Commencement of the building of the ‘Great Britain’--_Report on the Engines_ (June 13, 1839)--Experiments on the Screw Propeller--Its Adoption in the ‘Great Britain’--Completion of the Ship--Her Voyage across the Atlantic--Stranding of the ‘Great Britain’ in Dundrum Bay--_Letter to Captain Claxton on the Condition of the ‘Great Britain’ and on the Means to be adopted for saving her_ (December 10, 1846)--_Report to the Directors on the same Subject_ (December 14, 1846)--Appointment of Captain Claxton to superintend the Execution of Mr. Brunel’s Plans--_Letter to Captain Claxton on the Difficulties to be overcome_ (December 29, 1846)--_Report enclosing Captain Claxton’s Account of the Erection of the Breakwater_ (February 27, 1847)--_Report on the Arrangements for Floating off the Ship_ (May 4, 1847)--Successful Accomplishment of the Floating Operations--Subsequent History of the ‘Great Britain’--_Note_: Dimensions of the Ship and Engines.....246 CHAPTER X. _STEAM NAVIGATION. INTRODUCTION OF THE SCREW PROPELLER INTO THE ROYAL NAVY._ A.D. 1841--1844. ÆTATIS 36--39. Appointment of Mr. Brunel to conduct Experiments for the Admiralty with various Forms of the Screw Propeller, April 1841--Trials with the ‘Polyphemus’--Opposition to Mr. Brunel’s Experiments--Trials with the ‘Rattler’, October 1843--October 1844.....283 CHAPTER XI. _STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE UNDERTAKING TO THE LAUNCH._ A.D. 1851--1857. ÆTATIS 46-52. Introductory Observations--The Australian Steam Navigation Company--_Statement of Mr. Brunel’s Project of a Line of large Ships_ (June 10, 1852)--Adoption of his Plans by the Eastern Steam Navigation Company--_Extract from a Letter describing the Scheme_ (July 1, 1852)--_Letter to J. Scott Russell, Esq., on the Form and Dimensions of the Great Ship_ (July 13, 1852)--_Report on Mode of Proceeding_ (July 21, 1852)--_Report on Enquiries Relating to the Draught and Form of the Vessel_ (October 6, 1852)--_Report on the Proceedings of the Committee appointed to consider Mr. Brunel’s Plans_ (March 21, 1853)--Tenders invited for the Ship and Engines--_Report on Tenders_ (May 18, 1853)--Preparation of the Contracts and Specifications--_Extracts from Mr. Brunel’s Memoranda_ (A.D. 1852, 1853, 1854)--_Letter on his Position and Duties as Engineer of the Company_ (August 16, 1854)--_Letter on an Article in a Newspaper_ (November 16, 1854)--_Report on the Undertaking_ (February 5, 1855)--Arrangements proposed for obtaining Astronomical Observations--_Letter to G. B. Airy, Esq., Astronomer Royal_ (October 5, 1852)--Appointment of Mr. William Harrison to the Command of the Ship--_Memorandum on the Management of the Great Ship_ (October 1855)--_Letter on the Duties of the Chief Engineer_ (March 19, 1857)--Suspension and Resumption of the Works.....289 CHAPTER XII. _STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP. THE LAUNCH._ A.D. 1857, 1858. ÆTATIS 52.