198 Biographical Sketch of the late 



and their successful completion, abundantly show. The 

 work was, indeed, in all respects, peculiarly suited to his 

 tastes and habits ; and Mr Clerk truly, although perhaps 

 unconsciously, characterised the man, in his terse statement 

 of what would be required of him. No one can read his ac- 

 count of the Bell Rock Lighthouse without perceiving the 

 justness of this estimate of his character. His daily cheer- 

 ful participation in all the toils and hazards which were, for 

 two seasons, endured in the floating Light-Ship, and after- 

 wards in the Timber- House or Beacon, over which the waves 

 broke with prodigious force, and caused a most alarming 

 twisting movement of its main supports, were proofs not 

 merely of calm and enduring courage, but of great self-denial 

 and enthusiastic devotion to his calling. On one occasion in 

 particular, his fortitude and presence of mind were most 

 severely tried, and well they stood the test. I shall give the 

 narrative of this most interesting adventure in his own 

 words ; but 1 cannot do so without expressing the regret 

 I have so often felt, that, from some mistaken delicacy, 

 he had been induced throughout his " Account," to speak 

 of himself in the third person as " the writer." This has 

 encumbered the style w4th artificial phraseology, has damped 

 the ardour of the narrator, and in some instances has led to 

 an awkward ambiguity. Yet, notwithstanding those defects, 

 the following passage possesses great interest : — 



" Soon after the artificers landed they commenced work ; but the 

 wind coming to blow hard, the Smeaton's boat and crew, who had 

 brought their complement of eight men to the rock, went off to ex- 

 amine her riding ropes, and see that they were in proper order. 

 The boat had no sooner reached the vessel than she went adrift, car- 

 rying the boat along with her ; and both had even got to a consi- 

 derable distance before this situation of things was observed, every 

 one being so intent upon his own particular duty that the boat had 

 not been seen leaving the rock. As it blew hard, the crew, with 

 much difficulty, set the mainsail upon the Smeaton, with a view to 

 work her up to the buoy, and again lay hold of the moorings. By 

 the time that she was got round to make a tack towards the rock, 

 she had drifted at least three miles to leeward, with the boat astern ; 

 and having both the wind and a tide against her, the writer perceived, 

 with no little anxiety, that she could not possibly return to the rock 

 till long after its being overflowed ; for, owing to the anomaly of the 

 tides, formerly noticed, the Bell Rock is completely under water 

 before the ebb abates to the offing. 



