202 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
said M. W. and A. having a due regard to the safety and preser- 
vation of the shipping, and navigation of this Kingdom, did, in 
the year of our Lord 1696, cause a lighthouse to be begun to be 
erected on the said rock, and in three years' time a light was 
placed therein, and the said lighthouse in the term of 5 years, 
was with much hazard and difficulty, and at a very great expense, 
fully built and completed, to the great satisfaction of the flag- 
officers and commanders of the fleet and ships of war, and of all 
others concerned in trade, and navigation, the same being not 
only useful for avoiding that dangerous rock, upon which it was 
built, but also a guide and direction to ships passing through the 
channel from and to all parts of the world : And whereas the 
said lighthouse was preserved and kept up for several years, 
notwithstanding the great force and violence of the wind and sea 
(to which it was exposed,) until the late dreadful storm in Nov r 
1703, when the same was blown down and destroyed : And 
whereas it was found by experience that the said lighthouse, 
(during the standing thereof) was of public use and benefit, to 
this Kingdom, &c. And forasmuch as the speedy rebuilding of 
the said lighthouse is absolutely necessary for avoiding the dangers 
attending the trade and navigation of this Kingdom, &c, to the 
end therefore that the said M. W. and A. may be encouraged to 
new erect and build or cause to be new erected and built the said 
lighthouse with all convenient speed, and constantly to keep and 
maintain the same for the benefit, &c. — Be it enacted by the 
Queen's most excellent Majesty, &c., That from and after the 
kindling or placing a light useful for shipping in the said light- 
house, so intended to be rebuilt, as aforesaid, there shall be paid 
to the said M. W. and Assts of T. H. of D. S., their successors 
and assigns, by the Masters and owners of all English ships, &c, 
the duty of one penny per ton outward bound and also one penny 
per ton inward bound, that is to say of the merchant, one moiety 
and of the owmer of the ship, &c, the other moiety ; and by all 
such strange or alien ships and vessels, &c, 2 d per ton, &c, and that 
every coaster passing by the said lighthouse shall pay the duty of 
two shillings and no more for each time they shall pass by the 
said lighthouse [to be collected by nominees of T. EL, and recover- 
able by action of debt, &c.]. 
"Whereas by the patent of 1694 English and foreign ships 
alike paid Id. per ton, by the new T Act the amount to be paid by 
foreign ships was doubled. 
On the passing of this statute, Colonel Lovett lost no time in 
setting about the reconstruction. He had chosen a Mr. Rudyerd, 
a silk merchant, of Ludgate Hill, as his architect. It does not 
appear that Rudyerd had shown any evidences of mechanical 
genius previously, but the result justified the selection. He was 
