With these views we propose to connect the name of Smeaton with the interesting subject of Lighthouses. In the first place, we propose to present a brief history of Lighthouses, up to the time when Smeaton gave a type for this peculiar class of buildings upon dangerous and difficult points of coast; secondly, a general sketch of the life of Smeaton, so far as his very brief biographers will allow; and thirdly, a history of the improvements in Lighthouses which have been effected since the erection of the Eddystone.
In this compilation, the writer desires to express his obligations to the following works: A Narrative of the Building, and a Description of the Construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse with Stone, by John Smeaton, fol. London, 1791;—Mr. Holmes’s short Memoir of Smeaton;—The Communication of Mrs. Dixon, Smeaton’s daughter, to the Institution of Civil Engineers;—An Account of the Bell-Rock Lighthouse, including the Details of the Erection, and peculiar Structure of that Edifice, by Robert Stevenson, 4to. Edin. 1824;—The Edinburgh Encyclopædia, and the Encyclopædia Britannica;—An article on Lighthouses, by M. Arago, in the Annuaire;—The Civil Engineer’s and Architect’s Journal;—The Nautical Magazine;—and the Annual Reports of the Trinity House presented to the House of Commons.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Coleridge.
[2] Coleridge.
CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| EARLY LIGHTHOUSES. | PAGE |
| Origin of Lighthouses—Beacon Fires—Character of the EarlyWatch-towers—Cressets—Colossus of Rhodes—The Pharos ofAlexandria—Epitome of Ancient Lighthouses—The Tour deCorduan | [9] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| THE LIGHTHOUSES OF ENGLAND. | |
| Management of English Lighthouses—The Trinity House—EarlyHistory of this Corporation—Management of Lighthousesvested in—The Power of the Crown to grant Patents for Lighthouses—RecentLaw for the Regulation of Lighthouses—Revenueof Corporation—Rates of Dues—How collected anddisbursed—Constitution of the Corporation—The Public Lightsof England | [15] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| HISTORY OF THE EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE TO THE TIMEOF SMEATON. | |
| The Eddystone Rocks—Their Situation and dangerous Character—Thefirst Lighthouse by Winstanley—Its Progress andCompletion—Its awful Fate—Rudyerd’s Lighthouse—Descriptionof—Its Destruction by Fire—Smeaton appointed to constructa New Edifice | [21] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF SMEATON. | |
| Birth of Smeaton—His early Character and Employments—Educatedfor an attorney—His dislike of that profession—BecomesPhilosophical Instrument Maker—His Scientific Inquiries—Isappointed to build the Eddystone Lighthouse—Hissubsequent Employments—Public Works designed and completedby him—His Literary Works—His last Illness and Death—HisCharacter—Illustrative Anecdotes | [40] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| THE EDDYSTONE AS A TYPE OF ENGLISH LIGHTHOUSES. | |
| A Stone Lighthouse proposed—Smeaton’s first Visit to theRock—Operations of the First Season—Second Season—Structureof the Foundation—Ingenious Mode of securing the Stones—ThirdSeason—State of the Work—Progress and Descriptionof the Work—Accidents to the Engineer—Proposal to exhibita Light before the completion of the Building refused—FourthSeason—Completion of the Work—Appearance of the Lighthouseduring a Storm—Situation of the Light-keepers | [50] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| THE NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES. | |
| Importance of Lighting the Scottish Coast—Formation ofBoard of Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses—Early Proceedingsof the Board—Principal Northern Lighthouses—TheIsle of May Lighthouse—Loss of two Frigates—Application ofthe Admiralty to the Lighthouse Board, by whom the Dutiesand the Island of May are purchased—Numerous Shipwreckson the Island of Sanday—Foundation-stone of Start-PointLighthouse laid—Rev. W. Traill’s Address upon the occasion—SubsequentProceedings on Sanday Island—North RonaldsayLighthouse—Melancholy Accident—Importance of the NorthernLighthouses | [64] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| THE BELL-ROCK LIGHTHOUSE AS A TYPE OF SCOTTISHLIGHTHOUSES. | |
| History of the Inch-Cape or Bell-Rock Lighthouse as aType of the Northern Lighthouses—Position and DangerousCharacter of the Bell Rock—Ballad of Sir Ralph the Rover—Proposalto erect a Lighthouse—Mr. Robert Stevensonselected as Engineer—Survey of the Rock—Exhibition of aFloating Light—Preparations for the Lighthouse—First Seasonon the Rock—Alarming Situation of the Engineer and Men—Effectsof the Stormy Sea on the Rock—Erection of Beacon—WinterEmployment—The Second Season—A new Tenderemployed—Praam-boats and Stone-lighters—Progress of theWork—Remarkable appearance of the Rock—FoundationStone laid—First continuous Course of Masonry—Its Contents—ThirdSeason—Progress of the Work—Winter Operations—FourthSeason—The Beacon used as a Dwelling—Its Interiordescribed—The Engineer’s Cabin—The Lighthouse nearlyfinished—Mr. Smeaton’s Daughter visits the Works—Last Stonelaid—Light advertized—Lighthouse described—Action of theSea and of Stormy Weather upon the Lighthouse—InternalEconomy of the Lighthouse—Arrangements on Shore—Signals—CuriousAccident—The Carr Rock Beacon | [74] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| LIGHTHOUSES ON SAND AND CAST-IRON LIGHTHOUSES. | |
| Floating Lights—Objections to—Mitchell’s Screw-moorings—Experimentson the Maplin Sand—Foundation—Erection ofScrew-pile Lighthouse—Details of the Wyre Lighthouse—ProposedLighthouse on the Goodwin Sands—Metallic Lighthouses—Advantagesof Metal over Stone—Details of Cast-iron Lighthouseat Morant Point, Jamaica | [101] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE SYSTEM. | |
| Imperfect Illumination of the old Lighthouses—First Improvements—TheArgand Lamp and Reflecting Mirrors—RevolvingLights—The Catoptric System—Varieties of Lights—TheDioptric System—Its Details—Introduction of this Methodinto Great Britain—Comparison of the two Methods—TheDrummond and Voltaic Lights—Gurney’s Lamp—CaptainBasil Hall’s Experiments—Ventilation of Lighthouses | [110] |