" In a history of the linen
trade, published at Belfast, it is said that "the dignity which
that enterprising man imparted to labour, and the halo which his
example cast around physical exertion, had the best effect in
raising the tone of popular feeling, as well among the patricians
as among the peasants of the north of Ireland. This love of
industry did much to break down the national prejudice in favour
of idleness, and cast doubts on the social orthodoxy of the idea
then so popular with the squirearchy, that those alone who were
able to live without employment had any rightful claim to the
distinctive title of gentleman.... A patrician by birth and a
merchant by profession, Crommelin proved, by his own life, his
example, and his enterprise, that an energetic manufacturer may,
at the same time, take a high place in the conventional world."
[19] Benn's History of Belfast, p. 78.
[20] From the Irish Manufacturers' Almanack for 1883 I learn that
nearly one-third of the spindles used in Europe in the linen
trade, and more than one-fourth of the power-looms, belong to
Ireland, that "the Irish linen and associated trades at present
give employment to 176,303 persons; and it is estimated that the
capital sunk in spinning and weaving factories, and the business
incidental thereto, is about 100,000,000L., and of that sum
37,000,000L. is credited to Belfast alone.
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