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men of invention and industry-第64章

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vessels had been built in Scotland。  It was not until 1826 that

the first steamboat; the chieftain; was built in Belfast; by the

same William Ritchie。  Then; in 1838; the first iron boat was

built in the Lagan foundry; by Messrs。 Coates and Young; though

it was but a mere cockle…shell compared with the mighty ocean

steamers which are now regularly launched from Queen's Island。 

In the year 1883 the largest shipbuilding firm in the town

launched thirteen vessels; of over 30;000 tons gross; while two

other firms launched twelve ships; of about 10;000 tons gross。



I do not propose to enter into details respecting the progress of

the trades of Belfast。  The most important is the spinning of

fine linen yarn; which is for the most part concentrated in that

town; over 25;000;000 of pounds weight being exported annually。 

Towards the end of the seventeenth century the linen manufacture

had made but little progress。  In 1680 all Ireland did not export

more than 6000L。 worth annually。  Drogheda was then of greater

importance than Belfast。  But with the settlement of the

persecuted Hugnenots in Ulster; and especially through the

energetic labours of Crommelin; Goyer; and others; the growth of

flax was sedulously cultivated; and its manufacture into linen of

all sorts became an important branch of Irish industry。  In the

course of about fifty years the exports of linen fabrics

increased to the value of over 600;000L。 per annum。



It was still; however; a handicraft manufacture; and done for the

most part at home。  Flax was spun and yarn was woven by hand。 

Eventually machinery was employed; and the turn…out became

proportionately large and valuable。  It would not be possible for

hand labour to supply the amount of linen now turned out by the

aid of machinery。  It would require three times the entire

population of Ireland to spin and weave; by the old

spinning…wheel and hand…loom methods; the amount of linen cloth

now annually manufactured by the operatives of Belfast alone。 

There are now forty large spinning…mills in Belfast and the

neighbourhood; which furnish employment to a very large number of

working people。'20'



In the course of my visit to Belfast; I inspected the works of

the York Street flax…spinning mills; founded in 1830 by the

Messrs。 Mulholland; which now give employment; directly or

indirectly; to many thousand persons。  I visited also; with my

young Italian friend; the admirable printing establishment of

Marcus Ward and Co。; the works of the Belfast Rope…work Company;

and the shipbuilding works of Harland and Wolff。  There we passed

through the roar of the iron forge; the clang of the Nasmyth

hammer; and the intermittent glare of the furnacesall telling

of the novel appliances of modern shipbuilding; and the power of

the modern steam…engine。  I prefer to give a brief account of

this latter undertaking; as it exhibits one of the newest and

most important industries of Belfast。  It also shows; on the part

of its proprietors; a brave encounter with difficulties; and sets

before the friends of Ireland the truest and surest method of not

only giving employment to its people; but of building up on the

surest foundations the prosperity of the country。



The first occasion on which I visited Belfastthe reader will

excuse the introduction of myselfwas in 1840; about forty…four

years ago。  I went thither on the invitation of the late Wm。 

Sharman Crawford; Esq。; M。P。; the first prominent advocate of

tenant…right; to attend a public meeting of the Ulster

Association; and to spend a few days with him at his residence at

Crawfordsburn; near Bangor。  Belfast was then a town of

comparatively little importance; though it had already made a

fair start in commerce and industry。  As our steamer approached

the head of the Lough; a large number of labourers were

observedwith barrows; picks; and spadesscooping out and

wheeling up the slob and mud of the estuary; for the purpose of

forming what is now known as Queen's Island; on the eastern side

of the river Lagan。  The work was conducted by William Dargan;

the famous Irish contractor; and its object was to make a

straight artificial outletthe Victoria Channelby means of

which vessels drawing twenty…three feet of water might reach the

port of Belfast。  Before then; the course of the Lagan was

tortuous and difficult of navigation; but by the straight cut;

which was completed in l846; and afterwards extended further

seawards; ships of large burden were enabled to reach the quays;

which extend for about a mile below Queen's Bridge; on both sides

of the river。



It was a saying of honest William Dargan; that 〃when a thing is

put anyway right at all; it takes a vast deal of mismanagement to

make it go wrong。〃  He had another curious saying about 〃the calf

eating the cow's belly;〃 which; he said; was not right; 〃at all;

at all。〃  Belfast illustrated his proverbial remarks。  That the

cutting of the Victoria Channel was doing the 〃right thing〃 for

Belfast; was clear; from the constantly increasing traffic of the

port。  In course of time; several extensive docks and tidal

basins were added; while provision was made; in laying out the

reclaimed land at the entrance of the estuary; for their future

extension and enlargement。  The town of Belfast was by these

means gradually placed in immediate connection by sea with the

principal western ports of England and Scotland;steamships of

large burden now leaving it daily for Liverpool; Glasgow;

Fleetwood; Barrow; and Ardrossan。  The ships entering the port of

Belfast in 1883 were 7508; of 1;526;535 tonnage; they had been

more than doubled in fifteen years。  The town has risen from

nothing; to exhibit a Customs revenue; in 1883; of 608;781L。;

infinitely greater than that of Leith; the port of Edinburgh; or

of Hull; the chief port of Yorkshire。  The population has also

largely increased。  When I visited Belfast in 1840; the town

contained 75;000 inhabitants。  They are now over 225;006; or more

than trebled;Belfast being the tenth town; in point of

population; in the United Kingdom。



The spirit and enterprise of the people are illustrated by the

variety of their occupations。  They do not confine themselves to

one branch of business; but their energies overflow into nearly

every department of industry。  Their linen manufacture is of

world…wide fame; but much less known are their more recent

enterprises。  The production of aerated waters; for instance; is

something extraordinary。  In 1882 the manufacturers shipped off

53;163 packages; and 24;263 cwts。 of aerated waters to England;

Scotland; Australia; New Zealand; and other countries。   While

Ireland produces no wrought iron; though it contains plenty of

iron…stone;and Belfast has to import all the iron which it

consumes;yet one engineering firm alone; that of Combe;

Barbour; and Combe; employs 1500 highly…paid mechanics; and ships

off its iron machinery to all parts of the world。  The printing

establishment of Marcus Ward and Co。 employs over 1000 highly

skilled and ingenious persons; and extends the influence of

learning and literature into all civilised countries。  We might

add the various manufactures of roofing felt (of which there are

five); of ropes; of stoves; of stable fittings; of nails; of

starch; of machinery; all of which have earned a world…wide

reputation。



We prefer; however; to give an account of the last new industry

of Belfastthat of shipping and shipbuilding。  Although; as we

have said; Belfast imports from Scotland and England all its iron

and all its coal;'21' it nevertheless; by the skill and strength

of its men; sends out some of the finest and largest steamships

which navigate the Atlantic and Pacific。  It all comes from the

power of individuality; and furnishes a splendid example for

Dublin; Cork; Waterford; and Limerick; each of which is provided

by nature with magnificent harbours; with fewer of those

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