Even running the River Lagan appears something the Neills wished to be rid of at this time, perhaps because of the internal upheavals, as she was advertised for sale in 'The Journal of Commerce'. We left her lying at Liverpool in June 1881. A. R. Marshall and Co., Neills' agents there, placed a watchman aboard and also hired a ratcatcher (fee 12/6d!). The crew had been paid off, as was customary, but with no sale likely, another cargo was loaded for San Francisco and a new crew signed on. The Public Record Office at Kew, London, houses one crew list for the River Lagan, being the Articles of Agreement this crew signed the day prior to sailing from the Mersey…
'… to any ports in the Pacific, Indian or Atlantic Oceans, Chinese or Eastern Seas and Continent of Europe and back to final port of discharge in U.K., not exceeding three years.'
'… to any ports in the Pacific, Indian or Atlantic Oceans, Chinese or Eastern Seas and Continent of Europe and back to final port of discharge in U.K., not exceeding three years.'