The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-10
COrrespOndence.-Lettcr No. 7.

promise I proceed to pen a few lines
from this place, for your especial edif-
cation, though from my great hurry and
necessary pre-occupation with other
matters, they will be very incomplete
in fact, "mere mention " Of things
seen.
The bridges of London constitute an
interesting and important feature Of the
city They have been built at different
periods, as the business of the city and
its more immediate connection required,
at an enormous outlay of expense
Some of these bridges are highly orna-
mented and being built Of huge blocks
of stone gives them the appearance of
great strength and durability. Water
loo Bridge is a noble ARCHITECTURAL work,
its length being | ,25O feet. 1t consists
of nine elliptical arches, each of 100
feet span, and 80 feet in height. Traf-
algar Bridge is constructed entirely Of
cast iron, the large plates being made
to fit each other SO as to form almost a
: smooth surface. The continual arrival
and departure Of the numerous steamers,
for conveying persons to different points
in the city, the ever moving stream Of
people and vehicles, present scene Of
hustle and animation of the most excit-
ing character. These steamers are Of
small size, made long and narrow, and
run with great speed. In passing under
, the bridges, they lower the smoke-pipe.
The Thames Tunnel, intended to
!, form communication under the river
with the opposite portions of the city, is
an extraordinary work, constructed at
an immense expense, and one which has
not proved profitable Investment
The visitor descends circular stairway
to the bottom, when the Tunnel opens
before him. 1t is 300 feet in length,
divided into two carriage roads, with
walk on each side for foot passengers
The top is arehed with a heavy stone
wall dividing the two roads. This par
tition wall is pierced with open spaces,
to allow access from one passage to the
other 1t has never been used for car
riages. 1t is kept brilliantly lighted,
and filed with small shops, or rather
stands, occupied by women, for the sale
Of fancy articles.
The Tower of London is situated near
the Thames. What crowd of recol-
lections rush upon the mind at the mere
mention of the name Of this old prison
house Had these massive walls a
voice, what tales of horror, of cruelties
and expressions, could they unfold =
Here rebel lords, worthy patriots, an d
/ noble ladies, even, have been immured
in gloomy dungeons, and afterwards led
to execution. The antiquity Of the
building is very great. twas garrison
: ed by the Normans under William the
: Conqueror. For several hundred years
D it was the residence Of the royal family,
, bat ceased to be so on tho accession OF
Y Queen Elizabeth. This ancient fortress
7 consists of collection of buildings, bar
7 racks, arsenals, and Offices; the whole
, being enclosed by an old wall with a
ditch and travsrsed by draw-bridge.-
The wall encloses space Of twelve
, acres. On the south side of the Tower
is an arch called the Traitors Gate )"
| through which the State prisoners were
brought from the river, and the portals
: of which we're almost as impossible for
prisoner who had once entered there
as are those of the grave. Near this is
the " Bloody Tower" on the third floor
! of which is the room where tho two
J young princes, Edward V. and bis
brother, we're smothered by order Of
their uncle, RichardiIII. The " Horse
Armony" contains twenty-one eques-
trian figures, the horses, as well as the
effigies, encased in steel, representing
the armory of different periods Of Eng
lsh history. The walls are covered
with arms Of every description (; swords,