POPULATION, continued.

POPULATION OF IRELAND, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT, IN 1831, ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER:

In 1841, the total population of the United Kingdom was 27,019,672, of which 18,844,434 were in Great Britain, including the islands of the British seas, and 8,175,238 were in Ireland.

POPULATION RETURNS OF THE CITY OF LONDON AT FIVE DECENNIAL PERIODS:

N.B. Of the number in 1841, the Males were 876,956, and the Females 996,720; the excess of the latter, the females, being 119,764. The total population of London, within eight miles rectilinear of St. Paul's, now (1844) amounts to about two millions.-Parl. Debates. POPULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS OF GREAT BRITAIN AT DECENNIAL PERIODS:

* Manchester and suburbs contain 296,183 souls.

+ Sheffield town contains 68,186; but with the suburban parts, 111,091 souls.

Including Portsea, and the suburban parts of the town and borough.

**The account of the population of the Chinese empire on the authority of the statement furnished to lord Macartney, makes it 333,000,000; while we read in the Biblioteca Italiana, that the last census of that empire, taken in 1790, was, according to Martucci, 143,124,734. This latter account nearly corresponds with the report of our countryman, Mr. Thomas, who states the population of China at

PORCELAIN. Porcelaine. Said to be derived from Pour cent années, it being formerly believed that the materials of porcelain were matured under ground 100 years. It is not known who first discovered the art of making porcelain, nor is the date recorded; but the manufacture has been carried on in China at King-te-ching, at least since A.D. 442, and here still the finest porcelain is made. It is first mentioned in Europe in 1531, shortly after which time it was known in England. See China, Porcelain, and Dresden China.

PORT EGMONT. One of the finest harbours in the world, on the N.W. coast of Falkland Islands, discovered by commodore Byron in 1765. The whole navy of England might ride here in perfect security from all winds; and everything for the refreshment of ships is to be obtained in abundance.-Brookes.

PORT JACKSON. This bay and harbour are on the coast of New South Wales, 13 miles north of Botany Bay. The capes that form its entrance are high, rugged, and perpendicular cliffs; and the harbour is one of the noblest in the world, extending 14 miles in length, with numerous creeks or coves. The name of Port Jackson was given to it by the illustrious circumnavigator Cook, who observed it in sailing along the coast in 1770. See Botany Bay; New South Wales; Sydney. PORT ROYAL, JAMAICA. Once a considerable town, abounding in riches and trade. In June 1692 it was destroyed by an earthquake; in 1702 it was laid in ashes by a fire; in 1722 it was reduced to ruins by an inundation of the sea; and in 1744,

146,270,163. Other writers, however, affirm it to be FIVE HUNDRED MILLIONS, and some as even exceeding that amount. In fact, the accounts of population of all countries differ so widely, and are so various, few statements can be relied on as being accurate.-M. Adrien Balbi; Balance Politique au Globe.

was destroyed by a hurricane. After these extraordinary calamities, the customhouse and public offices were removed. Port Royal was again greatly damaged by fire in 1750; by another awful storm in 1784; and by a devastating fire in July 1815. PORTEOUS, CAPTAIN, Death of. This officer, at Edinburgh, on April 14, 1736, commanded the guard at the execution of a smuggler who had, heedless of his own fate, saved the life of a brother criminal, by springing upon the soldiers around them, and by main force keeping them back, while his companion fled, he never afterwards being heard of. The execution of this brave fellow excited great commiseration, and the spectators pelted the guard with stones. Fearing a rescue, Capt. Porteous ordered his men to fire upon the mob, seventeen of whom were killed or wounded. For this he was tried and found guilty of murder, June 22, 1736; but the queen granted him a reprieve (the king being then in Hanover); and the court, interested for, determined to save him. The people, on the other hand, resolved that he should not have the benefit of the royal clemency; and on the day which had been named for his execution, they arose in prodigious numbers, assembled round the prison, broke open its doors, took out Porteous, and dragging him to the Grass-market, hanged him on a dyer's sign-post, in defiance of the municipal and military power. Strange to say, not one actor in this scene, notwithstanding the offer of great rewards, was ever identified, Sept. 7, 1736.

PORTER. Dr. Ashe says, that this beverage obtained this appellation on account of its having been much drunk by porters in the city of London, about 1730. The malt liquors previously in use were ale, beer, and twopenny, and it was customary to call for a pint or tankard of half and half, i. e. half of ale and half of beer ;half of ale and half of twopenny ;-or half of beer and half of twopenny. In the course of time it also became the practice to ask for a pint or tankard of three threads, meaning a third of ale, beer, and twopenny; and thus the publican was obliged to go to three casks for a single pint of liquor. To avoid this trouble and waste, a brewer, of the name of Harwood, conceived the idea of making a liquor which should partake of the united flavours of ale, beer, and twopenny. He did so, and succeeded, calling it entire, or entire butt beer, meaning that it was drawn entirely from one cask or butt; and being a hearty nourishing liquor, it was very suitable for porters and other working people. Hence it obtained its name of porter, and was first retailed at the Blue Last, Curtain-road.-Picture of London.

