, facilitates the attainment of these objects. In 1882 and
1883, we built and launched four of these steel and iron sailing
ships--the Waiter H. Wilson, the W. J. Pirrie, the Fingal, and the Lord
Wolseley--each of nearly 3000 tons register, with four masts,--the
owners being Mr. Lawther, of Belfast; Mr. Martin, of Dublin; and the
Irish Shipowners Company.

Besides these and other sailing ships, we have built for Messrs. Ismay,
Imrie and Co. the Garfield, of 2347 registered tonnage; for Messrs.
Thomas Dixon and Son, the Lord Downshire (2322); and for Messrs.
Bullock's Bay Line, the Bay of Panama (2365).

In 1880 we took in another piece of the land reclaimed by the Belfast
Harbour Trust; and there, in close proximity to the ship-yard, we
manufacture all the machinery required for the service of the steamers
constructed by our firm. In this way we are able to do everything
"within ourselves"; and the whole land now occupied by the works
comprises about forty acres, with ten building slips suitable for the
largest vessels.

It remains for me to mention a Belfast firm, which has done so much for
the town. I mean the Messrs. J.P. Corry and Co., who have always been
amongst our best friends. We built for them their first iron sailing
vessel, the Jane Porter, in 1860, and since then they have never failed
us. They successfully established their "Star" line of sailing
clippers from London to Calcutta, all of which were built here. They
subsequently gave us orders for yet larger vessels, in the Star of
France and the Star of Italy. In all, we have built for that firm
eleven of their well-known "Star" ships.

We have built five ships for the Asiatic Steam Navigation Company,
Limited, each of from 1650 to 2059 tons gross; and we are now building
for them two ships, each of about 3000 tons gross. In 1883 we launched
thirteen iron and steel vessels, of a registered tonnage of over 30,000
tons. Out of eleven ships now building, seven are of steel.

Such is a brief and summary account of the means by which we have been
enabled to establish a new branch of industry in Belfast. It has been
accomplished simply by energy and hard work. We have been
well-supported by the skilled labour of our artisans; we have been
backed by the capital and the enterprise of England; and we believe
that if all true patriots would go and do likewise, there would be
nothing to fear for the prosperity and success of Ireland.

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