records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第51章
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together； wrought knee…deep； and not unfrequently up to the middle； in
water。 Mr。 Watt having about this time made a requisition for another hand；
the carpenter was ordered to attend the rock in the floating light's boat。
This he did with great reluctance； and found so much fault that he soon got
into discredit with his messmates。 On this occasion he left the
Lighthouse service； and went as a sailor in a vessel bound for America … a
step which； it is believed； he soon regretted； as； in the course of things； he
would； in all probability； have accompanied Mr。 John Reid； the principal
lightkeeper of the floating light； to the Bell Rock Lighthouse as his
principal assistant。 The writer had a wish to be of service to this man； as
he was one of those who came off to the floating light in the month of
September 1807； while she was riding at single anchor after the severe
gale of the 7th； at a time when it was hardly possible to make up this
vessel's crew； but the crossness of his manner prevented his reaping the
benefit of such intentions。
＇Friday； 22nd June＇
The building operations had for some time proceeded more slowly；
from the higher parts of the lighthouse requiring much longer time than an
equal tonnage of the lower courses。 The duty of the landing…master's
crew had； upon the whole； been easy of late； for though the work was
occasionally irregular； yet the stones being lighter； they were more
speedily lifted from the hold of the stone vessel to the deck of the praam…
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boat； and again to the waggons on the railway； after which they came
properly under the charge of the foreman builder。 It is； however； a strange；
though not an uncommon； feature in the human character； that； when
people have least to complain of； they are most apt to become dissatisfied；
as was now the case with the seamen employed in the Bell Rock service
about their rations of beer。 Indeed； ever since the carpenter of the
floating light； formerly noticed； had been brought to the rock； expressions
of discontent had been manifested upon various occasions。 This being
represented to the writer； he sent for Captain Wilson； the landing…master；
and Mr。 Taylor； commander of the tender； with whom he talked over the
subject。 They stated that they considered the daily allowance of the
seamen in every respect ample； and that； the work being now much lighter
than formerly； they had no just ground for complaint； Mr。 Taylor adding
that； if those who now complained ‘were even to be fed upon soft bread
and turkeys； they would not think themselves right。' At twelve noon the
work of the landing…master's crew was completed for the day； but at four
o'clock； while the rock was under water； those on the beacon were
surprised by the arrival of a boat from the tender without any signal
having been made from the beacon。 It brought the following note to the
writer from the landing… master's crew：…
‘SIR JOSEPH BANKS TENDER。
‘SIR； … We are informed by our masters that our allowance is to be as
before； and it is not sufficient to serve us； for we have been at work since
four o'clock this morning； and we have come on board to dinner； and there
is no beer for us before tomorrow morning； to which a sufficient answer is
required before we go from the beacon； and we are； Sir； your most
obedient servants。'
On reading this； the writer returned a verbal message； intimating that
an answer would be sent on board of the tender； at the same time ordering
the boat instantly to quit the beacon。 He then addressed the following
note to the landing…master：…
‘BEACON…HOUSE； 22ND JUNE 1810； FIVE O'CLOCK P。M。
‘SIR； … I have just now received a letter purporting to be from the
landing…master's crew and seamen on board of the SIR JOSEPH BANKS；
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
though without either date or signature； in answer to which I enclose a
statement of the daily allowance of provisions for the seamen in this
service； which you will post up in the ship's galley； and at seven o'clock
this evening I will come on board to inquire into this unexpected and most
unnecessary demand for an additional allowance of beer。 In the enclosed
you will not find any alteration from the original statement； fixed in the
galley at the beginning of the season。 I have； however； judged this mode
of giving your people an answer preferable to that of conversing with them
on the beacon。 … I am； Sir； your most obedient servant； ROBERT
STEVENSON。
‘To CAPTAIN WILSON。'
‘BEACON HOUSE； 22ND JUNE 1810。 … Schedule of the daily
allowance of provisions to be served out on board of the SIR JOSEPH
BANKS tender： 〃1。5 lb。 beef； 1 lb。 bread； 8 oz。 oatmeal； 2 oz。 barley； 2 oz。
butter； 3 quarts beer； vegetables and salt no stated allowance。 When the
seamen are employed in unloading the SMEATON and PATRIOT； a
draught of beer is； as formerly； to be allowed from the stock of these
vessels。 Further； in wet and stormy weather； or when the work commences
very early in the morning； or continues till a late hour at night； a glass of
spirits will also be served out to the crew as heretofore； on the requisition
of the landing…master。〃 ROBERT STEVENSON。'
On writing this letter and schedule； a signal was made on the beacon
for the landing…master's boat； which immediately came to the rock； and the
schedule was afterwards stuck up in the tender's galley。 When sufficient
time had been allowed to the crew to consider of their conduct； a second
signal was made for a boat； and at seven o'clock the writer left the Bell
Rock； after a residence of four successive weeks in the beacon…house。
The first thing which occupied his attention on board of the tender was to
look round upon the lighthouse； which he saw； with some degree of
emotion and surprise； now vying in height with the beacon…house； for
although he had often viewed it from the extremity of the western railway
on the rock； yet the scene； upon the whole； seemed far more interesting
from the tender's moorings at the distance of about half a mile。
The SMEATON having just arrived at her moorings with a cargo； a
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signal was made for Captain Pool to come on board of the tender； that he
might be at hand to remove from the service any of those who might
persist in their discontented conduct。 One of the two principal leaders in
this affair； the master of one of the praam…boats； who had also steered the
boat which brought the letter to the beacon； was first called upon deck；
and asked if he had read the statement fixed up in the galley this aftern
