The first light-house erected on the Eddystone rocks only stood about 7 years, having been blown down in the dreadful storm of the 27th of November, 1703; a second, erected in 1708, was burnt down in 1755. The present light-house, constructed by the celebrated engineer Smeaton, was completed in 1759. It is regarded as a masterpiece of its kind; and bids fair to be little less lasting than the rocks on which it stands. The Bell Rock light-house was built by Mr. Stevenson on the model of the Eddystone. Numerous light-houses, marking the most dangerous points, and the entrance to the principal harbours, are now erected in most civilised maritime countries. They are particu larly abundant in the Baltic and in the Sound, and have contributed, in no ordinary degree, to render their navigation comparatively safe. Within these few years several new ones have been erected on the British coasts, and on those of France, the United States, &c. Precautions as to Light-houses. Many fatal accidents have arisen from ships mistaking one light for another; and hence the importance of those on the same coast being made to differ distinctly from each other, and of their position and appearance being accurately laid down and described. The modern inventions of revolving, intermitting, and coloured lights, afford facilities for varying the appearance of each light unknown to our ancestors, and have been, in that respect, of the greatest importance. Chart of Light-houses, &c.—A good descriptive work on light-houses, beacons, &c. is a desideratum. That of Coulier, Guide des Marines pendant la Navigation nocturne, Paris, 1829, is perhaps the best. It must not be judged by its preface, which is as bad as possible; consisting of scraps from the most fantastical parts of Bryant's Mythology, and of attacks on us for our conduct in relation to Parga, and the alleged ill-treatment of the crew of a vessel wrecked on the island of Alderney! The book is really pretty good, which could not certainly be anticipated from such a commencement. The reader will find the existing English and Irish light-houses, and the greater number of those belonging to Scotland, laid down in the chart attached to the article CANALS in this work. Its accuracy may be depended upon; as it has been copied from the beautiful chart of the light-houses on the British and contiguous coasts recently published by the Trinity House; the corporation having readily and obligingly granted permission to that effect. In the Supplement the reader will find the position, description, &c. of the principal British and Irish light-houses and floating lights. Law as to British Light-houses.-The 8 Eliz. c. 13. empowers the corporation of the Trinity House to erect beacons, &c. to prevent accidents to ships; and though the act does not expressly mention lighthouses, it has been held to extend to them; and on its authority, and the privileges attached to the office of buoyage and beaconage conferred on the Trinity House in 1594, the corporation erects lighthouses. The tolls for their maintenance are generally collected under the authority of letters patent from the crown; those for the support of the Eddystone light, and some others in different parts of the kingdom, being, however, established by act of parliament. The first light-house erected by the Trinity Corporation was in 1675; but several had been previously erected by private parties in virtue of letters patent. Customs' officers are prohibited from making out any cocket or other discharge, or taking any report outwards for any ship, until the light duties are paid, and the master shall have produced a light-bill testifying the receipt thereof. It is lawful for persons authorised by the Trinity House to go on board any British or foreign ship to receive the duties, and for non-payment to distrain the tackle of the ship; and in case of delay of payment for 3 days after distress, the collectors of the said duties may cause the same to be appraised by two persons, and proceed to sell the distress. (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 79. 54.) All the light-houses, floating lights, &c., exclusive of harbour lights, from the Fern Islands, on the coast of Northumberland, round by Beachy Head and the Land's End, to the coast of Cumberland, have always belonged to the Trinity House, with the exception of about a dozen lights, viz. Tynemouth, Spurn (shore), Winterton and Orford, Harwich, Dungeness, Skerries, &c. These lights have been partly public and partly private property; provision has, however, been made in the act now referred to, for vesting them exclusively in the Trinity House. (See below.) The duties on their account have been, for the most part, always payable to the Trinity collectors. Fees on Account of Light-houses.-A wish to keep the charges on native ships as low as possible, and to insure them a preference, seems to have given rise to the practice that has long existed, of exacting comparatively high duties from the foreign shipping entering our ports. But whatever may have been the motives for making this distinction, its policy seems more than questionable. It is quite right that the foreign ships coming to our shores for commercial purposes should be made to pay the same light and harbour duties as British vessels; but the imposition of comparatively high duties on them is decidedly injurious, inasmuch as it provokes retaliatory measures on the part of other states, obstructs the resort of foreigners to our markets, and, consequently, checks the growth of commerce. This system was very properly condemned in a report by a committee of the House of Commons, in 1822. There is, in the evidence annexed to that report, some well-authenticated instances of foreign ships having been totally lost, from the disinclination of the captain to enter a British port, while it was in their power, on account of the heavy charges to which they would have been exposed for lights, &c.! Down, indeed, to 1835, all ships, whether native or foreign, coming into any British port by stress of weather, were charged with full light duties; but we are glad to say that this inhospitable regulation has been repealed by an order in council of the 7th of February that year, issued on the recommendation of the Trinity House, which exempts such vessels from all charge on account of lights. Our whole policy as to light duties, port charges, &c. has, within these few years, been materially improved, and is now the very reverse of illiberal. It is true that the discriminating duties on foreign ships are still kept up; but in consequence of the general establishment of reciprocity treaties, the distinction has become rather nominal than real, and affects comparatively few of the ships using our seas.* We are glad, also, to have to announce, that very large deductions have been, in most instances, *We stated inadvertently in the former impressions of this work, that light duties were charged on foreign ships, if in the prosecution of their voyage they came within sight of any of our light-houses. But in point of fact, no light duties are charged by the Trinity House either upon foreign or British ships for voyages from one foreign port to another; unless, in the course of such voyages, they actually come to or touch at a British port or roadstead. (See No. 3. of Instructions to Trinity Collectors, given below.) But foreign vessels sailing along the Irish coasts are charged d. a ton for each light passed, except harbour lights, which are only charged upon vessels entering the same. made from the light-house duties. It is, indeed, quite essential to their utility that these should be moderate. They have the same influence upon the intercourse carried on by sea, that tolls have upon that carried on by land; and it is needless to add, that oppressive tolls are amongst the most effectual of all the engines by which rapacious ignorance has contrived to injure a country.* Charges on Account of Collection, &c.-The charges under this head for the lights under the control of the Trinity House, amounted, in 1834, to 7,0341. 5s. 3d., the expenses of maintenance (including payments on account of works at different lights, 4,2077. 2s. 5d.) for the same year being 37,2997. 16s. 1d., leaving a balance of 47,4031. 78. Id. nett surplus. It is plain, therefore, that the light-house revenue is, at this moment, more than twice as great as is necessary for keeping the establishment in the most perfect state of efficiency. The surplus revenue is, we believe, in so far at least as the Trinity House is concerned, very judiciously expended in maintaining decayed seamen, and other useful purposes. But considering the vast importance of low shipping charges, we agree with the committee of 1822 in thinking that such persons might be provided for in some less onerous way, and that the light duties should be still further reduced. They ought not, in fact, to exceed such a rate of charge as may be required to keep the lights in the most perfect state. Originally they seem to have been imposed only in this view; but, whether this were really so or not, the interests of navigation require that they should now be established on that principle. Instead of reducing the charges generally on all lights, it has been proposed to make some of the more important lights duty free, as by this means the expense of collection would be saved, and business materially facilitated. This, however, would in effect impose a proportionally heavy charge on the ships belonging to the less frequented ports; so that, on the whole, the general reduction of the rates would seem to be the better plan. References. The duties on account of the light-houses on the east coast (with the exception of those for the Spuin floating light) are payable by all vessels once only for the whole voyage out and home: but a single passage subjects them to the payment of the full duties. Spurn Floating Light.-The duties for this light are to be collected from such foreign and British oversea traders as actually enter the river Humber, and are payable in those cases for each time of passing. Coasters and colliers are subject thereto for each time of passing coastwise, if Laden; but not otherwise. The duties for the Channel lights are payable for each time of passing. The duties for the lights in the Bristol and St. George's Channels are payable for each time of passing, with the exception of the Bard. sey light, as hereunder stated; but the following directions must be attended to, viz. Flatholm Light.-Coasters between the Land's End and St. David's Head (market boats and fishing vessels excepted) are to pay Is. per vessel. Caldy Light.-The duties for this light are payable by such vessels only as may put into any port, place, or roadstead, between the Worm's Head and St. Gowen's Head. Lundy Light.-Duties payable only by vessels on their voyage to or from ports in the Bristol Channel, or to or from any ports to the eastward of a line drawn from Hartlaud Point to St. Gowen's Head. Bardsey Light.-Duties for foreign vessels and British oversea traders are payable once only for the whole voyage out and home; for coasters and colliers coastwise, each time of passing, if laden, but not otherwise. South Stack Light.-British or Irish ships and vessels to or from Liverpool, Chester, and ports to the northward thereof, to any other ports to the northward of the Calf of Man) at the south part of the Isle of Man) or to the eastward of Holyhead, with all other vessels bound to or from Liverpool and ports adjacent, to any other ports whatsoever, sailing in or out of the North Channel, viz. "by Fairhead on the coast of Ireland, and the Mull of Cantire on the coast of Scotland," are not subject to pay the duties to the said light. This exemption, however, is confined and restricted to ships and vessels of the United Kingdom, navigating within the limits above described. N.B.-By the term "each time of passing" is to be understood once for the outward and once for the inward passage. Trinity Lights.-The rules and regulations as to lights may be altered by the Trinity House, with consent of the privy council. We subjoin a copy of the existing instructions issued by the Corporation to their collectors. Instructions to Trinity House, at the port of TRINITY HOUSE, LONDON. for the collection of the duties payable to the Corporation of Ist. You are to demand and receive from the master or agent of every ship or vessel which hath passed, or is about to pass, in any direction, the several lights belonging to this Corporation, the respective tolls and duties as particularly set forth in the Table hereunto annexed; observing, nevertheless, the regulation contained in the 3d article, and also that British vessels, and such foreign vessels as are or shall be privileged in respect to charges as British vessels, are exempt from payment of duties to this Corporation, when navi. gated wholly in ballast. 2d. You are to take care to rate all British vessels, of every class or description, to the full amount of their register tonnage, except for those particular lights, for the duties to which colliers and coasters are chargeable per vessel only. Foreign vessels are to be charged to the full amount of their tonnage, as ascertained by the officer of his Majesty's customs. 3d. You are to observe that neither British nor foreign vessels are to be charged with the duties on account of a passage which may have taken place, or may be thereafter contemplated, being from one foreign port to another foreign port, unless in the prosecution of such voyages they shall actually arrive or touch at, a port or roadstead in Great Britain. 4th. The duties are to be collected from all British ships at the ports in Great Britain where they load or deliver their cargoes. No collection is therefore to be made from any British ship which may happen to touch at your port on her passage to another port in Great Britain; but you are to observe that this rule is not to be applied in respect of vessels touching at your port in their passages to ports not in Great Britain. 5th. You are to charge all vessels belonging to the following states with the same duties in every respect, as British vessels:-The ves sels of those states are in fact to be considered, so far as respects charges made on account of this Corporation, as British ships, until further orders; viz. Portugal, Brazil, United States of America, the kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanover, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Hamburgh, Bremen, Lubeck, Denmark, and Prussia; to which are to be added vessels belonging to the duchies of Oldenburgh and Mecklenburgh, as well as those belonging to the kingdom of France, which have been also admitted to the privilege of reciprocity in respect of charges; but as that privilege is granted to vessels of those states under some limitations, it is necessary you should particularly observe the directions contained in the recitals of the orders in council and treaty hereunder givent, whereby you will perceive that vessels of those states are still liable, in certain cases, to the foreign rate of duty. 6th. All vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, and trading be tween Great Britain and Ireland, are to be deemed and charged as coasting vessels, in respect of all light and other duties payable to this Corporation. 7th. You are to give your receipt on a light bill, to the master of every ship or vessel who shall pay you any of the hereinafter menmoned tolls or duties, expressing (plainly and fully) his name, the name of the vessel, and the place to which she belongs, her voyage and tonnage, the money paid, and time of payment. You are to in- † Oldenburgh Vessels.-Extract of his Majesty's order in council, dated the 19th of October, 1824:-" His Majesty, by virtue of the powers vested in him by the acts above recited, and by and with the advice of his privy council, is pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that from and after the date of this order, Oldenburgh vessels entering the ports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in ballast or laden, direct from any of the ports of Oldenburgh, or departing from the ports of the said United Kingdom, to gether with the cargoes on board the same, such cargoes consisting of articles which may be legally imported or exported, shall not be subject to any other or higher duties or charges whatever than are or shall be levied on British vessels entering or departing from such ports." Mecklenburgh Vessels.-The purport of the order in council granting the privilege of reciprocity to Mecklenburg vessels, is precisely the same as the foregoing order in respect of Oldenburgh vessels, and is dated the 14th of June, 1825. French Vessels.-Extract from a convention of commerce and navigation between his Majesty and the King of France, dated 26th of January, 1826:-"That from and after the 5th day of April, 1826, French vessels coming from or departing for the ports of France, or, if in ballast, coming from or departing for any place, shall not be subject, in the ports of the United Kingdom, either on entering into or departing from the same, to any higher duties of tonnage, harbour, light-house, pilotage, quarantine, or other similar corresponding du ties, of whatever nature, or under whatever denomination, than those to which British vessels, in respect of the same voyages, are or may be subject on entering into or departing from such ports." Colliers are to be charged by the number of tons expressed in their registers, and not by the chaldron; and colliers bound to or from foreign parts are to pay the same as other British ships bound foreign. *There is nothing new in this statement:-" Avara manus portus claudit; et cum digitos contrahit, navium simul vela concludit; meritò enim illa mercatores cuncti refugiunt quæ sibi dispendia esse cognoscunt."—(Cassiodorus, lib. vii, cap. varia, 9.) the printed form furnished from this house, together with the balance J. HERBERT, Secretary. you shall from time to time collect; and, before you fill up your light-bills, to enter the same distinctly in a book to be provided by yourself for that purpose, wherein all the particulars which are herein-before directed to be expressed in your light bills are to be entered;-of all which you are, within 14 days after the 1st of Ja nuary, the 1st of April, the 1st of July, and the 1st of October (to which periods you are to make up your accounts), to send a copy on Account specifying the various Light-houses and Floating Lights under the management of the Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond; the Rates of Charge on the British and Foreign Ships passing such Lights; with the Amount of Duties collected on Account of each Light, during each of the Three Years ending with 1835.-(Furnished by Trinity House.) ***All British vessels, and all foreign vessels privileged as British in respect of charges, are exempted from all rates and duties payable to the Trinity Corporation when navigated wholly in ballast. *These lights were, on the expiration of the Crown lease of the same to Greenwich Hospital, on the 30th of June, 1832, transferred to the Trinity House, that corporation paying to the commissioners of the Hospital the sum of 8,3991. 