| Description | Written from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London. The letter congratulates Brunel, in spite of the 'little accident' of 3 November, on the success of his launching arrangements and suggests Airy's theories as to the causes of the accident and his confidence that, despite the accident, Brunel's plans and the majority of the machinery were shown to be good. The letter also gives Brunel the observations made by Airy's assistant of the launch through a telescope and suggests that the vessel moved about 3 feet before the accident that halted its progress and confirms Airy's observation that the head of the ship moved about 1 foot, while the stern moved about 5 feet. |