1747. There were but three vessels employed at Belfast in the cross-channel trade, which were, collectively, 198 tons burthen.

1749. There was a parliamentary grant to Francis Joy, of £200, as a reward for his improvements in the manufacture of paper in the north of Ireland. He introduced the first paper engine into Ulster.

1750. The ancient coronation chair of the O'Neils, of Castlereagh, which originally stood on the hill of Castlereagh, in the county of Down, within two miles of Belfast, after the downfall of that family, in the reign of James I., was thrown down and • neglected till this year, when Stewart Banks, Esq., sovereign of Belfast, caused it to be removed thither, and built into the wall of the butter market, where it was used as a seat until the taking ckown of the market place. It was then taken possession of by a person named Thomas Fitzmaurice, who removed it to a garden in front of his house in Lancaster street, where it remained till 1832, when it was purchased for R. C. Walker, Esq., who had it removed to his seat at Bathcarrick, in the county of Sligo, where it is

preserved with all the care due to so interesting a relic*

This chair is very rudely constructed, and is composed of common whinstone ; the seat is lower than that of an ordinary chair, and the back higher and narrower.

1752. Methodism introduced into Carrickfergus, by some soldiers of the 42nd regiment of Royal Highlanders.

The first Bank established at Belfast, under the firm of Mussenden, Adair, and Bateson.

1753. The first private lottery in Belfast for building a poor-house and infirmary.

1754. Linen Hall, Belfast, established and held in the square now occupied by St. Ann's Church, — ^removed nearer the Exchange in 1773.

1755. The market-house of Carrickfergus erected by subscription ; in it the corporation meetings were wont to be held.

1756. Ballycastle church erected, at the sole expense of Hugh Boyd, Esq. It is a handsome edifice, in the Grecian style of architecture, with a lofty octagonal spire.

Wood coal was discovered in a hill, in the immediate vicinity of the village of Ballintoy, and worked to such an extent as supplied the salt-works of Portrush and Coleraine. It resembles charred wood, and although much used for burning lime, and sometimes for household purposes, it is greatly deprecated on account of its disagreeable odour.

1757. Belfast contained 1,779 houses and 8,549 inhabitants,

7,993 of whom were Protestants, and 556 Roman Catholics.

1758. Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, authoress of the " Cottagers of Glenburnie,", “Letters of a Hindoo Rajah," born in Belfast this year.

1760. The French commodore, Thurot, with three ships, landed at Kilroot point, and proceeded to attack Carrickfergus. The gates were quickly closed, and, though the

French general (FIobert),''who led the attack, was wounded, the garrison, consisting of only 100 men, was obliged to capitulate, for want of ammunition. The French kept possession for some time, and threatened to lay siege to Belfast ; but on the approach of the forces sent against them, they re-embarked, and set sail for France. Two days after, however, they were attacked by an English squadron, off the Isle of Man, when commodore Thurot was killed, and the French ships captured.

1761. Henry Gill, Esq., bequeathed £10 per annum, each, to fourteen decayed inhabitants of Carrlckfergus, and also houses and gardens to such of them as might not have residences. The only acid used in the process of bleaching linen at this time was hiU&rmiUc,

1762. Twenty alms-houses erected at Ballycastle, which were endowed with the rentals of the townlands of Camside and Ballylenny, (reserving £40 per annum, for the incum- bency of Ballycastle.) These alms-houses were for the reception'^of poor men, or the widows of poor men, who had worked ; eight years in the collieries, or other works on the estate jof H. Boyd, Esq.

The gross customs of Bel&st, including excise, amounted  to £32,900, — ^in 1784, they amounted, exclusive of excise, to £101,376, — ^in 1810, they amounted, exclusive of excise, to £425,174, 18s. 2id,— in 1838, they averaged about £400,000, and in 1840, they amounted to £361,502.

The Lagan canal, between Belfast and Lisburn, opened. Its cost was estimated at £70,000 ; receives a local duty of 4d. per gallon on spirits, and Id. per gallon on malt liquors.

1764. Doctor James Ferguson, of Belfast, received from the linen board a premium of £300, for the successful application of lime in bleaching linen, — in 1770 he introduced sulphuric acid; ten years afterwards potash was first used, and in 1795 chloride of lime was introduced.

1765. A large school-house, on the demesne of Willmount, in the townland of Malone, near Belfast, built by the then Marquis of Donegall, who endowed it with the rent of an adjoining fitrm, now let forMO per annum; it is accessible to children of all persuasions in the neighbourhood.

The extensive flour mills at Crumlin, which were the first erected in the north of Ireland, originally built by Rowland Heyland, Esq. These mills were considered of so much importance, that government erected extensive warehouses for storing wheat and other grain, and encouraged the growth of wheat, by every means, in the surrounding country; these mills annually consume 3,000 terns of wheat, and 3,000 tons of oats; they are now the property of Messrs. Robert Macaulay and son.

1766. Mr. William Coulson established the damask manufacture at Lisburn, which has since become so famous under the management of his sons and successors, Messrs. John and William Coulson, who, by their skill and attention, have brought it to vie with anything of the kind in Europe.

1767. The county of Antrim Infirmary established at Lisburn. There is accommodation for fifty patients, with baths, dissecting room, &c.

1768. Tickmacreevan church erected, near the town of Glenarm, at the expense of the McDonnell fisimily.

1769. Foundation laid of the old exchange (now occupied

by the Belfast Banking Company), erected by the then Marquis of Donegall, at an expense of £4,000.

1770. Presbyterian congregation, Berry-street, Belfast, established.

The customs and excise duties of Belfast amoimted to £63,600.

In working an unexplored part of the cliff near Bally castle, an old excavation was discovered, and found to be of considerable extent, and to have been wrought upon a regular system, by persons evidently well acquainted with the scientific principles of mining. History and tradition are alike silent as to whom, or to what time, these mining operations are to be referred.

1771. Foundation laid of the Incorporated Poor-house, top of Donegall-street, Belfast. This institution was established for the reception of aged and infirm poor, and the support and education of poor children during infancy ; it was built by subscription, and a lottery, and cost £7,000.

1773, The present Brown Linen Hall, Donegall-street, Belfast, established.

1774, The ancient church, south side of High-street, Belfast, near the quay, taken down as unsafe.

Sir George Macartney appointed governor and constable of Toome castle, with a salary of £1,300 per annum.

Poor House, Belfast, opened. The founders of this institution were incorporated by act of parliament, under the title of the President and Assistants of the Bel&st Charitable Society.

1776. Mills for the manufacture of paper first erected at Antrim.

The manufacture of flint glass commenced at Belfast.

1777. The cotton manufacture originally introduced into Belfast, by Messrs. Joy and M'Cabe.

1778. St. Anne's church, Belfast, erected by the then Marquis of Donegall ; it has a handsome Doric portico, and Ionic

tower, surmounted by a Corinthian cupola. An octagonal spire was erected upon the tower of Carrickfergus church, at an expense of £500, defrayed by subscription

The notorious pirate, Paul Jones, appeared off Carrickfergus, but did not land, contenting himself with the capture of an armed vessel, the Drake, that had been sent to attack him.