_The Introduction to this work brings generally under Your Majesty’s notice, the important labours of the Scottish Light-house Board, appointed by an act of the 26th Parliament of Your Majesty’s illustrious FATHER. Since that period, Light-house stations have been partially extended over the whole northern shores of Your Majesty’s British dominions, from Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth, to the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, including in this circuit the Hebrides, and Orkney and Shetland Islands. Much, however, still remains to be done; and the Board is gradually proceeding, as the state of its funds will permit, in placing additional Sea-Lights on certain intermediate points of the coast._ _It cannot fail to be gratifying to Your Majesty to learn, as the result of the exertions of this Board, that the mariner may now navigate those regions with a degree of security and confidence quite unknown to Your Majesty’s Royal Ancestor JAMES THE FIFTH, when he sailed around this coast in the 16th century, or even, at a recent period, to Your Majesty’s Royal Brother WILLIAM HENRY Duke of Clarence, when in early life he traversed those seas._ _With unfeigned sentiments of loyalty and attachment, the author subscribes himself,_ _Your MAJESTY’S Most devoted Subject and Servant, ROBERT STEVENSON_. THE CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND PROGRESS MADE IN THE ERECTION OF THE NORTHERN LIGHT-HOUSES. Page Early Voyages of the Scots. Extension of Trade. Charts of the Coast. 1-4 1786. Proposition for the establishment of a Light-house Board in Scotland. Original act passed in 1786. Commissioners appointed. First Meeting of the Board. Mode of raising Funds. 5-6 1787. Kinnaird-Head and Mull of Kintyre Light-houses. 6-8 1788. Light Duty found to be too small. Act of 1788. 9 1789. Island Glass, North Ronaldsay, and Pladda Light-houses. Collectors of the Light-Duties appointed. 10-11 1791. Pladda distinguishing Light. Annual Supply and Inspection of the Light-houses. Light-keepers’ Salary. Economical plan of early Light-houses. 12-14 1793. Application for Additional Lights. State of the Light-house Funds. 14-15 1794. Pentland Skerry Light-house. Writer’s first Voyage to the North. Loss of the Sloop Elizabeth. Mr Balfour and Mr Riddoch of Orkney presented with Pieces of Plate. 15-17 Act Incorporating the Commissioners into a Board or Body Politic. Additional works at the Light-houses already built. Proposition for altering Kinnaird-Head Light-house. 18-19