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friend Mr。 Clerk in one of our conversations。 〃This work；〃 said he； 〃is
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unique； and can be little forwarded by experience of ordinary masonic
operations。 In this case Smeaton's ‘Narrative' must be the text…book； and
energy and perseverance the pratique。〃 '
（1） The particular event which concentrated Mr。 Stevenson's attention
on the problem of the Bell Rock was the memorable gale of December
1799； when； among many other vessels； H。M。S。 YORK； a seventy…four…
gun ship； went down with all hands on board。 Shortly after this disaster
Mr。 Stevenson made a careful survey； and prepared his models for a stone
tower； the idea of which was at first received with pretty general
scepticism； Smeaton's Eddystone tower could not be cited as affording a
parallel； for there the rock is not submerged even at high…water； while the
problem of the Bell Rock was to build a tower of masonry on a sunken
reef far distant from land； covered at every tide to a depth of twelve feet or
more； and having thirty…two fathoms' depth of water within a mile of its
eastern edge。
A Bill for the work was introduced into Parliament and lost in the
Lords in 1802…3。 John Rennie was afterwards； at my grandfather's
suggestion； called in council； with the style of chief engineer。 The
precise meaning attached to these words by any of the parties appears
irrecoverable。 Chief engineer should have full authority； full
responsibility； and a proper share of the emoluments； and there were none
of these for Rennie。 I find in an appendix a paper which resumes the
controversy on this subject； and it will be enough to say here that Rennie
did not design the Bell Rock； that he did not execute it； and that he was not
paid for it。 （1） From so much of the correspondence as has come down
to me； the acquaintance of this man； eleven years his senior； and already
famous； appears to have been both useful and agreeable to Robert
Stevenson。 It is amusing to find my grandfather seeking high and low for
a brace of pistols which his colleague had lost by the way between
Aberdeen and Edinburgh； and writing to Messrs。 Dollond； ‘I have not
thought it necessary to trouble Mr。 Rennie with this order； but I BEG YOU
WILL SEE TO GET TWO MINUTES OF HIM AS HE PASSES YOUR
DOOR' … a proposal calculated rather from the latitude of Edinburgh than
from London； even in 1807。 It is pretty； too； to observe with what
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affectionate regard Smeaton was held in mind by his immediate successors。
‘Poor old fellow；' writes Rennie to Stevenson； ‘I hope he will now and
then take a peep at us； and inspire you with fortitude and courage to brave
all difficulties and dangers to accomplish a work which will； if successful；
immortalise you in the annals of fame。' The style might be bettered； but
the sentiment is charming。
（1） The grounds for the rejection of the Bill by the House of Lords in
1802…3 had been that the extent of coast over which dues were proposed to
be levied would be too great。 Before going to Parliament again； the Board
of Northern Lights； desiring to obtain support and corroboration for Mr。
Stevenson's views； consulted first Telford； who was unable to give the
matter his attention； and then （on Stevenson's suggestion） Rennie； who
concurred in affirming the practicability of a stone tower； and supported
the Bill when it came again before Parliament in 1806。 Rennie was
afterwards appointed by the Commissioners as advising engineer； whom
Stevenson might consult in cases of emergency。 It seems certain that the
title of chief engineer had in this instance no more meaning than the above。
Rennie； in point of fact； proposed certain modifications in Stevenson's
plans； which the latter did not accept； nevertheless Rennie continued to
take a kindly interest in the work； and the two engineers remained in
friendly correspondence during its progress。 The official view taken by
the Board as to the quarter in which lay both the merit and the
responsibility of the work may be gathered from a minute of the
Commissioners at their first meeting held after Stevenson died； in which
they record their regret ‘at the death of this zealous； faithful； and able
officer； TO WHOM IS DUE THE HONOUR OF CONCEIVING AND
EXECUTING THE BELL ROCK LIGHTHOUSE。' The matter is briefly
summed up in the LIFE of Robert Stevenson by his son David Stevenson
（A。 & C。 Black； 1878）； and fully discussed； on the basis of official facts
and figures； by the same writer in a letter to the CIVIL ENGINEERS'
AND ARCHITECTS' JOURNAL； 1862。
Smeaton was； indeed； the patron saint of the Bell Rock。 Undeterred by
the sinister fate of Winstanley； he had tackled and solved the problem of
the Eddystone； but his solution had not been in all respects perfect。 It
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remained for my grand… father to outdo him in daring； by applying to a
tidal rock those principles which had been already justified by the success
of the Eddystone； and to perfect the model by more than one exemplary
departure。 Smeaton had adopted in his floors the principle of the arch；
each therefore exercised an outward thrust upon the walls； which must be
met and combated by embedded chains。 My grandfather's flooring…
stones； on the other hand； were flat； made part of the outer wall； and were
keyed and dovetailed into a central stone； so as to bind the work together
and be positive elements of strength。 In 1703 Winstanley still thought it
possible to erect his strange pagoda； with its open gallery； its florid scrolls
and candlesticks： like a rich man's folly for an ornamental water in a park。
Smeaton followed； then Stevenson in his turn corrected such flaws as were
left in Smeaton's design； and with his improvements； it is not too much to
say the model was made perfect。 Smeaton and Stevenson had between
them evolved and finished the sea…tower。 No subsequent builder has
departed in anything essential from the principles of their design。 It
remains； and it seems to us as though it must remain for ever； an ideal
attained。 Every stone in the building； it may interest the reader to know；
my grandfather had himself cut out in the model； and the manner in which
the courses were fitted； joggled； trenailed； wedged； and the bond broken； is
intricate as a puzzle and beautiful by ingenuity。
In 1806 a second Bill passed both Houses； and the preliminary works
were at once begun。 The same year the Navy had taken a great harvest of
prizes in the North Sea； one of which； a Prussian fishing dogger； flat…
bottomed and rounded at the stem and stern； was purchased to be a
floating lightship； and re…named the PHAROS。 By July 1807 she was
overhauled； rigged for her new purpose； and turned into the lee of the Isle
of May。 ‘It was proposed that the whole party should meet in her and
pass the night； but she rolled from side to side in so extraordinary a
manner； that even the most seahardy fled。 It was humorously observed
of this vessel that she was in danger of making a round turn and appearing
with her keel uppermost； and that she would even turn a half…penny if laid
upon deck。' By two o'clock on the morning of the 15th July this
purgatorial vessel was moored by the Bell Rock。
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A sloop of forty tons had been in the meantime built at Leith；