Bill lost in the House of Lords.
This bill passed the House of Commons in the session of 1803; but having met with opposition from the corporation of the City of London, as including too great a range of coast in the collection of the duties, such amendments and alterations were proposed in the House of Lords, as rendered it necessary for the Lord Advocate to withdraw the bill.
Works proposed of less expence than a stone building.
The expectations of nautical and commercial men were severely disappointed by the loss of this bill, which occasioned a delay of several years in the prosecution of the object. It was obvious, that, without considerable funds at command, it was impossible to undertake a work of such magnitude. The annual funds of the Light-house Board at this period amounted only to about L. 4000, and the maintenance of the light-houses already erected was equal to one-half of this sum, which would leave a surplus fund of about L. 2000per annum. But, as the Commissioners found it to be their duty to go on with their improvements on the other parts of the coast, without confining their attention to one object, however important, it was impossible that this great work could be undertaken for a series of years, without the direct aid of the Government, or an extension of the Light-house duties, on the security of which money might be borrowed. In consequence of the loss of this bill, the dangers of the Bell Rock now became very generally the topic of conversation; and various schemes were again suggested for constructing economical and temporary buildings to remedy the evil.
Difficulty of determining among these proposals.
In a work of so much apparent difficulty, it was not easy for the Light-house Board to determine what was the most advisable design. The pillar-formed building was supported by many arguments. It would have been executed in a very short period, and would not, perhaps, have cost one-sixth part of the expence of a building of stone. A light-house,supported upon wooden pillars, had also stood for many years, and still remains, upon the Smalls Rocks, off St David’s-Head, in Pembrokeshire, although the sea, in high tides, and stormy weather, occasionally breaks over the building. But a fabric of stone, for such a situation as the Bell Rock, was evidently preferable, and the examples of the Tour de Corduan, the Eddystone, and the Kilwarlin light-houses, already noticed, were all in favour of it.
Mr Rennie consulted and agrees with the Author in recommending a building of stone.
Amidst a diversity of opinion as to the practicability of the undertaking, and especially as to the description of the building, whether it should be of cast-iron or stone, and in the form of pillars or solid, the Commissioners ultimately determined upon submitting the several views of the subject to Mr John Rennie, engineer. In the year 1804, Mr Rennie and the writer accompanied Mr Hamilton, Sheriff of Lanarkshire, one of the Commissioners, and who had turned much of his attention to the subject, on a visit to the Bell Rock. They made a favourable landing; and Mr Rennie had only been a short time upon the rock, when he gave his decided opinion upon the practicability of the proposed erection of stone. He had examined the author’s designs and models, and afterwards made a Report, in which he coincided with him in recommending to the Board the adoption of a building of stone, on the principles of the Eddystone Light-house. Sanctioned with such authority, the Commissioners were finally confirmed in the resolution, that the Bell Rock Light-house should be a tower of masonry similar to that of the Eddystone.
The Light-house Board takes the sense of the Mercantile Interest in this measure.
Hitherto the general opinion throughout the country, and especially at all the sea-ports, had been anxiously expressed for the erection of a light-house of some kind on the Bell Rock. But before going a second time to Parliament with this measure, the Commissioners thought it advisable to take the sense of the mercantile interest at the ports more immediately connected with the navigation of the Firth of Forth, such as Leith, Aberdeen, Dundee, Montrose, Arbroath, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, as to the utility of the light-house, and the propriety of obtaining an act of Parliament, to empower them to levy duties for the erection and maintenance of the proposed building. A number of Reports were accordingly received, all approving of the measure; but one of these only need be inserted, from the Corporation of Traders in Leith, as it may be considered as conveying the sentiments of all the others.
Report of the Traders of Leith.
Reportof theCommitteeappointed by the Incorporation of the Traders in Leith, relative to the expediency of erecting a Light-house on the Cape or Bell Rock.“The Committee, justly sensible of the great importance of the object referred to their consideration, have endeavoured to inform themselves, more especially on those points to which their attention is particularly called by the letter of the Commissioners.“The result of these inquiries, as far as regards the number of vessels known, from the safety of the crews, to have been wrecked upon the Bell Rock, within these last ten years, amount to four, viz. two smacks trading between London and Banff, one brig from Holland, and a sloop from Hamburgh.“These losses, although the vessels were all valuable, may at first view appear comparatively small, but to your Committee, they serve as a powerful evidence, in support of the opinion given by all maritime people, of the fatal position and nature of this rock, where, from the tremendous sea which even a moderate gale occasions, total destruction is almost the inevitable consequence of any vessel striking upon it.“Situate off the openings of the two Friths of Tay and Forth, the Bell Rock stands a frightful bar, to deter vessels making the land from attempting it in the night-time, when they require most to seek its shelter; and, if unhappily overtaken with a gale at SE., when near the latitude of this rock, the alternative, dangerous as it must appear, of stretching to the northward, along a scarce less frightful coast, to gain the Murray Firth , is frequently, in such perilous cases, had recourse to.“In the beginning of 1800, fifty or sixty vessels were cast away; and, from the circumstances of most of them being bound south of the Forth, but driven towards it by the violence of the storm, there can be no reason to doubt, that, had it been possible for these vessels to have attempted with safety the shelter of the Firth of Forth, many lives and much property would by this means have been preserved.“The dread, however, of the Bell Rock, induced them on that occasion to prefer hauling to the northward, and encountering a sea and tide surpassed in few places of the globe. This fatal apprehension was followed by the disastrous consequences already mentioned.“The Committee have, indeed, no hesitation in giving it as their opinion, that the greater part of the losses which occur, even from the CoquetIsland, as far as the Murray Firth , arise from vessels either actually striking upon, or from an over-solicitude to keep at a distance from, this fatal rock. To the latter cause, there is great reason to believe, from many concurrent circumstances attending her loss, and from parts of her wreck being washed ashore near Buchanness, his Majesty’s ship York, of 64 guns, fell a sacrifice, with all her crew. Indeed, if the number of vessels is calculated, which, within these last ten years, have been cast away within the above-mentioned extent of coast, they will be found to amount to more than one hundred.“That the erection of a light-house upon the Bell Rock would obviate many of these dangers is sufficiently evident, and merchants, as well as seafaring men, trading to the east coast of Scotland, as well as to the north of England, are alike interested in the accomplishment of this desirable object.“In a national point of view, the advantages that would result from it are incalculable; but none more forcible need be adduced, than that of its serving as the direct means of preservation to the invaluable lives of numerous British seamen.“All these considerations induce your Committee to give this measure their full approbation; and that such a necessary object has not been sooner attained, must rather have proceeded from the supposed difficulty of the execution, than any hesitation as to the expediency of it.“Your Committee, in reply to that part of the letter of the Commissioners, in which the Traffickers of Leith are required to signify, in the event of their concurrence in the measure, whether they will support the application of the Commissioners by petition to Parliament, have again to state, that giving, as they do, their full approbation to the expediency of erecting a light-house on the Bell Rock, they can have no hesitation in joining in any petition to Parliament to that effect. But the funds of this Incorporation being appropriated to specific purposes, no pecuniary aid can be afforded by them as a Society.“To so great a national benefit as this will certainly prove, they will contribute, by willingly submitting to a tax on all shipping passing the Bell Rock, provided the duty so imposed does not exceed that laid on for any light in England, whose situation may bear resemblance to that to be erected upon the Bell Rock.“The Trinity-House of Leith, to whom, the Committee is informed, the Commissioners have likewise applied, must be supposed better qualified to give detailed information upon the whole of this subject than your Committee;and the more especially, as one among their number has, for a period exceeding twenty years, made the dangers of the Bell Rock, and the means to be applied to avoid or lessen them, his peculiar study. Captain Joseph Brodie has, at great risk, and certainly at no little expence, and without any expectation of recompence, beyond that of having served his country, frequently visited the Bell Rock, and at one time succeeded in erecting a Beacon upon it, which withstood the fury of the sea for several months.“The Committee, therefore, consider him well qualified to give the Commissioners information on the subject; and the various models of light-houses applicable to this rock, which, with much labour and ingenuity, he has invented, will be found highly valuable, whenever the execution of the business shall come to be taken into final consideration.—(Signed) James Searth, Master; Wm. Mowbray, Assist.; Wm. Dougal, Assist.; Arch. Geddes, James Pillansjunior.”
Reportof theCommitteeappointed by the Incorporation of the Traders in Leith, relative to the expediency of erecting a Light-house on the Cape or Bell Rock.
“The Committee, justly sensible of the great importance of the object referred to their consideration, have endeavoured to inform themselves, more especially on those points to which their attention is particularly called by the letter of the Commissioners.
“The result of these inquiries, as far as regards the number of vessels known, from the safety of the crews, to have been wrecked upon the Bell Rock, within these last ten years, amount to four, viz. two smacks trading between London and Banff, one brig from Holland, and a sloop from Hamburgh.
“These losses, although the vessels were all valuable, may at first view appear comparatively small, but to your Committee, they serve as a powerful evidence, in support of the opinion given by all maritime people, of the fatal position and nature of this rock, where, from the tremendous sea which even a moderate gale occasions, total destruction is almost the inevitable consequence of any vessel striking upon it.
“Situate off the openings of the two Friths of Tay and Forth, the Bell Rock stands a frightful bar, to deter vessels making the land from attempting it in the night-time, when they require most to seek its shelter; and, if unhappily overtaken with a gale at SE., when near the latitude of this rock, the alternative, dangerous as it must appear, of stretching to the northward, along a scarce less frightful coast, to gain the Murray Firth , is frequently, in such perilous cases, had recourse to.
“In the beginning of 1800, fifty or sixty vessels were cast away; and, from the circumstances of most of them being bound south of the Forth, but driven towards it by the violence of the storm, there can be no reason to doubt, that, had it been possible for these vessels to have attempted with safety the shelter of the Firth of Forth, many lives and much property would by this means have been preserved.
“The dread, however, of the Bell Rock, induced them on that occasion to prefer hauling to the northward, and encountering a sea and tide surpassed in few places of the globe. This fatal apprehension was followed by the disastrous consequences already mentioned.
“The Committee have, indeed, no hesitation in giving it as their opinion, that the greater part of the losses which occur, even from the CoquetIsland, as far as the Murray Firth , arise from vessels either actually striking upon, or from an over-solicitude to keep at a distance from, this fatal rock. To the latter cause, there is great reason to believe, from many concurrent circumstances attending her loss, and from parts of her wreck being washed ashore near Buchanness, his Majesty’s ship York, of 64 guns, fell a sacrifice, with all her crew. Indeed, if the number of vessels is calculated, which, within these last ten years, have been cast away within the above-mentioned extent of coast, they will be found to amount to more than one hundred.
“That the erection of a light-house upon the Bell Rock would obviate many of these dangers is sufficiently evident, and merchants, as well as seafaring men, trading to the east coast of Scotland, as well as to the north of England, are alike interested in the accomplishment of this desirable object.
“In a national point of view, the advantages that would result from it are incalculable; but none more forcible need be adduced, than that of its serving as the direct means of preservation to the invaluable lives of numerous British seamen.
“All these considerations induce your Committee to give this measure their full approbation; and that such a necessary object has not been sooner attained, must rather have proceeded from the supposed difficulty of the execution, than any hesitation as to the expediency of it.
“Your Committee, in reply to that part of the letter of the Commissioners, in which the Traffickers of Leith are required to signify, in the event of their concurrence in the measure, whether they will support the application of the Commissioners by petition to Parliament, have again to state, that giving, as they do, their full approbation to the expediency of erecting a light-house on the Bell Rock, they can have no hesitation in joining in any petition to Parliament to that effect. But the funds of this Incorporation being appropriated to specific purposes, no pecuniary aid can be afforded by them as a Society.
