In the town and suburbs are several largo breweries. The coasting trade of the port le extensive. Coals are largely imported. Cattle and sheep are brought from the Isle of Wight and the west of England. Large quantities of corn and provisions are brought from Ireland. Eggs are Imported from France. Timber and wine are the chief articles of foreign trade. The ships registered as belonging to the port in 1853 were :—Under 50 tons, 170 sailing-vessels of 4221 tons, and 4 steam-vessels of 142 tons ; above 50 toes, 74 sailing-vessels of 8335 tone, and 3 steam-vessels of 180 tons. During 1953 there entered the port, In the coaatiog trade 1353 sailing-vessels of 116,019 tons, and 39 steam-vessels of 12,235 tons; there cleared 866 sailing-vessels of 29,253 tons, and 75 steam-vessels of 15,781 tons. In the colonial trade there entered 37 sailing-vessels of 6902 tons, and cleared 19 vessels of 3001 tons. In the foreign trade there entered 74 British vessels of 4140 tons, and 85 foreign vessels of 8295 tons ; and there cleared 27 British vessels of 1848 tons, and 76 foreign vessels of 6305 toua. A three days' fair is held on l'ortsdown Hill in the month of July. The market-days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Besides the fortifications of the towns of Portsmouth and Portsea, the island of Portsea has strong defences. Southsca Castle, built by Ilenry VIII., and greatly strengthened in 1950, is mounted with heavy cannon. Beyond the cootie are two forts named Lumps and
Famtney, and on the extreme point of the island, commanding the entrance to Langston harbour, is Fort Cumberland, a very strong defence, commenced in 1749, but only brought into an efficient state in 1820. It receives 3000 men, and mounts. 100 heavy guns. The approach to Portsmouth on the land side is defended by a strong lino of fortification on Porteelown Hill, a long ridge lying north of the island; by lines carried along the bank of the channel which separates the island from the mainland; and by other works at Ililua, four miles from the town.
The excellence of the harbour seems to have attracted the notice of the Romans, who had a station at Porchester, on the northern shore, where there are still Roman remains. [Huirstr1sis.] Portsmouth was a naval station in the reign of John. In the time of Richard IL it was burned by the French. Fortifications begun by Edward IV. were completed by Henry VIII., In whose reign Portsmouth was the principal station of the English navy. In the reigns of Charles IL, William III., and George III., the defences were very much extended. They have bean °Plate largely added to and considerably strengthened, and are believed to be impregnable. The moats, which are deep and wide, can be filled from the sea.