“The great superiority of the SWIFT over the Cock Boat that is puffed off as sailing direct from the Bromielaw is now so well known at Glasgow and Belfast as scarcely to require to be noticed in this advertisement, but for the sake of strangers coming from a distance it may be proper to state that her power and size are double, and her speed so much greater, that when the two vessels start together the SWIFT runs the other out of sight in five or six hours. Her hours of sailing are so adapted to the tide, as to ensure the shortest possible passage, by arriving at Greenock and Glasgow about high water, and at Belfast as soon as there is water up to the quay.” The following crushing reply of the owners of the steamer referred to as “the Cock Boat,” appeared in the next issue of the same newspaper. “The fine new Steam-Packet GEORGE CANNING continues to sail for Belfast every Tuesday and Friday. She is the only Steam-Packet that sails direct from Glasgow, therefore, her passengers are not subjected to the delay, inconvenience and risk, attending change of vessel and transhipment of luggage. “The GEORGE CANNING has crossed the Channel upwards of 60 times, and has in every instance accomplished her passage without putting into any intermediate ports. “If the writer of a contemptible article in the SWIFT’S advertisement of Friday last, means the GEORGE CANNING, he has the merit of stating a gross falsehood, knowing it to be such; and, therefore, written for the express purpose of deceiving the public!!! “The author of the paragraph alluded to is challenged to produce a single instance of the SWIFT having ever accomplished her passage from Belfast in so short a period as the GEORGE CANNING. “The public will be surprised to learn, after reading the SWIFT’S advertisement, particularly ‘strangers coming from a distance,’ that the SWIFT and the CANNING have never yet sailed together either from Belfast or Glasgow; therefore, the author of the SWIFT’S advertisement is left to state when and where the SWIFT ran the vessel alluded to out of sight.” The rivalry between these two steamers terminated the following year, when the SWIFT was sold to the London, Leith and Edinburgh Shipping Company, and sailed for Leith, via Oban, Fort William and Inverness, on the 27th June, 1826. The GEORGE CANNING was offered for sale by auction in June, 1831, but was evidently withdrawn. She appears to have been sold subsequently by private treaty, and sailed, after repairs, for St. Malo, Brittany, in June, 1833. The well-known firm, G. & J. Burns, of Glasgow, commenced business as steamship owners in 1825. The style of the firm at that time was James and George Burns, and their offices were at 45, Miller Street, but in February, 1842, they changed the style of the firm to G. & J. Burns.