In 1872 this firm purchased from the owners of the Anchor Line steamers the steamer DOM PEDRO, a screw steamer engaged in the Glasgow and Peninsular service. The DOM PEDRO was the first screw steamer with compound engines, built by the famous Clyde shipbuilding firm, Randolph and Elder, now known as the Fairfield Shipbuilding Co. Subsequently, Messrs. James Little & Co. owned a fleet of steamers bearing Greek classical names, _e.g._, APOLLO, ACHILLES, &c., and to be in accordance with these the name of the DOM PEDRO was changed to the ARIADNE in the year 1875. She has now for a number of years been running on the Barrow and Liverpool station. In the year 1866, Messrs. Little ran the paddle steamer HERALD between Glasgow and Campbeltown. The HERALD proved herself when on the Campbeltown route to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest, steamer on the Clyde. She was withdrawn the following summer (1867) from the Glasgow and Campbeltown station, to open the Barrow and Isle of Man trade. The latter traffic is now maintained during the summer months by the magnificent steamers, MANX QUEEN, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, or DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUCH. The MANX QUEEN is a large steel paddle steamer, with a gross register tonnage of about 1,000 tons, built and engined on the Clyde by Messrs. J. and G. Thompson. Her principal dimensions are—length, 278 feet 9 inches; beam, 29 feet 7 inches; depth, 14 feet, and her speed is about 16 knots per hour. The DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE is a steel twin-screw steamer, built and engined in 1897 by the Naval Construction and Armaments Co., Barrow. Her gross register tonnage is 1,265 tons; her length is 300 feet; beam, 35 feet 1 inch; and depth, 15 feet 7 inches. Her engines are capable of driving her considerably over 18 knots per hour, and she is, therefore, one of the fastest steamers in the cross-channel trade. The DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUCH is a steel paddle steamer, with a gross register tonnage of 804 tons, built and engined in 1888 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., Glasgow. Her length is 256 feet 1 inch; beam, 29 feet 1 inch; and depth 14 feet, and her speed is about 18 knots per hour. The route _via_ Barrow to Douglas gives the shortest sea passage from England to the Isle of Man, the average passage being about three hours. In consequence of this, and of the first-class accommodation provided in these splendid steamers, the Barrow route is a favourite one to the Island, and each year sees an increase in the number of passengers carried. Messrs. James Little & Co., in conjunction with the Midland and Furness Railways, established, in 1867, a service of mail, passengers and cargo steamers between Barrow and Belfast.