between the magistrates of that burgh and the Regulating Officer
as to his right of impressing Dall, who was _bona fide_ one of the
protected seamen in the Bell Rock service. In the meantime, the poor lad
was detained, and ultimately committed to the prison of Dundee, to
remain until the question should be tried before the Court of Session.
His friends were naturally very desirous to have him relieved upon bail.
But, as this was only to be done by the judgment of the Court, all that
could be said was that his pay and allowances should be continued in the
same manner as if he had been upon the sick-list. The circumstances of
Dall's case were briefly these:--He had gone to see some of his friends
in the neighbourhood of Dundee, in winter, while the works were
suspended, having got leave of absence from Mr. Taylor, who commanded
the Bell Rock tender, and had in his possession one of the Protection
Medals. Unfortunately, however, for Dall, the Regulating Officer thought
proper to disregard these documents, as, according to the strict and
literal interpretation of the Admiralty regulations, a seaman does not
stand protected unless he is actually on board of his ship, or in a boat
belonging to her, or has the Admiralty protection in his possession.
This order of the Board, however, cannot be rigidly followed in
practice; and therefore, when the matter is satisfactorily stated to the
Regulating Officer, the impressed man is generally liberated. But in
Dall's case this was peremptorily refused, and he was retained at the
instance of the magistrates. The writer having brought the matter under
the consideration of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses, they
authorised it to be tried on the part of the Lighthouse Board, as one of
extreme hardship. The Court, upon the first hearing, ordered Dall to be
liberated from prison; and the proceedings never went further.

Wednesday, 4th July.

Being now within twelve courses of being ready for building the cornice,
measures were taken for getting the stones of it and the parapet-wall of
the light-room brought from Edinburgh, where, as before noticed, they
had been prepared and were in readiness for shipping. The honour of
conveying the upper part of the lighthouse, and of landing the last
stone of the building on the rock, was considered to belong to Captain
Pool of the _Smeaton_, who had been longer in the service than the
master of the _Patriot_. The _Smeaton_ was, therefore, n