where they were. Finding 
 nothing but difficulties and disappointments likely to arise from that quarter, I again hired Han¬ 
 cock's Sloop, and the next morning dispatched J. Bowden and three other seamen, with one of 
 our smaller purchase tackles, in the sloop to Parr, with which the stones were got on board with 
 all imaginable ease, and in three days deposited in our yard ; and our moorstone hands began 
 immediately to work upon them. 
 
 169. 1 HE moorstone, though very hard with respect to its component parts, yet being of a 
 friable nature, is ex tremely difficult to work to an Ariss (or sharp corner) or even to be preserved, 
 when so wrought by great labour and patience, that is, with sharp tools, and small blows; it 
 therefore soon appeared to me, that we should make very rough and coarse work of it, if the finish¬ 
 ing of the pieces were left to the workmen of the country where produced ; for, though carefully 
 wrought there in their place, yet in loading and unloading from their carriages, and again put¬ 
 ting on board, and unloading from the vessels, the Arisses would be very subject to damage. 
 Therefore to have as much done in the country as possible, and to save weight in carriage, (leaving 
 the finishing part to be done at home) rough moulds were sent for each size and species of stone, 
 which were to be worked by them to a given parallel thickness, and with length and breadth 
 enough, when so bedded, (as it is called) to be cut round all the sides to the true figure of 
 the finishing mould : but they were to reduce them as near the size as they could safely do it by 
 the hammer; and that they might not leave on unnecessary waste, they were to be paid no more 
 for either stone or carriage, than what the mould measured upon the thickness given*; and if 
 they were wanting of substance sufficient to make the figure complete, it should be at our option 
 to reject them when they came home. 
 
 According to this plan I soon after agreed with Mr. Box for 200 tons of moorstone ; 100 tons 
 of which were to be delivered by May-day next ensuing, and the remainder in the course of the 
 following summer, to be laid down in our yard at the price of 20.?. per ton-f, clear of all charges, 
 and 7 d. per foot superficial for working the beds as before-mentioned. 1 also agreed with Wa l- 
 ter Treleven for 40 tons of stone, conditioned as above, at the price of 2 5s. per ton, cubic 
 measure of the moulds, and 4 d. per foot superficial for working the beds, to be delivered by 
 May-day at Parr; we undertaking the water-carriage. 
 
 There was some difference in the price, upon the whole, between the two contractors; but 
 this was the least material part of the consideration: however as the terms with Mr. Box were not 
 only the lowest, but his stone was less friable and better coloured, and would give us no trouble 
 in getting home, it may reasonably be asked, why I did not get the whole quantity wanted from 
 Mr. Box? 1 he reason was, 100 tons were not sufficient for the service of the approaching season, 
 and he could not undertake for more in due time. I might indeed have made 100 tons suffice, 
 could I have been sure of its delivery; but as accidents and disappointments might happen, as 
 well to Mr. Box as to Mr. Treleven, it appeared to me, that the way to be safe was, to order a 
 quantity from both; besides, I found, that had I not before given an order to Walter Tre¬ 
 leven, I had not had the offer upon so low terms from Mr. Box; who now plainly saw, that if 
 he did not agree with me, the order for the whole would go to his rival. 
 
 170. AS soon as the works of the yard commenced, I constantly visited them twice a day; 
 and as I laid down all the lines myself upon the mould-room floor, I was not without a regular 
 series of daily business.—It was judged necessary, for the service of the next season in carrying- 
 out our stone and materials, immediately to set about the building of additional vessels: the making 
 of proper designs therefore for those vessels, and the surveying the construction thereof, with oc- 
 
 * There was to be no deduction from the contractor, on account of the contracted waists of the moulds. 
 
 t The ton was to measure 14 cubic feet. 
 
96 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 casional duty in the yard, furnished a fixed employment also to Mr. Jessop. —It has been 
 already observed, that it was wholly impracticable to carry vessels of any considerable burthen, 
 into the Gut to deliver their cargoes; it therefore appeared, that our service would be best per¬ 
 formed by multiplying small vessels, of such a size as to be tractable when lying to unload there¬ 
 in, and which could readilyibe hauled in and out by a small number of hands. It appeared also 
 impracticable to make use of vessels decked over the hold, where the stone was to lie; for any 
 thing being in the way of their rising would be subject to hitch upon the stone, so as to occasion 
 the breakage of the tackle, and the fall of the stone; so that in this view, they would require 
 particular dimensions and constructions. 
 
 It appeared, however, that we might make use of vessels somewhat larger than the Edystone 
 boat, which was about 12 tous; but we judged 16, or at the utmost 18 tons, was as large a vessel 
 as could well be managed in the Gut. Mr. Jessop judiciously advised their being built unusually 
 bold in their Bows, and to have a sufficiency of height, or depth, to render them very floaty and 
 lively in a rough hollow sea; though by this mode of construction they might not be so speedy 
 sailers. It also appeared, that as there could be no taking in of ballast, when they had delivered 
 their cargo at the Edystone, they must necessarily always be in sailing trim; and consequently, 
 that the necessary tonnage of the ballast must be so much to be subtracted from the whole bur¬ 
 then of the vessels, the remainder only being the tonnage of materials that could be put on board 
 them. But this was not to be the only deduction from their whole burthen; for we judged it 
 would much contribute to the general safety, not to load them more than within one-fourth or 
 one-fifth of their full capacity, which would not only render them buoyant upon the water, but 
 be a sufficient allowance for an occasional addition by carrying other building materials, as also 
 the companies. 
 
 To form some estimate therefore of what we should want; suppose from the whole burthen of 
 18 tons, we deduct four tons for ballast, and allow each vessel to be four tons underloaded, then an 
 18 ton vessel would carry a cargo of ten tons. How many of these vessels we might probably want, 
 was determined as follows:—We could not expect in the approaching year to get the building 
 higher than the completion of the entire solid ; and as the plan of every part thereof was already 
 fixed, we could easily determine, that the tonnage of this part of the work would be about 450 tons. 
 Now supposing our working season to be, the months of June, July, August, and September, and 
 that during this season, we could at an average operate with full effect for two days in the week; 
 then in this space we might expect 35 working days, and this would amount to about 13 tons that 
 should be carried out per day.—The Edystone boat’s burthen being about 12 tons; admit her to 
 carry three tons of ballast, and to be three tons light, then her cargo would be six tons, which, 
 with a new boat’s cargo of ten tons, would make 16 tons, that is, three tons more than the quan¬ 
 tity required : but as things of this hazardous nature seldom come up to calculation ; as here is 
 too little to make up deficiencies, or possibly the loss of a boat, we judged it requisite, in order 
 to guard against accidents, that two new boats of 18 tons each, should be built. 
 
 171. IN regard to our Yawls, having lost them all, the experience of the last season taught 
 11 s what we should want, and what best answered our service; and having now not only the op¬ 
 portunity, but time also, we provided ourselves accordingly. VVe much regreLted the loss of our 
 original large yawl, which was of Mr. Jessop’s providing, while I was last in London ; as it com¬ 
 pletely answered the service for which it was built: but being too large, and too heavy, to get 
 upon the deck of the Buss after every tide’s work, we were obliged to let it lie at her stern, and 
 in the hard gale of the 13th of October, it gradually filled by the broken seas driving into it.; 
 and there being at that time far too much sea to haul it up and clear it of water, it became by 
 degrees heavier and heavier, and at last broke the Painter*, and went adrift as before-mentioned. 
 —The yawl that we lost in the last storm, when we were driven out of the Channel, was one pro¬ 
 cured from Deal, which place is famous for the building of this kind of boats, both for lightness 
 and ability to bear the sea: this boat, when not in use, was commonly hauled upon the deck of 
 the Buss, but as in our passage from the Edystone to Fowey, we were almost right before the 
 
 • The name given to the rope which is fastened to the Stem of a boat, and by which it is either detained or hauled in. 
 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRST WINTER. 
 
 97 
 
 wind, the getting her on deck, while we were thus sailing, was thought unnecessary, as we should 
 immediately have wanted her in the harbour : and afterwards it became impracticable. 
 
 As there was now upon sale a vessel and her equipments, in different lots, we purchased her 
 long boat, being a stout broad boat, much of the size and model of the great yawl we had lost, 
 and which would answer for her occasional service; we called her the Sea Horse yawl from the 
 name of the ship to which she had belonged. However, as we saw very plainly that we should 
 be frequently losing our boats on the out-service, unless we could take them all on board the Buss, 
 we determined to build two light yawls, of such size and construction, as that both might be 
 stowed upon the deck of the Buss at once, and also to build them at home; because, though for 
 want of time, Mr. Jessop had ordered the former light yawl from Heal, and sent the builders 
 there the dimensions and sort of vessel; yet they confiding that their experience in this branch 
 needed no directions from any one, sent us a boat much about our size, and sufficiently light, but 
 considerably narrower in proportion to her length, as well as sharper both before and aft: which 
 though perhaps better adapted for rowing in moderately rough water (and which doubtless would 
 answer very well at Deal) yet was not so well adapted to the hollow distracted seas that are fre¬ 
 quently encountered among the Edystone Rocks, as we evidently found the bold full-breasted 
 boats to be. As all the vessels built by Mr. Jessop’s directions fully and completely answered 
 their intentions in our service, I am sorry that I have it not in my power, for the sake of those, 
 who may happen to have a work to perform in rough Seas, to give the delineations of them; for 
 though the designs were regularly made out by Mr. Jessop, yet by being worn out in the builders 
 hands whilst they were in use, they were not preserved ; I happen however to have by me the 
 original draught for one of the smaller yawls that Mr. Jessop produced to me for my appro¬ 
 bation, and Plate No. 16, contains a tracing thereof from his own drawing, which will indeed 
 serve for every size of Yawl, by altering the scale ; but our large boats for carrying out the stone, 
 though much of the same kind of mould, were considerably deeper in proportion. The figure 
 of the boat represented as lying in the Gut delivering her cargo, Plate No. 14, though only 
 sketched from memory, yet may serve to give some idea of what they were, especially if attention 
 be given to the real design of the yawl, Plate No. 16. The principle of all our vessels, as far as 
 they differed from common ones, was, that they were considerably broader in proportion to their 
 length, and remarkably full in their bows; which, though not adapted to make way swiftly 
 through smooth water, yet enabled them to float much more lively upon the surface, when a 
 sharper vessel would almost bury itself in the water; they were therefore not only safer, but 
 even made better Way in a rough sea.—Accordingly, one of the large boats of 18 tons, and a 
 light yawl were immediately put in hand. 
 
 172 . IN this respite from sea operations, I seriously began to consider the great importance 
 that it was likely to be of to our work, to have a Cement the most perfect that was possible, to 
 resist the extreme violence of the sea. And on a consideration of this matter, it appeared, that 
 nothing of the resinous, or oily kind, could have any place in our work, as it would require the 
 surface to be dry, to enable it to make a complete adhesion; whereas the getting any thing com¬ 
 pletely dry, was one of our greatest difficulties. It seemed therefore that nothing in the way of 
 Cement would answer our end, but what would adhere to a moist surface, and become hard, 
 without ever becoming completely dry. 
 
 173. I BEGAN now to foresee that before I could have a complete sample produced of every 
 part of the work, that might be wanted for the operations of next season, it would be pretty far 
 advanced in the spring ; and as I proposed beginning the outwork as early in the season as pos¬ 
 sible, I determined to winter at Plymouth (without returning to my residence in London, as I 
 had before intended) though to the detriment of my own private concerns; laying every consider¬ 
 ation aside in favour of the Edystone. I therefore resolved to take every opportunity in the even¬ 
 ings and intervals of my attendance on the work-yard, mould-room, &c. to go through a com¬ 
 plete set of experiments on Cements, so far as it concerned the subject I had in hand : for 1 plainly 
 saw from the manner of working the moorstone, already described, that not only much of Lhe 
 beauty and neatness of the work, but its real solidity too, would depend upon getting a Cement 
 
98 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. III. 
 
 that would, in despite of water almost continually driven against it with every degree of violence, 
 become of so firm a consistence in itself, and adhesion to the stone, that it should lie fair and flush 
 in the joints, and so as to compose one even regular surface with the stone ; and without needing 
 Hoops of Iron or Copper to surround the horizontal joints, as seems to have been the expedient 
 of Mr. Wixstanley. I was so fortunate as to succeed in this part of the business entirely to 
 my satisfaction ; and perhaps in a degree unknown before : and having made much use since of 
 the experience which I then acquired ; having had frequent occasions and opportunities of com¬ 
 municating it to others; and having been asked many questions concerning it; I trust that my 
 reader will forgive me, if I am diffuse enough to enter into a full explanation of the subject, so 
 far as I know it. I mean not however to tire him with recording all the particular experiments, 
 as this would lie almost endless, they having been pursued through the whole of this winter; but 
 only to state the principal scope and design of them, with the results : nor do I propose to enter 
 into a chemical disquisition upon them, which I leave to the learned in that science. But as what 
 I have to say on this subject will carry me to some length, I shall reserve it to a distinct chapter, 
 in order to keep the matter together. 
 
 174. EARLY this spring I thought it expedient to make a journey to the West, not only 
 to survey the moorstone works that were then going on, but to acquaint myself with Mount’s 
 Bay, in case we should have a future occasion to take refuge there.—I must however premise, 
 that on the 25th of January, in returning from Mill Bay at five o’clock in the evening, I observed 
 four flashes of lightning towards the West, within the space of six or seven minutes, but heard 
 no noise of thunder. A few days after, I was informed, that the same evening the lightning had 
 shattered the church of Lostwithiel, in a very surprising manner: and though from the many re¬ 
 lations 1 had read, I could not doubt, but that the eflects of lightning were very great; yet as 
 this was the first opportunity that had occurred to me of seeing them with my own eyes, I was 
 very solicitous not to lose the opportunity. I therefore on this journey called to visit this church, 
 not only as an object of curiosity, but as a matter very interesting to my own work; and I com¬ 
 municated a particular account of these eflects to the Royal Society, which as it stands recorded 
 in the 50th volume of the Philosophical Transactions, for the year 1757» page 198, I shall take 
 no further notice of here, than as it immediately applies to the subject I am upon. 
 
 The steeple of the church of Lostwithiel before this accident was 113 feet high, whereof the 
 lower part was a square tower of 49 feet, finished above with an elegant Gothic octagon lantern, 
 12 feet high, and above it a stone spire of 52 feet, of which a portion of 20 feet of the upper part 
 was entirely burst, and dispersed in all directions; and some of the stones that composed it were 
 found at the distance of 200 yards.—The masonry, as is usual in ancient and well-built spires, 
 was very light, the stones composing the shell of it being no more than seven inches thick; so 
 that the single stones of it could not in general exceed one hundred weight: yet as they were all 
 curiously joined together at the ends, mortoise and tenon fashion, and appeared to have been ex¬ 
 ceedingly well cemented together, nothing, as it should seem, but a great power of some elastic 
 vapour, similar to the sudden explosion of a considerable quantity of gunpowder, could have burst 
 and dispersed the materials of the spire in the manner it had done : for besides the part entirely 
 destroyed, to six feet further down, one half of the shell was thrown down, and the other half 
 left standing, in so perilous a state, that it was judged necessary to take it down; and on doing 
 this, the work was found so disjointed and shattered, that it was thought necessary to take down 
 six feet more. It was in this situation when I viewed it, the beginning of March ; and I found 
 that the whole of the spire left standing, as well as the lantern, was greatly cracked, and damaged. 
 Many other circumstances occurred which shewed the eflects of an elastic vapour, that wanted 
 to get at liberty by expansion, somewhat similar in its most obvious effects to that of gunpowder; 
 and under this idea, I might have been tempted to suppose, that had the shell of the spire been 
 rendered stronger by cramping the stones together, as well as tenoning the ends, it might have 
 sustained the elastic pressure outwards, without being torn to pieces: but there were some at¬ 
 tending circumstances which convinced me, that the action had not been altogether in the way 
 of an included elastic vapour, endeavouring to expand itself; upon which principle, the weakest 
 part would have given way, and have afforded an opening to the vapour : for, at the bottom of 
 
as we came 
 t with great 
 to have a 
 
 the steeple, at the level of the ground, an hole had been pierced entirely through the wall, and 
 through an oppos.te buttress, whose compound thickness amounted to eight feet - whereas at the 
 distance of a foot s,deway it might have got through by piercing the wall alone, which was not 
 more than hve feet thick.-This circumstance, beyond all the devastation that had been made 
 both in the steeple and the body of the church, convinced me, that there could be no certainty 
 of making any wall so strong as to withstand the action of Lightning; and consequently that no 
 security against the effects of it, that human sagacity had either discovered, or could suggest 
 ought to be omitted in any building of consequence. Therefore, however strongly I was dis- 
 posed, before I saw this example, to adopt the proposition of Dr. (then Mr.) Franklin for the 
 preservation of buildings from the effects of lightning by means of a Conductor (which had 
 not at that tune become popular) this instance applied itself so closely to my feelings, that I de¬ 
 termined to put his method in practice in my proposed building, in tile best manner I was able- 
 and the particular mode in which this was done, will be fully explained when we come to that 
 period of the building. 
 
 175. DURING the time the experiments on Cement were making, and the works of tile yard 
 proceeding vigorously, I was very desirous to find an opportunity of going upon the rock to com¬ 
 plete our moulds for the foundation courses ; hut it was very seldom at that time of the year that 
 the weather, even in appearance, was promising. However, Wednesday January the 12th, there 
 having been some days of frost, with moderate breezes, this morning the water in Plymouth 
 Sound was very smooth, and I went on board the Edystone boat with Mr. Jessop and the mould- 
 maker, the Sea-Horse yawl attending. All- continued promising till we got out of the Sound, 
 but without the Ram Head we met with a swell from the South, which increased as 
 nearer the Edystone, so that when we cainc there, we found the sea beating ovc 
 violence at low water: we ran within twice our boat’s length of it, 011 the West 
 view of the work, in which we could not perceive any injury from the late storms, nor cha 
 except that the new surface was of the same colour as the old; being all grown over with dark 
 coloured green sea-weed. We also ran alongside our buoy upon the moorings, and had the great 
 satisfaction to find it floating, and in good order. 
 
 We made several expeditions of the same nature in the course of the spring, and with no 
 better success; so that it was not till the 23d of April that we got a landing. We then went out 
 in our first new boat, which was launched on the 22d of March, and was called the Weston, John 
 Bowden, master. 1 here being little wind, we were obliged to row almost all the way. Between 
 twelve and one, when we were now about a league from the rock, it became calm; and as we 
 were not soon likely to get out with the great boat, we betook ourselves to the Sea-Horse yawl 
 which attended us, and in an hour landed, and got a tide’s work of four hours; in which time 
 having marked a durable middle line upon the rock, we got the moulds completed for Courses 
 I. II. and VI. except that a right line was wanted to be drawn upon them, to enable us to join 
 them together again on shore, in the same position exactly in which they lay upon the rock; and 
 for this particular use a ruler had been provided, which being too long to carry in the yawl, was 
 left on hoard the Weston, to he brought forward by her: hut as she did not arrive at the moor¬ 
 ings till we were obliged to quit the rock, this was a sensible disappointment; however it did not 
 prevent us from completing for use the courses we had framed : for, by stretching a piece of pack¬ 
 thread over the moulds, we were enabled to bore two small holes in every piece; so that when 
 the parts of the moulds were laid together in contact upon a level floor, and those holes brought 
 into a right line, they would then he in the same position as they were upon the rock._As it re¬ 
 
 mained calm, we determined to stay in the Weston all night, hut, on examination, finding the 
 carpenter had neglected to bring off an additional paper of nails that he was expressly ordered 
 to bring, and reminded of, this trifling incident, however small in itself, was yet likely to put a 
 stop to our farther proceedings; for not being- able to form any expedient to do without the 
 nails, the carpenter and three seamen were dispatched in the yawl for Plymouth to bring out this 
 necessary article. The weather continued calm all the night, hut in the morning it began to blow 
 fresh at S. which brought on a swell; and not only prevented us from landing, hut obliged 
 us to return to Plymouth.—Upon the 30th, we got a very good landing in the yawl, and had the 
 
Ill 
 
 1 76 . THE accomplishment of these moulds, (an object much desired ever since the con¬ 
 clusion of the last year’s work) having been thus happily effected, after much delay, disappoint¬ 
 ment, and danger; the next thing was to procure a room, upon the floor of which we could lay 
 them together, and, by laying down chalk lines, form the rest of the pieces that were wanted to 
 make up each course, to which they formed, as it were, the Roots. This requiring a larger room 
 than any we had at our command, I applied to the Mayor of Plymouth for the use of the floor of 
 the Guildhall : and I am very sure the present magistrates will blush for their predecessor, when 
 thev are told that his Worship had so little feeling, or attention to the public service, that I was 
 absolutely refused, on pretence that the chalk lines would spoil the floor. I afterwards applied 
 for the Assembly Room, but there I succeeded no better. These unexpected rubs were not how¬ 
 ever insuperable; for by removing a partition between two rooms, which were the garrets of our 
 cooper, I got a floor large enough to hold each course at twice; and to this, though attended 
 with a considerable addition of trouble, yet as it would only occur in the third, fourth, fifth, and 
 sixth courses, I determined to submit, rather than subject myself to any more Denials. 
 
 177. IN considering at leisure tbe various impediments to which our work was liable, it be¬ 
 hoved us to endeavour to remove every thing of that sort possible. Though our predecessors, to 
 prevent annoyance from an enemy, bad a vessel of war upon the station to protect the workmen, 
 yet the generous behaviour of the French King on a former occasion, (mentioned § 57,) gave us 
 assurance that we should have nothing to fear from the enemies of the state. But yet we had ex¬ 
 perienced, during the course of the last season, a good deal of hindrance and interruption from 
 our Friends; for our boats were frequently stopped and boarded by the men of war’s cutters, to 
 impress the seamen ; and notwithstanding they were furnished with Admiralty protections, yet 
 there occurred some instances of the oflicers being so indiscreet as to pay no regard either to the 
 protections or the service they were upon. And though our men were always released with po¬ 
 liteness, when the matter was represented to the Commander in Chief, yet all this produced 
 delays and hindrances incompatible with the urgency of our business. And as it plainly ap¬ 
 peared, that nobody would molest us, provided it could be made clearly to appear, without col¬ 
 lusion, that our men were really and bona fule employed in the Edystone service, it occurred to 
 me, that if a large figure of the Lighthouse was painted upon the mainsail of our boats, it would 
 be an evident mark of distinction at a distance, and prevent their being stopped. But yet, that after 
 all, the seamen, when on shore, would still be liable to be detained, when absent from their boats. 
 To prevent this, I considered, that if I had a stamp, which could not readily be counterfeited, 
 with which one might at pleasure stamp a piece of silver, each man employed by us might thus 
 be furnished with an evident token in his pocket of the service to which he belonged. This idea 
 havin'* been communicated to Mr. Weston, he soon got a sufficient number of silver medals made 
 for the purpose, of which Fig. 7, Elate No. 18, is the representation: and after the distribution 
 of these, and the painting of the sails, we never had any further interruption. 
 
 
 178. A HINDRANCE of another kind however arose ; for about the middle of February, 
 we had advice from Mr. Tucker, that the frequent appearance of French privateers had intimidated 
 the masters of tbe Portland vessels so much, that they were afraid to stir out: and this gave me 
 the more solicitude, as all the stone we had received from Portland was then nearly worked up. 
 On communicating this, Mr. Weston immediately applied to the Lords of the Admiralty, who 
 dispatched an order to the commander in chief at Portsmouth, to send a convoy upon notice from 
 Mr. Tucker, of any vessel being ready to sail that was freighted with stone for the Edystone. 
 However, before any convoy was sent, two vessels thought good to run it; and arrived with a 
 fresh supply of stone from Portland the 8th of March, and carried back to Portland the moulds 
 for all the stone that could possibly be wanted in the course of the ensuing Summer. 
 
 179- AS we had been for several days without any unwrought stone in the yard ; the masons 
 
 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRST WINTER. ]01 
 
 were employed in detaching sufficient pieces from the neighbouring marble rocks, and forming 
 out of them cubes of one foot each side, for inlaying between the different courses ; as will be more 
 particularly descnbed hereafter in its proper place : and the labouring tinners were employed in 
 drifting a couple of holes through the outward end of every single stone ; by which they were in¬ 
 tended to be trenailed down to the course below. For, though I could not easily conceive when 
 each block was fixed in its place, by oak wedges in the dovetail space cut out of the rock or fur¬ 
 nished by the work already fixed, that any thing could move it; yet, considering the unmeasured 
 violence of the sea, I determined to omit nothing that could tend to keep the whole firm together 
 while the cement was fresh and unhardened ; as that seemed the best way to prevent derano-e- 
 menls and disappointments, while things were going on : and soon after, we purchased 300 tre¬ 
 nails, of the best quality, and the same size that I understood was used in building the first rate 
 men of war; being Q'- feet long, and two inches square, in the rough. 
 
 180. IN carrying on a work of this sort, I have always found it more difficult to manage the 
 workmen employed, than to controul the elements. High wages and encouragements may have 
 the efiect of inducing men, in cases where they cannot be compelled, to enter into such services, 
 winch no other kind of persuasion would be able to accomplish.—This mode, however, by no 
 means teaches them Submission and Obedience; on the contrary, it leads them to suppose that 
 every success, in the operations they have been concerned in, is owing to their own personal merit 
 and address; and that, had they not been employed, the thing could not have been done by any 
 other persons : of this I had several examples in tile course of the outworks of the last season; 
 having discovered a strong tendency to Mutiny and Combination.— William Hill, though as 
 a foreman he received one shilling per hour extra pay, and had in one week of the preceding sea¬ 
 son intitled himself to the receipt of near five Guineas, (including his constant wages,) yet this by 
 no means increased Ins gratitude for being taken into the employ, or his attachment to the service. 
 In short, having found him irregular and disorderly, and privately a sower of discord among the 
 workmen; and having always in such cases experienced it to be the most effectual method to lay 
 the axe to the root of tile tree ; I discharged him the service for disobedience of Orders, as an ex¬ 
 ample to less offenders.—This transaction being upon a Saturday, on Monday following, Hill 
 came into the yard to fetch away his tools, and claimed the fulfilling of their promise of ail those 
 who had worked with him upon the rock ; which was, “ that if he should be discharged they would 
 all follow him .” Upon this I instantly called them together, and desired that whoever had any 
 dependance upon, or attachment to, William Hill, would take away his tools and depart the 
 yard immediately; which one of the moorstone masons did, aft the rest prudently chusing to stay 
 where they were. 
 
 181. THIS transaction gave an opening to rectify what I had plainly perceived to be an evil 
 to the service of the Outwork ; that is, that the Premiums with respect to the inferior workmen 
 were not only too near that of the foremen, but in reality higher than necessary to countervail 
 the risk, in their own Opinions : and indeed every encouragement more than that tended only, as 
 we have seen, to make the men disorderly and untractable : wherefore after consideration, the 
 following Saturday I called together in the yard all the workmen that served upon the rock 
 during the last season, and represented to them, that in proportion as the house was raised, the 
 number of hours they would have opportunity of working thereon would increase, and the work 
 become easier and less hazardous; and that therefore they ought not to expect the same premium 
 by the hour, the ensuing year, that they had had the last year; and that in consequence I in¬ 
 tended to settle such a price at the beginning of the work of this seasoD, as I proposed to hold to 
 tdl we could make a lodgement thereon; for then, they would be able to make regular days works; 
 and that the price I should now fix would he six-pence per hour for the masons and carpenter, 
 and four-pence per hour for the tinners; their weekly wages to be the same as last year: and 
 under these conditions every individual might take his choice, either of working constantly in the 
 yard, or of going off to the rock by rotation every other week. Whereupon every one without 
 hesitation declared his readiness to serve upon the rock, upon the terms offered: an event which 
 gave me particular satisfaction, as it would not only be a considerable saving to the proprietors, 
 
102 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 but the work itself would be quite as well and expeditiously done. And, though it is not an easy 
 matter to reduce emoluments, with the Consent of parties; yet I have always found amongst 
 mechanical artificers, as I suppose it. is with other denominations of men; that firmness, justice, 
 equality, and a fair alternative, will always carry the point. 
 
 182. IN the month of May I received a letter from Mr. Tucker, importing that in con¬ 
 sequence of the Admiralty’s order, he had some time ago applied to the Commanding Officer 
 of the Fleet at Portsmouth, to have a convoy for the Edystone materials to Plymouth ; that he 
 had regularly got an answ er from the commanding oflicer, that a convoy should be sent; but that 
 no convoy had come. This was repeated, and answers regularly received ; but the fact was, that 
 no convoy did ever attend this duty: so that the favourable sentiments which the Lords of the 
 Admiralty, and their principal commander had of the importance of our work were yet de¬ 
 feated ; as it happened not to appear in that light to those who were appointed to the service: so 
 that we remained equally unserved, as if we had never had any order of assistance. Doubtless 
 on proper representation, this neglect would have been duly adverted to ; but as the delays, before 
 they amounted to a matter of complaint, had been such, as to oblige us to run all risks; and 
 nothing in reality had happened adverse; we thought it unnecessary to trouble the Admiralty for 
 a kind of redress that could then no ways conduce to the re-erection of the Edystone Lighthouse. 
 
 183. IN the course of the month of May we received from London five fathoms of additional 
 main chain proposed to be added to the six fathoms that already acted as a bridle, which, as it 
 would make us eleven fathoms of bridle chain, and this was more than half the depth of the 
 water at the place of our mooring, would prevent the necessity of lifting so considerable a part 
 of the c-round chains from the bottom in mooring or unmooring, and thereby prevent a loss of 
 time, that might in effect prove considerable : for in many cases we had seen, that the want of an 
 hour, to the accomplishment of such points of our business, as depended upon winds and seas 
 m ight prove a delay of weeks, which might ultimately occasion the loss of a season in the finish¬ 
 ing of the building.—These necessary preparations having been made, and a quantity of Plaster 
 received, ready prepared for use in London, and close rammed into five casks, to prevent the bad 
 effects of the air upon it; we were now ready for commencing the operations upon the rock as 
 soon as the season would give us room to suppose we were likely to have success in carrying them 
 on: but previously to my relation of the works of the approaching season, I shall now perform 
 my promise of giving an account of my experiments and observations respecting the Cement we 
 used, which was referred to a separate chapter. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 CONTAINING EXPERIMENTS, TO ASCERTAIN A COMPLETE COMPOSITION 
 FOR WATER CEMENTS; WITH THEIR RESULTS. 
 
 184. On this subject, I was already apprized that two measures of quenched or slaked lime, 
 in the dry powder, mixed with one measure of Dutch Tarras, and both very well beat together 
 to the consistence of a paste, using as little water as possible, was the common composition, gene¬ 
 rally used in the construction of the best water-works both in stone and brick; and which, after 
 being once set*, would afterwards become hard, without ever being completely dry; nay, that it 
 would in time grow hard, even under water. This therefore seemed to be the kind of cement 
 adapted to our use; and what I had yet to learn, was, the best materials, and mode of treating 
 
 • This is the term used in the application of calcareous mortar, which denotes its first step, or degree of hardening; but in this 
 state, though it has lost its ductility, it is a very friable substance. 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS 
 
 and ustng them. I was ignorant at this time, whether there would be any difference in the 
 hrmness ot the mortar, on account of the lime being made from different kinds of lime-stone pro¬ 
 vided the proport,on of the ingredients was suitable. I found it indeed commonly asserted by 
 Masons, that the harder or stronger the Lime-stone was, the stronger would be the Lime ■ but 
 whether tins mason chiefly regarded the usual composition of lime and sand in common build¬ 
 ings (with which they were chiefly acquainted) or whether it held good also in Tairas Mortar, 
 “ not appear.—It was also generally agreed by masons, that mortar, if mixed up with salt 
 water, would never harden in so great a degree, as the same kind of composition would do if 
 made with fresh water.—I could readily conceive, that if mortar was mixed with salt-water and 
 used for the plastering, or even the walling, of a dwelling-house, the wall so built would never 
 Jecome so perfectly dry, but that when the atmosphere was in a humid state, the sea salts, by this 
 means conveyed into the composition of the mortar, would attract the moisture of the air, and 
 render the wall visibly and palpably moist: Nay I have been told, that if a house be covered with 
 plaster which has sea sand in its composition, though it is mixed up with fresh water or even if 
 sea sand ,s made use of in the joints of the walls, it will shew its affection to moisture in very damp 
 weather, and the plaster over those joints will become evidently discoloured. But as it appeared 
 to me, that the case of Tarras mortar, drying and hardening were distinct properties, not evi¬ 
 dently dependant on each other; it might be, that though Tarras mortar made up with salt-water, 
 might equally discover its sensibility of moisture, if used for the same purpose, as common mortar 
 made up with sand only; yet this circumstance might not impair its hardness, or firmness of Ad- 
 hesion, where perfect dryness was not wanted ; consequently it would be no injury, in the subject 
 of Water Building : and as the necessity of carrying out, or not, from the land all the water we 
 should have occasion for in this building, was a matter of moment, the full investigation of this 
 question became very material. 
 
 185. THE first object of enquiry, as I had heard much complaint from the workmen of 
 limes not being well burnt, was, whether good or had burning affected the Quality, or the Qua„- 
 flyof the lime produced from a given quantity of stone, or boll,? Therefore, in ,„y first essays 
 
 id this part of the business myself; the result as it then appeared to me, was, that if the stone 
 was not exposed to a certain degree and duration of fire, according to its original hardness and 
 compactness, it remained stone, without becoming lime; or was converted into lime to a certain 
 depth from the outside only, the parts near the centre remaining stone : the distinction between 
 Lnne and Lime-stone being (so far as I have had occasion to enquire into it) that lime-stone, after 
 it has been exposed to a sufficient degree of fire, will, on throwing water upon it when in’large 
 heaps, or plunging a single lump into water, and quickly drawing it out again, become hot, 
 smoke, and swell so as to he resolved into a dry impalpable powder, in which state it is called 
 slaked Lime; I suppose, to distinguish it from that soft, moist, earthy substance, which it be¬ 
 comes on such a further addition of water, as must be used to prepare it for making mortar Now 
 if the lime-stone is imperfectly burnt, it only in part falls into slaked lime; the residue not being 
 capable of being reduced to that kind of mealy powder, which, with a further addition of water, 
 and a little heating, becomes a tough kind of paste; and which is capable of firmly uniting into 
 one mass, with any kind of hard, sandy, or gritty matter, that may be introduced as a mixture 
 with it, in the composition of mortar for masonry : whereas, tile part that will not so fall down, 
 instead of a soft pasty substance, becomes in general rather more rigid and hard by the addition 
 of water. 
 
 I therefore tried a quantity of powder-lime that had fallen from a stone imperfectly burnt, 
 and all equal quantity of lime from one that was thoroughly burnt; and having in other respects 
 treated them in the same manner, both with salt water and fresh, I found the former to work 
 somewhat more harsh, but that ultimately there was no material difference in the quality of the 
 mortar : and from hence I formed this conclusion, that the complaints of workmen on this head 
 were rather founded upon the great waste, and small produce, from imperfectly burnt lime, than 
 from a real difference in the quality of what is produced. It is however to be noted, that I took 
 none ol the slaked lime, that was produced from the imperfectly burnt stone, hut what would 
 pass the finest sieve; because I conceived, that a degree of burning may he so much in the con- 
 
 f 
 
BOOK III. CIIAP. IV. 
 
 lot 
 
 fines of what is enough, and what is not enough, as that the stone may fall to such a degree of 
 fineness as to pass a coarser sieve, and yet not fall to that impalpable powder necessary to form a 
 complete paste. For though, when passed through a coarser sieve, there may be enough of the 
 finer parts to form a paste, yet in this way a comparative experiment would be rendered incon¬ 
 clusive, because the small parts of unburnt stone must be considered as so much admixture of 
 Sand, or gritty matter, and this at least alters the intended proportion between the quick-lime 
 and the gross matter. The result of this experiment however, though it shews that the use of 
 imperfectly burnt lime is not only wasteful, but in every sense of it ineligible, when applied to a 
 work in large; yet it sufficiently secured me in the course of my experiments, from any doubts 
 that might be formed, of the results of such as were made with slaked lime, which was neither of 
 my own burning, nor of my own quenching; because it was always easy to get enough passed 
 through the finest sieve, for the purpose of an experiment, though it might prove impracticable 
 to get enough so passed to answer the demands of a real building*. 
 
 186. BEFORE I proceed any further, it will be necessary to explain the mode in which I 
 compounded, and made up my mortar for trials. I took as much of the ingredients, as all together 
 would ultimately form a ball of about two inches diameter.—This ball, lying upon a plate till it 
 was set and would not yield to the pressure of the fingers, was then put into a flat pot filled with 
 water, so as to be covered by the water; and what happened to the ball in this state, was the 
 criterion by which I judged of the validity of the composition for our purposes.—The measure I 
 used was a common small chip box, taking as many measures from each ingredient, as I meant 
 to try.—I constantly put down the lime upon the flat bottom of a common pewter plate, and with 
 as much water as would sufficiently wet it, worked it upon the plate, with a broad pointed knife, 
 till it was become a tough but a pretty soft paste. I afterwards added the quantity I intended 
 of tarras, or other gross matter, gradually; working it after each addition till it was become 
 tough ; and in this way, adding the gross matter at three or four different times, 1 was generally 
 enabled to get in the whole quantity, without any addition of water, more than had been neces¬ 
 sary to bring the lime only at first to a proper consistence. The whole was thus worked till it 
 acquired a tough and stiff ductility; but if it happened, by the addition of too much water, to 
 become too soft, I let it stand till it began to set, which might be quickened by putting it a few 
 minutes upon a dry stone, or brick, and when it was a little hardened by partially selling, I 
 worked it till it was brought to a stiff paste ; the whole of which operation took up generally above 
 a quarter, and sometimes near half an hour, to make a single ball. 
 
 187- IN making up balls of mortar in this way, however well they were worked, if made up 
 of no other ingredients but common lime and sand ; though this might be denominated excellent 
 mortar for the common purposes of building, yet upon being immersed in water, I found none of 
 them which would not dissolve; and therefore I judged such sort of mortar, however hard it 
 might beeome by being gradually dried, was totally unfit for our work.—Balls even of the com¬ 
 mon composition of Tarras mortar (two parts slaked lime to one of tarras) I found would not 
 always stand this test: but balls made up with equal measures of lime and tarras would in general 
 stand it. This degree of information, though in itself very material, was soon attained; but as 
 many points seemed to want investigation, I regularly proceeded to determine the following 
 questions. 
 
 Question 1st. What difference in the effect results from lime burnt from stones of different 
 qualities, in point of hardness? 
 
 Chalk lime is generally considered by workmen as the weakest of all; and it is accounted for 
 
 * These were my conclusions then; about which time the learned Dr. Black discovered that lime-stone by burning would lose 
 nearly Jths of its weight, by the expulsion of fixed Air, which is driven off by the force of fire. And since him, Dr. Higgins lias dis¬ 
 covered, that a less quantity of the Gas is driven off by a less force of fire, however long it is continued; and that when completely 
 driven off, that is in the proportion above, or nearly so, the lime then falls the most freely in quenching, or slaking, and to the most 
 impalpable powder: and he concludes from a series of experiments, that lime so burnt makes the best and hardest composition of 
 mortar: but how far these conclusions will apply to mortar for water building, which has not the advantage of induration by drying, 
 (as those specimens had which were the subject of the Doctor’s experiments) it is still out of my power to determine.—Higgins on 
 Calcareous Cements, § 2 and 4. 
 
183. THUS encouraged, I was willing to try farther; and particularly to examine the va¬ 
 lidity of the notion entertained by workmen, respecting Tarras Mortar, that the longer it was kept 
 and the oftener it was beaten over, the stronger it would set: for, as it would be likely to prove 
 a very great incumbrance, in our situation, to keep our mortar in a state of beating for a length 
 of time, and from one time of using to another, it was very material to be thoroughly known, 
 how far this was really the case ; and if so, whether, for saving of time (to us most valuable) a 
 greater proportion of tarras might not answer the same end as a longer beating : for it was 
 evident, we should have every moveable thing to carry to and from the rock each tide, along with 
 ourselves. 
 
 Q. 4th. WhetherTarras Mortar, after having been once well beaten, becomes better by being 
 repeatedly beaten over again? 
 
 * This, though very contrary to the common opinion of workmen, is supported by the experiments of Dr. Higgins, which shew, 
 that Chalk Lime well burnt was fully equal to the best sort of Stone Lime he used; which he esteemed that made from Plymouth 
 marble, for the purpose to which his enquiries were directed; viz. Buildings in the Air. Higgins on Calcareous Cements. Sect. 24. 
 
 t In a composition of mortar for Water-building that Belidor gives from M. Milet de Monville, 
 the mortar of such works as arc exposed to the Sea. Belidor, Arch. Mydraul. part 2. tom. 2. p. 186. 
 
 s Sea Water for makin 
 
 EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 105 
 
 in general, by its being burnt from one of the softest of all limestones.—The marble rocks near 
 Plymouth are of so hard a nature, that the stone obtained from them to be burnt to lime (and 
 which is the common lime of that country) is, by far the greater part of it, blasted off with gun¬ 
 powder. From observations of the buildings about Plymouth that had been constructed with 
 this lime, at different periods of time, it appeared to me to be very nearly of the same nature with 
 chalk lime; not only being of the brightest white, but of the same weak crumbly nature. 1 
 therefore made a couple of balls of tarras mortar of each sort of lime in the above stated pro¬ 
 portions of two to one ; and also ecpial parts ; and the result of several trials of the same kind was, 
 that there was no apparent difference in the strength thereof for the purpose of water building*. 
 —Hence it appeared, as the effect of two limes was the same, from one of the strongest and one 
 of the weakest species of limestone; that the strength of the lime must depend upon some other 
 quality, than that of the hardness of the stone. So far, my experiments had proceeded with fresh 
 Water. 
 
 Q. 2d. What difference results in the strength of the mortar when made up with fresh, or 
 with Sea Water; the compositions being immersed in the same water? 
 
 Balls were made up in the former different proportions; one pair with salt and the other pair 
 with fresh water, and this was several times repealed ; the result was, that as to what happened 
 immediately, or within the compass of a few days, there was no apparent difference; but of the 
 balls which remained entire, when kept under water for two, or three months, those made up with 
 salt water appeared, if there was any difference, to have the preference. Hence I concluded, 
 there was no need to burthen ourselves, with carrying out fresh water to the Edystone for making 
 the mortar: and in consequence all future trials, except it is otherwise mentioned, were made 
 with salt water f. 
 
 Q. 3d. What difference results from different Qualities of limestone, so far as I could procure 
 the specimens? 
 
 Having heard of a lime produced from a stone found at Aberthaw, upon the coast of Gla¬ 
 morganshire, that had the same qualities of setting in \vater as Tarras, I was very anxious to pro¬ 
 cure some of the stone ; which 1 did, and burnt it into lime. I found it to require a good deal 
 of fire to make it, by quenching, fall into a fine powder. This stone, before burning, was of a 
 very even, but dead sky blue, with very few shining particles; but when burnt and sifted, it was 
 of a bright buff colour. Having made up a couple of balls, according to each of the former pro¬ 
 portions; and also a couple of balls with common lime (by which I mean Plymouth lime) the 
 difference of hardness after twenty-four hours was very remarkable : the composition of two 
 measures of Aberthaw to one of Tarras, considerably exceeded in hardness that of common lime 
 and Tarras, in equal parts : the composition of Aberthaw and Tarras in equal parts was still con¬ 
 siderably harder, and this difference was the more apparent, the longer the compositions were 
 kept. 
 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 106 
 
 To prove this, I made up a couple of balls of Aberthaw lime, one in each proportion above- 
 mentioned, and laid them in a damp place upon a water soaken brick, sprinkled them with water, 
 and covered them with a wet cloth ; so that they might be as slow as possible in setting: these I 
 broke down, and beat over again, every morning and night for three days : and then prepared a 
 couple of balls of the same materials afresh, and beat them very well. These balls were, when 
 set, put all together in salt water. Between these, where the composition was equal parts, there 
 was no discernible difference : but of those in which the lime predominated, the preference seemed 
 due to such as had had the repeated beatings; though the difference was not very remarkable. 
 —The same experiments being tried with common lime, the preference was evidently more in 
 favour of repeated beatings, in that composition in which the lime predominated (that is, the 
 common one) than in that of equal quantities. lienee though the practice of workmen is very 
 right, where common lime, and the smaller quantity of tarras, as in the common case, are used; 
 yet where the tarras is not spared, and the lime is of superior quality; the repetition of beatings 
 appears not to be material; and therefore for our use, where nothing was to be spared, that could 
 save time and labour upon the rock, the composition of equal quantities of Aberthaw lime and 
 tarras seemed adapted in the best manner possible to the purpose. 
 
 189- I HAD heard that Shell Lime, that is, Cockle or other shells burnt, set very hard and 
 made an excellent mortar for under-drawing, and inside work. It is mentioned in When’s Pa- 
 rentalia as having been made use of in St. Paul’s Cathedral for this purpose, and found excellent. 
 On trying some of this mortar I found it to set hard, and readily, without any admixture of 
 sand, tarras, or other matter. In short, for water work, tarras scarcely appeared to improve its 
 natural quality. On being put into water, after it was set, it did not dissolve, but did not ac¬ 
 quire an additional hardness; on the contrary by degrees it macerated and dissolved, not inter¬ 
 nally, but gradually from the surface inwards ; and hence I concluded it totally unfit for our use. 
 I was afterwards informed, that a part of the work at, Ramsgate Pier had been done with this 
 kind ol lime, but was afterwards obliged to be taken up, on its dissolving quality in sea water 
 being discovered. 
 
 190. HAVING observed how very speedily Plaster of Paris, from a semi-fluid state would 
 set into a hard substance, I conceived it might probably be of some use in our work. On making 
 up a ball as I did with the mortars, but without beating, it very readily set; and did not dissolve 
 on putting it into water; but I soon found that, while in a moist state, it had little firmness, and 
 did not acquire any additional hardness under water; and by continuance, it became less firm : 
 though I do not remember in the time I had it in trial (perhaps two or three months) that it re¬ 
 dissolved, either throughout its substance, or by maceration of its surface, like the shell lime*. 
 
 I tried many experiments to improve its qualities by admixture, but did not find that either sand 
 or tarras was of any use : I also tried to beat, it while in a pulp, which would for a little time pre¬ 
 vent its setting, but this did not appear to produce any good effect, either alone, or with ad¬ 
 mixtures. Indeed I did not find that any thing was likely to give it solidity beyond what it 
 naturally has; unless that after it was dry, it would then drink up linseed oil plentifully; and 
 which, if dried in its pores, would doubtless give it a considerable degree of solidity : but this 
 
 treatment not being applicable to my purposes, I did not pursue the experiment any further._ 
 
 However, the great readiness wherewith I observed plaster to set to a moderate degree of firm¬ 
 ness, suggested to me this thought, which afterwards proved to be useful; that when there was 
 not time for our cement to set, before it was subjected to the violence of the sea, if it was coated 
 over with plaster, it might thereby be defended till it had lime to set; and then, if the plaster 
 should be washed off, it would be of no consequence. 
 
 191. '1HE last species of lime I had an opportunity of trying in these my original expe¬ 
 riments, was a kind that was much commended for water-works, and which is produced in the 
 
 * I am lately told, that Plaster of Paris is liable to be perfectly dissolved in a large quantity of water, if suffered to remain in it 
 for a length of time, and especially if the water is frequently changed or much agitated. 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 107 
 
 procured?"”’ frt'^ ""f, BridiSt ° W ' ab0 “ miles &o m Plymouth.-I 
 
 Lc 1thIt rflb rh " tIt: itSa PP eara “ e - b °‘h before and after burning was 
 
 but ho V ? T “f 011 3 S,mi ' ar ,ri!l1 il an ™=red Pretty much in the same manner- 
 
 seent^ ca Z Z ^ ^ — hat in hardness: howeve d 
 
 Aberti!™ ra ‘" S 3 SUbS ‘ itUte ' “ ° aSe 1 mCt Wlth “* difficulty in procuring that’of 
 
 coa T f “ n ° W f °"" d l a SpeCieS ° f materials - a, 'd a method of compounding them, very 
 
 ari Ifr ,b t P ff P ° Se ' 3,1 8 P '™' 7 See "’ lHat there Was a <?™t difference in the effect 
 
 ,? fro ” the ' different nature of lime burnt from different kinds of limestone; and that its ac- 
 puts,t,on of hardness under water did not depend upon the hardness of the stone; inasmuch as 
 Chalk lime appeared to be as good, as that burnt from Plymouth marble; and that Aberthaw 
 bine was greatly super,or to either, for the purpose of aquatic buildings, though scarcely so hard 
 as Plymouth marble; I was very desirous to get some light into some of the sensible qualities that 
 might probably occas.on the difference, or at least become a mark of distinction. J therefore ap¬ 
 plied to my friend Mr. CooKwo.tr,,v, whom I had found at all times ready to afford me his assist¬ 
 ance wherever Ins knowledge could be of use ,0 me. He taught me how to analyze limestones • 
 and though my channel friends will be at no loss upon this subject; yet as i, is very possible, 
 hat some Of my readers may be no more acquainted with chemistry than myself; for the sake of 
 these I will describe the process, as being useful for all those who are concerned in building to 
 know. ° 
 
 1J3. I TOOK about the quantity of five pennyweights (or a guinea's weight) of the lime¬ 
 stone to be tried, bruised to a coarse powder; upon which I poured common aqua forth, but not 
 so much at a time as to occasion the effervescence to overtop the,glass vessel in which the lime¬ 
 stone was put; and added fresh aqua fortis after the effervescence of the former quantity had 
 ceased till no further ebullition appeared, by any addition of the acid. This done, and the whole 
 being eft to settle, the liquor will generally acquire a tinge of some transparent colour ■ and if 
 from the solution little or no sediment drops, it may be accounted a pure limestone (which is Ge¬ 
 nerally the case with white Chalk and several others) as containing no uncalcareous matter ■ hut 
 1 ” r0 „ 1 the SokUlon a qimvtity of matter is deposited in the form of mud, this indicates 11 quantity 
 or uncalcareous matter in its composition. When this is well settled, pour off the water, and re¬ 
 peatedly add water m the same way, stirring it and letting it settle till it becomes tasteless After 
 tins let the mud be well stirred into the water, and without giving it time to settle, pour off the 
 muddy water into another vessel: and if there is any sand or gritty matter left behind (as will fre¬ 
 quently he the case) tins collected by itself will ascertain the quantity and species of sabulous 
 matter that entered into the texture of the limestone. Letting now the muddy liquor settle, and 
 pouring off the water, till no more can be got without an admixture of mud, leave the rest to’dry • 
 which, when it comes to the consistence of clay, or paste, make it into a ball and dry it for farther 
 examination. J 
 
 194. ON treating common white chalk in this manner, the whole dissolved into a trans¬ 
 parent solution ; and Plymouth marble, when free from apparent extraneous mixtures, did the 
 same: but, as I found Plaster would not effervesce with the acid, I therefore concluded that it was 
 a peculiar substance distinct from limestone, having nothing calcareous in its composition*; and 
 therefore that its cementing property depended upon some different principle.—On trying Aber- 
 thaw lime in this way, it was dissolved in the aqua fortis; but the solution appeared" very dark 
 and muddy, and on examination I found a small quantity of undissolved sandy particles at the 
 bottom, some of them transparent like crystals, but mostly very minute, and of a dirty appear¬ 
 ance. The muddy residuum being brought into an argillaceous state, was very tough and te- 
 nacious while soft; and when sufficiently hardened, being worked into a little ball, and dried, in 
 that state it appeared to be a very fine compact dark blue clay, and weighed nearly one-eighth 
 
 • Plaster or Gypsum, as I have since been informed, is an earthy salt composed of calcareous matter dissolved in the acid of Vitriol. 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 108 
 
 part of the original mass. One of these balls having been burnt became a good compact brick, 
 \\ hicli being of a reddish colour, it from thence appeared, as I was told was the case, that it had 
 an admixture of iron in its composition. On weighing it, I found that it had lost near upon one- 
 fourth part of its former weight in burning. Bridistow limestone, by the same mode of exa¬ 
 mination, exhibited nearly the same appearances. 
 
 195. FROM the experiments now related, I was convinced that the most pure limestone 
 
 was not the best for making mortar, especially for building in water : and this brought to my mind 
 a maxim I had learnt from workmen ; that the best lime for the Land was seldom the best for 
 Building purposes; of which the reason now appeared ; which was, that the most pure lime af¬ 
 fording die greatest qnantity of Lime Salts, or impregnation, would best answer the purposes of 
 Agriculture : whereas, for some reason or other, when a limestone is intimately mixed with a pro¬ 
 portion of Clay, which by burning is converted into Brick, it is made to act more strongly as a 
 Cement*._This suggested to me the idea, that an admixture of Clay in the composition of lime¬ 
 
 stone, when treated as above specified, might he the most certain index of the validity of a lime¬ 
 stone for Aquatic Buildings : nor has any experience since contradicted it; as all the limestones 
 in repute for water-works, that I have met with, have afforded this mark; even the Darking lime 
 much esteemed for these uses at London, and in the country round about, is plainly nothing but 
 a species of chalk, impregnated with clay, of which it makes one full seventeenth part of the 
 original weight. 
 
 196. HAVING thus satisfied myself in respect to limestone, that, if I had not arrived at the 
 best in the world, 1 had found one so competently good, as to answer every idea ot what I could 
 possibly want for the purpose of mortar for the Edystone Lighthouse : 1 considered that though 
 Turns was really endowed with those qualities, which had justly obtained it a reputation for 
 water building; yet it was generally admitted to have some properties, that for our use were not 
 
 quite so eligible._In the first place, though it will cause most kinds of lime to set and become 
 
 hard under water, as we have seen by several examples; yet if the Cement grows dry by a gra¬ 
 dual exposure to the air, it never sets into a substance so hard as it the same lime had been mixed 
 with good clean common sand ; but is very friable, and crumbly; and it, after it has acquired a 
 considerable degree of hardness by immersion in water, it is then exposed to the air, it loses a 
 considerable part of its firmness, and also becomes crumbly : though according to my observation, 
 it never becomes so much so, as if it never had acquired a greater hardness by a submersion in 
 
 waterj _For this reason, though there is no necessity for using it where the work will always be 
 
 dry. or subjected only to the rain; and though it may be considered as being always wet, where 
 it is in the joints of a massive work immersed every tide; yet in our case, those parts which were 
 above the ordinary swell of the tide and sea, and liable to be wet only in storms, and hard gales 
 of wind; and which, properly speaking, could never wholly be immersed, so that the pores might 
 be thoroughly soaken with water; in such a state, between wet and dry, or of being wet and dry 
 by intervals, tarras is known not to answer well. The knowledge, that in parts so circumstanced, 
 the mortar is the most liable to fail, and to be affected by the frosts, whatever its composition 
 may be, has put artificers upon trying other mixtures; one of the principal of which was com¬ 
 municated to me by Lord Macclesfield in his letter as nnderf. 
 
 * It is not to be wondered at, that workmen generally prefer the more pure limes for building in the Air, because being unmixed 
 with any uncalcareous matter, they fall into the finest powder, and make the finest paste, which will of course receive the greatest 
 quantity of Sand (generally the cheaper material) into its composition, without losing its toughness beyond a certain degree, and re¬ 
 quires the least labour to bring it to the desired consistence: hence mortar made of such lime, is the least expensive; and in dry work 
 the difference of hardness, compared with others, is less apparent. 
 
 “ London, 14th April, 1757. 
 
 t “ SIR, 
 
 “ I was favoured with yours in due time, and should have sooner returned my thanks for it, had I not waited for a more 
 “ particular account of the manner of making the Ash Mortar, than I could give you merely from my memory : and for which I 
 “ therefore sent into the country, and received it only yesterday. It may not, however, be improper to inform you, that the lime 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 109 
 
 197. AN OTHER property of tarras mortar is, that when kept always wet, and consequen tly 
 m a state most favourable to its cementing principle, it throws out a substance something like 
 the stony concrescences in caverns of limestone Strata, called Stalactites ; which substance from 
 the tarras comes to a considerable degree of hardness, and in time becomes so extuberant as to deform 
 the face of the walls; and when smoothness and regularity of surface is wanted, as in navigable 
 Sluices, mill Conduits, &c. it becomes necessary to remove its roughness by tools ; for otherwise 
 the tarras mortar will grow so much in the joints of these conduits, as to knock oil’ the Floats or 
 Ladle-boards from the wheels. 1 was therefore desirous to try the properties of other substances, 
 said to be useful in making calcareous mortar to set in water; one of which I had found mentioned 
 by Belidor* ; and that is the Terra Puzzolana found in Italy.—In making enquiries how some 
 of this might be procured from thence, I very fortunately learnt, that there was a quantity of it 
 then in the hands of a merchant in Plymouth ; which had been imported as an adventure from 
 Civita \ ecchia during the time Westminster Bridge was building; and which he expected to have 
 disposed of for that work to a good advantage; but failed in his speculation : for having found 
 that tarras answered their purpose, neither Commissioners, Engineers, nor'Contractors, would 
 trouble themselves to make a trial of it, and therefore refused it. This proved a lucky circum¬ 
 stance to me ; for it might otherwise have been many months before I could have got any for 
 trial; and afterwards as many more, after finding it to answer, before I could have got a quantity 
 from Italy for actual service. 
 
 198. ON trial of this, I soon found it in every respect equal to Tarras, as far as concerned the 
 hardening of water-mortar, if not preferable to it. And the merchant having had it long by him, 
 and the keeping it being an inconvenience, he declared himself desirous to get rid of it, consider¬ 
 ably under the price of tarras; I therefore made no hesitation in purchasing the whole quantity; and 
 had the satisfaction to find, so far as time would give leave, antecedent to my actual use of it, not only 
 that it appeared fully to answer every good end of tarras; but in letting it dry immediately, or 
 keeping the balls sometimes under water, and sometimes in the open air, in which latter slate they 
 were suffered to become perfectly dry; I perceived that in every state of it, if made into a mortar 
 with Aberthaw lime, it exceeded in hardness any of the compositions commonly used in dry 
 woik ; and in wet and dry, or wholly wet, w r as far superior to any I had ever seen or experienced ; 
 for, when the balls were immersed in water, they appeared to acquire hardness progressively; 
 which progress, while they were out of the water and became dry, was indeed suspended, but 
 yet they retained the hardness they had there acquired.—With respect to those balls that were 
 kept constantly under water, they did not seem inclined to undergo any change in form, only to 
 acquire hardness gradually, insomuch that I did not doubt but to make a cement that would 
 equal the best merchantable Portland Stone in solidity and durability. 
 
