376 DICKSON ON THE FIEST POWER 



tially on the power-loom. (Hear, hear.") In my country 

 it so happens that we depended upon the hand-loom, and 

 we were beaten in the race ; and, although by great exertion 

 we have kept our heads in some respects above water, yet the 

 power-loom has, practically speaking, won the race. What 

 has been done in Belfast ? In this very year there has been 

 an increase — I speak from memory, and in round numbers — 

 from 3,200 to something like 7,500. It is asserted that at 

 the present time there may probably be not less than 10,000 

 power-looms at work. Now, there is a solid foundation for 

 your principal manufacture — a solid foundation which, I am 

 sure is so firmly built, that if it should so happen, as I pray 

 God the day may soon come when that terrible war in the 

 United States, or what was once the United States, should 

 come to an end, and that cotton should again pour into 

 England at the low rate as before ; so solid, I say, is the base 

 upon which that already great industry of Belfast is 

 established, that even in that case the ground you have 

 gained will not be lost." 



If his Excellency thought that such would be refreshing 

 news for the people of Belfast, he made a sad mistake, to 

 suppose them so stupid as not to know the position they have 

 gained, but on my reading the above speech, I thought myself 

 justified in trying how. far Lord Wodehouse would be 

 disposed to encourage the free circulation of my Third 

 Edition, or book of instruction on the cultivation of Flax, 

 and the spinning and weaving, patronised as it was from the 

 first by the late Prince Consort, several noblemen and 

 members of Parliament, and all the leading Flax-spinning 

 firms in Yorkshire and Lancashire, and I addressed his Ex- 

 cellency as follows : 



