PORTSOKEN WARD. The word Portsoken, according to Maitland, signifies a franchise at the gate: this ward is therefore situated entirely without Aldgate, and contains all Whitechapel as far as the bars; Petticoat lane, Houndsditch and the Minories. It is bounded on the east, by the parishes of Spitalfields, Stepney, and St. George’s in the east; on the south by Tower hill; on the west by Aldgate ward, from which it is separated by the city wall; and on the north by Bishopsgate ward. Its principal streets are, Whitechapel up to the bars, the Minories, and Houndsditch; and its most remarkable buildings, the parish churches of St. Botolph’s Aldgate, and Trinity Minories, This ward is governed by an Alderman and five Common Council men, including the Alderman’s Deputy; twenty-two inquest men, five scavengers, five constables, and a beadle. The jurors returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of January. _Maitland._ PORTUGAL _row_, 1. St James’s street. 2. Lincoln’s Inn Fields. PORTUGAL _street_, 1. Piccadilly. 2. Searle’s street, Carey street. _General_ POST OFFICE, a handsome and commodious building near the south west extremity of Lombard street, facing Pope’s Head alley. Of what antiquity the post is in this kingdom, is not easy to determine. Anciently the management of the foreign mails was under the direction of a stranger, who by the permission of the government was chosen by the foreigners dwelling in this city, who even pretended to have a right by prescription of chusing their own post master. However, in the year 1568 a difference arising between the Spaniards and Flemings in London, each chose their separate post master; and this contest occasioned a representation from the citizens to the Privy Council, to beseech her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, to fill that important post with one of her English subjects. By the first accounts we find of the posts established for the convenience of this kingdom, it appears to have been managed by several private officers, who had their respective districts. But great inconveniences arising from their different methods of proceeding, they were suppressed, and a certain number of public officers erected in their room: but these also not answering the end proposed, a General Post Office was erected by act of parliament in the 12th of King Charles II. in the year 1660, to be kept within the city of London, under the direction of a Post Master appointed by the King. By this act the General Post Master was impowered to appoint post houses in the several parts of the country hitherto unprovided, both in post and by-roads: the postage of letters to and from all places therein mentioned was not only ascertained, but likewise the rates of post horses to be paid by all such as should ride post.