considered impracticable: and in the more recent erection of a lighthouse on the dangerous Bell-rock, lying off the coast of Forfarshire, Scotland, which is built exactly on the same model, we see the best proof of the value of an impulse, such as was given to this subject by Smeaton. Among many other tempests which this structure has endured unshaken, was one of extraordinary fury, which occurred in the beginning of the year 1762. One individual, who was fond of predicting its fate, declared on that occasion," that if it stood then, it would stand until the day of judgment!" On the morning after the storm had spent its chief-fury, many anxious observers pointed their glasses to the spot, where they scarcely expected ever to discern it, and a feeling almost of wonder, mixed itself with the joy, thankfulness, and pride of the architect's friends, as they with dif ficulty descried its form through the still dark and troubled air. It was uninjured even to a pane of glass in the lantern. In a letter from Plymouth, written upon this occasion, the writer says:-" It is now my most steady belief, as well as everybody's here, that its inhabitants are rather more secure in a storm, under the united force of wind and water, than we are in our houses from the former only." According to the account published by Mr. Smeaton, the lighthouse was attended by three men, who each received a salary of twenty-five pounds a year, with an occasional absence in the summer. At an earlier period there had been only two who had watched alternately four hours; but one being taken ill and dying, the necessity of a third hand became apparent. On the death of his companion, the survivor found himself in an awkward predicament. Being apprehensive if he tumbled the body into the sea, which was the only method he had of disposing of it, he might be charged with murder, he was induced for some time to let the dead body lie, in hopes that the boat might come and relieve him from his embarrassment. A month elapsed before the boat could land, and by that time he was in a state of distress beyond all description, in consequence of the decay of the corpse, which for some time had been in such a state that he could not remove it, how. ever anxious to do so. A less painful result of the employment of only two men is related. On some pique arising between them they forebore to speak to each other, and incredible as it may appear, spent a month together in this wild solitude, without exchang. ing a word. Another anecdote of the lighthouse may be related. A man who had been a shoemaker being employed to go out as one of the keepers, was on his way to the rock, when the master of the yacht said to him, "How happens it, friend Jacob, that you should choose to become a light-keeper, at scarce ten shillings a week, when, as I am told, you can earn half-a-crown and three shillings a day in making leather hose?" "Why," answered the craftsman, “I go to be a light-keeper, because I don't like confinement!" This answer producing a little merriment, he explained himself that he did not like to be confined to work. Smeaton's wonderful success in this undertaking established his reputation, and his after labors are connected with almost every great work of his time. It would be in vain, however, to enumer ate all the projects in which he was consulted, or the schemes which he executed. The variety and extent of his employments may be best estimated from his Reports, which fill three quarto volumes, and constitute a most interesting and valuable series of treatises on every branch of engineering: as draining, bridge-building, making and improving canals and navigable rivers, planning docks and harbors, the improvement of mill-work, and the application of mechanical improvements to different manufactures. They contain descriptions of his inventions, together with a treatise on mill-work, and some papers which show that he was fond of astronomy and practically skilled in it. His health began to decline about 1785, and he endeavored to withdraw from business, and devote his attention to publishing an account of his inventions and works; for, as he often said, "he thought he could not render so much service to his country as by doing that." He succeeded in bringing out his elaborate account of the Eddystone lighthouse, published in 1791. But he found it impossible to withdraw entirely from business; and it appears that overexertion and anxiety did actually bring on an attack of paralysis to which his family was constitutionally liable. He was taken ill at his residence at Austhorpe, in September, 1792, and died October 28th, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He had long looked to this disease as the probable termination of his life, and felt some anxiety concerning the likelihood of outliving his faculties, and in his own words of "lingering over the dregs after the spirit had evaporated." This calamity was spared him: in the interval between his first attack and death his mind was unclouded, and he continued to take his usual interest in the occupations of the domestic circle. Sometimes only, he would complain with a smile of his slowness of apprehension, and say, "It cannot be otherwise : the shadow must lengthen as the sun goes down." His character was marked by undeviating uprightness, industry, and moderation in the pursuit of riches. His gains might have been far larger, but he`relinquished more than one appointment which brought in a considerable income, to devote his attention to other objects which he had more at heart; and he declined magnificent offers from Catherine II. of Russia, who would have bought his services at any price. His industry was unwearied, and the distribution of his hours and employments strictly laid down by rule. In his family and by his friends he was singularly beloved, though his demeanor sometimes appeared harsh to strangers. A brief, but very interesting and affectionate account of him, written by his daughter, is prefixed to his Reports, from which many of the anecdotes here related have been derived. The rule of his practice, and one which he adhered to with the most undeviating firmness, was never to trust to deductions drawn from a theory in cases where he could have any opportunity of a trial. As he got older, he used to say, " Care not about any theory at all. A man of experience does not require it. In my intercourse with mankind, I have always found those who would thrust theory into practical matters, at bottom to be men of no judg. ment and pure quacks. In my own practice, almost every successive case would have required an independent theory of its own; theory and quackery go hand in hand." Smeaton appeared to Playfair as a man of excellent understanding, improved more by very extensive experience and observation, than by learning or education. He had much the appearance of an honest and worthy man; his manners not much polished; his conversation most instructive in any thing relating to mechanics, or the business of an engineer; but in conversation the embar rassment of his language was very great. EDWARD SOMERSET, MARQUIS OF WORCESTER, INVENTOR OF THE STEAM ENGINE. EDWARD SOMERSET, Marquis of Worcester, was born at Ragland Castle, near Monmouth, about the year 1597. Very little is preserved respecting the history of this ingenious nobleman, and our notice must be therefore necessarily brief. During the civil war between Charles the First and the parliament, Worcester, being then a young man, espoused the cause of his king, and after the |
