| Description | Written from 13 Gresham Street, London. The letter encloses a minute from a meeting of the Court of Directors of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company, including a list of the directors present and a resolution passed by the meeting which resolved that the Directors wished to call a full meeting of the board to consider the steps to alleviate the critical financial position of the company including a personal summons to each director. The Directors also requested the attendance of Brunel and Charles Freshfield (the company's lawyer) at the full board meeting. The resolution also states that, in the meantime, the secretary is requested not to order or permit to be ordered any materials except those listed or to incur liability for any wages beyond the next fortnight. It was also resolved at the meeting that Brunel draw up and submit to the Committee of Works at their next meeting a detailed estimate of the potential financial liabilities to be incurred for the launching of the vessel, for the completion of the vessel in readiness for her trial trip and for prospective expenses up until the trial voyage. There is also a resolution requesting John Yates, the company secretary, draw up a detailed statement of the company's expenditure throughout the entire project and of their outstanding liabilities. |