“To so great a national benefit as this will certainly prove, they will contribute, by willingly submitting to a tax on all shipping passing the Bell Rock, provided the duty so imposed does not exceed that laid on for any light in England, whose situation may bear resemblance to that to be erected upon the Bell Rock.
“The Trinity-House of Leith, to whom, the Committee is informed, the Commissioners have likewise applied, must be supposed better qualified to give detailed information upon the whole of this subject than your Committee;and the more especially, as one among their number has, for a period exceeding twenty years, made the dangers of the Bell Rock, and the means to be applied to avoid or lessen them, his peculiar study. Captain Joseph Brodie has, at great risk, and certainly at no little expence, and without any expectation of recompence, beyond that of having served his country, frequently visited the Bell Rock, and at one time succeeded in erecting a Beacon upon it, which withstood the fury of the sea for several months.
“The Committee, therefore, consider him well qualified to give the Commissioners information on the subject; and the various models of light-houses applicable to this rock, which, with much labour and ingenuity, he has invented, will be found highly valuable, whenever the execution of the business shall come to be taken into final consideration.—(Signed) James Searth, Master; Wm. Mowbray, Assist.; Wm. Dougal, Assist.; Arch. Geddes, James Pillansjunior.”
Report of the Merchants of Berwick.
The dangerous situation of the Bell Rock, and the losses which have either occurred upon, or in consequence of it, were also strongly expressed in all the other documents communicated to the Light-house Board; and we may further form a judgment of the extent of the serious consequences of this rock to the shipping on the coast, by what was stated in the communication from Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was therein mentioned, that two vessels had struck upon this rock in one night; and that other two, which had been built at Berwick, and sold to a Shipping Company at Banff, were afterwards lost upon the same reef. It also deserves notice, that Captain Allardice, who commanded one of those vessels, had the misfortune, in the course of his profession, to have been twice wrecked upon the Bell Rock.
Resolution of the Light-house Board to apply again to Parliament.
These statements, furnished upon unquestionable authority, of the losses occasioned by the Bell Rock, satisfied the Commissioners of the propriety of persisting in their original plan of obtaining an act of Parliament and a loan for this special purpose. After various meetings of the Board, for adjusting the heads of a bill, the measure was finally resolved upon at a meeting, held on the 19th February 1806, at which the following members were present: Mr James Clerk, Sheriff-Depute of Edinburghshire, Mr Robert Hamilton, Sheriff-Depute of Lanarkshire, Mr William Rae, Sheriff-Depute of Orkney and Shetland, Mr James Trail, Sheriff-depute of Caithness, Mr John Connell, Sheriff-Depute of Renfrewshire, Mr Edward M’Cormick, Sheriff-Depute of Ayrshire, and Mr David Monypenny, Sheriff-Depute of Fife.
This meeting having also taken into consideration a memorial, prepared by Mr Hamilton, pointing out the importance and urgency of the measure, ordered it to be printed; and requested him to proceed to London, to submit the memorial, and the documents on which it was founded, to the consideration of His Majesty’s Ministers, and other Members of Parliament.
Mr Hamilton and the Author go to London.
Mr Hamilton went to London in the month of April 1806, when the author also attended, with his plans and estimates, to prove the preamble of the bill. Mr Hamilton having transmitted the memorial to the heads of the departments of the Treasury, the Admiralty, and the Board of Trade, requested an audience from them on the subject. He had a meeting with the Board of Trade, and urged the proposition for a loan, or advance from Government, of L. 25,000, on the security of the duties which the proposed light-house would produce. It was, however, recommended that application should also be made to the other two Boards. Some time thereafter, a conference on the matter was held with Lord Howick, then at the head of the Admiralty, and Admiral Markham,—when the plans of the projected building were shewn to them,—it was stated that all that was wanting to enable the work to be proceeded with, was the advance from Government,—and the importance of the proposed light-house was at this interview pointed out, not only as to trade, but as a guide and protection for the Navy while cruising in the German Ocean. But their Lordships still considered the undertaking chiefly as of a local nature, and comparatively of little benefit to the Navy. Not discouraged, however, by this unsuccessful application, Mr Hamilton soon after obtained an audience of Lord Grenville, First Commissioner of the Treasury, who examined the charts, plans, elevations and sections of the projected building with much attention,—declared himself fully convinced of the importance and expediency of the measure,—and promised that the loan by Government, and every other expedient for the advancement of the design, should have his support. The patronage of the First Minister of State having been thus obtained, Mr Hamilton returned to his public duties in Scotland, leaving the farther proceedings in the application to the charge of the writer, with the assistance of Mr Longlands, solicitor for the Light-house Board in London.
The Loan from Government becomes doubtful.
The Hon. Henry Erskine, Lord Advocate of Scotland, took charge of the Bill in Parliament. But, notwithstanding his Lordship’s attention to the business, so much time was lost in furnishing various statements, relative to the probable amount of the new duties to be levied, and the security to be given for repayment of the loan, that little progress was made with the bill, till the middle of the month of June. By this time, the prospect of the loan became so doubtful, that it was thought advisable by some friends to the measure to take the bill without it. But the Commissioners, after considering the tendency of such a bill, in tying up their funds for an indefinite period for one object, and thus preventing the extension of the benefit of additional light-houses to other parts of the coast, were of opinion, that, unless the loan was granted, they must withdraw their petition for the bill, and allow the business to lie over till the duties were in such a condition as to enable the work to be undertaken. The author was therefore directed to consider himself as at liberty to leave London, if it should appear that the loan could not be obtained.
Board of Trade favourable to the Loan.
