Thomas’s Hospital and site, which formerly stood close to London Bridge Station, were purchased for a sum not very much under £300,000, it was arranged to rebuild the hospital between the south end of Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Palace. This hospital, which is now completed, affords a fine object from a steamboat passing up the river, and is certainly one of the noblest buildings of its class in Europe. THE TOWER; THE MINT; THE CUSTOM HOUSE; THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. This section treats of four important government buildings situated in the eastern half of the metropolis. The Tower of London.—This famous structure, or rather group of structures, is a cluster of houses, towers, barracks, armouries, warehouses, and prison-like edifices, situated on the north bank of the Thames, and separated from the crowded narrow streets of the city by an open space of ground called Tower-hill. The Tower was founded by William the Conqueror, probably on the site of an older fortress, to secure his authority over the inhabitants of London; but the original fort which he established on the spot was greatly extended by subsequent monarchs; and in the twelfth century it was surrounded by a wet ditch, which was improved in the reign of Charles II. This ditch or moat was drained in 1843. Within the outer wall the ground measures upwards of twelve acres. Next the river there is a broad quay; and on this side also there was a channel (now closed) by which boats formerly passed into the main body of the place. This water-entrance is known by the name of Traitors’ Gate, being that by which, in former days, state prisoners were brought in boats after their trial at Westminster. There are three other entrances or postern-gates—Lion Gate, Iron Gate, and Water Gate—only two of which, however, are now used. The interior of the Tower is an irregular assemblage of short streets and courtyards, bounded by various structures. The _White Tower_, or _Keep_, is the oldest of these buildings; and the _Chapel_ in it is a fine specimen of a small Norman church. Other towers are the _Lion Tower_, near the principal entrance; the _Middle Tower_, the first seen on passing the ditch; the _Bell Tower_, adjacent to it; the _Bloody Tower_, nearly opposite _Traitors’ Gate_; the _Salt Tower_, near the Iron Gate; _Brick Tower_, where Lady Jane Grey was confined; _Bowyer Tower_, where the Duke of Clarence is said to have been [Picture: Chapel in Tower] drowned in the butt of malmsey; and _Beauchamp Tower_, where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned. These old towers are very curious, but few of them are open to the public. The principal objects of interest are a collection of cannon, being trophies of war; the horse armoury, a most interesting collection of suits of mail on stuffed figures; and the crown and other insignia of royalty. In the _Horse Armoury_, a long gallery built in 1826, is an extensive collection of armour, arranged by Sir Samuel Meyrick, a great authority on this