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SUPPLEMENT.
London, August 21.
Extract from a Letter from Portsmouth, August 20.
“The Barfleur, Capt. Bentley, is ordered for the Bay as soon as she can get manned.
“Capt. Webb, of the Speedwell, is appointed to the Command of the Sunderland, and Capt. Cornwall to the Command of the Speedwell.
“Yesterday arrived the Lively, a new twenty-gun Ship, built at Burslhedon, near Southampton.
“The St. George, Yarmouth, Terrible, Torbay, Bedford, and Monarque, are cleaning, and fitting for the Bay with great Expedition.
“The Government have contracted for the Purchase of a Field near the Forts at Portsbridge, to build Barracks for 2000 Men, which are to finished in six Months. And a Moat with a Breast-work above two Miles in Length is thrown up on our Land-Side, on which a great Number of Guns will be mounted, and a new and additional Gate made, to be prepared against an Attack.
“Remains Vice-Admiral Osborne, with the Ships in my last.”
— The General Evening Post, Saturday 21 August, 1756 (source)
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Extract from a Letter from Portsmouth, August 30.
“Friday arrived the Hind, Capt. Webber, from Jamaica, in seven Weeks and three Days, with Governor Knowles on board, who landed here, and set out for London soon after his Arrival.
“The Medway and Newcastle are ordered to clean.
“The Deal-Castle is sailed.
“The Lynn is sailed with her Convoy.
“Three large Ships came to St. Helen’s last Night, supposed to be Indiamen from Ireland; there being no Wind to bring them up, their Names are not known.
“The Barracks near Portsbridge are begun.
“Remains Vice-Admiral Osborne in the Royal Anne, with the Barfleur, St. George, Terrible, Torbay, Yarmouth, Bedford, Monarch, Medway, Newcastle, Hindi, Scarborough, Lively, Ferret, and Spy.
“Admiral West has been here some time.”
— The General Evening Post, Tuesday 31 August, 1756 (source)
Note
This source also contains references to fortifications being built at Portsbridge.