6. One floating light at Benbridge Lodge 1 " --------- Total number of public general lights in England 71 lights --------- A list of the lighthouses of the British Islands, corrected to July, 1836, is published at the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty. CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF THE EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE TO THE TIME OF SMEATON. The Eddystone Rocks--Their situation and dangerous Character--The first Lighthouse by Winstanley--Its progress and Completion--Its awful Fate--Rudyerd’s Lighthouse--Description of--Its Destruction by Fire--Smeaton appointed to construct a New edifice. The Eddystone Rocks are situated nearly S. S. W. from the middle of Plymouth Sound, and at a distance from the port of Plymouth of nearly fourteen miles. They are remarkable for the great variety of contrary sets of the tide or current among them, and hence it is supposed they derived their appellation. From various causes the currents in the district of the channel where these rocks lie are so exceedingly irregular, that it requires much knowledge of the local situation to shun the dangers connected with them. Supposing a line to be drawn between the Lizard and the Start points, the Eddystone rocks would be found nearly on, or a little within that line. The nearest point of land to these rocks is the promontory called Ram-head. As the Eddystone rocks lie nearly in the direction of ships coasting up and down the channel, they were, previous to the erection of the lighthouse, extremely dangerous, and often fatal to ships, particularly to such as were homeward bound from foreign parts; so that many rich vessels were actually lost on these rocks, it being not unusual for the most careful mariner to run his vessel upon them during the night, or in foggy weather at high water, when the whole ranges of the rocks are entirely covered.