14 



runs with ease — a chain being fastened to each, which is drawn 

 by a horse on the level bank above. The geological structure 

 of a district invariably affects its architecture, and hence the ter- 

 tiary beds here exposed, and which occupy a considerable area 

 around Belfast, influences to a very great extent the character of 

 our architecture. In the absence of stone — at least, proper 

 building stones — this tertiary formation yields the clay for making 

 bricks, of which the bulk of Belfast buildings are constructed ; 

 further on the road, the party had the very best opportunity of 

 seeing the process of manufacture. On the hill above Ormeau 

 Bridge there is a regular colony of brickfields. Mr. Moore's 

 works were selected, as his name seems to be invariably associated 

 with the "perforators," and the party were anxious to see how 

 they were turned out. The foreman conducted them over the 

 works, and explained " all the latest improvements," the foremost 

 of which was the new kilns on Hoffman's principle, by which bricks 

 can be better burned, with less fuel, and with greater rapidity than 

 by any other process. There is no heat lost; the fire is kept up 

 night and day; and, as each kiln of bricks is burnt, the heat is 

 transferred to an adjoining one ; and thus the fire travels from one 

 chamber to another in a circle, each becoming filled, burnt, and 

 cooled in turn. Leaving Mr. Moore's extensive brickworks, the 

 party drove to Purdy's Burn through Newtownbreda. Having 

 walked through the grounds, they were shown over the gardens 

 and pleasure-grounds, which were in excellent condition. The 

 most remarkable feature in the gardens were the fine old yew 

 hedges which, it is said, were old in Cromwell's time ; they are, 

 therefore, more worthy of veneration than admiration. Passing 

 through the grounds, the party had a smart walk to the ever-in- 

 teresting neighbourhood of the Giant's King — all the more inte- 

 resting because so little is really known of the origin of those 

 structures that here attract the attention of the antiquary, and call 

 forth so many learned, but still unsatisfactory, diquisitions. The 

 persistency of Nature's operations furnish some data for successful 

 speculation, but the strange vicissitudes and varying fortunes of 

 the human family only multiply the difficulties of historical re- 

 search. Strange that such structures as this cromleac at the 

 Giant's King should be found all over the world — in Chinese Tar- 

 tary, India, and Africa, and yet we cannot ascertain with certainty 



