This chromolithograph of the Great Eastern steamship being towed into harbour by tugs was a cover illustration for a piece of music composed by Charles D’Albert. This famous steamship, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and built at Millwall on the Thames by J. Scott Russell, was the largest ship ever built at the time of her launch on 31 January 1858. Her innovative design successfully combined steam and sail power, although she proved a commercial failure on the competitive North Atlantic route. However, her great size made her an ideal choice for stowing and laying the heavy transatlantic cable in 1865-66.