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A sloop of forty tons had been in the meantime built at Leith； and
named the SMEATON； by the 7th of August my grandfather set sail in her
…
‘carrying with him Mr。 Peter Logan； foreman builder； and five
artificers selected from their having been somewhat accustomed to the sea；
the writer being aware of the distressing trial which the floating light
would necessarily inflict upon landsmen from her rolling motion。 Here
he remained till the 10th； and； as the weather was favourable； a landing
was effected daily； when the workmen were employed in cutting the large
seaweed from the sites of the lighthouse and beacon； which were
respectively traced with pickaxes upon the rock。 In the meantime the
crew of the SMEATON was employed in laying down the several sets of
moorings within about half a mile of the rock for the convenience of
vessels。 The artificers； having； fortunately； experienced moderate
weather； returned to the workyard of Arbroath with a good report of their
treatment afloat； when their comrades ashore began to feel some anxiety
to see a place of which they had heard so much； and to change the constant
operations with the iron and mallet in the process of hewing for an
occasional tide's work on the rock； which they figured to themselves as a
state of comparative ease and comfort。'
I am now for many pages to let my grandfather speak for himself； and
tell in his own words the story of his capital achievement。 The tall quarto
of 533 pages from which the following narrative has been dug out is
practically unknown to the general reader； yet good judges have perceived
its merit； and it has been named （with flattering wit） ‘The Romance of
Stone and Lime' and ‘The Robinson Crusoe of Civil Engineering。' The
tower was but four years in the building； it took Robert Stevenson； in the
midst of his many avocations； no less than fourteen to prepare the
ACCOUNT。 The title…page is a solid piece of literature of upwards of a
hundred words； the table of contents runs to thirteen pages； and the
dedication （to that revered monarch； George IV） must have cost him no
little study and correspondence。 Walter Scott was called in council； and
offered one miscorrection which still blots the page。 In spite of all this
pondering and filing； there remain pages not easy to construe； and
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inconsistencies not easy to explain away。 I have sought to make these
disappear； and to lighten a little the baggage with which my grandfather
marches； here and there I have rejointed and rearranged a sentence； always
with his own words； and all with a reverent and faithful hand； and I offer
here to the reader the true Monument of Robert Stevenson with a little of
the moss removed from the inscription； and the Portrait of the artist with
some superfluous canvas cut away。
I … OPERATIONS OF 1807
＇Sunday； 16th Aug。＇
Everything being arranged for sailing to the rock on Saturday the 15th；
the vessel might have proceeded on the Sunday； but understanding that
this would not be so agreeable to the artificers it was deferred until
Monday。 Here we cannot help observing that the men allotted for the
operations at the rock seemed to enter upon the undertaking with a degree
of consideration which fully marked their opinion as to the hazardous
nature of the undertaking on which they were about to enter。 They went
in a body to church on Sunday； and whether it was in the ordinary course；
or designed for the occasion； the writer is not certain； but the service was；
in many respects； suitable to their circumstances。
＇Monday； 17th Aug。＇
The tide happening to fall late in the evening of Monday the 17th； the
party； counting twenty…four in number； embarked on board of the
SMEATON about ten o'clock p。m。； and sailed from Arbroath with a gentle
breeze at west。 Our ship's colours having been flying all day in
compliment to the commencement of the work； the other vessels in the
harbour also saluted； which made a very gay appearance。 A number of
the friends and acquaintances of those on board having been thus collected；
the piers； though at a late hour； were perfectly crowded； and just as the
SMEATON cleared the harbour； all on board united in giving three hearty
cheers； which were returned by those on shore in such good earnest； that；
in the still of the evening； the sound must have been heard in all parts of
the town； re…echoing from the walls and lofty turrets of the venerable
Abbey of Aberbrothwick。 The writer felt much satisfaction at the manner
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
of this parting scene； though he must own that the present rejoicing was；
on his part； mingled with occasional reflections upon the responsibility of
his situation； which extended to the safety of all who should be engaged in
this perilous work。 With such sensations he retired to his cabin； but as
the artificers were rather inclined to move about the deck than to remain in
their confined berths below； his repose was transient； and the vessel being
small every motion was necessarily heard。 Some who were musically
inclined occasionally sung； but he listened with peculiar pleasure to the
sailor at the helm； who hummed over Dibdin's characteristic air：…
‘They say there's a Providence sits up aloft； To keep watch for the life
of poor Jack。'
＇Tuesday； 18th Aug。＇
The weather had been very gentle all night； and； about four in the
morning of the 18th； the SMEATON anchored。 Agreeably to an arranged
plan of operations； all hands were called at five o'clock a。m。； just as the
highest part of the Bell Rock began to show its sable head among the light
breakers； which occasionally whitened with the foaming sea。 The two
boats belonging to the floating light attended the SMEATON； to carry the
artificers to the rock； as her boat could only accommodate about six or
eight sitters。 Every one was more eager than his neighbour to leap into
the boats and it required a good deal of management on the part of the
coxswains to get men unaccustomed to a boat to take their places for
rowing and at the same time trimming her properly。 The landing…master
and foreman went into one boat； while the writer took charge of another；
and steered it to and from the rock。 This became the more necessary in
the early stages of the work； as places could not be spared for more than
two； or at most three seamen to each boat； who were always stationed； one
at the bow； to use the boat…hook in fending or pushing off； and the other at
the aftermost oar； to give the proper time in rowing； while the middle oars
were double…banked； and rowed by the artificers。
As the weather was extremely fine； with light airs of wind from the
east； we landed without difficulty upon the central part of the rock at half…
past five； but the water had not yet sufficiently left it for commencing the
work。 This interval； however； did not pass unoccupied。 The first and
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last of all the principal operations at the Bell Rock were accompanied by
three hearty cheers from all hands； and； on occasions like the present； the
steward of the ship attended； when each man was regaled with a glass of
rum。 As the water left the rock about six； some began to bore the holes
for the great bats or holdfasts； for fixing the beams of the Beacon… house；
while the smith was fully attended in laying out the site of his forge； upon
a somewhat sheltered spot of the rock； which also recommended itself
from the vicinity of a pool of water