Some Account of the Northern Light-houses. 109 



tion with regard to the Light-house Board, and its extensive 

 operations ; and we have also sought information from other 

 authentic sources. 



After adverting to the early state of navigation, the voyage 

 of James V. round the north of Scotland, and the early charts 

 of the coast, the subject of a Scottish Light-house Board is men- 

 tioned by Mr Stevenson as having originated with the Con- 

 vention of Royal Burghs, and its constitution by act of Par- 

 liament he refers to the year 1786. The Board consists of his 

 Majesty's Advocate and Solicitor-General, the Chief Magis- 

 trates of the principal burghs, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aber- 

 deen, Inverness and Campbelton, and the Sheriffs or Judges 

 Ordinary of maritime counties. 



When we look at the extent to which the operations of this 

 Board have been carried, it is not a little surprising to remark, 

 that the preamble of the original act states, " that it would 

 conduce greatly to the security of navigation and the fisheries, 

 ii Jour light-houses were erected in the north part of Great 

 Britain."" Such, it would seem, was the limited state of trade 

 about fifty years ago in Scotland, that the erection oi Jour 

 light-houses was all that was contemplated at that time, although 

 the coast, extending to about 2000 miles of circuit, is perhaps 

 the most dangerous of any in Europe. But no sooner were 

 these four lights exhibited to the mariner, than the facilities 

 which they afforded to navigation were cheerfully acknowledged, 

 and applications were received from the shipping interest of the 

 country for the erection of others ; and now, in 1833, there are 

 twenty-five lights on our coast, including double or leading 

 lights. The funds of this Board arise from a duty of 2d. per 

 register ton on all vessels passing any of them. In addition to 

 this, the trade of the Frith of Forth formerly paid three half- 

 pence per ton for the Isle of May light, by a Scotch act, to the 

 family of Scotstarvit ; but when this light, by act of Parliament, 

 became one of the Board's lights, the additional duty of three 

 halfpence was reduced to one halfpenny per ton, and the odious 

 distinction of making English and Irish vessels pay double, as 

 foreigners, ceased. Vessels also may now pass the three lights 

 of the Isle of Man, belonging to the Scotch Board, by paying 

 the small sura of one farthing per ton, which was considered 

 to be sufficient by the Board, on account of the great traffic 



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