In connection with the Midland Railway Company of England a service of powerful steamers is maintained between Morecambe and Dublin, the steamers sailing from the respective ports on alternate days, and making the passage in about 10 hours. Early next year, it is proposed to transfer the service from Morecambe to Heysham, and to maintain daily sailings to and from the latter port and Dublin. The “Laird” steamers also sail in connection with the same railway company from Morecambe to Londonderry every Tuesday and Saturday, returning from Londonderry every Monday and Thursday. From Fleetwood, in connection with the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and London and North-Western Railway Companies, a weekly service had been maintained for many years by the company’s steamers between Fleetwood and Londonderry, but in September, 1903, Messrs. Laird & Co. retired from this service. From Liverpool also, steam communication is maintained with Larne, Coleraine and Westport. The fixed sailings are once a week from each port, but extra steamers are despatched according to the requirements of the trade. The company’s fleet at the present date (1903) consists of 12 first-class powerful steamships, having an aggregate gross tonnage of 9,164 tons, and named as follows:— Gross Tonnage. AZALEA 748 BRIER 728 CEDAR 750 DAISY 565 ELM 521 FERN 503 GARDENIA 491 LILY 668 OLIVE 1141 ROSE 1363 SHAMROCK 864 THISTLE 822 [Illustration: Steamship] CHAPTER XIII. LANGLANDS’ LINE. Glasgow AND Liverpool Royal STEAMPACKET Company.