CHAP. VIII. THE BELL KOCK LIGHTHOUSE. 231 



which had been found defective. By the end of 1809, 

 at our engineer's next visit of inspection, the tower 

 had been built to a height of 30 feet, and was com- 

 paratively secure against the effects of the most violent 

 seas. In his report to the Commissioners he stated that 

 he found that the form of slope which he had adopted for 

 the base of the tower, as well as the curve of the building, 

 fully answered his expectations that they presented 

 comparatively small obstruction to the roll of the waves, 

 which played round the column with ease and he 

 expressed the opinion that the lighthouse, when finished, 

 " would be found to be the most perfect work of its kind." 

 In this report he recommended a modification in the 

 details of the upper part of the building. In dovetailing 

 the stones together, the method employed at the Eddy- 

 stone had up to this point been followed ; but from the 

 top of the staircase he proposed that a somewhat different 

 plan should be adopted. " The stone floors in the Eddy- 

 stone," he said, " were formed by an arch in the shape 

 of a dome springing from the surrounding walls, to 

 strengthen which chain-bars were laid in the walls. I 

 propose that these should be done with large stones 

 radiating from a circular block in the middle, to which 

 their interior ends are to be dovetailed as well as the 

 radiated joints, and these connected to the surrounding 

 walls by means of a circular dowel. By this means the 

 lateral pressure on the walls will be removed, the whole 

 connected together as one mass, and no chain-bars will 

 be wanted except under the cornice. Thus the whole 

 will be like a solid block of stone excavated for the 

 residence of the lightkeepers, stores, &c." He concluded 

 with some practical advice as to the construction of the 

 lantern after an improved method which he proposed, 

 in order that it might be in readiness in the course of 

 the ensuing summer, by which time he anticipated that 

 the building would be ready for use if the weather proved 

 favourable. These recommendations were adopted, and 