Lord Auckland, President of the Board of Trade, was favourable to the proposal of the loan; and Sir Joseph Banks, the Vice-President, having entered warmly into the measure, and at a meeting of the 7th June, urged its necessity so strongly, that the Board desired a Memorial to be presented on the following points:—Of the coast to be subjected to the Duty of the Northern Lights, by the erection of the Bell Rock light-house;—of the trade and mercantile interest to pay this additional duty;—of the security to be given to Government for the repayment of the loan of L. 25,000;—and of the assurance to be given, that this sum, together with the surplus funds in the possession of the Commissioners, would accomplish a building of so much hazard.
The following Memorial was accordingly presented.
“To the Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Council, relating to Trade,—The Humble Memorial of the Commissioners, for erecting Light-Houses on the Northern parts of Great Britain;Sheweth,Memorial to the Board of Trade.“That the memorialists have taken the liberty of stating, in a former Memorial hereunto annexed, the reasons that have induced them to applyto the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, for their support to an application to Parliament, for the loan of so much money as will enable them to build a light-house upon the Cape or Bell Rock,—an object of much consequence to the navigation of the North Sea, from the many fatal shipwrecks it has occasioned. The Memorialists have been much pressed and solicited by the commercial interest of the country, to get this accomplished; and by opening the Firth of Forth as a place of safety, by the erection of this light-house, the navigation of the northern coasts of the kingdom will be greatly facilitated.“It now appears, by the accompanying Custom-House returns, on an average of three years, that the duties which would be received for a light-house on the Bell Rock would amount to L. 2617:3:9½; and by the accounts of the Commissioners of Northern Lights, annually laid before Parliament, it will be seen, that the memorialists have of annual surplus duties L. 1350, amounting together to L. 3967, which, it is thought, will be considered a sufficient security for the interest of the sum that may be advanced by the public.“On erecting a light-house on the Bell Rock, the Commissioners, by the existing acts, would be empowered to levy the above duties of L. 2617, 3s. 9½d.; and it appears by the representations from the ports more immediately interested, that they highly approve of the measure.“The memorialists have received several estimates of the expence of erecting a light-house upon the Bell Rock. They have more particularly had recourse to the professional abilities and advice of Mr Rennie and Mr Stevenson, Civil Engineers, from whose reports they have reason to believe that the sum will not exceed L. 48,000. The memorialists have already in the 3per cent.consols L. 28,000 of surplus duties, (about L. 16,800). If the public, therefore, are induced to advance L. 25,000 by instalments in the course of three years, making together about L. 41,800, the memorialists presume, that, with the application of the whole surplus duties for a time, this sum will be perfectly sufficient to enable them to complete a work so long recommended, and so anxiously desired.” (For the statements above referred to, see Appendix, No.III.)
“To the Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Council, relating to Trade,—The Humble Memorial of the Commissioners, for erecting Light-Houses on the Northern parts of Great Britain;
Sheweth,
Memorial to the Board of Trade.
“That the memorialists have taken the liberty of stating, in a former Memorial hereunto annexed, the reasons that have induced them to applyto the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, for their support to an application to Parliament, for the loan of so much money as will enable them to build a light-house upon the Cape or Bell Rock,—an object of much consequence to the navigation of the North Sea, from the many fatal shipwrecks it has occasioned. The Memorialists have been much pressed and solicited by the commercial interest of the country, to get this accomplished; and by opening the Firth of Forth as a place of safety, by the erection of this light-house, the navigation of the northern coasts of the kingdom will be greatly facilitated.
“It now appears, by the accompanying Custom-House returns, on an average of three years, that the duties which would be received for a light-house on the Bell Rock would amount to L. 2617:3:9½; and by the accounts of the Commissioners of Northern Lights, annually laid before Parliament, it will be seen, that the memorialists have of annual surplus duties L. 1350, amounting together to L. 3967, which, it is thought, will be considered a sufficient security for the interest of the sum that may be advanced by the public.
“On erecting a light-house on the Bell Rock, the Commissioners, by the existing acts, would be empowered to levy the above duties of L. 2617, 3s. 9½d.; and it appears by the representations from the ports more immediately interested, that they highly approve of the measure.
“The memorialists have received several estimates of the expence of erecting a light-house upon the Bell Rock. They have more particularly had recourse to the professional abilities and advice of Mr Rennie and Mr Stevenson, Civil Engineers, from whose reports they have reason to believe that the sum will not exceed L. 48,000. The memorialists have already in the 3per cent.consols L. 28,000 of surplus duties, (about L. 16,800). If the public, therefore, are induced to advance L. 25,000 by instalments in the course of three years, making together about L. 41,800, the memorialists presume, that, with the application of the whole surplus duties for a time, this sum will be perfectly sufficient to enable them to complete a work so long recommended, and so anxiously desired.” (For the statements above referred to, see Appendix, No.III.)
Sir Joseph Banks makes further exertions for the Loan.
Observations by the several members of the Board of Trade having been made upon this memorial, it was more especially referred to Sir Joseph Banks, to give an opinion, as having himself sailed along that coast. Sir Joseph, knowing from experience the horrors of sunken rocks, supported the proposition of the loan, not only as one of expediency, but of necessity andhumanity to the seafaring people of a great portion of the kingdom, and gave his most decided and hearty concurrence to the recommendation to the Treasury. After describing the extensive advantages to be derived by shipping from the establishment of a light-house upon the Bell Rock, he pointedly alluded to the probable loss of the York Man-of-war upon it; and observed, that the security and facility to be derived to the extensive shipping of this coast, should not be overlooked for the advance of so small a sum as L. 25,000. After the matter had been deliberated on for some time at the Board, Lord Auckland intimated to Mr Longlands, and the author, that a report would be made to the Treasury.
Bill Read a first time in the House of Commons.
