| Description | Written from 18 Duke Street, Westminster, London. The letter regrets that the previous month's good progress has not been repeated and that the rate of progress has fallen off, partly due to the weather and not to any lack of exertion on the part of John Scott Russell or his workmen but just because there has been no progressive increase in the rate of weekly work which Brunel had hoped to be able to do. However, Brunel praises the diligence of the foremen since there have been no mistakes that have needed undoing. Brunel recalls a previous occasion when he was able to reverse a particularly slow rate of work and explains that he has tried to repeat this previous success by requesting Russell send Brunel a statement defining the amount of work that can and must be done over the next few weeks. Brunel also comments on John Scott Russell's finances and his requests for immediate and additional payments which are so high as to absorb the company's entire reserves and securities and would in any case not have been due until after the completion of the work. Brunel believes that Russell originally agreed too readily to take partial payment in shares and wonders what is to be done. |