ts appearance at this period of the tides
till eight o'clock, yet, having now a full mile to row from the floating
light to the rock, instead of about a quarter of a mile from the
moorings of the _Smeaton_, it was necessary to be earlier astir, and to
form different arrangements; breakfast was accordingly served up at
seven o'clock this morning. From the excessive motion of the floating
light, the writer had looked forward rather with anxiety to the removal
of the workmen to this ship. Some among them, who had been
congratulating themselves upon having become sea-hardy while on board
the _Smeaton_, had a complete relapse upon returning to the floating
light. This was the case with the writer. From the spacious and
convenient berthage of the floating light, the exchange to the
artificers was, in this respect, much for the better. The boats were
also commodious, measuring sixteen feet in length on the keel, so that,
in fine weather, their complement of sitters was sixteen persons for
each, with which, however, they were rather crowded, but she could not
stow two boats of larger dimensions. When there was what is called a
breeze of wind, and a swell in the sea, the proper number for each boat
could not, with propriety, be rated at more than twelve persons.

When the tide-bell rung the boats were hoisted out, and two active
seamen were employed to keep them from receiving damage alongside. The
floating light being very buoyant, was so quick in her motions that when
those who were about to step from her gunwale into a boat, placed
themselves upon a cleat or step on the ship's side, with the man or rail
ropes in their hands, they had often to wait for some time till a
favourable opportunity occurred for stepping into the boat. While in
this situation, with the vessel rolling from side to side, watching the
proper time for letting go the man-ropes, it required the greatest
dexterity and presence of mind to leap into the boats. One who was
rather awkward would often wait a considerable period in this position:
at one time his side of the ship would be so depressed that he would
touch the boat to which he belonged, while the next sea would elevate
him so much that he would see his comrades in the boat on the opposite
side of the ship, his friends in the one boat calling to him to "Jump,"
while those in the boat on the other side, as he came again and again
into their view, would jocosely say, "Are you there yet? You seem to
enjo