This was communicated to the Lord Advocate, who, at an early day, moved for leave to bring in a bill, “To enable the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses to levy certain duties upon the shipping, and also to enable the Lords of His Majesty’s Treasury to grant a loan of L. 25,000 from the 3per cent.consolidated fund for the erection of a light-house upon a certain dangerous sunken reef, called the Bell Rock, lying at the distance of twelve miles from the nearest land, at the entrance of the Friths of Forth and Tay, upon the eastern coast of Scotland.” His Lordship had no sooner made the motion, than Lord Henry Petty, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated, that he could not answer for the support which this bill might ultimately meet with from his Majesty’s Ministers;—that he spoke not from his own knowledge of the subject, but merely from the views of the First Lord of the Admiralty, who had expressed his doubts as to the propriety of the loan in the then low state of his Majesty’s Exchequer, and the great demands which were made upon the country; but that he did not mean to oppose the present motion, only, under these circumstances, he thought it proper to state this much, in absence of the noble Lord alluded to. Leave having been given to bring in the bill, it was accordingly read a first time.
Second Reading of the Bill.
On the second reading of the bill, the Lord Advocate introduced the business with his usual display of eloquence, pointing out, in forcible language, the horrors of a sunken rock so situate as the Bell Rock; and concluded, by observing, that, as there could be but one opinion as to the important object of this bill, he hoped, through the exertions of the Light-house Board, to which he had the honour to belong, and of other public functionaries, appointed for similar purposes, on other parts of the coast, the day would come, when every sunken rock and dangerous shoal, of similar importance to navigation, would be distinctly pointed out to the mariner.The only reply made was by Mr Spencer Perceval, who remarked, that he had no intention to oppose the present measure, the importance of which he would not call in question, but he must agree with those who thought that this was not a favourable time for granting loans of public money. The bill was then read a second time. In its progress through the House of Commons, it was detained, from various causes, beyond the regular time. The Lord Advocate had also unfortunately been taken ill; but in his absence, Sir John Sinclair attended to the bill in the Committee, of which he was chairman, and brought up the following Report:
Report of the Committee of the House of Commons.Report of the Committee.Report brought up by Sir John Sinclair.“The Committee, to whom was referred the Petition of the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses, and to report the matter to the House, as it shall appear to them,“Proceeded to examine MrRobert Stevenson, Civil Engineer, who, in his capacity of engineer for the Northern Light-houses, has erected six light-houses in the northern parts of the kingdom; and has made the erection of a light-house on the Cape or Bell Rock, more particularly his study,—especially, since the loss of about 70 sail of vessels, in a storm which happened upon the coast in the month of December 1799, by which numerous ships were driven from their course along the shore, and from their moorings in Yarmouth Roads, and other places of anchorage, southward of the Firth of Forth, and wrecked upon the eastern coast of Scotland, as referred to in the report made to this House, in the month of July 1803; the particulars of which he also confirms: That the Bell Rock is most dangerously situate, lying in a track which is annually navigated by no less than about 700,000 tons of shipping, besides his Majesty’s ships of war, and revenue cutters: That its place is not easily ascertained, even by persons well acquainted with the coast, being covered by the sea about half flood, and the land-marks, by which its position is ascertained, being from 12 to 20 miles distant from the site of danger.“That from the inquiries he made at the time the York Man-of-war was lost, and pieces of her wreck having drifted ashore upon the opposite and neighbouring coast; and from an attentive consideration of the circumstances which attend the wreck of ships of such dimensions, he thinks it probable that the York must have struck upon the Bell Rock, drifted off, and afterwards sunk in deep water: That he is well acquainted with the situation of the Bell Rock, the yacht belonging to the light-house service,having, on one occasion, been anchored near it for five days, when he had an opportunity of landing upon it every tide: That he has visited most of the light-houses on the coast of England, Wales and Ireland, particularly those of the Eddystone, the Smalls, and the Kilwarlin or South Rock, which are built in situations somewhat similar to the Bell Rock: That at high-water, there is a greater depth on the Bell Rock than on any of these, by several feet: and he is therefore fully of opinion, that a building of stone, upon the principles of the Eddystone light-house, is alone suitable to the peculiar circumstances which attend this rock, and has reported his opinion accordingly to the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses as far back as the year 1800; and having given the subject all the attention in his power, he has estimated the expence of erecting a building of stone upon it at the sum of L. 42,685, 8s.“Your Committee likewise examined MrJohn Rennie, civil-engineer, who, since the report made to this House in 1803, has visited the Bell Rock, who confirms the particulars in said report, and entertains no doubt of the practicability of erecting a light-house on that rock, is decidedly of opinion that a stone light-house will be the most durable and effectual, and indeed the only kind of building that is suited to this situation: That he has computed the expence of such a building, and, after making every allowance for contingencies, from his own experience of works in the sea, it appears to him that the estimate or expence will amount to L. 41,843, 15s.“It appears further to your Committee, from the accounts presented to this House by the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses, in the years 1803, 1804, and 1805, that, on an average of these years, the surplus duties arising from the light-houses already erected by that Board, is L. 512:18:8. But your Committee find, that the average of general expenditure for these years has been higher than usual, owing to the erection of additional light-houses, viz. one on the Island of Inchkeith, in the Firth of Forth, and a revolving light upon the Start-Point of Sanday, one of the Orkney Islands, on which there was expended, during these years, about L. 4800, causing an annual extra charge of L. 1600 upon the duties collected in that period.“That, agreeably to the act of the 26th of the King, the said Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses have invested in the public Funds L. 28,000, affording dividends to the annual amount of L. 840.“That the duties that would be collected for the Bell Rock light, as appears by the returns from the customs presented to this House, and theresolution they have come to, would amount to about L. 2617: 3: 9 annually.“That if the sum of L. 25,000 was to be advanced, by way of loan, from the consolidated fund, this, with the L. 28,000 now invested in the 3per cent.Consolidated Annuities, would enable the Commissioners to erect the proposed light-house, and that there would remain a sufficient fund for the payment of interest of the loan from the surplus duties, as well as for the repayment of the principal, in a reasonable time.”