 199. ALTHOUGH, in my main object, I had by degrees succeeded to my wishes; yet 
 there was still one circumstance more that required investigation.—My reader will perceive from 
 the nature of the bond that I proposed in my work (see Plate No. 13.) that one half of each 
 piece of stone, being lodged in a dovetail recess, wherein it was locked fast on three sides, there 
 was no way to get them into their places, but by letting them down perpendicularly : in conse¬ 
 quence of this, mortar beat up and prepared in a manner similar to what has been specified, could 
 
 “ that is generally made use of in my neighbourhood is made from chalk, of which we have great plenty: though I am sensible that 
 “ Stone Lime is much stronger, and better; and that the strength and goodness of the Ash Mortar depends, in a great measure, upon 
 “ its being well beat, in which there is no danger of excess. The manner of making it (as sent to me from the country) is as follows. 
 
 “ Take ot lime that is very fresh, two bushels, and take of wood-ashes three bushels. Lay the ashes in a round trench, and the 
 “ lime in the middle of the trench ; then slake the lime, and mix it well with the ashes. Let it lie thus till it is cold, and then beat 
 “ it well together; and so beat it for three or four times before it is used. 
 
 “ This mortar thus made is reckoned, by our bricklayers, to be much more strong than that prepared with tarras, in places that are 
 “ at sometimes wet, and at others dry; though they acknowledge, that the tarras mortar is better in work that is constantly under water. 
 
 " It will give me much pleasure if this communication should be of any service to you at any time, and especially in carrying on 
 “ the work you have now-in hand, which is of so great importance, and of such public utility.” 
 
 * Architecture Hydraulique, Part II. Tom. II. p. 1S6. This indeed is pointed out by Vitruvius in his Architecture, B. II. Cli. VI. 
 
 F F 
 
110 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 only be applied lo the ground joint, or under-bed of each stone : the upright, or side joints (suppos¬ 
 ing the work to be close put together) could not be lined with any quantity capable of filling the 
 whole joint; for if that was attempted, the stone, in being lowered into its place, would carry 
 down the mortar, upon the sides, along with it; leaving so little, as not to make those joints solid 
 and full. It therefore must become necessary, to consolidate the upright joints, by pouring in 
 liquid mortar, commonly called Grout, in so fluid a state, as to run into every cavity and crevice. 
 
 _The common way then in use of doing this was, by putting as much slaked lime into water, as 
 
 when stirred would be sufliciently fluid to answer the end; which is called puttying. And the 
 best way then in practice was, to put the ingredients together according to the due proportion, 
 to make the species of mortar intended, and with as much water as would render them fluid ; and 
 afLer stirring them well together, to pour the mixture into the joints.—Seeing therefore of how 
 much importance it was to the solidity of our work, to attain the best method of grouting ; and 
 perceiving how great a degree of solidity was attained by the well beating of mortar, in com¬ 
 parison of that which was only sparingly beaten ; it occurred to me to try the following experi¬ 
 ment. 
 
 200. I TOOK about three times the quantities of materials, that were necessary to make a 
 ball of the common size I used in my other experiments, and beat them well together, as I used 
 to do for the best mortar; I then took the like quantities, and put them well mixed, but unbeaten, 
 into a quart mug, with as much water, as that, when well stirred, the compound might be capable 
 of being poured, like metal, into a mould. 1 then gradually added water to the beaten mortar, 
 so as to reduce it by beating to so soft a pulp, as to require a vessel to contain it, and put it into 
 another quart pot, adding water by degrees, and stirring it well till this, like the other, was also 
 capable of being poured into a mould.—Both the pots, with their contents, were then deposited 
 where they might be at rest; and within an hour the gross matter of both had separated from 
 the water by subsiding to the bottom, leaving the water clear at top.—The next day I perceived 
 so entire a separation of the materials from the water that it had become perfectly clear in both. 
 On putting down my finger to the sediment of the unbeat materials, I found it quite loose and 
 muddy, but making more resistance underneath than at the top. The dissolved mortar made a 
 resistance equal to that of soft clay at the top, and of stiff clay underneath : and afterwards ex¬ 
 amining them both from day to day, with a blunt-pointed stick, I found them to acquire a pro¬ 
 gressive firmness: for, in a week the unbeat stuff was become clayey, being soft at top, but 
 of a stronger consistence below; while at this time the dissolved mortar was scarcely penetrable 
 with the stick at top, and seemed to have acquired a stony hardness below. In the compass of 
 a month both mixtures were grown so hard as not to be easily separable from the vessels : I there¬ 
 fore broke the pots, and found the contents of both had acquired a stony consistence, each 
 hardest at the bottom : that of the dissolved mortar being considerably harder than the other, 
 that is, of a moderate stony-hard ness ; not indeed equal to that of balls of the same age and com¬ 
 position, yet of a degree of hardness very satisfactory, and competent to my purposes. And as 
 it appeared that those compositions, notwithstanding their being originally in a liquid state, and 
 always having had water upon them, yet acquired a stony hardness gradually; and that though 
 they did it in a slower degree than undissolved mortar; yet in length of time, the grout made of 
 the dissolved mortar might become as compact as the undissolved mortar; I had therefore no 
 doubt of being able to unite the whole of the materials of my building into one solid mass of stone. 
 
 To avoid prolixity, I have mentioned these experiments as single trials ; but they were all re¬ 
 peated, and some of the principal ones several times. I also made trials of other compositions, 
 which for the same reason I think it unnecessary to mention ; particularly several mixtures of lime 
 with Plaster ; and though I am aware that the plasterers use some compositions of this kind with 
 advantage in their works, yet when subjected to the test for water-works, that I had established 
 for the conduct of my own experiments, I found nothing useful in all the mixtures of lime with 
 plaster, nor even of tarras and puzzolana with plaster ; as the result was, that they rendered the 
 plaster less speedy in setting, and the plaster rendered the compound, that would have resulted 
 from the other ingredients, less firm, and more crumbly. 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 111 
 
 201. THE inquisitive reader will undoubtedly be desirous to know the nature of the two sub¬ 
 stances of so much consequence in water building - viz. Tarras and Puzzolana : and I wish I was 
 able to satisfy him in this respect, as well as I trust I have been in the application of them to use. 
 But if I tell him what has come to my knowledge and information, as this may incite the learned 
 Naturalist and Chemist to enquire further, so as to give us more accurate accounts of their origin, 
 natural composition, and properties, what I have to say on this head may have its use. 
 
 When I was in Holland in the year 1755, I made it my business to enquire, as particularly as 
 I could, concerning the Parras. I there saw the tarras stones, and was informed that they were 
 brought down the rivers from Germany, (if I remember right, from the province of Liege) where 
 this material is dug in mines under ground, and lies in regular Strata. I found it in lumps of 
 various sizes, from the. bigness of a pea to that of a middle-sized turnip. This stony substance 
 is called in Holland the Duif Steen, signifying the Dove Stone, as I was told : it is of a light 
 greyish colour, or ash colour, is rather tender than hard, and is very porous, somewhat resembling 
 a pumice-stone. It is brought to Holland in the same state as it is taken out of the earth, and 
 the only art that is there employed in preparing it for use is, to reduce it to a coarse powder, by 
 means of mills for that purpose, which I saw. It is beat by iron-headed Stampers upon an iron 
 bed, till it passes through a sieve of a certain fineness, equivalent to one of ours, having about 
 
 eight wires in an inch ; it is then ready for use, and is generally sent from Holland in casks._ 
 
 There seems to be nothilig calcareous in its composition, for aqua fortis dropped upon it only wets 
 it like water: to me it much resembles some petrifactions that I have seen ; but my more learned 
 friends seem to be of opinion that it is a Lava*. 
 
 202. THE Puzzolana is also a porous substance, and, like the tarras, produces no effer¬ 
 vescence with aquafortis : it has much the appearance of being a volcanic production, is of a brown 
 colour, and, as my friend Mr. Cookworthy told me, contains iron ; it has the look of an iron ore 
 rendered porous, or burnt to a cinder by fire. It is said to be found in large quantities in the 
 neighbourhood of Mount Vesuvius and in several other parts of Italy. That which was the sub¬ 
 ject of my experiments, as well as the best of what I have since caused to be imported, or have 
 seen, was from Civita Vecchia: I have seen a kind of puzzolana said to be brought from Naples, 
 of a less ruddy and more grey colour, but on trial I did not find it to be near so strong as the 
 former; for, one half of the quantity from Civita Vecchia would cause a composition of calcareous 
 mortar to set harder in water, than that from Naples would do.—It is said, that the ancient 
 baths and water-works of the Romans were built with this kind of mortar; and their duration 
 has, it seems, proved the validity of the composition : but I apprehend, unless they have the Lyas 
 limestone in Italy j", it was reserved to the Edystone, to have those two materials first combined ; 
 and of consequence, so far as has yet appeared, the perfect composition of water mortar was now 
 first ascertained to be a proper mixture of blue lyas lime and puzzolana. 
 
 203. SEEING that both tarras and puzzolana agreed in two of their obvious properties, 
 porosity, and resistance to the action of aqua fortis, as well as the hardening of calcareous mortar 
 under water; and also, as volcanic substances, in having passed the firej:, I was induced to try 
 experiments on several porous substances, that appeared to have some similarity to them; such 
 as Pumice Stone, Coal Cinders, Brick and Tile Dust, and such like. I found them all possessed 
 of an absorbent property, which caused the mortar made with them to set somewhat more quickly 
 than when made up with sand only: so that where hardness is expected from drying, and time 
 is wanted to produce the effect fully, they may be useful to this end, in procuring it to be done 
 more speedily; but being, when set, immersed in water, they did not appear to possess any 
 
 * I now understand that this substance, when prepared for use, is by the Dutch called Tras, from which our appellation of Tarras 
 undoubtedly originates. It is by some said to be brought from Andernach. It is supposed to be the same as the Peparino of the 
 Italians; which, as I understand, according to Bergman, is a concretion of Volcanic Cinders. 
 
 f Lyas is the general term for strata of stone of the species of Aberthaw, in several counties. 
 
 t If Tarras and Puzzolana are much of the same nature, it would be curious to know why one substance causes the mortar to alter 
 its form, or, as the workmen call it, grow in the joints under water; and the other to lie quiet. 
 
112 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. IV 
 
 powers of resistance to their dissolution, more than the same lime would do with common sand, 
 if, by a little more time, the composition was become equally set. 
 
 204. HAVING made up my mind, that the proper composition for our mortar was, lime of 
 blue Lyas, and Puzzolana, in equal quantities; and having procured a sufficient quantity of puz- 
 zolana; it was now time to think of securing to ourselves, a sufficient supply either of lyas lime, or 
 limestone.—In making enquiries on this head, I learnt that, for doing such water building as 
 they wanted at the city of Exeter, they procured the blue lyas lime ready burnt, from Watchet, 
 a small sea-port of Somersetshire, lying upon the Bristol Channel, almost right across the Penin¬ 
 sula; but which, though near forty miles north from Exeter, they were obliged to carry on horses 
 backs : for if they waited to have it brought by sea, round the Land’s End, it would, in the length 
 of time thus necessarily expended, attract so much moisture from the air, that it would be re¬ 
 duced again to the state of Limestone; after which, it would not fall into powder by quenching: 
 and even if it got wet in the land carriage by the fall of rain, this would happen in such a degree, 
 that they were obliged to quench it with boiling water; and if that would not do, it was con¬ 
 cluded to be spoilt.—Upon this information, it appeared to me, that the best way of procuring 
 it in a sufficient quantity for our use would be in the stone, and to burn it in our works at Mill 
 Bay: but as the right management, and a thorough knowledge, of this article appeared of the 
 utmost consequence ; that I might get all possible information concerning it, I determined to take 
 a journey for that purpose to the country where it was produced, and in common use. 
 
 205. I SET out therefore on the sixth of April, and first went to Minehead, another small 
 port upon the Bristol Channel, a few miles farther west than Watchet; having been informed, 
 that the Pier of Minehead had been built partly with lime from Watchet, and partly with that 
 of Aberthaw; which lies also upon the Bristol Channel, nearly opposite to it, upon the Welch 
 coast.—On examining the works of this pier, it appeared to me, that those done with Watchet 
 lime were quite as good, or even preferable to those done with that from Aberthaw; the parts so 
 done being pointed out to me by a workman upon the spot, that had been employed in the 
 erection : but as all agreed that they were the very same Strata of lyas-stone, that were found on 
 each side the Channel, though at the distance of twenty miles ; what difference there was, might 
 very easily arise from a difference of treatment in making the mortar, or a more favourable season 
 of the year when the work was executed. 
 
 In passing through Dunster, from Minehead to Watchet, as all the buildings in that part of 
 the country were erected with lyas lime, I took care to remark the appearance of every kind, 
 both wet and dry. And though the workmanship in general appeared but coarsely performed, 
 yet the mortar bore to me the evident marks of being excellent; for, wherever I saw it, however 
 coarsely it was done, yet it appeared full and flush in the joints, without cracks, or losing its 
 original skin, or becoming crumbly ; as often is the case with mortar of a tender kind, after hav¬ 
 ing gone through two or three winters, or more : and in one place I remarked the foundation of 
 a little bridge, that by some accident had been driven down; but the mortar, over which the 
 current was making its way, I found, on trying it with my knife, to have acquired such a stony 
 hardness, as, with a coat of moss, effectually defended it from the action of the water; yet it was 
 considerably inferior, in hardness and firmness, to the balls I had made with lyas lime mixt either 
 with Tarras, or Puzzolana. 
 
 206. ON my arrival at Watchet, I first examined the pier there, which, though but a 
 rough piece of work, I found to be quite satisfactory, as to the mortar part; and learnt, that they 
 made no scruple of mixing it up with Sea water.—On viewing the situation, in which the Lvas. 
 Stone lies here in its natural bed, I found, that the sea retreated from the shore to a considerable 
 breadth, or distance, at low water; and in this inclining surface very many Strata of lyas stone, 
 of different thicknesses, appear, chiefly from four or five to ten or eleven inches thick, hut all ap¬ 
 parently of the same quality; being indiscriminately taken by the lime-burners according as they 
 find them most convenient to be come at.—These Strata are not much inclined to the horizon, 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 113 
 
 but more ,so than the general inclination of the shore; and therefore, as they dip towards the 
 low water mark, a vast number are exposed to view. The Lyas seems universally to lie in a 
 bed of uncalcareous laminated blue matter, and which, when exposed to the weather, seems to 
 turn to much of the same kind of looking' clay, that I found by my experiments to he intimately 
 mixed with the calcareous Strata.—The bed, or Matrix in which the Lyas lies, being of a softish 
 perishable nature, it is found easy to detach the stone with an iron Crow; and therefore 
 though there is plenty ol the same kind of stone to be found iu Strata within land ; yet as there 
 is no great demand for this kind of lime, the lime-burners can procure what tliey want in suffi¬ 
 cient quantity from the shelving sea-shore just described, with more ease than by laying open the 
 ground. 
 
 It perhaps will seem wonderful, that for a lime so excellent in quality there should be no great 
 demand ; for in reality I found but one small lime-kiln ; and that not kept constantly at work : 
 but considering the occasions of the neighbouring country for building-lime not to be great; 
 and the charge, trouble, and difficulty attending the carrying it to a distance to be considerable; 
 and that it does not suit the purposes of Agriculture, even upon the very spot where it is 
 produced, the wonder will undoubtedly cease : and I was informed by the lime-burners them¬ 
 selves, that for the use of their own farm, they were obliged to get lime^from the rocks of St. 
 Vincent near the Hot Wells of Bristol; or of that quality, at the distance of more than 40 
 miles : for, they told me, were they to lay their own lime (though reduced to a fine powder) 
 upon the land, the first shower of rain would turn it all to stone, without affording any sensible 
 cultivation to the land : and as the rocks of St. Vincent are somewhat like the Plymouth 
 marble; this circumstance affords another proof, that the qualities of lime, for different uses, 
 do not depend upon the hardness, but upon the specific qualities of the stone from whence it is 
 burnt. 
 
 A question now arose, how I was to get supplied with lime in the quantity I wanted ; as 1 
 found that the lime-burners were under a prohibition from the lord of the manor, to send away 
 unburnt stone: and also that the difficulties of getting it on horseback across the country to 
 Exeter, &c. were not exaggerated : but I was informed, that this lime, if burnt to a due degree, 
 and quenched hot from the kiln, would fall to a powder as freely as any other kind of lime ; and 
 that to prevent its imbibing moisture from the air, they always mixed it up for use, as soon, or as 
 hot (as they term it) as possible, and having so done, find it to set the stronger, when used for 
 works underwater. They also informed me, that, if kept close from the Air, it would preserve 
 its virtue for a considerable length of time. Consequently nothing in this inode was to be de¬ 
 pended on, but Water tight casks; the procuring of which without great expence and loss of 
 time, appeared a considerable difficulty; as it was first apprehended they must be brought from 
 Bristol.—On enquiry however I found that much cyder was produced in this part of the country; 
 and fortunately it was a lime of the year, when many of the casks for this liquor were empty.— 
 What quantity of cashing would hold a given quantity of burnt lime was a matter untried ; as this 
 mode of sending it away was not in use with them.—I wished much to see the process of burning 
 it, and quenching it when burnt; and therefore by way of investigating what quantity of cashing 
 would be wanted, I ordered a kiln of lime to be put on, and having procured some Cyder casks, 
 and the lime to be quenched and sifted, immediately from the kiln ; it slaked as I had been told, 
 very freely, affording a very soft impalpable powder. We proceeded upon the package as 
 follows.—I caused a quantity of their burnt lime, which they delivered for a Hogshead and a half, to 
 be weighed from the kiln, which was 44 cwt. This being quenched, and sifted, the dry meal was 
 the same weight as before: so that the water it had imbibed in quenching compensated for the 
 waste in sifting : and in this state the produce from the hogshead and half, of lime measure, could 
 be rammed into a cyder hogshead cask; so that in reality it was of less bulk and weight than it 
 would have been if sent away unslaked, and of considerably less weight than it would have been 
 if sent in the unburnt stone; which, in common with other limestones, is found to lose a consi¬ 
 derable part of its weight in burning. The quantity therefore of 20 tons, which I proposed to 
 procure, would be packed in 90 such hogsheads. I therefore employed a reputable merchant 
 there to procure the casks, hire a vessel, and forward the lime ; and 135 hogsheads of burnt 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 114 
 
 lime, rammed into 80 casks, containing in the whole 110 hogsheads wine measure, arrived at Mill 
 Bay soon after my return*. 
 
 207. THE blue Lyas stone of Watcbet is of a dead sky blue'j', of a very fine even frosted 
 grain when broken, with few shining particles. There is also in several parts of that county another 
 kind of limestone, which they call the white Lyas; which has the same kind of grain, with a 
 small quantity of shining particles, and has much the same appearance, the colour only excepted, 
 as the blue ; it also lies in Strata of nearly the same- thickness ; and though of a chalky whiteness, 
 is quite as hard, or rather harder than the blue : yet it .is held in no estimation for Water Works; 
 and at which indeed when I had analyzed it, I did not wonder, as I found it almost wholly to 
 dissolve, and become suspended in aqua fortis. The Residuum, which was very small in quan¬ 
 tity, was of a light reddish colour, and contained a few particles of transparent crystals.—111 passing 
 the clills upon the sea coast between Minehead and V atchet, I found frequent veins of Gypsum or 
 plaster, interspersed with Strata of limestone, of a kind having impressions of fossil shells included 
 in it; but observed no appearance of marks of fossil shells in either the blue Lyas of Watchet, or 
 the white Lyas of Somersetshire. 
 
 208. BEING now determined as to the composition of the mortar for the Edystone ; I 
 might here very properly put a period to this part of my subject: but my reader, after giving 
 him the preceding account of its great utility, will not perhaps be displeased, if I communicate 
 to him the principal observations that have occurred to me in a course of thirty years practice in 
 water building. 
 
 As nothing could succeed better, or be more satisfactory, than the mortar I used, as will be 
 further seen in the course of my proceedings ; I wished to examine all those limes which discovered 
 any degree of fitness for Water Building ; and more especially, if possible, lo find out a substitute 
 for Tarras and Puzzolana in this kingdom ; that we might be in possession of all the best materials 
 for water building within ourselves: and though I own I have not succeeded with respect to the 
 latter, so far as my ardent wishes led me to hope ; yet as I have since learnt how to compose water 
 cement with afar less proportion of the foreign materials than I at first used, and upon the whole 
 at a much less expence, I trust this investigation will be thought material and useful. 
 
 The Limes that I have since examined are as follows: 
 
 209- 1st. THAT of Barrow in Leicestershire, of which we used considerable quantities in 
 the Calder Navigation. I never was at the quarries, but having procured some of the unburnt 
 stone, I found it had the appearance of blue Lyas, only somewhat of a more yellow tinge, and 
 more of the slate kind : it burns to a buff coloured lime like that of Aherthaw and Watchet, and 
 on dissolution affords nearly — ths of its original weight, of blue clay, with a minute quantity of 
 dirty grey sand ; so that I have no doubt of its being the true Lyas, though perhaps of a less 
 perfect composition than that bordering on the Bristol Channel. It contains more clay, can lie 
 carried further, and remains longer without injury^; but in the actual use thereof as mortar, it 
 does not appear to me to acquire quite so firm and stony a hardness, as the blue Lyas of Somer¬ 
 setshire. It makes however excellent water mortar, if properly treated, and will very well serve 
 in those parts of the kingdom that are more accessible to the Trent navigation, than that of the 
 Bristol Channel.—In fact, in travelling from Glamorganshire through Monmouthshire, Glouces- 
 
 * This mode of conveyance was in reality so successful, that several casks of this very lime which remained, after the Lighthouse 
 was finished, were afterwards carried into Yorkshire, and used in the most critical part of the works of the River Calder, and remained 
 perfectly good from the year 1757 to the last used in 1764 : only, that as it had become somewhat lumpy, the fine powder was sifted 
 out, and the rest by gentle bruising was reduced to powder, so that the whole passed through a fine wire sieve. 
 
 t This was the description of it at the time, but on breaking a specimen of it that I have now by me, I should rather say, it is of 
 a dark lead colour, somewhat inclining to brown. I therefore suspect it has altered its colour by keeping. 
 
 t The practice in sending it away is, in the burnt stone, packed unquenched in casks that have held sugar and grocer’s dry goods; 
 but where the demand is considerable, I have practised myself the getting the unburnt stone, and calcining it upon the place. 
 
115 
 
 EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 tersbire, and Warwickshire, into Leicestershire, I found such frequent instances of ordinary walls 
 and cottages built with stone that appeared to me to be blue Lyas, the mortar also being of the 
 same hue, that I have not a doubt, but that the curious naturalist, in making this expressly an 
 object of search, would be able to trace it from Aberthaw and Watchet quite to Barrow ; though 
 probably with several breaks, as is usual in the arrangement of the Strata of the earth. At Bath 
 they pave the streets w ith a species of Lyas; and to render the pavement more durable by keep¬ 
 ing out the wet, they joint the paving with mortar of the same kind of stone.—The Bath Free 
 Stone is of the pure calcareous kind; and it is remarked, that when it is walled with this kind of 
 mortar, which is frequently, if not generally, used for the purpose, the joints are more permanent, 
 ami resist the weather even better, than the stone itself: and it is this circumstance, which gives 
 that peculiar firmness to be observed in the light and thin walls of the buildings of that city.— 
 From Leicestershire it appears to pass by the Vale of Belvoir into Nottinghamshire and Lincoln¬ 
 shire; for, a species of this kind of lime is used in some of the buildings about Newark*; and the 
 Great North Road is repaired with the blue Lyas stone for a considerable length in’the post 
 stage between Newark and Grantham : at Long Bennington (a village of Lincolnshire, through 
 which the road passes on that stage) there is a lime-kiln for burning it. 1 have not yet seen it 
 farther north than this, nor anywhere north of the Trent. The limestone at Long Bennington 
 contains 4 blue clay. 
 
 210. 2d. PERHAPS nothing will better shew that the qualities of lime for water mortar do 
 not depend on hardness or colour, than a comparison of the white Lyas of Somersetshire, (which, 
 though approaching to a flinty hardness, has yet a chalky appearance) with what is called near 
 Lewis in Sussex, the Clunch Lime; a kind of lime in great repute there for water works, and 
 indeed deservedly so. This is no other than a species of chalk, not found, like the Lyas, in thin 
 Strata, but in thick masses, as chalk generally is: it is considerably harder than common chalk, 
 but yet of the lowest degree of what may lie denominated a stony hardness; it is heavier than 
 common chalk, and not near so white, inclining toward a yellowish ash colour.—This stone, when 
 analyzed, is found to contain )th parts of its weight of yellowish clay, with a small quantity of 
 sand, seemingly of the crystal kind, not quite transparent, but intermixed with red spots. Hence 
 the illness of lime for water building seems neither to depend upon the hardness of the stone, 
 the thickness of the stratum, nor the bed or matrix in which it, is found, nor merely on the quan¬ 
 tity of clay it contains : but, in burning and falling down into a powder of a buff coloured tinge, 
 and in containing a considerable quantity of clay, I have found all the water limes to agree. Of 
 this kind I esteem the lime from Darking in Surrey to be ; which is brought to London under the 
 idea of its being burnt from a Stone, and in consequence of that, of its being stronger than the 
 chalk lime in common use there; though in fact it is a chalk, and not much harder than common 
 chalk : it contains part of light coloured clay of a yellowish tinge. 
 
 211. 3d. THERE is in Lancashire a lime famous for water building, called Sutton lime ; 1 
 have lately had an opportunity, by favour of John Gilbert, Esq. to get a specimen of the stone 
 in its natural state. I had long since seen it in the Duke of Beidgewater's works both in the 
 burnt stone and slaked, made up for use, and in the water, i observed that it agreed with the 
 Lyas in being of a bull Cast. The stone itself is of a deep brown colour, and the piece I have is 
 from a stratum about three inches thick, with a white clayey coat on each side. The goodness of 
 the quality, as water lime, does not therefore consist in the colour before it is burnt; for we have 
 already seen bine, whitish, and now brown, to be all good for that purpose; but they all agree 
 in the colour or hue, after they are burnt and quenched : and having analyzed the Sutton rime- 
 stone, I find it to contain not only near 4th parts of the original weight of the stone of brown 
 or red clay, but also jrdth of fine brown sand ; so that in reality I have seen no lime yet, proved 
 to be good foi water building', but what, on examination of the stone, contained clay : and though 
 1 am very far from laying this down as an absolute Criterion, yet I have never found any lime¬ 
 stone containing clay in a considerable quantity, but what was good for water building; and limes 
 
 * The lime quarries from whence Newark is supplied with this kind of lime is from the village of Cuddington, about 25 miles S. E 
 from Newark, and betwixt the North Road and the Trent. 
 
BOOK III. CHAP. IV. 
 
 110 
 
 of tliis kind all agree in one more property, that of being of a dead frosted surface on breaking, 
 without much appearance of shining particles. 
 
 212. SINCE the above was written, I have had the opportunity of examining others of the 
 Water Limestones. I find a species of lime has been used in some of the works about Portsmouth, 
 and recommended as very good for water building, where the expence of Tarras mortar made 
 with chalk lime could not be afforded. It is called Grey Lime, as having been burnt from a species 
 of stone called Grey Chalk. This by inspection I observed to agree so nearly with the Chinch lime 
 I had formerly observed near Lewis (and then analyzed) that in a consultation with His Majesty’s 
 Engineers concerning certain works at Portsmouth, 1 ventured to recommend it to be used in 
 those works, in preference of common Chalk Lime, for forming a proper Water-Cement. This 
 Grey Lime goes by land carriage from the parish of Berry ton near Petersfield in Hampshire to 
 Portsmouth. 1 visited the place, and observed that the country thereabouts was of this kind of 
 chalk ; and they call it here Grey lime, by way of distinction from common chalk or white lime : 
 yet in its colour, hardness, and appearance both before burning and after, it is so like the Sussex 
 Clunch before described, that I would not undertake by sight to distinguish them. Its appear¬ 
 ance was also similar to that of the Darking lime before mentioned ; and though the Grey Lime 
 afforded, on dissolution, a less quantity of clay than Sussex Clunch, yet it yielded th part of 
 clay; which is a considerably greater proportion than the Darking lime affords; and yet I have 
 proved this last in use to be a very competent Water Lime. 
 
 In my return from Portsmouth in April 1787> I recollected that about twenty-five years ago I 
 was consulted about putting on foot the extension of the navigation of the river Wey from Guild¬ 
 ford to Godalmin ; and being then shewn the different chalk pits in the neighbourhood of Guild¬ 
 ford, I recommended it to the resident surveyor to make use of one, in preference to the rest I 
 saw, for building the locks, &c. merely because it had a clayey look ; not imagining at that time 
 (which was considerably antecedent to my acquaintance with the Sussex Clunch) that any very 
 good water lime could be produced by any kind of Chalk. This induced me now to visit Guild¬ 
 ford Lock; and in going thither, I found the hawling track for the navigation by horses, made 
 good and covered with this very chalk stone broken small : and on examining the lock I found 
 the mortar joints of the brick walling very complete, especially where they were frequently im¬ 
 mersed in water.—On bringing away a fragment with me for examination, I find it to contain 
 .l.h parts of a dark coloured clay: the stone, however, is of a yellowish hue, muc h like all the 
 chalks I have mentioned as containing clay.—Whether this lime has by these or any other means 
 become known in the neighbourhood of Guildford, as peculiarly good for water works, I had not 
 the means then of getting proper information : but whether so, or not, this may prove an useful 
 hint to the London Builders, as these lime-stones may, by means of the water-carriage, be brought 
 raw down to London, and burnt here; where coals are cheaper than at Guildford: and I am 
 also led to think, that the curious naturalist will find some connection of this lime-stone to subsist 
 through all this range of Chalk Hills, from Lewis to Petersfield': and probably from thence into 
 Surrey, to Guildford and Darking. 
 
 In travelling the west road from Bridport in Dorsetshire to Axminster, the country puts on 
 much the appearance of the Blue Lyas; and from a shard I broke oft'from a wall at Axminster, I 
 have proved that it contains clay in considerable quantity; but was particularly happy in being 
 informed from the ocular testimony of my highly respected friends the honourable Mr. Caven¬ 
 dish and Dr. Blagde.v, the blue Lyas actually exists in quantity at Lyme* in the same county 
 and is there burnt into lime for sale : which place being a small Sea-port, upon the strength of 
 this information, I not only recommended it in 1787 to be used in the King’s Works at Plymouth, 
 instead of lime from their own marble, where water is concerned, but propose also to use it for 
 the same kind -of works at Ramsgate harbour. And I bave not the least doubt, but that after it. 
 is known, what to look for, good water lime will be discovered in many distant parts of this 
 
 * Lyme being almost right across the Isthmus, and not above forty miles distant from Watchet, it is probable this Stratum is found 
 at intermediate places.—Since the above was settled for the press I have been at Lyme, and have had the opportunity of confirming 
 the above from my own ocular inspection. There is a small limekiln upon the pier, (or Cobb as called 0 but what goes away by 
 water, is chiefly in the unburnt stone. 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 117 
 
 kingdom, either of the Lyas or the Chalk species; which last, though seemingly very distinct, 
 yet so nearly conduces to the same end, that (exclusive of my original partiality) I am almost at 
 a loss which to prefer. 
 
 I he following Table contains, in one view, the account of nine different Water limestones that 
 I have already particularly mentioned to have analyzed. 
 
 No. 
 
 Species of Limestone. 
 
 Proportion of 
 Clay. 
 
 Colour of the 
 Clay. 
 
 Reduction of Weight 
 by burning. 
 
 Colour of the Brick. 
 
 1 
 
 Aberthaw 
 
 
 Lead colour 
 
 4 to 3 
 
 Grey stock brick. 
 
 2 
 
 Watchet .... 
 
 7s 
 
 The same 
 
 4—3 
 
 Lightcolour, reddish hue. 
 
 3 
 
 Barrow .... 
 
 w 
 
 The same 
 
 3—2 
 
 Grey stock brick. 
 
 4 
 
 Long Bennington . 
 
 -F 
 
 The same 
 
 — 
 
 Dirty blue. 
 
 5 
 
 Sussex Clunch . 
 
 F 
 
 Ash colour 
 
 3—2 
 
 Ash colour. 
 
 6 
 
 Darking .... 
 
 F 
 
 The same 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 Berryton Grey Lime 
 
 F 
 
 The same 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 Guildford . . . 
 
 i- 
 
 The same 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 Sutton .... 
 
 
 Brown 
 
 
 
 213. UPON the subject of a Succedaneum for Tarras or Puzzolana, I have not seen any 
 thing similar in appearance to Tarras, but what has been of the calcareous kind ; but as the puz¬ 
 zolana was found to contain some iron, and I had seen masses of gravel strongly cemented (as it 
 appeared to me) with nothing but pieces of malleable iron turned to rust, I had better expecta¬ 
 tions of success from the iron tribe. I therefore tried the scales that fall from the iron at a 
 smith s anvil, which have long been known to be an excellent ingredient in making calcareous 
 cement, and particularly where exposed to weather, or where water is concerned ; and which 
 being well powdered, and mixed with lime, in the same proportion, and treated in the same 
 manner, as puzzolana, I found (so far as I could observe) to produce an equal effect.—A peck of 
 smith s forge scales is easily collected occasionally, to do a small Job ; but to procure four or five 
 tons, would be far more expensive than to bring so much puzzolana from Italy. With a view 
 therefore to works requiring large quantities, I tried Iron Ore, after it had passed the fire, and 
 undergone what is commonly called calcination.—This being powdered, I found had a very good 
 effect in water mortar, in causing it to set speedily, in preventing cracks, and finally, in harden¬ 
 ing it. On this account it was used in the Calder Navigation, for the inside mortar of the best 
 work, and for the face work of the subordinate parts : but its strength in hardening lime was far 
 inferior to that of Puzzolana or of Forge Scales. What I used was the siftings of the iron stone, 
 after calcination at the iron furnaces; which being deemed too small and light to go into the fur¬ 
 nace, was thereby the better adapted to my use. I found that at the iron works it had been fre¬ 
 quently made use of, to mix with lime in making mortar for the construction and repair of the 
 water-building part of their own works; and the parts so sifted not being too large for the joints 
 of their masonry, and having it in plenty at hand, they used it as it was ; but after a land carriage 
 of several miles, when brought to us, we ground it on a mill, to open its qualities and make it 
 more effectual, as well as go further. This material, among the furnace men in these parts, is 
 called Minion *. 
 
 214. MINION, or iron stone burnt where it can be had in plenty, is a good succedaneum 
 for puzzolana and tarras; and if it is made up with lyas, or other proper water lime, in equal 
 quantities, will make a mortar more firm and hard than common lime, made up with the common 
 
 * Minion is supposed by Mr. Michell to be what chiefly falls from the outside of the lumps of the iron stone, and therefore con¬ 
 taining more clay. 
 
 H H 
 
Ill 
 
 BOOK III. CHAP. 
 
 quantity of tarras or puzzolana* : and lienee we may lie said to have materials within ourselves, to 
 serve the general purposes of water works; but not so perfectly and completely, as by the use ot 
 either of the foreign materials above specified. 
 
 Wherever I have met with a reddish, or a brownish stone, I have generally made trial of it, 
 but never yet found any thing to answer so well as forge scales; except once, that I picked up a 
 kind of coarse deep brown sand stone, somewhat of a tender nature; which having burnt, pow der¬ 
 ed, sifted, and mixed with slaked lime, I made into a ball, and it proved of equal firmness with 
 forge scales: but as it was a fragment found upon- the surface of the earth, intermixed with 
 others of different colour anil kind, without the appearance of my being able to procure a quantity 
 of it, I saw no probable use likely to result from this discovery, further than that of the reason 
 for which I mention it; which is, that of demonstrating the existence in nature of the material 
 we want, in this kingdom, if w r e could but tell where to find a quarry, or sufficient stratum of it; 
 in which, though I have not succeeded myself, yet others may find a quantity either of this, or 
 something equivalent to it"f*. 
 
 215. I COME now to shew the means I have used to make a given quantity of tarras, or 
 puzzolana, produce a greater quantity of good Water Mortar, than either the common composition, 
 where the dear material is sparingly used ; or that I used at the Edystone, where nothing wa§ 
 spared that had the appearance of being of service.—And if upon this head, 1 should somewhat 
 enlarge, I flatter myself, I shall he forgiven by a majority of my readers.—Limestone, as it is 
 now generally known, loses about -f ths its weight by burning, but shrinks an inconsiderable 
 quantity in point of bulk J ; but upon quenching it, when full)' burnt, it falls freely, and will pro¬ 
 duce somewhat better than double the quantity of powder or slaked lime, in point of measure, 
 that the burnt limestone consisted of; and this will be nearly the case, whether it is common 
 lime or water lime. Supposing it common lime, if this is beat into a paste with a sufficient 
 quantity of water, it will not in this state occupy quite half the space it did before in powder; 
 but if to this paste from two measures of lime, we add one measure of tarras, which makes the 
 ordinary composition of Tarras Mortar, the quantity will be enlarged, so as to produce about 
 14 measure of mortar; and then the bulk will be something greater than it was in either the 
 burnt or unburnt stone §. 
 
 216. THE use of sand in mortar, so far as I have been able to observe, is twofold; 1st. To 
 render the composition harder; and 2dly, To increase it in quantity, by a material, that in most 
 situations is of far less expence, bulk for bulk, than lime. As there is no apparent change in the 
 sand, by the admixture of the lime, the sand seems only to render the composition harder, by 
 itself being a harder body; for the best sand, being small fragments of Hint, crystal, quartz, &c 
 is much harder than any body we know of, that can be formed of lime only; and which, in paste 
 is to be considered as a cement to the harder materials, and therefore composes a harder body; 
 for the same reason that, if we had nothing naturally, but lime as a cement, and should build a 
 
 the year 1700; and which 
 : resident Surveyor of’ the 
 
 I] f, 
 
 b 
 
 Hr 
 
 * The following composition I directed to be used in building the first Lock upon the River Cable 
 I lately transcribed from the Memorandum Rook of Mr. JosErii Nickalls, Civil Engineer, at that 
 River Calder. 
 
 For Face Mortar, Barrow Lime — — measures 4 
 
 Ground Minion — — —-2 
 
 Coarse Sand — — — 2 
 
 And for the rubble backing; to the above composition, add eight measures of small gravel, or pebbles, the largest not larger than a 
 horse-bean; which application of Pebbles was taken from what I observed at Corf Castle, § 114. 
 
 t This stone was picked up in the high part of the country, in the beaten track of a moor called Wooley Edge, not far west of 
 the direct road between Wakefield and Barnsley in Yorkshire; and where a number of stones of the same kind may be found; but yet 
 it would be attended with some trouble to gather a cart load of it. 
 
 + My experiments were upon Water limestones; but according to the experiments of the Bishop of Landaff, upon various kinds 
 of common limestone, it did not appear with certainty to have shrunk at all. See Watson’s Chemical Essays, voL ii. page 2.,0. 
 
 § Two measures of Water Lime in powder, will produce nearly o 
 zolana, will produce nearly lr® measure of mortar. 
 
 s measure of paste; and this, with one measure of tarras or puz- 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 wall with flints, crystals, or rough stones cemented therewith, this wall would he far harder than 
 if built, with lime alone. 
 
 217. THE experience of ages has shewn, that a considerable quantity of sand and other 
 matter may be introduced with advantage in the making of mortar; but the proportion has never 
 been agreed in : yet from common experience it appears, that there is scarcely any lime, but what, 
 it well burnt and beaten, a load, or measure of lime, will lake two loads or measures of sand ; 
 that is, the quantity of sand that can be introduced into its composition may be equal to the lime 
 in powder: and consequently if, as in tarras mortar, one measure of tarras is suflicient to give to 
 two measures of slaked lime a suflicient indurating property, to make the composition acquire the 
 proposed degree of hardness under water; then if another measure of clean sand is added, this 
 will only give to the lime that quantity of the harder material that it would bear for building in 
 the air; and this without hurting its cementing property in water; for as the sand can hardly be 
 supposed to act on either material, so as to alter their chymical action on one another; it will, at 
 the same time that it increases the bulk of the whole to half as much more, be cemented together 
 by the other ingredients, and make (for the same reasons as in dry work) a harder composition. 
 —Thus far we are warranted to proceed from the common practice; and as this increases the 
 quantity, that would result from the common tarras composition, in proportion of 2 to 3, I was 
 therefore willing to try this matter further. Thus, 
 
 A composition of this kind is further increased in bulk, by another measure of sand ; so that 
 one cube foot or measure of the common tarras mortar composition will by this means become 
 two, and quite as good in every respect.—Finding this idea so far to answer, not only in expe¬ 
 riment, but my expectations satisfied in works at large, I was induced to try whether lime would 
 not bear a still greater addition of sand; and I soon found that it would, with good beating, take 
 in, for every two measures of slaked lime, one measure of tarras, and three of clean sand ; which 
 would produce nearly 3-^ measures of good water mortar, or full 2-^- times the common quantity 
 of mortar from the same quantity of tarras and lime; this being near upon four times the bulk in 
 solid mortar, of the unquenched lime, or the unburnt stone. 
 
 218. STILL pursuing the same line of experiment, to see how far this matter could be 
 carried, it appeared that even yet a greater proportion of sand might be introduced ; but to bring 
 it to a proper consistence and toughness, so as to be a good cement to large stones, I found it 
 needed so much more beating, that the labour became, in most cases, of more value than the 
 saving of materials*.—Thus far 1 had proceeded in the reduction of the expence of Face mortar; 
 
 This last proportion of lime to sand (allowing for the tarras, which does not appear to me to make so great an increase of bulk 
 as is made by common sand) nearly agrees with the greatest mixture of sand with lime in the experiments of Dr. Higgins ; see Cal¬ 
 careous Cements, page 48 ; wherein No. 5, contains a mixture of lime to sand as 1 to 8 ; yet as this is expressly by weight, and as the 
 weight of Thames sand is nearly 4| times the weight of such common lime as I have tried, bulk for bulk, this will not amount to the 
 full proportion of two measures of sand to one of lime in powder : and though the Doctor says that this “ Specimen was not sufficiently 
 “ plastic for common use, or, as the workmen express themselves, it was too shortyet as his experiments seem, in a great measure, 
 to turn upon the method ot compounding calcareous cements for dry work; where they are continually in a state of moisture, this 
 objection will not apply: besides, it appears Vitruvius allowed two measures of sea or river sand to. one of lime, and three of pit 
 sand to the same quantity of lime ; and that he means Lime in the Powder is plain, because he says expressly, the lime when quenched 
 is mixed in the proportion of one to three of sand, as judiciously pointed out to me by Mr. Newton, who has translated that ancient 
 author. That Vitruvius was not only a judicious, but a practical observer, as well in regard to Mortar, as other articles of building, 
 appears from the distinction he makes betwixt Sharp River sand, and Pit Sand which is generally soft; for of river sand he allows but 
 two to one of lime : and I have long since found the necessity of forming a composition of fine and coarse sand for mortar, unless the 
 sand is naturally so mixed; as appears by the first note on § 214; for, as the lime will receive the most sand in that way, without losing 
 its plasticity, it will of consequence make the hardest and firmest mortar. My practice has uniformly been, if there was plenty of 
 one sort of sand, and a scarcity of the other, to make the mixture, by allowing of the most plentiful sort as far as the proportion of 
 2 to 1. Dr. Higgins not only recommends a mixture of fine and coarse sands, but attempts to fix the best proportion. Calcareous 
 Cements, § 12. beginning page 78. See also Vitruvius, B. II. Ch. IV. V. and VI. 
 
 It may be of use, and not out of place, here to observe, that, so far as I know, it is a peculiarity of this gentleman to fix the pro¬ 
 portion of the ingredients for making mortar by weight. I doubt not, but it answered his end best, in point of accuracy in Expe¬ 
 riment ; as lie had the management of the preparation of the lime himself; but I apprehend this mode will by no means fit the prac¬ 
 tical bnilder; for, as the Doctor has fully shewn, that limes not thoroughly burnt, are considerably the heaviest; it will follow that, 
 by weight, the workman when the lime was bad in quality, would also get the least of it: and I have in reality known instances where 
 the proportions given by Dr. Higgins (though clearly enough expressed to be weights) were applied as measures; compounding seven 
 bushels of sand with one of lime! 
 
BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. IV 
 
 no 
 
 but as common lime, burnt from a pure limestone, either hard or soft, with an admixture of sand 
 only, "ill never acquire a stony hardness underwater, by any treatment I could give it*; and as 
 this is what is generally made use of in the back part of the walls, even of works intended to be 
 of the best sort, I was very desirous to provide a kind of mortar that might not be too expensive, 
 and yet might internally acquire a stony hardness. Instead therefore of Tarras or Puzzolana, I 
 substituted an equal quantity of Minion ; and as the back part of the walls (or backing, as it was 
 called) of the Calder works was in general done with Rubble, (or rough stone from the quarries) 
 where the interstices were large and open, and required a good deal of matter to fill them full, 
 
 I used the composition already specified, with common lime, taking care to screen the pebbles 
 clean from sand and clirtf; so that the whole composition would be again increased in a greater 
 proportion than that of one to two : we now therefore from every measure of unslaked lime and 
 a measure of minion, together with the sand specified, obtained five measures of backing, or (as 
 we called it) Pebble Mortar.—Where minion is not to be had, as a substitute, if one half, or even 
 one third of its quantity, of tarras or puzzolana is given instead of it, it will answer nearly as good 
 an end, as a whole measure of minion. 
 
 219 . HAVING thus ascertained the leading facts with respect to the making a composition 
 of water mortar for various uses, it remains a curious question, which being myself unable to re¬ 
 solve, I must leave to the learned Naturalist and Chemist, why an intimate mixture of clay in the 
 composition of limestone of any kind, either hard or soft, should render it capable of setting in 
 water, in a manner that no pure lime I have yet seen from any kind of stone whatsoever, has been 
 capable of doing. It is easy to add Clay in any proportion to a pure lime; but it produces no 
 such effectt: it is easy to add Brickdust, either finely or coarsely powdered, to such lime, in any 
 proportion, also; but this seems unattended with any other effect than what arises from other 
 bodies that by passing the fire become porous and spongy, and thereby absorbents of water, as 
 already hinted ; and excepting what may reasonably be attributed to the irony particles that red 
 brickdust may contain. In short, I have as yet found no treatment of pure calcareous lime, that 
 rendered it more fit to set in Water than it is by nature, except what is to be derived from the 
 admixture of Tarras, Puzzolana, or some ferruginous substance of a similar nature§. 
 
 * Having had the opportunity of taking up a large flat stone, of a close grain, of about five feet square, that had probably lain 
 above a Century at the bottom of a malt cistern, I found it had been well bedded in mortar, which had become coagulated to the con¬ 
 sistence of cheese; but having never conic to a perfect dryness, it so far retained its natural humidity, that I found it might, with 
 some pains, be beaten up to mortar, without any addition of water; and afterwards, being suffered to dry in the air, it set to a stony 
 hardness, and appeared as good mortar for dry work, as any which that part of the country produced. 
 
 t See the first note on § 214. 
 
 t In the year 1?60, having some buildings to make for myself in a part of the country where the limestone is of the more pure 
 kind, and the lime tender and light coloured, I resolved to try an experiment upon a considerable scale. I dissolved clay of the yel¬ 
 low kind (which, when burnt, makes a good hard red brick) in water, in such proportion, as that this water being made use of in 
 wetting the quick lime to make it into mortar, it would have somewhat less than the quantity I had generally found in the blue Lyas 
 limes. I at first imagined I had made a valuable acquisition, as the mortar, that from its situation was to become dry, set very well; 
 but some of this clay mortar being used where it was likely to continue long in a humid state, though not actually exposed to water, 
 
 I found it to set very tardily; insomuch that at the end of three months, I could make an impression upon it with my fingers : how¬ 
 ever, after a twelvemonth it was tolerably hard ; but on examining the building so done in the year 1786, I found all the dry work 
 not so hard as the mortar of the same lime without clay. Some parts of both had equally perished, and that in the humid place had 
 acquired but a very moderate degree of hardness: it was not in reality, as I judge, near so hard as the same mortar would have been, 
 if no clay had been introduced; but here no common mortar had been used to compare it with. 
 
 ^ Some years ago M. Loriot published a treatise upon the composition of Ancient Cements, with a view to improve the modern, 
 lie seems to suppose the grand secret that has been lost, to consist in the admixture of a certain quantity of the burnt limestone un¬ 
 slaked, and ground to a powder, with lime wetted up in large heaps for use, as in the common method for large buildings.—I have 
 made trial of this method, both in small and in large ; for, however little of likelihood of advantage a proposition may contain, yet when 
 this concerns a physical process, nothing can be safely concluded, but from actual trial. And I must candidly own, that the effect 
 was better than I had expected; for I found the composition not only set more readily than mortar, as commonly made up, but much 
 less liable to crack ; and consequently, if this cement was made use of in water building, it was less apt to re-dissolve, because, it would 
 more speedily get set to a firmer consistence, and so as more ably to resist the water from entering its pores; but when the water was 
 brought upon it, in whatever state of hardness it was at the time, it at best but remained in that state, without any further induration, 
 while the water remained upon it; and, as I expect, would so remain, till it had had some opportunity of acquiring hardness by further 
 drying.—M. Loriot, I perceive, strongly recommends, where water is concerned, the use of smiths forge scales, and the refuse of 
 iron to be joined with his composition; but this I apprehend is no new discovery of M. Loriot’s, as these substances have been long 
 known to produce a good effect upon all kinds of lime for water building. But after all the experiments I have made, it yet remains 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 220 NOTHING more directly conduces to the perfection of water mortar, than a means of 
 domg the work with very moderate quantities of it. For these purposes, it is a first principle, 
 that all must be filled full: but the more stone there is used in a cube yard of masonry, the less 
 room there will he for mortar. I have already described the methods I made use of in reducing 
 the quantity of the more valuable materials composing the mortar for the Calder navigation, where 
 the ashler walls were backed, as is generally the practice, with ruhble stone, or with bricks; but 
 when we came to the upper part of that navigation, in the neighbourhood of Cromwell Bottom 
 and El land Edge, being there supplied with a species of stone that naturally rises in flat beds, 
 or that can easily be split to any thickness from two feet to two inches; I found a great utility 
 arise from the particular texture ol this stone, not only in composing the ashler part, (which 
 scarcely needed any hewing, except a little regulation of the faces and end joints) but also in the 
 backing; for the stones intended for this use being sorted, and suited together, so as to form the 
 internal or backing courses of an uniform thickness, we were enabled to lay the pieces together, 
 in the manner of a promiscuous pavement; and these being laid down upon a bed of mortar, and 
 the interstices afterwards made good with small rubble work, to bring to a level and complete 
 the courses; by these means we were enabled not only to preserve a firm bond throughout, but 
 to use very little mortar in proportion to what we had been accustomed to do in common rubble. 
 
 221. MY mind had long dwelt upon this idea, without having afterwards an opportunity of 
 putting it in practice; no quarries affording fiat bedded stones having occurred in the proximity 
 of any of my future works ; the occasion was therefore reserved to my being joined in consultation 
 with the Gentlemen Engineers at Portsmouth, as already mentioned ; when those gentlemen ob¬ 
 serving the moderate price at which they obtained not only flat backing, but Purbeck ashler in 
 rough courses, from those quarries, the application in the way above mentioned immediately pre¬ 
 sented itself; and those gentlemen being very attentive to all improvements in the building art, 
 we soon found by proper estimation, that walls might be built with this kind of stone upon this 
 principle, and especially with the use of a mortar also investigated for that purpose, as already 
 mentioned, not only at a less price than walls backed with common brick and tarras, but of su¬ 
 perior bond and solidity* to any thing that has yet been done, except with block stone hewn 
 within and without. 
 
 I need not acquaint the ingenious artist, that more or less mortar will be consumed, in pro¬ 
 portion as the flat pieces which compose the hacking are larger, and brought more closely together 
 in the first instance : but it may be agreeable to him to be informed, that if the stones are tolerably 
 bedded, a little work of the hammer will bring them so close together, that four cube feet of 
 mortar will be sufficient to complete a cube yard of backing. 
 
 222. BY way of recapitulation and sum of what I have said upon the article of Water 
 Cement, I here subjoin a Table, containing a specimen of twenty different compositions, most of 
 which I have used in different situations, and for different purposes. 
 
 a doubt with me, whether, be it for dry works or water works, the use of fresh slaked lime, of whatever kind, as recommended by Dr. 
 Higgins, is not preferable to the same kind of lime treated in M. Loriot’s way. This I am sure of, that the method of the former 
 gentleman is attended with less trouble and expence, as not requiring any part of the materials to be ground in a mill, or otherwise 
 pulverized.—Water Lime, ever since I found out the distinction, I have always used as fresh as possible, as I was instructed at 
 Watchet; but in the use of common lime, especially for dry works, I had nearly fallen into the common method of wetting it up, 
 till I read M. Loriot and Dr. Higgins. 
 
 * Report of Colonel Phipps, Lieutenant Colonel Moncrief, Captain Twiss of his Majesty’s Corps of Engineers. 
 
 Smeaton, Civil Engineer. 
 
122 
 
 BOOK III. CIIAP. IV. 
 
 A TABLE containing Twenty Compositions of Water Mortar, suited to different Situations and 
 
 Circumstances. 
 
 
 
 Lime 
 
 Puzzo- 
 
 Common 
 
 No. of 
 
 Expence per 
 
 No. 
 
 Water Lime with Puzzolana. 
 
 Powder. 
 
 lana. 
 
 Sand. 
 
 Cube Feet. 
 
 Cube Foot. 
 
 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 
 ». 
 
 d. 
 
 1 
 
 Edystone Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 — 
 
 2.32 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 Stone Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2.68 
 
 2 
 
 If 
 
 3 
 
 -2d Sort. 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3.57 
 
 1 
 
 7'i 
 
 4 
 
 Face Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4.67 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 Backing Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 Of 
 
 3 
 
 4.04 
 
 0 
 
 11 
 
 
 Water Lime with Minion. 
 
 
 Minion. 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 Face Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 3.22 
 
 1 
 
 5\ 
 
 8 
 
 -Calder Composition 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3.57 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 Backing Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 0’ 
 
 3 
 
 4.17 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 -2d Sort. 
 
 2 
 
 o 1 
 
 3 
 
 4.04 
 
 0 
 
 9f 
 
 
 Common Lime with Tarras. 
 
 
 Tarras. 
 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 Tarras Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 _ 
 
 1.67 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 
 2.50 
 
 2 
 
 
 13 
 
 --—-further. 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3.45 
 
 2 
 
 Of 
 
 ,, 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 Tarras Backing Mortar........ 
 
 2 
 
 9;- 
 
 3 
 
 3.50 
 
 1 
 
 2- 
 
 16 
 
 -2d Sort. 
 
 2 
 
 Of 
 
 3 
 
 3.37 
 
 0 
 
 11 -; 
 
 
 Common Lime with Minion. 
 
 
 Million. 
 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 Ordinary Face Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2.75 
 
 1 
 
 5 f 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 4.34 
 
 0 
 
 8f 
 
 19 
 
 Ordinary Backing Mortar. 
 
 2 
 
 Of 
 
 3 
 
 4.05 
 
 0 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 2d Sort .... 
 
 2 
 
 Of 
 
 3 
 
 3.92 
 
 0 
 
 7f 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRECEDING TABLE. 
 
 1st. Those that would make mortar according to the preceding Table, should know, that the 
 materials are all supposed to be in a dry state when measured. 
 
 2d. That the lime is supposed to be thrown into the measure with a shovel, with some degree 
 of force ; for if put in as light as possible, in the way to make the most measure of it, there will 
 be a want of the real cpiantity; and if pressed down, the measure will contain considerably more 
 than what can be expected in purchasing the material: and the same may be said of the puzzo- 
 lana, the tarras, and the minion. 
 
 3d. Respecting sand, it is particularly to be noted, that if in a moist state, the real quantity 
 is considerably less under the same measure, than if dry, and that in an uncertain degree : and as 
 moist sand is most frequently brought for use, it is advisable that the operator should take a means 
 of finding the difference of the proportion, and allow ing accordingly in measure. 
 
 4th. I would also observe, that, if the sand is not naturally a composition of fine and coarse, 
 
EXPERIMENTS ON WATER-CEMENTS. 
 
 it shot,1,1 bo rendered so by an admixture of different sorts; the proportion of one to the other 
 need not be much studied; what I have already said in note * on § 218. will be a sufficient 
 direction. 
 
 5th. The due beating of the mortar is however of great consequence; and, without going into 
 that repetition of beating, which has been always looked on as essential to the making the com¬ 
 mon tarras mortar, such as No. 11, a degree of beating sufficient to give it all possible consistence 
 and toughness, before it is used, is in reality indispensable : and the method that 1 have found to 
 answer the end in the most satisfactory way is, to mix the due proportion of the lime and the puz- 
 zolana, the tarras, or the minion, together in the dry powder; and it will also be well, to have at 
 least one third of the sand (either line or coarse) likewise dry: put as much water to the lime, as 
 that with a shovel or beater you can bring it to a paste of a moderate consistence, but rather 
 more wet than to be properly used as mortar in that state ; then by degrees beat in the moist sand, 
 and afterwards the dry, bringing it to a consistence by beating after every addition. The dry 
 sand is intended to take up the superfluous moisture, so as to render the mortar immediately fit 
 for use; and if this has not brought it to a sufficient stiffness, you may let it lie [ill it inclines to 
 set, and then beat it up to the due consistence ; or, if immediately wanted, you may beat in a little 
 diy lime powder t.o drink up the superfluous moisture; always, however, faithfully remembering 
 not to terminate the beating, till the mass has got all the toughness that you find it will acquire 
 by beating. 1 his method fully answers where Water Lime is concerned. 
 
 6th. The customary allowance for tarras mortar beating, first and last, is a day’s work of a 
 man for every bushel of tarras; that is, for two bushels of lime powder with one bushel of tarras; 
 so that, by No. 11, if a labourer’s day s work (as at London) is rated at 2 s. then (the bushel of 
 tarras being valued at 4s.) the beating will be half the price of the tarras; and the mortar pro¬ 
 duced being only 1 ; cube feet, the beating of the mortar will therefore amount to 1 1 ,/. per cube 
 foot; whereas, in the way I have just mentioned, a man in half a day will beat to a very good 
 consistence the whole produce that can be made, in any of the articles, from two bushels of 
 Lime; so that the beating of the best face mortar, as No. 4, being 4b cube feet, will be done for 
 less than 2^d. at the same rate of labour. 
 
