, 1863-04-25

lHE TOWER OF LONDON.-FeW persons are
aware of the strictness with which the Tower Of
London is guarded from foes without and treach-
cry Within The ceremony Of shutting it up every
night continues to be as solemn and as rigidly
precautionary as if the French invasion were actu-
ally afoot Immediately otter tattoo all strangers
are expelled and the gates once closed, nothing
short of such imperative necessity as fire or sud
den illness can procure their being re-opened till
the appointed hour next morning. The ceremony
of locking up is very ancient curious and stately.
A few minutes before the clock strikes the hour
of eleven-on Tuesdays and Fridays at twelve
the head warden (yeOman porter) clothed in
of keys and attended by a brother warden, carry
ing gigantic lantern, appears in the front of the
main guard-house, and calls out in loud voice
Escort keys" At these words the sergeant of
the guard, with five or six men, turn out and fol-
low him to the Spur, or outer gate, each sentry
challenging them as they pass his post; "Who
goes there ?" "Keys." The gate being carefully
locked and borred-the warden wearing as solemn
an aspect and making as much noise as possible
the procession returns, and the sentres exact
the same explanation and receive the same answer
as before. Arrived once more in front of the
main guard-house, the sentry there gives a loud
stamp with bis foot and the following converse
ton takes place between him and the approach
rg party: "Who goes there P" "Keys'-
"Whose Keys" "Queen Victoras keys
"Advance, Queen Victoria keys, and all is we'll"
The yeoman porter then exclaims God bless
the Queen Victoria The main guard devoutly
respond, "Amen.' The officer on duty gives the
word, present Arms" the fleocks rattle, the
officer then kisses the hilt Of his sword the escort
fall in among their companions, and the yeoman
porter marches majesticay across the parade
ground alone to deposit the keys in the leuten.
ants lodgings. The ceremony over, not only is
all egress and ingress totally precluded, but those
within being furnished with the couaterslgu, any
one who, unhappily forgetful, ventures from bis
quarters unproyided with this tasman is sure to
be made the prey of the first sentinel whose post
he crosses British Court Journal
GREAT EPOCH, BUT SMALL MEx-As a
rule we find that great occasions have produced
great men, in running over the history of man
kind, from the exodus of the Jews from Egypt
See what constellation Of great names are asso
ciatea with the American Revolution of 1776,
with Washington at their head and what host
Of mighty characters were developed by the trst
French Revolution, including the most wonder
ful man Of all time-Napoleon Bonaparte. But
here in the midst Of the most momentous revo-
lutionary uphoaval in the history of mankind, we
have little else to exhibit beyond plentiful crop
of small potatoes.-World.
"WELL, Cuffee, said a clergyman to his
coiored servant, "what was you doing in
meeting this afternoon :"
Doing, massaa was taking notes."
was the reply
''You taking notes !" exclaimed the mas
ter.
"sartin, massa; all of the gentlemen take
notes,
''Well, let me see them said he.
Cuffee thereupon produced his sheet Of
paper, and his master found it scrawled all
over with all sorts Of marks and lines, as
though dozen spiders, dipped in ink, had
marched over it.
"Why, this is all nonsense said the
master, looking al the notes.
We'll, massa, replied Cuffee, thought
so all the time you was preaching -