THE PHARUS OF ALEXANDRIA. 89 
of masonry carried the building to the height of 8 feet 2 inches 
before the autumnal gales terminated the work of 1840, and an 
excellent year’s work it was. The saying that “what is well 
begua is half done” was illustrated here. Next year’s work was 
comparatively easy—so that in 1842 the tower rose to its full 
height of 138 feet; and the year after the light was shedding its 
LELAA 
= as 
The Skerryvore Lighthouse. 
beneficent rays over the thirty miles of watery waste that sur- 
round the hidden rocks of Skerryvore. 
Well may we be proud of men like Smeaton and _ the 
Stevensons ; but, while justly admiring their architectural skill, 
their perseverance, and their courage, we must not forget to 
offer the just tribute of our gratitude to the eminent natural 
philosophers without whose ingenious optical inventions the 
most splendid sea-towers would be comparatively useless. The 
Pharus or lighthouse of Alexandria was, probably with justice, 
