FORM OF THE REPORTS TO THE DIRECTORS.

27

his mathematical deductions, I will upon these make a brief report to theBoard.

The three reports will then form a complete document for the Directors.Pray do let us be prepared by the end of the month, for I cannot keepthe Directors quiet any longer. I will come down to see you if possible.

Yours faithfully,

W. Fairbaim, Esq. Robert Stephenson.

My dear Sir, Manchester, January 13th, 1846.

The report, accompanied with the experiments, will be arranged anddrawn up as you request; namely, in three divisions, and we shall makean effort to have all prepared by the time you mention.

Both Mr. Hodgkinson and myself are a good deal puzzled with theflexible nature of the material; and although my last experiments atMillwall gave the most satisfactory results in the approximate value ofthe forces on each side of the neutral axis, there still exists considerabledifficulty in accounting theoretically for the “ puckering,” and doublingup of the tube. We are both of us labouring hard to get over this diffi-culty, and hope shortly to reduce it to some fixed law. Meanwhile ourexperiments are not complete, until that important point is fully andsatisfactorily ascertained.

I think you had better not visit Manchester for a few days, as I pur-pose being in London tomorrow night, and will call upon you at ten onThursday morning.

Meanwhile, I am, yours faithfully,

Robert Stephenson , Esq. William Fairbairn.

My dear Sir, Manchester, February 4th, 1846.

According to promise, I beg to hand you the accompanying statementof experimental facts, connected with the proposed bridge across theMenai Straits. I trust you will find it in that form best calculated forthe purpose of communicating with the Directors, and such as you willyourself approve. After the meeting, you will perhaps inform me as toyour own intentions, and the opinion of the Directors. Mr. Hodgkinsonand myself will continue to pursue our investigations, and I trust weshall not only have your sanction, but the support of the Directors inevery attempt to bring the matter to a prosperous issue.