| Description | Written from Liverpool. The letter mentions that Claxton hopes to persuade Mr Bright to let him bring some logs to London and lists the details of the dimensions, power, fuel consumption and speed of the ship the Telegraph. Claxton explains his inability to take any measurements of the ship himself but gives his estimation of the shaft and the paddle wheel. The letter also describes the state of the black lead and the bottom of the ship and Claxton's certainty that the Griffiths screw propeller can be removed and replaced. A postscript explains that 'G.B.' shows no signs of Himalaya and Mares general complaints and that all is firm about the stern with no apparent wearing of the shaft or bearings, possibly a comment on the ongoing state of the Great Britain. [Mares was the name of a London Iron forging firm, by 1857 renamed as the Thames Iron Company although it is unclear if this bears any relevance to the post-script] |