Irish Glass. 33 



is so well established at his flint glass manufactory at the end of 

 the Long Bridge, he is enabled to lower the price of all cut,: 

 flowered and plain glass ; none of his glass being sold at either of 

 the glass and china shops." In 1788 he opened a warehouse for 

 the sale of his glass and iron goods on Hanover Quay, Belfast,) 

 where he stated he had a complete assortment of cut, plain and 

 figured glass, and also pots, griddles, saucepans, etc., made at his 

 new foundry, Bridge End. From 1786 to 1788 the value of the: 

 glass made each year averaged about ^1,440. 



John Edwards, son of Benjamin Edwards, erected in 1789 a 

 tobacco-pipe manufactory, adjoining the glass-house, and appears 

 to have carried it on for some years. In 1800 Benjamin Edwards 

 took his sons John, Hugh, and Benjamin, and his son-in-law,i 

 William Ankatell, into partnership, and opened a warehouse at 

 Newry on the Canal Quay, opposite the Sugar House, for the 

 sale of cast metal and glass. In the following year they state that 

 " they have erected an iron foundry on the Merchant's Quay,. 

 Newry, and have for sale both in Newry and Belfast all descrip . 

 tions of flint glass, cut, flowered, enamelled and plain, of their 

 own manufacture and also first, second, and third window glass." 



In 1803 the partnership between Benjamin Edwards and his. 

 sons was dissolved, and John Edwards started a new glass-house. 

 on his own account at 79 Peter's Hill, Belfast, of which more 

 later. 



In the Belfast News-Letter for the years 1804 and 1805 

 Benjamin Edwards & Sons state that " they manufacture all 

 descriptions of decanters, wine glasses, goblets, tumblers, saladi 

 bowls, etc., cut and engraved to the newest patterns, and equal to. 

 any in the kingdom, also cut, flowered, and plain flint glass finished, 

 in the finest style, including a variety of liqueur, cruet and other; 

 stands in silver and plated ware, Grecian, stair-case and other lamps,, 

 lustres, girandoles, etc. " No mention is made here of enamelled, 

 glass, the latest reference to which occurs in 1801. It is uncertain 

 whether the liqueur and cruet stands in silver and plated ware 

 were obtained complete with bottles, or whether the bottles wer§- 

 fiianufactured in Belfast. 



