296 NKW BEACCW. NoV. i. 



things of this nature, and which I am willing to undertake to 

 ereft as foon as I fhall be affured that money fhall be provided 

 for paying the expence of it ixiken finiJJoed. 



The beacon is to be fupported by fourteen ilandards and 

 chains, fo contrived that they fliall never flacken, but remain 

 at all times tight as at firft ; thefc to ferve as fupporters- It 

 is to rile twenty-feven feet above tUe rock: four bells are to be 

 placed about four feet above the top of the beacon on iron 

 jlauncheons : one of thefc; bells will be rung by the fmalleft 

 breeze of wind, from whatever diredtion it may blow, and in 

 a flrong gale they all four will ring at the fame time. The 

 flag-ftaff, which rings the bells, will be ten or twelve feet high, 

 with a vane on the top- The whole height will thus be from 

 forty to forty-threi feet ; and fhouid a wave break over the 

 whole, nothing will give way or break, as it will be all fecur- 

 ed in every part in the firmefl: manner, by ftrong bindings 

 of hammered iron. 



The utility of this beacon exceeds any defcription I could 

 give of it. It would daily prevent many eviJs that fhipping 

 fuftain on account of this rock, not only by deJaying their 

 voyages, l:)Ut by the lofs of lives and wreck of vefTels innu- 

 merable. In thick foggy V\reather, there is no means of judg- 

 ing of the diftance from this rock by foundings, as tiie depth 

 and bottom is nearly the fame N. E. and S. E. of it for a 

 great diftance ; fo that Ihips from the fea, that have not made 

 the land, nor had an obfervation, give this rock in general 

 fuch a diftance as often entangles them on the north or fouth 

 coafts, and has been the cauii; of great difafters. I believe 

 more lives and property have been loll in not attempting to 

 take this firth on account of this rock, than have been loft on 

 the rock itfelf ; though many have there perifhed who have 

 never more been heard of. The fcrvice of fuch a beacon to 

 coafters will be ftill, if pofTible, greater than to foreigners, or 

 veffels from foreign ports, as, by being able to fee the beacon 

 by day, or to hear the bells by night, or in thick weather, they 

 could crofs St Andrew's bay direftly at all times, with little 

 danger compared to what they do at prefent. 



To pay the expence of this very ufeful undertaking, I would 

 propofe that a general fubfcription be opo^ed ; no money to be 

 demanded till the plan fliall have been fubmitted to the in- 

 ff>e£Hon of perfons of ikill, and approved of by them. The 

 raoneyj when ^aid, to be put into the hands or' trullees, by 



