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obtained. The very best kind of Porcelain can be made from 

 the Belleek felspar, for which the Cornish felspar is not suitable. 

 Mr. Gray described several advantages possessed by the Belleek 

 Pottery ; amongst others, it has an ample supply of the most supe- 

 rior fire-clay from the sandstone, within about seven miles of the 

 rocks. This clay is required to make the " seggars," or cases, in 

 which the ware is burnt, aud must be capable of resisting a very 

 intense heat. For want of material of this kind, some former British 

 potteries had to be given up. The Belleek works were projected 

 by Messrs. M'Birney & Armstrong, and the first ware was made in 

 1863. The extensive buildings and powerful machinery necessary 

 for a complete pottery establishment have been constructed, with all 

 modern improvements. A large number of persons are employed, 

 from the mere schoolboy up to the skilled potter, modellers, engra- 

 vers, and painters in enamel, and a great variety of ware is pro- 

 duced. Mr. Gray exhibited a very extensive variety of articles 

 manufactured at Belleek. Some of the most costly were sent up 

 from the works for the purpose ; and Mr. M'Cormick, of York 

 Street, Belfast, sent specimens of the ordinary ware, such as tea, 

 toilet, dinner, and dessert ware. Mr. M'Cormick's warehouse, in 

 York Street, is the Belfast depot for the sale of Belleek ware. Belfast, 

 or any other place, may claim the merit of having first manufactured 

 porcelain in Ireland ; but whether they can establish that claim or 

 not is another matter : the superior quality of Belleek ware, both 

 as to the excellence of the material, the skill and enterprise dis- 

 played in its manipulation, and the artistic merit of the designs, 

 give it a special character of its own, and declare it to be the first 

 and only manufactory of the kind in Ireland. Mr. Gray described 

 one interesting department of the Belleek works, where a large 

 number of powerful presses are employed in the manufacture of 

 such hollow articles as patch-boxes for ointment, &c, mortars for 

 druggists, and similar ware, from dust powder, by a process invented 

 and patented by Mr. Armstrong, one of the proprietors. The 

 mechanical contrivance secures an equal pressure in every part of 

 the article, and, consequently, equal shrinkage and texture of mate- 

 rial. The skill and enterprise directed to procure this machinery 

 has been rewarded by extensive orders for insulators for telegraphs, 



