| Description | Written from Clifton Wood House, Bristol. The letter introduces Brunel to Mackworth's ideas for improvements in the shipping of coal in less time and at less cost of establishment, power and working and with less breakage than usual methods. The letter describes Mackworth's method of coal loading, which does not use hoists or shoots (sic) but rather uses a slanting endless band. The letter describes the rate of loading which can be achieved by a certain sized band and how the band can be incorporated with the ship and explains the benefits of the method. There are two sketches in the letter illustrating the shape of the endless band and the way the band is constructed and how it can be altered if necessary. The letter explains some of the advantages of this method and also some of the variety of purposes to which it could be put. |