“It now appears, by the accompanying Custom-House returns, on an average of three years, that the duties which would be received for a light-house on the Bell Rock would amount to L. 2617:3:9½; and by the accounts of the Commissioners of Northern Lights, annually laid before Parliament, it will be seen, that the memorialists have of annual surplus duties L. 1350, amounting together to L. 3967, which, it is thought, will be considered a sufficient security for the interest of the sum that may be advanced by the public.
“On erecting a light-house on the Bell Rock, the Commissioners, by the existing acts, would be empowered to levy the above duties of L. 2617, 3s. 9½d.; and it appears by the representations from the ports more immediately interested, that they highly approve of the measure.
“The memorialists have received several estimates of the expence of erecting a light-house upon the Bell Rock. They have more particularly had recourse to the professional abilities and advice of Mr Rennie and Mr Stevenson, Civil Engineers, from whose reports they have reason to believe that the sum will not exceed L. 48,000. The memorialists have already in the 3 per cent. consols L. 28,000 of surplus duties, (about L. 16,800). If the public, therefore, are induced to advance L. 25,000 by instalments in the course of three years, making together about L. 41,800, the memorialists presume, that, with the application of the whole surplus duties for a time, this sum will be perfectly sufficient to enable them to complete a work so long recommended, and so anxiously desired.” (For the statements above referred to, see Appendix, No. [III.])
Sir Joseph Banks makes further exertions for the Loan.
Observations by the several members of the Board of Trade having been made upon this memorial, it was more especially referred to Sir Joseph Banks, to give an opinion, as having himself sailed along that coast. Sir Joseph, knowing from experience the horrors of sunken rocks, supported the proposition of the loan, not only as one of expediency, but of necessity and humanity to the seafaring people of a great portion of the kingdom, and gave his most decided and hearty concurrence to the recommendation to the Treasury. After describing the extensive advantages to be derived by shipping from the establishment of a light-house upon the Bell Rock, he pointedly alluded to the probable loss of the York Man-of-war upon it; and observed, that the security and facility to be derived to the extensive shipping of this coast, should not be overlooked for the advance of so small a sum as L. 25,000. After the matter had been deliberated on for some time at the Board, Lord Auckland intimated to Mr Longlands, and the author, that a report would be made to the Treasury.
Bill Read a first time in the House of Commons.
This was communicated to the Lord Advocate, who, at an early day, moved for leave to bring in a bill, “To enable the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses to levy certain duties upon the shipping, and also to enable the Lords of His Majesty’s Treasury to grant a loan of L. 25,000 from the 3 per cent. consolidated fund for the erection of a light-house upon a certain dangerous sunken reef, called the Bell Rock, lying at the distance of twelve miles from the nearest land, at the entrance of the Friths of Forth and Tay, upon the eastern coast of Scotland.” His Lordship had no sooner made the motion, than Lord Henry Petty, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated, that he could not answer for the support which this bill might ultimately meet with from his Majesty’s Ministers;—that he spoke not from his own knowledge of the subject, but merely from the views of the First Lord of the Admiralty, who had expressed his doubts as to the propriety of the loan in the then low state of his Majesty’s Exchequer, and the great demands which were made upon the country; but that he did not mean to oppose the present motion, only, under these circumstances, he thought it proper to state this much, in absence of the noble Lord alluded to. Leave having been given to bring in the bill, it was accordingly read a first time.
Second Reading of the Bill.
On the second reading of the bill, the Lord Advocate introduced the business with his usual display of eloquence, pointing out, in forcible language, the horrors of a sunken rock so situate as the Bell Rock; and concluded, by observing, that, as there could be but one opinion as to the important object of this bill, he hoped, through the exertions of the Light-house Board, to which he had the honour to belong, and of other public functionaries, appointed for similar purposes, on other parts of the coast, the day would come, when every sunken rock and dangerous shoal, of similar importance to navigation, would be distinctly pointed out to the mariner. The only reply made was by Mr Spencer Perceval, who remarked, that he had no intention to oppose the present measure, the importance of which he would not call in question, but he must agree with those who thought that this was not a favourable time for granting loans of public money. The bill was then read a second time. In its progress through the House of Commons, it was detained, from various causes, beyond the regular time. The Lord Advocate had also unfortunately been taken ill; but in his absence, Sir John Sinclair attended to the bill in the Committee, of which he was chairman, and brought up the following Report: