Measures had also been taken for inclosing the ground, which had been feued by the Board from the Duke of Argyll. This day being Sunday, nothing was done at Hynish, and we waited until next morning before sailing for the Rock. _25th June._--Sailed in the _Pharos_ from Hynish Bay this morning about six, with Mr Scott, the foreman of the workyard, and one or two masons on board; but, having a foul wind during the early part of the day, and the weather falling afterwards calm, it was not until three in the morning of the 26th that we reached the Rock. ~Lay down Moorings, and try to land on the Rock.~ _26th June._--Our first step was to lay down moorings for the tender as near the Rock as seemed to be consistent with safety. The position chosen by Mr Macurich, who commanded the vessel, was to the S.S.E. of the Rock, about a quarter of a mile off, and in 13 fathoms water, on an irregular rocky bottom. About half-past five I attempted a landing on the Rock, but there was a great deal too much sea. The vessel was pitching the bowsprit under at her moorings, and the surf broke into the creek where landings are generally made, in such a manner as to render it quite impossible to get near the Rock. After hanging on our oars in the boat for nearly an hour, in the hope of a smooth lull between the heavy seas, we returned to the vessel, and, as the wind still freshened from the S.E., we reefed the mainsail and set the first jib, and steered for the Mull shores, where, about ten at night, we came to an anchor in Loch Loich, not far from the Island of Iona. ~Driven to Mull.~ _27th June._--Next day also being unsuitable for attempting to reach the Skerryvore, the vessel lay in North Bay, and the early part of the day was spent in a careful examination of the granite Rocks of the district called _Ross of Mull_, with the view of establishing quarries there; as our experience of the unsatisfactoriness of working the Tyree quarries during fifteen months had frequently led me to anticipate the necessity of soon seeking a supply of materials in some other quarter. In this district an almost inexhaustible supply of flesh-coloured granite was found, not certainly of the hardest description, but singularly equal and homogeneous in its texture. I therefore made a general survey of the neighbouring localities, with a view to select the best position for opening quarries and establishing a landing place or wharf for shipping the materials, as well as for erecting barracks for the workmen. In the afternoon, I embarked at the call of Mr Macurich, to attempt another landing on the Skerryvore; but as the wind soon fell calm, we did very little good until evening, when some progress was made in stretching across towards the Rock. ~First day’s work on the Rock.~