ON LIGHTHOUSES. 271 



1759. He fixed the last work on the top of the 

 lantern with his own hands, and remained some 

 days after the whole was completed, to ascertain 

 that all was properly adjusted. He then left 

 the light-keepers in charge, and landed at Ply- 

 mouth ; but a heavy gale of wind coming on, he 

 watched the building with his telescope with 

 anxious curiosity until the violence of the wea- 

 ther had abated. He stated that in a heavy sea 

 he observed at intervals of a minute, and some- 

 times of two or three minutes, when a combina- 

 tion happened to produce one overgrown wave, 

 it would strike the rock and the building at the 

 same time, and fly up in a white column, cover- 

 ing it like a sheet, rising at least to double the 

 height of the house, and preventing its being 

 seen. In January, 1760, Mr. Smeaton received 

 a letter from the principal light-keeper, stating 

 that for twelve days together the sea frequently 

 ran over the house, which shook as if a man had 

 been up in a great tree. The old men were 

 almost frightened out of their lives, wishing 

 they had never seen the place, and cursing those 

 who had persuaded them to go there. They 

 declared that the fear had seized them in the 

 back (an odd place for fear to show itself), and 



