a harbour, river, or haven, formed either by nature or art to receive and shelter shipping from the storms and waves of the open sea.

Artificial ports are those which are either formed by throwing a strong mound or rampire across the harbour's mouth to form island or rock, or erecting two long barriers, which stretch from the land on each side like arms or the horns of a crescent, and nearly inclose the haven; the former of these are called mole-heads and the later piers.

Port, is also a name given on some occasions to the larboard or left side of the ship, as in the following instances. Thus it is said, "the ship heels to port," i.e., floops or inclines to the larboard-side. "Top the yard to port?" the order to make the larboard extremity of a yard higher than the other. "Port the helm!" the order to put the helm over to the larboard-side of the vessel. In all these senses this phrase appears intended to prevent any mistakes happening from the similarity of sounds in the words starboard and larboard, particularly when they relate to the helm, where a misapprehension might be attended with very dangerous consequences.

PORTS, the embrasures or openings in the side of a ship of war, wherein the artillery is ranged in battery upon the decks above and below.

The ports are formed of a sufficient extent to point and fire the cannon, without injuring the ship's side by the recoil; and as it serves no end to enlarge them beyond what is necessary for that purpose, the shipwrights have established certain dimensions, by which they are cut in proportion to the size of the cannon.

The ports are shut in at sea by a sort of hanging-doors called the port-lids; which are fastened by hinges to their upper edges, so as to let down when the cannon are drawn into the ship. By this means the water is prevented from entering the lower decks in a turbulent sea. The lower and upper edges of the ports are always parallel to the deck, so that the guns, when levelled in their carriages, are all equally high above the lower extremity of the ports, which is called the port-cells.

Port, is also a strong wine brought from Port-a-port, and also called Porto and Oporto.

Port of the Voice, in Music, the faculty or habit of making the flares, pallages, and diminutions, in which the beauty of a song or piece of music consists.

Port-Crayon, a pencil-case, which is usually four or five inches long, and contrived so as that the pencil may slide up and down. Its inside is round, and its outside is sometimes filed into eight sides or faces, on which are drawn the sector-lines; sometimes it is made round both without-side and within, and has its length divided into inches and parts of inches.

Port-Fire, a composition for setting fire to powder, &c. Port-fires are frequently used by artillery people in preference to matches; and they are distinguished into wet and dry port-fires. The composition of the former is saltpetre four, sulphur one, and mealed powder four. When these materials are thoroughly mixed and sifted, the whole is to be moistened with a little linseed oil, and rubbed between the hands till all the oil is imbibed by the composition. The preparation for dry port-fires is saltpetre four, sulphur one, mealed powder two, and antimony one. These compositions are driven into small paper cases, to be used when necessary.

Port-aux-Prune, so called by the French, is a country on the coast of Africa, to the north of the island of Madagascar. It is a rich country, and fertile in rice and pastures; it is inhabited only by the negroes, who are an industrious good sort of people, but very superstitious. There are no towns, but several villages, and they have some customs which seem to incline to Judaism.

Port-Jackson, in New Holland. See New Holland, No. 7, &c.

Port-Royal, a sea-port town in the island of Jamaica. It was once a place of the greatest riches and importance in the West Indies; but in 1692 it was destroyed by an earthquake, in 1702 by fire, in 1722 by an inundation of the sea, and in 1744 it suffered greatly by a hurricane. It is now reduced to three streets, a few lanes, and about 200 houses. It contains the royal navy-yard for heaving down and refitting the king's ships; the navy-hospital, and barracks for a regiment of soldiers. The fortifications, which are very extensive, being in excellent order, and having been lately strengthened with many additional works, it may be said to vie in point of strength with any fortress in the king's dominions. The harbour is one of the best in the world, and 1000 ships may ride therein, secure from every wind that can blow. It is six miles east of Spanish-town, and as much by water south-east of Kingston. W. Long. 76° 40'. N. Lat. 18° 0'.

Port-Royal, an island in North America, on the coast of South Carolina, which, with the neighbouring continent, forms one of the most commodious harbours in the British plantations. It is 15 miles in length; and the town on the north shore is called Beaufort. W. Long. 80° 20'. N. Lat. 31° 40'.

Port-Royal, the name of two monasteries of Cistercian Port-Royal nuns in the diocese of Paris; the one near Chevreuse, at the distance of five leagues from Paris, called Port Royal of the Fields; and the other in Paris, in the suburbs of St James.

The nuns of the former of these monasteries proving refractory were dispersed; when many ecclesiastics, and others, who were of the same sentiments as these religious, retired to Port-Royal, took apartments there, and printed many books. Hence the name of Port-Royal was given to all their party, and their books were called books of Port-Royal: from hence we say the writers of Port-Royal, Messieurs de Port-Royal, and the translations and grammars of Port-Royal.