“GodsaveIreland！“Byallmeans。ButIrelandcannotbesavedwithoutthehelpofthepeoplewholiveinit。Godendowedmen，thereaselsewhere，withreason，will，andphysicalpower；anditisbypatientindustryonlythattheycanopenupapathwaytotheenduringprosperityofthecountry。ThereisnoEdeninnature。Theearthmighthavecontinuedarudeuncultivatedwilderness，butforhumanenergy，power，andindustry。Theseenablemantosubduethewilderness，anddevelopthepotencyoflabour。“Possuntquiacreduntposse。“Theymustconquerwhowill。
Belfastisacomparativelymoderntown。Ithasnoancienthistory。Aboutthebeginningofthesixteenthcenturyitwaslittlebetterthanafishingvillage。Therewasacastle，andafordtoitacrosstheLagan。Achapelwasbuiltattheford，atwhichhurriedprayerswereofferedupforthosewhowereabouttocrossthecurrentsofLaganWater。In1575，SirHenrySydneywritestotheLordsoftheCouncil:“IwasofferedskirmishbyMacNeillBryanErtaughatmypassageoverthewateratBelfast，whichIcausedtobeanswered，andpassedoverwithoutlosseofmanorhorse；yetbyreasonoftheextraordinaireRetorneourhorsesswammeandtheFootmeninthepassagewadedverydeep。“
Thecountryroundaboutwasforestland。ItwassothicklywoodedthatitwasacommonsayingthatonemightwalktoLurgan“onthetopsofthetrees。“
In1612，Belfastconsistedofabout120houses，builtofmudandcoveredwiththatch。Thewholevalueofthelandonwhichthetownisbuilt，issaidtohavebeenworthonly5L。infeesimple。[19]“Ulster，“saidSirJohnDavies，“isaverydesertorwilderness；theinhabitantsthereofhavingforthemostpartnocertainhabitationinanytownsorvillages。“In1659，Belfastcontainedonly600inhabitants:Carrickferguswasmoreimportant，andhad1312inhabitants。Butabout1660，theLongBridgeovertheLaganwasbuilt，andprosperitybegantodawnuponthelittletown。Itwassituatedattheheadofanavigablelough，andformedanoutletforthemanufacturingproductsoftheinlandcountry。Shipsofanyburden，however，couldnotcomenearthetown。Thecargoes，downeventoarecentdate，hadtobedischargedintolightersatGarmoyle。StreamsofwatermadetheirwaytotheLoughthroughthemudbanks；andarivuletranthroughwhatisnowknownastheHighStreet。
Thepopulationgraduallyincreased。In1788Belfasthad12，000
inhabitants。ButitwasnotuntilaftertheUnionwithGreatBritainthatthetownmadesogreatastride。Atthebeginningofthepresentcenturyithadabout20，000inhabitants。Ateverysuccessivecensus，theprogressmadewasextraordinary，untilnowthepopulationofBelfastamountstoover225，000。ThereisscarcelyaninstanceofsolargearateofincreaseintheBritishIslands，saveintheexceptionalcaseofMiddlesborough，whichwastheresultoftheopeningoutoftheStocktonandDarlingtonRailway，andthediscoveryofironstoneinthehillsofClevelandinYorkshire。DundeeandBarrowaresupposedtopresentthenextmostrapidincreasesofpopulation。
Theincreaseofshippinghasalsobeenequallygreat。ShipsfromotherportsfrequentedtheLoughforpurposesoftrade；butincourseoftimetheBelfastmerchantssuppliedthemselveswithshipsoftheirown。In1791oneWilliamRitchie，asturdyNorthBriton，broughtwithhimfromGlasgowtenmenandaquantityofshipbuildingmaterials。Hegraduallyincreasedthenumberofhisworkmen，andproceededtobuildafewsloops。Hereclaimedsomelandfromthesea，andmadeashipyardandgravingdockonwhatwasknownasCorporationGround。InNovember1800thenewgravingdock，nearthebridge，wasopenedforthereceptionofvessels。Itwascapableofreceivingthreevesselsof200tonseach！In1807avesselof400tonsburthenwaslaunchedfromMr。
