Note 172 — Chapter XII · STEAM NAVIGATION—THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP. THE LAUNCH. A.D. 1857—1858. ÆTATIS 52.
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Among the many congratulations which Mr. Brunel received on the completion of the launch, there was perhaps none which pleased him more than the following letter from Mr. Robert Stephenson, who had been prevented by illness from being present at the concluding operations, the critical character of which he had fully appreciated:—
February 1, 1858.
My dear Brunel,—I slept last night like a top, after I received your message. I got desperately anxious all day, but my doctor would not permit me to venture so far away as Millwall.
I do, my good friend, most sincerely congratulate you on the arrival of the conclusion of your anxiety.
Yours sincerely, Robert Stephenson.
A letter from Mr. Brunel to his friend Mr. Froude, describing the floating, is given in note B to this chapter.