Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-07-27
SIGHTS IN LONDON.

The history of the Tower is linked with as
sociations TO which no other building can fur
nish parallel. To other places are attached
the memories of greater pomp, and a few may
boast of deeds as bloody, but not one exhibits
human nature so stripped of all noble and gen.
erous qualities. Among all other castles it
stands alone the palace of treachery. It's
history is not only one of pomp, of cruelty,
and murder, but a sickening record of the
fck,eness and perfidy of friends and relatives.
The grounds contained within the walls are
about twelve acres in extent. The most an
cient part Of the structure is the White Tow
er, built near the centre by William the Con-
queror. On entering we were conducted by
warder, dressed yeoman of the guard OF
the time of Henry the Eighth. The dress
consists of hat, nearly the shape of a mod
ern beaver, but lower in the crown and cov-
cred with black velvet in folds, and a red tu-
mic profuSely ornamented with bands of gold
lace and embroidery. The armories, which
were first shown, contained vast quantity OF
old armor and weapons, we'll arranged In
chronological order, and some very interest
ing specimens of ancient firearms. Some OF
the armor was beautifully Ornamented and
gilded. We also saw the room in the bloody
tower, where King Edward the Fifth and his
brother were murdered by order oftheir uncle
Richard, and near it, the room, where as ira
dition states, the Duke of fClarence was drown
ed in a butt of Malmsey. The supposed re-
reign of Charles the Second, while making ex-
cavations in the Tower, preserved in
cenotaph in Westminster Abbey. The room
where Sir Walter Raleigh was confined, and
where it is believed he wrote his History of
the World, is still pointed ont. The unfortu-
nate queens of Henry the Eighth were con-
fined and executed near here. In one of the
rooms in the white Tower are many inscrip'
tions cut by prisoners on the wall, one OF
which reads; s'The most unhappy man IN the
world is lie that is not patient in adversely,
for men not killed by the adverSities they
have, but by the impatience they suffer. .
An old warder who sat behind counter, upon
which were number of small books, said as
we entered ssGentlcmen, this is a wonderful
room, and many celebrated persons have been
confined here. 1t is covered with lnscrIp-
tions, which fully described and explain
ed, in a book which l have here for sale,
price sixpence.'' No person in our party
however, purchased any of the books. The
Jewel Office is the greatest attraction to most
visitors. The rcgala have been shown since
| the days of Charles the Second, who first or
dered them to be publicly exhibited. Our
party were led to the office by the warder, and
counted before being admitted, when the
| door was closed. The room is a small one,
sufficiently large to permit the visitor to walk
around the jewels, which are exhibited in a
| large glass case surrounded by bars of iron.
| A woman pointed out the various jewels and
ornaments. Here we saw the splendid new
state crown, made for the coronation of Vic
| toria, and studded with a profusion of dia-
monds and other precious stones. cap OF
| purple velvet shows distinctly the form
| through the bands of silver which are arched
| above it. 1t is valued at one hundred and
| eleven thousand nine hundred pounds Ster-
| ling. Here is also St. Edwards crown, used
by the Archbishop for browning all the SOW
ereigns since the reign OF Charles the Second.
| 1t is the identical crown stolen in the reign of
| Charles, from the Tower, by Blood, who in
| stead of being punished, was rewarded by tho
| King, who probably feared him, with pen
sion Of five hundred pounds year. We also
saw St. Edwards massive golden staff sur
mounted with an orb, said to contain a frag-
ment ofthe true cross, and the celebrated dia-
monds and gold plate of immense value,
which arc used at the coronation. Royalty has
| frequdetly been obliged to have recourse to
the pawnbroker, and the kings of England
have sometimes pledged their jewelry. Hen
ry the Third pledged his jewels to the mer-
chants of Flanders, to raise money to enable
| him to carry on his wars. Henry the Fifth
pledged his splendid collar to the Mayor and
Commonalty of London for ten thousand
marks. Henry the Sixth on several occasions
was reduced to the necessity of pawning his
Jewels. We were not allowed TO contemplate
the splendid spectacle before us for any con-
siderable length of time, for another party
were waiting on the outside for admission
So we were quickly gathered together. and
after being again counted, passed into the
| courtyard. Near the entrance, we the
famous Lion Tower, formerly the royal men.
| agerie, now used for the sale of refreshments
Here small spaniel lived for years in the II.
on's den, where he had been thrown. In the
reign of Henry the Sixth, the keeper was al.
lowed sxpcnce day for himself, and six
pence for every lion and leopard, the only
beasts then kept there. In the days Henry
the Third, there white bear and an ele-
phant kept in the Tower as appears from an
| order issued by that monarch, which reads
"The King to the Sheriff of London, greeting
We command you that on the farm of oul
city, ye cause (without delay to be built at
| our tower of London, one house OF forty feet
long and twenty feet deep, for our elephant
1852 Before passing out we took a look al
the Traitors Gate, which opens on the
j Thames. Prisoners of state were formerly
brought through this entrance, and dark
dismal-looking place it is. Many proud sou
felt for the first time, in all its force, the mis-.
cry of fallen greatness, as he passed through
its heavy black arches, which shut out, per-
haps forever, the world and liberty.
HAMPTON CoURT.-Y Yesterday, in company
with S., visited this celebrrted palace, foI
ages the residence of the kings of England
and which was built by the luxurious cardinal
Wolsey, when in the height of his power
This favorite, who had become even rlchei
and more powerful than his royal master, Hen
ry the Eighth, although in possession oil otnei
splendid residences, resolved 10 pulia one lna'
should surpass any in England, and seeking
the advice of the most learned doctors OF the
time. this spot was chosen as the most healthy
within twenty miles of London. The manor
of Hampton was then the property OF the
knights of st. John Of Jerusalem, who leased