[Illustration: THE “CARRON” (CARRON CO.).] [Illustration: THE “KINGFISHER” (GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION CO.).] Presumably no one sailed by smack who could afford to coach between Scotland and London, but the coach fare in 1824 was £13 and the smack fare £4. Passengers by smack had a fair chance of witnessing a sea-fight, during which the ladies would be locked up in the cabin while the martially-inclined among the passengers might be called upon to assist the crew in repelling the attack of a French privateer. The smacks were superseded by the celebrated Aberdeen schooners or themselves converted to that rig, and the schooners bravely upheld the reputation of sail as long as possible against the all-conquering power of steam. But in 1850 the company introduced steam and the fine clippers were withdrawn. It is this company’s proud boast that it has never lost a passenger. THE CARRON COMPANY The Carron Company, manufacturers of iron goods, maintained a passenger service between Carron and London with sailing sloops long before steam-ships were invented. So long ago as 1779 the company advertised in the _Edinburgh Advertiser_ as follows: At CARRON--For LONDON. To ſail March 5, 1779 THE GLASGOW, Robert Paterſon maſter, mounting fourteen twelve pounders, and men anſwerable. For freight or paſſage, apply to Mr. G. Hamilton, Glaſgow, Meſſ. James Anderſon & Co. Leith, or the Carron Shipping Company at Carron Wharf. N. B. The Carron veſſels are fitted out in the moſt complete manner for defence, at a very conſiderable expence, and are well provided with ſmall arms. All mariners, recruiting parties, ſoldiers upon furlow, and all other ſteerage paſſengers who have been accuſtomed to the uſe of fire arms, and who will engage to aſſiſt in defending themſelves, will be accommodated with their paſſage to or from London, upon ſatiſfying the maſters for their proviſions, which in no inſtance ſhall exceed 10s. 6d. ſterling. The Carron veſſels ſail regularly as uſual, without waiting for the convoy. As the sloops carried the company’s famous carronades there can be no doubt that they were well armed. The company can boast a more ancient connection with steam-ship building than any other firm in the British Isles, for they constructed the hull for one of the Miller boats and assisted in the construction of one of Symington’s engines. Miller is reported to have examined Symington’s engines at the Carron works. The company soon ran steamers instead of sailing vessels along the east-coast route and have continued to do so up to the present day, the latest additions to their fleet being the _Thames_ by A. and J. Inglis, and the _Carron_, 308 feet long, which has her steering gear fitted aft at the rudder head and controlled by hydraulic action on the telemotor principle.