“The commanders must distinctly understand that the issue of the following instructions does not, in any way, relieve them from entire responsibility for the safe and efficient navigation of their respective vessels; and they are also enjoined to remember that, whilst they are expected to use every diligence to secure a speedy voyage, they must run no risk which might by any possibility result in accident to their ships. It is to be hoped that they will ever bear in mind that the safety of the lives and property entrusted to their care is the ruling principle that should govern them in the navigation of their ships, and no supposed gain in expedition or saving of time on the voyage is to be purchased at the risk of accident. The company desires to establish and maintain for its vessels a reputation for safety, and only looks for such speed on the various voyages as is consistent with safe and prudent navigation.” Not content with giving this general regulation, the managers have issued to the commanders of the respective ships of the fleet a special autograph letter, laying special emphasis on the supreme importance of extreme and unvarying caution and prudence in the navigation of the company’s vessels. The concluding paragraph of this letter is as follows:— “Under all these circumstances of paramount and engrossing interest to the company, whose property is under your charge, we invite you to dismiss from your mind all idea of competitive passages with other vessels, the advantage of success in which is merely transient, concentrating your whole attention upon a cautious, prudent, and ever-watchful system of navigation which shall lose time, or suffer any other temporary inconvenience, rather than run the slightest risk which can be avoided.”