d. There are docks of all sorts, and great shipbuilding
establishments standing on ground created out of the floating chaos
of mud. 'Year by year,' as one of its poets has said, 'Belfast is
changing its aspect and overstepping its former boundaries, climbing
the hill-side, skirting the river margin, and even invading the sea's
ancient domain.

'Ambition's mistress of the fertile land,
Shuts out the ocean and usurps the strand.'

Among the 'usurpations' is Queen's Island, a beautiful people's
park, standing in the midst of the Lough. The people of Belfast have
effected all these vast improvements from their own resources,
without a shilling from the lord of the soil, without any help from
Government, except a loan of 100,000 l. from the Board of Works.
Belfast is the 'linen capital' of the empire, as Manchester is the
'cotton capital.' The linen trade was fostered in its infancy there
by Strafford, and encouraged by William III., as a set-off against the
abolition of the woollen trade. The first spinning of flax by steam
power was commenced in 1830, by the Messrs. Mulholland, who employ
2,000 hands, principally females. Mills have sprung up in every
direction, and it is estimated that they give employment to 15,000
persons. To supply the consumption of flax, in addition to the home
produce, about 50,000 tons are imported every year. Linen is the
staple manufacture; but industrial arts of every kind flourish, with
all the usual manifestations of wealth.

We have seen in a former chapter that the people of Londonderry, vexed
that the maiden city has been left so far behind her younger sister,
ascribe the difference to the fact that the Belfast manufacturers were
favoured with long building tenures. We hear it said often that the
Marquis of Donegal gave his tenants perpetuity leases, implying that
he acted very liberally in doing so. If, however, you speak to persons
acquainted with the local history, they will ascribe this advantage
to 'Lord Donegal's necessities.' If you ask an explanation of this
phrase, you will be told that towards the end of last century, and
later, Lord Donegal was obliged to adopt extraordinary methods
for raising money, and that the perpetuity leases in question were
purchased, and at a very high rate too. You will further learn that
the tenants were compelled to take the leases, and pay heavy fines for
them in lump sums, and that if unable to produce the money they were
evicted, and their