The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-16
Foreign Correspondence Of the Mime
sOtian.-NO. 4.
THE TOWER OF LONDON.

THE TOWER OF LONDON.
MEssRs EDIroRs There are many places
in Europe that have almost worlds history
connected with them. The Tower of Lon
don is one, and Westminster Abbey is anoth-
er. Both of these places are in London. The
short sketch shall give of them will be prin
cipally of the history connected with it.
1t is the boast of the English and all other
Autocrats, Of their ancestry and the noble
deeds connected with the family names. If
you wish to hear the other side, or tale of
cruelty and blood, go with me to the Tower,
or the Westminster, and look at the traditions
handed down by these places. 1t must be re-
membered that although a King or Queen
had in those times had almost despotic pow
er, yet they were always influenced by the
nobility or Lords around them, for their own
safety.
The Tower was built in the reign of Will
liam, the Conqueror in 1919, although addi-
tions have been made to it since that peri
od, and was at times the residence of all the
Kings of England, up to the time of Charles
the ii. 1t is divided into various parts call
ed towers, there being in all thirteen of these,
each celebrated for some dark deed. The
principle one Of these interior towers is call
ed the White Tower. 1t was in this one
that Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned, du-
ring which time he wrote his history of the
World. This Prison, which was in, is FORM
ed in the thickness Of the WALL and is cell
ten feet long by eight wide with no light but
from the entrance. When on the scaEold, he
is said to have behaved like hero and chris
tian, and indicated his conduct in pathet-
ic and eloquent speech, and then feeling the
edge Of the fatal instrument of death, OBJ
served with a smile, sit is sharp medicine
but sure remedy for all woes.' Being ask
ed which way he would lay himself on the
block, he replied, so the heart be right, it is
no matter which way the head lies"
The largest room on. the upper floor Of
this same Tower was used as Council Room
when the Kings held their Court at the
Tower. 1t was in this room that Richard,
Duke of Gloster, ordered Lord Hastings to
instant execution. In some of the Towers or
Prisons inscribed on the walls are names and
notices done by the various prisoners during
their confinement. Among them William
Tyrrel, who was supposed to have been a
Knight Of the Order of Malta in I54l. Near
the last is an inscription within Keystone !;
also the autograph of Philip Howard, Earl
OF Arundel; also piece of sculpture by
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick and names
of host of Others. The first State prison
er imprisoned in the Tower was Flambard
Bishop of Durham, in 100. Sir Simon Bur-
ley was the first person executed here in 1888.
From 1897 to 1916, King Baloil, Sir VIM.
Wallace, the hero of Scotland, the Earl of
Ross, Anthol and Monteilh, King David
Bruce, and other noted Scotchmen were i'm
prisoned here. In the reign of Edward the
III six hundred Jews were imprisoned in the
Tower for adulterating the coins of the realm.
This same King afterwards banished all the
Jews from England, compelling them to leave
behind them all their immense wealth.
Richard the II, was first imprisoned here,
and afterwards removed to Castle in York
Shire, where he was afterwards found dead.
In l4O6 James, eldest son of Robert the III,
klng of Scotland, while on his way to the
court OF France to be educated was driven
by a storm on the English coast, and impris.
oned IN the Tower eighteen years Henry
the vi, was imprisoned here, and afterwards
found dead. Edward the Nv, imprisoned and
caused his brother to be murdered here He
is said to have been drowned in wine Ed.
ward dying before his Sons were capable Of
governing. they were committed to the care
of their Uncle, the Duke of Gloster, after.
wards Richard the III, who imprisoned them
and ordered them to be put to death i n what
is called the Bloody Tower.