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PORTSMOUTH, &0. 803 room, the former on the Fridays of the Hants Sessions weeks, and the latter on alternate Thursdays. Petty Sessions are held daily. THE COUNTY COTTRT is a handsome new building, in St. Thomas's street i sittings are held twice a month, for a district comprising the Borougb- of , and all the parishes, &c., in Fareham and Havant unions, as well as Gosport and Alverstoke parish. The limits of the Port of Portsmouth extend from Bosham Creek, at the entrance to Chichester Creek, southward to within three miles of low-water mark at Bernbridge Point, in the ; and from thence in a north-westerly direction along the outer edge of the motherbank, between the main land and the Isle of Wight, to the west end of Bramble Shoal; and thence to Hill Head, at the mouth of Water, seven miles west of Portsmouth. THE CUSTOM HOUSE is a long building on the quay, fronting the eastern side of the Camber Harbour. The wharfage, tonnage, and harbour dues of the Camber belong to the Corporation. The Pilot office is at the Cus­ tom house, and about fifty pilots are licensed for this port and the Isle of Wight, by the Trinity house, London. The.Inland Revenue Office is in High street. The Tax Office is at 46, Thomas street. There are Coast­ guard stations at Southsea, Hayling Island, Stokes Bay, and Langston Harbour. There are branches of three banking companies in the town, besides a branch of the Bank of , in High street, Portsmouth, and a local private bank. The National Provincial Bank of England has branches at Portsea, Landport, and Southsea; the Hampshire Banking Company has branches at Portsmouth, Portsea, and Landport; and the Provincial Banking Corporation has a branch at Portsea, having recently taken to the business of the South Hants Banking Company, which is now being wound up in Chancery. The private bank is that of Messrs. Grants, Gillman, and Long, who have brax:ches at Portsmouth, Portsea, and Southsea. THE VICTORIA PIER was built in 1842 by a company of shareholders, for the purpose of increasing the accommodation for passengers to and from the Isle of Wight, &c.; and it has since l)een increased in width. It is constructed of timber, and projects from the sea wall into the channel, near the Grand parade and the foot of High street. It is approached by a glass-roofed colonnade, and is a fine pro:nenade; having the sea always flowing round it, and commanding an obstructed view of Spithead and the Isle of Wight. The Albert Pier, which projects into the harbour from Portsea Hard, between the Dock yard and the Old Gun wharf, was constructed in 1846. It is built of wood, and is 1,200 feet in length, so that vessels can land or take in passengers at all times of the tide. It commands a fine view of Gosport and the ships in the naval harbour. Portsmouth is connected with the metropolis by the London, Brighton and South Coast, the London Direct, and the London and South Western l'ailways; the two companies have a joint terminus at Landport. THE SOUTHSEA PIER is of recent construction; but monopolises almost the whole of the through traffic to the Isle of "lVight. It abuts from the esplanade, and is a very fashionable promenade. PORTSEA, a fortified town in the parish of PDrtsea, and within the borough of Fortsmoutb. The Gun wharf lying between Portsmouth and