| Description | Written from 18 Duke Street, London. The letter gives Brunel's opinions on Blake's plans for the cylinder of the engine that he is building for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company's ship. Brunel's points relate to jacketing the cylinder and also question the slides being arranged on their side. Brunel also suggests that Blake might consider using rollers not slides and positioning them obliquely rather than perpendicularly. Having raised these points, Brunel leaves the solutions entirely in Blake's expert hands although he reiterates the importance of his ship as a high profile and important project which must be treated as special and out of the ordinary routine of Watt & Co's work. The letter also asks questions as to some of the elements that are either not included in the drawing or are, as yet, undecided. There are small sketches on Folios 195, 196 and 197 illustrating Brunel's points. |