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The finest specimens of fictile art, imitating, and even rivalling, 

 Egyptian, Grecian, and Etruscan ware, stand upon the shelves of 

 this Irish depository, and hence, we are happy to add, are finding 

 their way to the emporiums of art, and the dwellings of the wealthier 

 classes throughout the entire kingdom — the Queen having, as the 

 visitors were informed, already given more than one order for 

 specimens of the Belleek ware. The designs of the goods 

 manufactured for her Majesty are specially referred to, and illustra- 

 tions of them given in the Art Journal for May, 1869. 



Leaving the show-rooms the visitors were welcomed to an 

 inspection of the works in progress, the poorest outline sketch of 

 which would far extend beyond the limits of this passing notice. 



The entire process, from the bruising and pulverising of the 

 material to the final finish and polish of the richly-coloured and 

 gilded finished ware, was carefully inspected and most obligingly 

 detailed and described by those employed in the various depart- 

 ments. It may be well here to note, what is already known to the 

 members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, who have either 

 heard Mr. Gray's account of the most interesting manufacture, or 

 visited the works on the recent occasion, that the occurrence and 

 discovery of the mineral product from which the pottery is made, 

 on the grounds of Castle Caldwell, and that in so profuse abund- 

 ance, has been the origin of this establishment. 



During their visit to that most interesting old mansion on the 

 previous day, the members were shown by its excellent and 

 accomplished owner, J. C. Bloomfield, Esq., the first spadeful of 

 the mineral substance, composed of felspar, quartz, and mica, 

 which was thrown up by himself on the lands of Castle Caldwell, 

 and which gave rise to this most important, and, we are happy to 

 add, hitherto most successful enterprise. The material thus dis- 

 covered and brought into active use, is infinitely more rich in the 

 substance which forms the basis of the product, namely, felspar, 

 than any hitherto discovered in Cornwall, whence the material had 

 to be brought. It exists in the Irish locality in the greatest abun- 

 dance, and of the richest quality, and to what perfection Irish 

 hands can bring it has already been proved. It is no exaggeration 



