The Works are visited by Mr Murdoch of Soho.
At the Rock, the landing of the materials, and the building operations of the light-room-store, went on successfully, and in a way similar to those of the provision-store. To-day it blew fresh breezes; but the seamen nevertheless landed 28 stones, and the artificers built the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth courses. The works were visited by Mr Murdoch junior, from Messrs Boulton and Watt’s works of Soho. He landed just as the bell rung for prayers; after which the writer enjoyed much pleasure from his very intelligent conversation: and having been almost the only stranger he had seen for some weeks, he parted with him, after a short interview, with much regret.
Wednesday, 27th.
Sixty-second course laid.
There were 46 pieces of stone landed to-day, 16 of which were built, being the Sixty-second course, in which the upper brass cases for the hinges of the storm-shutters occurred, each of which weighed about 25 lb., or 100 lb. for the four cases with their hinges. The sole or foot of the balance-crane was also shifted, an operation which became necessary at the height of about every 16 feet of the Light-house; and it was now raised from the store-room to the kitchen-floor. The shaft of the crane consisted of one piece of 8 feet, and three of 6 feet, making its whole length 26 feet, of which, about 7 feet were occupied with the body and foot of the crane. The operations of laying the courses in which the hinge-cases of the storm-shutters of the different windows occurred, like those of the entrance-door, being very tedious, the Beacon-bell was rung this morning at the very early hour of 3 o’clock, and as the work continued till half-past 9 at night, the artificers had 8 hours and a half’s extra work, which yielded them 4s. 3d. of extra pay.
Thursday, 28th.
Workmen wetted by the sea on the top of the walls.
The Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth courses were laid to-day, consisting of 16 stones each. Last night the wind had shifted to north-east, and blowing fresh, was accompanied with a heavy surf upon the Rock. Towards high water it had a very grand and wonderful appearance. Waves of considerable magnitude rose as high as the solid or level of the entrance-door, which, being open to the south-west, was fortunately to the leeward; but on the windward side, the sprays flew like lightning up the sloping sides of the building; and although the walls were now elevated 64 feet above the Rock, and about 52 feet from high-water mark, yet the artificers were nevertheless wetted, and occasionally interrupted in their operations on the top of the walls. These appearances were in a great measure new at the Bell Rock, there having till of late been no building to conduct the seas, or object to compare them with. Although, from the description of the Edystone Light-house, the mind was prepared for such effects, yet they were not expected to the present extent, in the summer season; the sea being most awful to-day, whether observed from the Beacon or the Building. To windward, the sprays fell from the height above noticed, in the most wonderful cascades, and streamed down the walls of the building in froth as white as snow. To leeward of the Light-house, the collision or meeting of the waves produced a pure white kind of drift, which is attempted to be represented in the [Frontispiece] to this work: it rose about 30 feet in height, like a fine downy mist, which, in its fall, felt upon the face and hands more like a dry powder than a liquid substance. The effects of these seas, as they ranged among the beams, and dashed upon the higher parts of the Beacon, produced a temporary tremulous motion throughout the whole fabric, which to a stranger must have been frightful.
Saturday, 30th.
Mr John Reid’s Report on the Floating-light.