communications between an internal piston and an external carriage. Medhurst did not disclose any mode of making that tube airtight when the valve was put down again, or how to put it down, and it would be found that the patent of Samuda confined itself to the mode of sealing the valve. With respect to the Medhurst patent, he wished to call attention to the fact that so long ago as 1810 Medhurst pointed out that, with a carriage running on iron rails each side of the tube, a speed of fifty miles an hour might be attained. Brunei persuaded himself, and a Committee of the House, that with a single atmospheric line as much work could be done as with a double line on the ordinary plan. He had no doubt that Brunei honestly believed it, but he, Sir Frederick, had never been able to follow it. He thought the directors were wise in adopting the system. They took the best advice of the day, and the system was already working to more than an experimental extent, and if it had answered, the result would have been a great deal better as compared with locomotive traction. The charm of travelling was not to be described. However, it did not answer, but he thought the men who agreed to use it must be judged by what they had before them at the time, and not by the result.
The President said that Mr. H. M. Brunel was unfortunately unable to be present, but he was sure Sir Frederick Bramwell would be glad if Mr. Brunel would add any contribution to the discussion in writing, Sir Frederick of course having the right to comment upon that contribution.
Mr. H. M. Brunel, wrote, referring to the chapter on "The Atmospheric System" contained in the "Life of I. K. Brunel," published in 1870, and added that he had no further remarks to offer on the atmospheric railway question.