Ritchie’sshipyard，whenagreatcrowdofpeopleassembledtowitnessthelaunchingof“solargeaship“——farmorethannowassembletoseea3000-tonneroftheWhiteStarLineleavetheslipsandenterthewater！
Theshipbuildingtradehasbeenoneofthemostrapidlydeveloped，especiallyoflateyears。In1805thenumberofvesselsfrequentingtheportwas840；whereasin1883thenumberhadbeenincreasedto7508，withaboutamillionanda-halfoftonnage；whilethegrossvalueoftheexportsfromBelfastexceededtwentymillionssterlingannually。In1819thefirststeamboatof100tonswasusedtotugthevesselsupthewindingsoftheLough，whichitdidattherateofthreemilesanhour，totheastonishmentofeverybody。Sevenyearslater，thesteamboatRobRoywasputonbetweenGlasgowandBelfast。ButthesevesselshadbeenbuiltinScotland。Itwasnotuntil1826thatthefirststeamboat，thechieftain，wasbuiltinBelfast，bythesameWilliamRitchie。Then，in1838，thefirstironboatwasbuiltintheLaganfoundry，byMessrs。CoatesandYoung，thoughitwasbutamerecockle-shellcomparedwiththemightyoceansteamerswhicharenowregularlylaunchedfromQueen’sIsland。
Intheyear1883thelargestshipbuildingfirminthetownlaunchedthirteenvessels，ofover30，000tonsgross，whiletwootherfirmslaunchedtwelveships，ofabout10，000tonsgross。
IdonotproposetoenterintodetailsrespectingtheprogressofthetradesofBelfast。Themostimportantisthespinningoffinelinenyarn，whichisforthemostpartconcentratedinthattown，over25，000，000ofpoundsweightbeingexportedannually。
Towardstheendoftheseventeenthcenturythelinenmanufacturehadmadebutlittleprogress。In1680allIrelanddidnotexportmorethan6000L。worthannually。DroghedawasthenofgreaterimportancethanBelfast。ButwiththesettlementofthepersecutedHugnenotsinUlster，andespeciallythroughtheenergeticlaboursofCrommelin，Goyer，andothers，thegrowthofflaxwassedulouslycultivated，anditsmanufactureintolinenofallsortsbecameanimportantbranchofIrishindustry。Inthecourseofaboutfiftyyearstheexportsoflinenfabricsincreasedtothevalueofover600，000L。perannum。
Itwasstill，however，ahandicraftmanufacture，anddoneforthemostpartathome。Flaxwasspunandyarnwaswovenbyhand。
Eventuallymachinerywasemployed，andtheturn-outbecameproportionatelylargeandvaluable。Itwouldnotbepossibleforhandlabourtosupplytheamountoflinennowturnedoutbytheaidofmachinery。ItwouldrequirethreetimestheentirepopulationofIrelandtospinandweave，bytheoldspinning-wheelandhand-loommethods，theamountoflinenclothnowannuallymanufacturedbytheoperativesofBelfastalone。
Therearenowfortylargespinning-millsinBelfastandtheneighbourhood，whichfurnishemploymenttoaverylargenumberofworkingpeople。[20]
InthecourseofmyvisittoBelfast，IinspectedtheworksoftheYorkStreetflax-spinningmills，foundedin1830bytheMessrs。Mulholland，whichnowgiveemployment，directlyorindirectly，tomanythousandpersons。Ivisitedalso，withmyyoungItalianfriend，theadmirableprintingestablishmentofMarcusWardandCo。，theworksoftheBelfastRope-workCompany，andtheshipbuildingworksofHarlandandWolff。Therewepassedthroughtheroaroftheironforge，theclangoftheNasmythhammer，andtheintermittentglareofthefurnaces——alltellingofthenovelappliancesofmodernshipbuilding，andthepowerofthemodernsteam-engine。Iprefertogiveabriefaccountofthislatterundertaking，asitexhibitsoneofthenewestandmostimportantindustriesofBelfast。Italsoshows，onthepartofitsproprietors，abraveencounterwithdifficulties，andsetsbeforethefriendsofIrelandthetruestandsurestmethodofnotonlygivingemploymenttoitspeople，butofbuildinguponthesurestfoundationstheprosperityofthecountry。
