Letter from Sir Marc Isambard Brunel to Monsieur Lees

4th May 1838

My Dear Sir,
Your favour with its content reached me this afternoon. It
was dated of the 30th consequently the bearer lost no time in
forwarding it by the penny-post.

Now, in reply to your enquiry respecting my son, I have great
satisfaction in saying that he is now very well except that he
cannot walk so well as usual from a sprain in one of his ankles.
The accident was truly awful; I had not been above half an hour
from the vessel when it occurred. He was senseless and even so when
he was conveyed to the shore and put in bed. Luckily the house
almost single for miles was a remarkably comfortable one.

With respect to our proceedings at the tunnel, I should say that
every thing goes on; but against great difficulties – not of an
ordinary nature, the ground of course is a capricious enemy by the
convulsions which have changed its character.

The water, every once conceits to be an implacable enemy and the
work merciless – But that we should have to contend against
Fire [underlined] and foul air [underlined] was never thought of in our estimate or
prospectus – The fire is from gases which issue from the ground
as in mines when the same gases are fatal to every man in mines
at the movement, but with us the area of the excavation is too extensive
for any violent explosion – The ignition for several hours, sometimes
begins with a cloud of fire (a puff we may say) – Then the
4th enemy are gases which are not ignitable but so deleterious as to
innervate the men – viz sulphurous hydrogen
which operate so far upon some constitution as a slow poison.
I am sorry to hear of Miss Guppy’s fate; but how seldom sufferers
recover of the same disease – some of our most robust men have found
under the destructive influence which attached their lungs.
Mrs Brunel desires me to say that she has not heard of the
macarony [sic] –

I cannot close without saying that the service in our works is
excessively severe and for myself likewise as I am ago at all hours
of the night to consent and send instructions however I may
say that I have never been better and more alive yet, I was 69 last
month 25th – St Marc Day –
my consultants do not stand so well as I do.

The way that I persevere in for my health is very moderate [underlined] eating
drinking still more moderate; then tout est en harmonie je me
trouve ausi bien apres qu’avant le diner [in trans: everything is in
harmony I feel as good after dinner as before dinner]

Mrs Brunel has been confined to her bed from a serious attack of
the influenza she is too unwell to add a line of hers otherwise
she would have written to Mrs Lees.

She sends with me our very kind regards to her and to yourself
sincerely yours
M. I. Brunel
4th May 1838

How is your father?
Rail ways and water do not go so fast with you
as with us –
Asphalt is the rage



à Monsieur Lees
Rue Royale St Honore no. 20
à Paris