InPlutarch’sLives，wearetoldthatThemistoclessaidononeoccasion，“’TistruethatIhaveneverlearnedhowtotuneaharp，orplayuponalute，butIknowhowtoraiseasmallandinconsiderablecitytogloryandgreatness。“SomightitbesaidofHarlandandWolff。TheyhavegivenBelfastnotonlyapotencyforgood，butaworld-widereputation。Theirenergiesoverflow。
Mr。Harlandistheactiveandever-prudentChairmanofthemostimportantofthelocalboards，theHarbourTrustofBelfast，andexertshimselftopromotetheextensionoftheharbourfacilitiesoftheportasifthebenefitsweretobeexclusivelyhisown；
whileMr。WolffistheChairmanofoneofthelatestbornindustriesoftheplace，theBelfastRope-workCompany，whichalreadygivesemploymenttoover600persons。
Thislast-mentionedindustryisonlyaboutsixyearsold。Theworksoccupyoversevenacresofground，morethansixacresofwhichareunderroofing。AlthoughthewholeoftherawmaterialisimportedfromabroadfromRussia，thePhilippineIslands，NewZealand，andCentralAmerica——itisexportedagaininamanufacturedstatetoallpartsoftheworld。
Suchisthecontagionofexample，andsuchtheever-branchingindustrieswithwhichmenofenterpriseandindustrycanenrichandblesstheircountry。ThefollowingbriefmemoirofthecareerofMr。Harlandhasbeenfurnishedatmysolicitation；andIthinkthatitwillbefoundfullofinterestaswellasinstruction。