AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 235 



time on their hands, it does not appear to be so, the 

 cleaning and trimming of the burners requiring the attention 

 of both men for a large portion of every day. 



A short distance from the lighthouse is the fog-bell, 

 which was erected in October, 1862. Although this does 

 not appear altogether to answer the object desired — that of 

 throwing a volume of sound far out to sea — yet no doubt 

 vessels enveloped in a very dense and bewildering fog, would 

 be warned in time to keep away from the perilous reef of 

 sunken rocks lying off towards the south-west of the light. 

 The machinery by which this bell is rung is very beautiful. 

 By means of a falling weight, of about thirteen hundred- 

 weight, the huge clapper continues to strike the bell for 

 about four-and-a-half hours without additional attention on 

 the part of the attendants. The machinery is very similar 

 in appearance and action to that of a large turret clock. 



There is every probability, however, that ere long the 

 fog-bell will be superseded by some adaptation of the steam 

 whistle, as the sound thus produced is found to penetrate 

 a foggy atmosphere further and more freely than that of 

 a bell. 



The following is extracted from a newspaper of March 

 17th, 1866:— 



"The ' Albert Medal* is at last formally announced. It 

 consists of a gold oval-shaped badge, enamelled in dark blue, 

 with a monogram composed of the letters V. & A., interlaced 

 with an anchor erect, in gold, surrounded with a garter, in 

 bronze, inscribed in raised letters of gold, 'For gallantry in 

 saving life at sea,' and surmounted by a representation of 

 the crown of the Prince Consort, and suspended from a dark 

 blue riband of five-eighths of an inch in width, with two 

 white longitudinal stripes. It will in future be granted to 



