Old Belfast : Its Origin and Progress. 5 1 



The important event which created a stir in the quiet waters 

 of our local history was the visit of her Majesty the Queen to 

 Belfast in 1849, the town being profusely decorated in honour 

 of the event, and the visit an unqualified success. With the 

 march of improvement and the rapid growth of the town during 

 recent years many interesting and historic buildings have passed 

 away, while some still remain. One of these landmarks of the 

 past is the old Exchange, which still stands in somewhat altered 

 form at what was known as " the four corners," opposite Bridge 

 Street ; another was the House of Correction, which stood at 

 the corner of Howard Street, of which only the boundary wall 

 remains, while the Old Theatre erected in Arthur Square, in 

 1792, was taken down to make room for the present structure 

 in 1871. Arthur Square itself has greatly changed during the 

 last thirty years ; indeed, to one absent for a lengthened period 

 the town is hardly recognisable, one of the most striking im- 

 provements being the laying out of Royal Avenue on the site 

 of Hercules Street, while the erection of the present Albert 

 Bridge, to take the place of that which give way in September, 

 1886, has contributed greatly to the improvement of that part 

 of the city. Our modern ideas of convenience and improved 

 knowledge of sanitary laws in effecting the removal of old 

 buildings, the widening of streets, and the clearing of congested 

 areas has produced such a change as renders old Belfast but a 

 memory, which antiquarian and historian may labour to preserve, 

 but there is no reason to regret that it has been succeeded by 

 the stately streets and modern mansions, with their many 

 comforts, which constitute the Belfast of today. 



On the proposition of Mr. John Malone, seconded by Mr. 

 John Horner, votes of thanks were accorded to Messrs. Gray, 

 Marshall, and Allen. 



The meeting then concluded. 



