ied the stone was
towed by the seamen in gallant style to the rock, and, on its arrival,
cheers were given as a finale to the landing department.

Monday, 30th July.

The ninetieth or last course of the building having been laid to-day,
which brought the masonry to the height of one hundred and two feet six
inches, the lintel of the light-room door, being the finishing-stone of
the exterior walls, was laid with due formality by the writer, who, at
the same time, pronounced the following benediction: "May the Great
Architect of the Universe, under whose blessing this perilous work has
prospered, preserve it as a guide to the mariner."

Friday, 3rd Aug.

At three p.m., the necessary preparations having been made, the
artificers commenced the completing of the floors of the several
apartments, and at seven o'clock the centre-stone of the light-room
floor was laid, which may be held as finishing the masonry of this
important national edifice. After going through the usual ceremonies
observed by the brotherhood on occasions of this kind, the writer,
addressing himself to the artificers and seamen who were present,
briefly alluded to the utility of the undertaking as a monument of the
wealth of British commerce, erected through the spirited measures of the
Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses by means of the able
assistance of those who now surrounded him. He then took an opportunity
of stating that toward those connected with this arduous work he would
ever retain the most heartfelt regard in all their interests.

Saturday, 4th Aug.

When the bell was rung as usual on the beacon this morning, every one
seemed as if he were at a loss what to make of himself. At this period
the artificers at the rock consisted of eighteen masons, two joiners,
one millwright, one smith, and one mortar-maker, besides Messrs. Peter
Logan and Francis Watt, foremen, counting in all twenty-five; and
matters were arranged for proceeding to Arbroath this afternoon with all
hands. The _Sir Joseph Banks_ tender had by this time been afloat, with
little intermission, for six months, during greater part of which the
artificers had been almost constantly off at the rock, and were now much
in want of necessaries of almost every description. Not a few had lost
different articles of clothing, which had dropped into the sea from the
beacon and building. Some wanted jackets; others, from want of hats,
wore nightcaps; each was, in fact, more or