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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。
Footnotes for Chapter XI。
＇1＇ Although Mr。 Harland took no further steps with his lifeboat；
the project seems well worthy of a fair trial。 We had lately the
pleasure of seeing the model launched and tried on the lake
behind Mr。 Harland's residence at Ormiston； near Belfast。 The
cylindrical lifeboat kept perfectly water…tight； and though
thrown into the water in many different positionssometimes
tumbled in on its prow； at other times on its back （the deck
being undermost）； it invariably righted itself。 The screws fore
and aft worked well； and were capable of being turned by human
labour or by steam power。 Now that such large freights of
passengers are carried by ocean…going ships； it would seem
necessary that some such method should be adopted of preserving
life at sea； for ordinary lifeboats； which are so subject to
destructive damage； are often of little use in fires or
shipwrecks； or other accidents on the ocean。
＇2＇ A full account is given in the Illustrated London News of the
21st of October； 1868； with illustrations； of the raising of the
Wolf； and another； more scientific； is given in the Engineer of
the 16th of October； of the same year。
CHAPTER XII。
ASTRONOMERS AND STUDENTS IN HUMBLE LIFE：
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE 'PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES。'
〃I first learnt to read when the masons were at work in your
house。 I approached them one day； and observed that the
architect used a rule and compass； and that he made calculations。
I inquired what might be the meaning and use of these things； and
I was informed that there was a science called Arithmetic。 I
purchased a book of arithmetic； and I learned it。 I was told
there was another science called Geometry； I bought the necessary
books； and I learned Geometry。 By reading； I found there were
good books in these two sciences in Latin； I bought a dictionary；
and I learned Latin。 I understood； also； that there were good
books of the same kind in French； I bought a dictionary； and I
learned French。 It seems to me that one does not need to know
anything more than the twenty…four letters to learn everything
else that one wishes。〃Edmund Stone to the Duke of Argyll。
（'Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties。'）
〃The British Census proper reckons twenty…seven and a half
million in the home countries。 What makes this census important
is the quality of the units that compose it。 They are free
forcible men； in a country where life is safe； and has reached
the greatest value。 They give the bias to the current age； and
that not by chance or by mass； but by their character； and by the
number of individuals among them of personal ability。〃Emerson：
English Traits。
From Belfast to the Highlands of Scotland is an easy route by
steamers and railways。 While at Birnam； near Dunkeld； I was
reminded of some remarkable characters in the neighbourhood。
After the publication of the 'Scotch Naturalist' and 'Robert
Dick；' I received numerous letters informing me of many
self…taught botanists and students of nature； quite as
interesting as the subjects of my memoirs。 Among others； there
was John Duncan； the botanist weaver of Aberdeen； whose
interesting life has since been done justice to by Mr。 Jolly； and
John Sim of Perth； first a shepherd boy； then a soldier； and
towards the close of his life a poet and a botanist； whose life；
I was told； was 〃as interesting as a romance。〃
There was also Alexander Croall； Custodian of the Smith Institute
at Stirling； an admirable naturalist and botanist。 He was
originally a hard…working parish schoolmaster； near Montrose。
During his holiday wanderings he collected plants for his
extensive herbarium。 His accomplishments having come under the
notice of the late Sir William Hooker； he was selected by that
gentleman to prepare sets of the Plants of Braemar for the Queen
and Prince Albert； which he did to their entire satisfaction。 He
gave up his school…mastership for an ill…paid but more congenial
occupation； that of Librarian to the Derby Museum and Herbarium。
Some years ago； he was appointed to his present position of
Custodian to the Smith Instituteperhaps the best provincial
museum and art gallery in Scotland。
I could not； however； enter into the history of these remarkable
persons； though I understand there is a probability of Mr。 Croall
giving his scientific recollections to the world。 He has already
brought out a beautiful work； in four volumes； 'British Seaweeds；
Nature…printed；' and anything connected with his biography will
be looked forward to with interest。
Among the other persons brought to my notice； years ago； were
Astronomers in humble life。 For instance； I received a letter
from John Grierson； keeper of the Girdleness Lighthouse； near
Aberdeen； mentioning one of these persons as 〃an extraordinary
character。〃 〃William Ballingall；〃 he said； 〃is a weaver in the
town of Lower Largo； Fifeshire； and from his early days he has
made astronomy the subject of passionate study。 I used to spend
my school vacation at Largo； and have frequently heard him
expound upon his favourite subject。 I believe that very high
opinions have been expressed by scientific gentlemen regarding
Ballingall's attainments。 They were no doubt surprised that an
individual with but a very limited amount of education； and whose
hours of labour were from five in the morning until ten or eleven
at night； should be able to acquire so much knowledge on so
profound a subject。 Had he possessed a fair amount of education；
and an assortment of scientific instruments and books； the world
would have heard more about him。 Should you ever find yourself；〃
my correspondent concludes； 〃in his neighbourhood； and have a few
hours to spare； you