light in winter.

Near this western gate there has been lately erected a large elegant building for the convenience of the Excise Officers, &c. having business with the Custom House.

The principal buildings within this extensive citadel are, The White Tower; The chapel of St. John, within this Tower; The church of ST. PETER AD VINCULA infra Turrim; the Ordnance Offices, The Mint; the Record Office; The Jewel Office; The Horse Armoury; The Grand Store-house, in which is The Small Armoury; and The Menagerie. Here also are apartments for state prisoners." This singular union of heterogenous objects is not the only one in England; and the propensity to strange scenes, seems necessary to gratify the taste for striking and unexpected contrasts; by which a melancholy people endeavour to dissipate an habitual gloom."§ So says M. De Levis; but how an old tower, wild beasts, a prison, an armoury, though united with crown jewels, and the coining of money, can operate to dissipate an habitual gloom, this writer has not endeavoured to shew.

irre

The White Tower, or interior fortress, is a large square gular building, situated almost in the centre of the Tower, properly so called. It consists of three lofty stories, under which are commodious vaults, for salt-petre, &c. The top, which is flat, is covered with lead; and here is a large cistern, or rescr

voir,

The external appearance of this fortress, in its present state; is faithfully xhibited in the annexed plate, of the View from the Tower Hill; the other View is taken fom the River, with the Tender in the fore ground.

+ See the account of the New Mint in an earlier part of this volume, The tempting articles in this office have more than once proved too powerful for the honesty of persons who have gone to view them. Blood's rash attempt at the crown in the reign of Charles II. has been often noticed. He had, by way of reward for his service, not a hulter, but a pension of 500l. a year during life. Within the present year, (1815,) a poor woman made a similar daring attack upon the crown; but it has been humanely said she is insane; and as the present Prince Regent is more wise than the merry Charles, I suppose this bold adventurer will obtain no pension.

§ De Levis's England, &c. I. p. 149.

voir, which supplies the whole garrison with water, in case of necessity. It is easily filled from the Thames, by a very curious hydraulic engine. The first story is principally occupied by small armoury for the sea-service; and with other species of arms and armourers tools, &c. &c.

The ancient Chapel of St. John was originally used by our monarchs, and other royal personages, who, from time to time, have resided here. It is of Saxon architecture, and is most perfect building of that kind. Its strength is incredible, and seems to bid defiance even to the attacks of time. It is oblong, and rounded at the ends. On each side are five massy round pillars, with bulky squared capitals, curiously cut, and having a cross on every side. The arches are round. At the east end are two pillars of similar form. Above is a gallery, with an arched window. This chapel is now part of the Record Office, and contains, on shelves behind the western row of columns, and in other places, an incredible number of parchment rolls of records. Of the foundation of this chapel we have spoken before in this work. The present keeper of the Record Office is Samuel Lysons, Esq. F. R. S. and F. A. S. who has a salary of 5001, per annum; and has a deputy, W. Illingworth, Esq. who has 2501.— There are clerks, who have, respectively, 2007, 150l. and 120/ per annum: also a clerk of the Records in the Roil's Chapel: at present John Kipling, Esq. F. A. S.

The church of ST. PETER AD VINCULA infra Turrim, is generally considered as the parish church of the Tower, and is consequently in the gift of the Crown. The common opinion is, that this church was founded in the reign of Edward III.; but the fact is, that it was founded even before Henry III; probably, indeed, very long previous to that reign: for, in December, 1241, the king issued an order to the keepers of the Tower for the re. pairing, beautifying, and repainting this church. It is devoid

of

* The annexed view correctly shews the interior of this substantial building, ↑ See Index to Vol. I.

of ornament; but derives infinite importance as the burial place of several remarkable personages, who either " ended their days on the adjacent Hill; or, when greatly favoured, within the fortress." This church was more splendid in its original state, as there were stails for the king and queen; a chancel, dedicated to St. Peter, and another to St. Mary. It was also adorned with a fine cross; and images of the Virgin, of St. Peter, St. Nicholas, St. Catherine, St. Christopher, and "two fair cherubims, with cheerful and smiling countenances, standing on the right and left of the great cross." Here were also numerous figures on painted glass, all executed by Henry III. himself. Here rests the dust of that excellent man and holy martyr, Fisher, Bishop of Rochester; also the wise, the witty, and the good Sir Thomas More, another martyr; Anne Bullen, the innocent; and Catharine Howard, the guilty wife of the infuriate tyrant Henry VIII. lie here; probably, also, the aged and innocent Margaret, Countess of Salisbury. Here, too, rest the bodies of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, who so inconsistently encouraged his impious master in the robbery of the religious houses; Thomas Seymour, Baron Sudley, and his brother, the Protector Somerset; John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland; Robert Devereux, the great favourite Earl of Essex; " that handsome, restless, ungrateful James Scott, son of Charles II. ;" the Duke of Monmouth; the repentant Earl of Kilmarnock; and the rough and fearless Lord Balmerino; the infamous Simon, Lord Lovet: these all lost their heads: many of them innocently, some of them deservedly. "Besides these headless trunks," numbers of other people lie here, who went to their graves from their quiet beds: we may notice Sir Richard Blount, and Sir Michael, his son, both lieutenants of the Tower; Sir Richard Cholmondely, or Cholmley, lieutenant of the Tower in the reign of Henry VII., and Lady Cholmondely; Talbot Edwards, keeper of the Regalia in 1764. He held this office when Blood attempted to seize the crown in the year 1671.

Strype's Stowe, Book L. p. 68; and Walpole's Anecdotes, I. 4.

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