 7th. In regard to the column of prices, they can only be considered as comparative: the ar¬ 
 ticles of carriage, dearness of particular materials and labour, will greatly vary in different situa¬ 
 tions; but the prices being given as under, at which the different ingredients are rated in the 
 preceding table, the ingenious artist will be at no loss either to compare the different compositions 
 with one another; or find the value of them in his own situation; or vary them to suit his price 
 and purpose*. 
 
 Water lime per bushel in the dry powder 
 Common lime ditto .... 
 
 Puzzolana in powder, prepared ..... 
 
 Tarras ditto ..... 
 
 Minion ditto ....... 
 
 Coarse or fine sand, or mixed ..... 
 
 1" I be labour of beating two bushels of common lime to tarras mortar 
 The labour of beating two bushels of water lime for those articles 
 
 upposed 
 
 * There are many customary measures and ways of measuring amongst workmen, as well as in different counties: when I speak of 
 a Bushel, I would be understood to mean the Winchester Cora Bushel striked, or the contents reduced to a level with the border. 
 
 I also suppose the forge scales of iron (when equally powdered, and sifted clean from dirt and glassy slagg) to be equivalent to as 
 much puzzolana or tarras: rust of iron, or iron ore burnt, powdered, and sifted, to be equivalent to minion ; and each of these to about 
 half the quantity of puzzolana or tarras: but as the materials themselves may differ, I would advise the curious artist to be attentive 
 to the result of his own trials.—N. B. I suppose No. 5 equal in firmness and validity to No. 11; and No. 10 to No. 15. 
 
 t This article of labour is only applied in No. 11, 12, 13, and 14. 
 
[ m ] 
 
 BOOK IY. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STONE¬ 
 WORK, &o. UPON THE ROCK, FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE 
 FINISHING OF THE BUILDING. WITH AFTER 
 OCCURRENCES. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST YEAR'S BUILDING UPON THE 
 
 ROCK. 
 
 223. B Y the end of May 1757* we had got every thing in readiness to carry out the Neptune 
 Buss and begin the Work; it was however the 3d of June before wind and weather suited for our 
 getting under way. On that day, being accompanied by Mr. Jessop, eight seamen, the mould- 
 maker, two moorstone masons, and six tinners, we sailed out of Plymouth Sound ; but it falling 
 calm, we came to an anchor about a league from the rock ; and the next morning proving favour¬ 
 able, at six we laid hold of the ring of the buoy. We proceeded to heave up the moorings by 
 means of our great tackle blocks, and could we have proceeded at the rate we began, we should 
 have had them up in an hour ; but the links of the buoy chain having been made each six inches 
 in length, by way of getting faster forward with the work in making, we found, when these links 
 came to a considerable strain upon the davit roll, which was of cast iron, and (as mentioned § 143.) 
 not above nine or ten inches in diameter, they began to bend upon the convexity of the roll; and 
 as I was apprehensive of the ill consequence that might attend their breaking, the following 
 remedy occurred to me : I ordered the carpenter to cut some trenails into short pieces, of about 
 three inches long, and to split each length into two; and those pieces being applied betwixt the 
 chain and the roll at the flexure of each link, as it came to a bearing, prevented the middle part of 
 each link from touching the roll, and therefore its streightness and figure could no way be changed 
 by the strain in passing over the roll; and the pieces delivering themselves as the chain cleared 
 the roll, they would serve the same purpose many times over. 
 
 The appearance of caution begets an idea of danger to those who otherwise never would have 
 had any apprehension of it; and though the risk of failure was lessened in a great degree by the 
 proposed application, as was confessed by the whole company, yet it was observed, that if the 
 chain should break any where between the roll and the tackle, the person that applied the pieces 
 of wood would be in danger of being cut in two by the chain, or carried overboard along with it. 
 This being the sense of my ship-mates, and as I always made it a rule not to put another upon 
 doing what I was afraid to do myself, the Post of Honour naturally devolved on me ; I therefore 
 attended the getting in of the remainder of the eleven fathoms of chain, link by link, till we came 
 to the great swivel of the bridle chain ; and though this of course took some time, and left room 
 for serious pause, yet the consideration of having previously tried the chain by a far greater 
 strain than it was ever destined to bear, (see § 156.) prevented those reflections from being 
 uneasy.—This business having been successfully executed, and our addition of five fathoms of 
 laro-e chain applied to the bridle, (see § 183.) at twelve o’clock this day, the 4lli of June, we 
 found ourselves once more riding as sately and securely at our moorings as we did the last 
 
 season. 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 125 
 
 224. THE weather did not admit of our landing that afternoon ; but the next morning at 
 eleven we landed, and immediately proceeded with fixing the Fender Piles on the east side of the 
 rock, which were intended to prevent the boats from rubbing against it, according to the idea 
 given thereof, § 99. and as shewn in the elevation of the east side of the rock in Plate No. 14. 
 We also proceeded in fixing up the shears and the windlass, as shewn in the same plate; and 
 though we made a considerable progress the same tide, which lasted till four o’clock, yet from 
 the usual uncertainty of weather, even in the best of every season, it was the 10th of June before 
 those necessary matters were dispatched ; inclusive of the mooring the Transport Buoy, at eighty 
 fathoms north of the landing-place*, in fourteen fathom water ■f'.—By way of seeing that all our 
 tackle acted properly, and as some trial of its sufficiency, we hoisted the Sea-Horse yawl, a strong 
 heavy ship’s long-boat, with several people in it, upon the top of the rock ; and finding every 
 thing to act properly and to be sufficiently manageable, we were now ready for receiving the 
 stone ; and the whole company returned home in the yawl, except such hands as were necessarily 
 left to take care of the buss. 
 
 225. ON Saturday the 11th of June the first course of stone was put on board the Edyslone 
 boat, (see Plate No. 10. Fig. 1.) with all the necessary stores, tools, and utensils; and having 
 appointed Mr. Jessop, at his own request., to be a foreman in the place of Hill, discharged, I 
 took on this occasion both the foremen, Messrs. Jessop and Richardson, along with me, as also 
 the necessary hands. We landed at eight on Sunday morning the 12th of June, and before noon 
 had got the first stone into its place, being that upon which the date of the year 1757 is inscribed 
 in deep characters^; and the tide coming upon us, we secured it with chains to the old stau- 
 cheons, and then quitted the rock till the evening tide, when it was fitted, bedded in mortar, 
 trenailed down, and completely fixed ; and all the outward joints coated over with Plaster of 
 Paris, to prevent the immediate wash of the sea upon the mortar, (see § 190). This stone, ac¬ 
 cording to its dimensions, weighed 2j tons.—The weather serving at intervals, it was at the even¬ 
 ing of Monday the 13th that the first course, consisting of four stones, was finished ; and which, 
 as they all presented some part of their faces to the sea, were all of Moorstone. 
 
 226. THE next day, Tuesday the 14th, the second course, see Plate No. 10. Fig. 2. arrived; 
 and some of it was immediately landed, proceeded with, and in part set the same tide : the loose 
 pieces being chained together by strong chains, made on purpose for this use, and those 
 ultimately to the stancheons ; or to Lewises in the holes of the work of Course 1. that had already 
 been fixed.—The sea was uncommonly smooth when we got upon the rock, this evening’s tide; 
 but while we were proceeding with our work, within the space of an hour and half, the wind 
 sprung up at N. E. and blew so fresh, that the Weston, lying to deliver the remainder of her 
 cargo, had some difficulty in getting out of the Gut; and had it not been for the transport buoy, 
 to which she had a fastening by a rope, it would probably have proved impracticable to have got 
 her out again. And we soon saw it was necessary to get every thing in the best posture, time 
 and circumstances would admit, in order to quit the rock, with safety to ourselves, and security 
 to what we must necessarily leave behind us. 
 
 The pieces that were fixed and trenailed down, were supposed to be proof against whatever 
 might happen ; but the loose pieces, and those that were simply lowered down into their dove¬ 
 tail recesses, were considered as needing some additional security to prevent their being carried 
 away by the violence of the sea. Of the thirteen pieces of which Course II. consisted, five only 
 were landed : No. 1. was completely set; N s 2 and 3 were lowered into their places, and secured 
 by chains; and 4 and 5, which lay at the top of the rock, were chained together, and also to the 
 slide-ladder, which was very strongly lashed down to eye-bolts, purposely fixed on the rock 
 
 * This was the great buoy that hail rode at the moorings during the winter, and was moored by the same chain to which it had 
 been fastened during that season: but for this service it had been sent home and repaired, and was attached to an old anchor of 
 12 cwt. 
 
 f See § 102, and Plate No. S. 
 
 t To facilitate the work of getting down the stones, after they were landed upon the top of the rock, a kind of frame, something 
 in form of a ladder, was lashed upon its inclining surface, upon which we slid the stones to their respective places. 
 
 K K 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 126 
 
 for that intent.—Every moment the wind and sea so increased, that it was with the utmost dif¬ 
 ficulty our two yawls could be prevented from being staved upon the rock; and while we were 
 endeavouring to get our tackle-blocks, mortar-buckets, and a great variety of loose materials and 
 tools, on board the yawls, and to preserve our utensils and stores; we were risking the chance, 
 whether we ourselves should not be left behind to be washed off the rock. Our light setting 
 Triangle , by which we hoisted and lowered the pieces of stone into their places, as being our 
 greatest incumbrance, was also lashed to the slide-ladder.—Having at last got into our yawls, the 
 wind and sea were so increased from the N. E. quarter, that we found it quite impracticable to 
 make head against it, so as to row out of the Gut to the northward ; we therefore had no alter¬ 
 native, but, compelled by necessity, we risked our passage through the rocks to the southward, 
 aiming at the interval betwixt the Sugar Loaf and the House Reef, (see Plate No. 3.) and both 
 boats providentially got through unhurt. We then, having doubled the south point of the House 
 Reef, bad to make our way to the north, by the west side thereof; which, as it was not quite low 
 water at the rocks, afforded us some tolerable shelter, and gave us time to consult what to do: 
 for, as the current of the channel tide was then setting strongly to the westward, and as our buss 
 lay to the N. E. of the rocks, and of course right to windward, there seemed a necessity for our 
 utmost exertions to recover the buss. We therefore agreed that the light yawl should row the 
 headmost, taking the other in tow; by which means our united strength could be equally exerted 
 for the benefit of the whole.—Accordingly, when by rowing north we had cleared the House 
 Reef, we soon got into so much wind, sea, and current of tide, that we found, notwithstanding 
 our joint efforts to get to the eastward, we were gradually carried to the west; and, after a 
 struggle of an hour and an half in this way, we found it quite impracticable for both boats to 
 get on board the buss. Each boat rowed with four oars; Messrs. S.meatox and Jessop, with 
 two seamen, and four other hands, were in the light yawl, and Mr. Richardson, one of our best 
 seamen, and eight other hands, were in the Sea-Horse; which was to make her way westward to 
 the floating Light, that lay to leeward (see § 138) : and we in the light yawl determined to en¬ 
 deavour to gain the buss; and if that could not be effected, also to bear away towards the other 
 vessel. 
 
 After labouring at our oars for an hour and an half more, we recovered the buss, (which lay 
 not much more than 200 fathoms from the place where we parted with the Sea-Horse) to the 
 great joy of ourselves, and anxiety for our associates, it then blowing a hard gale of wind, which 
 continued increasing all night. 
 
 About four the next morning the wind shifted to the S. E. which produced so troublesome 
 a sea, that the Weston, which had rode at the transport buoy all night, made signals of distress- 
 and was therefore ordered to slip and make her best port. In the afternoon the wind coming to 
 S. with the tide of flood, the Sea-Horse returned to the buss with all hands in safety, with o-rateful 
 hearts for the kind treatment they had received on board the floating light, and for their deliver¬ 
 ance ; having found the utmost difficulty and danger in getting aboard the floating lio-ht, on 
 account of the sea’s running so high. 
 
 227- IN the evening we made a short tide upon the rock, and had the satisfaction to find 
 that no material damage had happened to anything; we therefore proceeded with our work, 
 and completely fixed No. 2. of Course II: and next morning, Thursday June the 16th the Weston 
 returning from Plymouth, came to the transport buoy. We then proceeded both morning and 
 evening tides, though they were not very favourable ; and this day sent home Mr. Jessop, to pre¬ 
 pare himself and company to relieve Mr. Richardson’s; and for a supply of lime and other 
 necessaries, of which we were in want. On the morning of Friday the 17 th, we again landed 
 for a short time; and, notwithstanding we did not meet with any thing amiss on our return to 
 the rock on Wednesday evening after the hard gale of wind, yet this morning we found a part 
 of the rock in the border of our work, that secured a corner of No. 3. was gone : we therefore, 
 to secure that stone to its neighbour, applied an iron cramp, of which we had some in readiness 
 in case of accident.—We were prevented landing in the evening by a fresh of wind and rain at 
 
 This Triangle is represented as standing upon the wall of the building, supposed to be raised above the vaulted coverincr of the 
 store-room, Plate No. 14. b 
 
127 
 
 THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 N. VV. but landed again on Saturday morning's tide, the 18th. However we had not been long 
 there before a great swell arose from the S. W.; and, though there had been no wind apparently 
 to occasion it, yet it came upon us so fast, that we were obliged to quit the rock before we could 
 get our work into so satisfactory a posture of defence as I wished. It was, however, as follows, 
 N’ 1, 2, 3, 4, and S, were completely fixed as intended; N’ 6 and ^ were fitted, and lowered 
 upon their mortar beds ; No. 8 was simply got into its place, with a weight of lead of five cwt. 
 upon il * ; which, in all such trials as had hitherto been made thereof, had lain quietly. Not 
 having time to get the stone, No. 9, into its place, we chained it upon the top of the rock to the 
 slide-ladder, as we had done before on Tuesday. In this condition we left the rock, having staid 
 till we were all wet from head to foot.—The swell continued the remainder of the day, and the. 
 wind freshening at S. W. in the night, at five o’clock on Sunday morning J. Bowden made the 
 signal of distress, and was therefore ordered to slip and go into port. 
 
 In the afternoon, on tide of flood, the sea frequently broke in a large dense body over the 
 head of the shears, which were twenty-four feet in height above the top of rock, and the seas 
 running very short where we lay, the bowsprit of the buss sometimes dipped in the water.—We 
 could plainly see the stone on the top of the rock till towards the evening, at about high water, 
 when we observed something of timber to have broke loose, and to lie in a wrong situation ; soon 
 after which it disappeared, as also the stone; so we concluded it was the slide-ladder and the 
 stone that had gone together.—The next morning, Monday the 20th, tile wind was rather in¬ 
 creased than abated; but no further alteration was apparent on the rock since the last night.__ 
 
 Towards evening the wind veered to the south, and blew a storm till three o’clock on Tuesday 
 morning, when it began to abate. About nine o’clock it became more moderate; and finding 
 that bread was running short among the workmen, as we were not likely very soon to get to 
 work again, I dispatched the greatest part of them home in the Sea-Horse yawl: and about 
 twelve o clock the wind and sea having become still more moderate, I judged it practicable to 
 row a-liead against it, so as to get to the westward of the rock, and reconnoitre our damages : 
 accordingly, taking four oars in the light yawl, it being then near low water, I observed, when 
 the sea fell away from tile rocks, (every sea then breaking bodily over it) that No. 9, and the 
 slide-ladder to which it was chained, were both gone ; that the two pieces of moorstone N* 5 and 
 6, which had only been let down upon their mortar beds without further fastening, were also 
 gone ; that No. 3 had broke its cramp and was gone; and that the 5 cwt. that had been laid upon 
 the most projecting part of the piece No. 8, had, by the force of the sea acting edgewise upon it, 
 been driven to the eastward till it was stopped by the rise of the third step, against which it 
 seemed abutted ; so that having thereby quitted the piece No. 8, upon which it was laid, that was 
 gone also : we therefore, as it appeared, had lost five pieces of stone ; the loss of which was in the 
 first instance alleviated, by finding that the first course appeared so thoroughly united with the 
 rock, that its surface begun to look black with dark-coloured moss fixing upon it, and giving it 
 the same hue as the rock itself: also, that our shears and windlass were all standing without tile 
 least derangement. 
 
 I did not wait for the subsiding of the winds and seas, so as to enable us to land, and look 
 out whether or no we could recover any of the lost pieces; I immediately made for Plymouth in 
 the light yawl, and landed at Mill Bay at five o’clock on Tuesday evening the 21st; and, having 
 collected the moulds of the stones we had lost, and chosen proper spare blocks, ^ set a couple of 
 men to work upon each piece of stone, day and night, till finished.—This disaster, though it fur¬ 
 nished a few reflections, yet they were not of the unpleasant kind ; for, as every part of the stone¬ 
 work, that was completed according to its original intention, appeared to have remained fixed, 
 it demonstrated the practicability of the method chosen ; and at the same time shewed the pre¬ 
 ference ot wedging to cramping, as the cramp had failed : and also the utility of trenailsf as a 
 security till the mortar was become hard. 
 
 * This weight, which was in the shape of the segment of a sphere, I had got prepared, as a means of holding down such stones as 
 were simply lowered into their recesses, and which for want of time could not be got fixed in a more effectual manner; for, from the 
 figure thereof, its base or flat side being laid upon the fiat surface of the stone, the action of the sea could have very little hold upon 
 it, being all a smooth surface, the ring excepted. 
 
 t The method of trenailing and wedging will be fully described in its due place. 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. I. 
 
 128 
 
 In less than two clays the five pieces of stone were completed ; and on J hursday the 23d in 
 the evening I went on board the Weston with the stones, carrying also Mr. Jessop and company; 
 but there being little wind, we were obliged to row all night; and when, by this labour, we had 
 got within a league of the buss, it began to blow so hard at E. that we thought it advisable to 
 bear away for some western port. Accordingly at seven in the morning we came to an anchor 
 in Fowey harbour; and that clay took the opportunity of viewing the progress of our moorstone 
 works at Lanlivery. The wind continued fresh at E. the next day ; and as the day after, being 
 Saturday the 25th, it again became Richardson’s turn to go out, I ordered Bowden to beat to 
 windward, if possible, and get to his moorings at the transport buoy, as soon as he could; and 
 with Mr. Jessop and his company, returned over land to Plymouth. 
 
 228. AT four o’clock on Monday morning the 27th, the weather serving, I went out with 
 Richardson and company, in the Edystone boat; we got to the buss at ten, and found the 
 Weston at the transport buoy, but could not land till the afternoon’s tide, being a complete week 
 since we had been last upon the rock. We first replaced the ladder, and afterwards proceeded, 
 without more than usual interruptions, till the 30th in the evening, when we closed and completed 
 the Course No. II. and began upon Course III.—The execution of these two courses had taken 
 us up from the 12th to the 30th inclusive, and though they consisted of no more than seventeen 
 pieces of stone in the whole, yet I found myself no ways disheartened; for, in establishing these 
 two courses, 1 considered the most difficult and arduous part of the work to be already ac¬ 
 complished, as these two courses brought us up to the same level where my predecessor Mr. 
 Ritdyerd had begun. 
 
 While the new stones of Course II. were making, I received intelligence from the buss, that 
 the seamen there, during our absence, had been into the Gut., and had observed some of the 
 pieces we had lost to be lying in the bottom of it: I therefore, besides forming new pieces, 
 ordered an utensil to be made, by means of which it seemed likely T might get some of these pieces 
 up again : and though all the new stones were landed and set in their places before I had an 
 opportunity of trying the tool; yet I was willing to convince myself, how far it might be useful 
 upon any future similar occasion.—Accordingly, between the tides of the 30th, (the water fall- 
 j D cr away so as to leave only ten feet depth in the Gut) I made a trial of the instrument*, where¬ 
 with I succeeded in getting up one of the stones, which proved to be No. 9, that was chained to 
 the ladder at the top of the rock; and 1 might have got up two others that lay there, had Lhey 
 been wanted; but the mere recovery of stones, after a sufficient experiment had been made, was 
 scarcely worth the time. 
 
 The next day, Friday July the 1st, we were able to land ; but as the wind blew fresh at S. W. 
 I judged it unsafe to bring the Edystone boat into the Gut to deliver any stone. I observed, 
 that during the last tide, the swell had washed some of the pointing out of the exterior joints, 
 and also some of the grouting out of the upright joints; but as a heavy sea seemed likely to come 
 on with the tide of flood, I judged it to be to no purpose to repair the cement while a violent 
 swell continued; I therefore employed the company in cutting off the iron stancheons belonging 
 to the former building, as they now began to be in our way, and as the hold we got of them 
 ceased to be of use, in proportion as we got more fastening from the lewis holes of our own work. 
 
 _It was not long before the master of the Edystone boat gave warning, he could lie no longer 
 
 at the transport buoy; I therefore took my passage on board of it to Plymouth, and landed in 
 the afternoon. 
 
 229. THE weather having become more favourable, on Sunday morning the 3d of July, I 
 went on board, accompanied by Mr. Jessop, and his party, to whom, as they had never had the 
 opportunity of setting a stone, it behoved me to attend. We however not only met with a re¬ 
 pulse this day, but could not make any further attempt to go out till Tuesday the 5th ; and then 
 the wind, though gentle, being contrary, had not the company on board the buss come with their 
 two yawls and towed us thither, in all probability the day would have been spent in fruitless 
 
 * See the explanation of this instrument, amongst the tools and utensils contrived or adapted to the Edystone works, in Plate 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 attempts. Our difficulty was considerably increased by the coming on of so thick a fog, that all 
 o'Ur efforts united, we had much ado to regain the buss— R IC hardson told me they° had had 
 such bad weather, that the slide-ladder had again broke its lashings and driven away; that they 
 had however got all the irons cut off close to the rock; but that the last tide, though there was 
 only a breeze at S. W. the swell was so great, and came on so suddenly, as to put them in great 
 danger of being washed off from the top of the rock, before they could quit it. 
 
 At. two o clock this day we landed, and Jessop’s company set six pieces of stone, and effec¬ 
 tually repaired the cement; and next day a proportionable dispatch was made, though the weather 
 was not very mild. In the night, betwixt eleven and twelve o’clock, the watch upon deck espied 
 a sail upon the rocks; whereupon we immediately sent one of our yawls to her relief; which 
 soon returned with the whole crew, several of whom were in their shirts, and in great distress. 
 They informed us that the Vessel was the Charming Sally of Biddeford, a snow of 130 tons 
 burthen. They had been at Dartmouth, from whence they were returning in ballast; and as 
 there was no stress of weather at that time to drive them upon the rocks, we could not but 
 wonder how they had contrived to get thither: we were informed, that not knowing exactly 
 where they were, they took the rocks to be so many fishing boats, till it was too late to clear 
 them: and that on the vessel’s striking, she filled so quick that the boat floated upon the deck 
 before they could get into it. In steering westward, she had cleared the south point of the south¬ 
 east reef, and fell upon the south reef near the highest part. See Plate No. 3—The vessel sat 
 almost upright upon the rocks, and the masts remained standing the whole of the day; but in 
 the night following she was wholly beaten to pieces.—Her crew, consisting of seven hands, 
 having been refreshed on board the buss, the next day rowed off in their boat to Looe ; and as we 
 had not landed since the 8th, nor now more likely, I took the opportunity of returning to Ply¬ 
 mouth in a Cawsand fisherman, who came with an intent to pick up something from the wreck; 
 in which however he was disappointed. 
 
 230. ON Monday the 11th I again went out with Richardson and company; Course III. 
 consisting of twenty-five pieces, was closed on the following day, and Course IV. begun—The 
 tide of the 13th in the evening was remarkably quiet, and allowed us to go on with our work 
 uninterruptedly; but just after we had got on board the buss, a sudden squall of wind arose from 
 the S. W. which at once threatened a most dreadful storm ; and it blew so hard, that we expected 
 the mast to go by the board ; but before the necessary orders could be given, by way of pre¬ 
 paration, it became a perfect calln; the squall not having continued more than a minute, as it 
 seemed to us. This was followed with a breeze from the east, and frequent flashes of lightning 
 till the tide of ebb. 
 
 Thursday the 14th of July the company pursued the work of Course IV ; and now both com¬ 
 panies being fully instructed in the method of setting the basement courses, I returned to Ply¬ 
 mouth ; from whence I proposed to visit each company as often as should seem expedient, but 
 always once in each company s turn, it wind and Aveather should permit. 
 
 231. I WENT out with Jessop’s company on Monday the 18th; but we were repulsed 
 by bad weather, which continued to the 23d. The 21st, Richardson’s company having almost 
 exhausted their provisions, and not being likely to get any supplies, came home in the Sea-Horse 
 yawl: and gave account, that a few days before they came home, in hoisting one of the stones out 
 of the vessel upon the rock, by neglecting to belay the tackle-fall of the out-hawler Guy, the 
 shears came down flat upon the rock in the midst of the men, but providentially without doing 
 any harm to either men or shears. He also acquainted me that they had had the greatest swell 
 from the south they ever experienced, and that the 500lb. weight had been washed from the work, 
 but that they had found it entangled in the rocks above low water mark. 
 
 About this time I had intelligence from Portland, that two vessels laden with stone for the 
 Edystone, waiting a favourable opportunity to sail for Plymouth, had all their hands pressed by 
 the lieutenant of a tender stationed there; notwithstanding the service they were upon, and their 
 having on that account Admiralty protections. This circumstance would have proved very dis¬ 
 tressing, had not the Lords of the Admiralty, on application, sent immediate orders, by express, for 
 
130 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 discharging the men: and it is a great satisfaction to me when I say, that on this, as well as on every 
 other occasion, we found the Admiralty Board was ready and disposed to give all the furtherance 
 to our work in their power; though we did not always find that countenance from their servants. 
 
 232. CONTRARY winds, ground swells, and heavy seas for several days, interrupted the 
 regularity of our proceedings; however, taking such opportunities as we could, the Course No. 
 IV. consisting of twenty-three pieces of stone, was closed, in the morning’s tide of the 31st of July, 
 (see Plate No. 10) : and in the evening’s tide five pieces of Course V. were set.—Our work went 
 on regularly for some days together; and on visiting the work upon the 5th of August, I found the 
 Course No. V. containing twenty-six pieces, closed in, (see Plate No. 10); but that by some in¬ 
 advertency in proceeding with the interior part, the masons had been obliged to set two of the 
 outside pieces so as to be further out than they should have been by an inch each. However, as I 
 found the work was sound and firm, I thought it better to cut olf the superfluous stone from the 
 outside, than to disturb the work by the violence that must have been used in unsetting the 
 pieces; I therefore determined to let them stand as they were, till the cement was become so hard 
 as to support the edges of the stone while the faces were working afresh; and which, from the mortar 
 of our first and second course, we found was likely to be the case before the close of the season.— 
 One of the dovetails had also given way in driving a trenail, owing to a flaw in the stone; for the 
 remedying whereof we applied a cramp. 
 
 This day our additional boat, that had for some time been fitting out, called the Assistant, and 
 of which I appointed Samuel Meoling to be master, brought out and landed at the rock her 
 first cargo of stone, containing a part, of Course VI. some of which were proceeded with and 
 set: the Edystone boat also arrived with another cargo of lime and puzzolana, as well as stone, 
 and came to the transport buoy; but the wind beginning to blow hard, she was obliged to look 
 out for a harbour.-—At this time we were in greater want of lime and Puzzolana, than of stone; 
 and as nothing could proceed without these necessary materials, and it being uncertain when the 
 boat might return, 1 contrived as follows to get a cask of each on board the buss before she left us. 
 —The sea was so hollow and tumultuous, that though it was practicable for the light yawl to 
 row near enough to throw a small rope on board the boat, yet it was impracticable for the ^awl 
 to receive any thing of weight over her side without danger of filling. I therefore ordered W. 
 Smart, the master of the boat, to lash a cask of each to the shrouds with Spun Yarn; so that 
 when the lashing was cut, either of the casks might instantly go overboard. A small rope from 
 the buss having been fixed to each, and the lashings successively cut at a favourable moment, 
 the casks immediately fell into the sea, and were easily towed on board the buss, the materials 
 not suffering any material injury by being wet with sea water: and this expedient proved of the 
 more value, as by this means we proceeded with the work of Course \ I. several tides sooner than 
 otherwise we could. 
 
 233. THE 8th of August at noon, the weather being exceeding fine, with a low neap tide, J 
 took the opportunity of drawing a meridian line upon the platform of Course VI. the sea never 
 going over the work during the whole tide, which was the first time it had not washed over all, 
 since we began to build: we therefore took this favourable opportunity of carefully making good 
 all our pointings and groutings, wherever the water had washed during the bad weather that had 
 succeeded the last departure of the Edystone boat; and which was the case with it in places 
 where it had not had time, to set before a rough tide came on; but I observed with much satis¬ 
 faction, that whatever, not only of the original work, but of the repaired pointing, had once 
 stood a rough tide, without giving way, the same place never after failed.—I also observed, that 
 as in mending the pointings we had in some places made trial of Dutch tarras as well as puzzo¬ 
 lana, interchangeably, the puzzolana, for hard service, was evidently superior to the tarras: and 
 some particular joints had proved so difficult, that I was obliged to try other expedients; the best 
 of which was to chop Oakum very small, and beat it up along with the mortar. This was our 
 last resource, and it never failed us. 
 
 234. ON landing at Mill Bay, the 9th of August, I had the satisfaction to find four vessels 
 
THE FIRST YEAR'S BUILDING. 
 
 131. 
 
 arrived from Portland with s 
 
 i some pieces of stone, which their detention had caused us to be much 
 in want of. Upon the 11th I again went out in the vessel that contained the remaining pieces 
 of Course VI; those I saw fixed; and that course, consisting of thirty-two pieces, closed in, the 
 same evening. See Plate No. 10.—This completing our six basement courses, brought our 
 work upon the same level to which we had, the precedihg season, reduced the top of the rock; 
 and upon this, as a common base, the rest of the structure was to be raised by regular entire 
 courses. The time this part of the work (consisting of 123 pieces of stone) had taken up, was 
 fr °m the 12th of June to the 11th of August inclusive, being a space of sixty-one days. We now 
 considered our greatest difficulties to be successfully surmounted, as every succeeding course had 
 given us more and more time, as well as more and more room; and this will appear from our 
 proceedings; for it has already been noticed that the first two courses, consisting of nineteen 
 pieces of stone only, had cost us seventeen days. 
 
 235. HAVING now got the work to this desirable situation, I apprehend it will he agree¬ 
 able to my reader, to be more particularly acquainted with the method in which the stones were 
 set and fixed.—I have intimated § 167, that when each separate piece, of which a course was to 
 consist, was separately wrought, they were all to be brought to their exact places with respect 
 to each other upon the platform in the work-yard, and so marked, that after being numbered 
 and taken to pieces, they could again be restored to the same relative position. This was done 
 upon the complete circular courses by drawing lines from the center to the circumference, pass¬ 
 ing through the middle of each set of stones; and likewise concentric circles through the middle 
 of each tier or circle of stones, so as to indicate to the eye their relative position to each other: 
 but to render the marks not easily delible, where those lines crossed the joints, a nick was cut 
 and sunk into the surface of the two adjacent stones; for doing which, a piece of thin plate iron 
 was employed, with sand, upon the principle that stones are sawn; so that not only the sight, but 
 feeling, could be employed in bringing them together again exactly; for the same or a similar plate 
 being applied to the nick, the least irregularity of its position would be discoverable._In a si¬ 
 
 milar manner the stones of the Base Courses were marked by lines drawn parallel to the leno-th 
 of the steps, and others perpendicular to the same, the crossings being sawn in as before de¬ 
 scribed. There was, however, a nicety in this part of the work that required particular attention, 
 and that was in forming a provision for setting the four radical stones, that occupy the four ra¬ 
 dical dovetails into which each step was formed, as may be observed in the several figures of Plate 
 No.10.—Those stones were formed, from the work of the rock’s being actually moulded off, as 
 mentioned § 175: and from the manner already described of bringing those moulds to agree after 
 they were brought home from the rock, § 176, those stones were laid upon the platform thereby, 
 and then marked with lines upon their own substance, in the manner just mentioned: and as the 
 distances of each of those stones were then ascertained by gauge-rods of white fir-wood, while 
 upon the platform; it must be expected, as each step was reduced to a level plain, as the plat¬ 
 form was, that when laid upon the rock in their due positions and distances, by the gauge-rods, 
 they would nearly fit the dovetails that had been cut in the rock to receive them; and where 
 there was the least want of fitness, as might possibly happen with bodies of so rigid a nature 
 either the stone or the rock was cut, till each stone would come into its exact relative position, 
 and then all the rest would follow one another by their marks, in the same manner as they had 
 done upon the platform. 
 
 236. IT is necessary to be noticed, that the waist of each piece of stone had two grooves 
 cut, from the top to the bottom of the course, of an inch in depth, and three inches in width: 
 applicable to those grooves, were prepared a number of oak wedges, somewhat less than three 
 inches in breadth, than one inch thick at the head, nearly |ths thick at the point, and six inches 
 long. The disposition of these grooves is shewn in the courses of Plate No. 10, where the little 
 black parallelogram figures, placed along the lines describing the joints of the courses, represent 
 the tops of the grooves, and their place on the right hand or left of the joint line, shew in which 
 stone the groove is cut. It is also to be noted, that where the flank side of a stone was not more 
 in length than a foot or fourteen inches, one groove was generally deemed sufficient; but those 
 
 
132 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. 1. 
 
 of eighteen inches or upwards had generally, in themselves or the adjoining stone, a couple of 
 grooves. 
 
 237- THE mortar, which was compounded as shewn in § 204*, was prepared for use by 
 being beat in a very strong wooden bucket made for the purpose; each mortar-beater had his 
 own bucket, which he placed upon any level part of the work, and with a kind of rammer or 
 wooden pestlef, first beat the lime alone, about a quarter of a peck at a time, to which, when 
 formed into a complete, but rather thin paste with sea-water, he then gradually added the other 
 ingredient, keeping it constantly in a degree of toughness by continuance of beating.—When a 
 stone had been fitted and ready for setting, he whose mortar had been longest in beating came 
 first, and the rest in order: the mason took the mortar out of the bucket; and if any was spared, 
 he still kept on beating; if the whole was, exhausted, he began upon a fresh Batch.—The stones 
 were first tried, and heaved into and out of their recesses, by a light moveable triangle, which 
 being furnished with a light double tackle^, the greatest number of all the pieces could be pur¬ 
 chased by the simple application of the hand ; and this made our stones to be readily manageable 
 by such machinery as could commodiously be moved and carried backward and forward in the 
 yawls every tide. To the first stone, and some few others, we took the great tackle, that we 
 might hoist and lower them with certainty and ease; but there were not in the whole above a 
 dozen of stones that required it. 
 
 238. THE stone to be set being hung in the tackle, and its bed of mortar spread, was then 
 lowered into its place, and beat down with a heavy wooden maul, and levelled with a spirit 
 level|| : and the stone being brought accurately to its marks, it was then considered as set in its 
 place. The business now was to retain it exactly in that position, notwithstanding the utmost 
 violence of the sea might come upon it before the mortar was hard enough to resist it.—The 
 carpenter now dropped into each groove two of the wedges already described, one upon its 
 Head, and the other with its point downward, so that the two wedges in each groove would 
 then lie Heads and Points. With a bar of iron of about 2' inches broad, f of an inch thick, 
 and 2■? feet long, the ends being square, he could easily (as with a rammer) drive down one 
 wedge upon the other, very gently at first, so that the opposite pairs of wedges being equally 
 tightened, they would equally resist each other, and the stone would therefore keep its place; 
 and in this manner those wedges might be driven even more tight than there was occasion for ; 
 as the wood being dry, it would by swelling become tighter ; and it was possible that by too 
 much driving, and the swelling of the wedges, the stones might be broken : and further, that a 
 moderate fastening might be effectual, a couple of wedges were also, in like, manner, pitched at 
 the top of each groove, the dormant wedge or that with the point upward, being held in the 
 hand, while the drift wedge or that with its point downward, was driven with a hammer; the 
 whole of what remained above the upper surface of the stone was then cut off with a saw or 
 chissel; and generally, a couple of thin wedges w'ere driven very moderately at the but-end of 
 the stone; whose tendency being to force it out of its dovetail, they would, by moderate driving, 
 only tend to preserve the whole mass steady together; in opposition to the violent agitation that 
 might arise from the sea. 
 
 239- AFTER a stone was thus fixed, we never in fact had an instance of its having been 
 stirred by any action of the sea whatever; but considering the unmeasured violence thereof, the 
 further security by trenails, suggested § 179, and now prepared, will not seem altogether un¬ 
 necessary, when we reflect, that after a stone was thus fixed in its place by wedges, a great sea 
 coming upon it, (often in less than half an hour) was capable of washing out all the mortar from 
 the bed underneath it, notwithstanding every defence we could give it by plaster or otherwise ; 
 and that when the bed ol mortar was destroyed, the sea acting edgewise upon the joint would 
 
 • See also No. 1. of the Table in § 222. 
 
 t See description of tools and utensils, Plate No. 18. t See also description, Plate No. 17. 
 
 II Those were provided on purpose, being such as were used § 97, and saved much loss of time that would otherwise have attend¬ 
 ed the use of levels with Plumbets, which, (as far as I know) were the only ones then used in masonry. 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S -BUILDING. 
 
 133 
 
 exert the same power to lift it up, that the same sea would exert to overset it, in case its broad 
 base was turned upright to oppose it; and as the wedges only fixed and secured the several 
 pieces of which each course consisted to each other, and had no tendency to keep the whole 
 course from lifting together, in case the whole should lose its mortar bed; it seemed therefore 
 highly necessary to have some means of preventing the lifting the whole of a course together, till 
 the solidity and continuity of the mortar should totally take away that tendency.—Adverting 
 now to what was said § 179, that a couple of holes, to receive oak trenails of an inch and { in 
 diameter, were bored in the work-yard through the external or projecting end of every piece of 
 stone ; we must now suppose these stones set in their places and fixed by wedges; then one of 
 the tinners with a Jumper began to continue the hole into the stone of the course below, and 
 bored it to about eight or nine inches deep; but this hole was bored of a less size, by ^ of an 
 inch in diameter, than the hole through the stone above*; in consequence the trenails having 
 been previously dressed with a plane till they would drive somewhat freely through the upper 
 hole, would drive stiffly into the under one, and generally would become so fast as to drive no 
 further before their leading end got down to the bottom ; and if so, they were sufficiently fast: 
 but as they sometimes happened to drive more freely than at others, the following method was 
 used to render them fast, for a certainty, when they got to the bottom.—The leading end of 
 every trenail was split with a saw for about a couple of inches, and into this split was introduced 
 a wedge about of an inch less in breadth than the diameter of the trenail; it was a full quarter 
 of an inch in thickness at the head, and sharpened to an edge: when therefore the head of the 
 wedge touched the bottom of the hole, the trenail being forcibly driven thereupon, would enter 
 upon it, till the whole substance was jambed so fast, that the trenail would drive no further; and 
 as the wood would afterwards swell in the hole, and fill the little irregularities of boring by the 
 jumper, it became so fast that, as it seems, they could sooner be pulled in two than the trenails 
 be drawn out again-f*. The trenail (originally made somewhat too long) being then cut off even 
 with the top of the stone, its upper end was wedged cross and cross.—There being generally two 
 trenails to each piece of stone, no assignable power, less than what would by main stress pull 
 these trenails in two, could lift one of these stones from their beds when so fixed, exclusive of 
 their natural weight, as all agitation was prevented by the lateral wedges.—The stone being thus 
 fixed, a proper quantity of the beat mortar was liquefied, as mentioned § 199, and the joints 
 having been carefully pointed up to the upper surface, the Grout so prepared was run in with 
 iron ladles, and was brought to such a consistency as to occupy every void space; and though a 
 
 * The jumpers were kept to the same gauge by means of two brass rings turned to the proper size, so that when the jumpers by 
 wearing became too little, they were sent to the smith to be made to their full size, by the hammer, according to the gauge ring 
 referred to. 
 
 f It probably may be a satisfaction to the practical reader, as this mode of fixing by trenails may be useful on many occasions, to 
 have some sort of proof of what is here advanced. He will remember the case of the stemming a hole for blasting rocks with gun¬ 
 powder ; that, after the proper quantity of powder is in, the ramming the hole, for five or six inches above the powder, with dry clay, 
 or even the very powder of the stone that has been cleared out of the hole in boring, will, on firing the powder, produce so complete 
 a resistance, that the rock will sooner be split in another direction than the stemming will be driven out of the mouth of the hole. 
 Now this does not happen because the stemming is of more solid or tenacious matter than the rock itself, but because the power to 
 drive it out can act only upon the end of it, equal to the area of the circle of the hole ; whereas the hold by which the stemming (or 
 wad) is retained in the hole takes place in every point of the surface of the cylinder that it occupies. As for instance, suppose the 
 hole to be 1-J. inch diameter, then the area of it is nearly one square inch ; and suppose the length of the cylinder occupied by the wad 
 to be 6 inches, then the circumference of a circle, whose area is one square inch, being inches nearly, the circumference of the 
 whole cylinder so engaged will be 21 square inches ; so that it would require a force 21 times greater than that whereby the matter 
 of the Wad coheres to the solid, to dislodge it from the hole lengthwise.—I do not find an instance in my Journal, nor does my me¬ 
 mory furnish me with one, wherein the necessity occurred of getting any trenail out again after it had been driven; had that hap¬ 
 pened, it must have been bored out again, as I know of no force that could have been applied, which would have drawn it out. 
 
 Having mentioned the affair of blasting, it perhaps may not be amiss here to add, that the efficacy of the gunpowder to split the 
 stone, rather than to drive out the stemming or wad, is greatly owing to a further circumstance. The force of the powder to drive 
 out the wad is only in proportion to the area of the hole ; whereas its power to divide the stone in a direction parallel to the hole, is as 
 the area of a parallelogram formed by the diameter of the hole, multiplied by the length that the charge occupies; that is, the dia¬ 
 meter of a hole whose area is one square inch, being nearly, if the length is 6 inches, the product will be ; and so many times is 
 the force that the same charge of powder exerts to split the stone, more than that to drive out the wad. Besides, every force exerted 
 to drive the wad out of the hole, probably tends to make it take the stronger hold, in consequence of the parts of it being jambed 
 harder together, as the force is greater. 
 
 M M 
 
134 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. I. 
 
 considerable part ot this was water, yet that being absorbed by the dry stones, and the more con¬ 
 sistent parts settled to the bottom, the vacuity being at the top, this was repeatedly refilled till 
 all remained solid : the top was then pointed, and, when necessary, defended by a coat of 
 plaster. 
 
 The several courses represented in Plate No. 10, are shewn as they would appear, when 
 completed with the whole of their wedges and trenails: and besides these, there being also 
 generally two Lewis holes upon the upper surface of each stone, those served as temporary fix¬ 
 tures for the work of the succeeding course. 
 
 240. IT was the same evening’s tide of the 11th of August, that the basement was com¬ 
 pleted and tbe center stone of Course VII. was landed.—Of the preceding courses, each was 
 begun by the stones that engrafted in the dovetail recesses cut in the rock; these stones there¬ 
 fore being immoveable by any assignable force acting horizontally, rendered those so likewise, 
 that depended upon them; but having now brought the whole upon a let r el, we could not have 
 this advantage any longer; it therefore became necessary to attain a similar advantage by arti¬ 
 ficial means.—For this purpose the upper surface of Course VI. (see Plate No. 10. Fig. 6.) had 
 a hole of one foot square cut through the stone that occupied the center; and also eigliL depres¬ 
 sions of one foot square, sunk into that course six inches deep, which were disposed at regular dis¬ 
 tances round the center, as is shewn in that figure : these cavities were for the reception of eight 
 cubes of marble, in masonry called Joggles*.—As a preparation for setting the center stone of 
 Course VII. a parallelopiped (which for shortness sake I will call the Plug) of strong hard 
 marble from the rocks near Plymouth, of one foot square and twenty-two inches in lengLh, was 
 set with mortar in the central cavity, and therein firmly fixed with thin wedges. Course VI. 
 being thirteen inches in height, this marble plug, which reached through, would rise nine inches 
 above it; upon this, the center stone (see Plate No. 11. Course VII.) having a hole through its 
 center of a foot square, was introduced upon the prominence of the plug, and being bedded in 
 mortar, was in like manner wedged (with wedges on each side the plug) and every remaining 
 cavity filled with grout. By this means no force ol the sea acting horizontally upon the center 
 stone, less than what was capable of cutting the marble plug in two, was able to move it from its 
 place : and to prevent the stone more effectually from being lifted, in case its bed of mortar hap¬ 
 pened to be destroyed, it was fixed down in the manner above described, by four trenails- 
 which being placed near to the corners of the large square of that stone, they not only effectually 
 prevented the stone from lifting, but aided the center plug in preventing the stone from moving 
 angularly or twisting, which it might otherwise have done, notwithstanding its weight, which 
 was two tons nearly 
 
 241. WHILE the center plug of this course was preparing to be fixed, an accident hap¬ 
 pened, which, without some present resolution, might have prevented my seeing the first stone 
 placed. The level platform we then had obtained being something of a novelty, I was enjoying 
 it by walking to and fro upon it; by some inattention I made a false step into one of the eight 
 cavities for the Joggles, and not being able to recover myself, tumbled over the brink of the work 
 down among the rocks on the west side; but the tide being then retreated, I presently recovered 
 my former station, at first supposing myself but little hurt; but soon finding a very great and 
 unusual numbness in one of my thumbs, on looking upon it, I perceived, from its irregular direc¬ 
 tion, it was put out of joint. I reflected that I was at least fourteen miles from a surgeon, and 
 as far back again, and both ways subject to the uncertainty of winds and seas ; I therefore laid 
 fast hold of it with the other hand and gave it a violent pull, upon which it snapped into its place; 
 and I immediately proceeded to fix the plug. I had not much pain or uneasiness from it the 
 first tide; but it was above six months after this accident, before I could make free use of it. 
 
 * When a smaller piece of stone, of any shape or kind, is let in between two larger stones, and partly into one, and partly into the 
 other, so as to prevent their shifting place with respect to each other, those pieces of stone are termed Joggles. 
 
 t An Edystone silver medal (see Plate No. 18.) was laid under the center stone, together with several pieces of money. 
 
THE FIRST YEAR'S BUILDING. 
 
 242. AFTER setting the first center stone of Course VII. we immediately proceeded to set 
 
 the four stones that surround it, and which were united thereto by four dovetails, projecting from 
 tile four sides of the center stone. These stones being fixed in their dovetails by a pair of wedges 
 on each side, at. bottom and top, as has already been mentioned, and held down by a couple ot 
 trenails to each surrounding stone, and still further steadied by joint wedges at the head of the 
 dovetails, and also in the mitre or diagonal joints betwixt each surrounding piece; the whole 
 formed a circular kind of stone of ten feet diameter and above seven tons weight: and which 
 being held down by a center plug and twelve trenails, became in effect one single stone; whose 
 circumference was sufficient to admit of eight dovetail recesses to be formed therein, so as to be 
 capable of retaining in their places a circle of eight pieces of stone of about 12 cwt. each, in the 
 same manner and upon the same principle, that the radical pieces of stone were engrafted into 
 the dovetail recesses of tile rock; and which being in like manner wedged and trenailed, we pro¬ 
 ceeded with circular Tiers of stone, in the manner shewn in Plate No. 11. Fig. 1._It is however 
 
 to be remarked, that the mode of applying the wedges and trenails being sufficiently explained 
 in the several figures of Plate No. 10. and also in Plate No. 11. Fig. 1. to avoid a repetition of 
 small work, the several succeeding figures simply shew the general shapes and disposition of the 
 different pieces composing a course, and other incidental larger matters, wholly omitting the par¬ 
 ticular application of the wedges and trenails ; yet it is to be observed that they were every where 
 equally applied, till we got to the top of the Solid. 
 
 243. WE went forward with Course VII. without any thing but common interruption for 
 some days.—It was remarked that upon the 12th of August, the wind being eastwardly, and 
 moderate, there was the greatest swell in the Gut that we ever had experienced, when we at¬ 
 tempted to land stones; the boat rose and fell full four feet perpendicular, which rendered the 
 management of it, and landing of the pieces extremely difficult; and had not our purchases been 
 very speedy in their action as well as forcible, we could not have done it at such a time; for after 
 a stone was raised from the floor of the boat, the boat would rise under the stone so as sometimes 
 to unhook it from the tackle, yet happily the boat sustained no damage : and having now seen 
 the five stones of the center completely established, 1 left Richardson and company, after set¬ 
 ting the first of the third tier, to complete and go on with the rest in the same manner. 
 
 244. M\ much esteemed master and friend Mr. Weston, who came from London to he 
 witness of our proceedings, arrived at Plymouth during this interval. I went off with him early 
 on Wednesday morning the 1 / th, attended by Mr. J essop and his company, and landed upon the 
 rock at ten ; Richardson and company were then about to begin to set the fifth tier, or circle of 
 stones which was to contain the eight cubes before described.—These cubes were so disposed 
 upon the surface of Course VI. that the cavities cut on the under side of Course VII. to take the 
 upper half of each cube, should constantly fall in the broad part of the stones of the fifth circle; 
 which will appear plain by considering the dotted lines relative to Course VII. upon the surface 
 of Course VI. (see Plate No. 10. big. 6.) There could consequently be no application of wedges 
 in the upper course to the fastening of the circle of stoues (No. 5.) upon their respective cubes: 
 when therefore the stones respectively came upon them, we put as much mortar upon the top of 
 ihe cube, as would in part make good the joint betwixt it and its cavity, but pot enough quite to 
 Idl it; because if too full there was no ready way for the superfluous mortar to escape; but a 
 bole, of the size of those for the trenails, being previously bored through each of these pieces, 
 answerable to the middle of each cube; when the stone was set, wedged and trenailed, then it 
 was very practicable, by dressing a trenail so as to become a Ram-rod, to drive as much mortar 
 down the hole as would completely fill every vacancy betwixt the stone and its cube; insomuch 
 that we soon perceived, that if this was attempted before the stone was completely trenailed 
 down, that it would very easily raise the stone from its bed, as might indeed be expected from 
 the principles ol Hydrostatics : but being done after such completion, it brought the whole to 
 the most solid bearing that could he wished; and when the cement was hardened answered the 
 end quite as effectually as if they had been wedged. 
 
 It may here be very properly said, that since those cubes could be of little use in keeping the 
 work firmly together before the mortar was hardened ; and after that had taken place, they could 
 
 
136 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 be of no use; because the number of 108 trenails, of which one of these courses consisted when 
 complete, being supposed sufficient to keep it from lifting and moving out of its place; as the 
 mortar hardened, and every additional course was an addition of its own weight upon the former, 
 if those cubes could have been dispensed with in the first instance, they might have been so ever 
 a ft er .—This reasoning I can very well admit to be true; yet, when we have to do with, and to 
 endeavour to controul, those powers of nature that are subject to no calculation, I trust it will 
 be deemed prudent not to omit, in such a case, any thing that can without difficulty be applied, 
 and that would be likely to add to the security.—It may further be remarked, that as this build¬ 
 ing was intended to be a mass of stone held together by the natural and artificial union of its 
 parts, it would have been out of character, that when completed, it should be beholden to certain 
 parts of Wood for its Consolidation*. 
 
 245. I HAVE mentioned, § 83. that I originally conceived more than one way of preventing 
 the courses from shifting place upon one another. My first conceptions were to form a rise (or 
 a depression) of three inches, bounded by a circle somewhat about the diameter of that in which 
 the joggles are placed ; which step or depression would have formed a socket, whereby the 
 courses would have been mutually engrafted, not much different from what nature has pointed 
 out in the basaltine columns of the Giant’s Causeway: but considering bow much unnecessary 
 trouble and intricacy would be hereby introduced, by one part of the bed of the same stone 
 being liable to be three inches higher than the other, I judged that the end would be very suf¬ 
 ficiently answered by the much more plain, easy, and simple method of joggles ; especially as, 
 for this purpose, the firmest and toughest kind of stone might be chosen, and the number mul¬ 
 tiplied at pleasure. One plug in the middle, of a foot square, and eight joggles of a foot cube 
 each, of the hardest marble, disposed in the manner described, seemed to me, along with the ad¬ 
 ditional strength and security arising from the trenails; as also from the infinite number of little 
 indentures upon the surface of the courses, as well as the Lewis Holes, each being filled with an 
 extuberance of mortar, which, when hard, would in effect become a steady pin ; from the cohe¬ 
 sion of the mortar as a solid, promising to be no less than that of the stone; together with the 
 incumbent weight of every part of the building above; every joint thus separately considered, 
 seemed in point of firmness so satisfactory to my mind, that if the whole of this proved too little, 
 it was out of my power to conceive what would be enough. 
 
 246. WHILE I am upon this part of my subject, I will take an opportunity of observing 
 that it was a part of my problem, which I will not take upon me to say that I have accurately 
 solved ; but I have endeavoured to do it, so far as my feelings, rather than calculations, would 
 bear me out: That the building should be a column of equal strength, proportionate in every 
 part to the stress it was likely to bear, (regard being also had to its use,) was a view of the sub¬ 
 ject I was naturally and forcibly led to, as I found it eternally rung in my ears from all quarters, 
 that a Building of Stone upon the Edystone -would, certainly be overset. I therefore endeavoured 
 to form it, and put. it together so, that while a similarity of use permitted a similar construction, 
 no man should be able to tell me at what joint it would overset; for, if at any given height the 
 uppermost course was, when completed, safe, it became more safe by another course being laid 
 upon it; and that upper course, though somewhat less in weight, and in the total cohesion of 
 its parts, than the former; yet every course, from the first foundation, was less and less subject 
 to the heavy stroke of the sea. 
 
 247- IN the morning and evening’s tide of the 17 th we set the whole of the fifth tier, and 
 consequently the whole of the eight cubes were then inlaid. The morning of the 18th we again 
 landed; but Mr. Weston, after expressing his entire approbation of our proceedings, returned 
 to Plymouth in the Assistant; I staid in hopes of seeing the whole course closed. In this morn¬ 
 ing and evening’s tide, though rough, we had got set five pieces of Circle 6. and had landed the 
 remaining three; as also one of the largest pieces of moorstone for the east side, (see Plate 
 
 • Indeed the application of these cubic joggles so well accords with my feelings in respect to stability, that I should even now 
 have regretted if they had been omitted; and should be sorry to have them now removed, if it was possible. 
 
 \ 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 137 
 
 No. 11. Fig. t.) This evening’s tide we worked with links, and it began to blow so fresh that 
 we had much ado to keep them in, being obliged to make a fire of them upon the surface of the 
 work. We were under the necessity at last to quit the rock with some precipitation, and were 
 very glad to get into our yawls; things being left in the following posture. Two of the pieces, 
 Tier 6. were simply dropped into their places on the north-west side, while the third piece, being 
 about a ton, and the piece of moonstone near upon two tons, were chained together, and to the 
 work of Course VII. that was already set; these two loose pieces being upon the top of that course 
 near the east side : the triangles were lashed down upon the floor of the work, as we had practised 
 several times before.—The sea became so rough in the night, that the Weston at the transport 
 buoy was obliged to slip and make for an harbour. Next day the wind increased, so that the 
 sea broke over the shear-heads at low water. I waited in hopes of an alteration of weather till 
 the 22d, when I returned to Plymouth in the yawl, the wind being S. W.—Upon the 25th, 
 though the weather continued still bad, the Assistant carried out Richardson and company, and 
 brought home Mr. Jessop and company, who left every thing well upon the rock, as far as they 
 could discover from the buss, hut had shared their last pound of bread. The bad weather still 
 continued to increase till the 28th, when there was a violent storm at S. W. so that the Antelope 
 man of war in the Sound, of fifty guns, dragged her anchors, and was in great danger of driving 
 upon the rocks. 
 
 The 29th I perceived with my telescope, from the Hoa, the buss to ride safe, but could not see 
 the shears, or indeed any thing else upon the rock distinctly, except the breakers. The day fol¬ 
 lowing being more clear, and the sea somewhat subsided, I distinctly saw the buss and the rock ; 
 but the shears not being visible, I immediately went on board the Edystone boat to reconnoitre 
 the state of things, and left orders with Mr. Jessop in the mean time to prepare new shears.— 
 The wind being N. W. I passed the rock several times under sail, but there was no possibility of 
 landing.—I observed that not only all the work which had been completely set was entire, but 
 that the two stones mentioned to have been simply lowered into their places also remained therein, 
 and that the 5 cvvt. still rested upon the stone whereon it was left. The west face of the building 
 had got so complete a coat of sea weed that it was only distinguishable from the rock by its form : 
 but the shears and triangles were entirely gone; the two pieces of stone that had been chained 
 together and to the work, were also gone; the windlass frame broken and much damaged, and 
 the roll gone; the fender piles and the transport buoy however remained in their places.— 
 The buss 1 was told had rode it out very well, but not without frequently alarming the company 
 on hoard, with an apprehension of her breaking loose, she having shipped many heavy seas on 
 deck, and one so great they expected the deck to have been staved in; they had veered out seven 
 fathoms of bridle cable, but were afraid to ease out more, lest it should touch the rocks.—This 
 was in reality the greatest storm we had ever experienced while out at the rock; yet we were 
 less chagrined for the damages done, than thankful that they were not greater. 
 
 248. THE 1st of September Jessop and company went out to shift Richardson ; who sent 
 me a letter, informing me they had caught an opportunity of reconnoitring the Gut, and found 
 the two stones washed off from the rock to be lying therein, and which, as he apprehended they 
 could be weighed, there would be no need to proceed with new pieces on shore. It was the 3d 
 of September before this company could make a landing to do any thing upon the rock; so that 
 since the 18th ult. there had been an interval of fifteen days in which we had been totally inter¬ 
 rupted by bad weather in the very prime part of the season. However, every thing having been 
 expedited on shore to get refitted for work, this day I went out therewith, and began to set up our 
 new shears, windlass, &c. and with the shears got up the piece of Portland of Circle (3. which was 
 set, as also the others that had been left loose in their dovetails; but the tide of flood coming on, 
 had deepened the water too much before we could try to get up the other. 
 
