usual, and, after three hours and three-quarters' work, five stones were
laid, the greater part of this tide having been taken up in completing
the boring and trenailing of the stones formerly laid. At noon the
writer, with the seamen and artificers, proceeded to the tender, leaving
on the beacon the joiners, and several of those who were troubled with
sea-sickness--among whom was Mr. Logan, who remained with Mr.
Watt--counting altogether eleven persons. During the first and middle
parts of these twenty-four hours the wind was from the east, blowing
what the seamen term "fresh breezes"; but in the afternoon it shifted to
E.N.E., accompanied with so heavy a swell of sea that the _Smeaton_ and
tender struck their topmasts, launched in their bolt-sprits, and "made
all snug" for a gale. At four p.m. the _Smeaton_ was obliged to slip
her moorings, and passed the tender, drifting before the wind, with only
the foresail set. In passing, Mr. Pool hailed that he must run for the
Firth of Forth to prevent the vessel from "riding under."

On board of the tender the writer's chief concern was about the eleven
men left upon the beacon. Directions were accordingly given that
everything about the vessel should be put in the best possible state, to
present as little resistance to the wind as possible, that she might
have the better chance of riding out the gale. Among these preparations
the best bower cable was bent, so as to have a second anchor in
readiness in case the mooring-hawser should give way, that every means
might be used for keeping the vessel within sight of the prisoners on
the beacon, and thereby keep them in as good spirits as possible. From
the same motive the boats were kept afloat that they might be less in
fear of the vessel leaving her station. The landing-master had, however,
repeatedly expressed his anxiety for the safety of the boats, and wished
much to have them hoisted on board. At seven p.m. one of the boats, as
he feared, was unluckily filled with sea from a wave breaking into her,
and it was with great difficulty that she could be baled out and got on
board, with the loss of her oars, rudder, and loose thwarts. Such was
the motion of the ship that in taking this boat on board her gunwale was
stove in, and she otherwise received considerable damage. Night
approached, but it was still found quite impossible to go near the rock.
Consulting, therefore, the safety of the second boat, she also was
hoisted on boa