“Dear Sir,
“A discontented and mutinous spirit having manifested itself of late, among the Landing-master’s crew, they struck work to-day, and demanded an additional allowance of beer, and I have found it necessary to dismiss D——d and M——e, who are now sent on shore with the Smeaton. You will, therefore, be so good as to pay them their wages, including this day only. Nothing can be more unreasonable than the conduct of the seamen on this occasion, as the landing-master’s crew not only had their own allowance on board of the Tender, but, in the course of this day, they had drawn no fewer than 24 quart pots of beer from the stock of the Patriot, while unloading her.
“I remain, yours truly,
“Robert Stevenson.”
“To Mr Lachlan Kennedy, Bell-Rock Office, Arbroath.”
On dispatching this letter to Mr Kennedy, the writer returned to the Beacon about 9 o’clock, where this afternoon’s business had produced many conjectures, especially when the Smeaton got under way, instead of proceeding to land her cargo. The bell on the Beacon being rung, the artificers were assembled on the bridge, when the affair was explained to them. He, at the same time, congratulated them upon the first appearance of mutiny being happily set at rest by the dismissal of its two principal abettors.
Saturday, 23d.
Progress of the Works at Arbroath.
The Smeaton having landed the disaffected men and delivered the letter, returned to the Bell Rock last evening at 8 o’clock, when the landing-master and his crew immediately proceeded to discharge her, leaving the loaded praams at their moorings for the night. By letters from the work-yard from Mr David Logan, clerk of works, the writer learned, that, when the two courses which the stone-cutters had now in hand were completed, there would only be one more to prepare, and that already several of the masons were about to be paid off.
Sunday, 24th.