40 



cellence of the quality, and the vastne&s of the quantity, will, 

 before long, bring an increase of capital and energy to the sur- 

 mounting of all difficulties. 



It is much to be regretted that the local absence of coal 

 prevents our own country reaping the full benefits arising from 

 these iron deposits ; if otherwise, soon would smelting furnaces 

 spring up and prosper around us, still something might be done 

 by the substitution of dried peat, which is so abundant on the 

 Basalt hills. 



The Carboniferous Iron Mines lie between Fairhead and 

 Ballycastle, and are the equivalent of the English and Scotch 

 systems. These are, perhaps, among the most ancient of coal 

 mines in the British Isles. A century ago, when the miners were 

 pushing forward an adit, they suddenly came upon some galleries, 

 with pillars supporting the roof, and among the debris were 

 found rude implements for mining, tipped with iron, also remains 

 of baskets. The oldest inhabitants at the time and the oldest 

 records are both silent as to when this working took place. 



The line of coast exhibits a most interesting stratification of 

 alternating Sandstone, Limestone, Slates, and Coal. The strike 

 of the beds is east and west, and the dip about 1 in 12 southward. 

 These beds are surmounted with toppings of Gravel or Basalt, 

 and rest upon Mica Slate. 



The Iron Mines of Antrim are a most important branch of the 

 industry of our country, and one, I think, hitherto little hnown, 

 when we recollect that, twelve years ago, Ireland only yielded 

 little more than 500 tons, none of which came from Antrim, and 

 that now full}- 50,000 tons were shipped within the past year ; 

 and there is no reason why this may not be increased tenfold. 



There is no better test of the welfare and prosperity of a 

 country than the amount of iron produced and used. Silver 

 and gold pale before the importance of this the noblest of metals. 



It has crowned civilisation after its long struggle upward 

 through the rude periods of stone and bronze, and places first 

 among nations the people who utilise it most. 



The mining history of Antrim has been that of all Ireland — 

 deposits of mineral wealth lie hidden throughout the land, wait- 

 ing the revelations that follow the miner's pick. It is not by 

 Fenianism, Repealing of the Union, or revising the tenure of 



