| Ref No | DM1306/11/1/5/folio 138-140 |
| Title | Private letter from Isambard Kingdom Brunel to Henry Wollaston Blake |
| Description | Written from 18 Duke Street, Westminster, London. The letter complains that Blake's previous letter just confirms Brunel's complaint about his willingness to shift responsibility or blame for problems onto someone else and suggests that this would be an impolitic course of action with anyone less easy-going than Brunel. The letter goes over the various points on which Brunel and Blake disagreed and argues that Blake's attitude shows an arrogance and an underlying assumption that his opinions are superior even to Brunel's. The letter also questions why Blake started discussing the boilers since Brunel had not mentioned them in his letter and finishes with a demand that Brunel see Blake making preparations for ensuring the steam jacketing of the engine cylinders otherwise Brunel will not consider Blake's work completed. |
| Date | 22 September 1857 |
| Format | Manuscript volume |
| Extent | 3 pages |
| Access Conditions | This material is held at the Brunel Institute - please contact the Brunel Institute to arrange access. |