SIR ISAMBERT BRUNEL.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 426, 15 May 1850, Page 3

SIR ISAMBERT BRUNEL.

This distinguished engineer died on Wednesday last, at liis house in St. James's i'aik, aged 81, thus termi. natinga career singularly useful, protracted, and tuccessfal. By birth he was a Frenchman ; but his life and genius was almost wholly devoted to the invention andcoristmction of woiks of great public utility in this country. Sir I. Brunei was born at Hacqucville, "in Normandy, now in the department de L'Eure, where his family haa for many centuries held, and still hold, a modeiate estate. He was educated for the chursh, and next at an early age to the seminary of St. Nicain, at Rome. But he soon evinced so stioaga predilection for the physical sciencci and mathematics, that the superiors of the establishment recommended his being etlut.it -d for some other profession than that of the chuich. His Faiher, however, strongly objected to his adopting the profession of an engineer, and determined that he should be educated for the naval service. At the proper age he accordingly entered the lloyai Navy, being indebted for his appointment to the Mareschal de Castnes, then the Minister of Marina. He made several voyages to the West Indies, and returned in 1792. At this lime the French Revolution was at its height. As Mr. Brunei entertained Royalist opinions, which he was not very careful to suppress, his life was more than once in danger, and he was, like many others at that time forced to seek safety in flight. Ha emigrated to the United States, where necesbity, fortunately, compelled him to follow the natural bent of his mind, and to adopt the profession of a civil engineer, lie was fir t engaged to survey a large tract of land near Lake Ene, and thru emplojed in building the Bowery Theatre, in New Yoik, which not many years ago was burnt down, lie lunmhed plans for canals, and for various machines connected with a cannon foundry then being established in the state of New York. About the year 17 I J9 he matuied hu plans for making ship blocks by machinciy; but the United States was not then the fi^kl for so inventive a genius, Mr. Brunei determined upon yibituur. England and offering his services and plans to the Bntish Government. Lord Spencer, then first Lord of the Admirality, became his fliend and patron, lie becuiic a fnquent guest at Spencer-house, and never failed to speak warmly of the assistance and encouragement be douved from the friendship of Lord and Lady Spunccr. From this time he continued 10 reside in England, aud refused to entertain many propositions mado to him Vo settle abtoad under the auspices oro her Governments. After much opposition to his plans for the block machinery, not letsenediu lint day by hi 9 being a Franclim,in, he was employed to execute them in Poitsmomh dockyard. To peilcct bis cleans was the arduous labour of many yeais. With a true disci imination he selected Mr. Henry Muudslay to ass-ist in the execution of the work, and llius was laid tiia foundation of one of the most extensive enginceiing establishments in the kingdom. The block machinery waa finished in ISOG, and has continued ever since in full operation, supplying our iluet with blocks o( a very superior description to those previously in use, and at a lance annual saving to the public. It was estimated at the time that the saving, in the firsifyear, amounted to £24,000 per annum; and about two-tlmds of that sum were awarded to Mr. Brunei. A few years afterwards he was employed by Government to erect sawmills upon a new principle, in ttie dockyards of Chatham and Woolwich. Several o.her inventionswete tho offspring of his singuhrly fertile mind about tlm time, — the circular saw, for cutting veneers of valuable woods ; and the beautiful little inacbi ie for winding coiton thread into balls, winch greatly extended iU coisuinption. About two yenra hufore the termination of tUa wai, Mr. Brunei, under the countenance ot the Duke ot ¥ork, invented a machine for uniting shoes lor the army by machmeiy, the value and chenpnesi of which were fully abpieciuted, and they were extcmvely used; but, the peace of 1815 lessening the demand, the machinery was ultimately laid abide. The visit oi the Emperor Alexander to this country, aftei the peace, led Mr. Biuael to submit to the Emperor a p. an for makin? a tunnel under tho Neva, whore Uie accumulation of ice, and the suddenness with which it breaks up on theater nunuUw of wint:i, roudeied Uic election

of a bridge a woik of great diflicuUy. This uas Hie oiigtn o f his plan for n tunnel under the Thames?, whicli hail bepn twice before attempted without success* In 1821, however, a company was farmed, ami suppoitcd by the Duke of Wellington, who took a deep interest in the woiL The woik was rommonccd in 1821. It w;ib slopped more then once during its \>i ogress by the breaking in of the rivei, anil more effectually lit last by the exhausted finances of the company, winch new extended boyond X'lSo,ooo. At length, after the suspemion of the woik for many years, by a ppeci.il Act of Parliament a loan whs sanctioned, the Exchequer Loan Commissioners advanced the fundi nercsjiuy for the completion of the woik under the river, am! it was opened to tlie public in IB 13. In ft scientific point of view this work wll always he regained as di«playing the highest pi ofessignal ability, and a fertility of invention under what weio deemed insurmountable difficulties which will ahvajs smire to Sir I. Brunei a hi^h place amongst the engineers of this country. During Lord Melbourne's adm nistialiyu Mr. Brunei received the honour of knighthood, on the recommendation of the late Lord Spencer, then JjOhl Althorp. Sir I Biunel was a vice-president of the Royal Society, a corie^ponding member of the Ins'itutr of Fiance, and a vtce president ofti»e Institution ot Civil Euginecrf. He was also a Chevalier ol tlie Lotion ol Honour. Jle was unaffocted, simple in Ins habits aud benevolent, and as ready to do a kind act us ho was tv forget an injuiy. Lie died in his 81st ye.v, uftir a long illness, which first visited him soon after the com ■ pletion of the tunnel. The care, anxiety and conslact stiam ot body and«mind, brought on n slight ntUKl(*t' paralysis, from winch he never thoronghty reerwar^ He leaves a vvidow, Lady Krunel, one ami, the cmirftnjp^ engineer, aud two daughter!?, the eldest mained to Mi Hawes, this Under Secretary of State for th? Co/ouio' and the youngest to the Rev. Mr. llanison, the \kni of New Bientford.— slllas, December 15.