PORT-ROYAL-DES-CHAMPS. 279 POBTSMOUTH. was thenceforward called Port-Roval-de-Paris ; and from this time the old establishment of Port-Koyal-des-Champs was the home of a lay community in accordance with the original Papal privilege. This community became very celebrated, and numbered among its inmates some of the most distinguished scholars of the time, Arnauld d'Andilly, the three brothers le Maistre (Antoine, Louis Isaac de Sacy, and Simon de Sericourt I , Nicole, Lancelot, and several others. The name of Pascal was closely associated with Port-Royal. The rule of life of the Port-Royal- i~ts was austere and they devoted many hours to prayer, spiritual reading, instruction, and manual labor. They prepared for these schools the well-known text-books of the Port-Royal series, such as Greek and Latin grammars, works on general grammar, geometry, and logic. In 1643. inspired by profound love for children, the Port-Royalists founded the Little .'Schools, first at Port-Royal and then in Paris, in which they received a small number of pupils. The study of the vernacular was strongly emphasized in these schools, the general aim lieiug to de- velop the reason, judgment, and power of personal reflection rather than a mastery of Latin. For the first time in the history of French education, the study of French received careful considera- tion. In teaching pronunciation and spelling they almost approached the modem phonetic method. The schools had but a short existence and embraced but a limited sphere, but the prin- ciples laid down had a salutary influence on edu- cation in' France throughout the succeeding cen- turies. Greater importance for the time was given to the community by its pertinacious adherence to the -Jansenist views ( see .Jansexism ) , and by the number of polemical works which issued from Port-Royal. The nuns having refused to sub- scribe the formula condemning the five proposi- tions of .Jansenius, a royal order was issued in lti60 for the suppression of the school and the removal of the boarders, and the abbess and sev- eral other nuns were arrested and confined as prisoners in other monasteries. After the "peace of Clement IX.," they were permitted to return; but the two commimities, Port-Royal-des-Champs and Port -Royal-de-Paris, were placed under sepa- rate government. This led to many disputes, and to a continued adherence at Port-Royal-des- Champ; to the .Jansenist spirit and opinions; and when the final steps for the repression of the Jansenists were taken in 1705 and the following years, a formal bull was issued by Pope Clement XI. for th^ suppression of the old convent and the transfer of its property to Port -Royal -de- Paris. In 1"09 the nuns were finally dispersed and distributed among convents of different Or- ders throughout France. The property of the con- vent and church was transferred to the Paris house, and all the buildings of Port-Royal-des- Champs were leveled to the ground, by order of the King. See Sainte-Beuve, Part-Royal (5th ed., 7 vols., Paris, 1S87) ; Racine, Histoire abregce de Port-Eoijal (Paris, 1742: new ed., 1865); Beard, Pori-Roynl (2 vols., London, ISGl) ; Ca- det, L'educafUm a Port-Royal (Paris, 18S7) ; Ricard, Les premiers Janscnistes et Port-Royal (ib.. 1883). PORT SAID, sa-ed'. A seaport of Egypt, sit- uated at the Mediterranean end of the Suez Canal (Map: Egypt, F 1). It has frame houses. Its harbor, with colossal piers of concrete, has am- ple docks and accommodations for vessels. There is a lofty lighthouse. Port Said has an ex- port trade in cotton, and is an important coal- ing station. It is the seat of the Governor-Gen- eral for the Suez Canal. The town dates from 1859, when work on the canal was begun. Popu- lation, 37,000, of whom about one-third are Euro- peans. PORTSMOUTH, pSrts'muth. A seaport and the chief naval arsenal of Great Britain, situated in Hampshire, on the southwest shore of Portsea Island, 74 miles southwest of London (Map: Enghmd, EC). Portsmouth has the most complete fortifications in Britain. These com- prise, on the landward side, the outer line of the Portsdown forts and the Hilsea lines ; to seaward, the Spithead forts. Southsea, which is situated outside the walls skirting Southsea Common, is rapidly increasing, and is a fashionable watering-place. Pleasing views may be had, from the ramparts and bat- teries, of the harbor, the roadstead of Spithead, and the Isle of W'iglit. The town itself is unin- teresting; among the few notable buildings is the Church of Saint Thomas, the chancel and transepts of which date from the twelfth century. Besides the parish, the municipal and Parlia- mentary limits include Portsea, Landport, and Southsea. TTie town of Gosport (q.v.) is sepa- rated from Portsmouth by the harbor entrance. Portsmouth harbor, about 420 yards wide at its entrance, extends inland for about four miles and has a breadth of three miles along its northern shore. The outward entrance is defended by ^lonkton Fort and Southsea Castle. The harbor is situated close to the magnificent anchorage of Spithead, where 1000 ships of the line may ride without inconvenience, imder shelter of the Isle of Wight, and opposite the French arsenal of Cherbourg. The dockyard has an area of 293 acres. Of this immense naval establishment, the most noteworthy features are the dry docks, spa- cious enough to admit the largest vessels. The local trade of Portsmouth is supported mainly l)y the Government dockyard and other public establishments. Brewing is carried on, and there is considerable traffic in timber, coal, cattle, and agricultural produce. The importance of the port dates from the reign of King Henry VIII. Its defenses were strengthened by Eliza- beth and by William III. The municipality holds various charters, the first granted by Richard I. Its principal asset is its docks. It owns an elec- tric lighting phint. and tramways, and maintains public baths, cemeteries, libraries, and a technical school. Porchester Castle, a ruined Xorman fortress to the nortli of the harbor, occupies the site of the Roman Porttis Uafinus. The town was burned by the French in 1372. In 1642 it was taken by the Parliamentarians. In 1782 the Royal George sank in the harbor with a loss of nearly 1000 lives. Portsmouth is the birthplace of Charles Dickens and George Meredith. Popu- lation, in 1891, 159,000; in 1901, 189.000. Con- sult Saunders, Annals of Portsmouth (London, 1880). PORTSMOUTH. A city and one of the coun- ty-seats of Rockingham Coimty, X. H.. 58 mile's north-northeast of Boston: on the Piscataqua River, about three miles from the Atlantic Ocean,
