208 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
building could be made to cohere in such a manner as to withstand 
the force of the sea. He quickly convinced them of the superiority 
of his proposals, and he was given almost carte-blanehe in regard 
to their execution. 
While actively preparing for a permanent building, the lessees 
did not lose sight of the dangers to navigation arising from the 
want of a light at the reef. They therefore proposed to the 
Trinity Board that a lightship should be prepared, and moored in 
a proper position near the reef. Various disputes arose about the 
vessel, and the place of her moorings, &c. ; and the Corporation, 
having obtained from the king a Patent for a Floating Light 
eventually refused to allow the lessees to exhibit one themselves, 
and sent down a vessel for the purpose. This was moored two or 
three miles off the rock ; and when it was not, as often happened, 
driven from its moorings, and compelled to lay up in Plymouth 
Harbour, its badly-chosen position was the means of luring vessels 
into danger. Smeaton mentions several serious disasters that 
happened while he was building, because vessels thought the light 
was close to the reef, and consequently, by keeping away from it, 
went upon the rocks themselves. Many lives would have been 
lost if Smeaton's men had not been at hand in their vessel, the 
Neptune, to render assistance to the wrecked mariners. 
Many obstacles were thrown in Smeaton's way, besides the 
natural difficulties which he had to encounter. It would hardly 
be credited, but such was the fact, that Mr. Smeaton, being in 
search of a place of which the floor was sufficiently large for him 
to fit all the moulds together, in the order in which they were to 
be permanently fixed, applied to the mayor for the use of the 
Guildhall. This was refused, on the ground that the chalk-marks 
would spoil the floor ; and the proprietor of the Assembly Rooms 
of the time declined to allow them to be used, for some similar 
reason. 
Notwithstanding the difficulties, natural and otherwise, which 
Smeaton had to contend with, he completed his tower on 
October 9th, 1759, and a light was exhibited in it for the 
first time, pursuant to public advertisement, on the 16th. The 
first stone had been laid on the 12th June, 1757. 
Of the character of Smeaton's building I need say nothing, 
seeing that anyone interested can examine it for themselves in its 
present situation on our Hoe. It will suffice to say, that although 