16s. for the purchase of the buildings, the ground on which they are erected, stores, &c. On this transfer being made, the tolls were reduced from 1d. to d. per ton. This light exhibited 20th of April 1835; the following are the rates of charge:Coasters d. per ton. Foreign vessels not privileged as British, double the foregoing rates. All vessels entering Falmouth harbour from stress of weather exempt from dues. Dues collected at Falmouth, Truro, and Greenwich only. Private Light-houses.-Private individuals erecting light-houses have generally obtained a lease of the same from the Crown for a definite number of years, with authority to charge certain fees on shipping. Owing to the great increase of navigation, some of these light-houses have become very valuable properties. The Smalls and Longships lights have always belonged to the Trinity House, but were leased by that body to private individuals. The leases have, however, been recently purchased by the Corporation.-We extract from the Parl. Paper, No. 608. Sess. 1836, the following Account of the Gross and Nett Revenue of the private Light-houses of Harwich, Dungeness, Wintertonness and Orfordness, and Hunstanton Cliff, during 1834 and 1835, stating how the same was divided. Harwich Lights, held by General Rebow, under lease from the Crown, for 22 years from the 5th of January, 1827, paying to the Crown 3-5ths of the net duty collected. Dungeness Lights, held under lease from the Crown by Thomas William Coke, Esq. for 20 years from Midsummer 1829. Nett produce of the duties equally divided between the Crown and the lessee. The duties were reduced at the renewal of the lease from 1d. to 1-2d. per ton; and it is provided, that at its termination the lighthouses and buildings connected therewith, and the ground on which they are erected, shall become the property of the Crown. Wintertonness and Orfordness Lights, held by Lord Braybrooke under a lease from the Crown, which expires on the 1st of June, 1849. Nett produce of the duties equally divided between the Crown and his Lordship. The duties were reduced at the last renewal of the lease in 1828, from 1d. to 1-2d. per ton. At the expiration of the lease, the light houses, grounds, &c. become the property of the Crown. the light-houses, &c., become, at the expiration of the lease, the pro- The charges for the undermentioned lights are as follow: Harwich Longships (off Land's End) Winterton and Orford Spurn (Shore) mouth of Humber Foreign - Id. per ton. . Id. British . Id. - 0 1-2d. . 2d. - Id. . Id. - 2d. - 2d. ld. 0 1-2d. 01-2d. 0 1-2d. 0 1-2d. 18. per ves. Hunstanton Cliff Light, held by S. Lane, Esq., under a lease from the Crown, which expires in 1849. From the 16th of October, - 33. per ves. 1837, 4-15th parts of the nett produce are to go to the Crown; and : .0 1-4d. per ton. 2d. per ton. The nett revenue of the Smalls light-house in St. George's Channel amounted, at an average of the 2 years ending with 1832, to 10,510l. 10s. 5d. a year. The lease had then 44 years to run. In 1822, the Trinity Corporation having proposed to purchase the reversion, the lessees demanded for it 148,4301. The Corporation has recently effected the purchase; but owing to the increase of commerce in the interim, they have had to pay a larger sum, notwithstanding the diminished length of the lease. This fact affords a striking illustration of the extreme inexpediency of the practice of leasing light-houses to private parties. Wherever they are necessary, they ought to be raised at the public expense, and the fees kept as low as possible. There cannot, in fact, be any greater improvidence or abuse, than to make over to a private individual or association a power to levy, for a long series of years, a certain amount of toll on the ships passing particular lights. The renewals mentioned above are, however, the last transactions of the sort that are ever likely to occur; for by the act 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 79., the whole right and property in the Harwich, Dungeness, Winterton and Orford, and Hunstanton lights is vested in the Trinity House, subject to the existing leases; and for these the Corporation is at present (1836) in treaty. The Skerries is by far the most valuable of the private light-houses. It is situated on a small islet or rock to the north-west of the island of Anglesey; and was granted to the ancestor of the present proprietor, to be for ever holden by him, his heirs and assigns, by the act 3 Geo. 2. c. 36. This light produced, at an average of the 7 years ending with 1834, a nett revenue of 12,5241. 15s. 2d. a year! The Scotch or Northern Lights are under the management of a set of parliamentary commissioners. The act of 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 79. s. 40. enacts, that from the 1st of January, 1837, all British and foreign privileged vessels, not wholly in ballast, which shall pass any Scotch light-house, or derive any benefit therefrom, shall pay 1-2d. per ton for each time of passing every such light-house, except that on the Bell Rock, for which they are to pay 1d. per ton each time of passing. Foreign vessels, not privileged, pay double these rates. 