T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 657

Hythe, 29th May, 1931. Flight Lieutenant Torrington, Sir, We were unable to run in the second dinghy yesterday, as the Power Boat people could not get it into the water in time to save the tide. I have made up a note on the first three weeks of the Power engines in the cruiser. It make rather dismal reading. That bit of wadding in the pipes has cost Mr. Scott-Paine about £150, I think. The engines are now running very well, but fail to reach their 2000 rev. peak by at least 250 revs. Two sets of smaller propellors are being got ready against Sunday, when 200 may take the water again in full service trim. There should be at least a day's full trial of her with these new props. Then she should be ready for taking away. What is being done now a is drip - trays, self-bailers in each compartment, decking, engine -boring, corficining, painting, re-piping electric wiring. I doubt if it will all be done by Sunday, and hope the Mr. Scott-Paine will not hurry the work. Just for the sake of time-keeping. We have had too much trouble through night-work and haste. I believe that Captain Beaufort-Greenwood is