“The situation of the Cape being about 12 miles from the nearest shore, bearing off the Redhead, by compass, S. ¾ W.--Taybar, SE. by E. ¼ E.--Fifeness, NE. by E.--Isle of May Light, NE. 17 miles, (consequently, too distant to be useful to shipping during the night); this rock is therefore placed in the most dangerous situation possible, for the trade of the Friths of Forth and Tay; the more so, from the prevailing winds on the coast, being from the W.NW. to SW., which occasion vessels bound inwards, to stretch across from shore to shore, that is, from the south to the north, or the opposite, according to their situations. This they can do in the day time; but at night, the danger of falling in with the Cape Rock, prevents them from standing to the northward of the Firth of Forth, and they are thereby prevented from taking the advantage of working up under the land in St Andrew’s Bay, by which they would get into smooth water, and avoid the heavy swell and gusts of wind that are always met with in the opening of this Firth . “Ships from the Baltic, which have not made the land, are often driven off the coast, from the caution they are obliged to take, in consequence of their not knowing what their situation is respecting this rock; which, from being covered early in the tide, and having little or no sea or breakers on it in moderate weather, the wind being off the shore, the soundings are no guide whatever; for, within one mile of the south-east side, the depth of water is 32 fathoms, (the general soundings on the coast); from all which circumstances, a ship standing in for the shore, perhaps without having had an observation of the sun for some days, runs the utmost danger of being wrecked. From the experience I have, in consequence of cruizing on this coast, I give it as my most decided opinion, that the greatest good consequence would arise to the trade of Scotland, were a light-house erected on it; but, in the event of its being so, a distinction must be made between it and the light of May, such as is adopted at Scilly and the Caskets, the light on which revolves, I believe, once in a minute, so as to be obscured and visible alternately.” [Sidenote: Expence of a Light-house on the Bell Rock, as estimated by the Public.] [Sidenote: Designs for the Bell Rock Light-house.]