*PORTSMOUTH, (Hampshire) 60 cm. 73 mm. from London, is esteemed the key of England, and its most regular fortification.
The French burnt it in the R. of Rich. II. wherefore the K. forgave the inh. 60 l. which they owed the crown, and excused
them from paying rent for 10 years to come, towards rebuilding it; and it so recovered in 6 years, that the inh. fitted
out some ships, with which they not only beat the French at sea, as they were returning to insult these coasts; but
actually entered the Seine 2 years after that, sunk several ships there, and brought off a great booty of wine, &c. A bell
is rung here, to denote what number of ships at any time enter the harbour; of which there is a fine prospect from the top
of the steeple, as well as of Spithead. This T. was secured for the Pt. in the late civil wars, till the Rest. of Cha. II.
who was met here by Catherine, the Infanta of Portugal, and here married to her. Tho' Q. Eliz. had been at so great
expence, in improving its fortifications (which had been begun by Edward IV. and augmented by Hen. VII.) that nothing was
thought wanting to compleat them; yet this K. added much to their strength, extent, and magnificence, and made it one of
the principal chambers of the Km. for laying up the royal navy, furnished it with wet and dry docks, storehouses, rope-
yards, &c. K. Ja. II. also added greatly to its fortifications. After the revolution this port flourished exceedingly, by
being the constant rendezvous of the grand fleets and squadrons, as well as the convoys for the merchant-ships; and a
thousand sail may ride safe in the harbour. Within these few years, the Gt. has bought more ground for additional works
and, no doubt, it may be made in impregnable by land, as well as sea, since a shallow water may be brought quite round it.
It is amazing to see the vast quantities here of all sorts of military and naval stores, and the exact order in which
every tool is laid up, so that the workmen can find what thev want in the dark. The rope-house is near 1-quarter of a m.
long. Some of the cables made here require 100 men to work them; and their labour is so hard, that they can work at them
but 4 hours a day. The least numb r of men employed continually in the yard, is said to be 1000. The docks and yards in
short resemble a distinct T. there being particular rows of dwellings, built at the publick charge, for all the principal
officers; and they are under a separate Gt. from the garrison. Here is a fine key for lay ing up the cannon; and the
arsenal at Venice is not better disposed. The T. being low and full of water and ditches, it is reckoned aguish. The
streets are not over clean, nor the smells very agreeable, the place being in want of fresh water; yet the continual
resort of sea-men and soldiers to it, the men-of-war being often paid here, renders it always full of people, and makes
those people seem always in a hurry; so that their inns and taverns are perpetually crowded; by which means there is such
a consumption of provisions, as makes them dear, as are also lodgings and fuel. Here is a deputy-governor and garrison,
with all the proper officers, to take care of the revenue. In the R. of Edw. IV. its members of Pt. were elected only by
13 burgesses; but in that of Edw. VI. the electors were the mayor and burgesses. Charles I. altered the stile to the
mayor, ald. and burgesses; and so it continued, till the convention-Pt. summoned by the Prince of Orange, when they were
chosen by the mayor, ald. burgesses, and commonalty; but in the R. of K. Will. the right of election was determined, to be
only the mayor, ald. and burgesses. The civil Gt. is by a mayor, ald. recorder, bailiffs, and C.C. The mouth of the
harbour, which is not so broad as the Thames at Westminster, is secured on Gosport side by 4 forts, besides a platform of
above 20 cannon, level with the water; and on the other side by South-Sea-Castle, built by Hen. VIII. A fort of suburb has
been lately built, which is like to out-strip the T. itself, for number of inh. and the beauty of the houses; and the
rather, as it is independent on the laws of the garrison, and free from the duties and services of the corp. This T. gave
title of Dss. to Louisa de Querouile, a favourite mistress of K. Cha. II. as it does now of E. to the Rt. Hon. John
Wallop, Ld. Visc. Lymington. The Mts. here are T. Th. and S. the Fair June 29, for a fortnight.