 The getting up of the piece of Portland stone was effected by means of the same utensil 
 wherewith we got up that mentioned § 228; and though it lay the wrong side upward, yet as 
 the trenail holes always reached through the stone, into which the instrument was introduced, 
 (see its description,) this difference of circumstance was at present of no consequence; but when 
 the next day we introduced it into one of the trenail holes of the piece of moorstone, that lying 
 
BOOK IV. CIIAP. I 
 
 138 
 
 also the wrong side upwards, (for the holes being bored from the upper side, were therefore 
 naturally a little taper), this circumstance prevented the pin from going in so far as it otherwise 
 would have done ; the holes being also nearer the corner, and the stone double the weight of the 
 former, when the stone was got up to the surface of the water, it then becoming heavier by losing 
 its buoyancy, the pin became bent, and thereby the hold of the tool upon the stone releasing, it 
 dropped down again to the bottom; it however fortunately fell upon its end, and in this position 
 we found means to get a chain round its waist.—To one of the strong chains, which were about 
 ten feet long, wherewith we used to chain our loose pieces of stone upon the work when we left 
 them, we fastened a rope to each end, and lowering the chain in a loop beyond it, we could then, 
 by bringing the two ropes together, bring the chain round the waist of the stone; but the diffi¬ 
 culty was to confine the two parts together so close to the stone, as to prevent its turning out of 
 the chain when we came to heave upon it: for this purpose I bethought me of putting an iron 
 ring over the double rope, the weight of which might draw the two parts together; but that not 
 proving to do it sufficiently, while expedients were concerting, John Boavdex, whose invention 
 Avas ever ready, cried out, “ Twist the ropes, master;” and by this simple expedient, the parts 
 being drawn so close that the ring went home, it was impossible for the stone to slip, and therefore, 
 
 not long before it was relanded upon the rock*.—The depth of the water was twelve feet._The 
 
 ihree parts of the Lewis by which this stone had been chained, were found in the hole, but the 
 bolt and shackle were gone. 4 he like parts of the lewis were left in the work to which the same 
 chain was hooked, but the bolt was gone, and half of the shackle found in one of the cube holes. 
 We also remarked that the surface of the work upon which the stones had lain, that had been 
 chained, was brought almost to a polish, as well as the under bed of the Portland piece that Avas 
 driven into the Gut.—As the shears were fastened at the top as well as the bottom, it is diffi¬ 
 cult to suppose they could at once leave the rock; most probably therefore it was the legs of the 
 shears that broke the windlass after one or both had got loose at bottom ; otherwise it is not easy 
 to imagine that the water could lay such hold of its frame as to break it in the manner it was 
 broken, being wholly of iron. (See Plate No. 14. Fig. ].) 
 
 249- SEP 1 EMBER the 5th the seventh circle was finished and the eighth begun ; and this 
 day the wind being variable from X. E. to N. W. and very moderate, was remarkable, as being 
 the first time of the people having worked, till they were obliged to quit the rock for refreshment: 
 and now every thing being reinstated, it was some time before we met with any but the ordinary 
 interruptions.—On the 7th I had notice from Mr. Jessop of his expecting to complete Course 
 \ II. that day, being the first circular course : I therefore went, accompanied by Messrs. Weston 
 and Rh hardson, on board the Edystone boat, which Avas loaded Avith the center, and its sur¬ 
 rounding stones, of Course VIII. We arrived at Lhe buss in the night, and were informed by 
 Mr. Jessop, that the weather had been so calm that the top of the work had not been Avet for 
 three days; that therefore they had worked from light in the morning to dark in the evening, 
 but not in the nights. That Course VII. Avas completely closed, pointed and grouted ; and that 
 the top of the work, Avhere it needed, had been levelled, and every irregularity in the face of the 
 work rectified.—In the morning of September the 8th, Ave landed at break of day, and lhe Edy¬ 
 stone boat having been unloaded, Ave proceeded to set her cargo : and, besides the satisfaction 
 that Mr. Weston enjoyed in setting the center plug of Course VIll. which Avas managed in all 
 respects as already described of Course VII.he Avas entertained with the appearance of a fleet 
 around us, consisting of a convoy of above, a hundred sail of West India and Mediterranean 
 
 On tins occasion it may not be amiss to observe the great advantage that arises, in the greater operations of mechanics, from the 
 having commodious tackles and utensils. We had not completed the setting up of the windlass, when we found it necessary to heave 
 up the two stones before mentioned; we therefore (applying a sufficient number of men to the main tackle) heaved them up by hand : 
 and though there was no difficulty in this, yet I could not help remarking the vast difference there was in the Time and Power, be¬ 
 tween the application of men’s strength in this way and by the windlass. I therefore afterwards purposely noted the minutes they 
 were in heaving up one of the large moorstone pieces of Circle 7. by hand from the boat; and by the time this was done the windlass 
 was completed; and then, by a similar trial therewith, found that four men at the windlass hoisted a stone in half the time that it 
 took twelve men to do in heaving by hand, though the Tackle remained the same to both. 
 
 tit may be necessary to say, that this center plug was four inches shorter than the first; because Course VI. being thirteen inches 
 thick, was four inches more than half the medium thickness, of the courses above, which were eighteen inches at an average. 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 139 
 
 merchant ships; to whose future safety, we had the satisfaction to suppose ourselves contributing. 
 —After setting the plug and the center stone, Mr. Weston returned to Plymouth. 
 
 1 he fineness of the season now continued to favour the expediting of our works, insomuch 
 that Course VIII. which ,was begun upon the 8th, was executed in five days, being entirely com¬ 
 pleted on the 13th at the same hour. Every thing went regularly on till the 20th ; so that in 
 return for our continued interruption from the stormy weather for fifteen days, our works had an 
 uninterrupted progression for eighteen days, when Course IX. was advanced to the fifth circle : 
 but at this time, notwithstanding the wind had been moderate at E. for a week past, yet there 
 came on so great a ground swell from the south-west, that though both the companies had used 
 their joint endeavours to get the Edystone boat into the Gut, they had not been able to effect it. 
 
 250. IIIE greatest hinderance we had met with during the last fine season arose from the 
 uncommon lowness of the tides, which were so much so, that our stone vessels were liable to be 
 catched by the keel in going out from the Jetty head in Mill Bay. This inconvenience was in a 
 great measure remedied by a thought of Mr. Jessop’s, who contrived to borrow a Punt or fiat 
 square vessel, which, being loaded at the Jetty Head, was then hauled out into deep water, 
 where her cargo could be shifted into the boats of passage, at any time of the tide.—An incident 
 however happened, respecting our use of this punt, that demonstrates the extreme degree of 
 malevolence which sometimes possesses the breast of man. She was loaded on Monday the 12th 
 in the evening, and hauled out as usual; and the next morning (the night, having proved uncom¬ 
 monly calm) the punt was found, on hauling up her moorings, to be swinging by a single yarn, 
 the rest having been cut with a knife, at three fathoms under water; doubtless that it might not 
 be discovered, otherwise than by the effect of the vessel’s being driven upon the rocks, and there 
 sunk with her cargo, to our no small disappointment in the progress of the work : a circumstance, 
 that as it could not contribute to any man’s advantage or pleasure, indicated a degree of turpitude, 
 at which, were it not for such instances as these, it could hardly be supposed the human mind 
 was capable of arriving. 
 
 251. II was not till the 25th that any of the boats could keep the sea; for when they at¬ 
 tempted to go out, they were as often obliged to return with their cargoes : however, the Weston’s 
 cargo being first wanted ; J. Bowden, always desirous to promote the service to the utmost of 
 his power, went out this < I ay to the transport buoy, with a resolution to ride it out there if pos¬ 
 sible, and which, with great difficulty and some hazard, he did ; and in the evening of the 26th 
 his cargo was landed, which enabled the work to go on again as intervals offered. I went out 
 on the 27lh, and was witness to the great difficulty there was in preserving the boats from being 
 wrecked in the Gut; the easterly wind having raised so great a swell on that side of the rocks, 
 that two of them successively broke their fastenings, and were in the utmost peril of being staved ; 
 yet steadily endeavouring to use our best efforts to expedite the work, no material damage in reality 
 happened ; though the boats rolled to that degree, that every moment one would have expected 
 the mast of the vessel and the shears to have got entangled together so as to carry one or both away. 
 
 252. THE 29th of September all the remaining pieces belonging to Course IX. were happily 
 landed from the Weston, and the vessel got clear of the Gut.—We found the best method of a 
 boat’s going into the Gut was; when she arrived at the transport buoy, for one of the yawls to 
 carry her a rope to the landing-place, as also one to the principal rocks on each side, entering the 
 Gut; those on board then heaving upon whichever of these three seemed most requisite, also veering 
 out a sufficient rope double from her bows, and passing through the ring of the transport buoy, she 
 goes into the Gut stern foremost; and by these means has a fastening head and stern, as also one 
 on each side.—When going out of the Gut, she heaves by the double rope towards the transport 
 buoy, and when clear of the rocks she can either go to the buoy, or, by the rope’s being double, 
 she can slip her hold of it, and get under sail.—A ground swell coming from S. W. soon after, 
 obliged us to quit the rock ; but the next day we landed, and set the remaining stones, which 
 completed Course IX ; and the masons proceeded to rectify the face of the work, where it w'as 
 
140 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 CHAP. 1. 
 
 in any degree wanting thereof, that there might be no need hereafter to disturb any part of the 
 coat of weed, which was likely to fix upon it during the winter. 
 
 253. BEING now arrived at the eve of October, I maturely considered our situation ; and 
 finding that we had been eighteen days in completing the last course, whereas the former one 
 (Course VIII.) was begun and finished in five; though the weather, both on shore and above¬ 
 head, had remained to all appearance much the same; 1 from thence concluded it to be very pro¬ 
 bable, we might not get another course completed in the compass of the month of October; so 
 that when I reflected on the many disasters we had suffered Iasi year, by continuing out till the 
 month of November, and how little work we in reality did after this time, it appeared to me very 
 problematical whether we might be able, with every possible exertion, to get another course 
 finished this Season : and considering how very ineligible it was to have a course lie open during 
 the winter, in this stage of the work : and that we had now got three complete courses established 
 above the top of the rock, the sum of whose heights was four feet six inches; and that we could 
 not leave the work in a more defensible state, whether as relative to the natural violence of the 
 sea, or the possibility of external injuries; from these considerations, it appeared to me highly 
 proper to put a period to the out-work of the present season ; and this opinion was heartily con¬ 
 curred in by Messrs. Jessop and Richardson. 
 
 We therefore proceeded to take down the shears and windlass, and to weigh the transport buoy 
 chain and anchor, which we successfully did, by applying all hands thereto on board the 
 Weston; but in effecting ibis we providentially escaped what, if it had taken place, would have 
 proved in all probability a very unfortunate disaster.—The anchor, as mentioned § 224. being of 
 12 cwt. was a heavy one in proportion to the size of our Craft; and it was weighed by means of 
 its buoy rope, and got close to the bows of the Weston. The chain of the transport buoy then 
 hung down in a loop from the ring of the anchor, the other end being supported by that buoy; 
 w hich, that the whole might float together, was confined to the side of the Weston by a small luff- 
 tackle which laid hold of it.—We then proceeded to hoist the transport buoy into the Weston by 
 her runner and tackle, from the mast-head ; but the hook being too small to encompass the ring 
 of the buoy ; it was fixed by means of a salvagee : and this small circumstance saved us ; for by 
 the time the buoy was hoisted out of the water, observing that its weight and appendant chain a 
 good deal heeled the Weston, and was in consequence making a strong effort to quit the vessel’s 
 side, I ordered the tinners to hold fast the luff-tackle, which they unfortunately mistook for an 
 order to let go the luff-tackle ; on this the buoy immediately quitted the vessel’s side : l happened 
 to be with others in the yawl on the outside of the buoy, where we had been fastening the sal¬ 
 vagee; and seeing the buoy separating from the vessel, and driving us outward, and that the 
 weight of the buoy and chain was gaining more and more purchase upon the mast, as it heeled 
 more outward ; in consequence, there being nothing to prevent the further separation of the vessel 
 and the buoy, this advantage must have become every moment greater, I ill the vessel had overset, 
 filled, and sunk : in this dilemma it occurred to me to make use of my Pocket Knife to cut the 
 salvagee; which being instantly done, the Weston immediately righted, and the buoy was soon 
 aft er got on board in the manner it was first intended. 
 
 254. THE 1st of October we proceeded to heave in the bridle cable of the buss, and instead 
 of it to fix to the great SAvivel of the moorings (which we found unhurt.) a new buoy chain that 
 we had received from London, to be applied instead of the other ; which being made with short 
 links, would relieve us in future from the anxiety we had in heaving up the bridle chain and 
 swivel the beginning of this season. (See § 223.) This was put down, and the great buoy and 
 chain affixed upon the top of it, which had rode the whole of last winter, and had served us as a 
 transport buoy during the season we were then about concluding. The buss was now rode by 
 this buoy till the wind should come fair to carry her into harbour; the whole being ready to cast 
 off at a moments warning.—This business being completed, and a good opportunity of landing 
 on the rock offering itself, I again Avent upon it with Mr. Jessop and the masons; and having 
 completely rectified the outside, and finished every thing to my mind, we went on board the 
 
THE FIRST YEAR’S BUILDING. 
 
 141 
 
 Weston and Assistant with the company, leaving the buss to the care of the seamen, who were 
 all on board, except the two masters of the boats, Bowden and Medling, in their respective 
 vessels, and landed at Plymouth the same evening.—The next day, Sunday October the 2d, 
 Bowden and Medling went out to assist Smart and the other seamen in bringing in the buss 
 as soon as the wind came fair.—They sailed with the buss on Monday the 3d at four P. M. but it 
 was not till the next day at noon that she arrived at Mill Bay : she was hauled up upon the beach 
 the same evening, and I took leave of the work-yard for that season; exhorting the men to dili¬ 
 gence and unanimity, and leaving every thing about the woi'k up to the entry door ready to go to 
 sea, which was intended to be pitched upon the fourteenth course, I set forward from Plymouth 
 for Loudon the 5th of October*. 
 
 • Besides what precedes, in relation of the incidents of the last season, I have omitted one in its proper place, that may indeed be 
 esteemed more of a ludicrous than a serious nature; and, as it was not set down in my Journal at the time, depends now altogether 
 upon my memory; as however the thought might, in like case, have its utility, I will give it a place in this note.—I think it was after 
 we had got the shears refitted, after the storm § 248. I was desirous to shew the people the advantage that might be had from the con¬ 
 struction of the shears, in enabling us to get off from the rock, in case any of us should be left there, when the yawls could not pos¬ 
 sibly go alongside to take 11s off in the usual way: and, to introduce the affair the more readily, I set about to give them an example. 
 From Plate No. 14. it will appear that the shears were kept upright, and were managed, by two strong guy (or guide) ropes, one 
 passing from the head of the shears over the area of the house, which was fastened to the rocks, above low water, on the west side of 
 the rock; the other, counteracting it, passed over the Gut, and was fixed to one of the rocks in the south reef on the east side of the 
 Gut. This last rope therefore wholly crossed the Gut, obliquely from the top of the shears, down nearly to low water mark. I 
 mounted to the head of the shears, and clung upon the guy rope, and, as the descent was with a considerable declivity, it was easy 
 to work myself downwards, which I did without difficulty, till I approached somewhat near the surface of the water; 1 then ordered 
 the yawl to come underneath me, to take me in, and when I found my feet in the boat, I concluded I had nothing to do but quit hold 
 with my hands; but the very moment in which I quitted hold, the boat took a sudden yaw or sheer, which canted me overboard, head¬ 
 long into the sea. No ill consequence however happened, except a thorough wetting to myself; but failing of ultimate success, 
 though by means of a collateral circumstance not necessarily connected with the operation, no one ever repeated the trial; that is to 
 say, we were never put to the real want of it; though every one present was convinced of the practicability of the manceuvre, in case 
 necessity should in future call for it. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 COMPREHENDING THE ACCOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS FROM MY LEAVING 
 PLYMOUTH IN OCTOBER, 1757, TO THE CONCLUSION OF 
 TFIE WORKING SEASON OF 1758. 
 
 255. THE interval between the conclusion of the ou twork of the year 1757, and the commence¬ 
 ment of that in 1758, furnished some memorable events.—The first that happened was of an un¬ 
 toward nature. In the beginning of December there happened a violent storm, so great as to drive 
 the floating light from her moorings, and oblige her to go into Plymouth ; and from whose master 
 we learnt, that in passing by the Edystone all then appeared to be well. From this lime the 
 weather continued so tempestuous that it was the month of March before any of our boats could 
 venture out to reconnoitre, when I received a letter from Mr. Jessop, containing the disagreeable 
 news, that the great buoy of the moorings was gone, as also the buoys of the anchors; but that 
 the seamen were at work sweeping for the anchors, and though they had not been so lucky as to 
 find them, yet when the weather became more favourable, they did not doubt of success.—This 
 was a matter that required the fullest attention; and, on a consultation with the proprietors, it was 
 determined not to rest the matter solely upon the efforts of our seamen, but, to spur the whole body 
 of fishermen, &c. upon the coast to exertion, a reward of £.50 was offered to whoever should 
 recover the moorings. At the same time it was further determined not entirely to trust to our 
 hopes of finding them, and therefore, without loss of time, a new set of chains was bespoke of Mr. 
 Wilson of Blackwall, who had made those already described; so that these might be going on 
 while endeavours were used to find the former; and if found, there would be no other loss, than 
 
 o o 
 
14-2 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. II. 
 
 .that we should have so much spare chain upon hand as should he made at the time; and which, 
 as what had happened might happen again, there possibly would he occasion for in future. This 
 matter being therefore now in a proper train, I shall proceed to an event of a more pleasing kind. 
 
 256. THE proprietors of the Edystone acquainted the Corporation of Trinity House that 
 their engineer being now in town, and, having made a considerable progress with the work upon 
 the rock, was, together with themselves, desirous of giving them full information of the proceed¬ 
 ings ; and that nothing would be more satisfactory to the public, as well as to themselves, than to 
 merit their approbation. This was the 21st of iVIarch, and on the 22d they received an answer 
 from Mr. Shuttlewood, Secretary to the Corporation, appointing the Saturday se’nnight 
 following. 
 
 In-this interview I had the pleasing satisfaction of fully explaining to that honourable Board, 
 not only what I had done, by means of the models and drawings I had laid before the Board of 
 Admiralty, but also what I proposed further to do; observing, that what was already executed 
 would equally serve as a very firm foundation and basement for a Timber structure, in case it should 
 be their opinion that such a one would be preferable to that of stone proposed : but after a full 
 investigation, they were pleased to honour the proposition with their decided opinion, that nothing 
 could answer so well as the building proposed; which opinion was still the more acceptable, as 
 it was that of the most competent judges. 
 
 1 lie Board, after many enquiries concerning the place and manner of our moorings, were 
 pleased to ofier me a set ol mooring chains, they had at Falmouth, in case we should need them, 
 which though neither new nor so heavy as those prepared, by their directions, for the Neptune 
 buss, yet might serve on occasion, as we did not expect to continue out in the worst of the season. 
 T- he corporation were also pleased to desire me to give them at times an account of my proceed¬ 
 ings and progress, from Plymouth ; by their doing which, I esteemed myself much honoured, as 
 well as obliged by the offer of the chains. 
 
 257- AF1ER this the accounts from Plymouth continuing constantly the same; that every 
 thing was going on briskly in the yard ; that the season was but little favourable to the sweeping 
 for the recovery of the moorings; and that the attempts which had already been made, proved 
 abortive; I took a resolution of going down to Plymouth, though not byway of proceeding with 
 the building, till the season arrived when the weather was more likely to continue settled, as well 
 as fine; yet, as I had frequently found difficulties to be surmounted when I was present, that 
 continued obstacles when I was absent; and though the operation of sweeping* was not a thing 
 to which I had been accustomed, I notwithstanding found myself much inclined to be present, in 
 order to expedite the business as far as in my power. 
 
 258. I ARRIY ED at Plymouth on Sunday the 16th of April, and found every thing at Mill 
 Bay to my satisfaction ; the last cargo of stone from Portland having been delivered in December, 
 and Course XXXI. was in hand working, being that whereon the windows of the second room 
 were to be placed. The solid part of the house was entirely completed and oil’ the platform, so 
 that had our moorings been in readiness, I might have been tempted to have carried out the buss. 
 —But I was scarcely arrived at Plymouth before an express came after me, upon a difficulty that 
 had arisen in the progress of the Calder Navigation Bill, and I was wanted to attend a committee of 
 the House of Commons, upon the 24th instant: I therefore was obliged to content myself with a con¬ 
 sultation with our seamen and Mr. Jessop ; and it was their opinion, that as, from the roughness 
 
 The operation of sweeping for an anchor is as follows. A couple of boats of a proper size are manned; and, as near as they cart 
 judge of the place where the anchor lies, they, at a competent distance from each other, row or sail abreast, having a hawser or small 
 cable passing from one boat to the other, and of such a length that a considerable part of it may drag upon the ground. This, on a 
 plain bottom, will naturally hang upon the arm of the anchor standing obliquely upward; provided the shank of the anchor lies east¬ 
 ward, that the tide runs west at the time of taking the sweep, and the boats are moving with the tide; for it is evident, if the hawser 
 hooks upon the anchor, that the two boats will tend to come together; and, the two parts being brought into one boat, if she heaves 
 upon them till she approaches nearly over the anchor, as the cable will be prevented by the broad part or Fluke from slipping off the 
 arm, a proper purchase being then applied, the anchor may be weighed. 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLVIIT. 143 
 
 of the rocks at the bottom, the anchors would naturally get into the hollow places, the sweep 
 ropes had constantly gone over without touching them ; and therefore they advised to sweep with 
 a small rope, not sufficient to weigh the anchor; but first to hook it, and then to sweep with a 
 larger rope with weights upon it, so as to sink it into the hollows, and thereby catch the 
 anchor also. 
 
 2o9- IN this situation I left our seamen to make the trial, the promised reward not having 
 as yet excited any others to the attempt. I attended upon the 24th at the House of Common?, 
 and upon the 30th was back again at Plymouth; when, on my arrival I was told by the seamen, 
 that by the scheme concerted before 1 left them, they had the preceding day the good fortune to 
 hook one of the anchors, which they weighed off the ground ; but were unable to bring it to the 
 surface, on account of the heaviness of the chain to which it was fixed, and the smallness of our 
 vessels; however, they had secured the sweep rope by letting drop a Runner-Ring, as mentioned 
 § 248, and had fixed a buoy thereon.—It happened that the tides ran so remarkably short at this 
 time, that our buss did not float at high water. We therefore procured the use of a sloop that 
 lay in the harbour, which the very next day was fitted out with a roll proper for heaving up the 
 anchor and chains; and, at three in the morning the 2d of May, I went on board with Mr. Jessop, 
 all our seamen, and eight or nine hands from our yard; the Assistant accompanying us. We 
 arrived at the moorings at eight; at first we could not see any thing of the buoy the seamen had 
 fixed, but when the tide was fallen away we got sight of it, and soon weighed the mooring anchor; 
 but by the time we had got it. above water the wind began to freshen at east, and raised such a 
 swell that we durst not attempt to get it upon deck, so as to haul in the chain and come at the 
 bridle ; and therefore were obliged to be contented with securing our temporary buoy rope upon 
 the anchor, lowering it down again to the bottom, and then return to Plymouth. 
 
 The weather remained unfavourable till the 11th of May, when we went out with the buss ; 
 and, having considered the numberless disappointments which we had experienced, chiefly as it 
 should seem, from the stiffness of the ropes and unevenness of the bottom, I had determined to 
 get a six inch cable laid of a sufficient length for such purposes, and the yarns to be so loosely 
 twisted together that it might be considered as of the nature of a Salvagee : carrying this along 
 with us, and finding the place of the anchor by means of the buoy we had fixed upon it, we laid 
 effectual hold of the anchor with it, which was in twenty fathoms water, and soon got it up to the 
 bows; but when we began to heave in our ground chain, we found it to come in much heavier 
 than we expected. We thereupon fixed our great tackle to it in addition, and hove all taught, 
 but without procuring any more of the chain. We therefore made all fast, and, it being nine P. M. 
 concluded to let all stand till the next morning. The wind then beginning to freshen at E. 
 the buss got some motion, and while we were refreshing ourselves lliere came on a sudden 
 rumbling of the chains, which put the buss into so great a tremor, that we concluded the chains 
 were gone ovei'board to the bottom ; we ran upon deck, and, to our great surprize, found all 
 standing as we left it: after this two or three more rumblings ensued, but gradually less; so that 
 iL would seem the chains had by degrees disentangled themselves from the rocks, as after this the 
 buss rode without any particular strain upon the tackle; and the wind continuing fresh, we did 
 not resume our work till day-break on the 12th.—The ground chain now came in kindly, and 
 about ten o clock we came to and got in the bridle and swivel, the buoy chain being fast thereto ; 
 as also the under buoy and the upper chain ; which, as it appeared to me, had sunk the under 
 buoy to the bottom, it being much water soaken. In fact, we recovered the whole of our moor¬ 
 ings, except the upper or great buoy, and the bolt by which it had been fixed ; so that from the 
 appearance we concluded the failure had been in the Forelock* of the bolt; but whether it had 
 gradually worked itsell loose by the continual motion, or by some violent jerk of the sea, or blow 
 from some vessel’s having run upon it, we could not determine.—By three o’clock we got the 
 chains and the anchor lowered, and the buss as completely moored, in our own opinion, as she 
 ever had been in either of the former seasons; which, considering the number of disappointments 
 we had experienced, must be supposed to have been attended with unusual joy and satisfaction. 
 
 * A- Forelock, in shipwrights terms, is the key or wedge by which a bolt is drawn tight, or prevented from slipping out. 
 
144 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. If. 
 
 260. DURING the time I was out upon this business, I took an opportunity at pinch of low 
 water to view the works upon the rock. It was with no small difficulty that I landed ; but I was 
 much surprized, notwithstanding what had been reported of the soundness of the work, to find 
 it so perfectly entire ; for, except a small spawl which had been washed from the rock itself, the 
 whole did not seem to have suffered a diminution of so much as a grain of sand since I left it on 
 the 1st of October: on the contrary, the cement, and even the grouted part, appeared to be as hard 
 as the Portland stone itself; the whole having become one solid mass; and indeed it had that 
 appearance, as it was then entirely covered with the same coat of sea-weed as the rock, the top of 
 the work excepted, which was washed so clean and white, that the lines thereon appeared more 
 distinct than they had done upon the platform in the work-yard ; no weed having fixed upon the 
 upper surface except in the cube-holes and lewis-holes, which constantly holding water, were 
 grown over with green weed like the outside. The fender piles were indeed all gone, but this was 
 a trifling disaster, as they could soon be renewed ; and we thought ourselves happy in the pros¬ 
 pect of getting to work upon the rock so early in the season. 
 
 261. SATURDAY the 14th of May the whole of the Portland stone work being completed 
 in the work-yard, the stone-cutters in that branch were dismissed: and upon the 16th the fender 
 piles at the rock were restored ; contenting ourselves now with two, fixed as is shewn in Plate 
 No. 14. The shears, the windlass, and all the rock tackle, with the transport buoy, being com¬ 
 pletely fixed*, our boats were now loaded with stone, and the first sailed to the transport buoy; 
 but though the weather was not favourable for delivering their cargoes, yet it being seasonable, I 
 determined they should keep out from Mill Bay, that they might take the earliest opportunity, 
 and no time be lost. And now, what could hinder our progress? Yet such however is the uncer¬ 
 tainty of human affairs, and particularly of those that depend upon the state of the winds and 
 waves, that, from this time till the 2d of July, instead of prosecuting the work, our thoughts and 
 attention were wholly employed to remedy disasters. 
 
 262. HAVING employed the 16 th of May in writing an account of our late proceedings to 
 the Trinity Board, I went out to the buss to take the first opportunity of landing the center 
 stone of Course X. the vessel that had it on board riding at the transport buoy ; thus every thing 
 continued fair and promising, and we expected every hour that the ground swell would subside 
 sufficiently to give us leave to get the vessel into the Gut. In this state we were obliged to wait 
 from day to day till the 23d, when, about three o’clock in the morning, the watch upon deck came 
 down to acquaint me that the buss had dragged her eastern anchor, for that she had got a con¬ 
 siderable distance from the buoy ; whereupon we all hastened upon deck, and found that we 
 had really got out of the accustomed place; however in a little time the buss came apparently 
 into her former situation, and finding the bridle taught, we concluded she had taken some extra¬ 
 ordinary swing, and that all was come right again. After waiting awhile for the approach of 
 day, we could not discern our buoy, and we observed that we were removed further from the 
 rock, so that, on applying to the bridle a second time, we found that the chain was dragging 
 upon the rocks : but how it had been separated, as the buss had not rode with any extraordinary 
 strain since she was last placed at her moorings, we could by no means guess; and finding that 
 we still continued driving from the rock, we concluded to drop an anchor as soon as we got into 
 clean ground. The spring-tide of flood however came on so strong, that though the wind blew a 
 fresh gale at E. we were carried so fast to the eastward that we concluded it unsafe to anchor, 
 and therefore advisable, for the present, to bend our sails (which had indeed been all unbent and 
 stowed down in the hold for the summer) and try to gain Plymouth Sound ; which being done 
 with as much dexterity and readiness as could be expected from three seamen, assisted by masons 
 and tinners, we got under way, and proceeded to heave in our bridle cable, at the end of which 
 was the great swivel with the five fathoms of chain that had been added at the end of the last sea- 
 
 * During this interval upon the rock the masons were employed in reducing the whole area of the work to a strict level; and it 
 was very agreeable to observe, that the strokes of the mallet and tool were equally complete and perfect in driving a fair chissel draft 
 across the joints, as upon the entire stone ; which was a proof of the firm coherence of the component matter. 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLYIII. 145 
 
 son ’ but nothing farther; and finding that even the swivel had struck against the rocks, we con¬ 
 cluded that the holt and shackle, joining this chain to the former, by some accidental stroke had 
 got its forelock broken or beat out*, and then, by the continual working of the sea, it could not 
 be long before the shackle became unbolted, and in consequence the vessel set adrift: but having 
 carefully placed a buoy upon our western anchor, we were not apprehensive of any other ill con¬ 
 sequence from this accident than the hindrance which the repetition of the same operation that 
 was performed upon the 11th and 12th instant must necessarily occasion.—At ten o’clock on the 
 23d we came to an anchor in the Sound ; from whence the winds and seas prevented our stirring 
 for several days. 
 
 263. I FIE 3d of June, at two A. M. I went with Mr. Jessop and company on board the 
 buss, and got out near the rocks at nine; but how great was our surprise and mortification to 
 find that the buoy, which we had taken great precaution to secure upon the anchor, was gone. 
 We therefore came to an anchor about a mile to the N. W. of the rock, which we judged to be 
 in clean ground, and 1 went in a yawl with Mr. Jessop to make enquiries at the floating light. 
 
 lhe master informed us, that on Wednesday the 24th ult. he went on shore in his boat; but 
 it being then thick weather, it was thought advisable to make Lhe rock in their way to Plymouth, 
 that they might more readily hit the Sound; and he then observed the buoy floating, and that 
 two Polparra fishing boats were in sight. 
 
 On our return to our station about twelve we began to sweep for our moorings as before, but 
 without success ; this we repeated at six, when the tide became again favourable ; next morning 
 we tried again, and laid hold of something which we judged to be the under buoy of the western 
 anchor; but the tide running too strongly, prevented us from using our salvagee rope : we there¬ 
 fore went upon the rock, where we fixed the chains and rings for steadying the boats in the Gut; 
 and after clearing away the weeds from the cube holes, we set the center plug ready for fixing 
 the center stone of Course X ; which done, we returned to our sweeping work, not doubting but 
 that we should be able to hook the under buoy with the salvagee rope, and we accordingly con¬ 
 stantly met with it; but the weather being untoward, the short sea raised thei’eby occasioned so 
 great a motion of the yawls, as to cause the sweep rope to disengage itself from its hold : and 
 soon after there came on so great a sea as to prevent all further trial at present, and made it 
 prudent for us to weigh the buss’s anchor; so that in the evening we arrived with her in Mill 
 Bay, through a rough sea, fresh wind, thick fog, and rain. 
 
 264. W HAT we had been told by the master of the floating light could not fail to give us 
 some suspicion of the Polparra Fishermen, as having cut away the buoy for the sake of the cork; 
 a jealousy I should not have given way to, if I had not recollected the cutting the moorings of 
 the punt the last year, and several other instances of villany of like nature, which in such cases 
 it would be always worth while to endeavour to detect and punish. With this view I accepted 
 the offer of a friend in the Custom House, that I could depend upon, to go to Polparra; and, 
 under colour of searching for run liquors, to try to discover the buoy ; which was accordingly 
 done, though without further success than a confirmation of our suspicions : for they learnt that 
 three boats had been out the very day the master of the floating light saw the buoy in his way to 
 Plymouth, and that they had brought home a large parcel of fish of a kind peculiar to these 
 rocks; so that they might easily have disengaged the layers of cork composing the buoy, and 
 cut them to pieces for their Crab-pots and Seines, while at sea, to prevent discovery. 
 
 265. FROM this time we were always prepared to go out in search of our moorings, and 
 frequently attempted it, but were obliged as often to return. On Friday the 23d, the Weston 
 and Assistant having unloaded their cargoes of stone, our men went out with a declaration that 
 they Avould not return till they had found the moorings. They did not come back in some days; 
 and, as I was not able to see any of the boats with my telescope from the Hoa, the Cawsand 
 
 * As this bolt and shackle would necessarily be in review on getting in the bridle, as mentioned § 259. the cause of this derange¬ 
 ment must have happened after that. 
 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. II. 
 
 14G 
 
 fishermen also reporting that tliey had not seen them at sea, and it had blown very fresh all the 
 time, we began to be uneasy for them ; imagining they had shared the same fate as a fishing boat, 
 which about three weeks before had been picked up by the French for the sake of intelligence : 
 but upon the 28th of June in the evening they returned to Plymouth, having, by distress of 
 weather during the interval they were out, been obliged to take refuge in Yealm harbour, where 
 they lay two days and nights, and afterwards returned to sweep for the moorings ; in which trials 
 they still laid hold of something with their sweep rope, but never had the good luck to lay hold 
 of it with the salvagee rope; however they continued their trials till wind and weather drove 
 them in. 
 
 266. DURING this time we received a parcel of chain from the smith in London ; for, as 
 lie had continued very diligently at work upon the new chains, that were ordered upon the first 
 discovery of the loss of our buoy, and had proceeded with them till we had got (as we thought) 
 completely moored upon the 13th of May ; the quantity of chain then made, amounting to forty 
 fathoms, was, by way of precaution, immediately put on board a vessel that was about to sail.for 
 Plymouth, and was now fortunately in our possession. We had moreover received the Cor¬ 
 poration’s chain from Falmouth, amounting to twenty-seven fathoms, and had ready two moor¬ 
 ing anchors, which had been purchased when the new chain was bespoke.—In this state of things, 
 as the season was approaching that we might expect suitable opportunities upon the rock, and 
 loss of time being the greatest loss that could happen to us; on a consultation, we judged it pro¬ 
 per to 'spend no more now, in sweeping for the moorings, but to carry out the buss and moor her 
 in the best manner we could with the chains we had ; because this would not prevent a proper 
 endeavour to recover the moorings, when time and season was less precious : and though the Cor¬ 
 poration’s chain of twenty-seven fathoms was not above half the weight of an equal length of our 
 own, yet we judged it might be very sufficient for our Eastern anchor; and the new chain was 
 of sufficient length to allow thirty-five fathoms for the western anchor, and five fathoms to turn 
 up fora bridle; which, together with the five fathoms of bridle, and the swivel, which we had 
 left, would be very sufficient for our purposes. Our seamen therefore were ordered to go out 
 the next day, if the weather suited, to make one more trial at dead of neap, when the tides run 
 less rapid ; and if unsuccessful, to return in. the evening to assist in carrying out the buss : this 
 indeed once more proved to be the case; so that every thing being ready, we went on board her 
 the 1st of July in the evening, and weighed. The wind being then at north, was very fair for car¬ 
 rying us out; but before we cleared the Sound it began to freshen to a still’gale, it therefore be¬ 
 came necessary to consider, as our vessel would not turn to windward, how we were to get back, 
 in case we should by any accident be prevented from mooring. We therefore came to an anchor 
 in Cawsand Bay; and as in the evening it became very moderate, though from the same quarter, 
 we weighed and made easy sail, having tjie whole night before us; and by three next morning 
 we got out the length of the Edystone. As the tide had overhauled us, and driven us to the 
 eastward of our proper mooring-place, we let go an anchor and warped the buss to her proper 
 birth : hut before we could ground our western anchor, the tide of ebb set so strong as to carry 
 us too much to the west; we therefore desisted for the present, till the ebb abated, and landed 
 on the rock, unloaded the Edystone boat of her cargo, and set a part of it. We returned to the 
 buss about noon to get down our moorings, which we happily completed by four P. M. much in 
 the same manner we had originally done §142; our eastern anchor lying amongst the rough 
 rocks in fourteen fathoms, and our western in sixteen fathoms water; the house bearing by the 
 compass S. W. by W. distance about 200 fathoms.—And here I must observe, that one misfortune 
 frequently becomes a consolation for another; for if none of those accidents had befallen us, if 
 our buss had kept its station and all our essentials had duly performed their duties, we could 
 have reaped little advantage from them; for we had repeatedly experienced that the progress of 
 the work *vas by no means proportioned to the length of time that the buss continued at her 
 moorings; so that, from the time of our first going out with the buss to this day, winds, ground 
 swells, and seas, had afforded so few opportunities of forwarding the construction, to any ma¬ 
 terial purpose, that in fact we had lost little or no time ; and our principal sufferings were from 
 that vexation and trouble of mind, which such disasters are apt to produce. 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLVIII. 
 
 147 
 
 267. FROM the 2d to the 5th inclusive we began and finished the Xtli Course; and by 
 noon on the 6th we had set the center, and two of the surrounding stones of Course XI; 1 
 therefore left Mr. Richardson and company to proceed; and, as the method was the same as 
 has been particularly described in the course of last year’s work, there will be little further oc¬ 
 casion to trouble my reader with any account of the building work ; except to mark its progress, 
 with the incidents attending, and such alterations in the method, as were necessarily occasioned 
 by the different modes of construction, which the different purposes naturally required.—Our 
 present run of fine weather was not lasting, for though we completed the Xth Course in four 
 days, it was not till the 18th (twelve days longer) that the Xlth Course was finished. How¬ 
 ever, the seamen that were relieved upon the 16th brought word that the buss had rode it out 
 very well, without being under the necessity of veering out any more cable. 
 
 268. ON the 17th at midnight I went out, and found Richardson and company at work 
 delivering the Assistant’s cargo, that had been on board ten days; and by the 24th the Xllth 
 Course was finished ; as was the Xlllth the 5th of August; and on the 8th of that month the 
 XIVth was completed, and therewith the Fundamental Solid.—From hence begins that part of 
 the building, also called the Solid, which includes the passage from the Entry-Door to the Well- 
 Hole for the stairs. The Plates No. 11. Fig. 2, 3, and 4; together with the Section No. 9, will 
 explain, by inspection, the construction and proportion of these parts much belter than words; 
 1 shall therefore think it sufficient to say, that as, for the sake of the well-hole, we must neces¬ 
 sarily lose our Center Stone, the four stones surrounding it that in the former courses were by 
 four dovetails united to the center stone, were, as now prepared, to he united to each other by 
 Ilook-Scarf-Joints, so as to compose, in effect, one stone: and as, in consequence, we had also 
 lost our center cubes, it became expedient, that the work might have an uniform texture and 
 strength, that those four stones, making a complete circle for the stair-case, should be provided 
 with cubes to prevent their being shifted by any shock applied horizontally, (see Fig. 4.) as well 
 as with trenails to hinder them from lifting. By this means the principle of consolidation would 
 be effectually preserved : but as the top of the XIVth or Entry-door Course, was twelve feet 
 above the top of the rock, that is, twenty feet four inches above the base of the 1st Course, the 
 stroke of the sea must here become less violent, and therefore a less degree of resistance would 
 be equally sufficient. And as the large cubes would too much cut the work, which was here of 
 considerably less area; and as several cubes would be requisite for the Well-Hole Stones, I had 
 determined, above the Entry-door Course, to increase the number of cubes from eight to sixteen, 
 and to diminish their size from twelve to six inches; but still to be of solid grey marble, and two 
 of them to be introduced into each of the four well-hole stones. 
 
 269. UPON the 9th of August at two A. M. I landed on the rock, and marked out the Entry 
 and Stair-case; and having unloaded the Edystone boat, which was loaded with the first pieces 
 of Course XV. we immediately proceeded with it; and from this time were blessed with such an 
 uninterrupted continuance of fine weather, that upon the 20lh day of August the XVIIIth Course 
 was completed, which reunites the building into a complete circle by covering the passage to the 
 stair-case: the external face of the stone of that course, which makes the cover or head of the 
 entry door, having the figures 1758, denoting the year in which this part of the work was ac¬ 
 complished, cut, in deep characters, upon it. During this fine season we had however one ac¬ 
 cident, that might have proved of bad consequence, if Providence had not interposed. Upon 
 the 15th, while all the people were at work upon the building, and the yawls attending in the 
 Gut, by some accident the hook by which the in-hauler guy of the shears was attached, became 
 undone ; and in consequence the shears came forward, overset into the Gut, and falling upon one 
 of the yawls considerably damaged it, and hurt two of the workmen, so that they were obliged to 
 be sent home to the care of a surgeon; but they were soon recovered, and returned to their work 
 with their company the next turn. 
 
 270. ON the 24th of August the fine weather, and in consequence the works, were inter¬ 
 rupted, the XXth Course being then in hand ; and it was not till the 24th of September that. 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. II. 
 
 148 
 
 with every possible exertion, the XXIV th Course was finished ; which completed the Solid, and 
 composed the floor of the Store-Room.—During this month of froward weather, it happened upon 
 the 30th that the men, who went in the yawls to help the Assistant out of the Gut, after so doing, 
 the wind becoming fresh at E. with a strong tide of ebb, were not able either to get on board 
 the buss, or land upon the rock ; so that those remaining upon the rock could not get on board 
 the yawls: those in the yawls were therefore under the necessity of lying upon their oars all 
 night, in the wind and rain, to the leeward of the building; those upon the rock amused them¬ 
 selves with their work ; which, having their lanterns and candles, they were enabled to do. On 
 the morning of the 31st the wind abated, and they got happily off without any other harm, than 
 that there was not a dry thread amongst the whole company. This was the first and only time 
 that either company were ever detained upon the rock: and, considering the number of escapes 
 we had had, it was rather surprising that this had not happened oftener. 
 
 On Wednesday the 6lh of September it blew a storm, and when I landed on the 8th I found 
 the forelock, which fastened the foot of the south leg of the shears, broken, and the two legs 
 driven together: but the house being now almost as high as the top of the shears, the in-hauler 
 guy tackle had been hooked to a lewis in the floor of the top of the building, which supported 
 the shears from falling, otherwise they must have been destroyed, as happened before about the 
 same time last year. (See § 248.) No other part of the tackle however had received any injury* 
 
 271. IT being, as said, the 24th of September when we finished the solid, had nothing been 
 further in view than the completion of the building the next year, I certainly should have been 
 very well contented now to have put a period to this year’s work; but, conceiving it would be of 
 great utility to the public, 1 had been for some time past meditating upon the practicability of 
 exhibiting a light from the house during the ensuing winter, provided we could get the Store 
 Room completed; of which I thought there was little doubt, when I considered how much less 
 of solid stone was necessary to raise one room with its vaulted stone cover, than was necessary to 
 finish as much in height of the solid; and that for the execution of this, every thing was ready 
 in the yard for putting together.—Accordingly, upon the 28th of September I wrote to the pro¬ 
 prietors; and also gave an account of the advancement of our works to the Board of Trinity 
 House; intimating the practicability thereof, in case I could get the Store-Room completed : and 
 also the probability of doing it, as it certainly could be effected in eight or ten days of working 
 weather. I also set forth the general outlines of the method, by which I proposed to do it; 
 which was, that besides making good the stone floor above the store-room, a strong platform of 
 timber was to be laid over all, and that covered with a Tarpaulin well secured down. Upon the 
 middle of this platform I proposed to set up our triangle, wherewith we hoisted and set our stone; 
 the legs to be well lashed down, and to suspend the Lantern thereon that was made for the Nep¬ 
 tune Buss : and, as nothing would project beyond the circumference of the area of the top of the 
 building, the lantern being in the center would be effectually screened from the stroke of the sea 1 
 and every thing would be sufficiently strong to resist the falling broken water, which would im¬ 
 mediately shoot oft'from the platform : and as I meant to lay three floors in the well-hole, I could 
 convert the whole of that cavity, as well as the passage, into store-rooms, so as to make sufficient 
 conveniency for two men, which appeared to be all that was absolutely necessary for the keep- 
 ing a light.—As I doubted not but this proposal would be approved, and there was no time to 
 lose, I went on with it in the same manner as if I had received an order for that purpose; and I 
 not only got prepared the wooden platform and tarpaulin, but fixed with two of my hardiest 
 workmen to keep the light for the winter; which for double their constant wages they agreed to 
 undertake : and as, under these circumstances, our platform would be full forty feet above the 
 base of the building, and everything very substantial, I did not doubt but that my two men would 
 fare much better in the year 1758, than Mr. Winstanley’s did in 1698; and quite as well as 
 Mr. Run veri/s could do in the year 1708*. 
 
 272. THE 25th and 26th of September Course XXV. being the first course of the super¬ 
 structure, was successfully completed in its place; but as the mode of construction now became 
 
 * See Mr. Winstanley’s account § 20 and 21; and Mr. Rudyerd’s § 34 and 56. 
 
149 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLVI1T. 
 
 entirely different from the former, it becomes necessary to give an account thereof, as also of the 
 reasons for the change. The building was carried up solid, as high as there was any reason to 
 suppose it exposed to the heavy stroke of the sea, that is to thirty-five feet four inches above its 
 base, and twenty-seven feet above the top of the rock, or common spring-tide high-water mark. 
 At this height, as it was reduced to sixteen feet eight inches in diameter, it became necessary to 
 make the best use of this space, and make all the room and convenience therein that was possible, 
 consistent with the still necessary strength.—The rooms being made of twelve feet four inches 
 diameter, this would leave twenty-six inches for the thickness of the walls. These beino- made 
 with single blocks in the thickness, so that sixteen pieces might compose the circle, would, from 
 its figure, compose a stout wall; yet moorstone, as has been observed, being a tender kind of stone 
 in respect to the union of its component parts; any method of dovetailing the blocks together at 
 this thickness, appeared to me impracticable to any good purpose. What seemed to be the most 
 effectual method of bonding the work together, was that of cramping with iron, which would 
 confine each single piece to its neighbouring piece in the same circle : and if to this be added, 
 that every piece should, at each end of it, lay hold of an inlaid piece, or Joggle, in the same na¬ 
 ture as the cubes, then not only all the pieces in the same course would be united to each other 
 by the cramps, but steadied from moving upon the under course by the joggles, and of conse- 
 cjuence would be fastened at thirty-two points; for, in each course there being sixteen joggle 
 stones, as each end of each principal piece, at its base, took hold of half a joggle, there would be 
 thirty-two points of confinement in the circle above; that is, the joggles being made to occupy 
 the middle of the upper bed of each block; in that situation they would cross the joints of the 
 course above. These joggles, as well as the rest, were of sawn marble, and made eight inches 
 long, four inches broad, and three inches thick: each end of each block therefore would occupy 
 lour inches in length, four in breadth, and l j, inch in the height of each joggle ; and this I judged 
 quite sufficient to keep every course in its place, at the height that this kind of work was begun, 
 and so as to constitute a piece of solid masonry. There was however another matter, that it 
 seemed quite material also to attend to; and that was, to render the habitable rooms contained 
 within those shells of walls, perfectly dry and comfortable in all weathers; and this was a matter 
 that seemed to merit very particular attention; for the seas that are said to rise up against, and 
 in a manner to bury the house in time of storms, (see § 21.) would make effectual trial of every 
 joint. 
 
 The level joints being pressed together by the incumbent weight of the building, would keep 
 firm and sound that cohesion of parts produced by the mortar; so that being once made water¬ 
 tight, there was no doubt but they would so remain : but with respect to the upright joints, the 
 least degree of shrinking, either of the stone or of the mortar between, tended to open the joint, 
 so that it might always remain leaky in a greater or a less degree ; for we know of no degree of 
 separation of parts, however minute, short of absolute contact, which will stop or prevent the per¬ 
 colation of water. For this purpose 1 conceived, that if flat stones were introduced into each 
 upright joint, so as to be lodged partly in one stone, and partly in its neighbour; much upon the 
 same idea, that Dutch laths were formerly introduced into the joints of chamber floors, to hinder 
 the passage of wet; the water might be prevented from making its way through the upright 
 joints of the walls. 
 
 The manner in which it was executed was as follows, (see Plate No. 11. Fig. 6.) At each 
 end of each piece of stone, answerable to the middle between the inside of the wall and the out¬ 
 side, was sunk a groove 21 inches wide and three deep, running from the top to the bottom: when 
 therefore two contiguous pieces of stone were put together in their places, the two grooves being 
 applied to each other, they would form a Rhomb of six inches in length, and 2^- inches in breadth, 
 which in this state would be an unoccupied cavity from the top to the bottom of each course; the 
 rest of the joint, where the surfaces of the two stones applied to each other, was made good with 
 mortar in the ordinary way, and bi-ought together by the gentle blows of a beetle. For the groove 
 mentioned, a solid Rhomb was prepared, of about two inches thick by five inches broad, and in 
 length a little less than the depth of the cavity, which generally was eighteen or twenty inches; 
 and for the sake of firmness of those slender pieces of stone, 1 made choice of the flat paving stones 
 from Purbeck, which, as mentioned § 116, is a laminated marble of great strength and solidity. 
 The Joint Stones (which was the name we gave those Rhombs) thus prepared, would readily 
 
 Q Q 
 
150 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. 11. 
 
 o-o down the cavities; but to fix them solid, a quantity of well-tempered mortar was prepared, made 
 more soft than ordinary, by the addition of a little water; a competent quantity being put down 
 to the bottom of the hole, the joint stone was put down upon it; and, by the simple pressure of 
 the hand, was forced down to the bottom, causing the semifluid mortar to rise up to the top, and 
 completely fill the cavity : and when forced down in the way described, having in this state a small 
 quantity of superfluous moisture about it, a few very gentle blows or raps were given upon the 
 top of it by the handle of a mason’s trowel, which producing a small degree of agitation, while 
 the dry stones were absorbing the moisture, contributed (like the beating of mortar) to bring all 
 the parts into their most friendly state of contact, and in consequence, to their firmest state of 
 union ; and this happened in the course of a few minutes, so that no further agitation could lie of 
 any service. 
 
 As the cramps, that were to bind the contiguous pieces together, must cross the joints upon 
 their upper surface, they were of course to be applied after the joint stones were settled in their 
 places. Precaution was therefore necessary not to apply too much exertion in forcing down the 
 joint stones : for, however gentle the operation may appear, according as it has been described, 
 yet it was found advisable not to put in the joint stones till an additional piece had been got 
 down upon its joggles, and plain jointed, at each side of the two pieces, whose joint stone was 
 lo be put in ; for by this means there were the united efforts of all the joggles, and adhesion of 
 the beds, of two stones on each side of that where the effort was applied. Without an attention 
 to this, the lateral force arising from merely pressing down a joint stone, was capable of break¬ 
 ing the adhesion of the joint where it was applied. 
 
 273. THE cramping w'as applied the last thing. The top or flat bars of the cramps were 
 about thirteen inches long, two inches broad, and f of an inch thick, and were turned down at 
 each end about three inches in length; forming a cylinder of 1^ inch diameter. Jumper holes 
 were previously bored when upon the platform, and the cramps fitted to their places ; the surface 
 of the stone under each cramp being sunk | of an inch, so that the two stones together would 
 completely receive, or rather bury, the cramps : the joint stones, as said above, being made so 
 much shorter than the height of the course, as not to interrupt the bedding of the cramp. The 
 places for the cramps being properly fitted and cleared (as we now were not liable to be driven 
 off the work in a moment, as had formerly been the case) we took the opportunity, w'henever 
 time allowed it, of fixing the cramps of a whole course together. There was no danger of the 
 cramps not fitting; as, besides that all the cramps were forged to fit a gauge-bar having a couple 
 of holes at the assigned distance, they were also fitted and marked to their particular places at 
 Mill Bay, while upon Lhe platform.—Every cramp being now ultimately tried to its place, it was 
 then put into a kettle of lead made red hot; and the cramp continued there till it was also red¬ 
 dish. About a spoonful of oil was poured into the two cramp-holes, and the cramp being put 
 into its place, the ebullition of the oil caused by the heat of the iron, quickly gave a complete oily 
 surface, not only to the whole cramp, but to the whole unoccupied cavity in the stone; then the 
 hot lead being poured upon it, the unctuous matter caused the metal to run into and occupy the 
 most minute cavity unfilled, and completely to cover each cramp ; and they became by this means 
 defended from the salts of the sea, even had they remained uncovered, upon Mr. Rudyerd’s 
 principle* : but as every cramp, from construction, would be covered by the middle of the base 
 of the stone in the next course above, it became defended from moisture in the most effectual 
 manner possible; and thus by cramping in general a whole course together, the contraction of 
 the iron in cooling would greatly add to the tightness wherewith every stone was bound to its 
 fellow.—Thus, according to this mode of fixing, (besides the union of the parts by the mortar it¬ 
 self) to resist all violence and derangement whilst it was doing, and before the induration of the 
 mortar, every course was retained in its place by sixteen joggles, and each single stone by two 
 half joggles at its lower bed ; they were further steadied to each other by the joint stones, and 
 lastly by the cramps, which completely prevented a separation ; and this method proved so effec¬ 
 tual, that we were not only free from all derangement of the stones, when in their places, but I 
 
 * § 37.—It is there said that instead of Lead Mr. Rudyerd had used coarse Pewter. The lead we used was slag Lead, which is 
 harder and stiffer than fine lead: and as we used no cramps, as au essential part of the building, till above the store-room floor, I judged 
 pewter, merely for the sake of stiffness, there to be unnecessary. 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLVIII. i 51 
 
 did not find a leaky joint, except one, in the whole building. By a due consideration of Plate 
 No. n w lt h the particular references to it, the whole of this process will become perfectly 
 intern m nip 1 
 
 274. ON Saturday the 30th of September, Course XXVIII. was completely set; and being 
 the first course, upon which was rested the vaulted floor, which made the ceiling of the store¬ 
 room and floor of the upper store-room ; and, as here again occurred a difference in the mode of 
 fixture, in this, as m all like cases, I attended the performance of the work : and that was the 
 leading m of the first circular chain, that was lodged in a groove cut round the middle of the 
 upper surface of this course ; which this day was satisfactorily performed; and the next day, 
 Sunday October the 1st, Course XXTX. was set, and its circular chain leaded in also; which 
 operation, with tile reason thereof, it will be proper here to describe. 
 
 I he ordinary way of fixing the several courses by joggles'and joint, stones; and also the bond¬ 
 ing them together by cramps, has already been described; but those courses, upon which the 
 floors rested and depended, seemed to demand every possible security.—It will be seen in the 
 general section, Plate No. 3, that each floor designedly rested upon two courses : it will also ap¬ 
 pear, by inspection, that the circumference of the floors was not made to rest upon the sloping 
 abutments.of an arch, in lines tending towards the center of the sphere, of which the under side 
 of the floor was a portion, but it rested upon a triple ledge going circularly round the two sup¬ 
 porting courses. In consequence of this, had each floor been composed of a single stone, this 
 lying upon the horizontal hearings furnished by these ledges, would, while it remained entire, 
 have no lateral pressure or tendency to thrust out the sides of the encompassing walls* : and that, 
 in effect, tile several pieces, of which the floors were really composed, might have the same pro¬ 
 perly as whole stones ; the center stone was made large enough.to admit of an opening, from floor 
 to floor, or Man-Hole, to be made through it; and being furnished with dovetails on its four 
 sides, like those of the entire solid, it became the means by which all the stones in each floor 
 were connected together; and consequently, the whole would lie upon the ledges like a single 
 stone, without any tendency to spread the walls. But, if by the accident of a heavy body fall¬ 
 ing, or otherwise, any of those stones should be broken, though this might not destroy its use as 
 a floor, or its properties as an arch; yet the parts would then exert their lateral pressure against 
 the walls : and therefore, as a security against this, it became necessary that the circle of the in¬ 
 closing walls should be bound together, anti the building, as it were, hooped. 
 
 This would he in a great measure brought about, by the cramps tying the neighbouring stones 
 together, as already described for the ordinary courses ; hut yet this was no absolute security, 
 because the outside stones might break and separate, between cramp and cramp: and I suppose 
 it was for reasons of this kind, that Sir Christopher Wren, in the construction of the Cupola of 
 St. Paul s, did not chuse to depend upon cramping the stones together, of the course that served 
 as a common base to the inside dome, and the cone for supporting the lantern; but chose to sur¬ 
 round the whole with continued chains of ironf.—Upon this principle, an endless chain was 
 provided for each of the two floor courses, see Plate No. 11. Fig. 7. The bars composing the 
 links being 1 . inch square; that the most iron might be .included in a given space, the corners 
 only were a little canted ofl; and tile double parts being brought near together, the whole was 
 comprehended in a groove, of somewhat less than four inches w ide, and as much in depth ; into 
 which the chains being introduced and brought to a stretch, the rest of the cavity was filled with 
 lead ; of which each took about 11 cwt. 
 
 Had the author of the Parentalia informed us particularly how this was done, it would have 
 been useful to me to have known it. It is obvious that it must be in a manner impracticable to 
 heat chains of such a length as even ours, in the manner I treated the cramps; or that tile whole 
 of the circle could be run at once : because if so attempted, the metal first poured in would have 
 
 * This method of abutting by ledges also prevented the shell of the walls from being unnecessarily thinned by a longer continuance 
 of sloping lines. 
 
 f “ Although the dome wants no hutment, yet for greater caution it is hooped with iron in this manner. A channel is cut in the 
 bandage of Portland stone, m which is laid a double chain of iron strongly linked together at every ten feet, and the whole channel filled 
 up with lead.” Wren’s Parentalia, p. 294. 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. IT. 
 
