It appears, however, from drawings in Mr. Brunel’s sketch-books that at this time, and again in 1858, he thought that it would be better to have a vessel specially built for the work.
He was throughout sanguine as to the ultimate success of the undertaking, as is shown by the following extract from a letter written in December 1856:—
I would suggest a more moderate expression of doubts of the successful results of the American cable. The impossibility of running steamers profitably over the surface of the same sea was, though it is now denied, asserted and proved from established facts just as clearly as the impossibility asserted now to exist in respect of the electric telegraph. It is a pity in these days to lay down any such dogma. Every day’s experience proves that nine-tenths of them are refuted; that the circumstances do not prove to be such as are assumed, or the difficulties are overcome; and however correct the arguments may have been, the result is not as predicted.
The ‘Great Eastern’ has not yet been engaged on the work for which she was originally designed by Mr. Brunel; but her employment in the promotion of great scientific enterprises has been an occupation worthy of her connection with his name.
NOTE ([p. 395]).
| Dimensions of the ‘Great Eastern’ Steam-ship. | ||
| Extreme length, | 693 | feet |
| Length between perpendiculars, | 680 | " |
| Breadth, | 83 | " |
| Depth, | 58 | " |
| Greatest draught of water, | 30 | " |
| Registered tonnage, | 13,343 | tons |
| Gross tonnage, | 18,915 | " |
| Displacement at 30 feet draught, | 27,419 | " |
| Dimensions of Paddle-Engines. (1,000 nominal horse-power.) | ||
| Number of cylinders, | 4 | |
| Diameter of cylinders, | 6 | feet 2 inches |
| Length of stroke, | 14 | feet |
| Number of boilers, | 4 | |
| Dimensions of Screw-Engines. (1,600 nominal horse-power.) | ||
| Number of cylinders, | 4 | |
| Diameter of cylinders, | 7 | feet |
| Length of stroke, | 4 | " |
| Number of boilers, | 6 | |
CHAPTER XIV.
DOCK AND PIER WORKS.
A.D. 1831—1859. ÆTATIS 26—54.
MONKWEARMOUTH DOCKS, 1831—BRISTOL DOCKS, FLOATING HARBOUR, 1832—PROPOSED WORKS AT PORTISHEAD—NEW LOCK AT BRISTOL, 1845—PLYMOUTH GREAT WESTERN DOCKS, 1847—BRITON FERRY DOCKS, 1851—BRENTFORD DOCK, 1856—PIER AT MILFORD HAVEN, 1857.
MR. BRUNEL’S dock and pier works are interesting, not only in their general features, but also in the details of their construction; and the plans he made for large docks at Monkwearmouth in 1831, which he carried out on a smaller scale shortly afterwards, were among the earliest of his independent designs.