on of
gunpowder is so instantaneous that the effect of the small guns was not
so good as either the blowing of a horn or the tolling of a bell, which
afforded a more constant and steady direction for the pilot.

Wednesday, 6th July.

Landed on the rock with the three boats belonging to the tender at five
p.m., and began immediately to bale the water out of the foundation-pit
with a number of buckets, while the pumps were also kept in action with
relays of artificers and seamen. The work commenced upon the higher
parts of the foundation as the water left them, but it was now pretty
generally reduced to a level. About twenty men could be conveniently
employed at each pump, and it is quite astonishing in how short a time
so great a body of water could be drawn off. The water in the
foundation-pit at this time measured about two feet in depth, on an area
of forty-two feet in diameter, and yet it was drawn off in the course of
about half an hour. After this the artificers commenced with their picks
and continued at work for two hours and a half, some of the sailors
being at the same time busily employed in clearing the foundation of
chips and in conveying the irons to and from the smiths on the beacon,
where they were sharped. At eight o'clock the sea broke in upon us and
overflowed the foundation-pit, when the boats returned to the tender.

Thursday, 7th July.

The landing-master's bell rung this morning about four o'clock, and at
half-past five, the foundation being cleared, the work commenced on the
site of the building. But from the moment of landing, the squad of
joiners and millwrights was at work upon the higher parts of the rock in
laying the railways, while the anvils of the smith resounded on the
beacon, and such columns of smoke ascended from the forges that they
were often mistaken by strangers at a distance for a ship on fire. After
continuing three hours at work the foundation of the building was again
overflowed, and the boats returned to the ship at half-past eight
o'clock. The masons and pickmen had, at this period, a pretty long day
on board of the tender, but the smiths and joiners were kept constantly
at work upon the beacon, the stability and great conveniency of which
had now been so fully shown that no doubt remained as to the propriety
of fitting it up as a barrack. The workmen were accordingly employed,
during the period of high-water, in making preparations for this
purpose.

The foundatio