Report of the Committee.
Report brought up by Sir John Sinclair.
“The Committee, to whom was referred the Petition of the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses, and to report the matter to the House, as it shall appear to them,
“Proceeded to examine MrRobert Stevenson, Civil Engineer, who, in his capacity of engineer for the Northern Light-houses, has erected six light-houses in the northern parts of the kingdom; and has made the erection of a light-house on the Cape or Bell Rock, more particularly his study,—especially, since the loss of about 70 sail of vessels, in a storm which happened upon the coast in the month of December 1799, by which numerous ships were driven from their course along the shore, and from their moorings in Yarmouth Roads, and other places of anchorage, southward of the Firth of Forth, and wrecked upon the eastern coast of Scotland, as referred to in the report made to this House, in the month of July 1803; the particulars of which he also confirms: That the Bell Rock is most dangerously situate, lying in a track which is annually navigated by no less than about 700,000 tons of shipping, besides his Majesty’s ships of war, and revenue cutters: That its place is not easily ascertained, even by persons well acquainted with the coast, being covered by the sea about half flood, and the land-marks, by which its position is ascertained, being from 12 to 20 miles distant from the site of danger.
“That from the inquiries he made at the time the York Man-of-war was lost, and pieces of her wreck having drifted ashore upon the opposite and neighbouring coast; and from an attentive consideration of the circumstances which attend the wreck of ships of such dimensions, he thinks it probable that the York must have struck upon the Bell Rock, drifted off, and afterwards sunk in deep water: That he is well acquainted with the situation of the Bell Rock, the yacht belonging to the light-house service,having, on one occasion, been anchored near it for five days, when he had an opportunity of landing upon it every tide: That he has visited most of the light-houses on the coast of England, Wales and Ireland, particularly those of the Eddystone, the Smalls, and the Kilwarlin or South Rock, which are built in situations somewhat similar to the Bell Rock: That at high-water, there is a greater depth on the Bell Rock than on any of these, by several feet: and he is therefore fully of opinion, that a building of stone, upon the principles of the Eddystone light-house, is alone suitable to the peculiar circumstances which attend this rock, and has reported his opinion accordingly to the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses as far back as the year 1800; and having given the subject all the attention in his power, he has estimated the expence of erecting a building of stone upon it at the sum of L. 42,685, 8s.
“Your Committee likewise examined MrJohn Rennie, civil-engineer, who, since the report made to this House in 1803, has visited the Bell Rock, who confirms the particulars in said report, and entertains no doubt of the practicability of erecting a light-house on that rock, is decidedly of opinion that a stone light-house will be the most durable and effectual, and indeed the only kind of building that is suited to this situation: That he has computed the expence of such a building, and, after making every allowance for contingencies, from his own experience of works in the sea, it appears to him that the estimate or expence will amount to L. 41,843, 15s.
“It appears further to your Committee, from the accounts presented to this House by the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses, in the years 1803, 1804, and 1805, that, on an average of these years, the surplus duties arising from the light-houses already erected by that Board, is L. 512:18:8. But your Committee find, that the average of general expenditure for these years has been higher than usual, owing to the erection of additional light-houses, viz. one on the Island of Inchkeith, in the Firth of Forth, and a revolving light upon the Start-Point of Sanday, one of the Orkney Islands, on which there was expended, during these years, about L. 4800, causing an annual extra charge of L. 1600 upon the duties collected in that period.
“That, agreeably to the act of the 26th of the King, the said Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses have invested in the public Funds L. 28,000, affording dividends to the annual amount of L. 840.
“That the duties that would be collected for the Bell Rock light, as appears by the returns from the customs presented to this House, and theresolution they have come to, would amount to about L. 2617: 3: 9 annually.
“That if the sum of L. 25,000 was to be advanced, by way of loan, from the consolidated fund, this, with the L. 28,000 now invested in the 3per cent.Consolidated Annuities, would enable the Commissioners to erect the proposed light-house, and that there would remain a sufficient fund for the payment of interest of the loan from the surplus duties, as well as for the repayment of the principal, in a reasonable time.”
Bill meets with some opposition at the third reading.
The bill passed through the Committee of the Commons without any impediment, but, on the third reading, it met with some opposition in the House, upon new and unexpected grounds. One of the members for Liverpool opposed the loan, on the ground that that Port maintained its own sea-lights, and that the trade of the Firth of Forth ought also to support its lights. But this objection was withdrawn, upon explaining the position of the Bell Rock relatively to the Firth of Forth, and the difficulty and expence of the proposed building, and shewing that the collection of its Light-duties were proportionally as much confined to the Firth of Forth, though extending between Berwick to the south, and Peterhead to the north, as the more limited sphere of the Liverpool lights were to the ports and havens in the Mersey. This difficulty was no sooner got over, than the bill was likely to have met with another check, from a clause which had been introduced, exempting this work from the duty on stone carried coastwise, which, it was calculated, would have amounted to between L. 2000 and L. 3000. This clause was withdrawn, by the advice of Mr Vansittart, Secretary to the Treasury, as being improper to appear in the shape of an enactment.
Is Passed, and receives the Royal Assent.
The bill then went through the third reading, and passed the House Commons on the 16th of July. It was afterwards brought up to the House of Lords, where it went through the Committee, and the several readings; and having received the Royal Assent, became an act of the Legislature.
The writer immediately returned to Scotland, with feelings of the greatest satisfaction, on the accomplishment of a measure which, in its tendency, was so eminently calculated to meet the wishes of the mercantile interest of the country. But, along with these sensations, there was also a degree of responsibility, and a crowd of difficulties, which still presentedthemselves, in the execution of a work of so peculiar a nature. Hitherto this undertaking had been viewed only at a distance, clogged with many previous obstacles, which, by the passing of the bill, were removed; and the whole measure now pressed fully upon his mind.
