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contend that in a serene state of the atmosphere a light may not be seen in a ratio with the heighth of it, but these are times where Lighthouses may be dispensed with. Lights can often be discovered from the Deck of a vessel, when they cannot be seen from the mast head; this will at all times be the case, when the vapours is more dense above than below.
On the western hill at Cape Sable where the elevation is 80 feet, a lantern of
5 1/2 feet on a Pyramid of 30 feet, the light will be discovered in the Horizon from the deck, if the eye is 12 feet above the motion of the vessel about four leagues & 2/3, and when more elevated on the shrouds, forty three feet, six leagues.
If on the Eastern hill, where the elevation is 120 feet, a Pyramid of the same heighth should be expected, the light may be seen from the deck of a vessel 5, /80 Leagues.
In addition to the above remarks, I have the pleasure of enclosing the copy of an advertisement, which I caused this day to be published; perhaps some hints may be collected from it.
The whole expence [sic] of these two, with the oil vaults, will cost about 23 or 24 hundred Dollars, the old materials may be worth about 200 Doll.
Be persuaded Sir, that if any other hints from me should be wished, any suggestions thereof will be attended to with great cheerfulness; for the benevolent design of erecting light houses