Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-02-16

russell cuTasses and ornamented gaunfl"t- al 'ue
guy cavaliers who bled for royalty on Mafstoh
Moor and the ''lemi- apparel Of the misgnlHea
James who surrendered l- crown so lgnoely 10
William Of Orangr The horses are as large as
HE, and covered with the different kinds II dc
tell-ive armour. which characterize particular
etas in English history, from the days of the
Crnsades down Il" our own epoch.
The whole armnury. indeed, present a picture
Of great nagnlficoncr, aud l. part culiuIy ih''f
sting for the reason that it rtealls the days ol
kight-erraniry aud ehiyalfv. II brings 10 the
mind those times around whch Romance has
thrown IL most fascinating -palls: and 81 Whicl
the Muse Of l'orSy has sung in her sweetest ana
most charming numbers 1t spenks 81 the tour
naucnt and the tilt; the bright smiles and l1hins
words from far ludirs won by decd OF dining
aud drvaf,on; the laurrls gathered N the Hoy
Shriuc; the fierce contests on Gal"dnnias PitiiS'
and the trophies wou by prince and soldier III tue
eloriou, fields Of Crr,sry nud Agincourt. II
throws new light upon the thrilling pictures "'
Scott. and gives additional tnrce and ei"gat2ce
to the splendid dramas of William Shakespeare
IN II word. it Is an imposing legacy from ihe put
to all coming gen"ratIons.roin which the sehniaf
NAV gather fre.h knowledge, the laa'cr wider
and iruer conceptions, and the poet ne"'r'
dee,pr and more glowing inspiration.
After leaving the Horse Armory, ! entered
the White Tower, proper. Before desc iping
what saw in il interior, | viii give nasty
sketch offhc building itself: The White Tower
is quadrangulnr in FORM md Is butt III the N"r-
man Stvle Of architecture. II measures Ito iret
from North 10 South. 90 feet from from Lust 10
West, and has watch towers or turreta III ehch
angle It's three stories high, with n ROOT of
lead. aud wall about - feet in thickness. On the
ground floor il the famous "Quern Ehzabeths
Armorv - above this, st. Johns thaPr and IN
the third story, the celebrated Council Room IN
which Lord Hastings was tried and condemned,
by the infamous Richard Duke Of Gloucester.
After entering the White To~er, inthe manner
| have Described, and passing through n room
filled with man, strange relics OF teudaIisin aud
strange suits of armour from the Epst assembled
n few steps, and followed my guide into Queen
Elizabeth's Arnory.n 1t would take volume 10
describe properly all the singular implements OF
war. and machines for torture which are to he
found in this room, aud for that reason, will
not attempt IA notice of them in this letter. The
room is about OBJECT IN length, low and narrow,
with three windows on one side, II vaulted root
above, and figure ON horse back. at the farther
extremity, repre- scnting Queen Elizabeth clothed
in regal robes. In the centre of the Arnory
are the block aud axe formerly used in executions,
and on one Sidr,a small door communicating With
n narrow cell, which was the prison Of Sir Walter
Raleigh.
lcunnot describe my feelings when | found
myself in the apartment used by this great man
during his iInpre Jument. went over, IN Imagl
nation, that moekery ola trial, III which Lord
Coke won such undying nfamy for himself, the
long years throughout which the impatient spirit
of the noble captive pinned for freedom, and the
last awful sccnr-when, with characteristic
courage, hc bowed his head to the axe If the cX-
ccuiinncr. | could but calculate how much had
been lost to England aud the World, by the con
inemcnt of man whose genius elevated HIM to
/ the first rank both rs statesman and warrior,
] e.. In. Il Il
! which has been esteemed ii prodigy OF talent ny
the wsest philosophers who have lived since his
! time. Beside these things, there were other
reasons for emotion | had crossed the narrow
inlet through which his ship glidedi the waters
of the New World | had stood where hi, first
colony was planted ON the Western continent; |
! represented State whose capital bears his name,
and which reveres lis memory as its earliest friend
! and founders and Hood OF memories OF other
day., reeocctions of distant scenes, and reilcc
tions ON all had seen in my pilgrimage to this
! sacred spot, overwhelmed me to such an extent
! that | was compelled Ia leave the Armery-
! without properly enioyng its other caioSltles.
"Queen Elzabeth's Armory," is the only
! room exhibited in the White Tower, and nttrr
! leaving that, passed through the court to the
! Jewel House, where the Regua is kept. The
! display OF Jewels is most magniIiceut and the
! rich crowns and sceptrcs call up to the mind the
many scenes of splendor and grandeur they have
! graced. | could understand Col. Blood's "gal-
! liant attempt for crown after seeing the glitter
! ing gold and precious gems which compose one.
The next object which attracted my attention
was the Cha 81 of st. Peter, where in common
! dust repose the ashes of the prosecuted and per
socutor, the Catholic and the Protestant, the vic
! Tins of ambition, and the martyrs to the cause ct
! truth. 1t is antiqnated in appearance, but pre-
! seats feature of peculiar interest. After
! having been shown the Ruins of the Grand