| Description | Written from 18 Duke Street, Westminster, London. The letter confirms that the preparations are advancing satisfactorily and Brunel's certainty, that despite the amount of work left to do and things to correct, the ship will be fully launched the following Sunday, although Brunel wants to warn Hope for the possibility that the launch may need to be postponed at the last minute. Brunel blames the significantly lower tides that are being experienced in 1858 compared to the three previous years which have been exacerbate by the recent prevailing wind direction. Brunel warns that if the wind conditions and tides are still unfavourable, he may need to postpone the launch but reassures Hope that the delay might only be for a fortnight since the February tides are more hopeful. |