PORTER BREWED BY THE TEN PRINCIPAL LONDON BREWERIES IN 1760, viz. :

Barrels.

223,100

219,333

105,081

PORTER BREWED BY THE SEVEN CHIEF LONDON HOUSES IN THE YEAR 1815, VIZ.:

PORTER BREWED IN LONDON BY THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL HOUSES IN THE YEAR 1840, viz.:

London engrosses, it is said, one-third of the entire business of the whole country; and it is remarkable that this business has been drawn of late into the hands chiefly of eight or ten houses of gigantic capitals. Messrs. Whitbread and Co. built a porter cask 65 feet in diameter, 25 feet high, with 56 hoops weighing from one to three tons each-the contents 20,000 barrels. It was four years building. At Meux's brew-house two large vats suddenly burst, deluging and destroying many neighbouring houses. Several lives were lost; and the total loss of porter was estimated at between 8000 and 9000 barrels, October 17, 1814.

PORTERAGE ACT. Act for regulating the porterage of small parcels, July 1799.

PORTLAND ADMINISTRATION. This was also styled the Coalition Ministry, and was formed April 5, 1783. Lord North and Charles James Fox were members of it. The late Portland administration was formed March 25, 1807, and consisted, among others, of Mr. Canning, lord Hawkesbury, earl Camden, and Mr. Spencer Perceval.-See Administrations.

PORTLAND ISLE. Fortified before A.D. 1142. Portland castle was built by Henry VIII. about 1536. Off this peninsula a memorable naval engagement commenced between the English and Dutch, February 18, 1653. The battle continued for three days, and the English destroyed eleven Dutch men-of-war and thirty merchantmen. Van Trump was admiral of the Dutch, and Blake of the English. Here is the noted freestone used for building our finest edifices. The Portland lights were erected in 1716-1789. The pier, with nearly half a mile square of land, was washed into the sea in February 1792.

PORTO BELLO. Discovered by Columbus, November 2, 1502. It was taken from the Spaniards by the British under admiral Vernon, November 22, 1739. It was again taken by admiral Vernon, who destroyed the fortifications, in 1742. Before the abolition of the trade by the galleons, in 1748, and the introduction of register ships, this place was the great mart for the rich commerce of Peru and Chili. PORTO FERRAJO. Capital of Elba; built and fortified by Cosmo I. duke of Florence, in 1548; but the fortifications were not finished till 1628, when Cosmo II. completed them with a magnificence equal to that displayed by the old Romans in their public undertakings. Here was the residence of Napoleon in 1814-15. See Buonaparte, Elba, and France.

PORTREEVE. This title was anciently given to the principal magistrate of port or other towns in England. The chief magistrate of London was so styled; but Richard I. appointed two bailiffs, and afterwards London had mayors. Camden.See Lord Mayors.

PORTSMOUTH. The most considerable haven for men-of-war, and the most strongly fortified place in England. The dock, arsenal, and storehouses were established in the reign of Henry VIII. The French under D'Annebaut attempted to destroy Portsmouth, but were defeated by viscount Lisle, in the then finest war-ship in the world, the Great Harry, 1544. Here the celebrated George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, memorable in English story for having been the favourite of two kings, was assassinated by Felton, who had served under his grace in the station of lieutenant, August 23, 1628. The unfortunate English admiral Byng was, on a very dubious sentence, shot at Portsmouth, March 14, 1757.-See Byng. The dock-yard was fired, the loss estimated at 400,000l., July 3, 1760. Another fire occasioned loss to the amount of 100,000l., July 27, 1770. French secret perfidy was suspected both times, but there was no actual proof. Memorable grand naval mock engagement and parade of the fleet, the king being present, June 22 to 25, 1773. Another great fire occurred here, December 7, 1776. PORTUGAL. The ancient Lusitania. The name is derived from Porto Callo, the original appellation of the city of Oporto. It submitted to the Roman arms about 250 B.C., and underwent the same changes as Spain on the fall of the Roman empire. Conquered by the Moors A.D. 713. They kept possession till they were conquered by Alphonsus VI. the Valiant of Castile, assisted by many other princes and volunteers. Among those who shone most in this celebrated expedition was Henry of Lorraine, grandson of Robert king of France. Alphonsus bestowed upon him Theresa, his natural daughter, and, as her marriage portion, the kingdom of Portugal, which he was to hold of him, A.D. 1093.