records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第40章
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vicinity； and also that one of the vessels which； in compliment to her
father's memory； had been named the SMEATON； might also now be seen
in Leith； she considered herself extremely fortunate； and having first
visited the works at Greenside； she afterwards went to Leith to see the
SMEATON； then loading for the Bell Rock。 On stepping on board； Mrs。
Dickson seemed to be quite overcome with so many concurrent
circumstances； tending in a peculiar manner to revive and enliven the
memory of her departed father； and； on leaving the vessel； she would not
be restrained from presenting the crew with a piece of money。 The
SMEATON had been named spontaneously； from a sense of the obligation
which a public work of the description of the Bell Rock owed to the
labours and abilities of Mr。 Smeaton。 The writer certainly never could
have anticipated the satisfaction which he this day felt in witnessing the
pleasure it afforded to the only representative of this great man's family。
＇Friday； 20th July＇
The gale from the N。E。 still continued so strong； accompanied with a
heavy sea； that the PATRIOT could not approach her moorings； and
although the tender still kept her station； no landing was made to…day at
the rock。 At high… water it was remarked that the spray rose to the height
of about sixty feet upon the building。 The SMEATON now lay in Leith
loaded； but； the wind and weather being so unfavourable for her getting
down the Firth； she did not sail till this afternoon。 It may be here proper
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to notice that the loading of the centre of the light…room floor； or last
principal stone of the building； did not fail； when put on board； to excite
an interest among those connected with the work。 When the stone was
laid upon the cart to be conveyed to Leith； the seamen fixed an ensign…
staff and flag into the circular hole in the centre of the stone； and
decorated their own hats； and that of James Craw； the Bell Rock carter；
with ribbons； even his faithful and trusty horse Brassey was ornamented
with bows and streamers of various colours。 The masons also provided
themselves with new aprons； and in this manner the cart was attended in
its progress to the ship。 When the cart came opposite the Trinity House
of Leith； the officer of that corporation made his appearance dressed in his
uniform； with his staff of office； and when it reached the harbour； the
shipping in the different tiers where the SMEATON lay hoisted their
colours； manifesting by these trifling ceremonies the interest with which
the progress of this work was regarded by the public； as ultimately tending
to afford safety and protection to the mariner。 The wind had fortunately
shifted to the S。W。； and about five o'clock this afternoon the SMEATON
reached the Bell Rock。
＇Friday； 27th July＇
The artificers had finished the laying of the balcony course； excepting
the centre…stone of the light…room floor； which； like the centres of the other
floors； could not be laid in its place till after the removal of the foot and
shaft of the balance…crane。 During the dinner…hour； when the men were
off work the writer generally took some exercise by walking round the
walls when the rock was under water； but to…day his boundary was greatly
enlarged； for； instead of the narrow wall as a path； he felt no small degree
of pleasure in walking round the balcony and passing out and in at the
space allotted for the light…room door。 In the labours of this day both the
artificers and seamen felt their work to be extremely easy compared with
what it had been for some days past。
＇Sunday； 29th July＇
Captain Wilson and his crew had made preparations for landing the
last stone； and； as may well be supposed； this was a day of great interest at
the Bell Rock。 ‘That it might lose none of its honours；' as he expressed
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himself； the HEDDERWICK praam…boat； with which the first stone of the
building had been landed； was appointed also to carry the last。 At seven
o'clock this evening the seamen hoisted three flags upon the
HEDDERWICK； when the colours of the DICKIE praam…boat； tender；
SMEATON； floating light； beacon…house； and lighthouse were also
displayed； and； the weather being remarkably fine； the whole presented a
very gay appearance； and； in connection with the associations excited； the
effect was very pleasing。 The praam which carried the stone was towed
by the seamen in gallant style to the rock； and； on its arrival； cheers were
given as a finale to the landing department。
＇Monday； 30th July＇
The ninetieth or last course of the building having been laid to…day；
which brought the masonry to the height of one hundred and two feet six
inches； the lintel of the light…room door； being the finishing…stone of the
exterior walls； was laid with due formality by the writer； who； at the same
time； pronounced the following benediction： 〃May the Great Architect of
the Universe； under whose blessing this perilous work has prospered；
preserve it as a guide to the mariner。〃
＇Friday； 3rd Aug。＇
At three p。m。； the necessary preparations having been made； the
artificers commenced the completing of the floors of the several
apartments； and at seven o'clock the centre…stone of the light…room floor
was laid； which may be held as finishing the masonry of this important
national edifice。 After going through the usual ceremonies observed by the
brotherhood on occasions of this kind； the writer； addressing himself to the
artificers and seamen who were present； briefly alluded to the utility of the
undertaking as a monument of the wealth of British commerce； erected
through the spirited measures of the Commissioners of the Northern
Lighthouses by means of the able assistance of those who now surrounded
him。 He then took an opportunity of stating that toward those connected
with this arduous work he would ever retain the most heartfelt regard in all
their interests。
＇Saturday； 4th Aug。＇
When the bell was rung as usual on the beacon this morning； every
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one seemed as if he were at a loss what to make of himself。 At this
period the artificers at the rock consisted of eighteen masons； two joiners；
one millwright； one smith； and one mortar…maker； besides Messrs。 Peter
Logan and Francis Watt； foremen； counting in all twenty…five； and matters
were arranged for proceeding to Arbroath this afternoon with all hands。
The SIR JOSEPH BANKS tender had by this time been afloat； with little
intermission； for six months； during greater part of which the artificers had
been almost constantly off at the rock； and were now much in want of
necessaries of almost every description。 Not a few had lost different
articles of clothing； which had dropped into the sea from the beacon and
building。 Some wanted jackets； others； from want of hats； wore
nightcaps； each was； in fact； more or less curtailed in his wardrobe； and it
must be confessed that at best the party were but in a very tattered
condition。 This morning was occupied in removing the artificers and
their bedding on board of the tender； and although their personal luggage
was easily shifted； the boats had； nevertheless； many articles to remove
from the beacon… house； and were consequently employed in this service
till eleven a。m。 All hands being collected and just ready to embark； as
the water had nearly overflowed the rock； the writer； in taking leave； after
alluding to the harmony which had ever marked the conduct of those
employed on the Bell Rock； took occasion to compliment the great zeal；
attention； and abilities of Mr。 Peter Logan and Mr。 Francis Watt； foremen；
Captain James Wilson； landing…master； and Captain David Taylor；
commander of the tender； who； in their several departments； had so
faithfully discharged the duties assigned to them； often under
circumstances the most difficult and trying。 The health of these
gentlemen was drunk with much warmth of feeling by the artificers and
seamen； who severally expressed the satisfaction they had experienced in
acting under them； after which the whole party left the rock。
In sailing past the floating light mutual compliments were made by a
display of flags between that vessel and the tender； and at five p。m。 the
latter vessel entered the harbour of Arbroath； where the party were heartily
welcomed by a numerous company of spectators； who had collected to see
the artificers arrive after so long an absence from the port。 In the evening
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the writer invited the foremen and captains of the service； together with
Mr。 David Logan； clerk of works at Arbroath； and Mr。 Lachlan Kennedy；
engineer's clerk and book… keeper； and some of their friends； to the
principal inn； where the evening was spent very happily； and after ‘His
Majesty's Health' and ‘The Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses'
had been given； ‘Stability to the Bell Rock Lighthouse' was hailed as a
standing toast in the Lighthouse service。
＇Sunday； 5th Aug。＇
The
