However, all were happy and satisfied.

But it may be said in passing that these amiable gentlemen all united subsequently in one company, which has had a highly satisfactory career, and that we paid a more uniform price for our subsequent purchases of ships after the combination had been made.
A LANDSMAN FOR SHIP MANAGER With these ships ordered, we were fairly at the beginning of the ore enterprise.

But we realized that we had to make some arrangement to operate the ships, and we again turned to our competitor, Mr.Mather, in the hope that he would add this to his cares.

Unfortunately, because of his obligations to others, he felt that this was impractical.

I asked Mr.Gates one day soon after this: "How are we to get some one to run these big ships we have ordered?
Do you know of any experienced firm ?" "No," said Mr.Gates, "I do not know of any firm to suggest at the moment, but why not run them ourselves ?" "You don't know anything about ships, do you ?" "No," he admitted, "but I have in mind a man who I believe could do it, although when I tell you about him I fear you will think that his qualifications are not the best.