 152 
 
 so far to run, that one ladleful would cool and set, before another could be put down upon it; 
 so that the mass of lead, instead of enveloping the iron of the chain, as one solid piece, and there¬ 
 by excluding all moisture, would in many places be composed of Laminin without any firm co¬ 
 hesion.—In our work, it was performed in the following method. The chains were oiled all 
 over before they came from the shore ; and the circumference of the groove was divided into four 
 parts by stops, or dams of clay; to prevent the lead from flowing further than one quarter at a 
 time. A couple of iron kettles were provided, capable of melting commodiously, when full, six 
 cwt. of lead each ; and that quantity was brought in each to a full red; that is, somewhat hotter 
 than we used for the cramps, as the iron of the chain as well as the stone were cold. The whole 
 quantity of lead being brought to a heat that we judged proper, and the quarter groove being 
 supplied with oil sufficient to besmear the whole surface, two persons with each a ladle, as briskly 
 as they could, poured the melted metal into the same quarter of the groove; and as soon as it. 
 was full, and the lead began to set, one of the clay dams was removed, and the melted hot metal 
 was poured upon the end of the former mass, till it was perceived to re-melt and unite with the 
 fresh metal. This done, the dam at the other end of the first run mass was taken down, to pre¬ 
 vent its cooling more than was necessary, and the third quarter was treated like the former; the 
 end of the mass rendered solid by cooling, being re-melted by the fresh hot metal: lastly, both 
 the remaining dams being taken down, and the metal at each end having a considerable heat, it 
 Avas found practicable to dissolve both the ends of the former masses; first applying both ladles to 
 that which had had the greater time to cool, and afterwards to the less : by this means the whole 
 was brought to a solid consistence, and the chain entirely buried in the lead.—It is hoAvever to 
 be remarked, that to preserve proper impressions in the lead, for the joggles of the course aboA r e, 
 those impressions were made by confining down bricks in proper places, which when removed, 
 the proper marble joggles Avere set with mortar in their places.—Thus the floor courses were in 
 effect hooped ; and the hoops securely protected from moisture and rust; first by a coat of oil to¬ 
 gether with a body of lead ; and secondly by the Avhole being lodged in the middle of the Avail. 
 
 Some may perhaps think this extreme precaution of the chain courses, and the forming of the 
 floors upon a system of dovetails, might have been dispensed with ; and probably it might, if the 
 Avliole of this work must have been executed upon the Edystone Rock ; but it is to be remembered 
 that the iron chains were executed on shore, at so much per cwt.; were fitted to their places in 
 the work-yard at Mill Bay ; and the extra work in the jointing of the floors was the produce of 
 so many days work of a stone-cutter in the same place : so that little extra expence attended the 
 fixing at the rock, except a little more Lead, and a little more Fire. 
 
 275. MONDAY October the 2d we proceeded to set up the centre, composed of sixteen 
 ribs, (see Plate No. 18. Fig. 3.) for putting the floor together upon ; but 1 must here note, that 
 having the evening before had the opportunity of landing the five large stones composing the 
 middle of the floor ; those were, previous to the setting up the centre, got up upon the top of 
 the Avail; for all the rest could be got up through the man-hole left in the middle of the centre, 
 ansAverable to that of the centre stone; and this afternoon Ave landed all the remaining pieces be- 
 longing to the floor, being in the whole thirty-seven; which Ave lodged in the well-hole for the 
 stairs, and in the store-room under the centre. This I xvas not a little anxious to get done ; for 
 we had now got into the building every piece of stone that I had it in view to set this year, as ne¬ 
 cessary for the establishment of a light; but this solicitude bad nearly cost us our boat the Wes¬ 
 ton; for though the past Aveek had been the finest this season, yet before the boat could be got out 
 of the Gut, it began suddenly to blow so fresh at E. that it Avas not without the greatest difficulty 
 and exertion, that she was got out of it without damage.—Being myself Avan ted at Mill Bay, to 
 forward our equipments for rendering the house habitable, I returned in her to Plymouth; and, 
 as rouoh weather came on, I got that work Avell advanced. 1 Avent out again on Thursday the 5th, 
 and saAA' the Iavo first stones of the floor set in their places in the outward circle* ; but after doing 
 this, Ave had some risque and difficulty in getting aboard our yawls. The company before my 
 
 * In setting the floors we begun with the outward circle of stones, because at all adventures they were to fit the outside shell of 
 the building; and if set last they would not have gone into their places. 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEAR MDCCLVIII. 
 
 153 
 
 arrival bad employed themselves in getting down the windlass and shears, as having no further 
 occasion for them this season. 
 
 The weather continued broken till Saturday the 7th, on which day the Edystone boat came 
 out, having on board the roof or platform, for covering the building, and protecting it, as men¬ 
 tioned, from the entrance of the downfall spray; together with the doors, iron-work and timber 
 for fitting up the same for habitation; Coals, Water, &c. and the carpenters for fixing those tem¬ 
 porary works. This afternoon we landed, and went on with the setting of the outward circle of 
 floor stones, made the holes in the wall for fixing the hinges of the entry and store-room doors; 
 and did not doubt but that one favourable day, would enable us to complete this floor; and then 
 we proposed to begin directly to lay on the Platform roof; which would be perfected in two or 
 three hours : and as this being done would render the building water-tight; we then intended im¬ 
 mediately to make a lodgement therein, and go on to the entire completion of this temporary 
 part of the work ; however, towards evening, while we were proceeding, a ground swell began 
 to come on, and to such a degree as reminded us of the necessity of retiring, though two stones 
 were wanted to complete the outward circle (see Plate No. 11. Fig. 7 ) ; and as the sky began to 
 look foul-weather-like, I endeavoured to see every thing put into the best posture for receiving a 
 storm. In particular, I caused the middle stone to be laid upon the centre, by way of weight, to 
 keep it steady. Three of the four stones that were to connect with the centre stone were laid 
 upon the top of the wall on the N. E. side; and the fourth I caused to be hoisted and suspended 
 upon the triangle, in the posture that is shewn Plate No. 14. at Stage 2nd. So/that the triangle, 
 which was all of it completely within the area of the top of the building, would be kept down by 
 the weight of this stone, which was between seven and eight cwt.— Flic other three that lay upon 
 the wall, I caused to be carefully drawn within the circumference thereof, so that there might 
 not be the least projecting part for the water to strike against in flying upwards; which I judged 
 quite necessary, though the walls were then upwards of forty-three feet above the foundation 
 stone, and near thirty-five feet above the top of the rock. After righting all matters to our sa¬ 
 tisfaction, we had again an escape in getting into our yawls. 
 
 In the night the wind came to S. W. and S. and in the morning the swell was so great as to 
 oblige the Edystone boat to quit the moorings : and as I wanted to be at Plymouth to expedite 
 and finish our intended equipment and stores, which 1 had greatly at heart,, and we were not likely 
 to proceed soon to business, I left orders with Mr. Jessop for the completing of the floor, and 
 took my passage home in the boat.—The evening of this day, Sunday October the 8th, it blew a 
 storm, the men of war in the Sound frequently firing guns of distress. About break of day on 
 Monday morning the wind suddenly veered to N. W. but it still blew very hard. 
 
 276- THIS morning, October the 9th, I went up to the Hoa to look out with my glass; I 
 could just discover the house, and the sea breaking over it, so as at intervals entirely to bury it, 
 but could discover nothing of the Buss; hoivever, the air being very hazy, the hull of that vessel 
 being low, and its mast a small object, I judged that to be the reason I could not see her.—In 
 the afternoon, the air being somewhat less hazy, 1 looked out again ; the sea was breaking over 
 the house as before, but still no buss was to be seen, which created some apprehension for her 
 and the people. 
 
 Tuesday October the 10th I again went up to the Hoa, and though the wind had remained 
 fresh at N. W. now above twenty-four hours, yet the sea was still breaking over the house, rising 
 up in the form of a white pillar, considerably higher than the building, and of such magnitude as 
 at times to intercept every part of it from view : but the air being now more clear, in the intervals 
 of its retreat, I could distinctly perceive the triangle standing upon the house, and the stone sus¬ 
 pended thereon ; but to my great mortification, found that the buss was really gone from her 
 moorings, and no where to be seen.—This, in reality, turned out a day of thorough regret; for, 
 besides the uncertainty of the fate of the Neptune Buss, it brought me the resolution of a General 
 Court of the Corporation of Trinity House, upon my proposal of the 28th of September, for 
 the exhibition of a light upon the house during the winter; which more effectually put a stop to 
 all further attempts to proceed this year, than the parting of the buss from her moorings. Their 
 answer was to this purport: that having taken into consideration the proposals (mentioned §271) 
 
 R R 
 
154 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. II. 
 
 on reading the acts of parliament, the application from the merchants and owners of ships the 
 “ P atent for the floating light, and the inclosed Narrative of the first light-house erected there*, 
 “ the y ar « of opinion, that a light cannot he exhibited on the Edvstone rock till the light-house is 
 “ rebuilt. I Ills rebuff, I own, mortified me much, not only that 1 should in appearance fall 
 short of tlie expedition which my predecessors Mr. Winstanley and Sir. Rodyeru had shewn, 
 to procure the public a temporary light in the course of the third season; but that my exertions 
 on this head were frustrated f. 
 
 977 . THIS evening at ten Mr. Jessop returned to Plymouth, and, to my no small joy and 
 
 satisfaction, brought me an account that the buss was safe at anchor ill Dartmouth Harbour._ 
 
 He further informed me, that on Sunday, about two hours after 1 left them, it began to blow a 
 storm at S. S. \\ . and that in consequence thereof he ordered the decks to be cleared, and every 
 thing put ill order; but did not bend the main-sail, because by holding wind, it might be the oc¬ 
 casion of their breaking loose. Towards night however the storm increased, and the sea fre¬ 
 quently intercepted from them all sight of the building, as the broken column of water rose con¬ 
 siderably higher than the top of the triangle; that at night the storm still increased, and about 
 
 quantity of sail they had, they could not keep a proper steerage; and it being also excessively 
 rainy and dark, they were afraid of running on shore before they could see it; they therefore 
 determined to lay her to, with her head to the S. E. that they might have daylight before they 
 drove to the land. About two o'clock the wind came to the W. and at break of day they found 
 themselves about three leagues from, and abreast of the Start. They then bent their main-sail, 
 hoisted their Jib, and stood in for the land with the wind at \. N. W. (seethe Chart No. 1 .) • 
 but the Neptune buss was so slow a sailer, that it was four P. M. before they got off Dartmouth : 
 they then, by the help of a pilot, came to an anchor in the Road, and the next morning warped 
 into the harbour; anil after seeing the vessel safely moored, Mr. Jessop and part of the work- 
 men made the best of their way to Plymouth. 
 
 Wednesday October the 11th John Bowden was sent with one of the seamen over land to 
 Dartmouth ; the former to take charge of, and the latter to assist in bringing the buss round to 
 Plymouth, as soon as the wind should prove fair.—This day the wind continuing at N. W. and 
 having become so moderate as to produce smooth water in Plymouth Sound; though 1 now laid 
 aside all further idea of carrying out the buss to her moorings again this year, we prepared every 
 thing on board the Edystone boat and Assistant to go out with a competent set of workmen the 
 next morning, to do whatever might appear necessary upon the building, after such a trying storm; 
 and at least, if possible, to set the two remaining pieces of stone, that were wanted in the outward 
 circle of the vaulted floor; for that being done, the centre might he taken down, as every circle 
 of stones would support itself: and I was desirous, if it should be found practicable, to do some¬ 
 thing to secure the Moorings; there being only one buoy, upon one of the anchors.—Every 
 thing was thus prepared, but early next morning there came on a fresh of wind at E. which ren- 
 tiered it to no purpose to attempt to go out. 
 
 1 he wind continued fresh at E. for several days running, and brought home the buss, which 
 was moored in Mill Bay on Friday evening: and on Sunday came on a storm at E. and a con¬ 
 tinuance of bad weather from the same quarter.—Nothing therefore being necessary further to he 
 attempted, and everything going on well in the yard under the care of Mr. Tyrrell, I left the 
 necessary orders what to do, in case of favourable weather, and every thing to the care of Mr. 
 
 J f.ssop ; and took my departure for London on the 25th of October: after which, no further 
 events, of consequence to this business, happened in the remainder of this year. 
 
 The narrative referred to 
 
 was an extract from that of Winstani.ey, recited § 17 to 27 inclusive. 
 
 t It is very possible I might not at that time have 
 that till a temporary light was erected upon the Bui 
 
C 155 ] 
 
 CHAP. Ill 
 
 CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE FOURTH AND 
 LAST YEAR’S WORK, TO THE FINISHING OF THE BUILDING 
 IN THE YEAR 1759. 
 
 278 . During my stay in London, in the early part of the year 1759, I received regular ac¬ 
 counts of the proceedings at Mill Bay, which were carried on with all the dispatch I could wish, 
 while I was myself forming and making out the necessary designs for the iron rails of the balcony, 
 the cast iron, the wrought iron, and the copper works for the lantern ; which, together with the 
 plate glass work, were all done in London. The weather having continued unfavourable to visit¬ 
 ing the works at the Edystone during the winter, I got no report thereon till I received Mr. 
 Jessop’s letter dated the 27th of March, wherein he informed me that on the 21st of that month, 
 being the first opportunity he could catch after the violent storm which had happened on the 9th 
 preceding, and which had done very great damage to the ships, houses, and buildings at Ply¬ 
 mouth ; they put to sea, and at a distance observed the triangle standing, with the stone hanging 
 upon it, as it was left at the conclusion of the last season’s work ; so that when they had got by 
 the Edystone, and doubted not but to have laid hold of the Transport Buoy, they found it was 
 gone ! whereupon they came to an anchor; and getting into the small boats, went into the Gut 
 and landed. They found not only the solid but the hollow work perfectly sound and firm; all 
 the mortar having become quite hard ; and in shoi't every part of the work in the situation in 
 which it was left by the workmen in October : the only derangement was, that the sea had car¬ 
 ried away the south fender pile from the rock ; and also, from the top of the wall, one of the 
 three stones that I had taken care to draw within the verge of the circumference of the wall, as 
 mentioned §275. That they had found the fourteen pieces of stone set in the circumference of 
 the floor, stuck quite firm to the wall, though two of the pieces requisite to complete the circle 
 were left unset; and that, finding the centre itself quite tight and firm underneath them, they 
 had lowered down the stone suspended on the triangle upon it, and removed from the wall the 
 other two remaining stones to lie upon the centre ; and lastly, that they took down the triangle 
 and stowed it away in the well-hole for the stairs : but, on further search, nothing of the buoy 
 that was left upon the mooring chains was to be seen. Mr. Jessop also informed me, that he had 
 put in hand a new transport buoy, and was preparing a south pile; that he had given the neces¬ 
 sary orders for fitting out the buss to sweep for the moorings; and that the XLVth Course was 
 then upon the platform*. 
 
 After this the seamen went frequently out, and often swept for the moorings, but without 
 success; although the proprietors had offered £. 10 as a bounty to the seamen in case they re¬ 
 covered one set of the moorings, and £. 20 in case they recovered both sets.—I then proposed 
 the sweeping with a cord, every yard of which to have a lead upon it like those used for nets, 
 which by sinking into the hollows of the rocks might lay hold of the fluke of an anchor; and 
 thereby ascertain its place, which would facilitate the laying hold of it with a proper pliant sweep 
 rope, as mentioned in the operations of last year (see § 258.) This Mr. Jessop made trial of 
 and informed me that after a considerable time spent, it had proved ineffectual; so that now, 
 looking upon the recovery of our moorings as hazardous, I thought it time to set about the pro¬ 
 viding a new set. Accordingly, the 29th of May I ordered forty fathoms of new chain to be 
 made at Blackwall, intending to send it down by land; and this, with some old chain purchased 
 in Wapping last year, which we had then at Plymouth, and was thought sufficient for our 
 
 ‘ This course makes the chain course for springing the arch of the balcony floor, and forms the cove on the outside. 
 
150 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 eastern chain if occasion required; I judged would serve our purpose for the present year, in 
 case we could not recover any of the others: and Mr. Jessop was also directed to look out for a 
 couple of anchors suitable to our purpose. 
 
 279. 1 HE casting the corner pillars for the lantern being attended with some difficulties, to 
 which the ordinary workmen in the cast iron foundery at that time were not equal, I was recom¬ 
 mended to Mr. Prickett, then of Farthing-Fields, Wapping, whom I found equally intelligent 
 and ingenious, and who executed my business to perfect satisfaction *—The casting of sash 
 frames of copper, each in one piece, was a difficulty I was desirous to see accomplished before I 
 set out for Plymouth. The inspection of Plates N s . 12 and 15, will give my reader an idea of 
 this business as well as the former, especially if he also consults the technical description of those 
 plates.— Those copper frames, consisting of nine panes each, being sixteen in number, were suc- 
 cesslully cast by Mr. Kinman of Shoe Lane; a work which did him credit.—The fitting together 
 of the whole work of the lantern with wrought iron framing, as also the balcony rails, I saw in 
 good forwardness, and left in the hands of Mr. Broadbent, an Engine-maker, in Piccadilly; of 
 which work he acquitted himself to full satisfaction. 
 
 280. DL RING this stay in London, I had more than once the honour of attending the Board 
 of Trinity House by their desire, and they were pleased to approve of our methods and proceed¬ 
 ings. 1 he latter time, which was upon the 2d of June, was to give any opinion upon a proposal 
 that had been made, and strongly recommended to them by an Optician in London, who proposed 
 to grind all the panes of glass for the lantern of the Edystone to circular segments; so that the 
 whole together should form a sphere of fifteen feet diameter: to this I observed, that it was in rea¬ 
 lity a method of making an easy thing difficult and expensive, without the least solid advantage. 
 For, the proposer seemed to imagine it needful that the rays of light should proceed from the lan¬ 
 tern in right lines in every possible direction ; whereas those rays that proceed in an horizontal 
 direction out of the lantern are those alone that are seen from the surface of the sea by distant 
 observers; all the rest either going over their heads into the air, or falling down into the water 
 before they reach them : and as, for the sufficient spreading of the lights, so as not to interfere 
 with each other, it had been found needful to place them in Rings, at two different heights; it 
 would be only that ring of lights which was even with the centre of the sphere, whose rays could 
 proceed perpendicularly through the globular panes; the others above or below, must pass 
 through with a proportional obliquity : whereas the rays proceeding horizontally would pass 
 through the upright sides of the lantern in a direction equally near the perpendicular, whether 
 the light exhibited was high or low. And for this explanation, which fully convinced the Board 
 of the inutility of the scheme, I received the thanks of the Deputy Master, in the name of 
 the body. 
 
 281. HAVING left all necessary orders for the works going on in town, I arrived at Ply¬ 
 mouth the 22d of June, where I found all the stone-work hewn out, the two courses' composing 
 the cove and balcony floor upon the platform, with the balcony rails, and the base or plinth 
 course of the lantern thereon; and every thing in all the forwardness I could expect.—I found 
 that on the 13th instant so violent a storm had happened at Plymouth, that the leaves of the 
 trees and bushes, on the windward side, had been blasted, to the extent of four and five miles 
 from the sea; as I supposed, by the salts thereof being impetuously driven against them. In this 
 storm the Neptune buss had received some damage, but had been got thoroughly repaired, and 
 was then out with the seamen, still iu search of the moorings.—Five of our best hands being 
 grown self-important, demanded an increase of wages, without which they would not go any 
 
 * The ingenious Mr. Prickett, to whom the Iron Foundery of this kingdom owes much, is still living, and is now master of the 
 halon Iron Foundery, near Blacktriars Bridge ; which is the very spot where the famous Mr. Jones, commonly called Gun Jones, had 
 his foundery, and there cast the smaller work of the railing that incloses St. Paul’s, London ; for which he had the contract: but the 
 larger parts of that work were cast by Mr. Prickett’s father, a relation.of Mr. Jones, who had his foundery at the Forest of Dean, in 
 Gloucestershire. 
 
157 
 
 COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 1759 . 
 
 more off to the Edystone. I now judged that as the want of earning a sufficiency of money could 
 be no just cause, the shortest way to restore peace, unanimity, and preserve our original system, 
 was to discharge them ; which I accordingly did*. 
 
 Mr. Jessop and the seamen having now found by experience, the great advantage in point of 
 strength which ropes of all kinds preserved by not being hard twisted ; and conceiving that the 
 circumstance of too hard twisting, had been the occasion of the parting of our bridle cable the 
 last season; petitioned that we might have thirty fathoms made on purpose for us, and laid cjuite 
 pliant; in consequence of which we might also increase its strength by a number of yarns, and 
 yet diminish its stiffness. This I readily agreed to, and accordingly a bridle cable was laid per¬ 
 fectly pliant, though it was 127 inches in circumference, that is inches more than tlie former. 
 
 The old chain before mentioned, which upon the strictest examination was found very sound 
 and good in general, and every link of it, that appeared to have suffered any material waste, 
 having been cut out and replaced with new, was now found to contain thirty-two fathoms com¬ 
 plete : a couple of suitable mooring anchors, as also a proper transport buoy, chain and anchor 
 having been provided ; all these were put on board the buss; and we now did not want any thing 
 but the new chain from London, which coming by land, we could have the greater certainty of 
 its arrival, which was upon the 2 d of July, and it was put on board the buss the same eveningj-. 
 
 282. ON Monday morning July the 3d, at four, I attended the party out with the buss; 
 but, owing to the usual uncertainty of calms, wind, and tides, and the still inherent property of 
 our vessel as a slow sailer; it was not till eight the next morning that we came to an anchor at 
 our mooring ground ; yet at three P. M. we had completed this business in the way already de¬ 
 scribed § 142. the west anchor lying in sixteen fathoms water, and the east in fifteen, the rock 
 bearing W. S. W. by the compass, distance by estimation three hundred fathoms. The new chain 
 was our western chain, and the eastern joined it at ten fathoms from the swivel ; in consequence 
 so much could act as a bridle in either direction ; and to this was bent our new pliant bridle cable. 
 —We then proceeded to lay down our transport buoy; but the wind freshened, and obliged us 
 to desist. 
 
 Thursday the 5th of July the wind being at N. W. and moderate ; we this morning laid down 
 the transport buoy in ten fathoms water; the rock bearing S. W. by S. by the compass, distance 
 eighty fathoms; which was completed at six. I then landed on the rock with the men ; they 
 proceeded to set up the shears and windlass, while I inspected the work ; and found, according 
 to Mr. Jbs.sop’s representation, every thing perfectly sound and firm, without the least per¬ 
 ceivable alteration since we left it; except that the cement used the first year, now in appearance 
 approached the hardness of the moor-stone ; and that used the last year of the full hardness of 
 Portland. By ten the hoisting tackle was fixed, and the spare hands, that were brought out to 
 help with the mooring, returned to Plymouth ; and we now proceeded to set the floor, not doubt¬ 
 ing but to complete the whole of it this day.—The two remaining pieces of the outmost circle, 
 which were left uncompleted last year, were soon set; aud we proceeded to haul up the stones 
 for the next circle (No. 4.) from the store-room ; but instead of eight, I had the mortification to 
 find that we had but seven, and unluckily the boat was gone home.—It was therefore the like¬ 
 liest conjecture that the piece of stone wanting, had been driven out of the store-room door; and 
 probably by the same sea that had floated the stone No. 2. mentioned § 278. from the top of the 
 wall : and that this body of falling water, by making its way through the open ribs of the centre, 
 had washed this stone out at the door, though it weighed between four and five cwt. 1 had no 
 doubt but that it was missing when Mr. Jessop made his inspection in March; for finding those 
 stones lying upon the store-room floor, piled up much in the same manner as we left them; he 
 had never thought of counting them; not conceiving, but that such kind of weighty materials 
 were very safely lodged in that place, the floor of which is nine yards above the top of the rock; 
 
 • The work being now brought to sucli a period that it could go on with less interruption, I proposed that this year the companies 
 should change only once a fortnight, which would occasion less loss of time, as well as give more equal opportunities, in having both 
 spring and neap tides in the compass of each turn. 
 
 t This chain was forty fathoms, and weighed UGt cwt. 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 158 
 
 and the border of the wall rising up as a parapet of defence near eight feet higher.—The disaster 
 of the loss of No. 2. being foreknown, was easily repaired, by making another from the same 
 mould; and which we brought out with us, and landed : the shortest way therefore to overcome 
 this difficulty, appeared to be to send home one of the yawls, with orders, to send out a similar 
 piece belonging to the third floor; and we went on with setting what we had. 
 
 Friday July the 5th, we lgnded upon the rock at four A. M. and, having a very moderate breeze 
 at N, W. I never saw the sea more quiet about the Edystone. We proceeded so as to set two 
 pieces of No. 2. but could go on no further with this part of the work till the arrival of the stone 
 to supply the place of that which had been lost.—We now began to fix up the new south fender 
 pile, which had been washed away in the course of the winter, though fixed with large iron bolts 
 in the firmest manner we could. This was completed at eleven ; we then quitted the rock and 
 retired on board the buss, the first time, for want of work.—At noon we espied the Edystone 
 boat about two leagues from us, but the breeze being now from the south, as, it has been ob¬ 
 served, generally happens in the middle of the day in fine weather, we sent the remaining yawl 
 well manned to bring out the wanting piece, which arrived this afternoon, and in the evening 
 was set, with several others. On Saturday morning we landed at four, and soon set the two re¬ 
 maining pieces, which finished the first floor. We then cleared away the centre, and sent it on 
 board the buss. 
 
 283. HITHERTO we had got up our stones by first landing them into the entry-door from 
 the rock shears, as we had used from the beginning ; and after that hoisted them up the well-hole, 
 by a tackle upon the triangle, by hand; but on finishing the vaulted floor over the first room, 
 many of the pieces of stone of the superstructure being too large to go through the man-holes in 
 the centre of the floors, l contrived and got prepared an additional pair of shears, which being 
 placed upon the top of the work, would of course be made to rise with it. The idea of this kind 
 of shears will be formed by inspecting Plate No. 14. at the third stage; which we now set up, 
 and applied accordingly. In this way the stones were hoisted from the boats, as high as they 
 could be, upon the rock shears; then a tackle depending from the top shears just mentioned, 
 hooked hold of the pieces, and hoisted them up to the top, on the outside; and to facilitate this 
 second stage of hoisting, as the work was gradually becoming higher and higher, and the hoisting 
 with tackles by hand not attended with expedition, (see note on § 248.) a temporary windlass for 
 working it, was fixed in the store-room, as is shewn in the same plate.—V bile those things were 
 fitting up, the Weston arrived at noon on Saturday the 7th of July; and in little more than an 
 hour, her cargo, consisting of twelve pieces of Course XXX. of near a ton each, was laid upon 
 the first vaulted floor, without fear of, or finding, the least degree of settlement, though only 
 finished that morning. For this service we employed three men at the rock windlass, and two at 
 the store-room windlass. The Weston had not got out of the Gut, before we experienced a change 
 of weather, the wind beginning to freshen at N. E. ; and scarce was the first stone set, before our 
 attending boats became so unquiet in lying near the rocks, that we found it advisable to quit the 
 work; however, having procured some substantial shelter, we now ventured to leave our mortar 
 buckets, tools, and loose materials, stowed away in the store-room, which was indeed a great ease¬ 
 ment to us when, in cousequence of bad weather, it became necessary to quit the rock. As we 
 had now the wind and tide both against us, we had a hard pull with our oars to get on board the 
 buss; which however we happily effected. 
 
 The weather being now attended with the usual uncertainty, upon Sunday the 8th of July 
 only five pieces of Course XXX. were set; but having staid till Mr. Jessop and his company 
 were perfectly versed in the mode of proceeding, I took my passage to Plymouth; having first 
 established, that they should quit the work at nights; for the building being now raised to a 
 competent height, with sufficient shelter to screen the men at high water, in moderate weather; 
 as the day-light now afforded as many hours as the men could possibly hold out to work ; and as 
 we had always found one hour in the day to be worth two in the night; it seemed no longer ne¬ 
 cessary to work by night, except when the unloading of the vessels or other particular services 
 should require. 
 
COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 1 7 59. 1.59 
 
 284. VARIOUS weather prevented the out-company from making any great progress; how¬ 
 ever, finding, from accounts, that it would be likely to fall to the lot of Ri'chakdson's company 
 to lead m the chains of the second floor (he not haying done this part of the work before) I de- 
 termined to accompany them. We sailed on Tuesday the 17th, and after a had passage arrived 
 at the buss in the evening, and at low water landed with the company. I found the work at 
 Course XXXIII. six pieces set, and four upon the work, unset, but which were scarcely got out 
 of hand, when the swell came on so violent, that we found it difficult to get on board our yawls. 
 I he remainder of this course was still on board the Weston, which had taken it in on the 14th 
 instant. T his evening, between ten and eleven, the Edystone boat arrived, having on board a 
 part of the second floor; and brought me a message from Lord Edgecombe, that Prince 
 Edwarii Duke of York was desirous of seeing the model of the lighthouse. However de¬ 
 sirous I might be to gratify the curiosity of his Royal Highness; it yet seemed of still more con¬ 
 sequence, that Mr. Richardson and his company, should set right about the work of the second 
 floor; Course XXXIII. being the first chain course thereof. 
 
 Wednesday the 18th of July, betwixt three and four, all hands landed, unloaded the Weston 
 of her cargo, and set the remaining six pieces of Course XXXIII. and by noon the first chain 
 was leaded in. This company having therefore now completed one of the chain courses; having 
 set up the centre last year; and learnt the use of the new tackle by the stones just hoisted, and 
 the whole method of proceeding, I took my passage to Plymouth on board the Weston, and 
 arrived in the evening. 
 
 285. IHURSDAY the 19th of July I carried the model, drafts, &c. to Mount Edgecombe, 
 when the Duke of York was pleased to express great satisfaction. I had the honour of dining 
 with, and attending his Royal Highness after dinner to Mill Bay, where the cove and cornice courses 
 being together, with the balcony rails, and two courses of the lantern upon the platform; his 
 Royal Highness was struck with the great strength and solidity of the work; and was much 
 pleased with the machinery for facilitating the operations of the work-yard.—Being now at li¬ 
 berty, and wishing if possible to see Richardson’s company put together the second floor; that 
 I might not be disappointed by a calm, in case there was not wind to carry out the Assistant, 
 which was also ready, I hired a six-oared barge; for which, as it afterwards proved, I had oc¬ 
 casion. We rowed out at half past two in the morning, and at six I landed upon the rock, find- 
 ing Richardson and company at work. They had completed the second chain course of the 
 second floor, had got up the centre, and one of the boat’s cargoes upon it, ready to begin the 
 arch, which was now immediately proceeded with ; and the day being quite serene, a sea breeze 
 going round with the sun, and further cargoes of stone for the floor being deliveretl in due time 
 all went on without interruption. 
 
 286. SATURDAY the 21st of July, the morning quite fine, the company landed between 
 three and four, and this forenoon the second floor was finished; so that notwithstanding several 
 interruptions from weather, a whole room with its vaulted cover was built complete in seven days. 
 —I he above being effected, the company proceeded in course of work ; and the entry and store¬ 
 room doors with their iron work being brought out with the last boat, the carpenter proceeded 
 to fit the same to place; and I set about leading the door hooks into the jambs, the holes for 
 which had been made at the close of last season ; but found they had unluckily forgot to send out 
 a quantity of block tin, that 1 ordered, for the purpose of giving the lead a proper hardness, to 
 prevent their shaking loose; to make, according to Mr. Riidverd, a coarse kind of pewter. This 
 was a disappointment, as it was one of the operations, the mode of which, I had in view to ascer¬ 
 tain by coining out the last time ; however, that I might not lose the opportunity, after some con¬ 
 sideration the following expedient occurred to me; I melted down all the pewter plates and 
 dishes that we could muster on board the buss, and mixing them with a proper quantity of lead, 
 it answered my purpose ; and the fixing of four hooks was accordingly accomplished. The com¬ 
 position I afterwards used for leading those in, was one pound of block tin to three pounds of 
 lead.—The hooks were let into the stone Lewis or dovetail fashion, and were keyed in hot; and, 
 like the cramps and chains, run in with oil ; and while hot, the external part of the iron was 
 
1G0 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. TIT. 
 
 tarred over. And, having now seen this work in the situation I intended when I went oft', I 
 returned to Plymouth. 
 
 287- THE weather being quite fine, and the work going on with every degree of expedition 
 that could be wished, on Thursday July the 26th, I proposed to go out in the Assistant, as I expected 
 to arrive there by the time the third floor was completed. Previous to my departure, the master 
 called-upon me, to acquaint me that the seaman who belonged to his boat, and was to have laid 
 in it all night, was missing this morning : and I dare say my reader, after what has been said on 
 this head, will wonder that the occasion of his absence could possibly have once more happened. 
 Concluding he had been impressed, Mr. Jessop went out with the master, on board the men of 
 war in the Sound, and found him on board one, from whom we should least have expected such a de¬ 
 tainer; and whose Lieutenant refused to deliver him without the Captain’s order, w ho was then 
 on shore. I thereupon found myself under the necessity of waiting personally on the Captain, 
 who very politely dismissed him at my request; hut this incident, from the turn of tides, pre¬ 
 vented my arrival at. the rock till six o’clock the next morning: when, being Friday the 27 th, I 
 found Mr. Richardson had finished Course XL. (see Plate No. 9 ) being the second chain course 
 of the third floor; for which he was fixing the centre. Having seen this done, and the floor 
 begun ; having examined what had been done since I was last there, and finding all right; I 
 returned in the same vessel to Plymouth ; and on Sunday the 29th that floor was completed : so 
 that in a course of thirteen days two entire rooms with their proper covers w r ere built; and, ex¬ 
 cept six pieces of stone, all by one company. 
 
 Mr. Richardson and company were proceeding with the work, when they were relieved by 
 Mr. Jessop’s company on Monday the 30th; having then completed two courses of the fourth room: 
 but this company was less successful, for on Tuesday the weather came on so adverse as to oblige 
 the Assistant to quit the transport buoy, and to come home with her cargo in.—This day, the 
 31st of July, the copper ball, of two feet two inches diameter, with its neck and air pipes, was 
 perfected at Plymouth. 
 
 288. THE weather turning out turbulent, and at best uncertain, it was Monday August the 
 6th before I thought it necessary to go out again : but at this time the cove Course XLV. being in 
 hand, which comprehended two circular chains, I landed at six in the evening, and found four 
 pieces of this course set; and this evening we set three more; it. was not however till ten at night 
 on Wednesday, that this course was got out of hand, by the leading in of its two chains.— 
 This day 1 was presented, during a considerable part of it, with a Phenomenon new to my obser¬ 
 vation : we had light breezes at the west, and frequently drifts of thick fog, which, as the sun 
 shone out, presented to us upon the top of the building, a rainbow making an entire Circle, ex¬ 
 cept where cut off below us, by the shaft of the column. 
 
 Thursday August the 9lh in the morning we set up the elliptical centre, for setting the bal¬ 
 cony floor; and ihe Weston came into the Gut with her cargo ; which, though consisting of only 
 six pieces of stone for that floor ; yet the wind coming suddenly fresh at east, and the tide ris¬ 
 ing, it occasioned such a swell in the Gut that she presently began to roll gunnel to, and while 
 the third piece was hoisting, parted her two fasts* to the eastern rocks, (see Plate No. 14;) so 
 that being now left to the mercy of the east swell driving her against the rocks, she must have 
 immediately been torn to pieces, had it not been for the Fender Piles : upon this accident I or¬ 
 dered both the windlasses to be lashed, the stones remaining in suspension, and all hands to her 
 assistance; and happily got her out of the Gut, without other damage than to the upper works 
 of her Quarter. When she got to the transport buoy, there was such a cockling sea, that she had 
 not rode above half an hour, before the three remaining pieces began to shift their places, which 
 obliged her to get under sail and return to Plymouth.—Having seen the first stone composing 
 the arch of the balcony floor got into its place, and having given Mr. Jessop directions for proceed¬ 
 ing, the wind by this time was become so fresh as to oblige all hands to leave the rock ; and I be¬ 
 ing wanted at Plymouth, to put forward the work of the copper roof of the lantern, I went on 
 
 * Short cables, or hawsers, for steadying or fastening a vessel, which are proportioned in size to that of the vessel, and the stress 
 expected. 
 
COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 board the Edystone boat, that waited for me under sail.—This day the fog frequently came on 
 so thick that the vessels at the transport buoy could not be seen from the house. 
 
 289. MONDAY August the 13th Richardson’s company went out; and the next day, 
 finding the work advancing towards a completion of the main column, upon which would come 
 in course the setting of the balcony rails, I attempted to go out the 15th, but was driven back by 
 stress of weather: however, on Thursday August the 16th, I got out to the buss, landed with 
 the company, and the Weston was delivered of her cargo; and now all the heavy pieces belong¬ 
 ing to the cornice being got upon the top of the building; and every thing but what would go 
 through the hatchways or Man-holes in the centre; the moveable shears, that had gone up with 
 us, from the top of the first room, were taken down and sent home.—The interior area of the 
 balcony floor I found completed, and we struck the centre from under it. We now proceeded 
 to set its outermost circle of stones, which finished the cap of the main column, see Plates 
 No. 9 ; and No. 11. Fig. 9. being parts of the Corona or cornice : and we fitted the windlass in 
 the store-room, so as to hoist the stones of the lantern through the hatchways. 
 
 Friday August the 17 th the last pieces of the Corona were set, and therewith the main column 
 completed.—I now examined the perpendicularity of the whole building, by letting fall a 
 plumb-line from the centre of the man-hole in the balcony floor to the centre of the bottom of the 
 well-hole, being 494 feet; and found it to fall a small matter to the eastward of the centre of the 
 well-hole ; as near as I could determine it, not more than ^th of an inch. I then measured the 
 perpendicular heights of the several parts of the building, and found them as follows : 
 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 The six foundation courses to the top of the rock — 
 
 — 8 
 
 
 The eight courses to the entry-door — — 
 
 — 12 
 
 o; 
 
 The ten courses of the well-liole to the store-room floor 
 
 — 15 
 
 2 - 
 
 The height of the four rooms to the balcony floor — 
 
 — 34 
 
 
 Height of the main column, containing forty-six courses 
 
 — 70 
 
 0 
 
 290. WE now proceeded this day to set up and lead in the balcony rails, and completed 
 them; but having no stone, we proceeded to make the holes preparatory for hanging the Ports* 
 for the windows ; and having brought out a temporary cover for the man-hole of the balcony floor; 
 I this day applied it to use; in consequence of which, when Mr. Richardson had got the ports 
 hung so as to keep the sea from coming in at the windows, he would be enabled to lodge with 
 his company in the house.—The temporary cover of the man-hole was as follows : a short 
 tub of about a foot high was made without a bottom; and the smaller end of it being sized as 
 near as possible to the man-holes of the floors; it was driven into that of the balcony; and by 
 the time it was driven about four inches; the compliancy of the wood to the stone rendered it 
 quite tight; then the rest of its height, forming a border, and standing about eight inches above 
 the floor, would prevent water from dripping into the rooms through the upper man-hole or 
 hatchway; and having also provided another tub, about nine inches deep, having a strong bottom 
 in it, and so much more in diameter than the other that it would, when inverted^ cover it; this 
 being applied as a cover, would in the greatest stress of weather defend the building from the 
 entry of water at the top, and this was the same that I intended to have used, to make good the 
 joint within the first vaulted floor, in case my proposal of keeping a light the last winter, had 
 been approved of and executed.f—The Edystone boat arrived with the first course of stone for 
 the lantern, and was unloaded this evening. 
 
 Saturday the 18th of August, we all landed in the morning at four, and proceeded to set the 
 
 * Those in a dwelling-house would be called window-shutters; but as they were here made in the strongest manner, with double 
 plant, as the port-holes for ships are closed; being in like manner intended to resist the violent action of the sea, are still (as they used 
 to be) called Ports in this lighthouse. Properly speaking, I understand the openings are the Ports, and the shutters the Port-lids, 
 t This was intended as an additional security, besides an entire cover or platform of wood, as mentioned § 271. 
 
 T T 
 
 mm 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 163 
 
 first course of the lantern ; which being in a course of work, and having left directions with Mr. 
 Richardson for the remaining part, including the stone stairs in the well-hole; I returned to 
 Plymouth to expedite the work that was wanted to he done to complete the lantern, and arrived 
 there at noon. 
 
 291. AMONGST the numberless vexations and disappointments met with in the course of 
 this work, not only from the elements, but from the negligence and inattention of others; it was 
 not one of the least, that the Carrier employed to bring the work of the lantern by land from 
 London (lor no other reason but to obviate the uncertainty and disappointment that might attend 
 the sea), had, to serve his own convenience, left the greatest part thereof at Exeter a week before ■ 
 and I found it was not yet come the present week ; which prevented our finishing the last 
 course of stone from the platform, that was to receive the iron sill of the lantern. The Rabbet 
 was indeed rough cut in the stone, and was a plain piece of work; but, as I had never trusted 
 to any thing fitting at the Edystone, but what at first had its parts brought together at Mill Bay, 
 I did not think it prudent to dispense with this rule, without absolute necessity: for, the fitting 
 or adapting the parts of matter together, comes under no calculation in point of time; as, from 
 circumstances, much time may be required for the purpose, when little is expected. This 
 evening however the work of the lantern arrived; which desirable event greatly alleviated the 
 chagrin I had felt. 
 
 Tuesday the 21st of August the iron Ground Sill of the lantern, or Cap Sill of the wall, 
 was brought to Mill Bay; and was tried and fitted to the Llld course, which, being the last, 
 was made ready for going to sea.—This day I thought it proper to write to the Corporation 
 of Trinity House, to acquaint them with the state of the building, and therein expressed my 
 hopes that the lantern would be soon completed, if the weather continued moderate, so as to be 
 capable of exhibiting a light in its proper place; and the house made completely habitable, and 
 proof against wind and weather, without the aid of temporary contrivances. 
 
 292. THURSDAY the 23d of August. For some time past I had employed a copper-smith 
 in preparing the copper for the roof, so far as he could do it, without having the iron work to 
 which it was to be fitted. The platform therefore being now cleared from all the stone-work, 
 the upper sill of the lantern was put together upon it; as also the iron ribs that gave the figure 
 and stiffness to the plates of the roof; and the copper-smiths began to fit the copper roof thereto ; 
 see Plate No. 12 : it being only necessary here to say, that the plates being of 3flh. to the square 
 foot, and of consequence somewhat stubborn; to prevent all uncertainty in forming them at their 
 hips to the proper figure, I chose them to be mitre-jointed at the angles; and this joint beino- 
 covered with a strip of copper, or saddle-piece, of about three inches in breadth, it was easy to 
 fit it to both plates, and render that easy that otherwise would have been difficult. This saddle- 
 piece w'as therefore fixed upon the angles with a double row of copper nails; and the whole 
 being rivetted together, the cupola, when finished, would become one piece, and water-tight, 
 like a boiler. 
 
 Friday August the 24th we had the welcome news by one of the boats, that this day Mr. 
 Richardson completed Course LII. : so that the stone-work was now ready for the reception of 
 the metal part of the lantern; and also that he was proceeding with the stone stairs. 
 
 293. MONDAY the 27 th Mr. Richardson and company arrived from the Edystone, and 
 gave account that they had lived in the house ever since the 23d instant, and found it very warm 
 and comfortable ; much more so than the buss’s hold and cabin. That he set the last stone of the 
 lantern, being that making the door-head, on Friday the 24th ; and then a part of his hands were 
 employed in fixing and completing the fixture of the iron-work of the window Ports, while the 
 other part were setting the stone stairs : and lastly, that they had put on the cap-stone of the stair¬ 
 head, and finished every thing belonging to the masonry on Sunday evening the 26th of August. 
 However, when all was done, though all was very quiet within the house, they found the sea so 
 unquiet about the rocks, that the yawls could not come alongside them that evening; and that it 
 was with some difficulty they quitted their habitation, and got on board the buss this morning. 
 
163 
 
 COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 1759 . 
 
 294. THE progress we had made this season could not fail to animate our further pro¬ 
 ceedings; for from the 5th of July to the 26th of August, both inclusive, we had completed 
 twenty-three courses, including the greatest part of four vaulted floors, six circular chains, and 
 in the whole 470 principal pieces.—Having brought the work to this desirable state, the 
 next day I dismissed all our masons and tinners, except eight of our best hands, who being 
 used to the place, I kept to assist the joiners, smiths, plumbers, copper-smiths, glaziers, painters, 
 See. whom it was necessary to take off before we coidd make an entire finish ; and who being 
 new hands unaccustomed to the place, I judged would act with more courage, by having seasoned 
 men amongst them. 
 
 295. AFTER this time I was thoroughly employed in forwarding the works of the lan¬ 
 tern ; but we had very soon a change of weather, so much for the worse that though the seamen 
 were ordered out the 29th, to try to sweep for and recover the moorings we had lost in the 
 course of the two preceding years; an hard gale of wind and rain from S. W. coming on, they 
 were obliged to return without attempting any thing.—During this time, however, an op¬ 
 portunity was taken by the seamen of landing in the house, and of wetting the inside of the 
 rooms all over with water, which I directed to he done, in order to feed and harden the cement, 
 and prevent its drying too hastily ; as it was not like the outside, subject to be afterwards wet by 
 the sea: but the weather never admitted of any opportunity of sweeping. 
 
 On Tuesday the 4th of September, when the work of the cupola was going briskly on 
 in the yard, the foreman of the copper-smiths was taken so ill that he was obliged to leave 
 his work.—This day I received a letter from the Secretary to the Trinity House, dated 
 the 1st instant, acquainting me that the Corporation desired me to inform them of the day 
 I was certain a light could be exhibited in the lighthouse, that they might advertise the 
 same; and that the night I shewed the light I should acquaint Mr. Symonds, Master of 
 the Floating-Light, not to exhibit it any longer. To this I answered, that though I had 
 met with some disappointments, yet I hoped the lantern and cupola would be ready to 
 carry off that week; and that I should endeavour to complete the whole with the utmost 
 expedition; and when ready would acquaint the Corporation; and concert a proper signal 
 with the Master of the floating-light, in case access to him should be impracticable. That 
 as the season was advancing, and the weather growing more precarious, it might not be 
 in my power absolutely to fix the day I could exhibit a light, till the day itself arrived : 
 in which case, I supposed it to he their pleasure that it should be done, giving the proper 
 notices that they had directed ; but if I misapprehended their directions, I desired not to 
 be left in doubt. 
 
 The next day the second copper-smith, with his assistants, finished the closing of the 
 joints at the angles; and, that 110 time might be lost (wanting the proper workmen), on 
 the 6th I worked myself all day at the cupola, assisting in rivetting on sixteen angle pieces 
 of iron in the inside, in the nature of knee timbers of a ship, for stiffening the plates. 
 When these were in part finished, the second copper-smith was also violently seized with 
 a dry Cholic, in the same manner as the first had been. The next day, he being in¬ 
 capable of proceeding with the work; and I very anxious to get what remained to be 
 done at the cupola dispatched ; as it prevented the iron ribs, See. from being withdrawn 
 from the cupola ; I again went to work, along with the third copper-smith; and on Sa¬ 
 turday the 8th this part of the business being accomplished, the whole iron frame of the 
 lantern was in the afternoon put on board the Weston ready to go to sea, whenever the 
 wind and weather would permit; it having been invariably bad ever since the first in¬ 
 stant.—As there was now nothing to prevent our proceeding to fix the frame of the 
 lantern in its place but bad weather; nor any thing to prevent the cupola from following 
 it as soon as fixed, except the joining of the ball to the neck of the cupola ; and find¬ 
 ing that the copper-smiths who had hitherto served me were not likely very soon to be 
 effective; I requested another brazier of Plymouth, to lend me a journeyman to com¬ 
 plete this part of the work. But such is the amazing narrowness of mind of some persons, 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 164 
 
 that lie positively refused us, though he owned the man could be of no use to him the next 
 day, bein°- Sunday: however, on application to Commissioner Rogers, he immediately granted 
 leave for the brazier of the yard, to assist us in that, or any thing else we might want. Ac¬ 
 cordingly, on Sunday evening the copula was got ready for sea, its ball being fitted; but 
 
 the weather still continued so very bad, that the Duke man of war of eighty guns, having parted 
 her moorings, very providentially drove directly into Mill Bay, and grounded on the soft mud; 
 from whence she was, on tide of flood, got off without damage. 
 
 296. IT was not till the 12th instant that we were able to look out to sea further than to 
 
 supply the seamen on board the buss with provisions: in this interim I received Mr. Shuttle- 
 wood the Secretary’s letter, in answer to mine of the 4th instant, informing me, that to remove 
 any doubt which might arise, he was directed by the Corporation to acquaint me, that I was to 
 fix the day of lighting, so as to enable them to give a week’s notice by advertisement; and, that 
 I mi«ht be certain of the day, proper persons were to remain in the house upon the rock, after 
 the lighthouse was finished, to light it on the day appointed. 
 
 297. EVERY thing immediately wanted to the completion of the house being got 
 
 ready and put on board two of the boats, together with all necessary hands; the morn¬ 
 ing of Wednesday, September the 12th, at one o’clock, we weighed anchor, in a thick 
 fog, without a breath of wind; a breeze, however, sprung up, and we arrived at the 
 
 buss at five; but the wind being now fresh at east, neither of the boats could go into 
 
 the Gut; I therefore took the opportunity of landing in a yawl to inspect the house; 
 and bad the satisfaction to find, that all the stone work had been finished by Mr. Richard¬ 
 son and his company in the manner I had ordered it: but by nine o clock the wind 
 
 was grown so fresh, and raised such a troublesome sea, that the boats were obliged to return 
 without being unloaded; and, as nothing could be done without their cargoes, I took the 
 opportunity of returning, to expedite what was wanting to be done on shore, leaving the 
 workmen on board the buss. 
 
 September 13th. My copper-smiths being still unable to work ; this morning Mr. Knighton, 
 the brazier from the King’s Yard, began to work upon the copper funnels for venting the 
 smoke from the kitchen fires. The next day at noon the weather became so favourable as 
 to admit the boats to go out, and I arrived in the evening, but still could not land on account 
 of the ground swell: however, all the working hands at low w'ater had taken an opportunity of 
 getting into the house, with their beds, victuals, &c. as they had been directed to do. 
 
 298. SATURDAY September the 15th, between three and four in the morning, the 
 Weston was got into the Gut, and delivered of her cargo, consisting of the pillars, sashes, 
 and frame-work of the lantern ; and though the turn of the tide made it impracticable to 
 get the Edystone boat into the Gut, yet, as her cargo consisted chiefly of the joiners ma¬ 
 terials, these being light, were landed by help of the yawls: and now the workmen being esta¬ 
 blished in the house, along with a great variety of materials, every one went to the occupation 
 allotted; to recount the particulars of which, would be equally uninteresting and tedious. 
 —I gave my principal attention to the establishing the frame of the lantern upon a 
 bed of lead, and the screwing of it carefully together ; seeing that every joint was filled, and 
 screw covered with white lead and oil, ground up thick for paint; and every crevice so full, 
 that the bringing the screws home made the white lead matter to ooze from every juncture; 
 thereby to exclude all wet and moisture, and so as to prevent the iron-work from rusting. To 
 this purpose I took to my aid Roger. Cornthwait, one of the most alert of the masons ; this 
 being in reality, after the parts were fitted together by a smith, more the subject of masonry 
 than that of smith’s work.—The attention of Mr. Jessop was chiefly confined to the other 
 artificers : and the rooms being so much encumbered with materials and stores, that there was 
 scarcely room for the workmen; he and myself, as the weather was now promising, went to our 
 former lodging on board the buss. 
 
COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 1759. 
 
 165 
 
 299- SUNDAY September the 16th was remarkably fine; so that by the evening the whole 
 frame of the lantern was screwed together, and its ground-sill was rested upon a bed of lead; 
 which was done in the following manner. The whole frame being screwed together, was raised 
 from its bearing upon the stone about-jths of an inch, by a competent number of iron wedges; 
 and adjusted by them to an exact perpendicular. Both the stone and the iron were taken care 
 to be oiled before they were applied to each other; and one of the eight sides, having its wedges 
 withdrawn, was run with hot lead ; and making a place for it to overflow, as much could be used 
 as would competently heat both the iron and stone, to bring them to a close bearing with the 
 lead ; then on the lead’s cooling, as the frame became supported on one side by the lead, the 
 wedges of a second side were withdrawn, and treated in the same manner, and so successively 
 till the whole rested upon a solid basement of lead. It was not supposed that the succeeding 
 mass could be sufficiently heated to re-melt the ends of the parts already leaded, as in the case 
 of the chains; but being heated so as to bring them to a close contact, this I judged sufficient, 
 as the lead so applied had no other intent but to bear weight, and give the frame of the lantern 
 one solid uniform bearing. 
 
 300. MONDA\ the 17th. This morning was also exceedingly fine; and the Weston being- 
 in sight, which was appointed to bring out the cupola, we began to set up our shears and tackle 
 for hoisting it. This perhaps may be accounted one of the most difficult and hazardous ope¬ 
 rations of the whole undertaking; not so much on account of its weight, being only about 11 cwt. 
 as on account of the great height to which it was to be hoisted, clear of the building; and so as, 
 if possible, to avoid such blows as might bruise it. It was also required to be hoisted a con¬ 
 siderable height above the balcony floor; which, though the largest base we had for the shears 
 to stand upon, was yet but fourteen feet within the rails, and therefore narrow, in proportion to 
 their height. The manner in which this was managed will in a great measure appear by the re¬ 
 presentation thereof, in Plate No. 14. (seethe uppermost stage); but is more minutely explained 
 in the technical detail of that plate.—As the legs of the shears that had been used upon the 
 rock would have been in the way of the cupola, they were now removed, as being done with 
 there, and were used as a part of this machinery.—About noon the whole of our tackle was in 
 readiness; and in the afternoon the Weston was brought into the Gut; and in less than half an 
 
 hour her troublesome cargo was placed upon the top of the lantern without the least damage._ 
 
 During the whole of this operation, it pleased God that not a breath of wind discomposed the 
 surface of the water; and there was the least swell about the rocks I had observed during- the 
 season.—This work did indeed require good weather, and we had it; or otherwise we must have 
 postponed it, till it had at least seemed promising ; but yet we were prepared for somethin^ other¬ 
 wise than perfect tranquillity: for, besides that our shears and tackle were so well lashed down 
 and stayed, that it was not a small blast of wind that would have carried them away, I had it in 
 contemplation (if it had been needed) to have appointed a couple of men to go up upon the cupola, 
 
 with staves in their hands, who could, in moderate weather, have defended it from the wall._ 
 
 This evening the cupola was so far got fixed, with its screws, that the tackle was cast oil' from 
 it: but this was scarcely got done before the wind began to blow fresh at E. 
 
 Tuesday September the 18th, in the morning, the wind was at S. E. with intervals of thick 
 fog; however, betwixt those, I had the satisfaction, with my telescope, to perceive the Edystone 
 boat, on board of which I expected the Ball to be; and which being double gilt*, I had ordered 
 the carriage of it to be carefully attended to. The wind and tide were both unfavourable to the 
 vessel’s getting soon near us ; therefore, being desirous to get the ball screwed on, before the 
 shears and tackle were taken down, one of the yawls was dispatched to bring it away. This bein«- 
 done, and the ball fixed, the shears and tackle were taken down, which took up nearly as much 
 time as was employed in setting them up ; that is, near twelve hours each, in the whole, to do the 
 work of an hour.—I must observe, that by choice, I screwed on the ball with my own hands, that 
 in case any of the screws had not held quite tight and firm, the circumstance might not have been 
 slipped over, without my knowledge; being well aware, that even this part would at times come 
 
 * The leaf gold was made on purpose, being four times the ordinary thickness; besides which, after the first coating of gold was 
 on, a second was laid upon it, with a view to make it as lasting as possible ; and over all a coat of Amber Varnish. 
 
 V u 
 
BOOK IV. CHAP. Ill 
 
 166 
 
 to a considerable stress of wind and sea ; and which could not be replaced without some difficulty, 
 in case any thing should fail*.—I now looked upon it that we might think ourselves secure of 
 finishing the lighthouse this year. 
 
 By this time the joiners had set up and completed the three cabin bedsteads, (for their plan, 
 and position betwixt the windows, see Plate No. 11. Fig. 8.) The house being now less encum¬ 
 bered, the morning of Wednesday the 19th, the wind fresh at E. and the weather threatening to 
 cut oil’ the communication between the house and the buss; Mr. Jessop and I removed our beds 
 and stores into the house, and took possession of two of the cabin beds; which we had no sooner 
 done, than it blew so hard, that the yawl was obliged to leave us, and retreat to the buss. 
 
 301. ON Friday the 21st all the copper sash frames were got completely fixed in, and ready 
 for receiving the glass. In this work we were somewhat retarded ; for the carrier that brought 
 down the work of the lantern (besides disappointing us in time) having carelessly laid very heavy 
 things upon the boxes that contained the sash frames; by the continual working of the carriage, 
 two of them had been broken; and though I got them carefully repaired at Plymouth, yet I 
 judged it expedient to order two new ones from London in readiness, which might at anv time 
 be changed for the others, if they happened to fail; but (on account of the late bad weather) 
 these new ones coming, so as to be sent out to us before it was necessary to put them in, I set 
 Mr. Jessop to drill, screw, and fit the new ones, which occasioned the loss of time just mentioned. 
 All the sash frames, in like manner as the iron work, were screwed in with white lead and 
 oil; as I judged that the best means, not only of preserving the work, hut of keeping out the wet. 
 —This day the Weston brought out two glaziers and two copper-smiths ; they spoke with us, but 
 it blew so hard a gale that they were obliged to return.—On Saturday the Weston came out 
 again, and brought only one copper-smith, the other having been taken ill of the same dis¬ 
 temper, which was said to be epidemic; but the wind was still so fresh at E. that there was no 
 landing; they therefore put him and the two glaziers on board the buss. 
 
 302. ON Sunday morning the 23d, the yawl came to the house and landed the two glaziers 
 and the copper-smith, with their utensils and materials; the former began to glaze the lantern, 
 and the latter to fit and put up the funnels. This day, with my assistant, the mason, I began to 
 fix twenty-four iron cramps; that is, three to each rib of the roof, and which were obliged to be 
 fixed after the roof was together; and being fixed inside, and surrounding the ribs, served to key 
 home the plates of the cupola to the ribs. For this purpose small wood wedges were used, as 
 being more supple, elastic, and compliant than wedges of metal, and therefore more suitable to 
 this particular purpose. This day also the Edystone boat brought out and landed a plumber 
 with his utensils and materials.—The most considerable work for the plumber, was the covering 
 the whole balcony floor with thick plates of lead ; and which extended from the top of the plinth, 
 or first course of the basement of the lantern, quite down to the drip of the Corona. They were 
 fitted on separately in sixteen pieces, and soldered together, in place, with strong ribbed joints; 
 and, to prevent the sea from laying hold of them at the drip, and beating them up, they were 
 turned under about lj inch ; and being near half an inch thick, I judged them sufficiently stub¬ 
 born to prevent being unripped : I took care myself to put the finishing hand, by batting them 
 closely to the stone underneath, by the gentle blows of a small hammer. In this work the cop¬ 
 per-smith assisted the plumber.—Though the joints of the balcony were all very carefully filled 
 and pointed up with our cement, which of consequence would render it water-tight in the com¬ 
 mon acception of the word, yet this being a level part, the water of the sea beating up in time of 
 storms, would come down with such violence, and in such quantity, upon it; that, to prevent the 
 possibility of the least exudation of moisture down into the rooms, arising either from the calca¬ 
 reous nature of the cement, or any want of closeness in any part of the upright joints, I judged it 
 proper to have this part covered with lead in the manner mentioned, and of such a thickness that, 
 
 * It may not be amiss to intimate to those that may in future have occasion to perform the same operation, that the scaffold on 
 which this was done, consisted of four boards only, well nailed together, at such distances as to permit it to be lifted over the ball 
 when done with. It rested on the cupola, encompassing its neck; and Roger Cornthwaite placed himself on the opposite side, 
 upon it, to balance me, while I moved round to fix the screws. 
 
COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 1759. 167 
 
 when once done, the wear of the feet, &c. should not produce the necessity of a renewal in many 
 years. J 
 
 Thursday the 27th, the lead work upon the balcony and corona being now entirely finished, 
 and the cupola completely keyed home to the ribs; the straps and bolts were applied at each 
 angle of the lantern, for screwing it down to the floor of the balcony: but the copper-smith, 
 who had again begun to work upon the funnel, was taken ill, so that he could not proceed; and 
 one of the masons was taken ill also. 
 
 303. FRIDAY September the 28th. Since Sunday last the works of the lead and glass 
 were going on very well, the weather in general having been moderate and dry. This day the 
 joiners finished their work, which consisted of the following articles.—Three cabin beds to hold 
 one man each, with three drawers and two lockers in each to hold his separate property, which 
 were fixed in the upper room or chamber. (See plan thereof, Plate No. 11. Fig. 8.) In the 
 kitchen, besides the fire-place and sink, were two settles with lockers, a dresser with drawers, 
 two clipboards, and one platter case. (Fig. 7. of the same plate shews how these were disposed.) 
 In the lantern, a seat was fixed to encompass it all round, the door-way excepted, serving equally 
 to sit upon, or stand to snuff the candles; and to enable a person to look through the lowest tier 
 of glass panes at distant objects, without having occasion to go on the outside of the lantern into 
 the balcony. Besides the above, the joiners had fixed the ten window frames with their sashes; 
 that is, two in the upper store-room, disposed N. and S. and four in each of the rooms above : all 
 which were bedded in putty, and falling into rabbets cut for them in the original formation of the 
 stone, they could be at any time removed, and replaced at pleasure, as they were fastened in 
 only with two wooden pins above, and two below, driven into holes bored in the stone. And it 
 is here to be noted, that though, lor fixing up and steadying the several articles in their places, 
 something of fastenings to the walls were frequently necessary; yet, wherever any thing was to 
 be affixed to them, it was never done by driving any thing into the joints, but always by drilling 
 holes with a jumper into the solid of the stone, deep enough to answer the end required; and 
 then, if iron plugs or bolts, they were either driven, upon a very gentle taper till they became 
 fast, or were fixed in with lead; or, as was generally the case with the inside work, holes were 
 bored in the solid, and oaken plugs being driven therein, and sawn off even with the surface of 
 the stone, iron holdfasts could be very properly and effectually driven into those wooden plugs, 
 by which means the disturbing of any part of the cement was avoided. 
 
 304. IT is to be observed, that in the present edifice I fixed the Beds in the uppermost 
 room; and the Fire-place, which constituted the kitchen, in the room below it; whereas, in the 
 late house, the upper room was the kitchen, and the beds (which, as I have understood, were 
 upon common bedsteads) were placed in one of the rooms below. The former disposition was 
 doubtless adopted, because the funnel for the smoke would be the shortest; but, as I was in¬ 
 formed that in moist weather, the beds and bedding were generally in a very damp disagreeable 
 state; I proposed to remedy this evil, by lengthening the funnel into the room, below the top 
 room, by which means the copper funnel passing through the upper room, its surface being 
 warmed by the smoke and heated air within, would communicate a genial warmth to the upper 
 room through which it passed ; and, as air when warmed has a natural tendency to ascend, when¬ 
 ever the copper cover was taken off', that closed the man-hole or passage from the kitchen to the 
 bed-chamber, (and which, indeed, except at nights, would generally be the case) the warm air 
 of the kitchen would ascend through the bed-chamber, into the lantern, and be vented there by 
 the air-pipes made to discharge the hot air and smoke from the candles. This disposition has 
 perfectly answered the end, as nothing can be more completely dry than the- two habitable 
 rooms. Nor are the store rooms below, subject to any moisture, to the injury of the stores, being 
 in reality much drier than those of the former building were said to have been. Indeed this is 
 not to be wondered at, if it be considered, that the encompassing walls are wholly of moorslone, 
 which is a substance that does not admit of any humidity into its pores, as wood will do: and there 
 is nothing of Parget or plaster in the whole building; for every stone fulfils its place inside and 
 out; the piece of stone that makes the outside, being worked fair within, makes the inner surface 
 
 
168 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 of the room ; and the same stones that are trod upon, as the floor in the room above, reach through 
 and form the deling of the room below. 
 
 305. THIS afternoon the Edystone boat came out, and brought out two chests of candles 
 for the lights, and other stores. She also brought out sixteen cross bars for the windows, with a 
 couple of smiths to fix them, and which were prepared as far as they could be on shore : but as by 
 mistake they had only made half the number I wanted, the order being for sixteen pair, I found 
 it necessary to send them home to forge and prepare the rest, while I proceeded, with such help 
 as I had, to fit those we had got.—This boat was to have brought out a painter, who promised 
 to come; but hearing of so many being taken ill at the Edystone, he refused to come off. I 
 therefore set one of the masons to work in painting the outside of the roof of the cupola. The 
 copper-smith and the mason who had been taken ill yesterday, continuing unfit for work ; they, 
 wi th the three joiners, and the two smiths, returned back to Plymouth this evening, in the Edy¬ 
 stone boat. 
 
 After the boat was gone, and it became so dark, that we could not see any longer to pursue 
 our occupations, I ordered a charcoal fire to be made in the upper store-room, in one of the iron 
 pots we used for melting lead ; the intent of which was, that as the cross bars must exactly fit 
 their respective places in point of length, answerable to the distances of the screws wherewith the 
 copper sash frames were screwed to the iron pillars of the lantern, there could only be prepared 
 on shore, holes made at one end ; leaving the other to be marked to its place. In consequence, 
 all these holes must be bored here ; and to facilitate this operation, by annealing the blank ends 
 of all those bars, they were made red hot all together in the charcoal fire. Most of the workmen 
 were set round the fire, and by way of making ourselves comfortable, by screening ourselves and 
 the fire from the wind, the windows were shut; and, as well as I remember, the copper cover or 
 hatch put over the man-hole of the floor of the room where the fire was : the hatch above being 
 left open as a funnel for the heated vapour to ascend. I remember to have looked into the fire 
 attentively, to see that the iron was made hot enough, and not over-heated : I also remember 1 felt 
 mv head a very little giddy : but the very next thing of which I had any sensation or idea, was 
 finding myself upon the floor of the room below, half drowned with water. It seems, that with¬ 
 out bein'*- further sensible of any thing to give me warning, the Effluvia of the charcoal (being 
 from my situation more exposed thereto than the rest) so suddenly overcame all sensation, that I 
 dropped down upon the floor; and, had not the people hauled me down into the room below, 
 where they did not spare for cold water to throw in my face and upon me, I certainly should 
 have expired upon the spot. 
 
 306. THE next day, Michael mas-day, was distinguished by the whole glazing of the lantern 
 being completed ; and consequently now the house was in a condition to exhibit a light.—I pro¬ 
 ceeded with ray Mason to bore the holes, and fit the bars; in doing which I found we made such 
 good dispatch, that I doubted not but we should have them all fixed before we received any 
 more from the smith ; and this day, not having been distinguished by any other event than w hat 
 is above-mentioned, it may be a proper place to mention what my intention was respecting these 
 cross brass.—They were not indeed a part of the original design. I had conceived that the main 
 upright standards of cast-iron (see Plates No. 12, and 15.) having their feet or claws strongly 
 screwed down upon their Ground-sills and to their Cap-sills, which were of wrought iron, four 
 inches broad, and almost an inch thick ; these, together with the great number of screws, fasten¬ 
 ing the copper sash frames thereto, would form so strong a frame, that no power less than what 
 would overset the whole lantern, could make any material derangement of its figure : yet, when 
 I afterwards considered, that all the bars, both great and small, w r ere eiLher perpendicular or ho¬ 
 rizontal, and consequently nothing to oppose the racking of the frame ; the violent actions of the 
 sea, though not sufficient to break any of the parts, yet might be subject to produce such kind of 
 twisting, agitations, and vibrations, as that by preventing the panes of glass from being at rest in 
 the putty, might prevent their fixing therein, with that solidity which I wished. For, though 
 underneath the putty in every pane, there w'ere six brass pins, driven through holes drilled across 
 the bars, by w^ay of retaining in the panes exclusive of the putty ; vet to keep them as steady as 
 
COMPLETION OF THE STONE LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 possible, from the causes of vibration just mentioned, I determined to place a pair of Cross Bars 
 behind each sash frame, screwed thereto in a firm manner. In consequence, each face of the 
 octagon having two sashes in height, the whole number of sashes was sixteen ; and there were 
 thirty-two bars: which, to make little obstruction to the light, were not only placed so as to be 
 the least possible in the way, where the candles were commonly to be put, but were at a medium 
 less than an inch in diameter; being ~ of an inch near the ends, and 1^ inch in the middle. These 
 bars have in reality completely answered the end intended.—The next day, September the 30th, 
 the glaziers had scarcely finished the puttying of all the windows of the rooms below, when the 
 principal one was taken ill; however, he got that part of the work out of hand. 
 
 307- MONDAY October the 1st I completed the fi xing of the first eight pairs of cross bars 
 begun on Saturday ; and, lest weather, or any accident, should prevent the rest from being fixed, 
 so soon as intended, I disposed these eight pairs so as most effectually to contribute to the ge¬ 
 neral purpose : for this reason I fixed them upon the N. E. S. E. S. W. and N. VV. faces of the 
 lantern, leaving the intermediate faces without any; by which means their strength became 
 equally distributed*.—This day also the copper funnel was finished, by the help of the plumber; 
 and on being tried by lighting a fire, was found fully to answer. The tackle was also fixed for 
 raising and lowering the Chandeliers; and those being hung, (see Plate No. 12.) there was now 
 nothing to hinder our making trial by lighting the candles, while it was day-light, to see that 
 every thing, regarding the light, operated in a proper manner. Accordingly this afternoon we 
 put up twenty-four candles into their proper places, and continued them burning for three 
 hours; during which time we had a very effectual trial; for it had blown a hard gale of wind at 
 S. E. all day, which still continued ; and keeping a fire at the same time in the kitchen, they 
 both operated together without the least interference; not any degree of smoke appearing in the 
 lantern, or any of the rooms : and by opening the vent-holes which I had caused to be made at 
 the bottom of the lantern, for occasional use, it could be kept as cool as we pleased ; whereas, in 
 the late lighthouse, this used to be complained of, as being so hot, especially in summer, as to 
 give much trouble by the running of the candles. 
 
 Tuesday October the 2d, the wind fresh at E. the Weston came out with two persons to he 
 light-keepers; but, as they could not land, they were put on board the buss.—Letters brought 
 by the Weston were delivered in the house by means of a Keg. This I got made, with an in¬ 
 tention to convey provisions and small stores into the house, at such times as a boat might come 
 near the rocks but not be able to land. It was made very strong, with one of the heads to take 
 out, and fit like a plug; so as to be water-tight when driven in with a piece of canvas. This 
 being carried by the wind and sea to the leeward of the house, could be taken up by a boat in 
 that situation : and we found it to answer whenever we had occasion to use it. The Weston also 
 brought out eleven more of the cross bars; which not being able to land, were left on board the 
 buss; and, as I was desirous of getting them as soon as possible, we at low water got a rope from 
 the house, by the keg, to the yawl; and to this fastening the bars, they were sunk with the keg, 
 and therewith drawn into the house. 
 
 308. WEDNESDAY October the 3d, we began to fix the Conductor for lightning, (§ 174.) 
 As the copper funnel reached through the ball, and from thence came down to the kitchen floor, 
 above forty feet, (see Plate No. 9.) I considered this as containing so much metal, that if struck 
 with lightning, it would thus far be a sufficient conveyance; then joining the kitchen grate to 
 the leaden sink by a metal conveyance, the sink pipe of lead would convey it to the outside. 
 From the sink pipe downwards, which being on the N. E. side, was consequently the least sub¬ 
 ject to the stroke of the sea; we continued the electrical communication by means of a strap of 
 lead about 1{ inch broad and ^ihs thick, fixed on the outside by being nailed to oaken plugs, 
 drove into two jumper holes in the solid of each course; the prominent angles of the strap being 
 chamfered oft, it was bedded and brought to a smooth surface with putty. At the foot of the 
 leaden strap, an eye-bolt of iron was driven into the rock; and to this was fixed an iron chain 
 
 Was this part of the work to do again, or the like to be wanted, the cross bars would most commodiously be cast as a part of 
 the copper sashes; and are so represented in Plates !) and 12. But not intended to interfere with the glass panes. ' 
 
 X X 
 
170 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. III. 
 
 long enough to reach at all limes into the water; its lower end being left loose to play therein, 
 and give way to the stroke of the waves : by this means an electrical communication was made 
 from the top ol the ball to the sea.—This day we learnt from the buss, that one of our intended 
 light-keepers, by the rolling of the buss, had fallen, and put out his shoulder ; and that the other 
 being intimidated, refused to come into the house. 
 
 S09- THURSDAY October the 4th, the wind at N.W. and moderate; the Edystone boat 
 
 came out with stores and water, which were landed, as also some more of the cross bars._The 
 
 season being now advanced towards that which we had always found to grow very precarious ; 
 and everything being now completed about the house that we could judge essentially necessary 
 to the exhibition and maintenance of a light; I immediately agreed with three of the workmen 
 to abide in the house, and keep the light till proper persons could be engaged with and sent off: 
 I therefore now thought it time to take the opportunity of dispatching an express by the Edy¬ 
 stone boat to Plymouth, to be forwarded to the Corporation of Trinity House, giviiw notice 
 for Tuesday the 16th of that month, as the day of lighting the house; which allowed twelve 
 days for the passage of the express, and advertisements for a week previous, as ordered by the 
 Corporation : and at the same time I dispatched the yawl, with a letter of notice to the same 
 purport to Captain Symonds, Master of the Floating-Light.—The sick glazier, and the man with 
 the dislocated shoulder on board the buss, returned with the boat to Plymouth. 
 
 Friday the 5th of October, all the cross bars were got fixed that we received yesterday. There 
 being a great sea about the rocks, with wind at S. W. I could, by resting steadily against the 
 wall of the lantern, perceive a sensible motion from the action of the sea. This I did not wonder 
 at, having felt a steeple sensibly move by the ringing of bells ; but I was cpiite surprized to find, 
 that such heavy seas as now rolled over the adjacent rocks, without touching the building, pro¬ 
 duced a motion nearly as sensible. This, however, fully convinced me of what I had for some 
 time been led to think, that the Edystone rocks have a very sensible degree of Elasticity. 
 
 Saturday October the 6th, the wind was at S. W. but become very moderate. The ground 
 swell, however, that came home, frequently this day broke up as high as the windows of the 
 kitchen, but 1 could not perceive that to produce the least sensible motion in the building.— 
 This day the plumber completed every thing in his way about the balcony.—At. low water the 
 yawl brought the light-keeper who had remained on board the buss ; and who having in some 
 degree conquered his fears, made an apology for not coming before, which I thought it prudent 
 to admit of. 
 
 Sunday October the 7th. After so severe a visitation of sickness amongst the workmen*, all 
 those remaining in the house, that stood their service, were employed in clearing the rooms ready 
 to take in the winter’s stores: except those who were employed in giving the outside parts the 
 second Coat of paint, since being fixed in place.—This day the electrical communication for the 
 lightning was completed. 
 
 310. MONDAY October the 8th in the morning, the Weston arrived at the transport 
 buoy; being loaded with further stores for the winter; and had the remainder of the cross bars 
 on board : these were immediately landed with the yawl; but the ground swell was too great to 
 admit the boat to venture into the Gut; and the Edystone boat appearing in sight, which was 
 also laden with stores, she was ordered to deliver them on board the buss. This being done, 
 and it appearing doubtful when the Weston might be able to deliver her cargo in the Gut, 
 she was ordered to follow the same example. As soon therefore as the tide was fallen away 
 sufficiently, to render it practicable for the yawls to come into the Gut, a number of hands were 
 employed to bring the stores from the buss, and land them in the house; and in the course of 
 this tide the whole business was performed, four casks of water only excepted.—This evening 
 the second coat of paint was finished, and the cross bars all completely fixed. A time-piece I 
 had provided, was set up and put in motion'!'; and as nothing material now remained to be done, 
 
 • There were now but few remaining hearty ; of this number, however, were Mr. Jessop and myself. 
 
 t A dial for the regulating of the clock, would naturally arise from observing when the sun-beams of the south windows directly 
 tended to the opposite ones; as this would point out the time of noon. This Time-piece, by a simple contrivance, beinn' made to 
 strike a single blow every half hour, would thereby warn the keepers to snuff'the candles. 
 
we determined, as tile wind and weather were then favourable for unmooring the buss, to leave 
 the house in possession of the persons appointed to keep the light, and remove on hoard the buss 
 the first opportunity : and, lest time should be short on our removal, and another opportunity 
 might not occur before the day of lighting; this evening, with the assistance of Mr. Jrssor, I 
 gave full orders and instructions to Henry Edwards and John Michell both tinners; and who 
 were the only persons that had continued steadily to act as labourers from the beginning. Those, 
 therefore, being persons upon whom I could depend ; and who had seen and assisted in the light¬ 
 ing of the house in the day time the 1st instant, I could have no doubt but that they would fully 
 instruct the person entered as Light-keeper; and that my directions would be punctually ob¬ 
 served, and the house lighted according to its destination the 16th instant; in case I could not 
 myself be present, as I proposed to be, if wind and weather permitted. 
 
 > ya 
 
 awl came 
 
 311. TUESDAY the 9th of October, in the morning, before one o’clock, th 
 into the Gut with the remaining casks of water, and began to remove the men, with their beds, 
 tools, and necessaries; which being performed, Mr. Jessop and myself, with all hands, were got 
 on hoard the buss at four.—The wind was then S. E. and very moderate, the sky serene, and 
 every thing appearing promising, we began to unmoor. We had scarcely got the eastern anchor 
 from the ground, when clouds began to gather from the S. W. and the wind shifting into that 
 quarter, threatened an immediate storm ; however, as my maxim always was, to proceed till 
 there was something to stop us, we went on; and fortunately, though it looked very dismal and 
 threatening all the time, it did not blow outright; and the more dismal it looked, the more 
 anxious we were to get out of the way of it.—In heaving up our moorings we were much sur¬ 
 prized to find the eastern chain parted from the western ; hut by applying to the buoy of the 
 western anchor it was got on board ; and in heaving in the bridle, we found one of the links more 
 Ilian half worn through, by fretting against the rocks; it being as bright as if shorn by a file; so 
 that in all probability the next hard gale of wind must have broke the buss adrift.—At four in 
 the afternoon having got all our moorings on board, we hoisted sail; and it now coming on a 
 fresh gale of wind at S. W. it drove us right into the Sound; and the tide being also 
 favour, we never had so quick a passage in the Neptune Buss; for in less than 
 were come to an anchor in Plymouth Harbour, with a flowing tide, to the great joy and satis¬ 
 faction of all concerned.—And thus, after innumerable difficulties and dangers, was a happy 
 period put to this undertaking, without the loss of Life or Limb, to any one concerned in it; or 
 accident, by which the work could be said to he materially retarded. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 COMPREHENDING AN ACCOUNT OF OCCURRENCES, SUBSEQUENT TO THE 
 BRINGING HOME THE NEPTUNE BUSS AT THE END OF THE SEASON 
 1759, TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 in our 
 ours, we 
 
 312. Xl perhaps will not he thought, the least commendation to the structure of the Edystone 
 Lighthouse, that this will not he one of the longest chapters in the whole work. In reality, very 
 few occurrences have happened regarding it in the whole of this interval; and I trust it will he 
 thought the very best part of the account, that in the course of thirty years, that have elapsed 
 since the commencement of this chapter, it still remains in the same good condition, in which it 
 then was: however, it maybe proper, herein to take notice of several matters, that did not 
 naturally fall into the course of the preceding narrative. 
 
 The very evening after we got in with the buss, it began to be very bad weather from the 
 S. W. and which continued till Monday the 15th ; so that had we not got clear of the house, and 
 unmoored when we did, in all likelihood we must have staid there till then. 
 
 I'.ibiiHft 
 
17-2 
 
 BOOK IV. CIIAP. IV. 
 
 As Monday 15th proved more moderate, preparations were made, and every thing got ready 
 to go out the next morning, in order to be present at the lighting of the house ; but that morning 
 it again began to blow at S. W. to a degree which rendered the attempt needless; and the night 
 appointed for the lighting was stormy; which weather continued till Thursday the 18th, when 
 preparations were again made to go out, and all stores were got on board. 
 
 313. FRIDAY October 19th. This morning appearing promising, though little wind, I 
 went on board with Mr. Jessop, Roger Cohnthwaite the mason, (whose particular activity in 
 this building, I have had reason to notice and commend) John Watt, painter and glazier, and 
 John Hatherley. This last I had agreed with to go out as light-keeper, upon the old establish¬ 
 ment, instead of John Michell, tinner, who only entered till one could be got. We went out 
 in the Weston, being accompanied by the Edystone boat, as being the smallest and the lightest; 
 and therefore the most easily managed in the Gut.—We had all our seamen, and also one of the 
 yawls attending. About noon, having had but little wind, we got to the transport buoy; which 
 we had not unmoored, intending to leave it to ride as long as it could, as it might be of service 
 in the attendance upon the house during the succeeding winter.—As it was then about half 
 flood; that is, about the turn of the tide toward the east, we did not think it prudent to attempt 
 to lay either of the boats alongside the rocks, but landed in the yawl, and had the satisfaction to 
 find all well.— Henry Edwards gave account that they lighted the house, as they were directed, 
 early on Tuesday evening the 16th, and had continued the same the two following evenings; and 
 that they found the lights to burn very steadily, notwithstanding it blowed very hard, especially 
 on the night of lighting.—That they had the greatest seas on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 
 preceding the lighting; and that then the waves broke up so high, that had they not been 
 thrown off by the cove course, they would have endangered the breaking the glass of the lantern : 
 but that, notwithstanding the broken sea went in great quantities over the ball, yet no water 
 came into the lantern by the funnel, the air-pipes, or otherwise; except that a very small leakage 
 came in, by an upright joint in the stone-work of the lantern, which they shewed us, and which 
 we easily remedied.—-They informed us, that the seas had broke up, during almost the whole 
 time of our absence, so high upon the house, that they were not only obliged to keep the ports 
 of the windows shut to windward, but also to keep the joints well stuffed with oakum ; for other¬ 
 wise, the great pressure of the water made its way through the joints thereof, even of the upper¬ 
 most chamber. That however, upon the whole, they had been both warm and dry. They 
 further informed us, that when the seas broke up the highest, they had experienced a sensible 
 motion, something like what we had all observed from the hole in the rock, in hard gales of wind 
 at E.; but that being but just sensible thereof, it occasioned to them neither fear nor surprize. 
 
 This afternoon we landed a further supply of coals, water, and small stores, by means of the 
 yawl, which completed the intended winter’s provision for six months*.—On this occasion I 
 shall lake the opportunity to observe, as intimated § 64. the wages of the light-keepers had, for 
 many years past, been established at £. 25 per annum, finding their own provisions of eating 
 and drinking.—I found it a matter of complaint through the country, on my first going down to 
 Plymouth, that the light-keepers had at various times been reduced to the necessity of eating 
 the Candles; and therefore, it seemed very much to be wished, on lighting the new house, that 
 some scheme might be hit upon, whereby the necessity of such shocking viands might be avoided; 
 and the remedy, with the greatest part of the observers, seemed mighty easy; “ Let them have 
 greater wages, whereby they may be enabled to buy a better stock of provisions or, “ Let the 
 proprietors furnish them with victuals.”—On considering this matter over and over, it did not 
 appear that either of these expedients would answer the end. £. 25 per annum seemed to many 
 
 * Account of Stores laid into the Edystone Lighthouse, in October, 1759 , by the Proprietors, as a Winter’s Stock. 
 
 Coals, in £ hogshead casks — — 64 bushels. Large candles — — — — 10 chests. 
 
 Water, in ditto — — — — No. 16 Small ditto — — — — 1 ditto. 
 
 Lamp oil, in ditto — — — — No. 2 Biscuit — — — — —- 3 cwt. 
 
 Salted beef— — — — — 2 cwt. Boiling pease — — — — 2 bushels. 
 
 -pork — — — — 1 ditto. Oatmeal — — — — — 2 ditto. 
 
 N. B. The above is according to Winchester measure; but thecustom of dry measure at Plymouth, is denominated according to 
 double Winchester; that is, the double of Winchester. 
 
SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES. 
 
 173 
 
 a very bare subsistence ; but yet, being near upon 10s. a week, it was considerably more than the 
 country price of labourer’s wages, as I found it. A labourer on shore has house rent to pay, 
 houshold goods to provide, and maintain, as also fire and candle. In this situation, he is at no 
 expence, but merely meat and drink, and a few cloaths; of which he is not in need of many 
 changes : it is plain, therefore, that it was not want of sufficient wages that caused the complaint, 
 but want of sufficient foresight. I have given many instances, in my narrative of the progress 
 of the building, that the high wages we were obliged to give, to induce stout labourers to face 
 the perils of the service, did not engage them to secure themselves with a sufficient stock of pro¬ 
 visions. Even for those short intervals they were likely occasionally to stay, their sea stock was 
 so slender that they were repeatedly obliged to come home, after sharing their last pound of 
 bread.—Nor did it appear that things would go better if the Proprietors were to provide suste¬ 
 nance for the light-keepers : for, on enquiry of the most elderly people, I understood, that 
 formerly, as seems intimated by Winstanley, the house was provided by the proprietors*. By 
 degrees the light-keepers got into the practice of embezzling the stores, and bartering them for 
 strong liquors, then alleging that they grew bad, and that they were obliged to throw them 
 into the sea; so that the eating of the candles was an early complaint; and which at that time 
 •seemed likely to be obviated by allowing them wages to victual themselves, as had ever since 
 continued.—The most likely expedient therefore that occurred to me, was, for the proprietors to 
 put into the house a slock of Sea Provisions sufficient to last three men for six months; which 
 stock of provisions being the property of the proprietors, the light-keepers were to provide for 
 themselves as they liked ; the boat being to attend them as before : this stock of provisions being 
 only lodged there, by way of securing them from starving.—Of this they might take what they 
 had occasion for, being accountable only for what was wanting, at the season when the stock 
 should be overhauled. In this way there could be no want, or foundation of complaint of bad¬ 
 ness of the provision ; nor yet any embezzlement of the store : and provided it was laid in of the 
 best kind, and the men only charged with what was consumed, at the wholesale price, it would 
 come to them so much cheaper than any victuals they could provide, that it would be greatly 
 their interest to use it; as it would enable them to live considerably cheaper in respect to suste¬ 
 nance, than they could possibly do on shore. In effect, none would remain unconsumed, or be 
 any loss to the proprietors, unless some of it should turn out really bad ; which would be a trifle 
 to them, as it would seldom happen.—This being proposed to the proprietors was readily agreed 
 to; and in this view the stock of provisions, already specified in the note to this section, was laid 
 into the house ; and was found fully to answer: and, the light-keepers being at liberty to get a 
 joint of fresh Mutton, or piece of Beef, or a cask of Ale, whenever opportunity admitted, and they 
 chose, all dissatisfaction about the provisions was totally prevented.—111 this way matters went 
 on for several years, till at length, by the assiduity of John Bowden, they found themselves so 
 frequently enabled to get fresh Provisions, and the light-keepers seldom changing, that they 
 chiefly depended thereon; laying in themselves a small sea stock of salt provisions, to be used on 
 emergencies; insomuch that the agent became no longer troubled in providing for them. 
 
 314. IN this visit of the lighthouse we began to give the outside faces of the upright pillars 
 of the lantern a coat of paint, of a lead colour, the same as the Cupola, and Balcony rails, had 
 originally been done.—These uprights being before painted white, the same as the sash frames; 
 I had observed, on first seeing them at a distance, on our passage home on the 9th instant, they 
 produced an unpleasing effect: for these pillars instead of appearing more conspicuous, by reason 
 of their white colour, in reality appeared not at all : for, being of the colour of the sky, not 
 forming a sufficient contrast with the light seen through the glass, the Cupola appeared un¬ 
 supported; like an Umbrella at a distance.—This circumstance I find particularly noted in my 
 Journal; to the intent, that any one hereafter, who should in like manner think to improve the 
 colouring of the lantern, might not fall into the same error that I had done.—We had however 
 scarcely finished one of the faces before a storm of hail came on at N. W. which prevented our 
 proceeding; and also cut off all communication with the vessels. Upon this we began to give 
 
 • “ But by good providence, then two boats came with provisions, and the family that was to take care of the light; and so ended 
 “ this year’s work.” § 20 . 
 
 Y Y 
 
BOOK IV 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 174 
 
 tlie inside of the cupola another coat of paint, as this could not well be repealed next season, on 
 account of the coat of soot, that long before that time it would acquire ; and perhaps prevent an 
 adhesion with the former coat. This evening our two hands worked therein for three hours after 
 the candles were lighted, yet so perfect was the ventilation, that though their work was prin- 
 cipally in the roof above the candles; they did not experience the least inconvenience from 
 smoke. I his afternoon the floating-light vessel sailed from her moorings, and coming near the 
 rock, gave us three Cheers, which we very heartily returned.—This evening Mr. Jessop and 
 myself exercised all the light-keepers in their turns to trim and snuff the candles, and render 
 them perfect therein ; for, however easy and trifling such a business may seem, there are circum¬ 
 stances, which neglected, the effect of the light would be greatly impaired*.—This night I took 
 up my lodging in one of the cabin beds, and found as I had done before, that when all was shut 
 in, and otherwise quiet, the noise of the sea breaking upon the rocks made it seem as if there was 
 a violent storm : and being now more still than before I had used to be, from having fewer work¬ 
 men ; I had persuaded myself before morning, that it really was so. I was therefore surprized, 
 on getting up, to find that the sea was more quiet than it had been the preceding evening 
 
 Saturday October 20th. This morning being fine and dry, we finished the outside painting; 
 and also fixed an iron hand-rail to render the passage more safe and easy from the steps cut in the 
 rock to the foot of the ladder, see Plate No. 8 : and lastly, our mason ended those rough steps.— 
 As every thing was now done, that a further time would have induced me to do ; the laying on a 
 coat of Amber Varnish over the whole painted work, excepted ; which the season would not admit 
 of, on account of the coats of paint not being sufficiently hardened ; and as the general care and 
 superin tendance of the building was to be committed to Mr. Jessop, I had no difficulty in leaving 
 this matter to him to be done the next spring. Having therefore read over and explained the 
 Instructions I had received from the proprietors, for the light-keepers, fairly ingrossed ; and hung 
 the same up in a frame for their guidance; and also given every instruction I could think of, and 
 every exhortation that I could devise, to a diligent discharge of their duty, I took my leave of the 
 building and of the light-keepers; who were Henry Edwards, Henry Carter, and John 
 H ATHERLEY. 
 
 315. AT noon we went on board the boats and sailed; but the wind being northerly, and 
 not so fresh as we could have wished it, we were full twelve hours turning to windward upon 
 our passage; so that it was Sunday morning, October 21, before we arrived at Plymouth.— 
 During this passage the air was remarkable clear: and we were about seven or eight miles 
 distant from the house at the first lighting this evening. The light at first appeared very strong 
 and bright to the naked eye, much like a star of the first magnitude. Its lustre diminished as 
 we increased our distance, till it came down to a star of about the third magnitude; after this it 
 ceased to diminish, and on the contrary seemed to increase ; this I could not but wonder at: how¬ 
 ever, at length it became a matter quite out of doubt, as to the fact, it being obvious to the whole 
 company. We saw it in this manner till we were passed the anchoring place of the men of war 
 in the Sound, that is, near the island of St. Nicholas, where having ceased looking at it for a 
 small space of time, on renewing our look out, it had now totally disappeared.—Though this was 
 a Phenomenon I did not expect, yet I had casually made an observation, some time before this 
 was apparent, that led me to a ready explication of it. I observed, that while the light was 
 diminishing with the distance, and yet had a sensible elevation above the horizon, a kind of 
 luminous appearance was seen upon the surface of the sea, directly under the star-like appear¬ 
 ance of the light; and though the surface of the water was very far from that of a plain Mirror, 
 yet, as the top of every wave would appear to be tipped with light, in that very oblique direction] 
 they would all become nearly united in the observers eye. Now when the elevation of the 
 object becomes too small to be discerned, as separated from the luminous reflection, this will 
 become united with the direct light, so that they will appear as one ; and in consequence increase, 
 till their union becomes perfect; but in going a little further on, till the main light is intercepted 
 by the sea; that is, till it is in reality sunk below the apparent horizon, then both the direct and 
 reflected light will be intercepted, and vanish together. 
 
 • This would be the case, if they should neglect to put the Chandeliers to their due height; by the interposition of the hori- 
 
SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES. 175 
 
 316. DURING my stay at Plymouth, which was not above a fortnight longer, (that is, till 
 the accounts of different tradesmen were settled) I generally visited the Hoa every clear evening, 
 being curious to observe what appearance the light made from thence. It was a fact universally 
 agreed in, that the light in the old Lighthouse had never been discerned from thence : whatever 
 appearance therefore it now made, was at least so much gained by the different fabric of the lan¬ 
 tern ; the candles themselves, their disposition, and number being the same as before* * * § . I found 
 it required the air to be clear to see it at all, and then it appeared like a star of the fourth ma g- 
 nitude ; but when the air was very clear, it appeared as a star of the third magnitude, and 
 doubtless could have been seen several miles further: and, as it has been shewn, that under 
 favourable circumstances of the Luminous reflection, the light may be seen at sea much stronger, 
 it is probable also at a greater distance, than it can from a great elevation at land. 
 
 317. IN the times of stormy weather, that happened during this interval at Plymouth, I 
 took several opportunities of viewing the Lighthouse with my telescopef from the Hoa, and also 
 from the Garrison, both of which places are sufficiently elevated to see the base of the’ building 
 and the whole of the rock at low water in clear weather: and though I had had many occasions 
 of viewing the unfinished building, when buried in the waves, in a storm at S. VV. ; yet never 
 having before had a view of it under this circumstance, in its finished state, I was astonished to 
 find that the account given by Mr. W IK stanley did not appear to be at all exaggerated. (See 
 §17 and 21.)—At intervals of a minute, and sometimes two or three; I suppose when a com¬ 
 bination happens to produce one overgrown wave:}:, it would strike the rock and tile buildiiw 
 conjointly, and fly up in a white column, enwrapping it like a sheet, rising at least to double the 
 height of the house, and totally intercepting it from the sight; and this appearance being mo¬ 
 mentary, both as to its rising and falling, one was enabled to judge of the comparative height 
 very nearly, by the comparative spaces alternately occupied by the house, and by the column of 
 water, in the field of the telescope.—Of this column, I made an eye-sketch at the time : and must 
 further observe, that while I was in the Lighthouse, during the last interval of finishing, in which 
 time we had more than one hard gale that obliged us to shut the windward ports of the upper¬ 
 most rooms ; I particularly noticed the manner in which the waves begun to gather, as soon as 
 they came so near tile house as to be sensible of the sloping rocks underneath them, (see § 6.) 
 Those waves by degrees towering higher as they came nearer, formed a deep hollow’sea at the 
 foot of the building; and then falling into it, struck it with all imaginable fury. Combining 
 this appearance with what I saw 011 shore, I have endeavoured to give the reader some sort of 
 idea thereof by the figure in the Frontispiece.—All representative drawings, however, though 
 from an accomplished pencil, must be inadequate to this subject. The exhibition being mo¬ 
 mentary, and the building for that moment entirely hid ; the relation betwixt the column and 
 the building, the principal thing desired, could not have been expressed if so represented ; and 
 thinning away the column on one side, as here done, so as to let the building appear takes off 
 from the magnitude of the column; and in a drawing, its appearance being permanent it so 
 nearly coincides with that of a Jet deem, that it will necessarily suggest this idea, better than 
 what it is intended to represent : I must therefore refer such of my readers, as may happen to 
 have the opportunity, to satisfy themselves, by taking a view of it from the Garrison or Hoa with 
 a good lelescope, as soon after a storm at S. W. as the air comes tolerably clear, but not later 
 than the clay foIlowing§. 
 
 * “ c “ Jles ** «*«<** 2lb. i and they were snuffed every half hour. See Note to I 66.-I take this onno, 
 
 tunity of mentioning, that the Lamp Oil specified in note * to § 313, was an article never provided before. As it will keen good much 
 longer than candles it was intended to remedy the possibility of the want thereof. There were therefore twenty-four Lamps made to 
 go into the Chandeliers, in place of the Candle-sookel,: but a, the burning of the lamp, was found to prodlie a greater Soil „p„„ 
 the inside of the glasses, than candles, though no apparent smoke attended either, the lamps were never used but in cases of a necessity 
 
 t This glass was originally fitted up for me in 1756, by Mr. John Dollond, in his best manner at that time, with a common 
 double convex object glass; but when I came to town the latter end of the year 1757, he fitted it with an Acromatic object glass 
 t This is what I suppose the vulgar attribute to the Tenth Wave. ° 
 
 § 1 his momentary Spout of the Edystone may perhaps be best compared with the momentary jet of boiling water said to be IQ 
 
 feet diameter in the orifice, and at times to rise 92 feet high, thrown from the Fountain Geisser in Iceland! described in Von Troil’s 
 Letters, English Edition, page 259— 261 . To this account, however, I own I could have given but little credit, had it not been con 
 firmed to me by my honoured friends Sir Joseph Banks, the late Dr. Solander, and Dr. Lind, who were eye-witnesses of it. 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 OCCURRENCES AFTER LEAVING PLYMOUTH. 
 
 318. THE year 1759 concluded with a series of very stormy weather; and it was not till the 
 month of January succeeding, that there was any prospect of the boat’s going ofl. I have a letter 
 from Mr. Jessop, dated Plymouth 13th January, 1760 ; in which he mentions, that upon the 8th 
 instant the Edystone boat went off, wind at E. and moderate, but a great swell. They got 
 thither at four o’clock in the afternoon, but could not land. However, going to the west side of 
 the house, they conveyed some small stores into it by means ot the keg (see § 307); and by it 
 received a letter from Henry Edwards, directed to Mr. Jessop. The purport of it was to 
 acquaint him, that they had had such very bad weather, that the sea frequently ran over the 
 house, so that for twelve days together they could not open the door of the lantern, or any other. 
 —He says “ the house did shake as if a man had been up in a great tree. The old men were 
 “ almost frighted out of their lives, wishing they had never seen the place, and cursing those 
 “ that first persuaded them to go there. The fear seized them in the back, but rubbing them 
 “ with oil of turpentine gave them relief.” He further mentioned, that upon the 5th De¬ 
 cember at night they had a very great storm ; the wind being at E. so that the ladder which was 
 lashed below the entry-door broke loose, and was washed away. Also upon the 13th there was 
 so violent a storm of wind, that he thought the house would overset: and at midnight the sea 
 broke one pane of glass on the S. E. side of the lantern*. That they had had a very melan¬ 
 choly time of it; having had besides, a great deal of thunder and lightning. 
 
 Mr. Jessop further informed me, that upon the 10th the boat went out again ; but the wind 
 at. east blowed too fresh for her to be gotten into the Gut; that with some difficulty they landed 
 some fresh provisions by means of the small boat; the candles, water, and beer, they could not 
 land ; but as there were several chests of candles of the original store, remaining, and a sufficient 
 quantity of water, there could be no real want for some time.—Mr. Jessop, however, did not 
 give entire credit to what Edw vrds had related in regard to the house having so great a motion; 
 as Smart and Bowden told him, that they could not see that the mortar in the joints had 
 started. 
 
 319. A LETTER from Mr. Jessop of the 13th February following, relates that upon the 
 8th the Edystone boat went ofl to the house, and landed four chests of candles, and an half hogs¬ 
 head of beer. That J. Bowden told him he went all over the house, to see if it had received 
 any damage by the storms, but found nothing amiss; the pane of glass mentioned by Edwards 
 excepted. In short, he found all in order, the house clean, and the people well. The south pile 
 was gone, but the north one remained fimi. (See Plate No. 14.) 
 
 320. SOON after this a violent storm happened at S. W. I was informed that Admiral Bos- 
 cawen had mentioned to the Admiralty, that it was the greatest storm that had been known, by 
 the oldest person on board his ship. I therefore expected a still more formidable account from Mr. 
 Jessop of its effects upon the Lighthouse. But no account being received in course of the post, I 
 wrote to him the 21st of that month, desiring that, as soon as possible, enquiry might be made into 
 the state of the house; as likewise whether it has more motion, with the wind at E. or at S. W.; 
 and whether they were sensible of the sea’s striking the cornice.— Io this I received an answer, 
 March 2d, that Smart and Bowden had been off the 29th of February, to land stores ; that they 
 stayed at. the house two hours, and viewed it all over carefully, inside and out; but could not 
 discover any of the mortar started, nor the joints anyways cracked : and that all the damage 
 sustained by the last storm was, that the electrical strap, which went from the sink-pipe 
 down to the rock, was washed away (see § 308.). The glass of the lantern was all sound ; 
 the pane excepted that was before mentioned. Henry Edwards said the sea went all over the 
 house, which caused a motion much the same as when the wind was at E. and he could perceive no 
 
 * A number of boards cut to the size, had been provided ; which might be put in from the inside in case of such accident, till a 
 proper repair with glass could be made: as had been usual in former times. 
 
SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES. 
 
 177 
 
 difference when it struck the cornice, or otherwise. The light-keepers, it seems, had now 
 pretty well got rid of their fears; as they were all well, and made no complaint. 
 
 321. EVERY thing now appearing to go on successfully and in course, I heard nothing 
 more concerning the Lighthouse till the 8th June, 1761, of which date I received a letter in 
 Yorkshire from Mr. Weston. In this interval my faithful assistant Mr. Jessop had departed 
 this life, leaving an unblemished character behind him; and Mr. Richardson had been ap¬ 
 pointed Surveyor of the Lighthouse in his stead. Mr. Weston desired to he advised, concern¬ 
 ing the renewal of the painting, and also respecting the restoration of the Electrical strap; both 
 of which remained undone.—In answer, I recommended that the painting should be done by a 
 proper painter; and not by the light-keepers, as he had suggested: and that the original colours 
 should be preserved.—-That with regard to the Conductor for the Lightning; as in our hurry in 
 finishing, we had not had time to form a groove in the wall, whereir^ to bury the leaden strap, 
 as originally intended; we contented ourselves with two fastenings at every course, as men¬ 
 tioned § 308; the want of which groove, had doubtless been the occasion of its being washed 
 away from the wall. However, to render it now still more effectual, I recommended a small 
 round bar of copper, or brass, of about half an inch diameter, to be formed; and to bury it. in a 
 groove made by the poiut of a pick, fixing it with small copper staples at every course, to the 
 plugs that had been used for fixing the lead. This bar to be bedded in putty, and covered with 
 the same, so as to make all fair and flush. 
 
 322. THE storms which the building had now sustained, without material damage, con¬ 
 vinced us, and every one, of the stability of the Stone-Lighthouse; except those (who were not 
 a few) that had taken the notion, that nothing but WOOD could resist the sea upon the Edy- 
 stone Rocks \ who said, that though they allowed it was built very strong, yet if such a storm 
 as had destroyed Winstanley’s Lighthouse, was again to happen, they doubted not but it 
 must share the same fate. 
 
 The year 1762 was ushered in with stormy weather, and indeed produced a TEMPEST of 
 the first magnitude, the rage of which was so great, that one of those who had been used to pre¬ 
 dict its downfall, was heard to say; if the Edystoiie Lighthouse is now standing, it will stand till 
 the day or judgment: and in reality, from this time, its existence has been so entirely laid out 
 of men’s minds; that, whatever storms have happened since, no enquiry has ever been made 
 concerning it *. 
 
 Mr. Richardson, though a very sound hardy mason, was not a man conversant in literary 
 descriptions. The pen was therefore, on this occasion, taken up by my very valuable and in¬ 
 genious friend Dr. John Miidge; who gave me two letters upon the subject of this storm; and 
 which, coming warm from the heart, so much exceed any thing I can compose, that. I cannot do 
 so well as to insert them. 
 
 “ Dear Sir, Plymouth, Friday 15th January, 1762. 
 
 “ Accept my most sincere congratulations on the safety of the Edystone; as well from the 
 danger that has threatened it, as that I think the dreadful storm it has withstood, will for ever 
 remove any anxiety about its being injured in future, by the united force of the wind and sea. 
 _It blew very hard the beginning of last Monday night, but increased with incredible fury to¬ 
 wards Tuesday morning; when about six, partly from the long southerly winds, but principally 
 by its concurring with the spring-tides, it afforded the most horrible scene of devastation. This 
 tide rose full two feet higher, than when the Victory was lost, and when the Fish-house f was 
 carried away; or than was ever known in the memory of the oldest man living. The seas came 
 in bodily over the Barbican wall, but one wave with such irresistible violence, that it swept away 
 
 # Witness the storm in which the Halsewell Indiaman was lost!—And though the public papers were full of the immense damages 
 done by it at Plymouth, and in the Sound; (in particular - a ship in the harbour that broke loose, and beat down a house, will be very- 
 well remembered) yet not a single word was said about the Edystone Lighthouse. 
 
 .t The fish-house was a building ranging across the mouth of Sutton Pool, which may be called the interior harbour of Plymouth. 
 Betwixt the west end of the fish-house, and the most projecting eastern end of the Jetty, or short pier, called the Barbican, an open¬ 
 ing was left of about 65 feet wide; by which the ships entered. 
 
1-8 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. IV. 
 
 the parapet, below its foundation ; and in its return carried off five people then upon it, all of 
 whom were drowned. The new Lam my Pier was swept clean away*. Prodigious losses have 
 been sustained by the shopkeepers on the quays; as in some of their shops near the Barbican, the 
 water was as high as their counters; and the quays themselves are in so ruinous a condition, and 
 so much of them carried away, that had the gale continued till the next tide, it is highly probable 
 some of them would have been wholly swept away, and the houses with them. 
 
 “ I n the midst of this confusion there were no less than six large merchant ships wrecked in 
 the very harbour, some of which were beat to pieces, but all lost; and this in the short space of 
 300 yards, betwixt Teatshill and Bearhead.—There were nine men of war in the Sound; several 
 of which were constantly firing signals of distress. Some cut away one, others two, another 
 three; and one lost all her masts and her bowsprit. Three of them only escaped with all their 
 masts standing; one of which, to avoid immediate destruction on the south side of Mount Batton, 
 was by the great dexterity of the pilot brought in within the Fisher’s Nose, and run ashore under 
 the Lammy : but this was when the ebb had made considerably; so that she w'as safely got off 
 the next tide. But it exhibited a very uncommon appearance ; as I believe it was the first time 
 that ever a man of war was seen in that place.—In the Hamoaze the men of war were all this 
 while firing signals of distress; and some of them ran foul of each other. The sea came over the 
 dock gates, into the dock where the Magnanime was; but as there did not come in enough to 
 float her, it did no considerable damage. The new dock was likewise filled.—I will only mention 
 one circumstance more, to give you some idea of the extreme agitation of the sea: the Froth of 
 it flew clean over the walls of the Garrison ; and in such quantities, that in one situation a cen- 
 tinel was obliged to quit his post. 
 
 “ In the midst of all this horror and confusion, my friend may be assured, that I was not 
 insensible to his honour and credit; yet, in spite of the high opinion and confidence I had of his 
 judgment and abilities, I could not. but feel the utmost anxiety for the fate of the Edystone : and 
 I believe poor Richardson was not a little uneasy.—Several times in the day, I swept with my 
 telescope from the Garrison, as near as I could imagine the line of the hor izon ; but it was so 
 extremely black, fretful, and hazy, that nothing could be seen ; and I was obliged to go to bed 
 that night, with a mortifying uncertainty. But the next morning early I had great joy to see, 
 that the Gilded Ball had triumphed over the fury of the storm; and such a one as before I had 
 not a conception of.—I saw the whole so distinctly from the bottom to the top, that I could be 
 very sure the lantern has suffered nothing.—It is now my most steady belief, as well as every 
 body’s here, that its inhabitants are rather more secure in a storm, under the united force of 
 wind and water, than we are in our houses from the former only.” 
 
 323. I RECEIVED the above letter in Yorkshire, where we had had very stormy weather; 
 the account of my friend was therefore equally agreeable and astonishing: yet, notwithstanding 
 his letter announced the general safety of the building; and that nothing very bad could have 
 happened, even to the lantern, I could not conceive, that his expression the lantern had suffered 
 nothing, could be strictly and literally true ; I therefore wrote in return, desiring he would send 
 me a circumstantial account of the damages, after the house had been visited. The following is 
 an extract of his second letter, dated Plymouth the 24th January, 17fi2. 
 
 “ The boat went off, with an intention to land, on Friday se’nnight; but there was so great 
 a sea, and the wind being too much to the south, they desisted till the next day; when the wind 
 being a point to north of the west, and better weather, they got near the house, landed their 
 things, and had a long conversation with the people. 
 
 “ Smart tells me, that the ladder was carried awayf; and some small matter of putty, which 
 was cracked by the last summer’s heat, was washed off' from the lantern. This was all that the 
 
 * An erection by Government tor the protection of small vessels laying against the Victualling Office, which is built upon the 
 ground called the Lammy, extending from the Barbican southwards to Fisher’s Nose; a prominent point of rock so named. 
 
 f This ladder, by which the house is ascended, from the top of the rock to the entry-door, was at first a common ladder, like 
 that of a Lamplighter. It was so made that the sea might not have much hold of it; at the same time it was firmly lashed to Iron 
 Eye-bolts, drove into the solid courses; yet this, by the before-mentioned instances, appearing not sufficient to resist the storms; I 
 have since ordered it to be made, with a joint in the middle; so that when it is not in use, it may be drawn into the entry, and laid 
 in the passage. 
 
SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES 
 
 violence of the sea had effected; that there was not so tnueh as a single pane of glass broke 
 That the lantern was secured by (that perfection of ornament) the Cornice - which Jh tl ' 
 rose to the top of the house, blanched it offlike a sheet. They insisted on it that the sea went 
 buddy over the top for, that it came in through the vents of the ball, and filled the sockets of 
 candlesticks . They were asked whether they had been under any uneasiness - .he ■ i 
 110t m t,le least ’ as the house hacl not beeu affected by it in any other wav than thev lv H ^ ’ 
 ^penenced.-The storm in the evening of Monday begun at the south-east, and then they ft” 
 veiy sensibly a tremor from every stroke of the sea • so that whiU It ^ 
 
 the natural cavern in the rockf, it gave them some’ uneasiness ; whichZgh theynowbebev^d 
 unnecessary, yet they could not help wishing it was filled up.-Now though I look no t, 
 as a proo that no storm wil, ever affect the house, as it is a^lain 
 
 a less sea has a greater influence on the rock at low water than a mip-htv one In ° 
 
 itself ; yet I must say that 1 concur with them in wishing it was done; and that ft,‘Two ZZs- 
 One is should be glad to see every, the least appearance, of defect, removed ; and the other' 
 
 I should hope ,t would give me a chance of seeing my dear friend once more here ij 
 
 rrzrzzz complete the - - — 11 - - 
 
 “ You seem to have been greatly affected by the little I have said of the horror of this Storm ■ 
 
 but believe me, ,t cannot give you even a tolerable idea of it It has unon I 
 
 putation, done above ^.80,000 worth of damage in the Harbour and So^nd and l eanutt help 
 repeating again that I am very sure you may for ever rid yourself of an uneasy thought of tt 
 house, as to its danger from wind and sea.” ^ o °* the 
 
 One" Of 'th' 1 Tf 6 ° Pen T hiS leUer t0mention a wIlimsical oircumstauee, that comes in my head ■ 
 One of the art.cles (besides sugar, some flour, &c. which they landed at the house) was a Galfi 
 pot of putty, to repair, as I said, the oniy derangement the house had suffered ' 
 
 
 Extract of the REPORT of JOHN SMFATnw n - 
 
 of the r , , f ION - En g lneer ; concerning the State and Condition 
 
 J } ne Lighthouse./rem a View thereof taken the 10 th August, 1766. 
 
 HAVING carefully inspected this Edifice, I had the satisfaction to find, that no one part had 
 “ f g,ve " T* tlle “d violence of the sea; but that the mass of build .Z 
 
 there d - —■ *- 1 —-z 
 
 The cement everywhere below hio-h-water „ i c ^ 
 
 ZeoTZZ:. JWnt5 ’ t ‘ U “ e ‘° th<! t0P ’ “ ‘ eft ^ no ways altereTiu eoC 
 
 From the above appearances it seems to me, that those parts of the building that are gene 
 rally we ted every tide, are in the highest degree of preservation ; those that are wettedTeldo " 
 aie nearly the same; but those that are frequently wetted, lint not always, have suffer d ,n ' t 
 the alternate action of the sun, wind, and of tile sea salts • was this in i s ^ 
 
 nothing is likely to happen that would materially affect 'the stre^T^C^ 
 
 structure of so much consequence and wfiipl. „ i i , Ulll g>yetma 
 
 would seem negligence to Z it re’ml Impaired. “ 7 ^ reSt ° reC ' *° * * 
 
 The eleCtr,Ca ‘ C ° ndUCt0r " C ° mplete d °™ 10 ■■net. ^ to use; but of the chain that hangs 
 
 ; »r». by ,be fal - ling of * de,achei - ^ *•«- , he cl _ nce of lhe smote . 
 
180 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. IV. 
 
 from the top of the rock into the water, about half of the lower part is gone ; by its wearing 
 away with rust, and beating against the rocks. I have ordered a new one to be made of stronger 
 iron. From the rock, for about twelve or fourteen feet upwards, the communication is by Brass 
 bars let into tile house side, in a little groove or gutter, in which they lie buried in putty* ; and 
 which seem to stand very well; the rest of the outside communication is by the original strap of 
 lead, that I lived theref; but as about half a yard of the lower part of the lead is getting loose, 
 I ordered Mr. Richardson to let in another length of brass bar, like llie former; and so on, as 
 
 the lead fails. „ 
 
 The balcony rails have as yet suffered very little, considering their exposure : but as flakes ot 
 rust seem gathering under the paint, I ordered it to be knocked off with proper tools before a 
 fresh coat of paint is laid on. 
 
 The whole of the lantern is in remarkable preservation, scarcely a speck of rust appearing on 
 the outside, and only a few specks within j which are chiefly upon the ribs, and knee pieces 
 under the cupola; those specks I ordered to be first scraped off, and then fresh paint laid on. 
 
 1 was much surprised to see the gilding of the ball, which, notwithstanding its exposure, and 
 
 the smoke of the whole house going through il, appe 
 
 ars as bright as it did the first day it was 
 screwed on. The lantern has always continued remarkably water-tight, not the least wet ever 
 beating through any part of it, except in high storms; and what gets m between the glass ant 
 the copper frames, by the drying and cracking of the putty; but this so seldom and so little, as 
 seems not worth regard. 
 
 The loops and crooks of the doors and window ports have suffered most of all by the rust; 
 and particularly those parts of the iron that are on the inside; but as all these things are renew¬ 
 able at pleasure, they arc not to be esteemed of any consequence; especially as they seem like y 
 
 to last many years. . . , , 
 
 The Cavern in the rock on the east side, seems exactly in the same state I left it. In hard 
 gales of w ind at east, il is said to cause a wonderful noise ; and a sensible tremor in the budding: 
 but though it makes more noise, the light-keepers say it does not affect the building, with so sell¬ 
 able a vibration, as the heavy seas from the S. W. ; and yet even those are not much more than 
 to be readily perceivable in the greatest storms $. Whether this cavity m the rock may ever 
 prove of any detriment to the building is not to be determined with certainty: all that can be 
 said is that hitherto it does not seem to have been of any hurt thereto. con ( urn eita e to 
 fill it up and make it solid, at the expence of about £.%50, besides my own attendance, il it was 
 
 thought worth the charge. , . - , 
 
 Besides the pleasure of finding all the main Stamina perfectly sound and firm, and evc.y 
 t l,i„„ else likely to endure for many years to come ; I had the satisfaction of find,ng every thing 
 in the inside so perfectly neat and clean, that it seemed as if it had not been a twelvemonth 
 
 Austhorpc, 30th August, 
 1766. 
 
 J. SMEATON. 
 
 325 FROM this time nothing further occurred till the year 1777, when having a second 
 call info Cornwall, I again took the opportunity of visiting Plymouth .and though I had no com¬ 
 mission to inspect, See. yet my own curiosity prompted me to vis,t the Lighthouse : and 1 had the 
 great satisfaction to find that Mr. Richardson had so well attended to my last instructions ; and 
 fts condition was so nearly the same as in the year 1766, that very nearly the same report would 
 have served ; every thing was neat and clean, and in good condition ; no other change or repair 
 having happened, except that of repeated paintings of the metalline parts, winch appeared still 
 in high preservation. This visit to the Lighthouse was in the month of September. 
 
 
 * See § 308. 
 
 t Pro. the report of and Bowden- I conceded .Whole 
 
 very liable men are to be mistaken in matters to which they are not perfectly compete , 
 deceiving or being deceived. 
 
 t Hence we may see deroons.rahty, how much the seme things are 
 
 the service; hut the effects of the sea upon the house 
 
 must be presumed to continue the same. 
 
181 
 
 SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES. 
 
 326. IN the year 178/, having a call to Plymouth Dock, I again took this opportunity of 
 gratifying my curiosity by inspecting the Lighthouse; and also spent some days in getting the 
 necessary Trigonometrical operations for determining the real distance of the Edystone from the 
 Ram head, from Plymouth Sound, and from Plymouth Harbour: and though I did not find them 
 materially different from what I had put them down in the former part of this work, § 4. (which 
 was then printed) as deduced from bearings, compared with the maps of the adjacent coasts, 
 from whence Plate No. 2 was compiled : yet, observing some contrariety in the results, I was 
 desirous of settling this matter from more authentic materials, than my opportunities would give 
 me leave to collect while the Lighthouse was building and finishing. The particular result of 
 these operations I shall give with the technical description of Plate No. 18. 
 
