Originally written in a letter to Brunel from Joseph Earl James:
Respected Sir,
I have taken the freedom of sending you a few lines on the triumph of your success of the launching of the monster ship the Leviathan, having two sons in the Navy I take an interest in naval affairs you will excuse the paper ….scribbled on on the other side as I am short of paper
Yours respectfully
Joseph Earl James, Islington Workhouse
Launch of the Leviathan
Huzza for Englands sons, Britons will may boast
When they can build such ships to guard their coast
Shew her to the nations as the wonder of the world
Victorias pride which stems the tides with flag unfurled
She floats, she floats upon the Thames majestic tide
The Leviathan of Iron, with ponderous hull so wide
The Thames flowing, conveyed her to the distant Nore
With all the pride of Majesty to grace our Naval store
Stupendous Leviathan, how great, thy power sublime
When Vulcans sons and Engineers of skill their works combine
Man’d with brave Tars, her standard is unfurled
And bids defiance to the Tyrants of the world
See her steaming through the boisterous Ocean
Where billows swell in wild commotion
Onwards she dashes through the Atlantic’s heaving surge
With ponderous hull of Iron partially submerged
Ye mariners of England, Victoria’s pride her boast
Who mans her fleets, with honour guards her coast
Propell this great Iron Ship, Old Englands pride
That wafts ten thousand men across the briney tide
Brunel thy mind so great with power at will
Subdues the toughened Iron to thy learned skill
Let merit sound the triumph of great Brunel’s name
And to posterity descend to perpetuate his name
Joseph Earl James
December 10th 1857
Inmate of the Workhouse
Islington
