Say, Mr. Lieutenant, before I surrender, By what right you take me on board of your tender? In the peaceable trader I rather would be, And no man-of-war, Sir, I thank you, for me. 12. The Tower of London [Picture: The Tower of London] Is an ancient and irregular building, which arises from its having been erected and enlarged by different sovereigns, at distant periods of time. It was the palace of many of our monarchs, as well as a place of defence. William of Normandy, called the Conqueror, having no great reliance on the fidelity of his new subjects, built a fortress, (called the White Tower,) on part of the present scite of the Tower, to which the origin of this fabric may be attributed. In 1092, William Rufus laid the foundation of a castle to the south, towards the river, which was finished by his successor. Beneath this were two gates, one called _Traitor’s_ Gate, through which state-prisoners were conveyed to their prisons; the other entitled _Bloody_, which, too many who entered it, found it deserved; imprisonment in those dark ages, being mostly the certain passport to death. {14} Charles the Second cleared the ditch, improved the wharfings, and introduced water by convenient sluices. The whole underwent considerable repairs in the reign of George the Third. The principal entrance is by three gates on the west side. The whole are guarded by soldiers; and when these gates are opened of a morning, the formalities of a garrison are observed, though the interior now resembles a town at peace, having streets, and a variety of buildings. When the gates are shut at night, the Yeoman Porter, with a serjeant and six privates, goes to the governor’s house for the keys, and on the porter’s returning from the outer gate, he is challenged by the guard, drawn up under arms, with, “_Who comes there_?” to which he replies, “_The Keys_.” The guards answer, “_Pass Keys_,” and rest their firelocks. The yeoman porter says, “_God save the King_!” and the ceremony closes with a general “_Amen_.” The Wardens, or Yeomen Porters of the Tower, wear a uniform, the same as the yeomen of the king’s guard at the palaces. Their coats are of fine scarlet cloth, laced with gold round the edges and seams, with several rows of gold lace, and bound round the waist with a girdle of the same material. Their form is uncommon, having full sleeves, and short, full skirts. On their breasts and backs they wear the king’s silver badge of the rose, thistle, and shamrock, with the letters G. R. Their heads are covered with round, flat-crowned caps, tied with bands of coloured ribbons. The whole appearance forms an elegant livery, well adapted to royalty. 13. The Armory. [Picture: The Armory]