202 Biographical Sketch of the late 



however, to heave in the hempen cable, and see the state of the clinch 

 or iron ring of the chain cable. But the vessel rolled at such a rate 

 that the seamen could not possibly keep their feet at the windlass, 

 nor work the hand-spokes, though it had been several times attempted 

 since the gale took off. 



" About twelve noon, however, the vessel's motion was observed to 

 be considerably less, and the sailors were enabled to walk upon deck 

 with some degree of freedom. But to the astonishment of every one 

 it was soon discovered that the floating light wias adrift ! The wind- 

 lass was instantly manned, and the men soon gave out that there was 

 no strain upon the cable. The mizzen sail, which was bent for the 

 occasional purpose of making the vessel ride more easily to the tide, 

 was immediately set, and the other sails were also hoisted in a short 

 time, when, in no small consternation, we bore away about one mile 

 to the south-westward of the former station, and there let go the best 

 bower-anchor and cable, in twenty fathoms water, to ride until the 

 swell of the sea should fall, when it might be practicable to grapple 

 for the moorings, and find a better anchorage for the ship. 



"As soon as the deck could be cleared the cable-end was hove up, 

 which had parted at the distance of about 60 fathoms from the chain 

 moorings. On examining the cable, it was found to be considerably 

 chafed, but where the separation took place, it appeared to be worn 

 through, or cut shortly off. How to account for this would be diffi- 

 cult, as the ground, though rough and gravelly, did not, after much 

 sounding, appear to contain any irregular parts. It was therefore 

 conjectured that the cable must have hooked some piece of wreck, 

 as it did not appear from the state of the wind and tide, that the 

 vessel could have fouled her anchor, when she veered round with the 

 wind, which had shifted in the course of the night from NE. to NNW. 



" Be this as it may, it was a circumstance quite out of the power 

 of man to prevent, as, until the ship drifted, it was found impossible 

 to heave up the cable. But what ought to have been the feeling of 

 thankfulness to that providence which regulates and appoints the lot 

 of man, when it is considered that if this accident had happened 

 during the storm, or in the night after the wind had shifted, the 

 floating light must inevitably have gone ashore upon the Bell Rock. 

 In short, it is hardly possible to conceive any case more awfully dis- 

 tressing than our situation would have been, or one more disastrous 

 to the important undertaking in which we were engaged." 



The Beacon or Barrack was a singular habitation, some- 

 what resembling a pigeon-house, perched on logs, on which 

 the tide rose 16 feet in calm weather, and was exposed to 

 the assault of every wave. Of the perils and discomforts 

 of such a habitation, the following passage gives a lively 

 picture : — 



