216 
and authority of Kings, Lords, and Com- 
mons, to purify every part of the two 
towns, and to keep our atmofphere pro- 
perly oxygenated ; there may be fome fil- 
thy and noifome holes and corners, it 1s 
not worth while to deny ; yet I do not fee 
why this circumftance, even if true, fhould 
be thrown in our teeth, becaufe Portf- 
mouth forfooth happens to be a fea-port 
town of fome note and confequence. 
&* Such place hath Deptford, navy-building 
town, 2 
Woolwich and Wapping, fmelling ftrong 
of pitch 5 
Such Lambeth, envy of each band and 
gown 5 
And Twick’nam fuch, which fairer foenes 
enrich, 
Grots, ftatues, urns, and To—ns, dog and 
bitch 5 
Ne village is without, on either fide, 
All up the filver Thames, or all adown 5 
Ne Richmond’s felf, from whofe tall front 
is ey’d 
Vales, fpires, meand’ring ftreams, and 
Windfor’s tow’ring pride.”? 
As to our politics, I am not much dif- 
pofed at prefent to enter into a hiftory of 
them. Suffice it to fay that we are upon 
the whole a very loyal people—that 
though the predominant fentiments of our 
corporation are not orthodox, they are 
neverthelefs duly qualified by local and 
perfonal confiderations—that even thus 
modified, they provoke fome degree of 
rancour and hoftility—and that at a con- 
tefted ele&ion for the county, the un- 
courtly candidate, with. all the clamour of. 
his multitudinous friends, has but little 
chance of fuccefs againft our numerous, 
well difciplined, and marfhalled forces. 
Both our new({papers are of one faith, and 
inculcate the fame political creed. We 
have three feveral volunteer corps ; two 
belonging to Portimouth, and one of them 
confifting of about 200 men, is compofed 
of inhabitants of the town and cuftom- 
houle officers; and the other, containing 
about the fame number, has been raifed 
from the garrifcn, generally by the indivi- 
dual who commands it. Portfea corps is 
fomewhat lefs, and is made up chiefly of 
tradefmen within its walls. The corps feldom 
aét in conjunction. Each has its peculiar 
{pirit, of the natureof whichtheir different 
titles already fuggefted, in addition to what 
is jut fated of them, and in the place in 
general, may ferve to give fome idea. In 
Portfea there isa more popular interef 
than in Portfmouth, by which the corps 
of the former is doublefs influenced ; and 
which, with their feveral different interefts 
Account of Porifinouth: 
and other circumftances, and perhaps fome 
prejudices, creates a marked diftinction 
between the two towns, and in general 
difpofes the one to keep aloof from the 
other. This, in fome initances, may have 
the advantage of producing rivalfhip in 
good deeds, while on the other handy 
it may fometimes be of differvice to both. 
From the want of a general public 
fpirit, or elfe from the real difficulties that_ 
have been confidered to be in the way, of. 
conveying water to us by means of aque~ 
duéts, we continue to be fupplied with it 
by carts; and though what we get is ex~ 
cellent, the cry of ‘ water’? is fo incef- 
fant in our ftreets, that what with this 
offenfive circumftance, and the jumbling 
noife of the carts, we fuffer an almolt in- 
tolerable nuifance from the mode through 
which we obtain it. It is certain that 
there is a fufficiency of good water in the 
vicinity of the towns for their regular 
fupply ; and I fhould fuppofe that this 
might be collected into one or more refer- 
voirs, from the different wells and fprings 
from which we are at prefent fupplied, if 
enough could not be obtained from one, 
and that it would afford an ample fource 
for every purpofe. It would fave us the 
trouble and expence of fuch jobs and pro- 
jects, as have been meditated and at< 
tempted, of bringing it through hills and 
from rivers twelve miles off; and befides. 
this, perhaps, would fupercede the necef- 
fity of finking wells within our walls, to 
procure nothing but bad water, and eafe 
us of part of the expence, and of all the 
trouble attendant on our prefent means of 
fupply. . The materials of our prefent wells 
and pumps, might perhaps be made to con- 
tribute their aid towards the expence of 
the undertaking. I muft confefs, I have 
not much contidered.the plan; but as it 
ftrikes as fomewhat practicable, I am there- 
fore induced to fuggeft ir. 
The poor of Portfmouth and Portfea, 
are differently managed in the twe 
parifhes. Inthe former, the poor-houfe 
is an old building, in a fituation not 
chofen with any regard either to the health © 
or the morals of the paupers. It is in one 
of the worft parts of the town, contignu- 
ous toa large barrack, always occupied 
by foldiers, and without any fufficient . 
yard or airing-ground, in the very cen- 
tre of fcenes of vice and proititutions 
The parifh poor-houfe of Portica is a 
modern one, lately enlarged, about a mile 
from the town, at fome diftance from any,, ~ 
buildings, ina very healthy fpot, and in: 
itfelf commodious. It has a large area’ 
within its walls, and a garden attached to 
ity 
fOAober i. 
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