| Description | Written from 38 Wish Street, Southsea. The letter explains that several years previously, Hart designed an alternative paddle wheel which he submitted to the Admiralty. Although his design and model were accepted by the Admiralty, any large scale test of Hart's design would have had to have been self-funded and therefore Hart let the matter drop and destroyed his model. Now, Hart feels that his design may be suitable for the Great Eastern and believes the company might be willing to finance a trial of the design. Hart lists some of the advantages of his design over Maudsley's design, including its relative simplicity of construction, the lack of foam and back water produced by the new design, its quieter and smoother running and the reduced likelihood of its needing repairs. The letter also sets out the terms that Hart might be willing to offer. The letter has been copied out as DM1306/11/1/5/folio 44-45 in Brunel's letter books of Great Eastern correspondence. |