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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
was no less severe upon the mortar…makers； who required to temper or
prepare the mortar of a thicker or thinner consistency； in some measure；
according to the state of the weather。 From the elevated position of the
building； the mortar gallery on the beacon was now much lower； and the
lime…buckets were made to traverse upon a rope distended between it and
the building。 On occasions like the present； however； there was often a
difference of opinion between the builders and the mortar…makers。 John
Watt； who had the principal charge of the mortar； was a most active
worker； but； being somewhat of an irascible temper； the builders
occasionally amused themselves at his expense； for while he was eagerly
at work with his large iron…shod pestle in the mortar…tub； they often sent
down contradictory orders； some crying； ‘Make it a little stiffer； or thicker；
John；' while others called out to make it ‘thinner；' to which he generally
returned very speedy and sharp replies； so that these conversations at times
were rather amusing。
During wet weather the situation of the artificers on the top of the
building was extremely disagreeable； for although their work did not
require great exertion； yet； as each man had his particular part to perform；
either in working the crane or in laying the stones； it required the closest
application and attention； not only on the part of Mr。 Peter Logan； the
foreman； who was constantly on the walls； but also of the chief workmen。
Robert Selkirk； the principal builder； for example； had every stone to lay
in its place。 David Cumming； a mason； had the charge of working the
tackle of the balance…weight； and James Scott； also a mason； took charge
of the purchase with which the stones were laid； while the pointing the
joints of the walls with cement was intrusted to William Reid and William
Kennedy； who stood upon a scaffold suspended over the walls in rather a
frightful manner。 The least act of carelessness or inattention on the part
of any of these men might have been fatal； not only to themselves； but also
to the surrounding workmen； especially if any accident had happened to
the crane itself； while the material damage or loss of a single stone would
have put an entire stop to the operations until another could have been
brought from Arbroath。 The artificers； having wrought seven and a half
hours of extra time to…day； had 3s。 9d。 of extra pay； while the foremen had
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
7s。 6d。 over and above their stated pay and board。 Although； therefore；
the work was both hazardous and fatiguing； yet； the encouragement being
considerable； they were always very cheerful； and perfectly reconciled to
the confinement and other disadvantages of the place。
During fine weather； and while the nights were short； the duty on
board of the floating light was literally nothing but a waiting on； and
therefore one of her boats； with a crew of five men； daily attended the rock；
but always returned to the vessel at night。 The carpenter； however； was
one of those who was left on board of the ship； as he also acted in the
capacity of assistant lightkeeper； being； besides； a person who was apt to
feel discontent and to be averse to changing his quarters； especially to
work with the millwrights and joiners at the rock； who often； for hours
together； wrought knee…deep； and not unfrequently up to the middle； in
water。 Mr。 Watt having about this time made a requisition for another hand；
the carpenter was ordered to attend the rock in the floating light's boat。
This he did with great reluctance； and found so much fault that he soon got
into discredit with his messmates。 On this occasion he left the
Lighthouse service； and went as a sailor in a vessel bound for America … a
step which； it is believed； he soon regretted； as； in the course of things； he
would； in all probability； have accompanied Mr。 John Reid； the principal
lightkeeper of the floating light； to the Bell Rock Lighthouse as his
principal assistant。 The writer had a wish to be of service to this man； as
he was one of those who came off to the floating light in the month of
September 1807； while she was riding at single anchor after the severe
gale of the 7th； at a time when it was hardly possible to make up this
vessel's crew； but the crossness of his manner prevented his reaping the
benefit of such intentions。
＇Friday； 22nd June＇
The building operations had for some time proceeded more slowly；
from the higher parts of the lighthouse requiring much longer time than an
equal tonnage of the lower courses。 The duty of the landing…master's
crew had； upon the whole； been easy of late； for though the work was
occasionally irregular； yet the stones being lighter； they were more
speedily lifted from the hold of the stone vessel to the deck of the praam…
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boat； and again to the waggons on the railway； after which they came
properly under the charge of the foreman builder。 It is； however； a strange；
though not an uncommon； feature in the human character； that； when
people have least to complain of； they are most apt to become dissatisfied；
as was now the case with the seamen employed in the Bell Rock service
about their rations of beer。 Indeed； ever since the carpenter of the
floating light； formerly noticed； had been brought to the rock； expressions
of discontent had been manifested upon various occasions。 This being
represented to the writer； he sent for Captain Wilson； the landing…master；
and Mr。 Taylor； commander of the tender； with whom he talked over the
subject。 They stated that they considered the daily allowance of the
seamen in every respect ample； and that； the work being now much lighter
than formerly； they had no just ground for complaint； Mr。 Taylor adding
that； if those who now complained ‘were even to be fed upon soft bread
and turkeys； they would not think themselves right。' At twelve noon the
work of the landing…master's crew was completed for the day； but at four
o'clock； while the rock was under water； those on the beacon were
surprised by the arrival of a boat from the tender without any signal
having been made from the beacon。 It brought the following note to the
writer from the landing… master's crew：…
‘SIR JOSEPH BANKS TENDER。
‘SIR； … We are informed by our masters that our allowance is to be as
before； and it is not sufficient to serve us； for we have been at work since
four o'clock this morning； and we have come on board to dinner； and there
is no beer for us before tomorrow morning； to which a sufficient answer is
required before we go from the beacon； and we are； Sir； your most
obedient servants。'
On reading this； the writer returned a verbal message； intimating that
an answer would be sent on board of the tender； at the same time ordering
the boat instantly to quit the beacon。 He then addressed the following
note to the landing…master：…
‘BEACON…HOUSE； 22ND JUNE 1810； FIVE O'CLOCK P。M。
‘SIR； … I have just now received a letter purporting to be from the
landing…master's crew and seamen on board of the SIR JOSEPH BANKS；
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
though without either date or signature； in answer to which I enclose a
statement of the daily allowance of provisions for the seamen in this
service； which you will post up in the ship's galley； and at seven o'clock
this evening I will come on board to inquire into this unexpected an