Mr Andrew Masson, an artist who in early life had been at sea, having expressed a desire to reside in the Light-house for some time during winter, that he might observe the waves in a storm, was readily furnished with an opportunity. He went there in the month of December 1816, and remained for six weeks and four days, when he produced various sketches of the appearances which he witnessed; and Mr Macdonald, noticed at page [519], made several outlines from actual observation, in the winter of 1820. All of these were put into the hands of Mr Turner, Royal Academician; who gave the very spirited drawing from which Mr Horsburgh, an artist of much promise, has succeeded in producing the striking representation in the Frontispiece. The writer has also the pleasure of acknowledging the obligations he owes to Mr Williams, author of Views in Greece, for his friendly advice and assistance.
It may here be remarked, as not a little surprising, that while the sea is running nearly to the height represented in the Frontispiece, the entrance-door of the Light-house, or at least one of its leaves, may nevertheless be left open; and the portion of water which on these occasions makes its way into the passage, is found to be very trifling. This is owing to the fortunate position of the door; for, while the sprays on the eastern side fly with the quickness of lightning to the top of the house, the waves separate below, and are sent round the building with such force, that their collision upon the lee-side produces the wonderful appearance in the picture; where a downy spray, white as snow, rises at some distance from the house, to the height of 20 or 30 feet above the medium surface of the sea, and comes in minute particles upon those within the entrance-door, producing a sensation as if dust were falling upon them.
VIGNETTE OF SECOND TITLE-PAGE.
Pl. XXII.
The night scene of the Bell Rock Light-house, in the Vignette of the Second Title-page, was drawn by Miss Stevenson, from a sketch by the masterly hand of Mr Skene of Rubislaw. To Miss Stevenson, also, as an amanuensis, the writer takes this opportunity, with parental affection, of acknowledging his obligation for almost the entire manuscript written to his diction. The reader will be gratified to find, in connection with this Vignette, inserted at page [64.], a fac-simile of the handwriting of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. in the expressive and beautiful lines which he wrote in the Album kept at the Light-house, as noticed at page [419].
Plate XXIII.
DESIGN FOR A LIGHT-HOUSE, SUGGESTED UPON VISITING THE WOLF ROCK SITUATE EIGHT MILES S. S. W. FROM THE LAND’S-END.
SKETCHES of a NEW DESIGN for a LIGHT HOUSE.
Drawn by G. C. Scott