Show tl londom LONDON nov 30 1872 editor deseret news if one wishes to indulge in mei melancholy or the sympathetic he should visit the tower of london and devote an hour or br two in examining its records and crumbling in pointing to hert bert rending bce boe boener scenes neb nes enacted in past ages within its dark and gloomy walls wails in company with president smith and others of our tourists I 1 visited this place although not for tho the purpose pui pul above mentioned it is a sombre mass consisting principally C ally aily of antique walls gates portcullis lla bastions moat and twelve towers none of the excellency beauty splendor and grandeur is exhibited in these structures as is seen in prince alberts monument simplicity and solidity are characteristics of its architecture I 1 w wab was i ai impressed with no other with the exception of oppressive gloominess about thirteen acres are enclosed by the moat surrounding the tower and a double line of walls and bulwarks bulwa encircles ineide inside the moat with a street running between except on the south the tower or citadel the most important edifice occupies the central part of these promises it is ia one hundred and sixteen feet by ninety six elx and ninety two in height walis watis fifteen feet in thickness it was built in the latter part of the eleventh century nearly eight hundred years ago and ana is a specimen of norman architect archi tec tee ture it is divided from base to summit into various compartments by walus walls seven feet in thickness the smallest apartment is now row occupied by what is termed queen ElIzab elizabeths ethra armory on one side orthis of this thia room formed in the wall is a cell eight feet by ten without light except at its entrance formerly the prison of sir walter waiter raleigh I 1 ralstone fane fans and culpepper above this apartment Is johns johnb eba pel another specimen of norman archi atchi lecure te cure A chaplain was formerly engaged to perform service here for about twelve dollars per annum the most spacious room on the upper floor in former ages was used by the king klog as a council room where their heir courts were heid held it is baid said to bave nave been here that when the counell council was assembled the duke of gloucester demanded dem dom lord hastings immediate execution this chamber and the banqueting room are used at the present time as depositor les leb for small arms great skill is displayed in the arrangement easome of some bome of these arms and their implements in form of floors aquatic plants hints appe appearing faring in streams of water luminous bt stars arsand and the sun bun rising in splendor we were conducted to the horbe horse armory which wh ich is nearly one hundred and fifty feet I 1 in n length by thirty four in breadth I 1 filled with objects of curiosity and historical interest there were equestrian figures others on foot dressed in armor of dif dlf different Verent periods embracing cin CID over two and a half centuries it is curious carious to trace the development of the idea rola roia relating tinK tins to armor and weapons as exhibited exhibit eil ail in the he multitude of those specimens the conception in its perfect development in regard to armor was strikingly illustrated by a full suit on a life sized effigy ot of henry the VIII mounted on a horse horbe this suit bult of armor was made of plated metal artie artle artistically tic arranged in sections overlapping one another and turning upon pivots so as to afford the body hend head neck and limbs free motion without exposing any pon poK portion tIon it Is ponderous weighing as nearly as aa 1 recollect about one hundred and twenty pounds this armor is elaborately worked inlaid with gold and very beautiful we wl were ebere shown a rough bult buit bult buit he wore at the age of eighteen which weighed ninety two pounds the first specimens of armor manifested the idea as rather confused leather cut cuu in pieces in the form of fish scales and bowed cowed on cloth or deerskins the next stage of development appears in a specimen made of small rings of steel sewed on onto to the same material again in the beginning of the thirteenth century a higher point of development was wab reached armor was constructed of vast quantities of small rings intersecting one with another so as to form a connected garment after this another improvement was introduced of mixed chain and plate worn on the arms and legs and thus invention progressed to its is full development as ri represented presented at the period of henry the VIII we saw various specimens of weapons invented at different periods commencing with the cross croon bow how th tho the espear beear and I 1 I 1 battle axe exhibiting step by step successive improvements represented in the matchlock improved matchlock flintlock improved flintlock sion bion lock improved percussion double gun improved double barrel revolving cylinder cylinder improved until we have reached the most gerfe perfect et weapon now known the twelve towers of this fortress were erected principally in the early part of the thirteenth century some of them however were built about the close of the eleventh century the strange scenes enacted in past ages beneath these frowning battle battlements men ts form s dark and bloody page in english history observing the mul mui multitude of objects bearing distinct marks of those terrible events my mind was almost overpowered with sadana sad bad and gloomy reflections elections si in these dark and loathsome dungeons kibgis and queens h having aau been divested of their heir crowns and robet robes of royalty were forced to ir rumke lemke ake mke their ignominious abode these walls bear traces of having echoed the sighs and groans of illustrious men while gasping for life beneath the bloody instruments of horri torture also of princes and nobles having baving been thrust into these dungeons and ended their lives by means shrouded in jl tradition da speaks of secret passages of torture rooms and bidden hidden rece reee recesses seeh within and aud underneath these hese hebe walls where I 1 stood many eminent personages left inscriptions upon LA their prison walls walis tremain remain sad mementos of themselves and their buffel sum feringa ringa queen queed ann having enjoy eda few years of pomp and splendor basking in the smiles of henry the Eighth wab was forced to exchange queenly habiliments for the prison costume in which she passed from this loathsome captivity to the execution executioners ers block queen Enza elizabeths beths favorite the earl eari of essex the pride of the english court was immured within one of the these se towers previous ous out to being be headed upon the beaff scaffold old oid the beautiful amiable and accomplished lady jhue grey gray was incarcerated here jane jano engraved by lord dudley her unfortunate husband on the stone wails walls of his prison which I 1 saw reminded me forcibly of the lnell melancholy caly circumstance two princes sons of edward the fourth while suffering captivity in what ia termed lne the bloody tower were secretly murdered and afterwards their bodies found beneath nsf its walls we were shown the execution ers era axe the heading beading block thumb screws iron collars and other horrid instruments for human torture we were conducted to a small enclosure surrounded with iron failings railings pai pal lings where many illustrious men and women of distinction and royalty had been bien privately executed omitting many objects of interest perceiving my jett ietter letter e r becoming lengthy I 1 will close by noticing the regalia as aa a strange contrast with what has been described the jewel house is a building of modern construction within the enclosure of these ramparts and contains the crown jewels there Is ia a magnificent display of crowns diadems diadema and seep tres embellished with pearls rubles rubies emeralds diamonds and sapphires sapp hires together with Edw edwards ardys staff of beaten gold over four feet in length added to this are the swords of justice temporal and ecclesiastical and the pointless sword of mercy LORENZO SNOW |