The _Northman_ (1847) and _Irishman_ (1854) were among the earliest iron steamers built; they belonged to the Glasgow and Dublin Screw Steam Packet Company, under which name Messrs. Cameron ran a service between those ports and were opposed by the Sligo Steam Navigation Company until an arrangement was made between Laird’s and the Sligo Company. The _Irishman_ was the last steamer to carry the white funnel with a black top which was the distinguishing-mark of the old St. George Company. Other vessels of increasing size and importance were added from time to time and the Laird Company’s fleet now comprises twelve ships, of which the latest is the _Rowan_, a beautiful steel vessel of about 1500 tons, launched in 1909. CHAPTER IV RAILWAY COMPANIES AND THEIR STEAM-SHIPS The railway companies early saw the advantages to be gained by the addition of steam-ship services to and from the ports to which their lines ran. Steam-ship owning by the railway companies was not permitted by Parliament at one time, and the proposal, whenever brought forward, was strongly opposed by the private steam-ship owners. The first company to enter the field was probably the North Lancashire Railways, which were subsequently absorbed by the London and North-Western Railway Company, and which, in conjunction with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, instituted in 1844 a steam-ship service between Fleetwood and Dublin, the _Hibernia_ being the first steamer employed for the purpose. The venture was a success and brought to the Dublin Company such an immense increase in its trade between England and Ireland that in the following year the directors decided to add to their line three auxiliary screw schooners and five paddle-steamers. In 1839, the Government arranged that the mails should be despatched every morning and evening from Liverpool to the Irish capital, via Kingstown, on the arrival of the mail trains from London. The morning service was by Admiralty steam packet and the evening service by the boats of the Dublin Steam Packet Company. The strong rivalry which immediately sprang up between the two services was intensified by the agreement between the North Lancashire Railways and the City of Dublin Company, and resulted in a vast improvement being effected in the steamers employed. For ten years this battle of the services was waged with unabated vigour on both sides, but finally in 1850 the Admiralty withdrew their steamers and left their rivals in full possession of the carriage of the Irish mail service.