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number of depositors in the Post Office Savings banks in the
Parliamentary borough of Belfast is 10；827 and the amount of
their deposits； including the interest standing to their credit；
on the 31st December； 1882； was 158；064L。 0s。 1d。
An important item in the savings of Belfast； not included in the
above returns； consists in the amounts of deposits made with the
various Limited Companies； as well as with the thriving Building
Societies in the town and neighbourhood。
CHAPTER XI。
SHIPBUILDING IN BELFASTITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS。
BY SIR E。 J。 HARLAND； ENGINEER AND SHIPBUILDER。
〃The useful arts are but reproductions or new combinations by the
art of man； of the same natural benefactors。 He no longer waits
for favouring gales； but by means of steam he realises the fable
of AEolus's bag； and carries the two…and…thirty winds in the
boiler of his boat。〃Emerson。
〃The most exquisite and the most expensive machinery is brought
into play where operations on the most common materials are to be
performed； because these are executed on the widest scale。 This
is the meaning of the vast and astonishing prevalence of machine
work in this country： that the machine； with its million fingers；
works for millions of purchasers； while in remote countries；
where magnificence and savagery stand side by side； tens of
thousands work for one。 There Art labours for the rich alone；
here she works for the poor no less。 There the multitude produce
only to give splendour and grace to the despot or the warrior；
whose slaves they are； and whom they enrich； here the man who is
powerful in the weapons of peace； capital； and machinery； uses
them to give comfort and enjoyment to the public； whose servant
he is； and thus becomes rich while he enriches others with his
goods。〃William Whewell； D。D。
I was born at Scarborough in May； 1831； the sixth of a family of
eight。 My father was a native of Rosedale； half…way between
Whitby and Pickering： his nurse was the sister of Captain
Scoresby； celebrated as an Arctic explorer。 Arrived at manhood；
he studied medicine； graduated at Edinburgh； and practised in
Scarborough until nearly his death in 1866。 He was thrice Mayor
and a Justice of the Peace for the borough。 Dr。 Harland was a
man of much force of character； and displayed great originality
in the treatment of disease。 Besides exercising skill in his
profession； he had a great love for mechanical pursuits。 He
spent his leisure time in inventions of many sorts； and； in
conjunction with the late Sir George Cayley of Brompton； he kept
an excellent mechanic constantly at work。
In 1827 he invented and patented a steam…carriage for running on
common roads。 Before the adoption of railways； the old stage
coaches were found slow and insufficient for the traffic。 A
working model of the steam…coach was perfected； embracing a
multitubular boiler for quickly raising high…pressure steam； with
a revolving surface condenser for reducing the steam to water
again； by means of its exposure to the cold draught of the
atmosphere through the interstices of extremely thin laminations
of copper plates。 The entire machinery； placed under the bottom
of the carriage； was borne on springs； the whole being of an
elegant form。 This model steam…carriage ascended with perfect
ease the steepest roads。 Its success was so complete that Dr。
Harland designed a full…sized carriage； but the demands upon his
professional skill were so great that he was prevented going
further than constructing the pair of engines； the wheels； and a
part of the boiler；all of which remnants I still preserve； as
valuable links in the progress of steam locomotion。
Other branches of practical sciencesuch as electricity；
magnetism； and chemical cultivation of the soilreceived a share
of his attention。 He predicted that three or four powerful
electric lamps would yet light a whole city。 He was also
convinced of the feasibility of an electric cable to New York；
and calculated the probable cost。 As an example to the
neighbourhood； he successfully cultivated a tract of moorland；
and overcame difficulties which before then were thought
insurmountable。
When passing through Newcastle； while still a young man； on one
of his journeys to the University at Edinburgh； and being
desirous of witnessing the operations in a coal…mine； a friend
recommended him to visit Killingworth pit； where he would find
one George Stephenson； a most intelligent workman； in charge。 My
father was introduced to Mr。 Stephenson accordingly； and after
rambling over the underground workings； and observing the pumping
and winding engines in full operation； a friendship was made；
which afterwards proved of the greatest service to myself； by
facilitating my being placed as a pupil at the great engineering
works of Messrs。 Robert Stephenson and Co。； at Newcastle。
My mother was the daughter of Gawan Pierson； a landed proprietor
of Goathland； near Rosedale。 She； too； was surprisingly
mechanical in her tastes； and assisted my father in preparing
many of his plans； besides attaining considerable proficiency in
drawing； painting； and modelling in wax。 Toys in those days were
poor； as well as very expensive to purchase。 But the nursery
soon became a little workshop under her directions； and the boys
were usually engaged； one in making a cart； another in carving
out a horse； and a third in cutting out a boat； while the girls
were making harness； or sewing sails； or cutting out and making
perfect dresses for their dollswhose houses were completely
furnished with everything； from the kitchen to the attic； all
made at home。
It was in a house of such industry and mechanism that I was
brought up。 As a youth； I was slow at my lessons； preferring to
watch and assist workmen when I had an opportunity of doing so；
even with the certainty of having a thrashing from the
schoolmaster for my neglect。 Thus I got to know every workshop
and every workman in the town。 At any rate I picked up a
smattering of a variety of trades； which afterwards proved of the
greatest use to me。 The chief of these was wooden shipbuilding；
a branch of industry then extensively carried on by Messrs。
William and Robert Tindall； the former of whom resided in London；
he was one of the half…dozen great shipbuilders and owners who
founded 〃Lloyd's。〃 Splendid East Indiamen； of some 1000 tons
burden； were then built at Scarborough； and scarcely a timber was
moulded； a plank bent； a spar lined off； or launching ship…ways
laid； without my being present to witness them。 And thus； in
course of time； I was able to make for myself the neatest and
fastest of model yachts。
At that time； I attended the Grammar School。 Of the rudiments
taught； I was fondest of drawing； geometry； and Euclid。 Indeed；
I went twice through the first two books of the latter before I
was twelve years old。 At this age I was sent to the Ed