NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 105 



An item of interest, at this time, was a visit by Mrs 

 Dickson, a daughter of Smeaton of Eddystone fame whose 

 principles were largely taken advantage of in the construction 

 of the Bell Rock Lighthouse to inspect the vessel, named in 

 honour of her distinguished father. " In stepping on board," 

 writes Mr Stevenson in his 'Bell Rock Lighthouse,' "Mrs 

 Dickson seemed quite overcome by so many concurrent circum- 

 stances tending in a peculiar manner to revive and enliven 

 the memory of her departed father; and, on leaving the 

 vessel, she would not be restrained from presenting the crew 

 with a piece of money." 



Though the site of the workyard in connection with the 

 building was situated in Arbroath, from its contiguity to the 

 Rock, it was found necessary, owing to the liability of the 

 stones procured from Mylnefield Quarry, near Dundee, to 

 injury from frost from which cause many valuable stones 

 had already been lost to procure stones for the cornice of 

 the building and parapet wall of the lightroom which would 

 admit of being wrought with safety during the winter months. 

 The desired qualities of durability and immunity from injury 

 by frost were ultimately found in the famous Liver-rock of 

 the Craigleith Quarry. At Greenside, Edinburgh, a vacant 

 piece of ground was procured ; and here the cornice and 

 parapet wall were hewn and built in position for the fitting 

 of the huge cast-iron lantern. 



The horse in question had, with his driver, been employed 

 in the workyard at Arbroath, and was computed to have 

 drawn the materials of the lighthouse, "extending to upwards 

 of two thousand tons in its finished state, three or four times 

 in removing the blocks of stone from the ship to the work- 

 yard, again to the platform upon which each course was 

 temporarily built, from the workyard to where they were 

 shipped for the Rock, besides occasional movements to and 

 from the hands of the stonecutters. Deciding that " Bassey " 

 and his driver should have the honour of participating in the 

 closing scene of the undertaking, they were accordingly trans- 

 ported by sea to Leith. 



