Bobert Stevenson, Esq. 199 



'* In this perilous predicament, indeed, he found himself placed 

 between hope and despair ; but certainly the latter was by much the 

 most predominant feeling of his mind, — situate upon a sunken rock 

 in the middle of the ocean, which, in the progress of the flood tide, was 

 to be laid under water to the depth of at least twelve feet in a stormy 

 sea. There were this morning in all thirty-two persons on the rock, 

 with only two boats, whose complement, even in good weather, did 

 not exceed twenty-four sitters ; but to row to the floating light with 

 so much wind, and in so heavy a sea, a complement of eight men for 

 each boat was as much as could with propriety be attempted, so that 

 in this way about one-half of our number was unprovided for. Un- 

 der these circumstances, had the writer ventured to despatch one of 

 the boats, in expectation of either working the Smeaton sooner up 

 towards the rock, or in hopes of getting her boat brought to our 

 assistance, this must have given an immediate alarm to the artificers, 

 each of whom would have insisted upon taking to his own boat, and 

 leaving the eight artificers belonging to the Smeaton to their chance. 

 Of course, a scuffle might have ensued, and it is ha^d to say, in the 

 ardour of men contending for life, where it might have ended. It 

 has even been hinted to the writer, that a party of the joicZ:mew were 

 determined to keep exclusively to their own boat against all hazards. 



*' The unfortunate circumstance of the Smeaton and her boat 

 having drifted was, for a considerable time, only known to the writer, 

 and to the landing-master, who removed to the further point of the 

 rock, where he kept his eye steadily upon the progress of the vessel. 

 While the artificers were at work, chiefly in sitting or kneeling pos'- 

 tures, excavating the rock, or boring with the jumpers, and while 

 their numerous hammers, and the sound of the smith's anvil, con- 

 tinued, the situation of things did not appear so awful. In this state 

 of suspense, with almost certain destruction at hand, the water be- 

 gan to rise upon those who were at work on the lower parts of the 

 sites of the beacon and lighthouse. From the run of sea upon the 

 rock, the forge fire was also sooner extinguished this morning than 

 usual, and the volumes of smoke having ceased, objects in every 

 direction became visible from all parts of the rock. After having 

 had about three hours' work, the men began, pretty generally, to 

 make towards their respective boats for their jackets and stockings, 

 when, to their astonishment, instead of three they found only two 

 boats, the third being adrift with the Smeaton. Not a word was 

 uttered by any one, but all appeared to be silently calculating their 

 numbers, and looking to each other with evident marks of perplexity 

 depicted in their countenances. The landing-master, conceiving that 

 blame might be attached to him for allowing the boat to leave the 

 rock, still kept at a distance. At this critical moment, the author 

 was standing upon an elevated part of Smith's Ledge, where he en- 

 deavoured to mark the progress of the Smeaton, not a little surprised 

 that the crew did not cut the praam adrift, which greatly retarded 



