other
men seemed tinctured with an idle gloom; but here with a pleasing
alertness. Their appearance was strongly marked with the modes of
civil life."

Some people do not like manufacturing towns: they prefer old castles
and ruins. They will find plenty of these in other parts of Ireland.
But to found industries that give employment to large numbers of
persons, and enable them to maintain themselves and families upon the
fruits of their labour--instead of living upon poor-rates levied from
the labours of others, or who are forced, by want of employment, to
banish themselves from their own country, to emigrate and settle among
strangers, where they know not what may become of them--is a most
honourable and important source of influence, and worthy of every
encouragement.

Look at the wonderfully rapid rise of Belfast, originating in the
enterprise of individuals, and developed by the earnest and anxious
industry of the inhabitants of Ulster!

"God save Ireland!" By all means. But Ireland cannot be saved without
the help of the people who live in it. God endowed men, there as
elsewhere, with reason, will, and physical power; and it is by patient
industry only that they can open up a pathway to the enduring
prosperity of the country. There is no Eden in nature. The earth
might have continued a rude uncultivated wilderness, but for human
energy, power, and industry. These enable man to subdue the
wilderness, and develop the potency of labour. "Possunt quia credunt
posse." They must conquer who will.

Belfast is a comparatively modern town. It has no ancient history.
About the beginning of the sixteenth century it was little better than
a fishing village. There was a castle, and a ford to it across the
Lagan. A chapel was built at the ford, at which hurried prayers were
offered up for those who were about to cross the currents of Lagan
Water. In 1575, Sir Henry Sydney writes to the Lords of the Council:
"I was offered skirmish by MacNeill Bryan Ertaugh at my passage over
the water at Belfast, which I caused to be answered, and passed over
without losse of man or horse; yet by reason of the extraordinaire
Retorne our horses swamme and the Footmen in the passage waded very
deep." The country round about was forest land. It was so thickly
wooded that it was a common saying that one might walk to Lurgan "on
the tops of the trees."

In 1612, Belfast consisted of about 120 houses, built of mud and
covered w