Historic Outline-Public Buildings-Botanic Gardens, &c.

PON the approach to Belfast by the Railway from Dublin, the tourist, whether English, Scotch, or Irish, is sure to have his admiration excited by the novelty and beauty of the scene upon which he has just entered. The two former can scarcely bring themselves to believe that they are really in Ireland, a land associated in their minds with the most unpleasing ideas, surrounded as they now are with all the indications of the most thriving prosperity, and in the midst of an intensely industrious manufacturing

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population. As they glide by the numerous bleachgreens which stripe the verdant slopes on either hand, they might well suppose themselves to be in some of the more favoured districts of their own prosperous country. To the Irishman who is on his first visit to the North, the impressions are still more striking. He gazes for the first time in his life upon what has rendered England and Scotland so prosperous, and begins to feel no small degree of pleasure from the consideration that his own country is possessed of capabilities for prosperity, if properly developed, fully equal, if not superior, to those of the sister kingdoms.

Arrived at Belfast, the traveller is at once struck with the great difference which it presents to the southern cities, not only in its general aspect, but in the ordinary deportment of its inhabitants. The easy, promenading air of the citizens of Dublin, contrasts rather unfavourably, in a business point of view, with the active bustling of the Northerns. Here men seem to have something of importance to attend to, and to go about it in right

earnest.

To the most cursory observer, the numerous factory chimneys, shooting up their slender towers far above the houses, pouring forth their endless volumes of smoke, are no mean index to the extent of the enterprise and industry which have made Belfast the most thriving and prosperous town in the kingdom.

The beauty of its public buildings, the number of its banking-houses, its many fine streets, its large and ele

gantly appointed shops, and noble quays, are all calculated to impress the mind with the conviction of its extent and great commercial importance.

Nor is it more distinguished by its commerce and manufactures than for its cultivation of polite literature. It has been well styled the Athens of the North, and a very short residence will convince the stranger that it has not been misnamed.

Its literary activity is evidenced by the number of its private voluntary societies, most of which are well attended, and afford ample opportunities for the development of the various tastes and talents of the inhabitants.

The present Under-Secretary to the Board of Trade, Sir James Emerson Tennent, was largely identified with the youth of his day, as a distinguished member of these debating societies and literary institutions. He subsequently entered Parliament as representative of his native town, and identified himself first and last with the policy of the late Sir Robert Peel. In connexion with that party he became Colonial Secretary in Ceylon, from which post he had but recently returned when he was appointed to his present office. Under his own proper name of Emerson, he has acquired considerable reputation in the literary world by the publication of his Travels in the Levant, and his History of Modern Greece.

In addition to the Royal Belfast Academic Institution and the Queen's College, it has many academies of

high repute as training schools. Viewed either in its relation to science or commerce, Belfast may be regarded as an instructive illustration how perfectly compatible are the pursuits of the most intense industry with the highest literary cultivation.

To afford the stranger the means of gratifying his curiosity, and making a more minute acquaintance with this interesting city, we propose to conduct him to the objects most worthy of his thoughtful consideration,

omitting such as are of minor importance, which, however interesting in themselves, possess little to compensate for the loss of time in visiting them. Before we do so, we shall endeavour to give a brief outline of the history of Belfast, in order to enable the tourist to appreciate more fully its present highly important commercial position.

HISTORIC OUTLINE.

Belfast is situated at the mouth of the River Lagan, at the southern extremity of what was once termed Carrickfergus Bay, but now known as Belfast Lough. It is said to derive its name from the Irish words "Bella Farsad," or the "Mouth of the Ford," there being formerly a ford near the situation of the present Queen's Bridge.* It is built on an alluvial flat, and although only a few feet above the level of the sea, it is considered to be a very healthy town; to which, indeed, its proximity to the mountains must largely contribute. The arrangement of the streets is well calculated to effect its ventilation, as they almost invariably open in long vistas towards the hills, and act as funnels to admit a constant current of pure mountain air into the very heart of the town. Nothing can be more pleas

* In the recent improvements of the river the situation of the ford has been ascertained, and the stepping-stones by which it was crossed have been taken from the head of the river, and are to be seen at Mr. H. Williams's, at Queen's Island; but it is much to be feared that these interesting relics will be lost sight of and be dispersed.