Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-10
LONDON LETTER.
The Tower of London, and Changes
that Have Ia Placs In Its
Architecture.
Wakefield Tower and the Crown
JeWGIs.AOtber Famous
Towers.

| OF London is an irregular mass OF
buildings, part of which have very
much the appearance of an old manu-.
factory, and the whole exterior is
anything but prepossessing. Some
portions of it have been rebuilt, al
tered over, added to, and subtracted
from SO many times that doubtless the
original architect could see little Of
his design in the present multiterm
structures.
The Normans, who were famous and
substantial builders, introduced their
language and their style of architect
ure into England through William
the Conqueror, 800 years since, and
one of sheir most enduring monu-
ments is the White Tower. 1t was
once the abode Of royalty, afterwards
a prison; now it is used as an arsenal
as we'll as a museum.
A yeoman of the guard directs our
steps, after we pass through the
gloomy portal of the fortress, between
two old towers and across the moat.
The tower has four gatewsys, called
the Lions" the Traitor" the
Water" and the Iron" gates.
The White Tower is the original
Norman edifce, containing a chapel
with vaulted ceiling, immense col
umns, capitals, aud a lofty gallery
The walls are FIVE yards in thickness,
surmounted with turrets at the cor
ners. In the royal banqueting hall of
bygone centuries, modern rifles are
stored, while bsyonets and sabres are
clustered upon the walls in tasty
manner. Within the courtyard many
cannon of large size and antiquated
pattern are grouped, forming alto
gether quite an interesting display of
ancient and modern implements of
warfare. The horse armory contains
more than twenty figures OF full sized
horses covered with srmor with the
image of a warrior mounted upon
them, clad in a coat of mail. These
present the actual equipment of the
knights Of olden time in historical
order from the time of Edward l., A.
1 d. 1916. On the walls are displayed
weapons Of the various periods CORES
ponding with the armored hOrsemen,
Perhaps the most interesting locality
to the average tourist is the northeast
corner, where the Wakefield Tower is
situated, for here are the famous
crown jewels. They are contained
within a glass cabinet, protected by
an iron screen. The crown of Vieto
ria, made forty-five years since, IS a
magnificent piece of work, glittering
with nearly 3UOO diamonds. On the
trout is an immense ruby, which has
been in the possession of the royal
| line of England for 500 years. 1t is
also adorned with a sapphire of
matchless worth. The crown of the
Prince of Wales is made OF gold, and
is without ornament. There are
several other crowns of great beauty
and historical value. The golden
staff of state, yard and half long,
and weighing, they say, nearly 100
pounds, is surmounted by an orb in
which q piece of the true cross is said
to be treasured. We were also shown
the royal scepter, richly embellished
with diamonds and rubys; the scepter
of Mary; the scepter of Maria d Este,
and that of Victoria, having cross
adorned with Jewels. Here are also
the swords Of justice, the coronation
bracelets, the royal spurs, the corona
ton oil vase and the baptismal fout
for the royrl family, and many other
jewels of interest are displayed within
sight, but beyond the reach of curious
visitors. The whole of the regalia in
this little glass case is valued at $15,-
100000. We visited the Bloody
Tower, where the Princes were slain
| by Richard Ill; the Bell Tower,
where Mary imprisoned Elizabeth,
and the Brick Tower, the prison Of
Lady Jane Grey. In Reauchamp
Tower Lord Guilford Dudley, husband
OF Lady Jane Grey, was confined.
The old guide pointed out to US many
inscriptions cut into the solid
stone OF these Dungeon walls by the
various prisoners. In Beauchamp
Tower the Earl of Warwick, brother
of Lord Dudley, had Sculptured the
coat of arms of his family with the
annexed lines;
"You that these beasts do wei bshsld aBd 50,
May .deme with ease wherefore here madt
they be
With borders exc within
, 4brothers, names who list to serche the
ground"
Our attendant said that there had
been considerable controversy as Il
what were the words In the third line
now obliterated by the lapse of time
but that he had concluded, after hear
ing many opinions, that the missing
fragment should be there may b.
found" which words complete tht
measure and the rhyme. But VI
hasten on through other chambers
and noteworthy localities, to the
q Chapel Of st. Peter, ocilt by Edward
l., in the Westornmost corner Of thu
tower yard, and which Maccaulai
o SAYS is the "saddest spot on earth.
Here are buried Queen Anne Roleyn
Queen Catherine, Lady Jane Gre
aud her husband. Admiral Seymou
?, and the Earl Of Essof, all Of whom
d were beheaded. 1t is also the las
resting place Of many other men 0
royal and noble blood, who fell by tn
l. hands Of their enemies or through th
l. Vaccinations Of their rivals. Just a
we we're leaving the tower the Princes
of Wales drove up to the coHrtgaF
with the young Princesses, Victoril
Louise and Maude. Princess Alex
d andria ia beautiful lady, and sh
( seems to be the idol of the BIRTHS
Is people. The young girls were dresse
d IN very plain costumes. They locke
4 quite thin and pale, as though the
l. were hot house plants, instead /,
At being robust and hearty like ii
IS average English children Of the
a ages. The plebian visitor