1C6 THE SEA. 



danger he himself led the way was the first to spring- upon the rock and the last to leave 

 it; and by his own example he inspired with courage the humble workmen engaged in 

 carrying out his plans; who, like himself, were unaccustomed to the special terrors of 

 the scene. "* 



On his return to town, after several other visits, when he arranged for the formation 

 of a better landing-place, he made his report to the proprietors, and was fully authorised 

 to proceed with the design. He accordingly proceeded to make a careful model of the 

 lighthouse as he intended it to be built. This having been approved by the proprietors and 

 by the Lords of the Admiralty, the engineer set out for Plymouth, arranging at Dorchester, 

 on his way, for a supply of Portland stone, of which it was finally determined that the 

 lighthouse should be mainly constructed. Artificers and foremen were engaged ; vessels 

 provided for the transport of men and material, and Mr. Jessop was appointed general 

 assistant, or as it is now termed, Resident Engineer. Mr. Smeaton fixed the centre, and 

 laid down the lines on the afternoon of the 3rd of August, 1756, and from that time the 

 work proceeded, though with many interruptions from bad weather and heavy seas. At 

 best, six hours' work was all that could be performed at one time, and when it was possible 

 the men worked by torchlight. One principal object of the first season was to get the 

 dovetail recesses cut out of the rock for the reception of the foundation-stones. The 

 Neptune buss was employed as a store-ship, and rode at anchor a convenient distance from 

 the rock in about twenty fathoms of water. For many days the men could not land from 

 her, and even had they been able to do so, must have been washed off the rock, unless lashed 

 to it. At such times the provisions ran short, no boat being able to come off from 

 Plymouth. Towards the end of October, the yawl riding at the stern of the buss broke 

 loose by stress of weather and was lost. Smeaton was very anxious to finish the boring 

 of the foundation -holes during that season, and the men still persevered when the 

 weather gave the slightest chance, although sometimes only able to labour two hours out of 

 the twenty-four. 



On the completion of the work at the end of November, the party prepared to return te 

 the yard on shore. The voyage proved most dangerous. Not being able, in consequence 

 of the gale that was blowing, to make Plymouth Harbour, the Neptune was steered for 

 Fowey, on the coast of Cornwall. The wind rose higher and higher, until it blew quite 

 a storm ; and in the night, Mr. Smeaton, hearing a sudden alarm and clamour amongst 

 the crew overhead, ran upon deck in his shirt to ascertain the cause. It was raining hard, 

 and quite a hurricane was raging. " It being dark/' he says, " the first thing I saw was 

 the horrible appearance of breakers almost surrounding us ; John Bowden, one of the 

 seamen, crying out, ' For God's sake, heave hard at that rope if you mean to save your lives ! ' 

 I immediately laid hold of the rope at which he himself was hauling as well as the other 

 seamen, though he was also managing the helm. I not only hauled with all my strength, 

 but called to and encouraged the workmen to do the same thing." Their sails were carried 

 away or torn to ribbons, while the sea could be heard beating on the rocks, though 

 nothing of the coast could be seen. Fortunately the vessel obeyed her helm, and 

 they put to sea again. At daybreak they found themselves out of sight of land, and 



* " Essays on Engineering." 



