instance of a praam-boat having
been sent from the Bell Rock with any part of her cargo on board, and
was considered so uncommon an occurrence that it became a topic of
conversation among the seamen and artificers.

Tuesday, 12th June.

To-day the stones formerly sent from the rock were safely landed,
notwithstanding the augury of the seamen in consequence of their being
sent away two days before.

Thursday, 14th June.

To-day twenty-seven stones and eleven joggle-pieces were landed, part of
which consisted of the forty-seventh course, forming the storeroom
floor. The builders were at work this morning by four o'clock, in the
hopes of being able to accomplish the laying of the eighteen stones of
this course. But at eight o'clock in the evening they had still two to
lay, and as the stones of this course were very unwieldy, being six feet
in length, they required much precaution and care both in lifting and
laying them. It was only on the writer's suggestion to Mr. Logan that
the artificers were induced to leave off, as they had intended to
complete this floor before going to bed. The two remaining stones were,
however, laid in their places without mortar when the bell on the beacon
was rung, and, all hands being collected on the top of the building,
three hearty cheers were given on covering the first apartment. The
steward then served out a dram to each, when the whole retired to their
barrack much fatigued, but with the anticipation of the most perfect
repose even in the "hurricane-house," amidst the dashing seas on the
Bell Rock.

While the workmen were at breakfast and dinner it was the writer's usual
practice to spend his time on the walls of the building, which,
notwithstanding the narrowness of the track, nevertheless formed his
principal walk when the rock was under water. But this afternoon he had
his writing-desk set upon the storeroom floor, when he wrote to Mrs.
Stevenson--certainly the first letter dated from the Bell Rock
_Lighthouse_--giving a detail of the fortunate progress of the work,
with an assurance that the lighthouse would soon be completed at the
rate at which it now proceeded; and, the _Patriot_ having sailed for
Arbroath in the evening, he felt no small degree of pleasure in
despatching this communication to his family.

The weather still continuing favourable for the operations at the rock,
the work proceeded with much energy, through the exertions both of the
seamen and artificer