細節
Autograph letter unsigned to I. K. Brunel ("my dear Isambard"), with an added note of affection by Isambard's mother, Sophia, née Kingdom (signed "Mother"), 3 pages, 8vo with integral address leaf dated Aug. 1840 in another hand.
A letter commenting first on his good health and then the poor health of Isambard's mother, before describing a railway accident they experienced when on the way back from Birmingham, with a final paragraph on the progress of the tunnel and preparations for sinking the second shaft.
"Your dear mother received your note yesterday. I am happy to say that I am very well -- Your dear mother I am sorry to say is seldom so, particularly at night; but the fine weather and our evening tides which give us a little fresh air, are all the advantage we have.
"I went on Monday last to Birmingham for the Curb of the new Shaft ... I started at 9 o'C. and reached Birmingham at 2. This gave me time to go to Tipton and do my business. I however had to go on the next day again. I left Birmingham at 5 expecting to be in time to reach Rotherhithe at proper hour; but we met with an accident....
"Just over the Embankment near Rugby the Axletree of the Tender (forepart) broke when we were going at a full rate. One of the Rails was thrown off but a few inches however and the wheels and axletree ran over. Fortunately nothing more resulted than being detained untill another Engine could be brought up.
"We were of course taken back to another station when the carriages were transferred from one Rail to the other. It was about 12 when we reached London. It is hardly possible to be more shaken than we were through the greatest part of the time. I am rather inclined to ascribe it to the carriage itself for in going to Birmingham I did not record anything so bad.
"Here, at the tunnel, we are going on well -- all the warehouses pulled down the ground will be clear this week for the curb -- good night my dear Isambard your dear mother will write tomorrow."
Slightly torn along fold.
