for the very
comprehensive and distinct account given of his life, which is attached
to his reports, published, in three volumes quarto, by the Society of
Civil Engineers. Mrs. Dickson, being at this time returning from a tour
to the Hebrides and Western Highlands of Scotland, had heard of the Bell
Rock works, and from their similarity to those of the Eddystone, was
strongly impressed with a desire of visiting the spot. But on inquiring
for the writer at Edinburgh, and finding from him that the upper part of
the lighthouse, consisting of nine courses, might be seen in the
immediate vicinity, and also that one of the vessels, which, in
compliment to her father's memory, had been named the _Smeaton_, might
also now be seen in Leith, she considered herself extremely fortunate;
and having first visited the works at Greenside, she afterwards went to
Leith to see the _Smeaton_, then loading for the Bell Rock. On stepping
on board, Mrs. Dickson seemed to be quite overcome with so many
concurrent circumstances, tending in a peculiar manner to revive and
enliven the memory of her departed father, and, on leaving the vessel,
she would not be restrained from presenting the crew with a piece of
money. The _Smeaton_ had been named spontaneously, from a sense of the
obligation which a public work of the description of the Bell Rock owed
to the labours and abilities of Mr. Smeaton. The writer certainly never
could have anticipated the satisfaction which he this day felt in
witnessing the pleasure it afforded to the only representative of this
great man's family.

Friday, 20th July.

The gale from the N.E. still continued so strong, accompanied with a
heavy sea, that the _Patriot_ could not approach her moorings; although
the tender still kept her station, no landing was made to-day at the
rock. At high-water it was remarked that the spray rose to the height of
about sixty feet upon the building. The _Smeaton_ now lay in Leith
loaded, but, the wind and weather being so unfavourable for her getting
down the Firth, she did not sail till this afternoon. It may be here
proper to notice that the loading of the centre of the light-room floor,
or last principal stone of the building, did not fail, when put on
board, to excite an interest among those connected with the work. When
the stone was laid upon the cart to be conveyed to Leith, the seamen
fixed an ensign-staff and flag into the circular hole in the centre of
the stone, and decora