CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON, R. N.

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CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON, R. N.
Autograph letter signed ("C. Claxton"), to I. K. Brunel, 4 pages, 8vo, Priory Battersea, January 13th 1853.
Giving detailed statistics of the Great Britain's performance on her voyage to the Cape which Brunel required for the construction of the Great Eastern. "The Great Britain took on board from nine vessels 1440 Tons of Coal (each vessel cheating 10 Tons perhaps). 2. The Engineer kept an acct. of each days consumption of Fuel, Oil, Tallow and by the return the consumption only reached 40 Tons one day -- 39 three or four and was under 30 Tons several days -- the average being 32 Tons pr. diem -- which with 32 Tons (a little over one Ton a day) for the Galley brought the calculated consumption up to the hour of turning round (in consequence of apprehended shortness of fuel for accomplishing something less than 800 miles of the voyage) to 960 Tons & then there should have remained 480 Tons!!!" He compares this result with voyages by the Great Western. "The time occupied and the coals expended agree as near as may be with the earlier performances of the Great Western but are very far behind (in the time part) the Great Britain's own performance to and from New York -- doing which 6000 miles she was under 23 days." He concludes from his observations that "Steamers will make better passages in high and boisterous Latitudes -- than in low or light airs and calm Latitudes -- and with luck against them worser!!!"
Creased on folds, some soiling.

Lot Essay

Brunel's second ship, Great Britain, was sold by the Great Western Steamship Company in December 1850. After only one further North Atlantic crossing, she was put onto the Australian trade route by her new owners, following the discovery of gold in the colony in 1851. Captain Christopher Claxton, R. N., was a Bristol dockyard official at the time he first became acquainted with Brunel in the 1830's. This letter, informing Brunel how well the ship's engines had performed on the outward voyage as far as the Cape, is an indication of the key role he subsequently played as maritime advisor and lifelong friend to the great engineer.

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