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T> >5> >•> ;j- >> ft - THE HISTORY OF PORTSMOUTH, HENRY ''SLIGHT, ESQ, PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS. 138*. THE MILITARY HISTORY PORTSMOUTH. i by HENRY SLIGHT, ESQ > - ° PORTSMOUTH : SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS. HISTORY OF PORTSMOUTH, The Towns of Portsmouth, Portsea, Landport, Southsea, and the suburbs, situate at the south-west point of the island of Portsea, seventy miles from London ; form, with the Harbour, and Gosport and its suburbs on the opposite shore, the celebrated sea-port called Portsmouth, The Town of Portsmouth dates its origin from the reign of Richard the First, whose ministers perceiving the advantagous situation of the land at the mouth of the noble inlet of the sea, and at the bottom of the capacious roadstead or bay, solicited from the King a royal charter for the then small fishing village or town standing on the beach; the monarch concurring in their request, established the royal borough on certain portions of the lands of the island of Portesay which were in the possession of the crown, and retaining in his own power the feudal or territorial rights, incorporated the place under the title of " our borough of Portsmouth," granted to such as were willing to become resident inhabitant householders or Burgesses, cer- tain powers of holding marts and fairs, and exempted them from many secular exactions to which the inhabitants of other places (not being boroughs) were liable. The King also granted the following, (being a part of the Great Seal of the Monarch), as the HERALDIC CREST OF THE BOROUGH, a Crescent of Gold on a Shield of azure, with a blazing star of eight rays of silver between the horns. The shield surmounted by an Escallop shell of Silver, and surrounded by an enrichment of golden scales of fish and triton shells, emblematical of its situation " on the margent of the Silver Sea." THE COMMON SEAL OF PORTSMOUTH was probably executed in the reign of Edward the First, and consists of two parts — on the Obverse is a Ship riding on a Stormy Sea, with her anchor at the side. Two figures in the act of rowing occupy the space behind the mast ; two others placed on the forecastle are blowing long trumpets, while two more are busily engaged on the yard unfolding the sail. The mast is supported by strong four-cord rigging, and on the summit is a flag, with three indents ; rigging" also passes from the mast to the head and stern of the vessel, and the poop is elevated and square, and appears to contain a figure.—* This part passes into the circle which contains the words SIGIL- LVM * COMMVNE * DE * PORTEMVTHA. The Common Seal of Portsmouth. This portion of the Seal corresponds very nearly to that of Southampton and other sea ports, and is emblema- tical of the jurisdiction of th? Port by the ancient Bailiffs of the Town, to whom the royal mandates were usually addressed relative to naval affairs. The reverse represents a rich gothic shrine, and is altogether of an Ecclesiastical character. The shrine is divided into* three pointed arches, surmounted by pinnacles, ornamented with tre- foils, crockets and finals : In the centre one, on a pedestal, stands the figure of the Virgin and Child ; in the right hand arch, St. Ni- cholas, and in the left St. Thomas, both with mitres, episcopally robed, and having in their hands crooked Croziers. The inscription round runs thus : PORTVM : VIRGO : IVVA : NICHOLAE : FOVE : ROGE : THOMA :— "This port O Virgin assist I O Saint Nicholas cherish ! O Thomas pray for," and these prayers were ad- dressed to the Virgin, in whose honor a Chapel was dedicated in the town, to St. Nicholas, as the especial protector of mariners* to whom was dedicated the hospital of Domus Dei, and to St* Thomas as the Patron of the Town Church. The workmanship of this portion of the seal is of the finest kind, and it was most probably executed by some eminent man. " The parishes of St. Thomas and St. Mary Colewort, in the town of Portsmouth, are one parish (though anciently two), blended and consolidated, now known by the name, and called the Parish of Portsmouth, cannot now be divided, and therefore the whole must be deemed and considered as one." Boundaries of the Parish of Portsmouth commences at low-water mark, one hundred paces to the south-east of the Hot-walls (King's Ravelin) \ proceed in a northerly direction into the large moat, cross the little moat close to the right-hand wall of the large moat till the small spur leading to Land port-bridge is reached ,' cross the moat again, proceed along the outer wall to Landport-bridge ; then i\ong; the moat, close to the outer wall, to nearly opposite the angle formed by the line from Quay (now King George's) gate, cross the road (by permission) to the King's-mill, keep close to the Mill ; follow that lines to the Bastion, at Mill-gate ; mount the Bastion, descend on the oppo- site side close to the Portcullis, thence in a direct line (intersecting ob- liquely the foot bridge and water) to the centre of the Gun-wharf large gates, thence in a direct line to the Store-keeper's house, halfway through this house, up three steps to the left ; proceed in that line ; de- scend three steps to the right, follow the course of the entry to the garden fence, thence to a pear-tree in the First Clerk's garden, thence to a small chimney in the superintendant's laundry (late Spencer's), thence to the angle of the wall, touching the Common Hard, thence along the Harbour line, and cross over to the Point from the nearest angle. Secondly, from the left hand of Spring-street, or on an angle to No. 7, to Martyr-yard, in Fountain-street, then in a line inter- secting the chimneys of the double line of houses, straight on by the Jate Marine Infirmary, including the water-course, to the weigh- bridge, and from the corner of Halfway Houses to the corner of the Weigh-bridge-house, including the waste land formed by the angle." The principal streets in Portsmouth, which are handsome, well- built, and neatly paved, run in parallel lines, and are intersected by others of less note at right angles. The High-street divides the town into two equal parts. In it are the principal inns, libraries, shops, and banks. On the north side are St. Thomas, Crown, Warblington, Pro- spect, and King streets : Penny-street is towards the south ; in it are the gaol, some large barracks, and various mercantile establishments ; and|beyond is St. Nicholas-street, containing barracks for soldiers. St. Mary's-street is the principal cross street, and the great thorough- fare to Portsea. In a line with it are White Horse street and Barrack- street {formerly Peacock-lane). A second range of cross streets is towards the centre of the town, and the principal carriage-road to Portsea ; viz. Lombard-street, Red Lion-lane, Pembroke-street (formerly Fighting-cock-lane, and more anciently Genmell-street,) and Green-row, which last is the principal road to Southsea through King Williarn's Gate. A third cross street, called Oyster-street, passes from the Quay-gate to the Grand Parade, a large square space, which communicates with the Ramparts, and is used as a military Parade Ground ^ beyond this is a Paddock, formerly the lawn of the Government House, and more anciently the close of the HOSPITAL OF DOMUS DEI. The space commonly called $he Point extends from the lower end of High-street (where it passes King James' s-gate), and in aline with it through Broad-street down to the water's edge, forming an island suburb, surrounded by a lake or camber: it is broad and well paved, containing many very ex- tensive mercantile establishments, shops, inns, &c. On one side is «an open space called Bath-square, and several streets, viz. East, West, Tower, and St. James-streets, branch off in opposite directions* About seventy years ago there were a number of small houses ir* the centre of Broad-street, called Fisherman r s-row, about one hun- dred and fifty feet in length, and situated nearly opposite to what is now the Blue Post hotel. A stake with a large iron ring Was placed in the ground at one end of this row, at which it was customary or* every Shrove Tuesday to bail a bull. 1809 — June 24th, on the beach at this part of the town, a dread- ful explosion took place, attended with most serious consequences. — The 2d battalion of the 8th regiment, having disembarked from foreign service, left for several days their baggage and ammunition on the shore : about eleven o'clock A. M. an old woman, who had been sitting for some time on one of the casks of gunpowder smok- ing her pipe, incautiously emptied it among the baggage, when one of the barrels immediately exploded. The effects were dreadful — more than thirty men, women and children, were literally blown to atoms m T their bodies presented the most awful spectacle, and limbs and heads were strewed in all directions, and several taken from the very tops of the adjoining houses. .Some idea may be formed of the explosion, by one poor fellow being thrown over a considerable extent of building into an adjoining street, the figure of whose man- gled body we saw impressed on the front of the house against which it fell ; and a thigh of another was found a considerable distance up the Broad-street, whilst scarcely a single pane of window for near half the length of the street remained unbroken, and a great part of the store-rooms adjoining were completely destroyed. The bar- rel that exploded stood in a tier with sixteen others, which were ex- pected every moment to blow up : a company of soldiers with a few resolute sailors at their head, aided by the inhabitants, removed the remaining barrels and prevented destruction to the greater part of the town. The very woman who was the cause of the explosion^ strange to say, remained unhurt I On the beach stand the wharves and stores of Mr. Lindegren, agent for the India Company ; and the Star and Garter and Quebec taverns ; about the centre of Broad-street is the Baltic Wharf, erected by Messrs. Burridge, and over it a lofty square tower ; the well-known London waggon and coach-offices are behind the Blue Posts inn ; and in Bath square and Broad-street are the various establishments connected with the shipping interests, viz. the offices of the several consulates, agents, water-companies, the Bethel Chapel and School, the Watch- house, Steam-packet offices, Coal-exchansres, the offices of the Ame- rican Packets, (formerly the Custom House) and many others. At the lower end of Broad -stTeet is the ferry from Portsmouth io Gosport, regulated by act of parliament, proper fares according to the state of the weather being affixed. It is better to take a boat at a trifling expense, and thus avoid trouble, importunity and delay : the boats are excellent and the seamen very expert ; they are to be obtained here and at the Portsea Hard for all places within the har- bour, and at the Sally Port, for Spithead, Isle of Wight, &c. Pack- ets, steam-vessels, &c. aTe also constantly sailing for the different ports in the neighbourhood, information respecting which can be obtained at the different offices add at the hotels. The fare for each person from Portsmouth or Portsea to GospoTt is one penny, or in foul weather twopence, which is shown by a blue flag hoisted on Gosport market-house. A single wherry sixpence, in foul weather one shilling. 1754 — the inhabitants erected in Bath-square, Broad-street, (to which it gives name) a Bathing-house, containing four baths, dressing-rooms, &c. It is close to the Quebec hotel, plentifully sup- plied with water, and, though small, is a convenient and comfortable place. A landing place or pier has been erected near the Custom House Watch house (1837). The capabilitities of this part of the town are very great for mercantile speculators. It is surrounded by the sea, has within its grasp as it were, a fine Basin, and by a judicious erec- tion of Wharves and Docks, might be rendered a most valuable appendage to the Town and Port. Proposals have been often made for converting the Camber into Docks ; we trust the time is not far distant when such a plan may be carried into execution. It has undergone a survey, and plans have been published by Mr, Owen, of the High Street, Portsmouth, and Mr. Livesay of Portsea. MILITARY HISTORY, FORTIFICATIONS, CASTLES, BARRACKS, &c. The earliest record of the Fortification of Portsmouth is found in one of the Patent rolls of the Thirteenth year of Edward the Third, where occurs an order or Royal mandate for enclosing with walls [claudend] paving with stone and improving our Town of Portsmouth. King Richard the Third made ^William Uvedale, Knight, Keeper of Portsmouth, Supervisor and Governor at the King's pleasure, and afterwards the same King appointed William Mirfelde to the like office, together with the custody of Portchester. These appointments may be found in the Harleian Library, No. 433 : 121. 