Montreal Gazette (Montreal, QC), May 3, 1842

p.2 It is stated in the Kingston News, that no place in the neighbourhood of the Seat of Government is more susceptible of improvement than Portsmouth, situated at the distance of a mile and a half from Kingston. A convenient and substantial plank road has already been constructed, which renders a visit to the village a delightful recreation, independent of the scenery which meets the eye. The occupation of Alwington House by the Governor General, and the selection of a site for Queen's College, in the immediate vicinity of the Government House, will give a spur to the improvement of Portsmouth. From the brow of the hill in front of the Penitentiary, the beautiful Bay of Portsmouth is seen to great advantage. At the entrance of the lake there is a substantial pier, seven hundred feet in length, which effectually protects the harbour, with some of the best anchorage in the Province. There are two wharves erected within the pier; two of them being 140 feet by 60, and erected by Messrs. M'Leod and Logan, and another by Messrs. Macpherson & Crane, being about 100 feet in front. Between these wharves a marine railway has been erected by Messrs. Disset and Smith, the proprietors having about fifty men employed in repairing boats drawn up in the railway. The increase of the value of property has consequently been great. Ten acres forming the west side of the harbour, were, a few years since, purchased for £250, while, recently, a part of the same property, consisting of a small frontage on the harbour, was disposed of for £850. A second marine railway has recently been erected by the Kingston Company. Amongst other improvements, an extensive steam saw mill was erected at an expense of £1,300 by Mr. Fisher. It is added that if the proposed amendments in the Incorporation Act of Kingston be sanctioned and its limits extended, Portsmouth will become an important part of the town.