the Navy yard, one of the safest
and most convenient on the coast ;
Badger’s island, on which the
North America, (the first line of
battleship launched in the weste'rn
hemisphere) was built during the
revolutionary war.

Few towns in New England have
suffered so much from fires as Ports-
mouth. On Dec. 26, 1802, 102
buildings were burnt. Dec. 24,
1806, 14 buildings, including St.
John’s church, were destroyed.
But the most calamitous fire broke
out Dec.. 22, 1813, when 397 build-
ings were burnt, of which more
than 100 were dwelling houses.
The ravages extended over about
15 acres.

The United States navy yard is
admirably located for its object.
There are at present three ship
houses in the yard, in which are a
74 and a 40 gun ship. One of the
houses is 240 feet long and 131 feet'
wide:—the roof is covered with
130 tons of slate. In this building
the keel of the frigate Congress
was laid in 1337. The government
of the U. S. has been liberal in its
appropriations for this excellent na-
val depot, at which a dry dock
will soon be constructed. Ports-
mouth has ever been celebrated for
its fine white oak timber and its
naval architects.

Ship building for the merchant'
service is extensively pursued, and
otber manufactures flourish. There
are’35 ships belonging to this port
regularly engaged in the freighting
business; 100 vessels in-the cod
and mackerel fisheries, 52 in the
coasting trade, 3 in the West India
business, and 1 employed in whal-
ing. ThQ number of men and
boys employed in navigation, in
1837, wa^750. The tonnage of the
district, the same year, was 25,114
tons. As much of the capital of
this wealthy town is employed
abroad, and much of the inland
trade passes on the river, there is
hut little show of business in the