6 PORTSMOUTH IN 1546. " There is at this point of the haven Portsmouth Town and a great round Tower almost double in quantity and strength to that that is on the West side of the haven right again it : and here is a mighty chain of iron to draw from tower to tower.'' " The town of Portesmuth is muried from the est tour a forough length withe a mudde waulle armid with tymbre, whereon be great peaces both ofyron and brassen ordinances, and this peace of waulle having a diche without it, runnith so far flat south-south-east, and is the place moste apte to defende the toun there open to the hauen : ther runnith a diche almost flat est for a space, and wythin it is a waulle of mudde like to the other, and so there goeth rounde aboute the toun to the circuite of a myle : there is a gate of tymbre at the north est of the toun, and bye it is cast up an hille of erth diched, whereon be gunnesto defend the entre into the toun by land. I learned in the toun that the tourres in the hauen mouth were begun in King Edward iv. tyme, and set forwarde yn building by Richard iij. ; King Ilenrie viij. ended them at the procuration of Fox, Bishop of Win- chester. King Henry the vij. of late tymesette in Portesmuth capi- taines and certen soldiours in garrison."* 1551, May 20, Sir Richard Wingfield, Rogers and were appointed to view the state of Portsmouth and to bring again their opinions concerning fortifying thereof. FROM KING EDWARD'S JOURNAL. August 8th, Removing to Portesmuth : 9th, in the morning I went to Chateris bulwark and viewed also the town ; in the afternoon went to see the storehouse, and then took a boat and went to the wooden tower and so to Hazleford ; upon viewing of which things ill, it then was devised two forts to be made upon the entry of the Haven— one where Ridley's tower standeth upon the north which maketh the Camber. The other upon a little neck standing on the other side the haven where stood an old Bulwark of wood. This was devised for the strength of the haven. It was meant that that to the town side should be both stronger and larger ; 10th, Henry Dudley lay at Portsmouth with a warlike company of 140 good sol- diers. The tower here mentioned is the Round or " KING EDWARD'S TOWER," at the entrance, which has been of late years considerably enlarged and raised. The line of covered batteries extending from it was * From Leland's Itinerary, Vol. 3, Page 112— Edition 1796. erected by James the Second, whose initials and crown still appeal* on almost every key-stone, with the date. The ancient Sally-port with its small turret has been demolished, and the passage consider- ably enlarged and improved. In front of this line of fortification lay buried in the shingle the enormous chains used to defend the en- trance of the port. A part may still be seen on Block-house beach. In the American disturbance, the capstans were repaired behind the round tower, and on the opposite shore, and the chains were raised and tightened at the time a French fleet was hovering off Plymouth. From an old engraving it appears there was a considerable embank- ment on the sea-side of the tower, about one hundred years since- A low wall passes across the camber moat, (enclosing a covered way and staircase) to the ancient batteries on each side the lower gate- way, which contain covered chambers, the windows of which have been closed up : above are platforms to which broad flights of stone steps lead on each side. GOVERNOR GIBSON. " The people of Portsmouth tell strange stories of the severity of one Gibson who was governor of this place in the Queen's time, to his soldiers, and show you a miserable dungeon near the town-gate, which they call ' Johnny Gibson's Hole,' where for trifling misde- meanors he used to confine his soldiers till they were almost starved to death." On the death of Anne, John Carter (the grandfather of the late John Carter) being in the Royal Exchange, was a spectator of the ceremony of the proclamation of George the First. Having finished his business, he immediately set off for Portsmouth on foot. On his arrival here, on August the 3rd, he promulgated the news. Parties at that time ran high, and many expressed hopes that the House of Brunswick would not succeed to the dominions of these realms. Among the most zealous of the Jacobites here was Gibson, the Governor, who threatened Mr. Carter with imprisonment for what he termed a false and seditious report.* KING JAMES'S GATE, is a structure in the Venetian stile, with double Corinthian pilasters on each side the archway, an entablature supporting a circular tower, and ball, and ornamental spires on each side. The inscription is IACOBVS : SECVNDVS : A : R : III : AN : DOM : 1687. On * From a brief memoir of the late Dr. Bay ley of Chichester, who was related to the Carter family. 8 the key-Stone are the initals I R, surmounted by an imperial crowd, with the date 1687, and below the Ordnance arms, three cannon on a shield. A heavy drawbridge is in front. About fifty years since, during a tempest, the marble ball fell from the summit of the tower of the gate, and split into fragments at the feet of two ladies who were passing at the time. The gate- way remained in a very dilapidated state till 1826, when being un- der repair, the inscription, which was nearly obliterated, was restored. On June 29th the repairs were completed, and the present immense marble ball placed on the summit. A lofty stone wall, through which is the opening called the New Sallyport or King's Stairs, reaches to the ANCIENT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. Before the dissolution of the Priory of God's House, this square building was the residence of the Governor ; at a later period it was converted into a powder-magazine for the garrison, and used as such for many years. It was probably erected in the reign of Edward III. or Richard the III. as it appears delineated in Holbein's picture of the Wars of Henry VIII. In 1623-4, the inhabitants erected, in a circular niche on the centre of the northern front, a BRASS BUST OF CHARLES THE FIRST, richly gilt, encircled by a wreath of laurel and oak ; and in basso relievo below, the royal arms. The small slab above the bust, with the name, seems of modern date. The following inscription was on a square stone : " King Charles the First : after his travels through France and Spain, and having passed many dangers both by sea and land, he arrived here the 4th day of October, 1623: there was the greatest applause of joy for his safety throughout the kingdom that ever was known or heard of." The statue was re- gilt in 1814. " Our most nobell Prince Charles arrived at Portsmouth the fifth of October, from Spaine, 1623, being Sondaye at 9 o'clock in the morning."* " OFF WITH YOUR HATS" ! ! ! OR REVERENCE TO ROYAL STATUES. General the Lord Viscount Wimbledon to the Mayor of Portsmouth. Mr. Mayor and the rest of your Brethren — " Whereas at my last being at Portsmouth I did recommend the beautifying of your streets by setting in the signs of your inns to the * From the fly-leaf of an old copy of "Elyofs Governor j" written by an eye- witness named Lilly. tiouses, as they are in all civilized towns, so now I must recommend it to you most earnestly in regard of his Majestie's figure or statue, that it hath pleased his Majestie to honor your Town with more than any others : so that these signs of your Inns do not only obscure his Majestie's figure, but outface it, as you yourselves may well perceive. Therefore 1 desire you all, that you will see that such an inconve- niency be not suffered ; but that you will cause against the next spring, that it be redressed, for that any disgrace offered his Majes- tie's figure is as much as to himself. To which end I will and com- mand all the officers and soldiers not to pass it by without putting off their hats. I hope I shall need use no other authority to make you do it; for that it concerneth your obedience to have it done, especially now you are told of it by myself. Therefore I will say no more but wish health to you all, and so rest your assured loving friend, WIMBLEDON.* Oct. 22, 1635. To the west of the Government House was a few years ago a part of the Victualling Department, of which the following is the account : July 9, 1713. • Lieut.-Colonel Archer represented to the Board of Ordnance, that certain stores, intended to be built on the Quay, would be in front of one of the batteries of the Garrison. Jonas Hanway, Esq. came to Portsmouth, to ascertain the expense of con- verting the old Magazine into a store, and the Ordnance gave consent that the Commissioners of the Victualling-board should take posses- sion of it, instead of building stores on the Quay : which they did on July 10, 1779, making the necessary alterations, and erecting an new slaughter-house on a piece of waste-ground adjoining, from the design of Mr. Thomas Hoskins, at an expense of 1382/. 4*. 9d„ This was removed a few years ago. The Board of Admiralty erected, in 1823, above the roof of the Magazine, a Semaphore for transmission of signals, which is effected between this and London in three minutes. It is of wood, framed and bolted, and contains several apartments, and a variety of beauti- ful mechanism. The entrance is on the Platform, and carried by an archway over the roof; from the square, at the summit, rises the mechanism of the Semaphore and a flag-staff. But few traces of the original appropriation of this old Government-house can now be discovered. Previous to the repairs, (1827) traces of four windows could be discerned on the sea-side, and a species of loop-hole in the From Stafford's Letters and Despatches. B 10 centre ; three on the north side* and traces of several nea¥ the ground, which afforded light to vaults. There are indications of four large windows on the east, and one towards the west. Within on the ground-floor, is an old-fashioned stone doorway (with iron hinges for a door,) leading to a passage now closed up ; and a second appears at the eastern extremity. On the next floor are only the brick arches of the Magazine. The external walls are eight feet thick, and on the western side seventeen. The building having been lined with brickwork, no clue to the internal arrangement of the apartments can be traced. A doorway opens through the sea-wall to a wooden wharf, called the Beef Stage, which projects into the sea, to enable vessels to approach for supplies of fresh provision. It is by the staircase near this wharf, that persons of rank generally en- ter the Garrison. During the visit of the Lord High Admiral, the Semaphore was magnificently illuminated. The sea-wall is now entirely restored and strengthened. Several portions of the Fortification were originally erected from the proceeds of a Lottery for Plate which was drawn in 1569, by order of Elizabeth at the West-end of St. Paul's Cathedral. In October, 1586, the Privy Council gave warrant to Stephen Bull, Master-Gunner, to take note of all such Ordnance as was needful to be supplied to the Town of Portsmouth and the New Fortifications there, and what number of Gunners the same would require. (This account is in the Harleian Library — (368-54.) At this period Richard Popinjaye was Surveyor of the works. In 1587 an abstract of the charge of the New Works was returned to the Council, and letters were addressed to the Lord Treasurer. (These are also in the Harleian Library No. 6845-23.) In 1623, an extensive survey was made by the officers of the Ordnance, of the works, and barracks and other remarkables, importing the King's ser- vice in Southsea Castle and Portsmouth. (Harl : Lib : 1326. ) 1665. — Sir Philip Honey wood, Governor. He planted the Trees on the Walls of Portsmouth. Between the Government House and the Sally-port is the Military Prison, and the Residence of one of the Gunners. Next appears the Platform Battery, which commands a magnifi- cent sea view. Here is a sun-dial : and a few years since a Sema- phore stood in the centre. A Signal-house on this bastion was erec- ted in the reign of Elizabeth, as appeared from the date, 1569, in a nook at the extremity. Adjoining was the state chamber, over the door of which was a marble slab, bearing this inscription : "CARO- LVS : 11 : AN : REG : XXXIHI : A : D : 1682." It was used 11 for courts-martial ; but sold by auction Dec. 5, 1827, and demolished. At a short distance anciently stood a semicircular tower, from the foot of which to the situation of the Hot-wall Bastion was an arm of the sea, reaching to the Governor's green, and communicating with the moats, which were thus filled at every tide : by the erec- tion of the new works, the extension of the Platform, &c. in 1733, it has been enclosed, and the sea is now admitted by a sluice. This battery mounts twenty-one pieces of cannon, used for salutes ; and at one extremity were four remarkable cannon of tremendous calibre ; and on the King's Bastion (being the next towards the East) many others of the same proportions. They were taken in L'Impetuex in Lord Howe's vtctory of the 1st. of June, 1794, and were much ad- mired. They are now removed. On the latter battery are many large bombs ; and beneath is a vast Magazine. The Garrison flag is displayed on this part of the works ; and a cannon is daily fired at the rising and setting of the sun. In the front towards the sra, is a strong ravelin with a bridge across the moat, and at equal distances all round the towns, these smaller outworks flank the curtains of the inner wall. At a short distance from the King's Bastion is KING WILLIAM THE IV's GATE, Erected in 1833-4 — in lieu of a small postern called the Spur Gate, leading to Southsea ; passing which we reach the avenue of Trees, and see several batteries used for parade grounds, the exterior of the barracks, and the town of Southsea to the east of the walls : and after a circuit of some extent, reach the LANDPORT, OR ST. THOMAS GATE-WAY, the principal entrance to the town, consisting of a fine plain arch- way, surmounted by a tower and dome, with large drawbridges across the moats ; two guard-houses, and a smaller gateway for foot passengers, at a little distance. At this gate, the interesting ceremony of delivering up the keys of the garrison by the Lieuten- ant-Governor takes place whenever the Sovereign visits Portsmouth. During this the gates are closed ; until the keys being returned to the proper officers, the royal command is given "to throw open the gates of his Majesty's fortress, that the King may enter." The crown above the inner part of this gateway was found about forty years ago, in the rubbish above the arch when the earth was re- moved for some repairs. It formed the keystone of the ancient n gate ; had been removed during the Commonwealth ; and wasrecnf* and placed in its present situation, by the late Mr, James Hay, of Queen-street, Portsea. At the side of the small gate-way was formerly a stately elm-tree, of noble size ; it projected from the walls which had been built round it. Through this gate pass the water-pipes of the different companies. The flag-staff was erected October 2, 1800 ; and the Magazine on the adjacent bastion has been rebuilt (1827,) Within the gateway and on the Ravelin are Guard-houses. The Walls continue to encir- cle the Town, passing the Colewort Barracks and St Mary's Close y and having in front the Mill Dam and the Town of Portsea, with the Mill Redoubt, till the passenger reaches the Gateway or Wicket leading to the Dock-road through the Fortification : here they turn to the South-west, and are not so strong or lofty. The Sea formerly reached this portion of the works ; and all the Fortifications on the South-west side of the Town are now in the opinion of competent judges, useless, inasmuch as the arsenal and stores are exterior ta them. It has been more than once proposed to remove them; add- ing the space thus gained to the New Naval Gunwharf and making the road along Prospect-row from Portsmouth to Portsea. Among the privy-purse expenses of King Henry the 8th, is the following curious entry. " July 20, 1532, paid to Xpofer Morys y Gunner, Cornelys Johnson, the Master-Smith, and Henry Johnson for their costs in riding to Portsmouth to view the King's Ordnance there, by the space of ten days at ten shillings the day, £ : V." 1708, March. An act passed for appointing Commissioners to treat and agree for certain tenements, land, &c. as shall be judged proper for better fortifying Portsmouth. On the 13th of June, 1709, Sir Richard Onslow, Bart, and others,, were appointed Commissioners to treat and agree for lands as shall be necessary for better fortifying Portsmouth, and for putting into force an act of Parliament." The Walls pass towards the Camber, having in front the Custom House and the Quay, till they pass a large battery crowned with Trees and reach KING GEORGE'S GATE, a noble structure, in the rustic style, adorned with massive pillars, and entablature of grand proportions. Above are various apartments (formerly the offices of the Governor,) and on the inner side, a large Guard-house. Before the erection of the present Gate, (seventy years since,) the entrance was through an open arch in the wall, twelve 13 feet southward towards the Cage, traces of which are still discernible ; and at the extremity of Crown-street was a small wicket, now closed by stonework, but the shape of which may still be discovered. Be- tween the Quay and King James's-gate is an ancient Bastion, with circular portholes, commanding the drawbridge ; on two sides ap- pear, in bold sculpture, the initials, " I. R. 1687.*' Here is the Military Hospital. The circle of military defence is completed by a stone wall of varying height, which passes along the inner Camber in front of Oyster-street and White-hart-row, till it reaches the batte- ries at King James's Gate. For the purpose of real defence, this wall must, from its height, be utterly useless ; its removal, or the allowing of openings in it for egress to the merchant-shipping in the harbour, would be a very great accommodation, or its site might be advantageously occupied by a line of Wharves. In the colonnade of fine elms on the Ramparts, is a large rookery. The first pair settled in March, 1820. On the southern side of the Bastion, opposite King's-terrace, is in- scribed in large letters, " W. Legge, 1679." He was Governor about the time Parliament granted 6931/. for repairs. James and William made great additions; and, since 1770, many others have been effected at vast expence. The whole of the moats can be readily filled with water up to the bridges. A spacious glacis and covert-way surrounds the Forti- fications on the land side, forming, with them, nearly a quadrangle. From the bottom of the moat, rises a perpendicular stone wall, fifteen feet in height, with a double parapet for small arms upon the mound, planned in bastions and curtains. The bastions regularly flank each other ; and in the angles project the ravelins and spurs in all directions. These have been, of late years, planted with wal- nut-trees and quickset hedges. The moats were, in 1820, repaired and improved, by narrowing and deepning the trenches. The waters abound with eels, as they formerly did with mullet ; and in one part is a remarkable spring of water of the purest quality. " In the Rampart-walls of Portsmouth, where the Portland stone is kept soft by the earth behind, the fragments which fall by the action of the amosphere exactly resemble those of chalk. The mortar used in the erection is that from Butser's-hill, near Peters- field." July 29, 1714. While the Queen lay ill, the Duke of Ormond gave orders for doubling the guards, and assembling the troops : and Portsmouth was put in a posture of defence. The garrison of Portsmouth generally consists of three regiments 14 of Infantry, a division of Royal Marines and Mariner Atillery, detach- ments of Royal Artillery, and Engineers for repairing the works. These troops are engaged in protecting the Arsenal and public buildings ; and in a siege it would require 14,000 men to fully gar- rison this place. " 1726, at present Portsmouth is only manned by about one hundred invalids." The staff officers are a lieutenant- governor, aide-de-camp, major, quarter-master-general, town major, adjutant, clerk to lieutenant-governor, chaplain, physi-cian, sur- geon, commandant of royal artillery, barrack-masters, &c. ; the office of governor has been abolished. "MILITARY DISCIPLINE!!" August, 1819. His Grace the Duke of Wellington arrived here, and proceeded to the Dock-yard. His Grace afterwards took a hasty survey of the lines of the Garrison ; duiing which a fine trait of discipline was shown by a soldier of the Royal Marine Artillery, who, though the person of the Noble Duke had been pointed out to him, on seeing him advance upon the lines to look over into the ditch, instantly proceeded to warn the Master-general of the Ord- nance off, and which order was as promptly obeyed as it was given. GUARD HOUSES. The main Guard-house of Portsmouth is on the Parade, near the Platform Battery, and was erected in the reign of George the Third. About 1710 the Guard-house stood much nearer High-street, across the Parade, it is thus depicted in some of the plans of that period. A second smaller Guard-house is near King James* Gate ; this had formerly an arched colonade in front, projecting across the pavement. A third Guard is at King William's, a fourth and fifth at the Landport, a sixth at King George's Gates, and a seventh at the Mill Redoubt. At all these, sentinels keep watch both by day and night, as well as at most of the smaller postern gates leading from the Garrison. ST. MARY'S OR THE COLEWORT BARRACKS. " 1694. There are three small parcells of glebe within the towne, one is neare a small acre of land called the Vicar's Close, neare the Land Port, wich more than fourteen yeares agoe the officers of the Ordnance tooke up, to erect thereon an hospital for the garrison, wich was done, and is since turned into a barracks for lodging of soldiers. I had much trouble about it and was a great loser, but at last got forty shillings yearly rent, which, after seven years delay and frequent attendance and application to superiors, I gained, being part seven years r?nt together, and since have with some trouble gained an order for the payment here by a clerk of that office alwaye resident in garrison. Kg. Charles y e 2d did promise some further compensation for his seizure of that land, and destroying the vicar's tithes in the several parishes neare the towne, wich were purchased of the owners to enlarge the Fortifications ; but I could never by any friendes procure the settlement of aught while the king lived, and had feint hopes aftewards to expect aught."* The above extract is curious, as showing the date of the erection of the Colewort Barracks, which extend some hundred feet, pre- senting a fine range of buildings, three stories high, having in front a parade-ground of large size, at the extremity of which is a building corresponding in style, formerly used as an armoury. In the front is a bold armorial sculpture of the English arms in alto- relievo. Behind is a second space of ground with ranges of sta- bling ; and on the opposite side, the apartments of the officers of the Royal Artillery. Government have lately purchased a large piece of laud adjoining the barracks for 2000/. and (April 1827) many old and ruinous houses near the Parish house have been demolished and a Guard-house erected. ROYAL MARINE BARRACKS. Leland, in his New Year's Gift to Henry viij. states as follows : " 1613. King Henrie the vij. at his flrste warres into Fraunce erected in the southe parte of the toune vii great bruing houses with the implements to serve his shippes at such tyme as they shoul go to the se in tyme of warre." A part of the houses here described remained till 1825, and were latterly known as the Shot-locker. They were of stone, with lofty roofs, and the walls of great thickness. " 1723, April 17. Samuel Shepherd erected on his Mat ies ground, near the Fourhouse Barracks, a series of buildings, in breadth, feet 211, and in length on the east side next the ramparts, on the south next the barracks, and on the west to the gateway, feet 474, and on the west next Pennie-street [St. Nicholas-street ?] 125 feet long, * Extract of a letter from Thomas Heather, Vicar of Portsmouth, to Doctor Nicholas, Warden of the college of Wioton. " 16 including the gateway, to contain six shops, fifty-six feet long, the remainder for stores, an office for the superintendent, and lodges for watchmen, a weighing-machine, twenty-five feet long, seasoning- house, forty feet long, and a long storehouse. The elevation to be thirty-two feet high, to contain on the east side three stories, and on the side next Pennie-street two stories : the whole to be com- pleted by the 15th of October, 1723. The foundations to be dug out three feet, and the yard paved. The old wall to be pulled down, and a new rain-watern cistern erected, and a large well to be sunk. The whole being for his Mat ies new cooperadge, and for which Sam- uel Shepherd, master bricklayer, was paid two thousand four hundred ninetie-four pounds and eleven pence farthing. The coppers, &c. to be furnished by Andrew Niblett of St. Edmund the King, Lon- don, fitted the same year at 9/. per cwt. and 42/. for a cistern ; and the joiners' and house-carpenters' work by Henry Stannyford, Esq* of Portsmouth, which together with all the painting was finished on Nov. 1, 1723, at a cost of 2000/." 1753 and 1756. On the removal of the Cooperage to Woevil, these stores were converted into marine barracks; and in 1823-4, the old Shot locker and several outhouses in a kind of garden or close, surrounded by a lofty, ruinous stone wall, being part of the original Storehouse close, at the extremity, were demolished, and a series of new brick buildings erected on the site, for the marine artillery and officers. The whole united barracks now form a length- ened square, the principal entrance being opposite Barrack-street. In the mess-room are several good paintings: George 111. by Northcote ; Lord Barham, and Lord St. Vincent, by Sir W. Beechey ; Earl Sandwich, by Zophani ; William IV. ■Several charitable funds, schools, and a library, exist in this divi- sion of royal marines. In St. Nicholas-street, in a line with the last-mentioned Quarters, stand the FOREHOUSE BARRACKS, for infantry ; built about sixty years since, on the site of some gavel-fronted houses, with a low gallery on the outside, then used as quarters for the Invalids (or Old Fogeys). The doors were at this time so low that it was an amusement to watch them, in their enormous cocked hats, emerge from their habitations. In the reign of Elizabeth this place was vacant land, called Forehouse close. The present erection will lodge a thousand men and their officers, conveniently. 17 Battle of Portsmouth. tAt the close of the American War, the Athol Highlanders were ordered to embark here tor the East Indies. Having enlisted for service only during the -war, they refused, and ■disarmed their Officers on the Grand Parade. The Main Guard, consisting of the Royal Invalids, endeavoured to quell the tumfdt, but having no ammunition, were marching off for for the Lieut-Governor's house (late the Port-Admirals) was, exchange of the Fire-barn on? Southsea Common with ten years arrears of rental; the Old Slaughter House Store, ou which stands the Semaphore, with forty years arrears of rental^ and** fefteen hundred pounds in hard cash. 19 now forms the Green-room of the Theatre. On the removal of the Admiral's offices to the Dockyard in 1 830 these premises were advertised for sale, but on the urgent representations of many na- val men on the utter impropriety of the removal of the Admiral to the Dock, a place from which no view of Spithead and the fleet could be obtained, the sale was stopped, and the house given over to the barrack department : since the occupancy of General Mac Mahon it has undergone much improvement and repair. The garden .behind is extensive, and the stabling and offices are in St Thomas's-street The former mansion of the Lieutenant-Governor was in St. Thomas-street, near the wicket of the Landport-gate ; consisting of a comfortable dwelling, with a garden, and all the requisite stabling, was purchased from an eminent medical character some years since, and handsomely fitted up. This is now appropriated for officer's quarters. The quarters of the Marine Artillery were in the centre of the High-street, next the residence of the Admi- ral; consisting of a large house, purchased in 1825 from the fa- mily of the late W. Turner, Esq., an eminent wine-merchant In the garden behind were (1827) erected commodious Mess-rooms; but on the breaking up of the corps, the property was sold to Francis Sharpe, Esq., and pulled down, except the mess-rooms., The Marine Officers have also quarters in a large house in Lom- bard-street The residence of the Commandant of the Royal Marines is the house in St. Thomas'-street, formerly the Agent- Victuallers, built about 1700. It is a noble mansion, having a flight of steps in front. On the sale of the Victualling Offices on September the 17th, 1828, the house, with the gardens, and much other property was purchased by J. S. Hulbert, Esq. from whom (immediately after its sale by Government) it was rented for the Marine service. The close and gardens in Green-row, extending to the parade, are appropriated to the use of the Lieutenant-Governor. These are secured by walls on the side of Penny-street and Green-row, and by the ramparts on the east and south. In one corner is an enclosed space in front of the magazine, and a low arch-way and bridge leads to the Spur or Hot-wall battery on the beach. THE NAVAL GUN-WHARF. See those deep-throated engines, whose huge roar Imbowels with outrageous noise the air, Chained thunderbolts and hail Of iron globes. milton. This arsenal is situate on the edge of the Harbour, or laadgain" 20 ed from the sea ; and was commenced in 1797, acting on the sug- gestions of General Bentham, for the improvement and enlargement of the Ordinance Wharf, in concert with the officers of the Ordnance- department at this place ; and so as to combine that extension with the general outline of embankment suitable to the improvement in this ; port : and, " the providing additional storehouse room for the use of the victualling department,, in a manner far more economical,, as weE as convenient^ than that already ordered to be obtained, by bearing the expense of the erection of a new storehouse for the use the Ordnance department." The land was raised above its former level by the Earth excavated from the new South Dock in the Naval arsenal, as may he seen from the following item : " Expenses of cartage of soil to the New Gun- wharf in I800 r with extra allowance for ditto, 1672/. 1&. 6d; 51,694% cube yards being removed." On Thursday, November 28th, 181 1, the foundation stone of the large Storehouse on the New Naval Gun-wharf was laid by William y Duke of Clarence. Soon after 12 o'Clock, His Royal Highness was received by Lieutenant-General Whetham and the principal officers of the garrison and a guard of honour. The company proceeded to> the bottom of the foundation, attended by General Eveleigh, when a bed was prepared, to which the Duke put the finishing stroke,, and a fine block of Portland Stone was lowered down, upon which was an appropriate inscription ; and in the centre was fixed a brass box, containing the coins of the realm ; on the ceremony being concluded, the band struck up, " God save the King/' and the Duke retired amid the loud cheers of the multitude. The building of brick and stone presents a massive front towards the Town, and three sides of a square towards the Harbour, having in the centre, a noble archway, surmounted by a lofty tower and cupola, containing an excellent clock. This building contains gun- carriages and every description of Sea Ordnance Store, ready at a moment's notice. There is a second long Store near this called "the small Sea Armoury," and not far distant a Magazine built between 1811 and 1814: the former of these was built by the Ordnance, but given up to the Naval department. On one of these the tower and clock was originally placed ; and at the period of the building, the Cam- ber was deepened,, and the mud removed by an invention of a. series of revolving, buckets,, moved by a steam-engine,, on the suggestion of General Bentham, All the buildings here described are in the Parish of Portsmouth. 21 The sum paid by the Navy Board to the Victualling Commissi- oners in 1830 was ; for the long Quay Store, (now the Marine Bar- racks) £13,200; for buildings adjoining (now the Marine Infir- mary,) £3,100. In the Gun-wharf are deposited (on the wharfs) the cannon of the ships of war, new and old ; and between the various stores, pyramidal piles of shot of all dimensions ; mortars of gigantic size, and all the various implements of war. There are also working armories, smiths' shops, a small guard-house, &c. The bounda- ry-wall extends from a short distance behind King George's-gate, along the Portsea road to the King's-mill. It was built in 1803, and in it are two fine gates ; on the piers of one of which are two stone mortars. Before the erection of this wall, this enclosure was by palisades, and a low stone wall of great thickness, bound- ing the sea, through which was the sluice for filling the moats of Portsmouth with water ; it is now enclosed by a door in the wall, between which and the Custom House is a passage and staircase leading to a landing-place. CIVIL HISTORY. MERCANTILE, LITERARY, PAROCHIAL BUILDINGS AND ESTABLISHMENTS. On the road leading to Portsea, in the Parish of Portsmouth, on the Mill-bastion, which is an outwork of the fortification, is si- tuate the King's Mill. Previous to the year 1744, there existed on this spot a mill of small size, but on the 11th of July, in that year, the old mill was taken down, removed, and His Majesty's New Mill commenced by Mr. John Shepherd, who laid the foun- dations, altered and contrived the water-courses, and raised the arches to a level with the roadway ; a Mr. Spriggs performing all the masonry and bridges now leading to Portsea : and on Novem- ber 21, 1745, Mr. Shepherd built and finished the mill, Mr. Tho- mas Read performing all the carpentry, and Mr. Robert Barlow, an eminent millwright, supplying the mill-stones for 360/. and the necessary mechanism for 421/. In 1756, June 21st, the mill not being capacious enough, Mr. Barlow erected a new pair of flood- 22 gates and a great variety of machinery ; and in November, formed a new Tail Mill, which he finished in ten weeks. The difference of the two mills can be readily traced on the exterior. The mas- ter-miller's house was built in 1779 : the expense of the whole es- tablishment being above seven thousand pounds. The building is about a quarter of a mile from the Quay, or King George's-gate, and, being too ponderous for the soil, is erect- ed on piles thirty feet long, and shoed with iron. As a means of working it, a sufBcient quantity of water is admitted into the dam, or mill-pond; at high water the flood-gates are closed, and when the tide has ebbed a little, the water is worked back again into the harbour by a channel, (of sufficient depth to allow vessels of large tonnage to reach the building and discharge their cargoes,) which passes through the new Gun-wharf. At this mill the grain used at the Victualling-office was ground, and, being within the fortifi- cations, could supply the town in case of siege. The average quantity of wheat manufactured here during the late war was three hundred quarters weekly, and during the peace it not only supplied all the flour and biscuit-meal required for this port, but considerable quantities for the department at Deptford. This Building is now the property of the Board of Ordnance and let. The Mill was exchanged in 1833 for other property, with the Ordnance board, being valued at £4,000. THE MILL-DAM OR POND. A branch of the harbour forms the mill-dam, being connected with it by the passage under the King's Mill, and before the finish- ing of the Portsmouth Fortification communicated with the Har- bour, or rather formed an integral part of it. This pond or sheet of water forms the division between Portsmouth and Portsea, is part of its defence, and joins the moats of Portsmouth by a new cut, made in 1819-20. It was anciently, however, much larger than at present, extending to Lake-lane, and behind the residence of the Commandant of Engineers ; also to Queen-street in ano- ther direction, and over various parts of St. George's-square, ren- dering these parts a kind of swamp. The ordnance have at diffe- rent periods taken large portions from it for new work, more es- pecially behind the new Ordnance-offices on the Parade. Its shape was also materially altered by the new Fortifications of Portsea. 23 THE CUSTOM HOUSE. On the external side of George's-gate on the quay, on ground rented of the Corporation, a series of wooden stores were erected in 1811, and the quay greatly enlarged and improved, by the Ord- nance department ; these were given over to the Victualling-board on payment of costs, and in 1830 converted into a new Custom- house, on the removal of the Victualling department to Woevil. The old Custom-house was at the lower end of Broad-street, Forts- mouth, where stood originally a public-house, called the Three Gims, or Ordnance Arms ; afterwards an ordnance store, and then converted into the Custom-house ; subsequent, however, to the original establishment of the denomination, which stood opposite the ancient Quay-gate in Oyster-street — a low stone-fronted house, with small, deep-set windows (now demolished.) The one in Broad-street was erected, in 1785, it was a large, dark brick build- ing, containing all the requisite offices and stores, having in the rear communication with the camber, or lake. In 1783-4, the following notable example of political economy deserves record. It was in contemplation to erect the Custom- house on the site where now stand Mr. Lindegren's wharfs, &c. ; a place the best suited in the whole port for such an important establishment, as not a boat or vessel could leave the Harbour without being seen; a difference of 200/. prevented the plan from being carried into execution, and the officers in the late situation had not even a glimpse of the ocean. In Bath-square is the Custom-house watch-house, in which the boats of the revenue-officers are kept, and watch day and night ; no vessel enters the port without being hailed, and proper inqui- ries made respecting her. 1827— 'There entered this port, in this year, 11,247 tons of Bri- tish ships ; 6856 tons Foreign. The business transacted here is very great, being principally im- port, reaching within these few years 93,000/ per annum : and six thousand sufferances being issued for coastways trade ! Item, 15,264,000 eggs imported from France in one year, paying a duty of 5300/. Portsmouth is a member port to the mother port of Southamp- ton. 1798, imports, 79,000/.; coast duties, 15,500/.; exports, 2000/.— A. D. 1272, Duties on Wine at Southampton and Ports- mouth, 13/. 2s. 3d. A.D. 1798, 22,000/.— A.D. 1815, 137,012/. at Portsmouth only ! What is termed the Port of Portsmouth extends 24 from Hill-head, near the opening of the Southampton water on the west, to the town of Erasworth on the East ; having within its precincts Langstone and Portsmouth havens, Spithead, the Mother-bank, Stokes-bay, St. Helen's harbour, and part of the Solent Sea. The establishment of the Customs consists of a collector, clerks, to ditto, comptroller, clerk to ditto, surveyor, and comptrolling surveyor of warehouses, landing surveyor, searcher, landing waiters, and comptrolling searcher ; jerquer, messenger, warehouse-keeper for bonded goods, coastwaiters for Portsmouth, Gosport, Fare- ham, and Cosham ; tide surveyors, supervisor of riding officers, riding officers, inspecting commander of preventive boats within the port, surveyor's clerk, assistant warehouse-keeper for seized goods, superintendant of quarantine, commanders and mates of cutter. Nine weighers, lockers, and watchmen ; and twenty-eight tide-waiters. The preventive stations are at Southsea Castle, Cumberland Fort, and Hayling Island ; and on the Gosport side, at Stoke's Bay and Hill-head. The sum paid to the Victualling-board by the Customs in July, 1828, for the Quay Store and Wharf, was £8,500; Since then the centre part of the building has been rebuilt and altered at no very inconsiderable expense ; the principal object contemplated by the removal was the prevention of smuggling. This end was accomplished by fixing the Customs Establishment immediately contiguous to the Town Quay. The Property in Broad-street ma- terially suffers by this arrangement. THE CAMBEK, OB MEBCANTILE HABBOtFR lies environed on every side by buildings — being thus bounded ; by the marine barracks, the infirmary, the custom-house-quay, the town quay, the town walls, military hospital, the walls to King James's Gate, the houses in Broad and East-streets, the Baltic wharfs, the stores in East-street, the old custom-house (now the American office) the transport stores and Lindegren's wharf, form- ing within this irregular space a basin for the reception of mer- chant vessels and the coasting craft ; in many parts it is surrounded by wharves, and it was formerly of much greater size, but by the extension of the Naval Gun- wharf in 1797, and the new custom- house-quay, it has suffered some diminution ; the town quay com- municates with Portsmouth by the Quay Gates, and with Portsea by a road passing along the edge of the Moat, by the King's Mill and Gun- wharfs. The residence of the wharfinger is on the town 25 qiray, where the tollage due to the Corporation is collected* ; and before the erection of the present house, the wharfinger's residence presented a curious appearance, being almost covered with pigeon- laouses. THE OLD PORTSMOUTH VICTUALLING OFFICE., in the reign of Elizabeth, was known as the Queene's Greate and Little Cooperadge, The buildings forming one side of St. Mary- street were erected in 1724, (the date being on many parts of the stores,) and comprehended at that time nearly the whole of the establishment, Mown by the names of the New and Old-end, and Mill-stores, the old Loft and Butter-house, the Coopers' shops, and a large Slaughter-house, with pickle and beef sheds, and a space called the Hog-yard, with outhouses. The Agent's house in St. Thomas's-street was probably erected at the same time. * 'February 4, 1710. The Commons represent the neglect of the Commissioners for victualling her Majesties Navy, in suffering the brewers to defraud the public in several instances, it seeming that the captains and pursers of the shippes agreed to take so much short of the proper allowance ; the brewers allowing the captains and pursers a sum of money, and put the rest in their pockets, taking receipt for the whole • and that this practice had been for years connived at by the late Ministry." Certain fraudulent prac- tices of Thomas Ridge, M. P.^ and Messrs, Rolfe, Best, Tylhurst and Kelly, brewers, of Portsmouth, discovered and exposed. In King-street was the Naval Bakehouse, where was manufac- tured the biscuit for the shipping ; there were six ovens, which, if necessary, could afford twenty-four suits per diem, each suit con- sisting of one hundred-pounds, and the whole producing seven hundred and thirty-four bags weighing 1 1 21b, Several of the ovens- were worked with coal instead of wood. "In 1774, the King went to see the Navy Bakehouse, and according to form, was pre- sented with a biscuit, which he ate as walking through the streets ■conversing with his court-attendants, from example, it became the fashion to walk the streets eating biscuits." * The emoluments of the Wharfinger are 10 per cent ; the per centage aver- ages about 100/. a year, and he has a house to live in. In addition to the per cen- tage, he had a gratuity of 10/. from the Corporation : but for which he employed a person to collect small tolls. RECEIPTS IN THE YEARS 1791. 1792. 1793. 1830. 1831. 1832, ££££££ Wharfage 167 160 178 840 1190 H60 26 Oil the opposite sicle of King-street are the long stores ; in 1787 the buildings on this site were in a very dilapidated state, not so lofty as the present ones, and being of stone, with portals of the same, had become black and ruinous, having much the appearance of ancient ordnance-offices. Behind the houses in Crown-street, portions of the ancient walls remain, the Admiralty having allowed Mr. Wyatt, the architect, to make use of the old materials in the new constructions. They extend the whole length of the street,, are double and of great height. These stores were in 1830 bought by Messrs. Burrell and Fitchet of Fareham for £6457. A century ago, the whole of this establishment comprehended forty persons, including the officers. In 1776, a new Slaughter-house was erected in St. Mary-street, and the buildings repaired and improved ; and in 1781-2, a new store built, and the Agent's office much improved. In the Agent's walk was a very large Egyptian statue of black porphyry, now in the British Museum, and in the office? a painting, said to represent the original Farm-house at Haslar, where now stands the Hospi- tal ; in the Storekeeper's office was another large picture, and in the Agent's house a painted ceiling ; these were all taken from the original Manor-house at Weovil, and have been again removed to the new Victualling office. In 1827 Major-general Stapylton made an official visit for the removal of the entire of the Victualling establishment to Weovil, where the brewery department has always been carried on. By consolidating the duties, the services of fewer persons, as clerks, masters of trades, artificers, and labourers, are required, and a material annual saving thereby effected, The Agent Victualler's office was abolished, (Feb. 1828,) and its business consolidated with that of the resident Commissioner at Haslar. And shortly after the whole of the Stores were removed and the property sold by auction, principally to J. Hulbert Esq., Mr. Bramble, the Philo- sophical Society, and Messrs Burrell of Fareham ; the Agent's house and Stores sold for £6457, the Bakehouse £2075. BANKING IN PORTSMOUTH. The first banking establishment in the town, was held at the large house, No. 96 in the High-street, being the residence of Messrs, Drew, Chaldecott, and Co. The white house at the corner of the Parade, built on the site of a low gable fronted bookseller's shop, kept by Carr, by Peter Tayler Esq., the original commissary in Foote's farce of that name, has been, and still is used as a banking 27 house. This was the locale of Godwin's bank, through all its changes of partnership till its final dissolution in 1818, it became then the property of Messrs. Grant, whose bank is there held still. These gentlemen have a branch bank at Portsea. Near the New Market, is the banking house of Burbey and Co. originally, Grant and Burbeys, and nearly opposite Hector Maclorg and Jackson's firm. During the war, there was a bank in Broad-street (Messrs, Burridges.) Messrs. Atkins have for many years and do at present officiate in these money transactions to a great extent. A branch Bank of the Bank of England was established (nearly opposite the George Inn) in Feb. 1834. It has been since removed to the site of the house three doors above the George, one of the most ancient in the town, and formerly of great extent, being divi- ded into four large houses. In one of the rooms was an ornamental ceiling, in which the English arms appeared, viz. the arms of the House of Stuart, surrounded by the Garter ; and in the angles of the compartments, 1st, a lion rampant ; 2nd, a griffin ; 3rd, a small lion ; 4th, a fleur de lis. These are repeated four times, varying in size. During some repairs and again on the demolition of the centre portion which projected into the street, coins of the reign of Elizabeth were dug up. PUBLIC CONVEYANCES, COACHES, &c. In the year 1770, Coachmen between Portsmouth and London, were very boisterous drunken personages, with Bardolph visages, and conversation full of rude oaths ; Guards carried huge blun- derbusses loaded with triple bullets, for fear of highwaymen in the forest of Bere ; the road at Cosham, was deep and narrow; Lon- don was seventy-three miles distant, and people made their wills before they encountered the perils of the way. The Boyal Mail was despatched by express daily at two o'clock in the afternoon, and arrived at six next morning. At length the spirit of improve- ment dawned, and Clarke's flying machine (in one day) set out from the King's Arms Inn, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night at ten o'clock, returning on the alternate nights, while their other machine continued to rumble forth from the Blue Post Inn every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, and returned every other night The Western and Eastern Mails came in three times only in the week. During the first American War, a great increase of public con- veyances took place, and the road was very much improved. The coaches, however, as late as 1805-10, departed at five in the 2S morning, and came in late at night. Now there are coaches driven by the proprietors, many of them men of education and property, horsed with cuttle of the finest kind, departing, and re- turning from all parts of the kingdom, from the several inns in Portsmouth at almost eYery hour in the day ; while the Mail leave* at half-past nine at night, and arrives at five in the morning. About 1830 the first fly-carriage was started; now there are abundance at several of the livery stables and inns, which have entirely sur- passed the old fashioned shattery dans (as they were denominated) or sociable omnibusses, donkey carts and other halfway-house vehicles. Short stages to the neighbouring towns are also estab- lishing. Most of the public coaches start from Portsmouth,, and pass through Portsea and Landport. In olden time, two days were spent, Twixt Portsmouth and the Monument j When Flying Diligences plied, When men in Roundabouts would ride,. And, at the surly driver's will, Get out and climb each tedious hill. But since the rapid Freeling's age How much improved the English Stage! Now in eight hours with ease, the post Reaches from Newgate Street our coast. THE POST-OFFICE h in Green-row ; Letters for the London Mail must be put 112 l>efore nine o'clock in the Evening : those received by the same- conveyance are delivered at Nine in the Morning : — no bags are sent Saturday Evening, nor any received on Monday Morning.— There is also a Mail every day to Bristol, which conveys letters to all the Western Counties : the bags are closed at Six in the Even- ing — delivery at Nine in the Morning : Letters for the Isle of Wight are sent by Steam conveyance. For public convenience there is a Post-Office in Portsea. Of conveyances by water, in lieu of the Plymouth hoy, Captain Clarke's Sloop, the Isle of Wight hoy, and the Southampton Vessels of which the following advertisement from a very old Newspaper gives a tolerable idea: " John Weeks, Master of the Duke of Gl'ou&ter Sloop, takes this method to' thank his friends and the public for their past favors in the Southampton and Portsmouth passage trade, and hopes for a continuance of the same, as they may depend on his eare, and the time of sailing more regular than for many years past. He sails from Southampton every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and returns every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, wind and weather per- mitting, N. B. For the public's further dependence, he has two Vessels in the Em- ploy, *** To be spoke with at Mr, Cheetham's at the Royal George', Southamp- ton, and ttie White Hart, on the Poiut, Portsmouth. 29 We have now Steam Vessels to all parts of the Coast ; varying however in their period of departure, according to the season of the year. 1825 — April 5. The Union Steam Packet first started between this Port and Hyde. To celebrate the day, two hogsheads of beer were given to the watermen and others at Ryde Pier, and a like quantity at the Quebec Hotel, Portsmouth. At this period, plans were suggested for a Ship Canal from hence to London, at an esti- mated expense of 4,000,000/. THE PUBLIC PRESS. The earliest newspaper printed seems to have been the Ports- mouth and Gosport Gazette, commenced about June the 1st, 1747, and printed at the office facing the platform, by G. Jones from London. The Portsmouth Mercury a later publication was prin- ted at Southampton, and the Salisbury Gazette appears to have circulated in the town. About 1790, Donaldson's Portsmouth Gazette was established on high antigallican principles and it is now very curious to turn over the files of the paper, and trace the origin and rise of many important circumstances connected with the place. This paper was printed opposite the Parade in Bat- tery-row, at Mowbray's office, who in later years had some share in its editorship : the office being destroyed by fire the paper afterwards languished, and was succeeded by Mottley's Hampshire Telegraph. The Courier was established about 1807, and con- tinued for a few years, and in 1830, the Herald edited by Henry Deacon, Esq. was started, but did not long continue. Harrison's Hampshire Telegraph is now the only paper published in the town ; although those of the neighbouring cities and towns, circulate according to the political bias of readers. MUNICIPAL WARD. Rate Amt. of Payers Rating St. Thomas" s Ward, or Portsmouth — (nine} Councillors) — All the town within its ramparts, f , ,aq £16 800 including the New Gunwharf and all the Water £ ' Boundaries, with Horsey Island ,.....»; TAVERNS, HOTELS, &c. May 1, 1661. "Set forth again from Petersfield, and so to Portsmouth ; a very pleasant and strong place : and we lay at the Redd Lyon, where Hasilrigge and Scott and Walton did hold their council when they were here against Lambert and the Committee 30 of Safety." The inn here spoken of by Mr. Pepys, was on the site of the house No. 91, in the High-street. It was demolished in 1800 by Mr. Way, the licence being removed to the present inn behind. In front, towards the High-street, was a large win- dow, supported by a porch and pillars, projecting into the street. The long range of buildings forming one side of Church-lane (on the walls of which may still be seen the date, two hundred years since) formed the stables of the ancient inn. The George Inn was originally a thatched house, of small size, called the Waggon and Lamb, having in front a stone trough for water ; on the right and left were low gavel-fronted houses, sunk below the level of the street, with wooden rails in front, and old- projecting windows. June, 1800. These have given place to the present commodious Hotel.. The Fountain is another Hotel, in the High-street, and in Broad-street, are the Blue-posts, the Star and Garter, and the Quebec Taverns. The Crown Hotel, known during the American and Napoleon wars as the Naval House, is now fast going to decay and ruin, proving that not even the Crown itself can withstand the ravages of a chancery suit. The Parade Coffee-house and Hotel, at the corner of the Parade, was formerly the house of the Captains of the Navy, and in the "olden time," before Lieutenants wore epaulets, and Captains wore red breeches, three-cornered hats, buckles and pigtails, it was not uncommon to see Captains of the Royal Navy sitting outside this house on forms, smoking long pipes. The Three Tuns public house is also ancient ; it is remarkable as being the place in which the delegates met during the mutiny, and kept Lord Howe and attendants waiting on the staircase while they deliberated on his proposals. The Globe is in Oyster-street. In some of the streets, public houses abound. These, in the war time, were principally used by the sailors and marines ; on the Point, the business done was almost incredible, and the scenes realized the following description :.— *' Let us to Comus' Court repair." Hail ! place of noise, distraction, fun ! Hail, " Point" of wide spread fame ! To every nation fully known, Which knows the English name ! Here oft in midnight revelry, The violin and song, Conjoined with mirth and jollity, Exhilirate the throng. Here taverns numberless indeed In long succession rise ; And the gay shops of Israel's seed Entice the seamen's eyes. 31 Since the peace, the taverns certainly remain, but the noise, trafic, and consequent profits, have entirely disappeared. There are 109 public houses in the town, fifty being on the Point. PAVEMENT. Portsmouth was paved by an act of parliament passed in 1763: the work was completed in 1773, at an expense of 8886/. 8s. Sub- sequent acts invest the Commissioners with power to light and watch the town. The town is better paved than any in Hamp- shire. The Commissioners are self-elected. Three three-penny rates are raised in the year, two for paving and cleaning, and one for watching. The Corporation formerly were not assessed ; lat- terly they have been, and now pay 9/. a-year. The amount col- lected for paving and lighting the town is about 900/. annually. PUBLIC OFFICES. The Excise Office, the Office for the King's Taxes, and the magistrates both for the borough and county are in St. Thomas's- street ; the Town Clerk's office, and that for Registration according to act of Parliament, are in the High-street. The large breweries belong to Messrs. Pike and Co., Deacon, Garrett, and Knott, and these parties are the proprietors of many of the public houses ; there are also several small breweries in the town. FREE MART OR SAINT PETER'S FAIR. St. Peter's Day was formerly a holiday of local importance, and is still memorable from the historical association connected with it. Fairs were originally instituted for the necessary pur- poses of commerce, and were kept, in some instances, for several weeks to afford the oportunity of their being attended by foreigners, The Fair of Portsmouth was anciently of considerable consequence to the town as a mart for the sale of woollen cloths ; and was much resorted to by the French, from Normandy, and also by the Dutch. The fair was established in the reign of Richard the First, to commence on the feast of St. Peter ad vincula, and to continue 15 days. One of the last public acts of the Lion-hearted Prince, previously to embarking at Portsmouth, in 1194, on his fatal ex- pedition against Philip of France, was, the granting the charter which appointed this fair. Richard, by the Grace of God, King of England, &c. &c. to the Arch- Bishops, &c. &c. and all the loving subjects of all our territory, Greeting — Know, that we retain in our hand our Borough of Portesmuth, with all that thereunto appertain eth, and in it we establish, give, and grant, a Fair, to endure once in every year, for fifteen days, (to wit) from the Feast of St. Peter, We 32 also grant, that all our loving subjects of England, &c. and of all our territories and of others, may come to the aforesaid Fair, and may go and return well and in peace, and may have all the free customs and liberties which they have at the Fairs of Winton and Hoyland, or any where else in our territories. According to the usage of the Church of that period, and for more than three centuries afterwards, the feast of St. Peter ad vin- culo, was held on the 1st. of August : but the 29th June was also a feast day of the same Saint ; and in these circumstances, when the Church came to be reformed by Edward the Sixth, the Feast of St. Peter on the 1st, or the Gule of August, being of supersti- tious origin, was abolished, and the 29th June became the only feast of the Apostlejrecognized by law. Charles the First, in con- firming the fair, which, according to the charter from him, was to begin on St .Peter ad vinculo, necessarily referred to the feast esta- blished by the Legislature, and he at the same time prohibited the fair which had been accustomed to be held on the 1st August. The long reign of Elizabeth, followed by that of James, had not been sufficient to annul the ancient usage ; but in conformity with the Reformed Church and the charter of Charles, the observance of St. Peter's Day on the 29ch June at length prevailed, and the fair was held accordingly, until the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, in 1752. By the Act which then passed for correcting the errors of the Julian Calendar, all feasts and fasts were to be observed according to the new calendar ; but, to prevent the in- conveniences which would have arisen from the change, fairs were to be kept according to the old style, or upon the same natural days upon which they would have been kept in case the calendar had not been altered, that is to say eleven days later than they would have happened according to the new style. The feast of St. Peter and the Free Mart were thus separated, the one from the other, by the space of so many days ; or in other words, although the feast was advanced by anticipating time eleven nominal days, the fair was not to be kept until the actual day on which the feast would have fallen, supposing the calendar not to have been cor- rected. The following advertisement will explain the changes which took place : THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE, That (by Virtue of the Act of Parliament for regulating the commencement of the Year, and for correcting of, the Calendar) the Fair on Portsdown, which hath hitherto been held on the 15th, 16th and 17th Days of July, Old-Style, will, this year, and every year for the future, be held and kept on the 26th, 27th and 28th days of July, according to the New-Style. 