Portsmouth.

Portsmouth. (1) the metropolis and only seaport of New Hampshire, is on the south bank of the Piscataqua River, 3 miles from the Atlantic, and 57 miles by rail NNE. of Boston. Built on a beautiful peninsula, overlooking a capacious and deep harbour, with smooth rock bottom, it is a handsome old town, many of its streets lined with shade-trees, and is a favourite summer-resort. It has a custom-house, and some shipbuilding is still carried on; the manufactures include cotton, hosiery, shoes, iron-castings, and beer. At Kittery, on an island opposite, is a United States navy-yard, with large ship-houses and a floating balance-dock, 350 feet long by 105 wide, with twenty-four pumps. Portsmouth was settled in 1623, and was capital of the state till 1807. Pop. (1890) 9827.—(2) Capital of Scioto county, Ohio, stands among hills in an iron region, on the Ohio River, at the mouth of the Scioto, and at the south terminus of the Ohio Canal, 106 miles by rail ESE. of Cincinnati. It has several iron-foundries, rolling-mills, stone-mills, and sawmills, and manufactures stoves, nails, steel springs, furniture, machinery, boots, &c. Pop. (1890) 12,394.—(3) A city and port of Virginia, capital of Norfolk county, on the Elizabeth River, opposite Norfolk. Gosport, with its navy-yard, &c. (see NORFOLK), is a suburb. Portsmouth contains a dry-dock and a naval hospital, and exports naval stores, iron, lumber, cotton, and early vegetables for the north. Pop. (1890) 13,268.