ThefirstoccasiononwhichIvisitedBelfast——thereaderwillexcusetheintroductionofmyself——wasin1840；aboutforty-fouryearsago。IwentthitherontheinvitationofthelateWm。
SharmanCrawford，Esq。，M。P。，thefirstprominentadvocateoftenant-right，toattendapublicmeetingoftheUlsterAssociation，andtospendafewdayswithhimathisresidenceatCrawfordsburn，nearBangor。Belfastwasthenatownofcomparativelylittleimportance，thoughithadalreadymadeafairstartincommerceandindustry。AsoursteamerapproachedtheheadoftheLough，alargenumberoflabourerswereobserved——withbarrows，picks，andspades——scoopingoutandwheelinguptheslobandmudoftheestuary，forthepurposeofformingwhatisnowknownasQueen’sIsland，ontheeasternsideoftheriverLagan。TheworkwasconductedbyWilliamDargan，thefamousIrishcontractor；anditsobjectwastomakeastraightartificialoutlet——theVictoriaChannel——bymeansofwhichvesselsdrawingtwenty-threefeetofwatermightreachtheportofBelfast。Beforethen，thecourseoftheLaganwastortuousanddifficultofnavigation；butbythestraightcut，whichwascompletedinl846，andafterwardsextendedfurtherseawards，shipsoflargeburdenwereenabledtoreachthequays，whichextendforaboutamilebelowQueen’sBridge，onbothsidesoftheriver。
ItwasasayingofhonestWilliamDargan，that“whenathingisputanywayrightatall，ittakesavastdealofmismanagementtomakeitgowrong。“Hehadanothercurioussayingabout“thecalfeatingthecow’sbelly，“which，hesaid，wasnotright，“atall，atall。“Belfastillustratedhisproverbialremarks。ThatthecuttingoftheVictoriaChannelwasdoingthe“rightthing“forBelfast，wasclear，fromtheconstantlyincreasingtrafficoftheport。Incourseoftime，severalextensivedocksandtidalbasinswereadded；whileprovisionwasmade，inlayingoutthereclaimedlandattheentranceoftheestuary，fortheirfutureextensionandenlargement。ThetownofBelfastwasbythesemeansgraduallyplacedinimmediateconnectionbyseawiththeprincipalwesternportsofEnglandandScotland，——steamshipsoflargeburdennowleavingitdailyforLiverpool，Glasgow，Fleetwood，Barrow，andArdrossan。TheshipsenteringtheportofBelfastin1883were7508，of1，526，535tonnage；theyhadbeenmorethandoubledinfifteenyears。Thetownhasrisenfromnothing，toexhibitaCustomsrevenue，in1883，of608，781L。，infinitelygreaterthanthatofLeith，theportofEdinburgh，orofHull，thechiefportofYorkshire。Thepopulationhasalsolargelyincreased。WhenIvisitedBelfastin1840，thetowncontained75，000inhabitants。Theyarenowover225，006，ormorethantrebled，——Belfastbeingthetenthtown，inpointofpopulation，intheUnitedKingdom。
Thespiritandenterpriseofthepeopleareillustratedbythevarietyoftheiroccupations。Theydonotconfinethemselvestoonebranchofbusiness；buttheirenergiesoverflowintonearlyeverydepartmentofindustry。Theirlinenmanufactureisofworld-widefame；butmuchlessknownaretheirmorerecententerprises。Theproductionofaeratedwaters，forinstance，issomethingextraordinary。In1882themanufacturersshippedoff53，163packages，and24，263cwts。ofaeratedwaterstoEngland，Scotland，Australia，NewZealand，andothercountries。WhileIrelandproducesnowroughtiron，thoughitcontainsplentyofiron-stone，——andBelfasthastoimportalltheironwhichitconsumes，——yetoneengineeringfirmalone，thatofCombe，Barbour，andCombe，employs1500highly-paidmechanics，andshipsoffitsironmachinerytoallpartsoftheworld。TheprintingestablishmentofMarcusWardandCo。employsover1000highlyskilledandingeniouspersons，andextendstheinfluenceoflearningandliteratureintoallcivilisedcountries。Wemightaddthevariousmanufacturesofroofingfeltofwhichtherearefive，ofropes，ofstoves，ofstablefittings，ofnails，ofstarch，ofmachinery；allofwhichhaveearnedaworld-widereputation。