 327. MY visit to the house was the 3d August, 1787; and I then had the satisfaction to find 
 both stone and iron so very nearly in the same state, as I had found and reported it twenty-one 
 years ago, in the year 1766, that I was agreeably surprized: the only thing in which I could 
 perceive a change, was, that the cement in the upper works was in most places sensibly corroded. 
 
 I could not, however, estimate the quantity in general, at more than one-sixth of an inch, that 
 the present mortar surface wanted of flush with the face of the Granite. Had the whole build¬ 
 ing been of Portland stone, and supposed, in such a situation, to have lost of its whole substance 
 
 an equal quantity: had the mortar wasted equally, the whole would have been a fair surface._ 
 
 Of all the lower parts, including the whole work of the year 1757, being the first year’s build¬ 
 ing, and which is generally wet every tide, there did not appear on this last visit to Jie the dimi¬ 
 nution of a grain of sand, but they appeared exactly as the same parts are reported to be in 1/66: 
 that is, the mortar having the appearance of Iron Stone ; the Limpet shells, and sea weeds, fixing 
 indiscriminately upon the mortar and the stone. But above that, as the eastward joints are more 
 sensibly affected, and somewhat irregularly; to about the height of the entry-door, and after that 
 are pretty uniformly in the degree I have already related; I am much inclined to suppose, that 
 in raging storms the sand is raised from the bottom, and mixed with the water, and being driven 
 violently against the building, may be capable of grinding, and making an impression upon what 
 is compounded with calcareous matter, (however hard it may be, and in reality is) that it cannot 
 
 make upon the Moorstone : which nothing seems to affect but a considerable degree of fire._ 
 
 This is, however, not the case on the S. YV. side; though that sustains the first stroke of the sea : 
 for the sea-weed fixing itself the highest on that side, becomes a defence to the joints in this 
 part. 
 
 Since my visit in 1777, the very careful and diligent Mr. Richardson departed this life._ 
 
 Mr. Richardson, during life, remained sensible what patience and assiduity were necessary, 
 during the course of the work of the first and second year, not only to repair the pointing when 
 injured by a rough tide; but to look to it again and again till it had stood a rough tide : On the 
 present visit I was disgusted with seeing the joints, in several places of the second year’s work, 
 made up with glazier’s putty, which was an expedient of the light-keepers, when the masons 
 mortar did not happen to stay on, after their departure. This, though it would often stay in the 
 joint when the mortar would not; yet, being of unctuous matter, it hinders the union of the pro¬ 
 per cement with the stone, and becomes a means of preventing those joints from being made 
 complete and flush in the way they were at first. It also disgraces the work with party-coloured 
 mortar. 
 
 328. AS the Iron Work still endures with very little apparent injury, having had a coat of 
 paint every two years; and this standing remarkably well, in spite of its exposure to the sea-salts, 
 many persons have been curious to know the manner in which this part of the work was ori¬ 
 ginally performed.—I then conceived the exposure of the rails in particular to be such, as to re¬ 
 quire every advantage that could be put in practice: and after considering the matter, I de¬ 
 termined upon the following method ; which, as it appears to have succeeded, I dare say my 
 reader will like to know.—I had observed, that when iron once gets rust, so far as to form a 
 Scale, whatever coat of paint or varnish is put over this, the rust will go on progressively 
 under the paint, unless it is eradicated by being knocked oft', and scraped.—The most effectual 
 way therefore seemed, to endeavour to apply the protective coat, before any rust could be formed. 
 
 3 A 
 
182 
 
 BOOK IV. CHAP. IV 
 
 After the rails were made in eight compartments, and screwed together, I ordered that they 
 should not come out of the smith’s shop, till they were to undergo the following operation.—A 
 fire was made, though not very strong, yet extensive enough to heat the whole of a compartment 
 together, tolerably equal, till the iron came to about, or rather above, a blue heat; this part was 
 then removed and another applied; and while it was heating, a couple of men with brushes, 
 struck over the surface of the former with raw Linseed oil. This at first would smoke, and 
 nimbly run into every joint, crevice, and flaw in the iron ; and the operation was continued, till 
 every part had at least been gone twice over; and the oil would begin to lie fluid on its surface. 
 It was then set by to dry; and the rest followed in the same manner. The next day, if pro¬ 
 perly done, the surface of the whole would appear to be covered with a thin coat of varnish. 
 The doing this to purpose is what the main matter consists in*. As soon as it was well dried a 
 couple of coats of common white lead and oil paint were given : after these were dry, the Rails 
 came down by sea to Plymouth, and from thence were carried out, and set up upon the Light¬ 
 house ; and there, as I have related, they were finished with a couple of coats more, in place.— 
 Doubtless by these carriages, the coats laid on at London, were a good deal scratched, and in 
 point of appearance spoilt, but in point of utility were little the worse: because, it was only the 
 prominent parts that could be scratched and rubbed ; and therefore the brush could not fail to 
 make these good, in preference; and, as they would get two coats in place, they must be con¬ 
 sidered as sufficiently covered ; whereas, all the intricate, retreating parts, would have the whole 
 five coats remaining entire upon them. 
 
 329. ON this visit I found the lustre of the ball was considerably diminished. But as the 
 Gilding was perhaps the only part of the whole work that was merely Ornamental; and as much 
 cost did not attend it, in its first application; as it has lasted thirty years in good splendor, and 
 is not yet wholly effaced ; it may be alledged, that it has sufficiently answered every purpose 
 there was in view at the time : and whenever it shall appear to be necessary to renew it, I doubt 
 not but ways aud means will be found. 
 
 In examining the skirt of the leaden cap, turned under the drip of the Corona, that I had 
 carefully batted to the stone (see § 302) : on the south-west side I found it to hang down more 
 than an inch. On enquiring whether the great storms had any sensible effect upon it, I was 
 told by the light-keepers, that in the storm of January 1786, (remarkable for the loss of the 
 Halsewell Indiaman) the lead was considerably raised up, by the action of the sea, on the south 
 and S.W. sides; but that they had beat it down again, as well as they could.—Of this I apprized 
 my respected friend Henry Tolcher, Esq. the Agent; and that it would be necessary to send 
 off an intelligent workman, to bat the lead carefully to the stone under the drip, as at first; and 
 that where it was become too broad, it might be cut narrower.—I conceived that the feet, and 
 other bodies that are continually making impressions, and striking small blows upon the balcony 
 floor, had in time stretched out the lead : and its own weight would also contribute to increase 
 the effect. 
 
 330. BEFORE I conclude this narrative I wish to meet an enquiry, that has very often 
 been made with a degree of surprize : How is it possible to find men that will seclude themselves 
 from the world, and the comforts of life, for so small a consideration, as a salary of £. 25 a-year; 
 when I found myself under the necessity of giving such high wages to the workmen employed 
 in erecting it? intimating, that it might rather be considered as the alternative for condemned 
 Felons, thau an appointment for which people would make interest.—The case is, the Lighthouse 
 is supplied with light-keepers from a different sort of men to those, the question supposes"!'. ^ 
 man while he is in his youth and strength generally enters into the engagements of a family, 
 
 * A person repeating this process, if he finds the oil not to he dry like varnish the next day, may conclude; either, that he has 
 continued the striking with oil too long, till the iron was too cold; or, that he had not heated it sufficiently. 
 
 t I was applied to in the course of the last season, by a philosopher kind of man, to be one of the light-keepers; observing, that 
 being a man of study and retirement he could very well bear the confinement, that must attend it: I asked him if he knew the salary: 
 he replied, not; but doubted not it must be something very handsome. When I told him it was £.15 a year, he replied, he had 
 quite mistaken the business; he did not mean to sell his liberty for so low a price; he could not have supposed it less than three 
 times as much. 
 

 SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS AND OCCURRENCES. 183 
 
 anti an industrious man so situated, no consideration would hire to part with his liberty. But 
 when lie comes to be above the age of Sixty, and has still his bread to earn by his own labour; 
 an easy birth, in which he can get as much as he could do formerly, becomes a very eligible 
 thing; especially to those who are not otherwise encumbered. To elderly Seamen, it maybe 
 considered as an Asylum something like equivalent to Greenwich Hospital.—Formerly there 
 were seldom less than half a dozen applicants upon the agent's list, ready to supply a vacancy; 
 and as no one was under the necessity of staying longer, than till, after giving notice of his in¬ 
 tention to quit the service, a fresh man was sent out to fill his place, those vacancies happened 
 frequently. At present they happen so rarely, that very few think it worth while to apply. 
 John Irbland, who is the senior of the present set, entered with me in the year 1756 as a sea¬ 
 man. When the building was finished, John, being stout, hearty, and willing to work, shipped 
 himself on board a trading vessel, and continued for some time to use the sea. However, a few 
 years more of hardship, and advance in life, occasioned him to change his mind; and, I believe, 
 on Edwards quitting, he entered. 1 found him there in the year 1766 ; in the year 1777; and 
 on my last visit in 1787 —The second man I also found there in my visit of 1777; and the pre¬ 
 sent third man, who was at this time taking his month on shore, (see § 63) I was told had been 
 a light-keeper four years; and had succeeded one who had been there fourteen years; and who 
 neither being very old nor very infirm, probably would have been in the Lighthouse at this time, 
 had his death not been premature, which occasioned the vacancy*.—These facts, more strongly 
 than any arguments, prove that this Lighthouse as an Habitation (singularly situated, exposed, 
 and circumstanced as it is; and where water was never known to freeze) is not only remarkably 
 healthy; but really comfortable to a degree, that renders it eligible to a certain class of men; 
 who do not consider their abode there as any infringement upon their liberty, because they well 
 know it is in iheir.own power to put a period to it, whenever they cliuse. 
 
 As the death of this man exhibits a remarkable trait of human nature, on this account I insert it. In the fourteen years that 
 he had been here, he was grown so attached to the place, that for the two summers preceding he had given up Jiis turn on shore to 
 his companions, and declared his intentions of doing the same the third; but was over persuaded to go on shore, and take his month’s 
 turn. He had always in this service proved himself a decent, sober, well-behaved man : but he had no sooner got on shore, than he 
 went to an Alehouse, and got intoxicated. This he continued the whole of his stay; which being noticed, he was carried in this in¬ 
 toxicated state, on board the Edystone boat, and delivered in the Lighthouse, where he was expected to grow sober; but after lin¬ 
 gering two or three days, he could by no means be recovered. The reflections arising, I leave to my reader. 
 
 331. THE following words, letters, and figures, were 
 point of a pick. 
 
 sunk into the Moorstone with the 
 
 Upon the first stone of the foundation 1757 
 
 Over the Entry-door . 1758 
 
 Round the upper Store-room, upon the course under the ceilino-, 
 
 EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE H OU S E 
 
 they labour in vain that build it. 
 
 Psalm CXXVIL 
 
 Over the south window, on the outside of the dwelling room, or kitchen 1759 
 Upon the outward faces of the octagon basement of the lantern, 
 
 ♦ ♦ N E ♦ door ♦ S E ♦ S ♦ SW ♦ W ♦ N W. 
 
 Upon the last stone set, being that over the door of the lantern on the east side, 
 24 th Aug t 1759. 
 
 Laus Deo. 
 
[ 184 ] 
 
 GENERAL ABSTRACT 
 
 OF THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK OF THE EDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 
 T' me 
 
 poo the R 
 
 * 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 Hours. 
 
 Davso 
 
 Hours. 
 
 Sloue. 
 
 ^ /56. August 5. 
 
 Began to cut the Rock for receiving the foundation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 November 22. 
 
 The principal parts thereof being completed; the Neptune Buss quitted 
 the moorings; after which she was driven out to sea by a storm, to the 
 westward of the Land’s End. Returned to Plymouth the 26th. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In this year the time out upon the work was 110 days — 15 weeks 5 davs: 
 
 
 
 
 
 1757 . June 12. 
 
 and upon the Rock — — — — — 
 
 348^- 
 
 14 
 
 i'4 
 
 
 Landed the first stone. 
 
 
 
 
 
 August 11. 
 
 Completed the first six foundation courses — — — 
 
 S42£ 
 
 14 
 
 s* 
 
 123 
 
 October 1. 
 
 Finished three courses of the solid shaft, consisting of 53 principal pieces 
 each ; and one stone let into the Rock, to make good a chasm therein over 
 
 In this year the time out upon the work was 113 days — 16 weeks 1 day: 
 and upon the Rock — — — — — 
 
 288^ 
 
 12 
 
 -k 
 
 160 
 
 
 631 
 
 26 
 
 6* 
 
 283 
 
 1758 . July 2. 
 
 Landed the first principal piece of course X. being the first stone this 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 season. 
 
 
 
 
 
 August 8. 
 
 Completed the Entire Solid up to the Entry-door, inclusive of course XIV. 
 
 237 
 
 9 
 
 21 
 
 
 September 24. 
 
 Finished the solid to the Store Room floor, inclusive of course XXIV. — 
 
 416f 
 
 17 
 
 Si 
 
 
 October 7. 
 
 The last stone of this year’s work was fixed; having completed the walls 
 of the Store Room, consisting of 78 principal pieces; and set 14 pieces of 
 the first vaulted Floor — — — _ _ 
 
 1271 
 
 5 
 
 71 
 
 92 
 
 
 After which, on the 8th, the Neptune Buss parted her cable in a storm, 
 and was driven into Torbay; from whence she got into Dartmoutli Har¬ 
 bour : and afterwards returned to Plymouth. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In this year the time out upon the work was 99 days = 14 weeks l day: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and upon the Rock — — _ _ _ 
 
 781 
 
 32 
 
 13 
 
 740 
 
 17 . 59 . M ,s. 
 
 Landed and began the work of this season. 
 
 
 
 
 
 August 16. 
 
 Completed the Balcony Floor, and therewith the Main Column _ 
 
 The Basement of the Lantern, the stone Stairs in the Well-hole, and all 
 the stone work completed — — — — — 
 
 502 
 
 20 
 
 *» 
 
 398 
 
 
 1191 
 
 4 
 
 23f 
 
 72 
 
 October 9. 
 
 The Lantern, and the whole of the Building, with its equipments, com- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pleted : the workmen left the house, with three light-keepers and proper 
 stores therein; with orders to light the house upon the 16th. Unmoored 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the Neptune Buss, and carried her into Plymouth Harbour _ _ 
 
 292 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 
 16. 
 
 This evening, according to the appointment of the Corporation of Tri¬ 
 nity House, the light upon the Edystone was rekindled. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In this year the time out upon the work was 99 days = 14 weeks 1 day : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and upon the Rock — — — _ _ 
 
 9131 
 
 38 
 
 1| 
 
 470 
 
 
 Totals of the four years ; out upon the work 421 days = 60 weeks I day : 
 upon the Rock — — — _ _ 
 
 2,674 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 1,493 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 Besides the larger Pieces of stone above specified, the mass of Masonry inclosed the following smaller parts; which the regularity 
 of the construction enables to particularize. 
 
 75 Large cubic Joggles and center-plug stones. 
 
 162 Cubic Joggles of 6 inches, used in the Well-hole courses. 
 
 399 Flat Joggles in the courses of the rooms and lantern. 
 
 399 Joint stones in Do.-. 
 
 1,800 Oaken Trenails of 1 J inch diameter used in the solid. 
 
 4,570 Pairs of oak wedges for steadying the stones of the solid. 
 
 8 Large circular chains, two used at each vaulted floor. 
 
 221 Strong iron cramps, used in the walls of the rooms and lantern. 
 
 5 Do. — — in the foundation, in consequence of accidents. 
 
 N. B. The whole time intercepted betwixt the first stroke upon the Rock, and leaving the Lighthouse complete, was 3 years, 
 
 9 weeks, 3 days. 
 
 And the whole time from the Fire taking place, in December 1755, to the rekindling of the light, October 1759, 
 was 3 years, 10 months, 16 days. 
 
 The whole time of working upon the Rock (being 111 days, 10 hours) amounts scarcely to Sixteen Weeks. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Containing an Account of the Establishment of the present Lights upon the SPURN POINT, 
 b/j Direction of the Honourable Corporation of TRINITY HOUSE, Deptford Strond, 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 332. In the year 1676 a patent was granted by King Charles II. to Justinian Angell, of 
 London, Merchant, enabling him to continue, renew, and maintain certain lights that he had 
 erected upon the Spurn Point. Which lights were erected at the request of the masters of ships 
 using the northern Trade; who, in their petition to his Majesty, represented that a very broad 
 long Sand, about six or seven months before, had been discovered to have been thrown up near 
 the mouth of the river Humber, upon which they had had great losses; and by means whereof 
 they sailed in great danger in the night; and that having considered, that lights erected upon the 
 Spurn Point would in future prevent such danger, this had induced them to apply to Mr. 
 Angell, as being the proprietor of the only piece of ground, that was adapted to the purpose; 
 and who, at their request, had erected two lights thereon ; which the petitioners found to he not 
 only of great benefit, but an absolute safety to all navigators on that coast. 
 
 In process of time, the Broad Long Sand, complained of in the petition, became itself a dry 
 land at high water; and which continued to increase considerably : for, antecedent to the year 
 1766, the lights thus established by Mr. Angell were, by the gradual extension of the real point 
 of the Spurn, become now at so very great a distance therefrom, that the masters of ships loudly 
 complained, that the said lights were so far from being of that benefit they originally had been, 
 that they were become detrimental to them ; by inducing them to suppose themselves more near 
 to the point than they in reality were. In fact, that they were deceived thereby, and in con¬ 
 sequence many very great losses had lately happened*.—Wherefore an application was made to 
 parliament in the year 1766, promoted by the Corporations of the Trinity Houses at Deptford 
 Strond, and Hull, for removing the said lights; and an act passed in consequence. Anno sexto 
 Georgii III. Regis, Cap. 31. “ An act for taking down and removing certain Lighthouses now 
 
 standing near the Spurn Point, at the mouth of the Humber, and for erecting other ft and con¬ 
 venient Lighthouses instead thereof;" whose preamble sets forth, that John Angell, of Stockwell, 
 in the county of Surry, Esq. was owner of three-fourth parts of the said Lighthouses, duties, and 
 profits; and that Leonard Thompson, of Sheriff Hutton in the county of York, Esq. was pro¬ 
 prietor of the other fourth share thereof. That Mr. Angell having been applied to by the said 
 Corporations, and also by the said Mr. Thompson, to change the situation of the said Light¬ 
 houses, so as to answer the ends and purposes for which they were originally designed ; and this 
 application having been ineffectual, it is thereby enacted; That the said Leonard Thompson 
 should be intitled, as soon after the first day of June 1766 as conveniently could be, to erect two 
 new and sufficient Lighthouses, with suitable offices and conveniences, at or near the said Spurn 
 
 * The spot of ground called the Spurn Point, seems to have undergone great changes; for in Camden’s time, about a century 
 before the petition for erection oflights, there seems to have been no more than a pretty sharp Head of land, that did not extend far 
 from Kilnsey, and was then called Spurn Head. His words are “ Inde in ipsd promontorii Lingula qua maxima in Conum contrahitur 
 <§• Spurn Head dicitur Kellnsey visitur viculus." Camden's Britan. 8vo. Edit. 1590, p. 580. It seems therefore gradually to have 
 been drawn out to a greater length, and to a sharper point of land: taking the name of Spurn Point, upon which the Lighthouse was 
 erected, and to which the broad long sand afterwards attached itself, and became dry land in the shape of a Spoon, which form it still 
 retains.—There is also an obscure tradition current, that upon a flat of ground just within the Point that now but just dries at low 
 spring-tides, there stood a considerable town called Ravenspurn : and some pretend they have seen traces of its foundations. 
 
 3 B 
 
 KJfWu. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 186 
 
 Point; according to such plan and estimate, as the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the said 
 Corporation of Trinity House, Deptford Strand, should by writing under their common seal 
 specify, appoint, and approve of: and in the mean time, and until the said new Lighthouses 
 should he completed, to erect two Temporary Lights, as near as may be to the respective places 
 where the new Lighthouses shall be appointed to be built: and, as occasion might require, to 
 enlarge, contract, alter, or remove the same, with the consent, and by the direction, of the said 
 Corporation so signified. The said Lighthouses to be subject to the visitation of the Trinity 
 Houses of Deptford Strond and of Hull. 
 
 333. MATTERS being in this state, the Corporation of Trinity House, Deptford Strond, 
 did me the honour to request my attendance to meet a Committee of their body, appointed to 
 proceed to the Spurn Point to take a survey, and give directions in respect to the situation and 
 erection of two new Lighthouses ; and of temporary lights, pursuant to the act of parliament 
 lately passed for that purpose. Accordingly I met John Barker, Esq. and Thomas Bennet, 
 Esq. the Committee appointed, at Hull, the 22d June 1766 ; and the next day attended them, and 
 a deputation of the Trinity House of Hull, to the Spurn Point by water: when the gentlemen of 
 the said Committee, after examining the ground, and hearing every matter of information that 
 was offered to them, fixed the places for the two Lighthouses ; and also for the temporary lights, 
 as near the extremity of the point of the Spurn, as they could with the appearance of safety be 
 built; and which situation was at the distance of more than a mile from the old Lighthouse : all 
 which they proposed to lay before their Board for their concurrence. 
 
 They particularly enquired from me, considering the ground where the proposed Lighthouses 
 were to stand, being a sand thrown up by the sea, in the course of less than a century, whether 
 1 could undertake to erect Lighthouses of Brick thereupon : and particularly, if one of them was 
 to be ordered of 90 feet high to the center of the light?—To this I answered; That though the 
 ground whereon they proposed to erect the lights was new Ground, in comparison of that 
 whereon the present Lighthouse stood; yet, as it appeared to be of the same quality, whereon 
 that had already stood 90 years, without apparent crack or settlement; I did not doubt of making 
 a foundation, at least as much more firm than that of the old one, as the new building should be 
 more lofty; and that it would stand, as long as the ground remained, that it stood upon: and in 
 regard to this, it was the unanimous opinion of the whole company, that as the Spurn Point was 
 a piece of ground that was rapidly increasing, there would be no danger of the ground being 
 washed away. Therefore the judgment would be, to place the new lights as near the present 
 point as possible, that there might be the greater course of years before the land, that doubtless 
 would be added, should cause the necessity of a second removal. 
 
 In respect to the temporary lights; having then examined the low light machine, called a 
 Swape* : though that was scarcely capable of hoisting the light above 25 feet above ordinary 
 high water, yet, I doubted not but to produce a machine upon the same principle, so much more 
 complete, that it should hoist the light 50 or even 60 feet high if required : and which I recom¬ 
 mended to their consideration. 
 
 334. IN the autumn following I received from Charles Wildbore, Esq. Secretary of the 
 Trinity Board, the Corporations directions concerning the Spurn Lights, as follow: 
 
 The Situation, Heights, Dimensions, 8$c. of the new Lighthouses and Temporary Lights to he 
 erected at the Spurn Point; as agreed on at a General Court of the Corporation of Tri¬ 
 nity House, held 1 Hth July, 1766; viz. 
 
 The lights then subsisting though in the original patents and the present act they are called Lighthouses, yet it does not ap¬ 
 pear that the low light was ever exhibited otherwise than upon a Swape (a north country term for a Lever, when fixed upon a centre, 
 and acted upon by the hand) and which works in a way, very similar to that by which water is drawn by a bucket out of such wells 
 as are not deep, in the garden grounds about London, and many other places: and which machine, as the coast wore away, being 
 moveable, was now placed upon the beach near high-water mark. 
 
 The Great Lighthouse was a strong octagon building of brick ; and its light, also hoisted on a Swape, was a naked coal fire, which, 
 being unprotected from the wind, was subject to burn with very different and unequal lustre: and it is related by the master of this 
 Lighthouse, that in the storm of 1703 (when that of the Edystone was beat down) he “ verily believed his tower (20 yards high) 
 “ would have been blown down ; and the tempest made the fire in it burn so vehemently, that it melted down the iron bars on which 
 “ was laid, like Lead: so that they were forced, when the fire was by this means almost extinguished, to put in new bars, and kindle 
 “ the fire afresh.” The Storm, p. 227. 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESENT LIGHTS UPON THE SPURN POINT. 187 
 
 The lights to he in a N. W. and S. E. direction ; and to be 300 yards asunder. 
 
 The great Lighthouse to be placed on the Spurn Point, at a distance from high-water mark 
 (at common spring-tides) of 90 yards, in a N. E. and S. W. line ; and 150 yards in a N. W. line 
 within the Spurn. 
 
 The small Lighthouse to he 116 yards distant from high-water mark in a S. E. line, without 
 the Spurn. 
 
 N. B. The breadth of the land from sea to sea, in a N. W. and S. E. line, is 566 yards; and 
 the soil is the same as in other places, where the sand grows up from the sea; viz. gravel mixed 
 with sand, and a moderate quantity of shingle. 
 
 The Lighthouses to he built with Brick : the large one to be 90 feet high, from the mean sur¬ 
 face of the ground to the center of the light.—The small one to he 50 feet high; that is, 40 feet 
 lower than the other: both with inclosed Lanterns for Fire Lights. 
 
 I he two Temporary Lights to he placed in the same direction as before mentioned ; 250 yards 
 asunder; and to be 23 yards to the S. W. of the ground marked out for the Lighthouses. 
 
 The Great Temporary Light to be 50 feet high) 
 
 The small one - - - - 35 feet high|^° 1 ^ w ‘ t ^ 1 Swapes for coal fires. 
 
 It will be necessary to have a platform from one light to the other, for the men to walk on 
 in the nights; about three feet wide, with a rail on each side*. 
 
 335. THE beginning of the ensuing year I produced to the Board a set of Designs for the 
 erection of the two Lighthouses; and of two temporary Light Machines, conformable to the 
 foregoing directions; and estimates for the same: which being considered by the Board, were 
 approved, and passed the common seal of the Corporation, the 21st February 1>67 Those’ being 
 afterwards delivered to Leonard Thompson, Esc,, he proceeded to the execution thereof- and 
 1,1 the course of that season, built two Temporary Light Machines, according to the designs! - 
 as also dwelling-houses, and conveniences for the residence of the light-keepers- which being 
 lighted, according to due notice given, were found to answer the end so completely, in point of 
 situation, height, and construction, that the trade seemed entirely satisfied therewith 
 
 The temporary lights being thus established, and Mr. Thompson finding difficulties in o-ettiim 
 a contract for the erection of the Lighthouses, two years elapsed without further progress' 5 - after 
 which in virtue of a Proviso in the said act, the Corporation of Trinity House, Deptford 
 Stroud, became entitled to execute the further purposes thereof; and to this being also requested 
 by Mr. Thompson, advertisements for contractors were put forth; and at a meeting of the Cor¬ 
 poration, of the 7th April, 1770, Mr. William Taylor, of York, appearing to be the lowest 
 proposer, was declared the Contractor; and afterwards articles of agreement were entered into 
 in consequence. 
 
 3 c°' , r H . E n 1 ° f May 177 *’ 1 haci the honour to be appointed, by writing under the Com¬ 
 mon Seal of this Corporation, to he their Surveyor; for them, and in their behalf to superintend 
 inspect, order, and direct the execution of the works contracted to he done by the said William 
 Iaylor, in such manner as I should see most conducive to answer the end proposed In con¬ 
 sequence of tins appointment I visited the Spurn Point the following month, when Mr Taylor 
 had got together materials; but not having begun, it appeared to me, that since the year 1 7 66 
 the sea had so far encroached upon the eastern coast of the Spurn Point, that the very place 
 fixed for the Low Lighthouse, at 116 yards within high-water mark, according to the line of di¬ 
 rection, was now in the very high-water mark itself. (See Plate 20, Fig. 2.) I therefore 
 suggested to the Board, that it would he proper to shift the place of the Low Lighthouse; as they 
 had marked it out, so as to be 80 yards more inland; or to N.W. : which alteration being ap¬ 
 proved, Mr. Taylor began the foundation accordingly —And furthermore, as it was possible 
 the sea might in process of time make an attack upon this building, I directed Mr. Taylor to 
 drive as many piles under the outward circle of its base, as should bring them close together, and 
 
 • The above resolution!, as well as what precedes, will be fully explained by the literary references to Plates Nos. 19, and 20. 
 
 Sh ™ "" of tl,e **“' *™P™ Light Machine. In its original state, its base was sunk into 
 
 t ie giound, to keep it steady; but it is here shewn set upon walls, as it now serves for the Low Cight. 
 
 J -tg iii; - 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 to drive them as deep 
 nine feet*. 
 
 i they could be got into this sand; which on trial was found to be about 
 
 but the 
 
 The 23d July the piling of this foundation was finished, and the brick work begun ; 
 Contractor had scarcely got the work up to the level of the ground, before he was interrupted by 
 an attack from the agents of Mr. Angell ; which shewed the necessity of an amendment in the 
 act : the obtaining of which stopped the works for above a twelvemonth. The latter end, how¬ 
 ever, of the year 177-2, tile foundation of the High Light was begun : and, by the approbation of 
 the Board, it was placed 60 yards more towards the N. W. than originally intended, to make up 
 in part for the 80 yards we had given up upon the S. E. side. I did not think it prudent to take 
 the w hole 80 yards ; because, though the N. W. coast had apparently gained, it did not appear 
 certain, how much or how long it might continue so to do. The distance of the houses, there- 
 fore, as now settled, was 280 yards. 
 
 The beginning of February 1773, the foundation for the High Light was completed: and in 
 
 December following, the Low Lighthouse wa 
 
 3 covered in; and the High Light got 40 feet high. 
 
 337. TILL my visit in June 1771 • 1 
 sequence I had had no opportunity of re 
 
 lever had gone 
 ■marking that the 
 
 K 
 
 to the Spurn Point by land ; in con- 
 sea was encroaching upon the whole 
 Coast, quite from Bridlington to the high grounds at Kilnsey. I then saw the coast was in a 
 slate of wear, but it was not till my visits in the year 1774, that there had been a sufficient inter¬ 
 val, lo ascertain the rate, at which the sea was annually washing away the high clay cliffs of 
 1 could then estimate it, was at the rate of 10 yards a year.—As the 
 Low Light was then erected, the information naturally drawn from this observation came too late; 
 for though I perceived that, as had been suggested in the year 1760, the Point of the Spurn w as 
 increasing yet it was chiefly in length. I now found that the high-water mark was not in reality 
 more than 40 yards from the center of the Low Light ; I therefore concluded it could not he 
 many years before an attack must lie made upon the Low Lighthouse ; but, as I had for some tune 
 considered the Spurn Point as an appendage to the high cliffs of Kilnsey; and formed from the 
 waste of the lands to the North ; therefore, at whatever rate the sea encroached upon these clifls, 
 bv taking off parallel Screeds, this whole appendage of the Spurn must remove at an equal rate 
 westward, upon the average. It, however, might alter some years more, 
 to the casual influence of storms. 
 
 others less, according 
 
 ch of 
 
 338. ACCORDINGLY, a great storm happening in January 1776, took away so much 
 the S E. coast in general, that it not only took away entirely the site of the old Lighthouse ; but 
 first laid bare the'circular Court wall of the Low Light; and then taking away the sand below 
 its foundation, heat down one half of its circumference in a single tide ; and ceased not till il had 
 laid bare the close piling under tile circumference of the main building, driven tor its protec¬ 
 tion. (§ 336.) 
 
 On visiting Spurn Point on this occasion, I ordered down a quantity of Hazfeidiff stone -f to 
 be deposited, so as to form a sloping Bank or Bulwark at the foot of the building, lo break off the 
 fury of tile sea, till the season should come oil when something more effectual might lie done ; 
 and left the further progress and application of the same means to Mr. Taylor, who had con¬ 
 stantly resided upon the place. 
 
 339. IN reflecting upon the observations I had made; and have already stated; I plainly 
 perceived, that to defend this building against the future attacks of the sea, nothing less could 
 avail than what would defend it as an Island at low water : this, though not impossible, would he 
 so expensive, as greatly to exceed that of rebuilding it, as often as it should he beat down. I 
 
 * The design of the Lower Lighthouse, was perfectly similar to that of the Great Light, in 
 Room ; but the Body of the Light itself being less, the diameter of the lantern, and all below, to its 
 so that being 40 feet lower than the other was intended, it consisted of fewer rooms in height; viz. a 
 5 Room, Pipe Room, i 
 
 to the Lantern and Pipe 
 were proportionally less ; 
 /ault, in the base story, a 
 
 t A kind of hard c 
 
 r the Humber side, above Hull, and much use 
 
 itry for all kinds of rough works. 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESENT LIGHTS UPON THE SPURN POINT. 189 
 
 therefore advised the Board not to enter into any formidable Expenditure, hut to give the in¬ 
 jured parts a repair or re-establishment, at the most moderate charge, that was likely to give the 
 building a chance of its answering the end for which it was built, for a number of years : and, 
 in this view, to rebuild the wall of a greater thickness ; and found it as deep into the sand, as it 
 could well be got at a moderate expence; and then to fill the cavity between the wall and the 
 house with Hazlecliff stone. Lastly, to form a sloping Bulwark of the same stone, against the 
 outside of the new Avail: after this, with such palliative aids, as prudence should from time to 
 time direct, to let it take its chance, to last as long as it could : and, at any rate, to set up the 
 present temporary high light machine, in the line of direction ; as soon as it should be done with 
 where it stood, by the lighting of the houses. In this case, it might be applied as a Ioav light, 
 on an hour’s notice; that is, as soon as any accident to the present Loav Light Building should 
 make it necessary. This advice and opinion being approved by the Board, the same AA'as put in 
 execution, in the course of the following season. 
 
 340. THIS accident did not, however* materially delay the progress of the Avork towards 
 the lighting of the houses ; for at that time the Great Lighthouse was covered in, the windows of 
 the Lantern glazed, the Hearth set, and the balcony rails in their places : so that Avhilst the in¬ 
 terior works were proceeding, Mr. Taylor was employing other hands to rebuild and defend 
 the wall as proposed. 
 
 341. IT being the anxious desire of the Corporations, and of the trade in general, that the 
 houses should be lighted before the ensuing Avinter, I thought it my duty not only to forward 
 this, but to give the Board the information, that from local situation I Avas able.—That in va¬ 
 rious parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire, there was dug a coal, of the species of the Lan¬ 
 cashire Kennel, called here Stone coal, or Cracklers; which burns with a brighter and whiter 
 blaze, than the strong coal of Newcastle and Sunderland*, and therefore, it seemed to me, would 
 be better adapted to the purpose of producing a light, and could be had at as Ioav, if not a lower, 
 price. The Board were pleased to order me to procure such cargoes of Stone coal, as might be 
 sufficient for a full trial thereof, and which accordingly Avere procured. 
 
 342. UPON the 5th September 1776, the fires Avere kindled with Stone Coal, which ex¬ 
 hibited an amazing light, to the entire satisfaction of all beholders. 
 
 As soon as the houses were lighted, I immediately ordered the temporary High Light Ma¬ 
 chine, which I found sound and firm, to be set upon the Avails, that had been built in the direc¬ 
 tion of the lights; its centre to be 30 yards nearer the Great Lighthouse than the centre of the 
 Loav Light; so that its distance from the centre of the Great Light, would still be 250 yards.— 
 These Avails, though ordered to be built in length, so as to be only capable of taking the base of 
 the machine; yet whenever it should want moving the walls could be lengthened, and the 
 machine being then got upon rollers, would readily be moved to its destined place. 
 
 343. DURING the following winter it Avas found that sometimes on first lighting of the 
 fires in an evening, the funnels of the Lanterns would not vent the smoke so fast as it was pro¬ 
 duced by the fires, but it accumulated in the Lantern. The chimneys were then of the same ma¬ 
 terial as the roof, viz. Elland Edge Flag-Stone. Being Avilling to leave every thing complete, and 
 finding that they would be considerably enlarged by making them of copper plate; the expe¬ 
 riment was first tried upon the Low Light, which fully answering the end, the High Light was 
 served in the same manner; and it is so shown in the section of this building, Plate No. 21. 
 
 On visiting Spurn Point, the 7th April 1777, I certified to the Board, that the Light¬ 
 houses at Spurn Point, together with the whole of the works contracted to be done by Mr. Tay¬ 
 lor, Avere fully completed and finished.—Upon this visit I had the gratification to find, not only 
 that the lights had given the utmost satisfaction ; but that the Court-wall of the Loav Light, Avas 
 
 * As the Spurn lights hail hitherto been i 
 strongest quality; but as these lights were n 
 seemed better adapted. 
 
 iade by fires exposed to the fury of the wind, they, doubtless required a coal of the 
 iw to be screened by Glazed Lanterns, a coal that would more freely yield its light 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 190 
 
 likely to endure for some time : for though it had had such shocks, that the light-keepers had lelt 
 the tremor in the lantern, yet it remained sound and firm. 
 
 544. CONSIDERING the inconvenience that this place suffers for want of fresh water; 
 and that it is likely more and more to become inhabited, on account of the numbers that come on 
 shore from the ships, lying in the Humber as an harbour; on this visit I directed Mr. Taylor to 
 sink a well, to try to obtain either fresh water, or that which was so far free from salts, as to 
 answer all subordinate purposes; and to be had in plenty: for here, the tops and roofs of the 
 buildings are so impregnated with salts from the spray of the sea, that the rain water collected 
 from the drippings thereof, is seldom without a very sensible impregnation. The experiment 
 was not likely to be an expensive one, and was ordered in virtue of an observation that had oc¬ 
 curred in the course of the work. 
 
 Mr. Taylor being at liberty to use sea water for wetting his mortar, sunk a well near to each 
 Lighthouse, when he began them ; merely to obtain salt water more easily, than by fetching it 
 from the sea at low water; but was much surprised to find, that the water so obtained was but 
 merely brackish, and that in all states of the tide. On examining this circumstance myself, 1 
 found further, that the height of the water in the well remained nearly the same, that is, at 
 about the half-tide mark. That at the high water of a spring-tide, when the water flowed within 
 the distance of 20 or 30 yards of the top of the well, the water in the well neither rose sensibly 
 higher, nor was it, to common observation, more brackish ; though there was nothing to hold off 
 the sea, but a great mass of porous sand: and on the other hand, when the sea retreated 150 or 
 200 yards, the water of the well during the time of low water became scarce sensibly more empty, 
 nor did it grow sensibly more fresh.—Reflecting on the cause of this unexpected fact; it appear¬ 
 ed to me, that whatever rains or snows fall upon the surface of the Spurn, consisting of about 98 
 acres, it all sinks into the ground, and therefore must make its way to sea by percolation through 
 the pores of the sand ; and in its passage it will by degrees wash off the salts adhering to the 
 surface of the particles of sand at their first deposition : in consequence, this happening repeatedly, 
 the internal part of the Peninsula, which being supposed to have been the longest formed, must 
 have had the greatest length of time to have its salts washed off by the fresh water of the rains, 
 would of course afford the freshest water when sunk into, deep enough to pierce the water bed; 
 and which probably would lie upon an higher level there, than near the border, on account of 
 the necessary declivity for the passage of the water by percolation to seaward.-—In consequence 
 of these speculations, I ordered a well to be sunk near the middle of the peninsula; and had the 
 satisfaction to hear, that it answered expectation, being but barely brackish ; for that cattle would 
 drink it, and it served every purpose of a family, except for human drinking, and washing of 
 linen : nor could it be expected to be perfectly fresh, as the very rain must frequently have a 
 considerable admixture with the spray of the sea.—It appears then, that though a great mass of 
 sand does not hinder a slow progressive motion by percolation, yet it resists all great impulses, 
 to such a degree, that, in the space of a tide, the salt water has not time to make much progress 
 in return. Attraction of Cohesion, therefore, between the particles of sand and water, seems to 
 perform the office of a Stop-gate, which suffers the escape of the water to sea at a medium 
 height; and, by preventing its speedy return, suffers the downfall waters (like those of a tract 
 of country under artificial drainage by sluices) to have a progressive motion from the internal 
 parts towards their outfall*. 
 
 345. BEING upon a journey to Hull, the 5th October 178b, I went from thence to visit 
 the Spurn, and had the satisfaction to find every thing in order, and completely answering their 
 purpose j~.—On this occasion I took a Survey of the Spurn Point, and Plate No. 20, Fig. 1st, is 
 the plan deduced from thence; from Avhence it appears, that the foundation of the old Light- 
 
 * Had Sir Tuo' Htde Page been acquainted with what had here been done ; it seems as if it would have led to an explanation of 
 what he experienced at Landguard Port in the year 1782: where he found that good water was produced by digging into a sand at 
 eight feet deep, and continued in great plenty to 12 feet deep; but by forcing the well down to 18 feet deep, the water that issued 
 from the bottom became entirely Salt. See his account Philos. Transact, vol. lxxiv. p. 16 . 
 
 t I must however except the well; the water of which, it was my intention to have examined; and I had taken with me such ma- 
 t v rials as my chemical friends advised, to have ascertained the quantity of admixture of sea salt in this water. But I was defeated in 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESENT LIGHTS UPON THE SPURN POINT. 191 
 
 house, which was wholly within the unbroken land in the year 1771, was now 50 yards without 
 the present border towards low-water mark : not the least vestige of it being to be seen. It was, 
 therefore, by the united testimony of the rescients, who referred to marks, that I was enabled to 
 ascertain its place. Ill the year 1771, the land where it then stood had a considerable breadth, 
 but now it lies opposite to the narrow Isthmus, which, after extending about a quarter of a mile 
 to the N. Eastward 1 of this site, becomes a naked beach or ridge; over which the sea breaks into 
 the Humber, at high-water, in rough weather, with easterly winds, at spring-tides; and after 
 running about half a mile in that form, attaches itself to a prominence of the main land, from 
 Kilnsey; which was probably the Spurn Hp.ad of Camden —This beach or ridge 1 found to 
 have nearly the same appearance in 1786, that it had in 1771 ; only, it seemed to have grown 
 longer, by encroaching southwards, upon the Hat area of the Spurn Point*. 
 
 346. ON this visit, the original temporary light great machine was now in actual use; the 
 Low Lighthouse having been for some time demolished, and, at this time, not the least trace left 
 of its foundation •j'. 
 
 347. IN departing from the Spurn this last visit, I was struck with an appearance that I can 
 scarcely satisfactorily account for. I did not leave the Spurn till some time after the Lights 
 were kindled. 1 he Low Light, though in itself a fire of much less bulk than that of the High 
 Light, yet, at this distance, being now a naked light, without the interposition of Mass appeared 
 more vivid and brilliant than the High Light. When I got about three miles off. near Kiln- 
 sey, they seemed nearly equal; but when I got to Patrington, nine miles off in a straight line, 
 the lustre of the High Light was greatly superior : in this I could not well he deceived ; because’ 
 in observing them (or a considerable time when tile fires were in different states, the brightness 
 of the High Light when faintest considerably exceeded that of the Low Light when brightest- 
 now the query is; If the glass diminished the lustre of the light in a sensible degree 
 he expected) when near, why should it not do it proportionably at every other distar 
 
 348. 1 HAD the great satisfaction to find at Hull, that the Spurn Lights were in such credit 
 among the Seamen, that they were by them esteemed (on account of their clear and brilliant 
 light.) to be the best Lights in Europe.—It is said that vessels going round the Point, in a dark 
 night, have the shades of their masts and ropes cast upon their decks : that vessels sailing- north¬ 
 ward gain sight of the Spurn before they lose sight of the floating Light of the Dodgeon which 
 lies on the great Lincolnshire Wash; and that frequently, the Great Light of the” Spurn has 
 been seen, m clear weather, from the high grounds near Beverley, which is a distance of 30 miles. 
 
 349. I SHALL close this account by an explanation of the principle whereon the Air 
 draught of this Lighthouse is performed : which, as I apprehend it is somewhat new, and sue- 
 ceeds well, the curious artist may not think undeserving of his nolice. 
 
 The air being rendered specifically lighter by the heat of a fire ; if from thence it is intro 
 duced into a tube or funnel while in its heated state, the absolute gravity of this column is iust 
 so much lighter than a column of the external air of equal height, as is due to their difference of 
 specific gravity : and this difference of absolute weight of the two columns, is a positive power 
 by which the lighter one endeavours to ascend up the tube, according to the laws of Hydrosta- 
 
 m y intention and mortified, by finding that it was filled by bricks and rubbish, so that at eight feet deep there was no - t - _T 
 told that as it was appurtenant to no one's tenement, and at a distance from them all; idle mischievous people, who freoueml, 
 on shore to saunter about, had amused themselves by throwing things into the water, to judge of it. depth, till they had reduced it Z 
 that state : and as it was no one’s business to clear it, each was willing to shift for himself; though all agreed it had been very useful 
 
 e similarity with that of Portland ; and, if I mistake not, it is formed, underneath 
 
 * This Peach or Ridge lias in its appearance soi 
 the sand, of blue clay, such as the cliffs of Kilnsey. 
 
 t 1 found on enquiry, that after a repetition of storms, the Court-wall had given way, and an ineffectual attempt had been made 
 to repair rt. The man, body of the buildmg was soon after attacked; but ft stood without the least crack or appearance of settle 
 ment, t.l] success,ve gale, had proceeded so far a, to take away several of the piles in the Circnmferenee of the base, i„ s „„,„ ch ' 
 
 (according to then expression) an Heifer might have been drove node, it, among the pile,: but after remaining some time i'n that’ 
 condition, m one s.ngle rough „de, it came down all at once, and the materials were in a great measure dissipated and buried in he 
 sand. The Machine had then been some time in use. cne 
 
t j cs _\, AV) if the air that is required to replenish the tube at the bottom, to fill up in lieu of 
 
 rvhat has ascended, cannot enter it without passing through, or so near, a body oi lire that it 
 becomes heated thereby, this also becomes successively rarefied; and thus a constant power, or 
 Draught of air is generated.—This I look upon to be the common principle upon which the 
 draught of chimneys and Furnaces depends: the tube of rarefied air being placed above the fire. 
 
 In this Lighthouse the principle of Air-draught, or tube of rarefied air, is below the fire : for 
 as the fire must of necessity be exposed to full view, all round ; being in a capacious Lantern the 
 draught is cut off, or interrupted, above the fire ; so that the funnel of the Lantern must be wide 
 enough to vent all the smoke that is sent up, as we have seen, § 343. In this construction tile 
 receptacle for the cinders, being a large tube, over the top of which the fire-grate lies, no air can 
 pass through the fire-grate into the fire, but what comes from the receptacle; the air of which 
 being heated by the cinders, that fall through the grate, has a tendency to ascend, upon the 
 same principle of rarefaction —This receptacle is supplied by horizontal air-pipes, from the ex¬ 
 ternal air : and, that its operation may not be impeded by, but rather receive advantage from 
 the wind; in every direction; the pipes, which are eight in number, are regularly disposed with 
 respect to the compass; and each has a slider to shut up such as would be otherwise a dis¬ 
 advantage. A further explanation of these matters will be found in the technical description of 
 Plate No. 21. 
 
TECHNICAL REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
 
 The Vignette. The Morning after a Storm, at S. IF. 
 
 T. 111'. V ignettc, as being placed in the title page, on that account claims prio¬ 
 rity : but in order of description would have come in more naturally in a sub¬ 
 sequent place. 1 he intent of it is to give some idea of the nature of this situa¬ 
 tion m a storm, and the violence of the seas upon this spot. The extraordinary 
 swelling of the wave on the left hand, above the letter A, is doubtless owin*> to 
 the gradual sloping of the rocks underneath it, as will be more particular!^ex¬ 
 plained in the subsequent Plates.—The wonderful rising of the water, at IS, by 
 the stroke of it upon the building, which for the instant totally hides it from the 
 eve, IS certainly beyond what might be expected, or perhaps readily accounted 
 lor, Irom the resistance of a round column ; let concurrent testimony from Mr. 
 \V instunley's descriptions (§ 17 and 21.) down to the present time leave no doubt 
 oi the height. I Ins sketch thereof, so far from being exaggerated is much re¬ 
 duced, both 111 height and bulk, in order that the idea of a building contained 
 therein may present itself.—The gathering of the sea at C is a natural con¬ 
 sequence of its being taken up by the south reef of rocks, which are fully de¬ 
 scribed, Plate No. 3, to which 1 refer: as also to the description, § 317. 
 
 Plate, No. 1. A General Chart of the Seas surrounding the Edystone 
 Lighthouse. 
 
 The situation of the lighthouse in the chart will indicate its exposure: for, 
 if we suppose a line drawn from the point A upon the coast of France, to the 
 Lizard Point, the distance being about 31 leagues, which may be esteemed the 
 width of the mouth of the British Channel, the Edvstone will be found to lie 
 only 15 leagues within this line; that is, less than half the width ; and being ex¬ 
 posed to all winds from about S. by \V. to W. bv S. there will be nothing to 
 hinder the ground swells of the Bay of Biscay and of the Atlantic Ocean from 
 coming home upon the Edystone rocks uucontroulcd, and even magnified, from 
 the gradual lessening of the soundings. See § 5 and 0. 
 
 Plate, No. 2. Map of the Coast and Country opposite the Edystone Rocks. 
 
 This A Tap shews the general situation, and particular distances of the Edv¬ 
 stone rocks from the nearest part of the coasts of Cornwall and Devonshire. 
 The distance of the port of Plymouth being 14 miles, the Mcwstone or May- 
 stone Hi, and the Ham Head, or perhaps more properly Haine-hcad, some¬ 
 what under 10. 
 
 ., No. 3. A General Plan of the Edystone Rocks, 
 oj a Spring 7 ide; comprehending every Thing liable 
 
 From this plan it appears from the soundings at lo 
 ships may sail between the south and the south-east 
 
 ii N. and N. N. I'., or S. and S. S. VV. by the coinpass, according to its 
 present variation of two points west nearly; that is, in case of being inadvert¬ 
 ently entangled; here being a clear width of 20 fathoms: but a vessel sailina up 
 or down Channel upon any course from W. N. \V. to N. W. by W. or the con¬ 
 trary; and giving the lighthouse a clear birth of 50 fathoms to the’ southward, 
 will be clear of the north end of the south reef, full 30 fathoms, on one hand, 
 and of the N. E. rock as much on the other; in soundings of about 10 fathom; 
 and thus, a vessel of any size, in moderate weather, may safely sail within 50 
 fathoms of the lighthouse; but upon a 8. W. or N. E. course, leaving the house 
 on the east, she may safely pass by the building at half that distance. 
 
 No. 4. South Elevation of the .. 
 
 Edystone Rock, according to the'first Design of I finslanley. Taken f 
 a perspective Print drawn at the Rock by Jaaziell Johnston, Painter. 
 
 A an eye bolt at the^landing-place for fastening the boats.—B the sloping 
 surface of the rock.—C the foundation or basement, supposed to be of stone; 
 and the horizontal joints of the courses, to be bound round with hoops of iron 
 or copper.—D die store-room.—E the state room (so called in the original) 
 supposed also to serve as a lodging room. 
 
 1- the open gallery for looking out in fine weather, and supposed intended to 
 let the seas go through in storms.—Cl the kitchen; supposed also to be used 
 for lodging.—H the lantern, about 8 feet diameter, corner and corner, and 
 7 feet high. N. B. The ornamental iron work appears to rise near 18 feet 
 above the useful part of the roof. See § 20. 
 
 A, No. 5. South Elevation of IFinstunley's Lighthouse upon the Edy- 
 m Rock ; as it was finished in the I ear l(iyf)- Draxvn orthographica/ly 
 from a perspective Print thereof, published by himself 
 
 , covered 
 
 A represents the rock at low water.—B the landing-pit 
 tide; and all the lime the current runs eastward. 
 
 C the entry door.—D E the basement; which, in the fourth year's work, he 
 describes to have been added to the original one of 16 feet; so as to make an 
 addition of. four feet in thickness on every side. From the figure it seems that 
 at D, it has been a work of stone; the joints appearing to have 
 l covered with hoop plates, as before described of the original base; 
 reas the east side E has the appearance of having been wood; and to have 
 been bound together with iron straps, as the whole of the superstructure e\i- 
 
 F is the store-room, with a projecting cabin to the south-east.— G the state 
 room.— H the kitchen.—I the open gallery, or platform.—K the lodging room. 
 —L the attending or look-out room. 
 
 M the lantern tor the lights, surrounded by a gallery or balcony.—N the 
 flag used for making signals. 
 
 Plate, No. 6. South Elevation and Section of Rudyerd’s Lighthouse, com¬ 
 pleted in 1709. Represented as it stood previous to its Demolition bn Fire 
 in the Year 1755. 
 
 A shews the rock at low water of a spring tide.—B the landing-place, 
 a a Fhe steps or flats to which the rock was reduced, b b The branches, 
 r c, Sec. Floors of wood laid lengthwise of the steps, dd Floors laid crosswise 
 of the same, e e Courses of compass timber. 
 
 D five courses of moorstone; which, with two courses of wood marked E, 
 completed the entire solid. To the top of which led 
 
 F the iron ladder, to G the entry door, and through G II the entrv or pass¬ 
 age, into II I the well-hole for the staircase. 
 
 k I, the mast.—M five courses of moorstone, the height of which composed 
 the entry or passage.—N two beds of compass timber, making all food over 
 the entry. 
 
 O four beds of moorstone covered with two beds of compass timber; after 
 which succeeded courses of timber alternately, cross aud cross, with compass 
 courses interposed, as shewn iu the section. 
 
 P Q shew the upright timbers, or uprights, as they nppeared externally, being 
 71 in number .—p q the same in the section. 
 
 I l the store-room floor; and R the door of the store-room; which was so 
 much to the north of the entry, that when the casks and stores were hoisted up 
 perpendicularly by a tackle, suspended from above, they would clear the iron 
 ladder. 
 
 S the state room.—T the bedchamber.—U the kitchen.—\V the balcony.— 
 X the lantern.—Y the lantern door into the balcony .—/. the cupola and 
 ball. 
 
 J Four curved pipes for venting the smoke from the candles iu the lantern. 
 —g The top of the copper funnel which passed through the lantern, from the 
 kitchen fire place, which was of brick. 
 
 h 'l'lie upper kant, bevil, or projection of the cornice, for throwing off the 
 sea, to prevent it from breaking the windows in lime of storms; which was ne- 
 
 . ..all iliv panes were of ground glass, on account of Miciigih. 
 
 i knees to strengthen the junction of the uprights with the balcony floor, and 
 also in part to support the weight of the lantern. 
 
 k kk The original kirbs of compass timbers, to form the uprights to a circle, 
 and support the weight of the floors.— m in at kirbs applied, of late years, foi 
 strengthening the frame of the building. 
 
 n n The lower kant at the foot of the uprights; and 0 0 one of the stanchions 
 by which the kauts were fastened down. 
 
 p The place where a part of one of Winstanley’s chains was jammed so fast, 
 on the destruction of that building, that it there remained, and was shewn as a 
 curiosity of the place, during the time of the succeeding structure. 
 
 q 'I he natural cuvc into which the lightkeepers retreated w hen the house was 
 in flames. 
 
 N. B. The technical references to plates No. 4, No. 5, aud No. 6, were in¬ 
 serted iu the body of the work; which the author thought it right no longer 10 
 encumber therewith; but are here inserted, to preserve the regularity of this 
 part of the work. 
 
 The detached figure 2. shews the manner of jointing the five courses of stone 
 marked D (fig. 1st) wherein k shews the mast, and an the places of S upright 
 bars; bb being supposed two more of the same nature. The black lines shew 
 the joints of the first course; the dotted lines those of the second; aud so 
 alternately. 
 
 Fig. 3. Represents the manner in which the courses of the bed of moorstone 
 M (in fig. 1 st) was jointed: w herein k is the mast; a be d the well-hole, and 
 elg h the entry from the iron ladder into it. The jointing of the courses in 
 this bed also, were alternately, according to the black and thedotted lines.—This 
 figure may also serve to describe the courses of the bed of moorstone O, if the 
 passage is supposed, omitted. 
 
 Plate, No. 7. A Plan and perspective Elevation of the Edystone Rock 1 
 seen from the II est. Taken from the Model thereof § 97, 121. Shewii 
 also the Theodolite. 
 
 The representation is as I found the rock; Fig. I. being the plan, and Fig. 2. 
 the upright view. The same letters refer to the same parts iu both ; the c. 
 lines upon the plan answer to the cardinal points, E. \\ . N. S. according to the 
 true meridian. 
 
 L is the landing-place, and C the summit of the rock; the general declivity 
 being towards the S. \\. the grain ot the laminated moorstone that composes 
 it being nearly parallel thereto. It has, however, considerable irregularities; 
 for upon the line A B the rock makes a sudden drop of 41 or 5 feet (4 1; and 
 
 by over-hanging to the westward, when there is a ground swell at S. \V. the 
 sudden check causes the sea to fly in an astonishing manner, even in moderate 
 
 The surface of the rock is shewn, as supposed to have been for ages past; 
 except where it is visibly altered by man’s hand, chiefly within the circular area 
 of the late building. The flat treads of the steps cut by Rudyerd are marked 
 I): the upright faces of the steps F; and E denotes the spawled parts, parallel 
 to the grain of the rock. 
 
 It. ‘ -•*>* jwll e tW’llI 
 
TECHNICAL REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
 
 
 fixed by Winstanlev: of which the slump of one only, viz. that at e. remained 
 for inv inspection : it was run in with lead, and had continued last, till in plant- 
 in" a dove-tail there, it was cut out and found club-ended; see § 39- \\ liich 
 
 of"the other holes, that arc left unmarked, made up the remaining four, I could 
 not make out; as doubtless several of them appertained to the additional work 
 that lie fixed in the 4th year (4 21). 
 
 pi". 3. shews a pair of Rudycrd’s iron branches 3(5, 39) to a scale three 
 times larger than that of the plan ; wherein A B is the main branch, or dove¬ 
 tail part; C D the key, driven hard in, but without touching the bottom ; their 
 depth in the rock is denoted by supposing the line E P its surface. The holes 
 in the branches served to fasten the limbers, by large bearded spike bolts.— 
 Of those branches I traced 36 original pairs, of different sizes; and two more 
 modern: their places are shewn in the upright, Pig. 2, by inspection; and like¬ 
 wise in the plan, Pig. 1. at 1, 2, 3,4, 5, and (i, ", 8, 9, 10, Sec. forming a double 
 circle: also two pair of them at K to fix the mast, on two sides, to the centre. 
 The irons -that remained in the rock, are distinguished in the plan by being 
 hatched with slant lines, the empty holes or cavities by being black. Those 
 that remained whole, whether fast or loose, are distinguished m Pig. 2. by their 
 
 X shews the place of the cave on the east side; and R a strong ring bolt, 
 put into the rock on the recommencement of the building in 1757, for fasten¬ 
 ing the western guy-chain of the shears. 
 
