The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-25 00:00:00

TOWER.

Amongst the officers of the Tower of London some
doubts existed, and reluctance was manifested to allow
the admission of the public at the low charge of 6a. each ;
but the most satisfactory proofs of the error of these
doubts have been afforded by the trial made. The beha-
viour of the public generally has ;liven satisfaction to all
parties. The annual number of visitors to the Armoury
has risen from 10,200 in 1837, at 2s. fee each, to 40,000
in 1838, at ls.—to 84,000, in 1039, at 6d. ; and, in 1840,
to 94,973, exclusive of 3,184 by orders from the officers,
producing 2,3741. at 6d. each.. Official orders for free
admission have now ceased.
Your Committee are pleased to find that a desire for
improving and increasing the collection of ancient ar-
moury at the Tower has been manifested since the great
accession of visitors and the excitement of public in-
terest; and it is hoped that a more complete and his=
torical arrangement will soon be adopted. The sum of
1,094/. of the receipts has been, in. the last year, applied
by the Master-General of the Ordnance to the purchase
of ancient armour, arms, shields, &c., adding, thereby,
greatly to the value of the collection. By the rules laid
down'by the Constable of the Tower, it is required that
the visitors, after paying for their tickets at the entrance
gate, on the west side of the Tower, shall assemble in
a room appropriated for that purpose adjoining the Ar-
moury, and there they are sometimes detained a consider-
able time until a warier can accompany them. The time
allowed to the visitors to examine the whole of the Ar-
moury does not exceed one hour, and often a less time
is allowed by the warder on the circuit he makes. Your
Committee desire to observe that at Hampton Court
Palace and the National Gallery visitors are allowed to
enter without any delay or impediment whatsoever; and
at the British Museum also, with the exception of the
time taken to write the name of one visitor in tray
party, the public arc allowed to remain as long as they
please to view the collection, and seats are also provided

•
in the Museum and National Gallery for visitors ; and
no inconvenience has been found to arise From that
tiulgence. Your Committee desire to eall the atention
of the Rouse to the evidence of Mr. 11438, an artist, who
expresses a strong opinion of the Inconvenience of the
present hurried mode of exhibiting the Armoury ; and
the evidence of Mr. Gnome, one of the warders, as to
the deficiency of the number of warders for the etHcitnt
service under the present system, deserves atttfition.
TUE CROWN JEWELS IN TIM TOWER.

The jewels are under the charge of her Majesty's Lord
Chamberlain, and the heeper receives his orders from
him. The exhibition of them, at a charge of 2s. each
person, with is, fee to the warder accompanying the
party, had been long continued. By returns before the
Committee, it appears that in the years 1835, 1836, and
1837, the numbers of visitors to the Jewel-house was
between 6,000 and 7,00 in each year, producing, at the
fees stated, a grass amount of from 6551. to 692/,yenth.).
whilst in the year IS3B, when the admissied to
Armoury was reduced on the Ist of Arr,y lii that year to
Is. each, the number of visitors tO the Jewel-house in-
creased to 18,561, and the fees received amounted to
1,5941. 12s. Since the Ist January, 1841, an arrange=
ment has been made by which Mr. Swift, the keepet, is
to receive a yearly salary, paid out of the fees ; and the
public have been admitted since that date at 6d. each,
without any additional charge for the warder. It will
be seen by the return (see Appendix) before the Com-
mittee, that 8,115 newtons
have visited the JewelshottSe
in the month of April alone ; being a greater~ tram i
than had visited it in either of the years 18b5, 1836,
or 1837. is
It
House, tgilraattitfeensLiotrlsy:rhr:irOtitna
jittee to state to the
;rdervetosedeaonf
the whole expense of which esty's Treasury have
ek`evehpoinugranind
otfhe".l:ower well suited fee the
exhibiting the teNirn jewels :
and satisfakion.
money receive(l from vicsioeoutsß. lte &frayed out of the
effected will tkeford gtvat and
This building consists of 29 rooms,TP
PALACE.
This thus
with its eollectitek
of paintings, has been generously and li
vithontbee-ha,--ig'e
open, by her Majesty's command \ or any
116Aa%"StOsit:xhe'o'%Cleoeckk, infrtohme
terenstitiocftioounr
oofelnoeukmbinertsi,iefwiorntoifiv,e,
summer, and on Sundays after two o'clock.
thheenpurmo-.
ber of visitors has also greatly increased,
priety of their demeanour has fully warranatenA
this
comodation. It is pleasing also to observe lbt
hoss
ete..
attendants, who formerly received fees for admittance,
express as much satisfaction at the change of system
the public do, who paid them, formerly, not unfrequentalys
with reluctance and complaint. To the better feeling
now produced must be ascribed the absence of any in-
jury to the pictures, such as is mentioned by Mr. Grundy.,
the keeper of the pictures, to have taken places short
time before the free system was established. The
number of visitors to the Palace in. 1839 was 116,000,
and in 1840, 122,339, mostly of the working classes.
The admission of the public on Sunday afternoons, some-
times to the number of 3,000 persons, and their exem-
plary conduct in the palace and gardens, is a peculiar
and important feature. The state of the apartments—of
the turf, and of the unfenced flower beds in the garden,
where such numbers spread about at will, is certainly a
strong proof of the good disposition and improved con-
duct of the crowds which frequent it, and requires no
other comment than a reference to the very small esta-
blishment of attendants. There is a notice put up in
the garden in the following words :—" What is intended
for public enjoyment the public are expected to protect;"
and your Committee again call the attention of the
House to the satisfactory result of placing confidence in
the people.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL.
The attention of your Committee hag been directed to
the Painted-hall and Chapel of Greenwich Hospital,
which are exhibited on week-days from seven in
the morning to sunset, and on Sunday afternoons
after one o'clock, to the public, on payment of 3d. by
each person for admission to each place. The Painted-
hall, decorated by Sir J. Thornhill, contains A collection