| Description | Written from Glasgow. The letter describes the progress that has been made on forging the crank shaft for the Great Eastern with a report on its current size and the method of construction. There is a sketch on the first page showing the shape of the shaft and illustrating how the pieces are being put together. The letter also estimates the rate of the construction of the shaft and the time that it will take to complete. The letter also discusses a flaw in the construction which has necessitated changes to the shaft and comments on Leslie's belief as to the causes of the flaw and the measures that have been put in place to prevent a recurrence of the flaw. The final paragraph of the letter, dealing with the possible arrangements for shipping the shaft, have been highlighted in pencil. The letter may have been copied out in Brunel's letter books of Great Eastern correspondence as DM1306/11/1/5/folio 112-114. |