118 Some Account of the Northern Light-houses. 



the perpendicular motion of shades before the lights. A variety 

 of all these lights is introduced by interposing before the re- 

 flectors plates of red glass, which produce the beautiful red light 

 alluded to in the lines of Sir Walter Scott, when he notices the 

 " ruddy gem of changeful light.*" 



Nothing, in our opinion, can exceed the marked and charac- 

 teristic description of the appearance of the several lights allud- 

 ed to. It would be most hazardous to tamper with such a sys- 

 tem, or to adopt speculative alterations. The French, it is be- 

 lieved, are attempting to distinguish their lights by classing them 

 in orders according to the intensity and duration of the light, 

 as described by M. De Rossel, Amiral de France. But we con- 

 fess we are at a loss to conceive how such a system can be mo- 

 dified to the various atmospheric changes to which a French or 

 even an Italian sky is subject ; and still less is it possible that 

 the distinctions can be sufficiently obvious to observers at diffe- 

 rent distances. We fear there is more of theory than practice 

 in this projected system. 



In concluding the notice of the works of the Northern Lights' 

 Board, we cannot help observing the proof which they afford of the 

 rapid extent and importance of the shipping interest of the united 

 kingdom. According to the circumscribed scale of the original 

 light-house act for Scotland, only four stations were contem- 

 plated, leaving an immense hiatus between each, and it is sur- 

 prising to think that in half a century there are now twenty-two 

 stations, the distances between which are so modified, that, with 

 the erection of two or three additional light-houses, vessels may 

 go round the mainland of Scotland, from the Frith of Forth to 

 the Frith of Clyde, with a light always in view. One of the 

 lights still wanted, and which is recognised in the act of Parlia- 

 ment, is for the rock Skerry-vore, which lies far at sea, between 

 the Islar\^s of Tyree and lona, in the direct line between Bara 

 Head and Islay, and forms the seaward termination of a great 

 mass of foul ground on the coast of Argyleshire ; which is highly 

 dangerous to West Indiamen falling in with the land. Two or 

 three lights on a small scale are also wanted for the Sounds of 

 Islay, Mull, and Skye; and the Shetland Islands require at least 

 another light, to complete the entire district of the Commis- 

 sioners of the Northern Light-houses. The clause in the Light- 

 house Act will then come into operation, which provides, that 



