Frontispiece
Pl. XXI.
This scene, which is intended to represent the Bell Rock after a storm at north-east, will hardly admit of any adequate description, from the evanescence of the form of the waves upon these occasions. It is, however, founded upon observations made at the Light-house, between the years 1810 and 1822, or during twelve successive winters. The great rise of the sea during a gale, as delineated in the Vignette to the Narrative of the Edystone Light-house, being so surprising, the writer was at much pains to ascertain the effect also at the Bell Rock; and the maximum height of the sprays hitherto observed has been about 105 feet, or as high as the central part of the Light-room windows.
Mr Andrew Masson, an artist who in early life had been at sea, having expressed a desire to reside in the Light-house for some time during winter, that he might observe the waves in a storm, was readily furnished with an opportunity. He went there in the month of December 1816, and remained for six weeks and four days, when he produced various sketches of the appearances which he witnessed; and Mr Macdonald, noticed at page 519, made several outlines from actual observation, in the winter of 1820. All of these were put into the hands of Mr Turner, Royal Academician; who gave the very spirited drawing from which Mr Horsburgh, an artist of much promise, has succeeded in producing the striking representation in the Frontispiece. The writer has also the pleasure of acknowledging the obligations he owes to Mr Williams, author of Views in Greece, for his friendly advice and assistance.
It may here be remarked, as not a little surprising, that while the sea is running nearly to the height represented in the Frontispiece, the entrance-door of the Light-house, or at least one of its leaves, may nevertheless be left open; and the portion of water which on these occasions makes its way into the passage, is found to be very trifling. This is owing to the fortunate position of the door; for, while the sprays on the eastern side fly with the quickness of lightning to the top of the house, the waves separate below, and are sent round the building with such force, that their collision upon the lee-side produces the wonderful appearance in the picture; where a downy spray, white as snow, rises at some distance from the house, to the height of 20 or 30 feet above the medium surface of the sea, and comes in minute particles upon those within the entrance-door, producing a sensation as if dust were falling upon them.