Equal ill-fortune attended the _Normandy_. This boat, which was employed almost exclusively on the Channel Islands service, was sunk on March 17, 1870, in collision with the screw steamer _Mary_ while on the outward passage, some twenty-five of the passengers and crew being drowned. The _Southampton_, built by Palmer in 1860, was reckoned the strongest vessel of her tonnage at that time. In 1880 she was lengthened and given new engines and boilers by Day, Summers and Co., and was engaged in the Channel Islands trade until 1880, when the service was entirely performed by screw steamers. She was then transferred to the Havre route and continued running there until the present twin-screw steamers, _Columbia_ and _Alma_, came out and superseded her. Her last piece of active service was to make a trip round the fleet at Spithead on the occasion of the Jubilee Naval Review in 1897. The _Brittany_, built at Cubitt Town in 1864, was also employed in the Channel Islands trade until 1880, when, like the _Southampton_, she was transferred to the Havre route until 1894. Her last appearance was at the same review. She was lengthened thirty feet and given new engines and boilers in 1883. The company in 1868 purchased for their Channel Islands service the _Waverley_, a paddle-steamer of about fifteen knots, which had been employed running from Silloth to Dublin. She was the finest ship which had yet been employed on that service. She came to grief on June 5, 1873, when she struck upon the Platte Boue rock. The whole of the passengers, mails, and baggage were brought off in safety. [Illustration: THE TURBINE STEAMER “ST. PATRICK” (G.W. RAILWAY).] The outbreak of hostilities between France and Germany in 1870 brought about the purchase by the company of the paddle-steamers _Alice_ and _Fannie_. These each had a speed of fifteen knots, and were placed on the Southampton-St. Malo route and conveyed horses and provisions for the French. Both ships ran backwards and forwards for some months at their highest possible speed, only remaining at the quay side just long enough to load and discharge cargo. The _Waverley_ was also employed during that period running to and from Havre taking British provisions for the French, and conveying to England fugitive French families and all the valuables they could bring with them. These valuables were transhipped in Southampton Water to a steamer of the French Transatlantique Company, which was moored there for that purpose. The _Fannie_ and _Alice_ ran alternately upon the Havre and Channel Islands stations until 1887, when they were sold out of commission. They were always favourites owing to their speed and spacious deck and cabin accommodation. In 1871 the company purchased the paddle-steamer _Wolf_, which had been sunk for some time in Belfast Lough. She was employed, until sold in 1900, on the Havre route.