1836, p. 12., that the gross sum collected for Irish light duties, during 1835, amounted to 44,6111. 58., of which 35,8051. 14s. 2d. was col lected in Great Britain. The rates of charge are as follow: Foreign vessels, 1-2d. per ton for each light passed; except har bour lights, which are only chargeable to vessels entering the ports within which they are situated. British and Irish, 1-4d. per ton (1-8d. if in ballast) for each light, except as above. With a duty of 2s. on every entry, cocket, or warrant, when from foreign ports, but not otherwise. Irish Lights.-It appears from the Parl. Paper, No. 608. Sess. Compensation to Private Parties.-The authority acquired by certain individuals and public bodies, under letters patent, acts of parliament, and otherwise, of levying certain duties on account of lights, beacons, pilotage, harbour, dues, &c. entitles them, for the most part, to demand higher fees from foreign than from British shipping. When, therefore, we entered into reciprocity treaties with foreign powers, government had to compensate the parties in question for the diminution that consequently took place in their charges on foreign ships. The total sum paid on this account, in 1832, amounted to 35,1821. Of this sum 1,5661. was paid to the lessees of the Smalls light-house already alluded to, and 2,9851. to the proprietors of the Spurn and Skerries lights. The Trinity Corporation relinquished their claim to compensation some time since; and the act 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 79. forbids such compensation being made to them, the Commissioners of Northern Lights, and the commissioners for manag ing the Irish lights.-(For some account of the Trinity Corporation, the reader is referred to that article; and for accounts of the charges on account of Beaconage, Ballastage, Pilotage, &c. see these titles.) (The following important regulations, in respect of light-houses, are embodied in the act of last session, 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 79. All English Lights to be subjected to the Control of the Trinity House.-Provision is made by this act for placing all light-houses, floating lights, harbour lights, buoys, beacons, &c., on and round the coasts of England and Wales, under the control and management of the Trinity House; and also for placing all light-houses, &c. on the coasts of Scotland and of Ireland respectively under the control and management of the Commissioners of Northern Lights and of the Commissioners for Improving the Port of Dublin.-(1.) In furtherance of this object, and to attain that uniformity of management that is so desirable, the property of all light-houses (Dungeness, Harwich, Wintertonness, Hun stanton and Orfordness, ante, p. 142.), held under lease from the crown, is vested in the Trinity House, subject to the existing leases. Provision is also made in the act for enabling the Trinity House, to purchase up the reversion of the leases granted by them of the Longships and Smalls lights, and the property and interest of the owners or parties having the management of the Skerries, Spurn Point, and the Tynemouth light-houses. Should the Trinity House, and the parties interested, not be able to agree as to the sum to be paid the latter, the matter, in all such cases, is to be referred to the decision of a jury, the method of whose proceeding is pointed out in the act. It is also enacted that no new light-house shall in future be erected on the Scotch or Irish coasts, without the approval of the Trinity House having been previously obtained; and that the officers of the latter shall have power at all times to enter upon and examine such Scotch and Irish lights.-( 2, 3, 4, &c.) Duties on account of Scotch Lights. It is enacted that from and after the 1st of January, 1837, all British ships, and all foreign privileged ships, not wholly in ballast, shall pay d. per ton each time of passing each light on the coasts of Scotland, with the exception of the Bell Rock light, the charge on passing which is 1d. per ton.-( 40.) Extra Duties on Foreign Ships privileged.-These are no longer to be paid out of the customs' duties to the Trinity House, the Commissioners of Northern Lights, or the Commissioners for Improving the Port of Dublin.-( 31. 41.) Heligoland Light.-From the 31st of December, 1836, foreign ships clearing out from any British port to any port or place within or near the rivers Elbe and Weser, are to be charged id. per ton, on account of the Heligoland light; and, from the same date, foreign ships, arriving at a British port from within the above mentioned limits, are to be charged the like sum of 1d. per ton for the said light.-(36.) The following particulars, as to the principal British and Irish light-houses, have been taken from the Official Statement issued by the Admiralty. |