These American comparisons make themselves, all the conditions of Belfast being rather of the New World than of the Old.

The oldest building pointed out to me to-day is the whilom mansion of the Marquis of Donegal, now used as offices, and still called the Castle.
This stands near Donegal Square, a fine site, disfigured by a quadrangle of commonplace brick buildings, occupied as a sort of Linen Exchange, concerning which a controversy rages, I am told.

They are erected on land granted by Lord Donegal to encourage the linen trade, and the buildings used to be leased at a rental of L1 per window.

The present holders receive L10 per window, and are naturally loath to part with so good a thing, though there is an earnest desire in the city to see these unsightly structures removed, and their place taken by stately municipal buildings more in key with the really remarkable and monumental private warehouses which already adorn this Square.

Mr.Robinson, one of the partners of a firm which has just completed one of these warehouses, was good enough to show us over it.