1753. A. HUMPHREYS, Steward. The stallage is is. per foot. The fair was (in Elizabeth's reign) of importance, and gave encouragement to Foreign merchants. The stands now contain nothing but dolls and gin- gerbread. The revenue from the fair for six years was, £40—£33—£ii—£55-£Q0—£57> Pree mart begins on the 10th of July, and continues fourteen days, to the great annoyance of every peaceable-disposed person. 1803, July 26„ A thousand pound weight of bread bestowed f candlesticks in the church, a gift from the Hon. Sit John Gibson, Knt., Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth ; two brass branches of candlesticks, hanging in the body of the church, pre- sented to the parish by Captain John Suffield, with two brass scones for the pulpit and reading-desk," (these were exchanged, in March 1806, for those in present use, the old ones not being large enough to light the church.) 1828. New rails round the altar put up by a subscription of sixty pounds. On February 1, 1705, it was proposed to establish a lecture on Sunday evenings ; that the churchwardens should light the church, and pay the expense from the church rates. This led to a long correspondence with the Vicar, the Rev. Henry Oglander, the Bishop of Winton, and others. On April 19, 1791, permission was granted by the bishop and principals of St. Mary's College {in a let- ter to the vicar). The lecturer was to be appointed by the vicar, sub- ject to the license of the diocesan; the bishop having the power to put an end to the lectures when he should think fit, but not of com- pelling the parish to continue them, if the subscriptions should fall off. The clergyman to receive eighty pounds per annum for his ser- vices ; the organist, eight guineas ; the clerk, six guineas ; the sex- ton, three ; and the necessary attendants, seven. These lectures commenced on Sunday evening, May 1, 1798. AN IMPERFECT LIST OF THE VICARS. 1260, Thomas Singleton ; Nicholas Damyas. 1454, John Tone to whom the endowment, in the time of Pope Nicholas the Fifth, was granted. 1657, Henry Bartlett, omit August 25th. 1662, Mr, Loton. 1673, B. Burgess, A.M., the Nonconformist, who died Nov. 24 ; he lies buried in the chancel, in front of the small doorway. 1674, Thomas Heather, A.M., chaplain to Charles the Second, and whose portrait is still to be found in the libraries of the curious. Ob„ Nov. 30, 1696, and was buried in the church. 1696, William Ward, A.M., presented to the living under the fol- lowing circumstances : — Westminster, Jan. 2, 1696. Being very much sollicited by the Governour and officers of Portsmouth for your favour to present Mr. Ward for the vicarage which is vacant and in your disposall, and knowing very well how ritt he is for that station, I cannot but earnestly recommend him to you, and am very sensible that the kindness which the Governour and officers designe for him will turn to the future advantage of your worthy society, for the prosperity of which 1 dayley pray, so my endeav- ours shall never be wanting to promote it. I heartily recommend you to God's blessing and protection, and am yours affectionately, To the College of Winchester. P. WINCH EST. I 18 To the parish of Portsmouth he proved a troublesome, meddling priest, not allowing the parishioners to meet in church, but com- pelled them to hold their vestries on a tombstone in the church- yard, he is buried under the altar. 1725, Anthony Bliss, LL. B. 1748, William Langbaine, A.M. This gentleman went into retirement, and refused to see any one •or many years. 1749, Walter Bigg and Henry Tayler, A. M. (mentioned with honour in Dr. Parr's works.) 1790, Henry Oglander, B. D. 1804, Henry Sissmore, L.L.B. 1815, Charles Brune Henville, A. M. &c. At the side of the chancel (which is the property of the College of Winchester) is a small vestry, neatly fitted up. The chancel, and two houses at the east corner of Oyster-street, in the High-street, form part of the Stubbington property. A few years since, two boys, during the night, kindled a fire in this vestry, and under the communion-table, with a view to destroy the church ; the diabolical attempt luckily failed. They were con- demned to death at Winchester, but respited. The present new and commodious vicarage, in the centre of the High-street, was erected by the present vicar, being commenced on the first of September, 1826, finished in March 1828. The old and decayed house on the same site, was built in the year 1690, by the Rev. Mr. Heather, vicar, In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of Pope Nicholas the fourth, A.D. 1291, the valuation stands — Vicarage of Portesmewe also Portes- mswe, £6 13s. 4d. The tenth or taxation, 13s. Ad. and there ap- pears this note in the margin ; church of Portesmewe, is the chapel of Portesmewe, taxed in the first portion of this Deanery ? In the Valuation of Henry the Eighth the amount stands thus — VICARIA PORTYSMOUTH, Nicholas Damyas modo Rector. Rectoria appropriated ^ prioratu de South wick in com south Valet in firma terr. f 5 x vocat glebe land deeimis oblationilus et aliis easualibusf" ut p. per dem 3 Qualternu Pepris et valet clare 5 x X inde : xi The Vicarage is valued in the king's books at 61. 13s. Ad. Pa- tron, the Warden and Scholars, clerks, at St. Mary's-college, near Winchester. From the ecclesiastical commission 1832. Revenues of the Parish and Vicarage of Portsmouth. Population, Eight Thousand and Seventy-eight. Stipend of Curate £150. Other allowances £66. Making a Total of £216. 19 SERVICES. Three complete services on Sundays, with sermons. Prayers twice a week ; on every Saint Day, and on the first Friday in each month, full evening service, and sermon. GROSS AMOUNT OF INCOME. £ s. d. From Glebe Lands, Rental « 24 From Houses on Glebe Lands 313 6 From allowance for Monthly Service (since abolished) . . 12 From Easter offerings and Michaelmas dues 16 19 2 Dividends in the funds 9 11 From Ordnance for Barrack yard, Colewort and build- } ing on Glebe Land > 2 Surplice and other fees 154 14 Pew rent for 3rd. Service according to Act of Parliament 80 612 10 2 PAYMENTS £ s. d. Tenths 13 10 Land Tax 6 7 Synodals 2 6 Procuration 1 7 7 4 11 Curate's Salary, &c 216 223 4 11 Repairs of Houses Annually, about 50 Mortgage till 1846 56 10 329 14 11 THE ROYAL CHURCH OF THE GARRISON. The only remains of " Domus Dei," situate at the side of the Parade, in a slanting direction, has been lately thoroughly repair- ed ; the ceiling heightened and rendered flat, as far as the chancel : this is built in the Saxon pointed style ; the groining of the roof springing from pilasters supported on ponderous mullions. The nave is supported by ten octagonal pillars, from the capitals of which spring plain pointed arches, dividing this part of the building into three aisles ; a single rib springs from mullions between each arch some resembling roses, and one being an exact resemblance to the head of a monk in the chancel of St. Thomas's Church. This church is in length from the east end to the west, one hun- dred and twenty-two feet, and in breadth in the inside forty-five feet.* * George Huish, August 21, 1752. 20 The altar-piece represents Moses and Aaron in pontificals, pre- senting the tables of the law. This was a few years since removed, under the idea that it concealed a niche containing the high altar of the Catholic faith ; this was not the case, but in a small niche on the right side, now concealed by wainscoting, was discovered the basin for holy water, &c. Queen Anne bestowed the communion plate, which is very handsome, consisting of two large flagons, two embossed cups with covers, and a dish of large size ; and on the cloth used to cover the table, was emblazoned a view of Lisbon, and the royal arms of Portugal ; probably a gift at the marriage of Charles the Second with the Infanta of Portugal, and in commemo- ration of which there was formerly inscribed over the door-way CAROLVS II. A : REG : XXXIIII. The windows in the chancel, and the great window above the al- tar, are adorned with plain pillars, having round capitals. The Governor's seat is decorated with a profusion of carving in wood, as are many of the pews. On a medallion in front appear the initials in gold A. R. Her Majesty's arms were formerly in the ceiling, on a very large painting. In this church are many mural monuments worthy of notice, to the memories of naval and military officers. The cemetery is in front of the building, enclosed by high walls ; it formerly extended over a large part of the Parade, in the forma- tion of which, and laying the foundations of the new Ramparts, in 1733-4, a large quantity of human bones were disturbed. On the removal of the Government-house, a portion of the chancel of this church was exposed, and exhibited three large Saxon windows clos- ed up, but which corresponded with those of the opposite side ; through one, a passage had been made to the Governor's pew or gallery ; below was a very small conventual doorway, closed by brickwork, and a small buttress in the angle with loopholes. May 2, 1778, his Majesty George III, and the Queen came in Portsmouth ten minutes after one o'clock at noon ; and on Sunday morning went to Portsmouth chapel, where the Rev. G. Cuthbert preached, taking his text from the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy* and the thirteenth verse : the Rev. George Cuthbert was chaplain to the King, &c. alderman of Portsmouth, and several times mayor of this his native place. 1811, May. Magnificent obsequies (according to the Catholic faith) of Count Aimable Rutin, French General, who died on board the Gorgon of his wounds ; the Rev. F. De la Rue officiating, all the troops in the Garrison attending, and the cannon firing minute gens. 21 CONSECRATION OF MILITARY STANDARDS. This religious ceremony — a relic of the middle ages, is still oc- casionally performed with much pomp in this ehapel. On Wednes- day, May 29, 1799, after the proper services for the Restoration, the Rev. J. Davies, A. B. of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, consecrated the Standards presented to the Royal Garrison Volunteers by Mr. W. Garrett, and preached a Sermon on the occasion, [the standards of the Portsmouth Volunteers were consecrated in St. Thomas's church by Mr. Bussell.] A pamphlet detailing this circumstance was printed at the time. In 1816, a second example took place the colours of the thirty -sixth Regiment being consecrated with much religious and military pomp, by the Rev. S. Leggatt, Chaplain to the forces. The new standards of the Royal Marines presented by the Lord High Admiral [William IV.] were at the time not consecrated. Deed relating to the Hospital of Domus Dei, of Portsmouth. " To all the Sons of Holy Mother Church, Master Alanus de Stokes, De- puty Archdeacon of Peter, Lord Bishop of Winchester, Greeting in the Lord. Be it known to all, that every controversy argued hefore any Judges, between the Prior and Convent of Southwick on one part, and the Master and Bro- thers of the Hospital of God's House of Portsmouth on the other, concerning the jurisdiction of the Parish Church of Portsmouth, is amicably settled after this form before us : in the aforesaid Hospital, Divine Service may be cele- brated, according to the right of their Parish Church of Portsmouth, by two priests, as also by the Governor of the Hospital, if he be a priest; and rf any foreign priest visiting the same for the purpose of seeing kinsman or relation, shall wish, it shall be lawful for him to assist at the same ; and they may have two bells, not exceeding the weight of the bells of the Mother Church, which shall ring at Matins, and Missals, and Vespers, and for the Dead. And after the bells of the new Mother Church have rung, the said Brothers shall not re- ceive the Parishioners of Portsmouth to confession, nor to communion of the body of Christ, unless any sick person shall wish and particularly ask confes- sion of any priest of the Hospital (the requisite consent of the parish priest being obtained, it shall not be denied him.) They shall not receive any stran- ger to confession publicly in Lent, except the brothers, sisters, family, sick persons at the time, and inmates. Nevertheless if any stranger shall seek ad- vice from any priest of the Hospital, it shall be lawful to receive him privately. Moreover on Sundays, and on the eight