Rendezvous of the fashionable world

"Portsmouth had been now, for many months, the rendezvous of the fashionable world; every gay young man of fortune, and woman also, in their circle of joyous amusements, took a transient view of it; whilst those who have a relish of one of the noblest sights, which art or industry has yet produced, considered our fleet of capital ships, at this time in particular, with delight and exultation." Jonas Hanway, inventor of the umbrella, describing Portsmouth in a letter dated 9 August 1755.