LETTER: France, Japan and the Thames Tunnel
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr R. A. Hack
Sir: Your correspondents Richard Morris and Roger Morgan (27 March) describe the Thames Tunnel, which London Underground proposes to waterproof, as "a triumph of British engineering".
Its engineer, Marc Isambard Brunel, was a French royalist who learnt his craft in France, in the French navy and as chief engineer for New York, where he fled to escape the revolutionary authorities in France.
His attachment to the young Miss Kingdom whom he had met in Rouen led him to leave New York and settle in England. The son of his marriage to Miss Kingdom, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was sent to be trained in France and subsequently collaborated with his father in the construction of the the tunnel.
Surely an Anglo-French triumph of engineering.
Yours sincerely,
R. A. HACK
Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments