steamships——thoseforthePeninsularandOrientalCompanybeingsplendidmodelsofsymmetryandworksofart。Someofthefinewoodenpaddle-steamersbuiltinBristolfortheRoyalMailCompanyweresentroundtotheClydefortheirmachinery。Icontrivedtoboardalltheseshipsfromtimetotime，soastobecomewellacquaintedwiththeirrespectivemeritsandpeculiarities。
Asanillustrationofhowcontrivances，excellentinprinciple，butdefectiveinconstruction，maybediscarded，butagaintakenupundermorefavourablecircumstances，ImaymentionthatIsawaHall’spatentsurface-condensorthrowntoonesidefromoneofthesesteamers，theprincipaldifficultybeinginkeepingittight。Andyet，inthecourseofaveryfewyears，bythesimplestpossiblecontrivance——insertinganindiarubberringroundeachendofthetubeSpencer’spatent——surfacecondensationinmarineenginescameintovogue；andthereisprobablynoocean-goingsteamerafloatwithoutit，furnishedwitheveryvarietyofsuitablepackings。
Aftersometime，theMessrs。Thomsondeterminedtobuildtheirownvessels，andanexperiencednavaldraughtsmanwasengaged，towhomIwas“toldoff“wheneverheneededassistance。Inthecourseoftime，moreandmoreoftheshipworkcameinmyway。
Indeed，Iseemedtoobtainthepreference。Fortunatelyforusboth，mysuperiorobtainedanappointmentofasimilarkindontheTyne，atsuperiorpay，andIwaspromotedtohisplace。TheThomsonshadnowaveryfineshipbuilding-yard，infullworkingorder，withseverallargesteamersonthestocks。Iwasplacedinthedrawing-officeasheaddraughtsman。AtthesametimeI
hadnoriseofwages；butstillwentonenjoyingmytwentyshillingsaweek。Iwas，however，gaininginformationandexperience，andknewthatbetterpaywouldfollowinduecourseoftime。AndwithoutsolicitationIwaseventuallyofferedanengagementforatermofyears，atanincreasedandincreasingsalary，withthreemonths’noticeoneitherside。
Ihadonlyenjoyedtheadvanceforashorttime，whenMr。ThomasToward，ashipbuilderontheTyne，beinginwantofamanager，madeapplicationtotheMessrs。Stephensonforsuchaperson。
Theymentionedmyname，andMr。TowardcameovertotheClydetoseeme。Theresultwas，thatIbecameengaged，anditwasarrangedthatIshouldenteronmyenlargeddutiesontheTyneintheautumnof1853。ItwaswithnosmallreluctancethatIlefttheMessrs。Thomson。Theywerefirst-classpracticalmen，andhadthroughoutshownmeeverykindnessandconsideration。Butamanagershipwasnottobehadeveryday；andbeingthenextsteptothepositionofamaster，Icouldnotneglecttheopportunityforadvancementwhichnowoffereditself。
BeforeleavingGlasgow，however，IfoundthatitwouldbenecessarytohaveanewangleandplatefurnaceprovidedfortheworksontheTyne。Now，thebestmaninGlasgowforbuildingtheseimportantrequisitesforshipbuildingworkwasscarcelyeversober；butbywatchingandcoaxinghim，andbyaliberalsupplyofGlenlivatafterwards，Icontrivedtolaydownonpaper，fromhisdirections，whatheconsideredtobethebestclassoffurnace；andbytheaidofthisIwasafterwardsenabledtoconstructwhatprovedtobethebestfurnaceontheTyne。
Toreturntomyeducationinshipbuilding。Myearlyeffortsinship-draughtingatStephensons’werefurtherdevelopedandmaturedatThomsons’ontheClyde。Modelsanddrawingsweremorecarefullyworkedoutonthe1/4-in。scalethanheretofore。Thesternframeswerelaidoffandputupatoncecorrectly，whichbeforehadbeenfirstshapedbyfull-sizedwoodenmoulds。Ialsocontrivedamodeofquicklyandcorrectlylayingofftheframe-linesonamodel，bylayingitonaplanesurface，andthen，witharectangularblocktraversingit——apencilinasuitableholderbeingreadilyappliedoverthecurvedsurface。
Thismethodisnowingeneraluse。
Evenatthattime，competitionasregardsspeedintheClydesteamerswasverykeen。ForemostamongthecompetitorswasthelateMr。DavidHutchinson，who，thoughdelightedwiththeMountaineer，builtbytheThomsonsin1853，didnothesitatetohaveherlengthenedforwardtomakehersharper，soastosecureherascendencyinspeedduringtheensuingseason。Theresultsweresatisfactory；andhissteamersgrewandgrew，untiltheydevelopedintothecelebratedIonaandCambria，whichwereinlateryearsbuiltforhimbythesamefirm。ImaymentionthattheCunardscrewsteamerJurawasthelastheavyjobwithwhichI
wasconnectedwhileatThomsons’。
IthenproceededtotheTyne，tosuperintendthebuildingofshipsandmarineboilers。TheshipbuildingyardwasatSt。
Peter’s，abouttwoanda-halfmilesbelowNewcastle。Ifoundthework，aspractisedthere，roughandready；butbysteadyattentiontoallthedetails，andbycarefulinspectionwhenpassingthe“piece-work“apracticemuchinvoguethere，butwhichIdiscouraged，Icontrivedtoraisethestandardofexcellence，withoutacorrespondingincreaseofprice。Myobjectwastoraisethequalityoftheworkturnedout；and，aswehadordersfromtheRussianGovernment，fromChina，andtheContinent，aswellasfromshipownersathome，Iobservedthatqualitywasaveryimportantelementinallcommercialsuccess。
Mymaster，Mr。ThomasToward，wasindeclininghealth；and，beingdesirousofspendinghiswintersabroad，Iwasconsequentlyleftinfullchargeoftheworks。Butastheredidnotappeartobeasatisfactoryprospect，underthecircumstances，foranymaterialdevelopmentofthebusiness，atriflingcircumstancearose，whichagainchangedthecourseofmycareer。
AnadvertisementappearedinthepapersforamanagertoconductashipbuildingyardinBelfast。Imadeinquiriesastothesituation，andeventuallyappliedforit。Iwasappointed，andentereduponmydutiesthereatChristmas，1854。TheyardwasamuchlargeronethanthatontheTyne，andwascapableofgreatexpansion。ItwassituatedonwhatwasthenwellknownastheQueen’sIsland；butnow，liketheIsleofDogs，ithasbeenattachedbyreclamation。Theyard，aboutfouracresinextent，washeldbyleasefromtheBelfastHarbourCommissioners。Itwaswellplaced，alongsideafinepatentslip，withclearfrontage，allowingofthelargestshipsbeingfreelylaunched。Indeed，thefirstshipbuiltthere，theMaryStenhouse，hadonlyjustbeencompletedandlaunchedbyMessrs。RobertHicksonandCo。，thentheproprietorsoftheundertaking。TheywerealsotheownersoftheElizaStreetIronWorks，Belfast，whichwerestartedtoworkupoldironmaterials。Butastheworkswerefoundtobeunremunerative，theywereshortlyafterwardsclosed。
OnmyenteringtheshipbuildingyardIfoundthatthefirmhadanorderfortwolargesailingships。Oneofthesewaspartlyinframe；andIatoncetackledwithitandthemen。Mr。Hickson，theactingpartner，notbeingpracticallyacquaintedwiththebusiness，thewholeproceedingconnectedwiththebuildingoftheshipsdevolveduponme。Ihadbeenengagedtosupersedeamanagersummarilydismissed。Althoughhehadnotgivensatisfactiontohisemployers，hewasagreatfavouritewiththemen。Accordingly，myappearanceasmanagerinhissteadwasnotveryagreeabletotheemployed。OninquiryIfoundthattherateofwagespaidwasabovetheusualvalue，whilstthequantityaswellasqualityoftheworkdonewerebelowthestandard。I
proceededtorectifythesedefects，bypayingtheordinaryrateofwages，andthenbyraisingthequalityoftheworkdone。I
wasmetbytheusualmethod——astrike。Thementurnedout。Theywereabettedbytheformermanager；andtheleadinghandshungaboutthetownunemployed，inthehopeofmythrowingupthepostindisgust。
But，nothingdaunted，IwentrepeatedlyovertotheClydeforthepurposeofenlistingfreshhands。WhenIbroughtthemover，however，inbatches，therewasthegreatestdifficultyininducingthemtowork。Theywereintimidated，orenticed，orfeasted，andsenthomeagain。Thelatemanagerhadalsotakenayardontheothersideoftheriver，andactuallycommencedtobuildaship，employingsomeofhisoldcomrades；butbeyondlayingthekeel，littlemorewaseverdone。Afewmonthsaftermyarrival，myfirmhadtoarrangewithitscreditors，whilstI，pendingthesettlement，hadmyselftoguaranteethewagestoafewoftheleadinghands，whomIhadonlyjustsucceededingatheringtogether。Inthisdilemma，anoldfriend，aforemanontheClyde，cameovertoBelfasttoseeme。Afterhearingmystory，andconsideringthedifficultiesIhadtoencounter，headvisedmeatonceto“throwupthejob！“Myreplywas，that“havingmountedarestivehorse，Iwouldridehimintothestable。“
Notwithstandingtheadviceofmyfriend，Iheldon。Thecomparativelyfewmenintheworks，aswellasthoseout，nodoubtobservedmydetermination。Theobstacleswerenodoubtgreat；thefinancialdifficultieswereextreme；andyettherewasaprospectofprofitfromtheworkinhand，providedonlythemencouldbeinducedtosettlesteadilydowntotheirordinaryemployment。Igraduallygatheredtogetheranumberofsteadyworkmen，andappointedsuitableforemen。IobtainedaconsiderableaccessionofstrengthfromNewcastle。OnthedeathofMr。Toward，hisheadforeman，Mr。WilliamHanston，withanumberoftheleadinghands，joinedme。Fromthattimeforwardtheworkswentonapace；andwefinishedtheshipsinhandtotheperfectsatisfactionoftheowners。
Orderswereobtainedforseverallargesailingshipsaswellasscrewvessels。Weliftedandrepairedwreckedships，tothematerialadvantageofMr。Hickson，thenthesolerepresentativeofthefirm。Afterthreeyearsthusengaged，Iresolvedtostartsomewhereasashipbuilderonmyownaccount。ImadeinquiriesatGarston，Birkenhead，andotherplaces。WhenMr。Hicksonheardofmyintentions，hesaidhehadnowishtocarryontheconcernafterIleft，andmadeasatisfactoryproposalforthesaletomeofhisholdingoftheQueen’sIslandYard。SoIagreedtotheproposedarrangement。Thetransferandthepurchaseweresooncompleted，throughthekindassistanceofmyoldandesteemedfriendMr。G。G。Schwabe，ofLiverpool；whosenephew，Mr。G。W。
Wolff，hadbeenwithmeforafewmonthsasmyprivateassistant。
Itwasnecessary，however，beforecommencingformyself，thatI
shouldassistMr。Hicksoninfinishingofftheremainingvesselsinhand，aswellastolookoutforordersonmyownaccount。
Fortunately，Ihadnotlongtowait；forithadsohappenedthatmyintroductiontotheMessrs。ThomsonofGlasgowhadbeenmadethroughtheinstrumentalityofmygoodfriendMr。Schwabe，whoinducedMr。JamesBibbyofJ。Bibby，Sons&Co。，Liverpooltofurnishmewiththenecessaryletter。WhileinGlasgow，IhadendeavouredtoassisttheMessrs。Bibbyinthepurchaseofasteamer；soIwasnowintrustedbythemwiththebuildingofthreescrewsteamerstheVenetian，Sicilian，andSyrian，each270
feetlong，by34feetbeam，and22feet9incheshold；andcontractedwithMacnabandCo。，Greenock，tosupplytherequisitesteam-engines。
Thiswasconsideredalargeorderinthosedays。Itrequiredmanyadditionstothemachinery，plant，andtoolsoftheyard。I
invitedMr。Wolff，thenawayintheMediterraneanasengineerofasteamer，toreturnandtakechargeofthedrawingoffice。Mr。
WolffhadservedhisapprenticeshipwithMessrs。JosephWhitworthandCo。，ofManchester，andwasamostableman，thoroughlycompetentforthework。Everythingwentonprosperously；and，inthemidstofallmyengagements，IfoundtimetowooandwinthehandofMissRosaWann，ofVermont，Belfast，towhomIwasmarriedonthe26thofJanuary，1860，andbyhergreatenergy，soundnessofjudgment，andclevernessinorganization，Iwassoonrelievedfromallsourcesofcareandanxiety，exceptingthoseconnectedwithbusiness。
Thesteamerswerecompletedinthecourseofthefollowingyear，doubtlesstothesatisfactionoftheowners，fortheirdeliverywasimmediatelyfollowedbyanorderfortwolargervessels。AsIrequiredfrequentlytogofromhome，andastheworksmustbecarefullyattendedtoduringmyabsence，onthe1stofJanuary，1862，ItookMr。Wolffinasapartner；andthefirmhassincecontinuedunderthenameofHarlandandWolff。ImayhereaddthatIhavethroughoutreceivedthemostableadviceandassistancefrommyexcellentfriendandpartner，andthatwehavetogetherbeenenabledtofoundanentirelynewbranchofindustryinBelfast。
ItisnecessaryformeheretoreferbackalittletoascrewsteamerwhichwasbuiltontheClydeforBibbyandCo。byMr。
JohnRead，andenginedbyJ。andG。ThomsonwhileIwaswiththem。ThatsteamerwascalledtheTiber。Shewaslookeduponasofanextremelength，being235feet，inproportiontoherbeam，whichwas29feet。Seriousmisgivingswerethrownoutastowhethershewouldeverstandaheavysea。Vesselsofsuchproportionswerethoughttobecrank，andevendangerous。
Nevertheless，sheseemedtomymindagreatsuccess。Fromthattime，Ibegantothinkandworkouttheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofsuchavessel，fromanowner’saswellasfromabuilder’spointofview。Theresultwasgreatlyinfavouroftheowner，thoughentailingdifficultiesinconstructionasregardsthebuilder。Thesedifficulties，however。Ithoughtmighteasilybeovercome。
InthefirststeamersorderedofmebytheMessrs。Bibby，I
thoughtitmoreprudenttosimplybuildtothedimensionsfurnished，althoughtheywereevenlongerthanusual。But，priortotheprecisedimensionsbeingfixedforthesecondorder，I