Sir Mark Isambard Brunel had the satisfaction of first walking under the river Thames. His tunnel is a great triumph of art and perseverance, and will remain a splendid monument of skill to future ages. Of course our readers have heard of the impression made by a French gentleman upon his English auditors as to the immense size of Sir Isambard, when he said to them, “Monsieur Brunel is great man—giant engineer—his great toe-nail (tunnel) goes all across de river Thames onder de vater from von side to de oder.
The Illustrated London News, London England, Week Ending June 4, 1842