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 Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents.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

84 RAMBLES ABOT PORTSMOUTH.
State contain the records of the formation at Portsmouth
of Bellmont's government, and minutes of the proceedings
of the first Legislative Assembly under him in the fall of
1699. Under the act passed at this session, the Courts of
Justice were originated, and continued to operate under
the organization for seventy-two years. The act is copied
at length in the ancient records, being the most ancient
Legislative document in the possession of the State. The
Assembly consisted of fifteen members, three from each of
the five towns-Portsmouth, Hampton, Dover, Exeter and
New Castle. The "Lord's Speech" at the opening of the
Assembly commences thus:
"C Gentlemen - have called you together at this time to
give you an opportunity of serving the common interest
of your country by Redressing the Greaveances this province lyes under."
Among "the articles to be observed for regulating the
House" is one "Imposing a threepence fine for absence at
calling over;'" and another, " that none smoke tobacco in
the House after calling over, on penalty of threepence for
Cleark."' Under date of Sept. 16, 1699, is the following
record:' Complaint being made to the Assembly by the sheriff
that the prison is not sufficient, Voted-That a strong logg
house be built in the Province for a prison of thirty foot
long, fourteen wide, one story of seven foot high, two
brick chimneys in the midst five foot each, to be done
forthwith, strong and substantial, the Treasurer and overseer to be paid out of the next Province Assessment, to be
sett in Portsmouth in or near the Great Fort."
[This first prison was built near Market Square. Church
Hill was called the Fort.]
In July 1700, it was voted "that Clerk of the Assembly
receive 18 pence per day to be paid out of publicque
Treasury for writing for the Assembly, finding paper and
registering its minutes in this book."