PHAROS FLOATING LIGHT-SHIP.—COMMENCEMENT OF THE OPERATIONS ON THE BELL-ROCK.—ERECTION OF THE BEACON-HOUSE, AND FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE WORKS IN 1807.
PHAROS FLOATING LIGHT-SHIP.—COMMENCEMENT OF THE OPERATIONS ON THE BELL-ROCK.—ERECTION OF THE BEACON-HOUSE, AND FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE WORKS IN 1807.
Floating-Light.
The Act of Parliament, by which the Commissioners of the Northern Light-houses were empowered to undertake the works at the Bell Rock, having only received the Royal Assent late in the month of July 1806, there was not sufficient time for making the necessary preparations for their commencement that season. But the writer, on his return from London, received instructions from the Board to have such preliminary steps in view, as would enable him to begin the operations early in the summer of 1807. This being arranged, he sailed in the month of August, on his annual voyage, for the inspection of the Northern Light-houses.
Act provides for a Floating-Light and Beacon.
The bill for the Bell Rock Light-house was drawn up, under a strong impression of the uncertainty which must attend the whole of the works at the rock, and doubts were accordingly entertained as to the estimated expence being adequate to the accomplishment of the undertaking. A clause had, therefore, been introduced, authorising the collection of the light-house duties of one penny halfpennyperregister ton from British vessels, and threepenceperton from foreigners, “immediately upon mooring or anchoring a ship or vessel, and exhibiting a floating or other light, at or near the Bell Rock,” and “half the amount of the said duties respectively,” on the erection of “a proper beacon or distinguishing mark or object on the said Bell Rock.” The measures first in order were, consequently, to fit out and moor a floating-light and to erect a beacon on the Bell Rock, that shippingmight derive immediate advantage from them, while the light-house was in progress; and also that the funds of the Board might, as early as possible, have the benefit of the additional duties. We therefore proceed to give an account of the outfit and mooring of this vessel, and of the erection of the beacon-house, without attending strictly to the chronological order of the works.
The writer had frequent communications with the late Captain Huddart, of the Trinity-House of London, and other nautical men, both as to the form of a vessel, and the moorings proper for a situation like the Bell Rock: here the depth of water could not be less than from seventeen to nineteen fathoms at the lowest tide, whereas, on the English coast, the depth where floating lights are, in general, moored, does not exceed seven or eight fathoms, and their moorings, consequently, much more easily managed. The writer had also visited the floating light of the Nore, at the entrance of the river Thames; and he was induced, upon the whole, to conclude, that a vessel built after the manner and construction of the Dutch fishing-doggers, would be the most suitable for riding at anchor in the open sea, and that her moorings should consist partly of an iron chain, and partly of a hempen cable.
Fishing Dogger purchased, and named The Pharos.
In the year 1806, a great number of vessels were taken by our cruizers, upon the coasts of Holland, Denmark, and Norway, many of which were carried into Leith to be sold. One of these, a Prussian, which happened to be captured while fishing on the Dogger Bank, was purchased for the Bell Rock service. This vessel was of a flat construction, rounded off both at the stem and stern, agreeably to the ordinary make of these doggers. She was called the Tonge Gerrit, but was afterwards named the Pharos, in allusion to the celebrated Pharos of Alexandria. She measured 67 feet in length, and 16 feet in breadth, upon deck, 8 feet depth of hold, and was 82 tons register. It was, however, only the form of her hull that fitted her for our purpose; her rigging and whole equipment having to undergo a complete alteration, for the light-house service.
Fitted out under the direction of the Trinity-House, Leith.
The establishing of a floating-light being quite new upon the coast of Scotland, and that every thing connected with this vessel might be done upon the best principles, the writer procured the assistance of Mr Joseph Webb, an experienced pilot of Yarmouth, who had attended thefitting up of one of the floating lights stationed off that coast, and who had been recommended by the Trinity Board of London as a person of skill, for instructing the master of the vessel in all the details of the service. Several of the Captains of the Trinity-House of Leith also obligingly formed themselves into a committee, and from time to time assisted in giving directions as to the necessary repairs and outfit of the vessel.
Agreeably to this arrangement, the Prussian dogger was put into one of the graving docks of Leith, in the month of March 1807, and underwent a complete examination, when it was found that she required a few new timbers in her bottom; and that to strengthen her upper works, several new beams and additional knees were necessary. Her bottom had to be new trenailed and caulked, and then sheathed with fir plank. Her ceiling, or interior lining, was also caulked, and made water-tight, in case of accident to the outer plank, in the event of her breaking adrift, and getting upon the Bell Rock. Her deck-plank and upper works were also entirely renewed; and from stem to stern, under deck, her accommodations were laid out anew. She was furnished with three masts, of a length calculated to enable her to ride with as little incumbrance as possible in a storm; the main-mast being only thirty-five feet above the deck, while the fore and mizen masts were each twenty-five feet. The rigging was also made of light cordage, and she was provided with storm-sails, to be used in the event of her breaking adrift in bad weather. By the time, therefore, that this vessel came from the hands of the carpenters, very little of the old work remained, as nothing had been omitted, which could, in any manner, add to her strength and durability. She was fitted up with births for about thirty artificers, besides her ordinary crew and officers, amounting to thirteen in number, independently of her hold for oil and stores of various descriptions. In the distribution of these, the fore-peak of the ship was allotted for the sailors; the waist for the artificers; and galley appropriated to the cooking of the victuals. Next to this, a large cabin was set off for the master, mate, and principal light-keeper, and for the foremen of the works; while the after or stern part of the ship formed a cabin for the use of the engineer.
Peculiar construction of Lanterns.
