Belfast?  If so, would my company join in and to what extent?  We had no power to expend money in steamboat enterprise, but I assured them we would do all we could to help in other ways, and that Bangor was the port to select.  My directors heartily approved and other interviews followed.  Once, I had hurriedly to go over to Peel to meet Mr. Mylchreest and his lawyer, on a certain day, as some hitch had arisen, and by this time I was desperately keen on getting the steamboat service started.  The only way of reaching Peel in time was by a collier steamer, belonging to the East Downshire Coal Co., which plied between Dundrum on the Co.  Down coast, and Whitehaven; the manager of the company was my friend, and would allow the steamer to drop me at Peel.  It was a memorable crossing, the weather was bad and so was I. But my journey was successful, and soon the Peel and North of Ireland Steamship Company, Limited, in which the “Diamond King” was much the largest shareholder, was established, and on the 26th June, 1889, the first voyage was made from Peel to Bangor.  It was a great event for the quiet little town of Peel.  Mr. Mylchreest had invited all his friends to the inaugural service, in addition a good number of the public travelled, and the steamer arrived at Bangor with nearly 300 passengers on board.  On the return voyage from Bangor to Peel the same evening the “Diamond King” gave a great dinner, champagne and speeches freely flowed, and music and dancing enlivened the proceedings.  The service prospered for a time, but the traffic did not reach expectations.  Ultimately it was taken over by the Isle of Man Steampacket Coy., and after a few years discontinued.

Little more remains to be told of my five and a-half years’ sojourn in the north of Ireland.  They were pleasant and profitable years for mind and body.  With health improved, experience gained in practical railway work, knowledge acquired by personal contact with men of all sorts and conditions, I felt strong and confident, ready for anything, and, like Micawber, longed for something to turn up.

Early in October, 1890, Walter Bailey and I took our second Continental holiday together.  We re-visited Paris, but spent most of our three weeks in a tour through Belgium, finishing up at Brussels.  When we reached London I received a letter from my friend, W. R. Gill, Secretary of Bailey’s railway, the Belfast and Northern Counties.  It was to tell me that the position of Manager of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland had become vacant, and suggested that I should return home by way of Dublin and call upon the chairman of the company, Sir Ralph Cusack, in regard to the succession.  Now something had turned up, and Bailey declared I was as good as appointed.  At dinner that night we indulged in a bottle of sparkling wine—­in nothing meaner would my warm-hearted friend drink success to the prospect that had so unexpectedly opened before me.