| Description | Written from 18 Duke Street, Westminster, London. The memorandum explains Brunel's assumptions that the construction of the launching ways will mean that the launching the ship will not require a very great amount of power and neither will a great amount of power be needed to stop the ship at either end, particularly when compared to the mass to be moved, although a greater power may be needed to restart the launch after a stoppage. The letter explains how Brunel proposes to slow or check the ship's descent once launching begins and gives his estimate of the amount of checking power that will be needed. The memorandum explains Brunel's proposals to use additional hauling power at the extremities of the ship to assist with the descent and how he intends his system to work and describes exactly how he intends to set up the launching chains and the machinery and engines and the additional barges and ships that will be needed to assist with the launching and the amounts of power required. Brunel also explains the contingencies that he intends to employ in the case of the ship sticking at the starting point or any subsequent point during the launch. Brunel describes the materials that he thinks would be suitable and which he thinks should be purchased or borrowed and describes the exact qualities and specifications of mooring chain, block, cradles and other matters. |