BEING ERECTED IN WORKHOUSES. 



129 



consideration, he found he had been wrong, and he at once 

 joined the society, and he felt that, had the usefulness of this 

 body been extended to Ulster sooner, and had a School of 

 Design been in operation (and he hoped they would soon see 

 such an institution there), those magnificent buildings which 

 were to be seen erected on the most picturesque spots near our 

 towns — beautiful on the outside, but within filled with 

 paupers — these buildings, he was satisfied, would never have 

 been necessary for Ulster. Then look ■ at the number of 

 people who, in emigrant vessels, left this place, whereas, 

 under a proper system of things, they might be profitably 

 employed' on. their own farms. He then referred to the linen 

 trade of Ulster, and contrasted the condition of the people 

 with that of those of the South. A landlord might safely 

 reside in the north, receiving benefit himself, and doing good 

 to others, instead of being, as he was elsewhere, always in 

 dread of the assassin. If the people of the south had 

 the linen trade established amongst them, there would be 

 an immense field of employment opened to them, and great 

 benefit conferred on them. He hoped to see the workhouses 

 abolished altogether — [Lord Downshire : ' And turned 

 into Flax-mills.'] — and if this were done, and the people 

 9,11 usefully employed, all the landlords would be sure of 

 their rents." (Cheers.) There was no narrow-minded 

 selfishness in Mr. Brown's candid and truthful remarks ; 

 he well knew the advantages of producing what we 

 manufacture, and wished to see the south and west of 

 Ireland enjoy, as he did during life, prosperity, all of 

 which arose from the linen trade alone. 



Here the worthy Marquis wisely and with his usual 

 thoughtfulness for the comforts of the poor, anticipated the 

 use that could, and I trust may yet be made, of the 

 buildings described by Mr. Browne, and as his lordship has 

 been the first to hint the idea, it will not be unwelcome 

 I 



