Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

32 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH,
But old Jefferson Hall has occasionally presented a bet,
ter spectacle. Arrayed in the flags of various nations, with
well covered and well attended tables, many a visitor has
been made happy, according to the number of shillings he
has bestowed for some object of benevolence. Here too'
has been the pleasant promenade, where the band and
songsters have imparted life to the gathering.
Unlucky was the effort, three years since, of that wellmeaning individual* who attempted in Jefferson Hall a State
Mechanics Fair on his own responsibility. A temporary
addition in the rear, nearly as capacious as the Hall, was
erected. The expected articles for exhibition, however/ did
not appear. It was a sad failure; but the manager, too
honest to wrong any one, at once enlisted in the army, and
with his bounty money paid his debts. In a few months he
rested with the honored dead.
Whether the spirit of this noble soldier still hovered
around the scene which was the disturbing cause' of his
earthly comfort, we cannot say; but a military spirit was;
visible in Jefferson Hall soon after his death, when the
Hall became a barrack for soldiers-and to this service of
the country its last days were mainly devoted. In what
more appropriate service could that Hall, which for sixtythree years has borne the name of JEFFERSON, be closed,
now that it will bear that name no more forever 1
In its place, what have we seen to-night? We have
passed up an easy stairway and through a wide entry to a
series of five capacious rooms, each independently warmed
and lighted, and fitted for its particular purpose. As we
pass under the City Safe, we cannot overlook it. We
really have at last a safe. For more than 200 years the
manuscript records and documents of great value have had
less care taken of them than; almost any merchant takes of
his day-book. In the great fire of 1813, the town clerk's
o Henry M. Carter.