The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-02 00:00:00

ACCOUNT OF THE ARMOURY.

The extensive building subjected to the ravages o
conflagration is too well known to require any descrip.
Lion • although adjoining the splendid White Tower, yet
the fatter beautiful erection has received little or no
damage. The Armoury was well known as containing
an immense number of stands of arms, amounting to from
150,000 to 200,000 ; all in such a state as to be fit for
immediate and effective service.. These arms being
tastefully arranged in various forms and directions pre-
sented a most beautiful appearance. A cornice was
tastefully composed of the breastplates of ancient armour,
pistols, and other weapons. The spaces between the
windows were occupied by various elegant devices,
also formed of arms, swords, bayonets, &c. On each
side of the entrance door was a representation of the,
respectively rising and setting sun, placed in frames of
brass-handled hangers, with dog-headed pummels, being
those used by marines when on service as regiments.
There were in the centre of the room four columns,
twenty-two feet high, round which •' • . and other
weapons formed an oval on the`'?;nbove. On a
table, and enclosed in a glass case' rethe sword and
sash of the Duke of York ' • and .eppoSite a curious
cannon, taken by the French at Malte,..and made of a
mixed metal resembling gold, representing, in bas-relief,
the head of a grand master of Malta, supported by genii,
&c. In various parts of the same -room were to be seen
equally interesting relics of former day's in great number
and variety, Including many arms taken from the Scotch
rebels in 1715 ; the arms taken' frinn Sir William
Perkins and others concerned in the -intended assassi-
nation of William 111. ; two swords =that were carried
before the Pretender when proclaithed " King" in
Scotland, &c. The guns, &c., there, kept were always
beautifully bright, and continued so 'till required for
service, they then being 'bronzed for the land, and
blacked for the marine. The floor above this, called the
'rent-room, was formerly used as a depository for various
descriptions df Camp equipage, but lately had been turned
into a store for military accoutrements, &C. The ground-
floor, containing the train of artillery, was the room in
which were placed formerly the pieces of ordnance in-
tended for field service, which, however, were removed
with small arms, &C., , before
ready for
immediate
~;,p.g the many curiosities on this
floor were twi7, . of ordnance, recast from some
lateto and nr
is kept
fort at wic h,
d
af;
French guns taken' ttiCherboinv, in 1758 ; two pieces
taken from the walls'of :Vigo, in 1704, by Lord Cob-
ham ; a piece of 'brass ordnance taken at the battle of
Ramillies by the Dlike or Marlborough ; a large mortar
used by William 111. at the siege of Namur; a wooden
gun, said to have been used at the siege of ioulogne by
the Duke of -.Suffolk, to intimidate the inhabitants ; ten
small cannon, presented by the brass-founders of London
to Charles 11. when he was a boy, &c.
The late edifice was that which replaced the old Ord-
nance-office, which was burnt down in 1788, the latter
having been built on a portion of the site of the old
Palace.
With regard to similar armouries as that in the Tower
Dr. Merzeth observes, " that it was very long before
any collection of armour was made, and the several ar-