ted their own hats, and that of James Craw, the
Bell Rock carter, with ribbons; even his faithful and trusty horse
Brassey was ornamented with bows and streamers of various colours. The
masons also provided themselves with new aprons, and in this manner the
cart was attended in its progress to the ship. When the cart came
opposite the Trinity House of Leith, the officer of that corporation
made his appearance dressed in his uniform, with his staff of office;
and when it reached the harbour, the shipping in the different tiers
where the _Smeaton_ lay hoisted their colours, manifesting by these
trifling ceremonies the interest with which the progress of this work
was regarded by the public, as ultimately tending to afford safety and
protection to the mariner. The wind had fortunately shifted to the S.W.,
and about five o'clock this afternoon the Smeaton reached the Bell Rock.

Friday, 27th July.

The artificers had finished the laying of the balcony course, excepting
the centre-stone of the light-room floor, which, like the centres of the
other floors, could not be laid in its place till after the removal of
the foot and shaft of the balance-crane. During the dinner-hour, when
the men were off work, the writer generally took some exercise by
walking round the walls when the rock was under water; but to-day his
boundary was greatly enlarged, for, instead of the narrow wall as a
path, he felt no small degree of pleasure in walking round the balcony
and passing out and in at the space allotted for the light-room door. In
the labours of this day both the artificers and seamen felt their work
to be extremely easy compared with what it had been for some days past.

Sunday, 29th July.

Captain Wilson and his crew had made preparations for landing the last
stone, and, as may well be supposed, this was a day of great interest at
the Bell Rock. "That it might lose none of its honours," as he expressed
himself, the _Hedderwick_ praam-boat, with which the first stone of the
building had been landed, was appointed also to carry the last. At seven
o'clock this evening the seamen hoisted three flags upon the
_Hedderwick_, when the colours of the _Dickie_ praam-boat, tender,
_Smeaton_, floating light, beacon-house, and lighthouse were also
displayed; and, the weather being remarkably fine, the whole presented a
very gay appearance, and, in connection with the associations excited,
the effect was very pleasing. The praam which carr