LONDON, June 26.
Summary of what passed at Portsmouth on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday last.
“Tuesday morning early the road from Godalming to Portsmouth was lined with country people, and from Petersfield the hills were not more discernible for their white chalk, than the red cloaks and Farmers frocks which covered them. At a quarter before ten, his Majesty, accompanied by an Officer, passed through Purbrook turnpike; he was saluted there by some guns from the house of Peter Taylor, Esq; on Portsdown-Hill; His Majesty’s chaise stopped for about five minutes, to take a view of the sea, which there opens to the eye on a sudden, and has a very fine appearance, giving it at once the Isle of Wight, a large extent of the coast, the whole harbour and town of Portsmouth, and an unlimited space of water to the beholder’s sight; near five thousand persons were placed on the hill to take a peep at the King; his pausing gratified their warmest wishes, and they returned their thanks by loud huzzas.
‘The King’s chaise was preceded from Petersfield by a coach in which the Master of the Horse rode with some other person of the household; a few Horse-Grenadiers accompanied his Majesty on the road; his equipage changed horses at Ripley, and at the mile-stone beyond Petersfield. About a quarter before eleven, he entered Portsmouth, when the guns on the walls were fired, and he was received with every military honour: his Majesty’s chaise drove immediately to the Commissioner’s yard, where the King staid till near one, when he went to the Governor’s house, received the Corporation in their formalities, and held is levee; as soon as that was over, he went into an elegant new barge and dined on board the Barfleur.
“As soon as the King came into Portsmouth, the town was put under military discipline, the walls were shut, and persons on horseback, in carriages, or on foot were denied a passage through Lamport-Gates to the common. The town is exceedingly full, but many of the lodgings were unlet; and the reason is, the idea entertained of the extravagant demands of the townsfolk; they were at first in hopes to have gleaned a fat harvest, but they are now of necessity obliged to be moderate in their demands; a bed may be had for the whole week for a guinea. Many of the Nobility and persons of the first fashion are here, among others Lord North, Lord Sandwich, Lord Dartmouth, the Dukes of Devonshire, Leinster, Chandos, and Richmond; the Marquis of Kildare; the Lords Townshend, Palmerston, Despenser, Gower, Hertford, Upper Ossory, Geore Lennox, and Beauchamp; Sir Charles Frederick, Sir Jeffery Amherst, Sir George Warren, Sir Sampson Gideon, Sir William Burnaby, Sir John Lindsey, and Sir Matthew Featherston; the Hon. Mr. Montague, General Conway, General Hervy, and General Keppel. The water is now crowded with vessels of every size and dimension; the sight was beyond expression beautiful; the King is now going on board the Barfleur. At night the whole town was illuminated.
‘His Majesty stopt at no place on his journey to Portsmouth except at Petersfield, where a breakfast was prepared. All the bells of the churches in the towns through which he passed were rung on the occasion; and two guineas and a half were given to the Ringers at each place. The King’s horses lay on the road for him, and they were changed on the commons.
“At the Levee on Tuesday, Mr. Carter, the Mayor, received the honour of Knighthood; and as soon as the King embarked at the Dock-yard in the forenoon, the chevaux de frize placed round the walls of Portsmouth, was opened, and the people were admitted there to view the progress of his Majesty’s boat, and the manœvres of the fleet; the passage through Rey Gates was left free. At five in the afternoon, his Majesty sat down to dinner on board the Barfleur, when several of the men of war fired their guns; about six he came down to his barge, and went round the whole fleet, each ship giving him 21 salutes, and manning their sails and rigging at the moment he passed; this sight was, from the shore (a distance of three miles) very pleasing; but to those who were in sailing vessels and wherries nearer the King’s barge, it was astonishingly satisfactory. About a quarter before eight his Majesty went on board the Royal yacht; and sailed up the harbour to the Dock-yard; South-sea Castle, Block-House Point, and the Platform of the fortifications of Portsmouth, saluted him with all their guns, as the vessel drew near. The noon and evening of Tuesday were exceedingly fine, and admirably well suited to give advantage to the splendour of the spectacle.
“Wednesday morning the King was employed in viewing the Dock-yard, inspecting the several store houses, and riding round the Common, and the new intended fortifications. The boats of all the men of war came to the Point beach, at 11 o’clock, to escort his Majesty on board the Royal Oak, Admiral Spry, where his Majesty dined. Lord North, the Duke of Chandos, the three Admirals, the three senior Captains, and about four-and-twenty persons sat at dinner with the King on Tuesday. The Duke of Richmond had a vessel there, and a very elegant barge. Upon a moderate computation, there were at Spithead, and in the harbour, including the men of war, 500 vessels. For fear of imposition, an amazing number of Ladies and Gentlemen slept on board their pleasure boats. The sight of the vessels upon the water, during the King’s being aboard the ships, was one of the finest ever beheld, and would be an admirable subject for the pencil. –His Majesty, we hear expressed the greatest satisfaction at the operations of the fleet and the naval review.”
The King set out from Portsmouth at three quarters after Six on Saturday morning, and arrived at Kew about two o’clock in the afternoon, in perfect health. [An authentic account of what passed during his Majesty’s residence at Portsmouth, will be given in our next.]
His Majesty, during his stay at Portsmouth, settled 300l. per annum on the Commissioner and his Lady there, during their lives.
It is said, that one of the Princes of the blood royal of France, accompanied the French Ambassador on Tuesday to Portsmouth, in order to be present at the grand royal naval review. A Correspondent informs us, that the reason why the Admirals Hawke, Saunders, and Keppel, did not go to Portsmouth was because they are not fond of Sham Fights