Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-05
A STRUGGLE FOR A CROWN.


was 70 visit the world-renowned Tower
The immense pile stands on the eastern
extremity of the city, and is wonder
fully imposing-not FOR its architectural
beauty, for 1t has none, but for its
gloomy, solemn solidty-every stone
seeming TO frown defiance to chance and
time. 1t appears to have been built to
last forever. Commenced more than
eight centuries ago, by William the
Conqueror, it gradually increased in
strength and Importance, until its name
became familiar throughout the civil
lied world.
For centuries it was the abode OF
royalty, ard the Kings and Queens of
England not only found shelter within
its walls IN time of war, but homes of
luxrry and magLificence in time of
peace.
In process of time, it became a prison
as well as palace and, if the dumb
stones could be made to speak, we
should shudder at the blood -curdling
secrets they would reveal. Among the
unhappy victims who have persisted
here, mostly ar the hands of tine heads
man, we recall the names of Lady Jane
Grey. Catherine Howard, Anne Boleyn,
Sir Walter Raleigh, King John of
France, William Wallace, Lord William
Russell, the Countess of Salisbury, Sir
Thomas More, and a whole army of
other unfortunates, conspicuous for
their crimes or their virtues, their mis-
fortunes or their intrigues.
The immense structure covers an
area of u acres, and within this space
numerous separate buildings have been
erected, Including the Barracks, White
Tower, st. Peters Tower, Bloody Tower,
in which the young Princes were muir
dered the Bowyer Tower, IN which the
Duke of Clarence wss drowned in
cask OF VINE; the Brock Tower, iii which
Lady Jane Grey was confined; the
Beauchamp Tower, which was once the
prison of Anne Boieyn the Museum,
Armories, Picture Galleries, and the
famous Jewel-HOuse.
Within the latter building are kept
the crown jewels of the British empire.
Prominent among them is the crown
worn by Victoria at the time of her
coronation, lich originally cost nearly
$1,000, geo, AMI which contains, in the
aggregate, $500 diamonds OF various
sizes, and all OF unrivaled brilliancy.
Besides, the Jewel-House contains num-
erous other crowEs. of monarchs long
since dead the Orb-a globe of gold,
6 inches IN diameter, studded with dia-
monds; St. Edwards staff, of solid
gold, 4 feet and Z inches long, and
weighing 10 pounds the Golden Scep-
ter; the world-renowned Kohinoor,
I-.l - o1e ne0 On0 onJ ,rroo.on.
other jewels of enormous value, the
property of the nation, and essential to
the maintenance of royal magnifcence
and pomp.
These baubles have curious history.
In the early days of the nation, when
her monarchs were both poor and proud,
these glitteriny appendages of the
Kingly estate were not infrequently
=" spouted" 70 raise money to meet their
)bersonal expenses. Henry Ill, Ed
ward Ill, Henry v, Henry VI, and
Richard IL, each borrowed large sums
of money from the merchants of Lon
don, leaving with the lenders these
crown treasures as pledge that the
loans would be repaid.
On the abolition of monarchy in En-
gland, after the death of Charles L.,
the jewels were stolen, destroyed or
sold.
On the restoration, Charles II. caused
q new regain to be constructed, at a
cost of 81, SOC, 900; and large chamber
in the Tower was set apart for their
safe-keeping, which is now known as
the Jewel House. 1t struck the writer
as little singular that the English
government should enact an insignif-
cant fee from each visitor and could
not repress the thought, and hardly the
expression, that it was unseemly for
the British nation to turn Snowman,
and exhibit the baubles of its sovereign
at so much per head.
Though the Jewel Hause is situated
near the center of large collection of
buildings known by the general name
of the Tower of London, the yards,
walks and corridors, of which are ever
swarming with people, and though
carefully watched and strongly guarded,
numerous and ingenious attempts have
been made to steal the jewels.
Among the most noted, as well as
the most dsring, of these attempts, WAS