Weprefer，however，togiveanaccountofthelastnewindustryofBelfast——thatofshippingandshipbuilding。Although，aswehavesaid，BelfastimportsfromScotlandandEnglandallitsironandallitscoal，[21]itnevertheless，bytheskillandstrengthofitsmen，sendsoutsomeofthefinestandlargeststeamshipswhichnavigatetheAtlanticandPacific。Itallcomesfromthepowerofindividuality，andfurnishesasplendidexampleforDublin，Cork，Waterford，andLimerick，eachofwhichisprovidedbynaturewithmagnificentharbours，withfewerofthosedifficultiesofaccesswhichBelfasthastriumphedover；andeachofwhichmightbethecentreofsomegreatindustrialenterprise，providedonlytherewerepatrioticmenwillingtoembarktheircapital，perfectprotectionforthepropertyinvested，andmenwillingtoworkratherthantostrike。
Itwasnotuntiltheyear1853thattheQueen’sIsland——rakedoutofthemudoftheslob-land——wasfirstusedforshipbuildingpurposes。RobertHicksonandCo。thencommencedoperationsbylayingdowntheMaryStenhouse，awoodensailing-shipof1289
tonsregister；andthevesselwaslaunchedinthefollowingyear。
Theoperationsofthefirmwerecontinueduntiltheyear1859，whentheshipbuildingestablishmentsonQueen’sIslandwereacquiredbyMr。E。J。HarlandafterwardsHarlandandWolff，sincewhichtimethedevelopmentofthisgreatbranchofindustryinBelfasthasbeenrapidandcomplete。
Fromthehistoryofthisfirm，itwillbefoundthatenergyisthemostprofitableofallmerchandise；andthatthefruitofactiveworkisthesweetestofallfruits。HarlandandWolffarethetrueWattandBoultonofBelfast。Atthebeginningoftheirgreatenterprise，theirworksoccupiedaboutfouracresofland；
theynowoccupyoverthirty-sixacres。Thefirmhasimportednotlessthantwohundredthousandtonsofiron；whichhavebeenconvertedbyskillandlabourinto168shipsof253，000totaltonnage。Theseships，iflaidclosetogether，wouldmeasurenearlyeightmilesinlength。
Theadvantagetothewage-earningclasscanonlybeshortlystated。Notlessthan34percent。ispaidinlabouronthecostoftheshipsturnedout。Thenumberofpersonsemployedintheworksis3920；andtheweeklywagespaidtothemis4000L。，orover200，000L。annually。Sincethecommencementoftheundertaking，abouttwomillionssterlinghavebeenpaidinwages。
Allthisgoestowardsthesupportofthevariousindustriesoftheplace。ThattheworkingclassesofBelfastarethriftyandfrugalmaybeinferredfromthefactthatattheendof1882theyhelddepositsintheSavingsBanktotheamountof230，289L。，besides158，064L。inthePostOfficeSavingsBanks。[22]Nearlyallthebetterclassworkingpeopleofthetownliveinseparatedwellings，eitherrentedortheirownproperty。TherearetenBuildingSocietiesinBelfast，inwhichindustriouspeoplemaystoretheirearnings，andincourseoftimeeitherbuyorbuildtheirownhouses。
Theexampleofenergetic，activemenalwaysspreads。Belfastcontainstwoothershipbuildingyards，boththeoutcomeofHarlandandWolff’senterprise；thoseofMessrs。MacilwaineandLewis，employingaboutfourhundredmen，andofMessrs。WorkmanandClarke，employingaboutathousand。TheheadsofboththesefirmsweretrainedintheparentshipbuildingworksofBelfast。
Thereisdofeelingofrivalrybetweenthefirms，butallworktogetherforthegoodofthetown。