 In Fig. 2. rstvu' shews the three-legged stool (4 97) steadied with cross 
 braces. Upon the middle of the upper round plank rs was screwed down the 
 theodolite T, to whose index was screwed the long horizontal rule 'l’S. divided 
 into feet, inches, and parts upon one edge, tending to the centre.—Upon any 
 marked point of the rock to be ascertained, suppose .r, the rod xy was set up¬ 
 right by a spirit level, and was preserved in an upright position by two smnll 
 slips of deal, applied as shores or struts, in two different directions. The di¬ 
 vided edge of the rule, being brought against the upright rod, was shoved up 
 by a short staff, held in the hand light against the rod, 1:11 a spirit level laid 
 upon the top of the rule, shewed it to be level. In this position the index 
 would shew the degree and minute of the circle ; the upright rod would mark 
 the distance from the centre upon the rule; and the rule would mark upon the 
 rod, how much the intersection was above its bottom at x ; see § 97. 
 
 l’i vri:, Nn. s. South Elevation of the Stone Lighthouse completed upon the 
 
 F.dyslone in 1759- Shewing a Prospect of the nearest Laud, as it appears 
 from the Knelt in a clear cairn Dai/. 
 
 A the landing-place.—13 the cave in the east side of the rock.—C the steps 
 cut to mount the rock to the entry door.— I) an iron rod, serving as a rail 
 to hold lie, in passing to the foot of the ladder, occasionally put out from the 
 entry dour at E. 
 
 Over the letter F is a view of the land about Whitsun-Bay.—Over G the 
 Ram-Head.—Over II Redding-Poiut.—1 St. Nicholas, or Drake’s Island. 
 — K Brentorre.—L Garrison of Plymouth.—M Plymouth Town.— N Ships 
 in Plymouth Harbour.—(> Mount Batten.—P Ships in Catwater.—Q Stat- 
 down Point. N. B. The cascade shewn to the left of E must be supposed 
 momentary; and, from the libralion of the water, the next moment to „et the 
 contrary way. 
 
 Purr, No. 9. Section of the Edystone Lighthouse upon the East and West 
 
 Line, as relative to So. 8. Supposing it the low ll aler of a Spring Tide. 
 
 In the section of the rock, A 13 shews the upright face or drop, marked with 
 the same letters in Plate No. 7. and the line II C shews the general direction 
 of the grain, and slope of the rock to south-westward. 
 
 The doited line ah shews the level of the base of the first stone. The 
 black line cd is the base of the stone in the first course that is intersected by 
 the E. and W. line; and ef\ is the level of the top of tlie 1st course,and bed 
 of the 2d. 2, 3, 4, 5 and i> mark relatively the tops of the six courses that 
 bring the artificial part of the foundation upon a level with the reduced lop 
 of the natural rock; e tif being the first entire course, marked VII. as being 
 the seventh above the ground joint .—f Is the foot of the temporary ladder; and 
 there is shewn the manner in which the ground joint of the stone-work was 
 sunk into the rock, all round, at least three inches.—A shews the first marble 
 plug, or central joggle, that went through the 6th course, and reached half way 
 through the 7th; and so on, in succession to the top of Cour-e X IV. 
 
 i k In like maimer shew the place of the marble cubic joggles inlaid be¬ 
 tween each two courses, which were in an octagon disposition round the centre. 
 —I Smaller cubes between the 5th and filh course. 
 
 Course XIV. terminates the entire solid ; as upon it is pitched the entry and 
 well-hole for the stairs.—The temporary ladder fg, to the entry door D, is 
 onlv put out when wanted; and then is lashed by eve-bolts to the stone ; 
 at other times, having a joint in the middle, it folds, and is laid along in the 
 
 Above the top of the entire solid, the centre stone being omitted to give 
 space for the well, the cubic joggles w ere of double the number, and half the 
 size.—Course XXIV. terminated that part of the building called the solid: 
 and here the habitable part of the building began, whereof E is the lower 
 store-room.—F the store-room door.—G the upper store-room.—H the kitchen. 
 —I the fire-place, from which the smoke ascends through the floors and lan¬ 
 tern, through a copper funnel, as per section, and through the ball. 
 
 K the bed room.—L the stone basement of the lantern.—M the lantern 
 door into the balcony, and N the cupola. 
 
 The ascent from room to room is by perforations through the middle or key¬ 
 stone of every floor; and the detached figure shews the means, by inclined step 
 ladders, removable at pleasure. 
 
 Pl vte, No. 10. Plans of the Rockafter being cut, and prepared to receive 
 the Stone Building. Shewing the six Foundation Courses. 
 
 Fig. 1. Plan of the rock, as prepared for the stone-work, somewhat extend¬ 
 ed to shew how it applies to the plate No. 7. The line A 11 shews also here 
 the place where the surface drops, as specified N o. 9- 
 
 In this figure, Course I. appears in its place, as fixed with its trenails and 
 wedges, % 238, 239. The part darker shaded, and marked I) D, was not re¬ 
 duced to a dove-tail on account of fissures, but was suuk two inches lower than 
 the rest of Course 11. The stones laid therein would therefore be encompassed 
 by a border, and held fast in every direction. The letters E. YV. N. S. in all 
 the figures denote the cardinal points; the same letters in every figure denot¬ 
 ing the same parts.—The part of the rock marked C, rises above the rest by 
 an ascent or step of 15 to 18 inches, according to the line FI) G E; which, 
 laving somewhat without the general contour of the building, and affording a 
 
 firm abutment, the advantage was taken ; and the work of the 1st and 2d course 
 carried against it, as shewn at G. 
 
 No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (i shew the level platforms, or steps, for the different 
 courses, whose upper sides are even with these numbers in Section No. 9; No. 2 
 being upon the level of Rudyerd’s lowest step.—X denotes a piece of stone 
 engrafted into the rock; serving as a bridge to cross a chasm, opened by cut¬ 
 ting down the top of the rock to that level, into the cave. Out of this stone 
 is formed a part of the border that encircles the work. 
 
 Fig. 2. shews how the buttress G was terminated in the 2d course. It also 
 shews the places of the trenails aud wedges; which in all these figures are 
 shewn in the same manner. The dotted lines every where refer to the course 
 that is to come on; and shews how it will break joint upon the course sup¬ 
 posed laid. 
 
 l ie- 3. shews how the space II I K, in Fig. 2. is filled up in Fig. 3. being 
 confined in, by the rise of the step L at 11 1, and the cramps a and A; the’ 
 ground proving here irregularly shattered by cutting the steps for the former 
 lighthouse. 
 
 Fig. 4. shews the structure of Course I\ r . where in this, as all the others, 
 the stones lighter-coloured denote the Portland, the darker the moorstotte. 
 
 Fig. 5. shews the position of three joggle holes Y , betwixt this course aud 
 the next above. 
 
 Fig. 6. shews Course VI. complete, which brings the whole work to a level 
 with the reduced rock; it shews the joggle holes for the eight cubes; and the 
 central plug joggle, fixed in place at O, ready for the reception of the centre 
 stone of the next Course No. VII. 
 
 Plate, No. 11 . Plans of all the different Courses from the Top of the Rorlt 
 to the Top of the Balcony Floor inclusive. 
 
 Fig. 1. is the proper plan of Course VII. relative to the Section, Plate No. 9. 
 As being the first entire course, the trenails and wedges are shewn: but after¬ 
 wards omitted in the draughts, to prevent crowding the figures. The black 
 lines and dotted lines shew the joints of the alternate courses. The centre 
 stones, and the four stones surrounding, were alternately of the same size to 
 the top of Course XIV .—a is the centre plug, first set: A A the square part of 
 the centre stone; from each of whose four sides a dove-tail projects, and there¬ 
 on are fixed the four stones cc, by joint wedges and trenails, as per figure; 
 which five stones united, make one stone, sufficiently large to receive eight 
 smaller dove-tail stones dd\ and whose projecting pints form dove-tails to re 
 ceive another circle, or order of stones, fixed like the former. The cubic jog¬ 
 gles are shewn at ee. 
 
 Fig. 2. gives the plan of the XIVlli Course, ending the fundamental solid, 
 and on which the entry and well-hole are begun. It also shews the diminution 
 from Course VII. Upon this figure is shewn tin- distribution of the smaller 
 cubic joggles, which lake place upon the entire solid. The entry here appears 
 to have a small inclination with the E. and W. line, which was nut noticed in 
 Section No. 9, to avoid ambiguities. 
 
 Fig. 3. is the plan of Course XV. being the first of the entry door and well 
 
 Fig. 4. is the plan of Course XVIII. shewing the work of the entry closed in, 
 and the solid reunited. Also the manner of hook jointing the four stones round 
 the centre to each other; which in the courses below the entry door, were 
 united by dove-tails to the centre stone. Joint wedges were applied in the 
 hook, as per figure. Thus the arrangement, in circles from the centre, was 
 again complete. I11 the entry courses, as every piece had at least one cubic 
 joggle and two trenails, the work was secure against all ordinary attacks of the 
 sea; the weakness being on the east side: but when capped and bouded to¬ 
 gether by this XVIHill Course, the whole was again considered as one entire 
 stone, out of which the cavity had been cut. 
 
 Fig. 5. shews Course XXIII. ready for putting on the cap course of the 
 
 Fig. 6. gives the cap course, making the store-room floor, in its finished 
 state ; the first course of the habitable part of the building, viz. Course XXV. 
 being upon it: and shewing the store-room door, with its joggles, joint stones, 
 and cramps.—The detached figure, relative to it, shews a part ol the top of 
 the wall of Course XXV. to a triple scale ; wherein hh ii denotes one of the 
 pieces of stone, w hereof 1 ti complete the circle: f shews one of the joggles 
 used in this part of the building; being slices of marble the size of a common 
 brick, let half its thickness into the middle of the stone; so that the next course 
 above, breaking joint upon the middle of ibis, according to the dotted line gg, 
 half the joggles length will take one of the upper stones, whose joint comes 
 upon it, and the other half joggle, the other: by which means every stone is 
 fixed to its place, as it were, by two steady pins, one at each extreme. The 
 black lines A i shewing the joint at each end of this stone ; the small lozenge 
 figures It and I shew the shape of grooves, cut from the top to the bottom of 
 each end of each stone, and which, when two are joined together, form that 
 figure: It denotes the lozenge empty, or unfilled, and I the lozenge filled with 
 a joint stone. See 5; 272, 273 .—inn Shews the shape of one of the cramps, 
 in upright; and op iis seen upon the fiat. The holes in the stones at q r aie 
 bored, to receive the round shanks of the cramp, and the rectangular cavities 
 q r are sunk, to bury the flat of the cramp 0 p. 
 
 Fig. 7. gives the plan of the kitchen floor, and the upper lied of Course 
 XXIX. that encircles it; shewing one of the endless chains; of which, as ap¬ 
 pears in Section No. 9. there are two to each floor. The detached figure 
 shewing nn enlargement of the chain, and groove that contains it. w ill need 
 no comment, after perusal of 4 274.—In the principal figure the dotted lines al 
 s shew the place of the lire grate; 11 the sink : r v the dresser; tc tv the settle; 
 .r a place for a claw table; leaving a vacancy to the window between each. 
 § 303. 
 
 Fig. 8. is the plan of the bedchamber, taken upon the top of Course X LU1. 
 which gives the horizontal sections of the windows.— yyy Shew the places of 
 the three cabin beds for the lightkeepers, § ibid, z The hole in the floor for 
 the copper funnel from the kitchen, and a shews the place of the clock.—In 
 the detached figure, A A shews how the cramps are disposed in the reduced 
 jambs of the windows, c Shews the plan of the rabbet, to receive the shut¬ 
 ters or ports of the windows, whereof the uprights are seen in l’late No. 8 
 and 9. d Shews the sill of the clear opening; against the solid of which, the 
 window frame ef, and sashes arc lodged; the whole ol which go in together, 
 and are held in by wooden pins, two above, and two below, as shown at gg: 
 the holes being bored-in the solid stone. If those pins arc cut off, the whole 
 can be draw n out and renewed, without injury to the stone work. The joint 
 of the wood frame with the stone work, is secured against wet by white lead 
 
 Fig. 9. shews the plan of the cap of the main column, being in Plate No. 9. 
 the XLY’lth Course, and rumpuses the balcony floor, hh Shews the man¬ 
 hole in the centre correspondent to the other floors: i the funnel hole accord¬ 
 ant with : in the last figure. The dotted lines k It trace out the octagon 
 

 TECHNICAL REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
 
 hv' C .lu' h'T, !?“r er "‘ TI,C place , of lhc under rail of ll| e balcony is shewn 
 i ■ do,led )! ne8 mmm ; and njin denote sections of the studs upon 
 No 8 and 9 ri “ 3 arC S “ Pported > corres P 01 *dent to the uprights of Plates 
 
 Plate, No. 12. An enlarged horizontal and vertical Section of the Edu- 
 stone Lantern; more particularly describing the general Frame; the litu- 
 doics and Apparatus Jor moving and managing the Chandeliers. 
 
 Fig I. is the horizontal, and Fig. 2. the upright section of the lantern; the 
 scale being three times larger than of Plates No. 8 and '). 
 
 Fhe eight corner pillars are of cast iron, and, by large claws at top and 
 bottom, are screwed upon flat wrought iron bars, of one inch in thickness, and 
 tout inches in breadth; by which the whole frame is connected together in a 
 manner that wil be more distinctly shown in Plate No. 1.3. what is peculiarly 
 shown in this Plate is as follows: ' 
 
 The same letters denoting the same parts in each figure above mentioned: 
 ah shews the non ring of the great chandelier; 0 feet 4 inches diameter, and 
 containing 16 candles: cd is the smaller chandelier, and contains 8 candles; 
 diameter 3 feet 4 inches; their respective sizes being such ns to distribute the 
 candles as near as may be equally over the area of the lantern; so ns to affect 
 e ; j ; K ; llier as lrt “« as possible by their heat. These two rings, though of dif- 
 eiglit, and therefore a counterpoise to each other, 
 it ring a h, is divided into four eq”ual parts at the 
 
 difference afterwards, arose from finding less area upon the rock; and the 
 necessity of size and convenience in the habitable rooms. 
 
 Plate, No. 14. A Ficrc of the Rock on the East Side; and of the Work ad¬ 
 vanced to Louise XI . the first of the entry Courses; sheiviii* the Man- 
 landing and hoisting the Stones, Sfc. in every after Stage of the 
 
 Build, 
 
 ferent sizes, are of the sain 
 
 The circumference of the gr. 6 . . 1UHf luul c(|ual parl3 , 
 
 points e /g h ; where four staples or eyes arc fixed, by which the ring being sus- 
 p.mlid horizontally by cords, each quarter will be equally supported: and if 
 two of these cords, as ej and g h are bruught together, ami respectively united 
 into oue, al a convenient height above the plain of the ring, so as to form an 
 inverted then each half of the ring will become suspended by a single cord 
 ill an horizontal position. In the upright lei the points i aiid l be the two’ 
 points of suspension, after the union of the lines respectively; the curd ik 
 being one of the suspending lines, and In, the other. Now each of these cords 
 passing respectively over the pullies AH, CD, and then turning downwards 
 close to each other, terminate each in an hook nt no; and there, each hooking 
 hold of one and the same small ring; and this ring having a sufficient weight 
 attached to it, will sustain and balance the great chandelier, in an horizontal 
 position. 
 
 The lesser chandelier is also divided into four, and furnished with staples, 
 ding to the letters prsq, from whence proceed cords, as pn, ,/n, ro, so, 
 which all unite in the small ring at no; the lesser ring being, as suid, as heavy 
 as the larger, serves it for the counterpoise required.—Again, if from the point's 
 of the large ring ejg h, on the under side, four cords arc appendant, and are 
 "ruled, two and two, as above, so as each to form an erect Y, whose points of 
 are at : z; then the cords c 2, z 3, will be perpendicularly under the 
 cords ik, Im, respectively. Also if from two opposite points underside of the 
 lesser ring, two cords arc affixed, as t v, a v, united at v, and thence depending; 
 then ll the cord uX is pulled, it is evident that it hauls down the lesser chnn- 
 deliery and raises the greater; and if either of the cords z 2 or : 3 is pulled, it 
 will haul down the larger chandelier, and raise the lesser: and it will do it so 
 as to keep its horizontal position nearly: for, if a force is applied to brim> 
 down the cord i k, its effect will be to raise the lesser chandelier; which 
 giving leave to the hook at o lo rise, in effect gives leave to the rope m I to de¬ 
 scend ; and consequently the whole circumference of the great chandelier falls 
 or rises together. 
 
 'Fhe upper works of the lantern having no affixture to the stone work but its 
 eight, I judged it proper to tie that, as well as the whole of the stone base- 
 down to the cap of flic building. E, F, G, FI, shew bars in the angles 
 of the lantern, whose dog-heads lay hold of the base of the iron work, and pass¬ 
 ing down the angles, form a stirrup as at K K ; which is confined down by a 
 screw bolt passing through the arch. LLLL denote air-holes of about 
 2 inches ill diameter, which can be opened or stopped occasionally, by a wad 
 of oakum.—The copper funnel, fully shewn in Plate No. <), is here supposed 
 not put up, except that part which passes through, and connects with the ball- 
 the construction whereof, so us to make a double set of vents, for the kitchen 
 and for the lantern, without interference, will be best conceived by adverting 
 to the detached Fig. 3. which is an horizontal section of the ball, and tubes 
 through the middle. 'Fhe central tube (to which the funnel applies) beiim 
 sustained by six partitions, between that tube, and the neck of the cupola.— 
 The strengthening liars of the cupola, the cramps, the angle pieces, the lan¬ 
 tern door into the balcony, and the seat, will appear sufficiently plain by 
 inspection. 
 
 It is however to be noted, dial the cross bars of the sash frames being an 
 after-thought, they are here represented, rather as afterwards I would have 
 wished them, diun as they really were, and which will be hereafter given. This 
 figure supposes them cast in one piece with the sash frame ; hut yet so us not 
 to interfere with the glass panes. The detached Fig. 4. is a section of a window 
 bar, of Us real size: the cross bars are supposed to go no farther than the line 
 ah; neb being on the inside, and a, lb on the glass side.—I shall take this 
 opportunity of remarking, that it would be unnecessary to continue these cross, 
 or diagonal bars, over the middle pane of each sash, as the strength would be 
 preserved without it; and the light through each middle tier of panes uninter¬ 
 rupted for the exhibition of the lights .—pp Shew brass pins, two in each side 
 of each pane, to keep the glass steady, independent of the putty necessary to 
 render the panes 
 
 13. Original Ideas, Hints, and Sketches, from tain 
 neral Form of the present Building teas taken. 
 
 1. shews the bole of a spreading oak; its side branches being lopped 
 lg out of the ground with a sweep; its taper diminishing (ill the sides 
 become perpendicular ; and on the insertion of the great boughs, again swells, 
 and overhangs. See | Si. 
 
 Fig. 2. the manner in w hich the smaller boughs and branches arc obliquely 
 inserted into the greater, with the reconciling curves that form the union. % ibid. 
 
 Fig. 3. a specimen of paving to be found in the walking paths of London 
 streets; being a mode of dove-tailing in stone. See § 82. 
 
 l'ig. 4. A sample of stone dove-tailing in llie upright, taken from Belidor’s 
 Arclut. Hydraul. Part II. Tom. 1. Plate 26. Fig. 4. See ^ ibid. 
 
 Fig. 5. A copy of the first complete design made out for the solid courses 
 of the Edystone. 'Fhe only material alteration afterwards was to diminish 
 the size and weight of the outward circle of stones. 4 ibid, and also 93 
 and 9S. 
 
 Fig. 0. is a'reduced copy to half the original size, of die first fair section 
 for a stoue building, as exhibited to the proprietors § 84. The principal 
 
 Fig. 1. shews the boat Weston in the Gut, delivering her cargo; PQ shew 
 the two fender piles, to prevent her rubbing against the rock. C the land¬ 
 ing-place. X The cave, here seen in front. D The gully, through which 
 a momentary cascade makes its way; and which was proposed to be slopped, 
 
 EFG The shears; from the head of which are suspended the main tackle 
 blocks A 13, whose tackle fall, after going to the snatch block E, passes to die 
 windlass or jack roll, whose frame being of iron, is fastened to the rock, as per 
 figure.—The enlarged detached figure a, shews the frame and roll frontw ise, as 
 seen from the snatch block : b shews the side view thereof, the roll being seen 
 endways; c shews the manner of coupling the back stav to the upright stun- 
 cheons; and d shews, by a figure still more enlarged, 'the upper end of the 
 stancheons for receiving the gudgeons of the roll. 
 
 While the stone is hoisting, the man represented at I is heaving-in the tackle 
 fall, of the runner and tackle UK: lor, till the stones are cleared of the boat, 
 the shears layout considerably, and the out-hawler guy rope LM is slack. 
 J his crosses the Gut, anil is fixed by a ring bolt to one of the rocks of the south 
 reef. By such time therefore as the stone is hoisted by the main tackle to the 
 height of the entry door, the shears are got into the perpendicular; and then 
 by easing lhc out-hawler guy tackle L N the stone comes into die entry door. 
 
 I he runner and tackle II K is hooked to the guy chain O, which crosses the 
 work, and passes down to the ring on the west side of the rock; marked R in 
 Plate 7. 
 
 In the detached fig. 2. the anchor-like piece of iron by which the main tackle 
 blocks are hung, is shewn to an enlarged scale at e fgh. This anchor being 
 suspended upon a round bolt at e, that passes through the tops of the two shear 
 legs, swings freely between them, and always putting itself in a perpendicular 
 position and producing fair bearings upon them, without any unnatural strain 
 
 . .enables them to support the greatest weight possible.—In like manner 
 
 ine iwo arms of the anchor gh, having the two guy tackles hooked to them, the 
 action of those tackles is upon the suspending bolt; and the feet of the shears 
 turning freely upon eye bolls fixed in the rock, they ure at liberty to conform 
 themselves to the posiliou wanted; so that the stress upon the legs is always 
 endways. 
 
 After the building was raised to the height shewn Fig. 1, the work was 
 hoisted through the well hole, till it arrived at the top of the solid, by means of 
 the triangle and twelve fold blocks wherewith the work was set; and are shewn 
 as standing upon the wall at the first vaulted fluor, by the letters ik/m, being 
 fhe 4th stage: but afier that was completed (the man-hole being too small, 
 and the height too great, without losing time) a jack roll w as established, as 
 shewn at the 3d stage in the lower store-room at Q: and a pair of moveable 
 shears, the figure whereof is shewn at the fifth stage, as upon the wall, at the 
 kitchen floor; which, instead of guy ropes, hail a back leg, longer than the 
 rest, whose bottom or toot being cut with a notch, stepped upon the internal 
 angle of the opposite wall; and was long enough to suffer them to lean over 
 sufficiently for the stone at I’ to clear the wall. The shears themselves were 
 prevented falling over by a luff tackle *, shewn upon the back leg, whose 
 lower block hooked upon a lewis, in that stone the back leg stepped upon; 
 by which it was brought tight and steady. W hen the stone was to be landed, 
 this tackle being a little slacked, till the notch could be disengaged, and then 
 set upon, the back leg would, by going over the wall, suffer the shears lo come 
 to the perpendicular, or beyond it.—The stones now become in general less 
 weighty, a common tackle was employed at the shear head, which would go 
 down to the entry door, and there met the stones hoisted by the great shears : 
 the tackle fall of the moveable shears, being taken to the jack roll Q, the 
 stones were got to the lop of the buildiug, in the same time they were raised from 
 the boat to the entry door.—The detached figure 11 is the plan of the move¬ 
 able shears ; where the check, or safety rope n, is shewn at llie foot of the back 
 leg. See § 283. 
 
 In this manner all the heavy materials were got up; the moveable shears 
 J with the work, till the cupola was to be set upon the lantern.—The 6th 
 stage shews the apparatus used for this purpose. See § 300. The great shears 
 being now done with, were taken dow n and put through the windows of the 
 uppermost room, and there, being well steadied, served as booms. The de¬ 
 tacher! figure S being the plan of this stage, shews their particular disposition ; 
 "herein op shew the places or feet of the legs of the shears used for this par¬ 
 ticular purpose; also marked with the same letters in the relative upright. In 
 this the rope q r shews a side stay to the leg or; and s t is the stay of the leg 
 p t, each fastened to ,/s, the extremes of the booms.—From each end of the 
 cross-tree at the head of the shear poles proceed the ropes lex, y x, which join¬ 
 ing in one guy rope at x, proceeds over a pulley in the end of the temporary 
 timber at z; from thence, with the intermediation of a tackle 1,2, it proceeds 
 to, and fixes at the extreme end of the boom 3 ; and as the weight to be hoisted 
 will principally lay on this guy, the stay or shroud rope 3, 4 is passed from 
 thence through the window of the room below, and is there fixed.—It is now 
 plain, that by the tackle 1, 2 the shears can be let go over as far as necessary, 
 aifd brought back into the perpendicular; but lo counteract this main guy, and 
 keep all steady, the rope .3, O', 7, with a small tackle upon it, performs the 
 office of an out-hawler guy, fixing to the same ring in the rocks, as that of the 
 main shears had before done. This apparatus enabled the cupola to be hoisted 
 and set on whole without a bruise. 
 
TECHNICAL REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
 
 196 
 
 displaced._Hie dotted lines « re r sliew the inside, and 1/; the outside of an ho¬ 
 
 rizontal section of the glass plates; nr art heing the rabbet in which they are 
 ]od«e<l. a - h, I, 2, c, </, r. Shew the section of the border, that goes round the 
 circumference of each sash frame, and tlmt, by screws of copper, represented at 
 G (•, this border is lived to the Handled border of cast iron efg, which sur¬ 
 rounds tlic lace of the pillars. -3, 4, It Shew the inside, and 5, 6 the outside con¬ 
 tour of the ribs or sash bars, which join the border as shewn at b, nr, .1, 11, 6. 
 The detached figure X, a- in No. l‘i, is a section at large of one of the win¬ 
 dow bars; the point 4 being supposed to be placed on the point 4 in the main 
 figure. .. 
 
 I*;,.. 2. is the upright corresponding to the Plan, (pig. I.) wherein A R 1> is 
 the upper, and C D D the under side of the grounds'll bars. I) 11 X is the ele¬ 
 vation of the cornel; and ll II X Y /. I(S shews the tipij'Jit of one of the 
 faces of the pillar and claw, and the corresponding dotted line 1/: r s shews the 
 extent of the projecting border, whose section is marked efg (in Fig. I.) 0 6 
 shew two of die screw-holes for the small copper bolts, that li.x the border of 
 the sash-frames to the iron flanch border of the pillars. K E, F F, the two 
 screws by which each claw is fixed, re, to Shews the inside of the copper 
 border, and r, r, r. the extent of the rabbet; the space P Q at lop and bot¬ 
 tom, is an enlargement of the breadth of the border, to make all good to the 
 claws; and the iron border is made good between the claws by the square liar 
 marked<), both in this figure, and the Plan, (Fig. I.) which is rivetted upon die 
 grotindsil bar; and perforated horizontally for the copper screws. 
 
 ~ Fig. 3. The iron fire grate of the kitchen, which perfectly venting the 
 smoko, and warming the room above, is given to an enlarged scale. The de¬ 
 tached figure below it, is the plan of the upper bar; the lowest being straight, 
 and die intermediate ones reconciled to them. 
 
 ]'i<r. 4. gives a section of the socket for the candles; and 
 Fig. 3. that of the lamps, both to their full size. 
 
 stone, rammed into the ground; its place being shewn at 6, (fig. 2.) the out- 
 hauler guy s, y being secured in the same manner.—The marble rocks marked 
 10, go round the point of the Bay. 
 
 Fig. 12. is- the elevation of the upper part of the jetty-head in front, with the 
 shears upon it, to an enlarged scale; more particularly to shew the smaller 
 parts. A, B, the front pair of piles to which the cross beam (J I) is bulled; 
 and in like manner to each pair of piles. E, E the ends of the longitudinal half 
 balks ; EE the cross joists; G,G the ends of the flat rails that the wheels of the 
 carriage run upon; 1111 being a single cross timber serving as a stop to the 
 carriage at die end. I, the snatch-block.-—N. B. The scantlings are marked, 
 because, this jetty or scaffold, erected as slight as possible for a temporary 
 purpose, sustained the whole tonnage of the Edystone matter, in and out, w ith¬ 
 out derangement.—The detached Eig. 13. gives a part of the top of one of the 
 shear legs, shewing how they were plated on each side, to support the holt of 
 the anchor from bending, and thereby from splitting the poles.— Fig. 14. is the 
 enlarged figure of the runner and tackle (marked 7. in Fig. 6.) K, the runner- 
 block, of one large single pulley ; LM, the tackle-blocks of three pulleys each, 
 making a purchase of tw elve, equivalent to the great blocks. (.See the Postscript.) 
 
 Fig. 15. gives an upright diagonal view of the main tackle blocks ; having six 
 pulleys each upon two pins : the larger tier being ten, and the lesser eight inches 
 diameter. This figure distinctly shews the method of salvagee strapping; being 
 double, that the pins heing readily knocked out, they could he frequently greased 
 without trouble.— X. li. The shears, blocks, and tackles used at Mill-Bay were 
 nearly the same as at the rock ; and one pair of main tackle blocks at each 
 place, with the same pulleys, went through the whole service; but the pins were 
 renewed each season, and sometimes oftener, being of wood on account ot the 
 salt water; but were frequently greased. The main tackle-fall at each place 
 was no larger a rope than of three inches circumference: being n white rope, 
 remarkable soft laid, hawser-fashion *; and which is of material consequence. 
 
 Plate, No. 16. Mr. Jessup's Draught, In/ which the 1 inch were built for 
 the Edystone Service. 
 
 Plate, No. IS. Descriptions of supplemental Matters, having Reference to 
 the Edystone Building. 
 
 All that I think it necessary to remark upon this plate is, that the original 
 drawing from whence this is copied, was sufficient for the direction of the boat- 
 builder; anil that those yawls answered well in a short hollow sea. 
 
 Plate, No. 17. Plan and Description of the Work-yard at Mill-Bay, with 
 its Furniture and Utensils. 
 
 Fig. 1. The general Plan of Mill-Bay, wherein the dotted line a be shews 
 the line of low water spring tides, d e The channel dug from low water to 
 convey \ essels to the head of the jetty fg. It i k / The area of the work-yard. 
 Since the removal of this work, has been built L the long room; U the baths; 
 A C the marine barracks : anil I) 1) new streets of Stone-house. 
 
 Eig. 2. Plan of the work-yard and jetty. A BC 1) is the line terminating 
 the head of the channel. Now any vessel laying against the two large piles 
 11 C, on which a pair of shears being erected, can be unloaded of her cargo of 
 stone, and delivered upon a wheel carriage; that passing along the jetty to the 
 turn-rail E, the carriage is there turned round till it becomes fair w ith the rail¬ 
 road E E; and passing along it, enters the work-yard, whose boundary is mark¬ 
 ed by G G G G.—At T is another turn-rail, which enables the carriage to go 
 on with its burthen ; either in the straight line, or to turn there and go along 
 the rail-road in the middle of the yard, and arriving at any destined point, sup¬ 
 pose II, it is there met by a roll-carriage: for which, planks being temporarily 
 laid, as at I; the burthen (heing transferred 011 small rollers) will be easily 
 moved thereon, to the extremity of the yard sideways; and thus stones can be 
 deposited, as at K lx (shewn edgeways upward) upon anv point of the area of 
 the yard, and returned by the same means, tj 167. Note*, p. !)4. 
 
 The area bounded by the line G G, and the dotted line L L, is the Portland 
 wot kshed. M denotes one of the bankers ; to which, from the wheel carriage 
 (supposed on the rail-road opposite) strong joists being laid, as shewn by the 
 dotted lines, the pieces of stone are brought on small rolls; the bankers having 
 notches sunk therein, to receive the ends of the joists.—In like manner, the 
 area N O was the shed for the moorstone workers. 
 
 The square area PQ, denotes the extent of a roof supported by four posts 
 covering the platform: whereof ub represents the platings of rough stone walls; 
 ctl one of its principal floor timbers, 6 by 12; these being covered with three- 
 inch plank, and brought to a true level, made a stout floor, upon which the 
 courses were brought together, § 167.—R the cabin for the foreman of the 
 yard. S a small store-room for tools and iron work. G \\ the store-shed tor 
 Watehct lime and puzzolaua. V X the shed for bucking or beating the larger 
 parts of the puzzohma upon WY, the bank with three cast iron beds upon it. 
 
 Fig. 3. Supposed a detached figure, being the ground plan of the turn-rail 
 at T, (lig. 2.) to an enlarged scale, wherein A 11 is a dormant circle of wood, 
 well supported; of which (J marks the centre pin fixed in the transverse beam 
 III): EE being connecting studs. F F are portions of the rails, whereon the 
 wheels move, which are kept in place by the fillets ff, nailed on each side. 
 G G shew the sleepers for supporting the rails at about a yard’s distance middle 
 and middle ; as is also shewn near E ill fig. 2. 
 
 Fig. 4. is the plan of the moveable turn-rail, and Fig. 5. the relative upright: 
 shewing also the section of the dormant circle. The three last figures having a 
 mutual reference, the same parts are marked w ith the same letters : and further¬ 
 more, in Fig. 4 and 3. 11,1 shew the rail part of the turn-mil, correspondent 
 
 to those parts marked FF, fig. 3. in width and height. The rail parts FI, I 
 are strongly framed upon the cross beam K K, and connected by the pieces 
 E, L. 'I lie whole being poized, with its burthen, upon the pin C, but without 
 absolutely touching the dormant circle A B while turning; for bearing only 
 upon the fiat shoulder of the pin, it turns easily : but, w hen it is bringing on or 
 wheeling off, the equilibrium upon the pin being destroyed, the ends Fl, I are 
 then supported upon the dormant circle, and the w heels w ill move steady. 
 
 Fig. 7. shew s the plan, and Fig. 3. the upright view of the w heel carriage to 
 the same scale as that of Fig. 3, 4 and 5.—Also Fig. f). and Fig. 10. give the 
 upright views of the roll carriage in two directions to the same scale; which 
 shew distinctly the manner of supporting the axis of the rolls on iron frames; 
 and how the iron frames are kept upright by four pair of cross bars. 
 
 Fig. 11. gives the upright of the capstand roll, axis, and middle part of the 
 bar to the same Scale.—At 1, 2 is shewn the capstand in full, to the scale of 
 the vard; and 3, 4, 5 mark the direction of the rope ; which, from a snatch- 
 block at 5, ascends to the upper block of the main tackle, suspended from the 
 lop of the shears ; as per Fig. 6. w herein the in-hauler guy-tackle is marked 7, 
 bring a runner and tackle; and the out-hauler marked 3, are simple blocks.— 
 The guy-rope 7, 6 was attached to a ring-bolt, passing through a large rough 
 
 Fig. I. contains an upright front view of the great tackle, or purchase-blocks 
 of twenty sheaves or pulleys, mentioned § 122, 143. 
 
 Fig. 2. A side view of the same blocks, referring to Fig. 1st. The ad¬ 
 vantage of this construction is, that the tackle-fall or running-rope may he 
 reeved through the twenty sheaves, without a cross or interference; so that tin; 
 standing part, or beginning, may be in the middle of the upper block; and the 
 ending, hauling part, or fall, upon the middle pulley of the same block. The 
 weight therefore being suspended by twenty ropes instead of six, as in common 
 triple blocks, the tackle-fall, as relative to a given weight, may be lesser or ql 
 fewer vams in the same proportion; which renders the whole much more flexi¬ 
 ble and pliant, and which, together with the advantage derived from the mode 
 of reeving, occasions their rising and falling nearly upon a parallel.—The uses 
 and advantages of these blocks, and also the method of reeving, are so par¬ 
 ticularly described in the Philosophical Transactions, Vol. 47, for the years 
 1732 and 1753, and arc now so well known, that l shall hut just touch upon 
 the principle w hereon the reeving is performed. Beginning in the middle, the 
 greater sheaves are reeved as far as can he on them ; from thence going to the 
 first of the smaller sheaves, and reeving the whole of them throughout, you 
 then go to the first of the greater sheaves, before left unreeved, ending upon 
 the middle sheave of the upper block ; and thus arises a diminution of the fric¬ 
 tion from the more equal distribution thereof. 
 
 Fig. 3. being an upright section of the store-room to an enlarged scale : in 
 it is shewn the centre whereon the upper store-room floor was turned; and in 
 like manner the rest. 
 
 Fig. 4. is the plan relative thereto, the letters being common to both, a b, 
 e tl Shew two of the sixteen ribs, formed to the circle of the vaults of the floors. 
 These ribs are connected at their ends by two wooden rings, e f g. It i /;; the 
 former supported by four posts, three of which are shewn in their places; and 
 the latter by eight; of which only one is shew n 011 the right hand, and one on 
 the left, to avoid confusion. The rings are each made to take asunder, that 
 after striking the centre they might he got out of the room.—At / /. m m, tw o 
 of the ribs are supposed taken out, to shew their hearings upon the rings; they 
 were open centres, that it might be seen underneath when the joints were fair. 
 Fig. 7. of I’late 11. shew show the 16 radii of stones would apply to the 16 ribs. 
 In this plan, Fig. 4. A shews the well hole, and B B the cross timbers for sup¬ 
 porting the four middle posts, whose places are marked out by dotted little 
 
 ** Fig. 5. is an elevation, and Fig. 6. the relative plan of a dial stone, taken 
 professedly from the general figure of the Edystone lighthouse ; being the de¬ 
 sign of the late James Duke of Qucensherrv ; and by him erected at Amesbiiry, 
 
 Wilts, with a dial upon it, by Mr. Rnmsden.—The drawing, oI which this is a 
 copy, was given me bv the Duke; and is placed here as an instance, that the 
 Edystone column may be applied to some uses of architecture. 
 
 Fig. 7- represents one of the silver medals, given to the seamen as a token 
 of the service, % 177. 
 
 Fig. 8. shews the tool wherewith the stones were got up from the bottom 
 of the Gut, mentioned § 223. A, one of the stones with two trenail holes, as 
 per § 179. 
 
 Suppose this stone lying flat in the bottom of the Gut, the side A uppermost. 
 The tool has a pole or stall" b h about twelve feet Jong, sufficient to reach to 
 the bottom. The single prong c is forged to a very gentle taper, such as to be 
 thrust eight or nine inches into a trenail hole (all of them being bored to a 
 gauge) it can be driven by the pole, till fast; observing that the arm e corre¬ 
 sponds to the centre of gravity of the stone. The water is generally so clear 
 as to see the bottom; and in case of any ruffle by the wind, can be in a great 
 measure freed from agitation, by looking through a speaking trumpet, w hose 
 mouth is put down eight or ten inches into the water. The rope def being 
 then set upon by the main tackle; instead of its draw ing out, the length of the 
 arm ” causes the prong to jamb the faster in the hole; and the start being 
 quitted by the hand, with a cord to> hinder its Hying oft’ too far, the whole as¬ 
 sumes the position of the figure ; and when brought above w ater, is low ered 
 
 Fig. 9. is a section of one of the mortar buckets, and in it the beater. This 
 figure will need no further explanation, after what is said § 237. 
 
 lug. 10. shews one of the internal faces of the lantern’s glass frames, to the 
 same scale as Plate No. 12, and therein the cross bars of iron as they w ere ac¬ 
 tually fixed according to § 306 and 307. —Besides the Hal at each end of each 
 liar, distinguished by a darker shade, and through which the screws passed ; 
 each end was also cranked about an inch, so as to set the transverse part of the 
 liars, clear of the copper sash frame; and they were cleared ol each other at 
 their intersection, by one of them being made straight, the other curved in that 
 
 * A rope laid hawser fashion is a rope consisting of any number of yarns according to the strength required, which divided into three strands, and each being twisted 
 equally, are prepared to be laid into a rope. Bui if this,or any similar rope is further twisted, equally with two others, so us to make three strands, these will form a rope, 
 i>aid to be cable laid. 
 

 TECHNICAL REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
 
 197 
 
 pail.—Tliis figure is less regular than what is shewn Plate No. 13, yet I do 
 not look upon this assemblage as less capable of resistance to external violence, 
 or less useful in regard to the transmission of light; for all the panes being 
 taller than the candles, the chandelier rings arc so hung, that when the candles 
 are at rest, dispensing their light, that of one chandelier passes through the range 
 of panes A, and that of the other through the range B; and when the caudles 
 are .studied, one of the rings of lights being seen through the range C, the other 
 mounts to D, and vice versa. 
 
 Fig. 11. shews the chain of triangles, from the Edystone to the flag-staff of 
 the garrison of Plymouth, for ascertaining their distance trigonometrically. 
 
 Fig. 12. is an enlargement of the work within the Headlands of the Sound; 
 the same letters marking the same points in both : whereof K denotes the Edy- 
 stonc.—It Bamhead—M Maystone, or Mew-stone.—P the triangular tower 
 on Point Penlee.—S Statdown battery house.—\V the western temporary bea¬ 
 con.—G the eastern, upon the glacis, near the west bastion's turret.—B a sta¬ 
 tion at the middle of the base_F the garrison's flag-staff. 
 
 The whole country about Plymouth Sound being very uneven, I could not 
 readily obtain a base better, than by very carefully measuring the two lines BG, 
 B W, taking the intercepted angle W B G; whence the right line VV G was ob¬ 
 tained, making a base of 1,871 feet, and which I cannot suppose to err more 
 than half a foot.—Again, the nearest place from whence the two beacons VV, G 
 could be commodiously seen for the purpose, was the point S; and all the 
 three angles of the triangle W S G being likewise carefully taken, I conclude 
 the angle VV S G, = 10° 2b', taken true to a minute; that is to (^d part of the 
 w hole angle. The line S VV could therefore be determined within 5 j T d part; 
 which being considered as a new base of larger extent, may be esteemed true 
 
 within j^Tjtli part of the w hob-From this, and the angles taken as marked upon 
 
 the scheme, the lines VVP, VVM, and VV B, were successively determined; and 
 finally F E, the distance of the flag-staff from the Edystone, came out very near, 
 but somewhat less than, 14 miles.—But the interior harbour of Plymouth, 
 called Sutton Pool, being about three furlongs farther from the Edystone than 
 the flag-stall'; the whole distance may be esteemed 14J miles from Plymouth 
 Harbour. 
 
 Plate, No. 19- -1 Map of the Coasts and Country m 
 
 r the Spur 
 
 Point. 
 
 It appears that this coast, from Flamborough Head, or at least from Brid¬ 
 lington to the Spurn Point, trending S. S. E. (true nterid.) and the tide of flood 
 of the German Ocean setting strongly to the southwards; this will cause these 
 flood-tides, when agitated by all winds from N. N. VV. to N. E. to bite very 
 hard upon this stretch of coast; and, no part of it being rocky, to wear away; 
 the sand and matter dislodged to be driven towards the south, forming at the tail 
 of the land, the appendage, called the Spurn Point, §337. Doubtless this matter 
 so brought would in time block up the Humber, was it not for the powerful 
 re-flow of that river's tide, aided by the fresh water from the higher country. 
 The Spurn Point being therefore the effect of a struggle between the sea tide 
 of the German Ocean and the re-flow of the Humber, we are not to wonder if 
 the powerful effort of the sea by degrees drives the channel of the Humber 
 southwards towards the Lincolnshire coast, thereby giving opportunity for the 
 Spurn Point to lengthen towards the south, §ibid. and, as the coast wears aw ay, 
 to which it hangs as a rudder, to be also in a slate of travel westward, § 336, 
 and 338. 
 
 Plate, No. 20. Plan of the Spurn Point, as in 178(1. Also its Variations 
 during the preceding twenty Years. 
 
 Fig. 1. is the plan of the Spurn Point, as taken in the year 1786, compre¬ 
 hending about 98 acres; upon which little needs to be said, after what is upon 
 the face of it, and § 34.5 is considered. 
 
 Fig. 2. is an enlargement of the extreme point of the Spurn, wherein the 
 boundary line of the sand hommucks, and its relative high water line is mark¬ 
 ed with the year. The space comprehended betw een these two lines was a kind 
 of flat area or fore shore over which the sea beat in rough weather; attd upon 
 which (the whole being then considered as rapidly increasing) the lower light 
 was proposed to be built at A; Angel's lighthouse being at that time in use; 
 and within the boundary of the firm part of the peninsula, § 345. B was the 
 place marked out for the high light; and parallel to A B, the proposed line of di¬ 
 rection, at the distance of 23 yards to south-westward, were the two points C, 1) 
 marked out for the temporary lights; but for reasons that appeared before llieir 
 erection, the point C was in reality carried to B.—F, a low building, contain¬ 
 ing two cottages for the temporary light-keepers, w as erected at the same time. 
 When the lighthouses were begun in 1771, the high-water line was as marked 
 for that year. For reasons, § 336, the low light marked at A was placed at G. 
 'I he high lighthouse was begun the latter end of the year 1772, and placed at 
 II, § ibid .— In 1773 the high water line was as marked, and the boundary of 
 the sand hotnmacks remained nearly the same for some time; but a great 
 storm in January 1776 varied the high water line, as marked for that year, and 
 described § 338. After this there was little variation of that line to the con¬ 
 clusion of the work in 1777- 
 
 On visiting the Spurn in 1786, the high water line ran as described for that 
 year, approaching near to the low light machine at Q. —1KL, Fig. 1. is the 
 high water line, and M N (> that of low water; from which it will appear, that 
 the Spurn Point marked P, is advanced considerably to south-westward from 
 the line of direction, and has considerably retreated to north-westward, or nearer 
 abreast of the high light.—Of the island It there were no traces in 1777; but 
 now, being grown w ith the bent grass the sand hotnmacks had established 
 themselves, and rendered the surface irregular.—It appears that little change 
 has happened near the high lighthouse, but that the breadth of sand was there 
 increased. 
 
 A A The level of the pavement of the circular court-yard,—B the coal vault. 
 —C is a room for the smith’s shop, and machine for hoisting the coals.— I) is a 
 vacant room.—B, the dwelling room, having two opposite lire places, to be 
 used as the wind suits.—F anil G upper chambers.—11 the pipe room ; wherein 
 i K, are two of eight air pipes, that convey air from the external hopper- 
 
 mouths, to L the receptacle; which is lined with thick plate iron ; the bottom 
 being stone.—When the door is shut, the air ascends through the large funnel M, 
 and the hearth N, to the lire grate, § 349—The flame is seen in every direction 
 through the windows of the lantern, and the smoke is collected in passing the 
 decagon conical roof, composed of ten Elland-edge flagstones; and lastly, 
 through the copper funnel at <). The coals in the day-time are drawn up in a 
 tub from the coal vault, through the opening P ; by means of the roll, wheel, pi¬ 
 nion, and winch at Q. A rope, from thence ascending through all the floors, goes 
 over a large pulley, suspended from the roof; and thence downw ard through 
 the hole in the arch at I!, goes down the large square wooden pipe ST, which 
 terminates at T in an hopper-mouth proper for receiving in the burthen. 
 
 The ashes and hot cinders passing through the grate, fall into the bottom of 
 the receptacle L; and by heating the air therein, promotes a sufficient draught in 
 the calmest weather; and which can be augmented and regulated, when there is a 
 breeze; as any of the air pipes can be closed at pleasure.—Every morning when 
 the receptacle is to be cleared, the ashes and cinders are thrown into the little 
 hopper at V, and are conveyed down the square wood pipe V VV, through W X, 
 a pipe formed in the brick work, and from thence into a bing-stead in the 
 court-yard. 
 
 The corner pillars of the lantern are of cast iron, framed in a similar man¬ 
 ner to what has been described for the Edystone; allowing for difference in 
 size and proportion. The sash frames are of oak. yy Air holes in the lan¬ 
 tern, occasionally closed with a slider, c ; Open holes in the coal vault to 
 admit air and light. X. B. In 178(j, this building was not sensibly out of 
 upright. 
 
 Fig. 1 • the ground plan. The outward circle, close piling. The stones in 
 the interspaces of the bearing piles, were large Elland-edge paving stones, 11} 
 inches depth, driven hard down, after the piling was done, with an heavy two 
 men's paviours rummer; intended, exclusive of the piling, to condense and con¬ 
 solidate the w hole body of sand under the building, that the whole mass might 
 selllo together. 
 
 Fig. 2. an horizontal section of the coal vault. Wherein A is the circular 
 stair, from the entry door to the stone floor of the first room.—B a door into 
 the coal vault; C and D the places of two hatchways, or openings through the 
 vault. E. W. N. S. mark the cardinal points in all the figures; and also the 
 places of the air holes of the vault in this. 
 
 Fig. 3. the plan of the stone floor over the coal vault. Wherein, A the land¬ 
 ing of the stairs.—B An out door, having a gibbet for hoisting the coals to the 
 stone floor, for their deposition after the lower door is blocked up.—C An 
 hatchway in the middle Ibr the equal distribution of the coals.—1) The hatch¬ 
 way for the coal tub— B The roll, wheel, pinion, and winch.—At B. W. N. are 
 three windows; at S. is the gibbet marked by dotted lines.—F is the ash pipe. 
 
 Fig. 4. shews the framing of the dwelling room floor. The place ot the 
 windows in this, as in all the rest, conform to the cardinal points.—G, G The 
 fire places.—H The opening for the step ladder.— 1.) The coal pipe.—F The 
 ash pipe.—Besides this, there are four more timber floors, of similar construc¬ 
 tions; the girders laving alternately B. and W. and N. and S. 
 
 Fig. 5. an horizontal section of the pipe room, air pipes, and receptacle ; 1 lx 
 is one of the air pipes; their hopper-mouths being shewn at 1.—One of the 
 sliders is shew n in flat at M; as applied at N, which is the section of its groove. 
 Each pipe having one, they cun be regulated according to the quarter and 
 strength of the w ind.— D The coal pipe. 
 
 Fig. ti. Flan of the lantern and balcony floor, ready for the reception of the 
 iron work. The largest dotted circle shews the circumference of the top of the 
 brick shaft of the main column. A The balcony door.— B The hearth.—C The 
 lire grate.— D The falling doors closing the top of the coal pipe; and E the 
 falling doors closing the top of the man-hole ; to which the ascent is by a ladder 
 from the pipe room. 
 
 I r ig. 7. is the plan, and Fig. 8- the section of the fire grate to an enlarged 
 scale.—It is chiefly of cast iron ; the bottom made to take out. A, B circular 
 bricks, of fire clay. 
 
 Plate, No. 23. Elevation of the high Lighthouse, and of the Swape for 
 exhibiting the Lota Light, upon Spurn Point. 
 
 supposed to be viewed upon the line of direction : 
 '* machine would have fallen directly upon the 
 
 These structures are 
 in which case the figun 
 
 lighthouse. The line of view is marked in Plate 22. Fig. (i. being : 
 bearing of N. \\ . by U . j W. in w hich position the two structures are seen clear 
 of each other; and, to bring them into one plate, the scale is only half the size 
 of the two former.—A person standing in the entry door of the lighthouse, will 
 see the low light machine, or swape, through the door of the court-yard wall; 
 which is a circle 1 of 90 feet diameter. 
 
 The swape, including the walls whereon it stands, exhibits the light at the 
 height of 36 feet,—The tire basket of iron turning upon an axis, always places 
 itself level, in every position of the mast A B. This loaded with a weight at A, 
 counterbalances the iron work and fuel at top; the whole being steadied, and 
 clipped into an iron frame, that turns in equilibria) upon the horizontal axis a h; 
 supported by pillars, and braces, as per figure.—When the fire wants renewal, 
 the attendant laying hold of one of the winches of the roll cd, turns it round, so 
 as to wind the rope shewn at e upon it. This rope, after going obliquely to¬ 
 wards the ground, passes a pulley in a stud, fixed therein, at some yards distance; 
 and thence arising obliquely upward, as fg, it lays hold of the mast by a small 
 chain. By the motion of the roll the lire basket is brought to the ground, 
 w here it is fed with a shovelful or two of coals. While the rope e was w inding 
 upon the roll, the rope h being coiled thereon the contrary way, was unwinding; 
 and this being attached at A to the extreme of the lower end of the mast, and 
 at equal distance, in rising it carries the rope along with it. The fuel being re¬ 
 newed, the winch is turned the contrary way round; by which, that end of the 
 mast is brought down, and the fire basket carried up, into the position shewn 
 iu the figure. The lower end of the mast is steadied against the cross piece 
 i k ; the roll being then fastened.—The projecting part I is a small umbrella of 
 sheet iron, serving to throw oft' the falling cinders from the rope. 
 
 N. B. The whole operation can be performed in a couple of minutes. 
 
C 193 ) 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 In tlie preceding references it is mentioned, in the explanation of Plate No. 17, Fig. 14. that the compound purchase, called the runner and tackle; which con¬ 
 sists of one large pulley or sheave in the runner block ; and which together with a pair of tackle block s, of three pulleys in each; that altogether consist of seven 
 sheaves; composes a purchase equivalent to that of the great blocks; which consisting of six sheaves each, makes the whole number twelve: this last, therefore, 
 having a greater number of moving parts, and flexures of the reeving rope ; being consequently less simple, and attended with more friction; it will naturally be 
 enquired, by those of my readers who are not seamen, or versed in the mechanic powers, why the runner and tackle is not to be preferred in all cases ? 
 
 The runner and tackle doubtless, working with less friction, is to be preferred wherever it can be properly applied ; but many are the cases, in w hicli it cannot be 
 applied: for, it will readily be perceived, by inspection of Fig. 14. that while the tackle blocks L. M, are hauled together, or brought block and block; and one 
 of them has moved through the space L M ; the runner block K will only rise, or move, through half that space, on account of the runner rope being double. It 
 therefore follows, that the weight can be lifted or moved only half the height or space, where a runner is applied, that it could be where the tackle alone is ap¬ 
 plied. In consequence, if a weight was to be lifted upon shears by the runner and tackle, to a given height, the shears would be obliged to be twice as high; 
 which would in most cases be very inconvenient: but where there is height enough; or in the case of a guy-rope or guide rope, as in Fig. 6. marked 6, 7, there being 
 
 a considerable length of dead rope, not engaged with any sheave; the runner may be of any length, to give the purchase the scope required_The runner, theie- 
 
 fore, though it doubles the purchase of the tackle blocks, it reduces the height to which the weight could be hoisted by them alone, to half.—I shall conclude 
 with observing, that if the great purchase blocks of 20 sheaves (Plate No. 18, Fig. 1. and 2.) were worked with a runner, they would form a purchase of forty to 
 one; and, of the size of blocks described, would with security hoist a weight of 20 tons. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 tVtiilefriars, Lonilou. 
 
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 l[ /.OXJtOX 
 
 CARDI (I„ 
 
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 iGlJOCES'I'KK 
 
 GlAlldl,, 
 
 Laiidnlfi 
 
 kliKISTOL 
 
 
 
 SHIRE 
 
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 Mil and I'. 1 1 
 
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 Alderney 
 
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 liilWUX 
 
 S'lincilc 
 
 Ittllursun 
 
 Scale ofEiiglinli Miles 694 toallrg-i 
 
 Bay ol'Dovv 
 
 QCIMFEK 
 
 Scale df JN’aiitic Leagues 
 
 T/u.: Clini-I cmitfirr/imdt 
 rkc/olIr'iiiiilt/Lighl- lion s.= 
 
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 'l.Tttur t!f Sal tint 
 S..l'.'.lt/nrJ. Sa/h/ 
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 S AHTKS 
 
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 IDLES OX 
 
 J\?. TheNiuncm! Etyutrs ,/snots Mr i/spt/i in Ea/homs atZonrTf. 
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 CjUirrl i III *1' IC" T,:. !rn 
 
 JRHSKY 
 
 CojlllLUCCS 
 
 
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 * RmzvQfea 
 
♦' MAP of the Co.iSTS Sc Cor. A TRY oppofite /hr EDYSTOA'E JiOCKS. 
 
 >J“ 2 
 
 . Ute snuitt shettie of the r'liVST(l\‘H Roths to rrnt/tr their Jor/n 
 the autre Sistieipiiis/nihtr. tier shewn of 'four times the site thee 
 won hi hr hv the Scale of' the Jlttp, 
 is the House Reef', 
 the Sugar Loaf Rock . 
 the.fouth Reel' 
 the South Rust Reefer /.eth/e. 
 the JVeirth Rust Retch . 
 the Neptune Buts 
 
 Ritnirfetl than et topof/iapliietit phut of 
 Plymouth Sonnet, Bfartms lan/e 
 Mop of CowiKiLL. t- other Ohscrt'tnrns 
 
 . Map of CoR.w.11. 
 
 I 
 
 

 
• rasa*; 
 
 WIN STANLEY S LIGHTUOrSI 
 
 t/,r EDYSTOAE 
 
 ROCK 
 
 , ./iv/ //vzr /rn/.v/rf/ m l//f Irv/r /6'qfl. 
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 BELLO 
 
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 ttmcl’IUKON 
 
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 tlc-LITTLFJU'RV 
 
 in ComliSSKX 
 
 lii-iiAiiuoDonv 
 

PLELEVATION oft/te EDVSTOVE ROCK, 
 
 Seen /ran/ t/r ///.»•/: '7a/rn //van //ir - Jfarfe/ f/erraf ntr/tfyajtr//. <f/■/•/. /n.-T. 
 
ELEVATION ofthr STONE UCrllTHOT'SK mm/iMn/ it/mt KOVS TONE „t ifjq. 
 SZrim/to-t/ir Fnu-uert ofthr neare.r/ Itnut, mi/qp/*m!t/m» Aie At*fa mvchartn/m ti»v. 
 
 
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mmks 
 


 d . East Side, Work i , r .„, „ \\'4 y 
 
 ro / Landing ,»,«/ Hoisting dr Stones .) r . /// rimy. // 
 
 y - f/r Entry Courses 
 
 / Vzsv/j d - Rock 
 
 * f/tet&MMjf Mr ttM 
 
 mt.&wr n/dir BrilJMNG . 
 
 7 J.Xeor,/ Jhltfl. >7#(, 
 
 - Vnt/r 6 F / yt = 
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 t/u/i. 
 =£ 
 
 Fig./. 
 

 
 
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Drjen/rtms of SUPPIJJMENTAL MATTERS EDYi 
 
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 Section y/MIiti h LiwmiorsE hj>o» f/>r SPURN 
 
 POINT . 
 
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