The Pharos was furnished with a large copper lantern for each mast, containing ten lamps, with small silver-plated reflectors, ranged upon a chandelier, moveable at pleasure, in a horizontal direction, for the conveniency of turning the lamps to trim them and clean the reflectors. To make the vessel ride as easily as possible, in a situation so exposed, the lanternswere made of a peculiar construction, so as to screw together upon the masts, in two pieces, longitudinally, as represented inPlate X., Figs. 1, 2, and 3. By these means, the light could be seen in every direction, without the necessity of suspending them in the usual manner from yards, or other weighty apparatus, which tend not only to obscure the light, but also to make the ship ride heavily in bad weather.
Construction of Moorings.
The moorings of the floating light consisted of a large mushroom anchor, of cast-iron, weighing about a ton and a half, and made with a shank and head, resembling in form, as nearly as may be, the vegetable from which it takes its name. This anchor was made with a malleable iron shank, but latterly these mushroom anchors were made wholly of cast-iron, as represented inPlate X., Fig. 4. A chain of fifty fathoms in length, was attached to the anchor, made of inch and half bars of iron, to which a hempen cable, of 14 inches in circumference, and 120 fathoms in length, was connected, to be veered out according to the state of the weather.
Pharos is towed to the Roads.
The Pharos being ready for sea, was, on the 9th of July, towed out of the harbour of Leith to the Roads, by the Light-house Yacht, a cutter-rigged vessel attached to the general service of the Northern Light-houses. The Yacht had the Pharos’ moorings on board, and was appointed to conduct her to the Bell Rock, and lay them down. A curious enough circumstance took place, when the crew of the floating-light was mustered, before leaving the harbour: two of the seamen having taken alarm, at the destination of the ship, and the nature of the service in which they were about to embark, suddenly turned about, and, to the great surprise of their comrades, ran with the utmost precipitation from the ship; to which they never again returned. Their places, however, were supplied with others, without much inconvenience.
Committee of the Trinity-House go to the Bell Rock.
As the gentlemen of the Trinity-house of Leith, had all along taken a particular interest in the fitting out of the floating-light, the Commissioners requested their assistance in fixing upon the precise spot in which she should be moored, for the direction of ships passing the Bell Rock. This they readily complied with, suggesting, at the same time, that some of the shipmasters of Arbroath, who were locally acquainted with the coast, should also be invited to give their opinion and advice upon this point.A few of the most experienced ship-masters and merchants of Arbroath were accordingly invited to come off, when the floating light should make her appearance in their neighbourhood. Matters being thus arranged, the writer went on board of the Light-house Yacht, on the 10th, accompanied by Mr Thomas Grindlay, master of the Trinity-house of Leith, with Mr John Hay, and Mr Thomas Ritchie, Assistant-Masters.
Pharos sails for the Bell Rock.
At 8A. M.the Pharos got under way in Leith Roads, and sailed for her station at the Bell Rock, under the command of Mr George Sinclair, with a crew of twelve in number. But as she sailed very heavily, the Yacht, with her party, did not follow till noon, and about 2P. M.came up with her, and took her in tow, when it came to blow fresh breezes from SW. At 6, both vessels anchored for the night on the eastern side of the Isle of May, as, by continuing our course, we should have reached the Bell Rock under night, which was then an object of terror to every seaman, and must have been attended with danger, from its then undistinguished state.
Committee from Arbroath join the party.
While the Yacht and Pharos lay at anchor at the Isle of May, Mr David Balfour, Mr Andrew Duncan, Mr David Cargill, Mr John Fleming, and Mr William Kidd, as a Committee from Arbroath, having hired a vessel, left that place in the morning, and hailed the Yacht, soon after she came to an anchor, when some of their party joined us on board. As the accommodations of the floating light were very ample, having only the ship’s company on board, it was proposed that the whole party should meet in her, and pass the night; but she rolled from side to side, in so extraordinary a manner, that even the most sea-hardy of our number were content to remain in a state of separation, rather than accept of the best birth in the floating light. It was humorously observed of this vessel, “that she was in some danger of making a round turn, and appearing with her keel uppermost.” Another said, “she would roll out her masts;” and a third that she would “even turn a halfpenny, if laid upon deck.” These, and such like remarks, afforded much pleasantry on board of the Light-house Yacht, and were suggested by the manner in which the Pharos rolled andyawedabout, when compared with the more easy motion of the other vessels. Being then in light ballast trim to fit her for riding in bad weather, and very flat in the bottom, the smallest wave set her in motion, when at anchor; and when under way, she was little better, for she answered the helm with so much difficulty, that alarge decked Praam-boat, which she had in tow, was upset in the passage from Leith. The writer is the more particular on this subject, as the rolling motion of the floating-light became proverbial in the Light-house service, and continued a source of much trouble and uneasiness to all concerned, especially while she was used as a tender or store-ship for the works.
Pharos anchors in a temporary birth.
Early in the morning of the 11th, the vessels left their anchorage at the Isle of May, and sailed for the Bell Rock; but on reaching it, in the course of the forenoon, the wind came to the eastward, accompanied with thick hazy weather, and drizzling showers of rain, which so completely hid the distant landmarks from view, that there was a necessity for ordering the Pharos to come to an anchor with her best bower, on the smoothest spot of ground that could be found, until a change of weather should admit of her being moored in a proper manner. The weather afterwards became so foggy that every object was lost sight of. The vessel which had brought our friends from Arbroath, put into that harbour in the course of the evening, but the Light-house Yacht kept at sea till the morning of the 12th, when it came to blow so fresh, that she also went into that harbour, to wait a change of weather. On the 14th, it improved, and the Yacht again sailed for the Bell Rock. On returning to the floating light, we were happy to find that all was well on board, though Mr Sinclair and Mr Webb, the pilot, complained that their anchorage was not very good, as the bottom was hard, and the soundings or particles brought up with the lead exhibited sharp coral and coarse gravel. After plying about for some time with the Yacht, and sounding in every direction, a place was at length fixed upon, about a mile and a half in a north-westerly direction from the Bell Rock. The Yacht, as before noticed, having on board the floating-light’s moorings, anchored on the spot most approved of for laying them down.