| Description | After the failure of the first attempt to launch the ship in November 1857, 'Brunel was inundated with letters from enthusiastic amateurs offering help and advice that in self-defence he had to draft a special standard letter in reply'. (Rolt). the situation was complicated by newspaper reports detailing efforts to launch the ship as well as an advertisement in "The Builder" asking for suggestions. Many of the letters refer to the ship as "Leviathan" which was the initial name chosen by the directors of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company before the company eventually settle on the Great Eastern as the ship's name. |