_Office of_ ORDNANCE, in the Tower. This office is a modern building, a little to the north east of the white tower; and to the officers belonging to it, all other offices for supplying artillery, arms, ammunition, or other warlike stores to any part of the British dominions, are accountable; and from this office all orders for the disposition of warlike materials are issued. It is therefore of very great importance, as it has under its care the ammunition necessary for the defence of the kingdom, and the protection of our allies. In ancient times before the invention of guns, this office was supplied by officers under the following names; the Bowyer, the Cross Bowyer, the Galeator, or Purveyor of helmets, the Armourer, and the Keeper of the tents; and in this state it continued till King Henry VIII. placed it under the management of a Master, a Lieutenant, a Surveyor, &c. as it still continues with some improvements. The office of ordnance is now divided into two branches, the civil and the military; the latter being subordinate and under the authority of the former. The principal officer in the civil branch of the office of ordnance is the Master General, who has a salary of 1500_l._ _per annum_, and is invested with a peculiar jurisdiction over all his Majesty’s engineers employed in the several fortifications of this kingdom, to whom they are all accountable, and from whom they receive their particular orders and instructions, according to the directions and commands given by his Majesty and council. The Lieutenant General, who receives all orders and warrants signed by the Master General, and from the other principal officers, and sees them duly executed; issues orders, as the occasions of the state may require; and gives directions for discharging the great guns, when required at coronations, on birth days, festivals, signal victories, and other solemn occasions. It is also his peculiar office to see the train of artillery, and all its equipage fitted for motion, when ordered to be drawn into the field. He has a salary of 1100_l._ _per annum_; and under him is a clerk in ordinary, who has 150_l._ a year; an inferior clerk, and a clerk extraordinary, who have each 40_l._ a year. The Surveyor inspects the stores and provisions of war in the custody of the Storekeeper, and sees that they are ranged and placed in such order as is most proper for their preservation. He allows all bills of debt, and keeps a check upon all artificers and labourers work; sees that the stores received be good and serviceable, duly proved, and marked, if they ought to be so, with the King’s mark, taking to his assistance the rest of the officers and Proof Masters. His salary is 700_l._ _per annum_.