great festivals, namely, the Birth-day of our Lord, the Epiphany, the Purification, the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, the Ascension of our Lord, the Birth-day of the Blessed Mary, and the Feast of All Saints, the Brothers of the aforesaid Hospital shall not receive the Parishoners of Portsmouth. If however, it shall happen, that any of the aforesaid Parishioners shall come to hear divine service on the aforesaid festi- vals, or on Sundays, at the aforesaid Hospital, they shall be admitted, and their offering, if any be brought, shall be restored whole and entire to the Mother Church, under the penalty hereunder expressed, unless the said Pa- rishioners shall first have made satisfaction to the aforesaid Mother Church. " Moreover it shall not be lawful for any one of the said Hospital to enter ships, or give Benediction, or read the Gospel or beg alms after reading it, the Gospel being read and rites performed by the Chaplain of the Mother Church. Moreover the aforesaid Canons agree, that the Hospital shall have a Cemetery for the Brothers and also for the Sisters of the said Hospital, and for families and poor persons and others dying in the said Hospital : but we mean Brothers and Sisters after this reading: — those who have put on the 22 same habit, and have put it off, or those who have bequeathed their estates to the said Hospital. Nevertheless, if any stranger shall chuse to be interred at the said hospital, it shall be lawful for them to receive them, provided the body shall be first carried to the Mother Church, and mass celebrated there. And be it known, that it becomes the Parishioners of Portsmouth to leave their first legacy to the Mother Church and the Parish Priest should hold the Will of the Parishioners safe from loss ; not that the Mother Church will suf- fer by this concession, the brothers of the said hospital shall pay to the Mo- ther Church every year, namely, five shillings at the Feast of St. Michael, five shillings at the Circumcision of our Lord, at the Passover five shillings, and at the feast of St. John the Baptist five shillings ; and for the greater se- curity the said brothers have taken their corporal oaths, the Evangelists being touched ; bound themselves under a stipulated penalty, to wit, forty shillings to be paid to the prior and convent, if any crime be committed; but if after the sinning against this canon law they shall not give satisfaction within eight days, the sin committed is acquitted without contradiction to the said prior and convent. " And that all these things may be understood on the part of the prior and convent, this deed is executed in the first year after the decease of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, and in testimony of which the parties present have strengthened the deed with their seals ; and, the Lord Bishop of Winchester being absent, we, by his authority, confirm and sign our seal, toge- ther with the signet of Master B. Archive of the same place. — These being the witnesses, Master A. de P^blesburn, Master R. — Canon ; Master J. Wal- ingford, R, Deacon of Winchester, W. Chapel, Deacon, and many others." GOD'S HOUSE, PORTSMOUTH. According to the writings of Matthew Paris, 1238, Peter de la Roche, or de Rupibus, was the founder of the Hospital of Ports- mouth, in the west south-west part of the town, about 1205. Dug- dale says — " Peter de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, founded at Portsmouth, in the reign of King John, a famous hospital called God's House, which was dedicated to Saints John the Baptist, and Nicholas." Camden follows the same account, and Speed adds, " a college here founded by the same Bishop," of which, however no other mentiou can be found. After the death of the founder, the house according to the Rivers manuscripts, remained in the patro- nage of John de Pontissara ; and William de Wrotham, Archdeacon of Taunton, bestowed on it as a free gift, certain messuages and houses in Hants. In September, 1219, Henry the Third commanded the Sheriff of Hampshire to preserve to the brothers of the hospital at Portsmouth, the fee farm rental of lands in Selburne ten shillings yearly, as bequeathed to them by Emeric de Sassy, before his de- parture to the Holy Land, and in the fourth year of his reign he orders the Sheriff to retain the issues of lands in Burton, given as an eleemosynary donation by Emeric de Sassy to the hospital, the first being in possession of the Templar Knights, and the latter in the keeping of Hugo de Vivonia. Proceedings were also instituted before the itinerant Justices, respecting certain possessions in Win- chester and Portsmouth, and these proceedings were repeated in the 23 twentieth and thirty-seventh, and again in the fifty-second year of Henry the Third, concerning their possessions, settling disputes be- tween them, the Vicar of Portsmouth, and the convent of Southwick, and also regarding their manor of Lafham. In the thirty-fifth year of Edward the first, Roger de Harwedon was Custos of the Hospital, and they had granted to them the right of free warren in lands in Portsmouth, Froderington, Fratton, and Feldushe. In the tenth year of Edward the Second, ecclesiastical proceedings were held regarding the advowson of the Hospital being in the grant of the Bishop of Winchester. By a deed in 1272, from Richard le Cen- ceror, of Portsmouth, to God and the Church of the blessed Mary of Southwick, the brethren of God's House received yearly, for ever, on the feast of St. Michael, for a piece of land granted to the con- vent, three silver pennies. In 1276, by a deed from Robert of St. Dionysius, of Portsmouth, to Ada de Stobeton, the said brothers received for a house and its appurtenances in the High-street, four silver shillings, for ever, on the feast of St. John the Baptist. In the twenty-second year of Edward the Third, the head of the hospi- tal assumed the title of Prior, and they received five pounds yearly from the lands of William Overton, in le Frenchmore, near Brigh- ston ; and about this period the brethren petitioned the King for his favour, regarding the thirtieth and fifteenths due from them to the Exchequer, and the King, granting their prayer, they besought his brief to the Exchequer, in extenuation. About this time also Richard Wykeham was succeeded by his brother as Warden, the latter being principal in 1378. These two were brothers of William of Wykeham, who in his will, dated 1404, writes — " I bequeath to the hospital of St. Nicholas, at Portsmouth, one suit of vestments and a chalice." In the taxation of Pops Nicholas the fourth, the Prior is taxed four shillings and nine-pence halfpenny for his posses- sions at Burghege, being his tenths on two pounds eight shillings. On the suppression of the Templar knights, Uggeton, a manor in the Isle of Wight, was given to God's House — an account of this may be seen in Worsley's history, In the reign of Henry the Eighth Leland thus describes it, " There is also in the west south-west part of the town a fair hospital, some time erected by Peter de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, wherein were twelve poor men, and yet six be in it." — Shortly after this the house was visited by the harpies called Commissioners, and in the Valor Ecclesiasticus, appears their report, " Hospital of St. Nicholas, Portsmouth, Johnlncent, Master, valuation in fee farm, rental of lands, together with the spiritualities and temporalities rendered to the Commissioners and attested bv 24 them, 33/. 19*. 5d. ; and by the act of suppression, it became vested in the crown as the residence of the Governor, and the lands passed into the possession of Lord Powerscourt. Ancient Seal of the Hospital called i God's House ' at Ports- mouth. — The seal is of the usual monastic or longoval shape sur- rounded by the legend, " Sigillum comune de domus dei de Portes- muth." At the upper part is a hand projecting from a cloud, emble- matical of the first person of the Trinity, and still used as a masonic emblem ; below this on either side, the sun and moon, the latter re- presented as a horned crescent, enclosing the profile of the human countenance ; between these and in the centre of the seal, a large and bold cross, of the kind called in heraldry, a cross flory, on each side of which are two angels worshipping and bearing a ribbon or scroll on which the cross rests. This represents the second person of the Trinity, according to the papal ceremony of the exaltation of the cross, and its grandeur is exemplified by the angelic figures in the act of adoration, and its altitude being superior even to the sun and moon. At the lower part appears a roll of vellum indicat- ing the holy scriptures, the writings produced by the inspiration of the third person or Holy Spirit. VISITORS IN ANCIENT TIMES. 1221. Henry the Third, with all his earls, barons, and knights, and one of the finest armies ever raised in England assembled at Portsmouth. 1231. King Henry landed at Portsmouth from his ex- pedition to France. — March 15, 1242. King Henry, with his Queen, Prince Richard his brother, seven earls, three hundred knights, and thirty hogsheads of silver, embarked at this port for Guienne. — Au- gust, 1253 King Henry— May, 1346. King Edward III.— July, 1386, the Duke of Lancaster embarked at Portsmouth for Spain : he carried with him Constantia of Castile, his wife, with his two daugh- ters Philippa and Catherina ; King Richard II. and his Queen accompanied them to Portsmouth, and wishing them success, pre- sented them with two gold crowns. 1445. Margaret of Anjou, at- tended by the Marchioness of Suffolk and a large assemblage of nobility, landed at Portsmouth, and proceeded to the priory of Southwick, where she was married to Henry VI. on the 11th of April. The following Antiquarian hoax was Published some few years ago. " Furst cum foure beadils wythe staues to cleare the waye, than 25 tne wardene k broders of senet nycholas hauynge crosses inne they re hondes, al dressyd inne kyr tills of white satten furryd withe shankes, and blacke hudes, than rna'ter maier henrie de labernea.u& his brotherne onne grete horses rychlie arraied inne robes lynte withe lettese, withe p'tie colored tunycs reachynge to theyre knees, tnakynge togetheyre a mooste goodlye showe, folowed by manie of the inhabytaunts of Portesmuth her foloynge, henrie bianchii, hughe raggye, rychaTd cooptore, robarte molendine,stephene instyce, peter coperas, ada sonewyne, robarte clarke, eadmunde clarke, adam de wanstede, herberte manniet, waryne le mercir, martyne pol!ard s iohn le maye, hughe estmar, wyllyam de la lanade, iohne le draper 5 phillipe sonewyne, iohn de la berne, iohn le chiiche, stephene car- nifex, thoraas la warte, galtryde de bemunde, herberte de la barre, than twoe beadils wythe hem, and heraulties onne each syde blow- ynge slughoornes, than the priour k broders of domus dei twoe by twoe, chauntyine godlye psaulmes to the moche joie and contente of all p'sente, k lastlye came foure beadils wythe flags and pennons blowynge slughoornes, folowed by as manie more deckyd inne crym- sone bearyinge anlaces ; the companie wente downe ye hyghe stret untyll theye cam to ye chirche of senct thomas, and than ye heraul- tes blewe theyre slughoornes, and than maister maier & hys companie gott off theyre horses, and fell onne theyre knees, and than ye fryars & prestes chauntyd a hymme for the soule of ye blessyd inartir & than theye crossyd hernsilves k wente onne wardes, than theye went doun senct thomasse stret k so doun Kynges stret, Suth stret k Doun stret k than vppe alonge ye hyghe stret, to the Coorte Jious wch ys oposite ye hospitallof senct nycholas, wher theye drewe vppe inne ye priours close ther ; & fourthwythe ye heraulties blewe ye hoornes k than theye wente acrosse ye close to the hospital! of domus dei k ther hearde a godlie sermon delyvered by the preste maister galfryde whoe endyd it inne theis woordes — for he ys above all thynges and by net he all thynges and wt inne all thynges, he ys above all thynges in goidynge, bynethe all thynges in vppe beryng wtinne all thynges in fulfillynge; he is large in manie maner wyses, furst heys large inne wordes & wordlyche thynges, in so rno che that he frelyche geveth wordlych goodes as well to wykkyd menne as to goode menne, he ys large of en'lastyng goodestto all that wolleth ryghffullyche, al so he woll goue vs grete medefor he seythe hymselfe in the gospelle ' p'mum