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and, though not transparent, shows its vitreous composition when 

 viewed at a thin fracture. Porcelain is a term applied generally 

 to that class of pottery which is transparent, beautifully white and 

 glassy, like china. Its biscuit state may be seen in the figures, 

 busts, and statuettes, with a waxy appearance resembling Parian, 

 which are made at Belleek. This china is a real porcelain, result- 

 ing from the simple vitrification of felspar and china clay, in contra- 

 distinction to the phosphate of lime or " bone body" used in Eng- 

 land. The abundance of pure felspar at Belleek is a leading 

 element in rendering the manufacture there so cheap. The various 

 materials used were then exhibited, and the various processes, from 

 the mixing of the " slip material," to the very finest style of deco- 

 rating the baked and perfected product, were then described. It 

 was stated that some of the Belleek ware contained as much as 72 

 per cent, of the local felspar. Recently, in one important class of 

 goods, including white and coloured tiles, and insulators, for tele- 

 graphic purposes, machinery has taken the place of manual labour. 

 A large trade has been developed for these products, and in the 

 domestic and fancy departments of dinner, ornamental ware, and 

 figures. Her Majesty the Queen has patronised, to a very large 

 extent, this new branch of Irish industry. The demand for Belleek 

 ware is rapidly increasing, and an inspection of the specimens ex- 

 hibited amply supported the opinion that, in delicacy of texture 

 or beauty of design, this ware need fear no competitor. 



The importance of the ceramic art, as at present existing in 

 Great Britain and Ireland, may be infered from the following facts : 

 — The exports are equal to one million and a-half pounds sterling ; 

 home consumption absorbs one million's worth more. For this 

 total of two and a-half millions, 800,000 tons of coal are annually 

 consumed, 350,000 tons of clay, flint, spar, bone, and stone are 

 used. The gilding consumes ^60,000 worth of gold ; and 80,000 

 men, women, and children find employment in this manufacture. 



On Wednesday evening, 9th February, the Rev. Edmund 

 M'Clure read a paper on " Smell and Smells," of which the follow- 

 ing is an abstract : — 



F 



