a town of Hampshire, 79 miles from London, in the parish of Alverstock. It has a ferry over the mouth of the harbour to Portsmouth, and is a large town and of great trade, especially in time of war. Travellers choose to lodge here, where every thing is cheaper and more commodious for them than at Portsmouth. The mouth of the harbour, which is not so broad here as the Thames at Westminster, is secured on this side by four forts, and a platform of above 20 cannon level with the water. Here is a noble hospital built for the cure of the sick and wounded sailors in the service of the navy; besides a free school.

GOSSAMER is the name of a fine filmy substance, like cobwebs, which is seen to float in the air, in clear days in autumn, and is more observable in stubble-fields, and upon furze and other low bushes. This is probably formed by the flying spider, which, in traversing the air for food, shoots out these threads from its anus, which are borne down by the dew, &c.