On the west coast the principal part of the cross-channel, Irish mail, passenger, and cargo traffic is divided between the services organised by the London and North-Western Railway Company, the Midland Railway Company, and the Great Western Railway Company. For four years after the London and North-Western Railway Company had absorbed the Chester and Holyhead Railway, they continued to work the Irish service with the boats acquired from the latter company. A new type of paddle-boat, 230 feet in length, with carrying capacity of 700 tons, their speed being fourteen knots per hour, and conveying both passengers and cargo, was then put on for the service. The first of these, the _Stanley_, was built by Messrs. Caird of Greenock, and had as sister boat the _Alexandra_, constructed by Laird of Birkenhead. These vessels did excellent work and were afterwards supplemented by the _Countess of Erne_, _Admiral Moorsom_, _Duke of Sutherland_, _Duchess of Sutherland_, and _Edith_, all boats of a similar type. Two of these, the _Duchess of Sutherland_ and the _Edith_, were in 1888 and 1892 respectively converted into twin-screw steamers. The _Duchess_ was sold in 1908, but the _Edith_ is still employed in the North Wall cargo service. This service was, in 1876, supplemented by a day express boat in each direction between Holyhead and Dublin North Wall, two paddle-steamers, _Rose_ and _Shamrock_, being built by Messrs. Laird Bros. of Birkenhead. A night service in each direction was started in 1880 with the _Lily_ and _Violet_, built by Messrs. Laird. They were each 310 feet long and had a gross tonnage of 1035 tons, with a speed of 19 knots per hour. The _Lily_ was sold in 1900 and ran for some time between Liverpool and the Isle of Man. The _Violet_ was also disposed of two years later. In 1884, the _Banshee_, another paddle-boat of the _Lily_ type, was built for the company by Messrs. Laird, and ran until February 1906, when she was sold out of the service. On December 15, 1897, the _Cambria_, the first of a new class of steel twin-screw steamers which almost equal the great ocean liners in speed, magnificence, and comfort, was placed on the North Wall service. She was followed by the _Hibernia_ on February 2, the _Anglia_ on May 2, 1900, and by the _Scotia_ on April 23, 1902. The _Scotia_ is 337 feet 6 inches in length, has a moulded breadth of 39 feet, with a depth to the awning deck of 29 feet 6 inches. The twin screws are driven by two sets of triple-expansion engines of 7000 horse-power, the eight single-ended boilers giving steam at a pressure of 160 lb. per square inch. There are four cylinders to each set of engines, which are balanced on the new Schlick principle, so as to avoid vibration. Even in the worst weather she can accomplish a speed of 21 knots. Her accommodation provides for 600 saloon and 700 third-class passengers.