Their engines being "simple," they consumed a perfectly ruinous
amount of coal, sixty-four tons for the round trip; considerably
more than the coal consumption of the present twenty-four
knotters.
In the "sixties" a new Lord-Lieutenant crossed in a special mail-
steamer, for which he had the privilege of paying.
When my father went over to be sworn-in, we arrived at Holyhead in
the evening, and on going on board the special steamer Munster, we
found a sumptuous supper awaiting us.
There is an incident connected with that supper of which, of
course, I knew nothing at the time, but which was told me more
than thirty years after by Mrs. Campbell, the comely
septuagenarian head-stewardess of the Munster, who had been in the
ship for forty-four years. Most habitual travelers to Ireland will
cherish very kindly recollections of genial old Mrs. Campbell,
with her wonderfully fresh complexion and her inexhaustible fund
of stories.
It appears that the supper had been supplied by a firm of Dublin
caterers, who sent four of their own waiters with it, much to the
indignation of the steward's staff, who resented this as a slight
on their professional abilities.
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