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build a ship； employing some of his old comrades； but beyond
laying the keel； little more was ever done。 A few months after
my arrival； my firm had to arrange with its creditors； whilst I；
pending the settlement； had myself to guarantee the wages to a
few of the leading hands； whom I had only just succeeded in
gathering together。 In this dilemma； an old friend； a foreman on
the Clyde； came over to Belfast to see me。 After hearing my
story； and considering the difficulties I had to encounter； he
advised me at once to 〃throw up the job！〃 My reply was； that
〃having mounted a restive horse； I would ride him into the
stable。〃
Notwithstanding the advice of my friend； I held on。 The
comparatively few men in the works； as well as those out； no
doubt observed my determination。 The obstacles were no doubt
great； the financial difficulties were extreme； and yet there was
a prospect of profit from the work in hand； provided only the men
could be induced to settle steadily down to their ordinary
employment。 I gradually gathered together a number of steady
workmen； and appointed suitable foremen。 I obtained a
considerable accession of strength from Newcastle。 On the death
of Mr。 Toward； his head foreman； Mr。 William Hanston； with a
number of the leading hands； joined me。 From that time forward
the works went on apace； and we finished the ships in hand to the
perfect satisfaction of the owners。
Orders were obtained for several large sailing ships as well as
screw vessels。 We lifted and repaired wrecked ships； to the
material advantage of Mr。 Hickson； then the sole representative
of the firm。 After three years thus engaged； I resolved to start
somewhere as a shipbuilder on my own account。 I made inquiries
at Garston； Birkenhead； and other places。 When Mr。 Hickson heard
of my intentions； he said he had no wish to carry on the concern
after I left； and made a satisfactory proposal for the sale to me
of his holding of the Queen's Island Yard。 So I agreed to the
proposed arrangement。 The transfer and the purchase were soon
completed； through the kind assistance of my old and esteemed
friend Mr。 G。 G。 Schwabe； of Liverpool； whose nephew； Mr。 G。 W。
Wolff； had been with me for a few months as my private assistant。
It was necessary； however； before commencing for myself； that I
should assist Mr。 Hickson in finishing off the remaining vessels
in hand； as well as to look out for orders on my own account。
Fortunately； I had not long to wait； for it had so happened that
my introduction to the Messrs。 Thomson of Glasgow had been made
through the instrumentality of my good friend Mr。 Schwabe； who
induced Mr。 James Bibby （of J。 Bibby； Sons & Co。； Liverpool） to
furnish me with the necessary letter。 While in Glasgow； I had
endeavoured to assist the Messrs。 Bibby in the purchase of a
steamer； so I was now intrusted by them with the building of
three screw steamers the Venetian； Sicilian； and Syrian； each 270
feet long； by 34 feet beam； and 22 feet 9 inches hold； and
contracted with Macnab and Co。； Greenock； to supply the requisite
steam…engines。
This was considered a large order in those days。 It required
many additions to the machinery； plant； and tools of the yard。 I
invited Mr。 Wolff； then away in the Mediterranean as engineer of
a steamer； to return and take charge of the drawing office。 Mr。
Wolff had served his apprenticeship with Messrs。 Joseph Whitworth
and Co。； of Manchester； and was a most able man； thoroughly
competent for the work。 Everything went on prosperously； and； in
the midst of all my engagements； I found time to woo and win the
hand of Miss Rosa Wann； of Vermont； Belfast； to whom I was
married on the 26th of January； 1860； and by her great energy；
soundness of judgment； and cleverness in organization； I was soon
relieved from all sources of care and anxiety； excepting those
connected with business。
The steamers were completed in the course of the following year；
doubtless to the satisfaction of the owners； for their delivery
was immediately followed by an order for two larger vessels。 As
I required frequently to go from home； and as the works must be
carefully attended to during my absence； on the 1st of January；
1862； I took Mr。 Wolff in as a partner； and the firm has since
continued under the name of Harland and Wolff。 I may here add
that I have throughout received the most able advice and
assistance from my excellent friend and partner； and that we have
together been enabled to found an entirely new branch of industry
in Belfast。
It is necessary for me here to refer back a little to a screw
steamer which was built on the Clyde for Bibby and Co。 by Mr。
John Read； and engined by J。 and G。 Thomson while I was with
them。 That steamer was called the Tiber。 She was looked upon as
of an extreme length； being 235 feet； in proportion to her beam；
which was 29 feet。 Serious misgivings were thrown out as to
whether she would ever stand a heavy sea。 Vessels of such
proportions were thought to be crank； and even dangerous。
Nevertheless； she seemed to my mind a great success。 From that
time； I began to think and work out the advantages and
disadvantages of such a vessel； from an owner's as well as from a
builder's point of view。 The result was greatly in favour of the
owner； though entailing difficulties in construction as regards
the builder。 These difficulties； however。 I thought might
easily be overcome。
In the first steamers ordered of me by the Messrs。 Bibby； I
thought it more prudent to simply build to the dimensions
furnished； although they were even longer than usual。 But； prior
to the precise dimensions being fixed for the second order； I
with confidence proposed my theory of the greater carrying power
and accommodation； both for cargo and passengers； that would be
gained by constructing the new vessels of increased length；
without any increase of beam。 I conceived that they would show
improved qualities in a sea…way； and that； notwithstanding the
increased accommodation； the same speed with the same power would
be obtained； by only a slight increase in the first cost。 The
result was； that I was allowed to settle the dimensions； and the
following were then decided on： Length； 310 feet； beam； 34 feet；
depth of hold； 24 feet 9 inches； all of which were fully
compensated for by making the upper deck entirely of iron。 In
this way； the hull of the ship was converted into a box girder of
immensely increased strength； and was； I believe； the first ocean
steamer ever so constructed。 The rig too was unique。 The four
masts were made in one continuous length； with fore…and…aft
sails； but no yards；thereby reducing the number of hands
necessary to work them。 And the steam winches were so arranged
as to be serviceable for all the heavy hauls； as well as for the
rapid handling of the cargo。
In the introduction of so many novelties； I was well supported by