viz. 1. Aldgate; 2, Bishopfgate; 3. Moorgate; 4. Cripplegate; 5. Alderfgate; 6. Newgate; 7. Ludgate; and, 8. The Bridgegate. 1. Aldgate, or Ealdgate, in the eaft, is of great antiquity, even as old as the days of King Edgar who mentions it in a charter to the knights of Knighton-Guild. Upon the top of it, to the eastward, is placed a golden sphere; and on the upper battlements, the figures of two foldiers as centinels: beneath, in a large fquare, King James I. is reprefented standing in gilt armour, at whofe feet are a lion and unicorn, both couchant, the first the supporter of England, and the other for Scotland. On the weft fide of the gate is the figure of fortune, finely gilded and carved, with a profperous fail over her head, ftanding on a globe, overlooking the city. Beneath it, is the King's arms, with the ufual motto, Dieu et mon droit, and under it, Vivat rex. A little lower, on one fide, is the figure of a woman, being the emblem of peace, with a dove in one hand, and a gilded wreath or garland in the other; and on the other fide is the figure. of charity, with a child at her breast, and another in her hand; and over the arch of the gate is this infcription, viz. Senatus populufque londinenfis fecit, 1609, and under it, Humphrey Weld, Mayor; in whofe mayoralty it was finifhed. 2. Bishopfgate, which stands north-weft of Aldgate, is fuppofed to have been built by fome bishop about the year 1200. It was afterwards feveral times repaired by the merchants of the Hanfe Towns, on account of the confirmation of their privileges in this city. The figures of the two bifhors on the north fide are pretty much defaced, as are the city-arms engraven on the fouth fide of it. 3. Alderfgate, the ancient north gate of the city, ftands to the weftward of Bishopfgate. On the north, or out-fide of it, is the figure of King James I. on horseback, who entered the city at this gate when he came from Scotland, on his acceffion to the throne of England. Over the head of this figure are the arms of England, Scotland and Ireland; and on one fide the image of the prophet Jeremy, with this text engraved, "Then shall enter into the gates of this city, kings and princes fitting on the "throne of David, riding on chariots and on horfes, they and their princes, the men "of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem *.' And on the other fide, the figure of the prophet Samuel, with the following paffage, "And Samuel faid unto all Ifrael, "Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that you have faid unto me, and "have made a king over you t." On the fouth, or infide of the gate, is the effigy of King James I. fitting on his throne in his robes. 4. Newgate, fo called from its being built later than the other principal gates, is fituated on the north weft corner of the city, faid to be erected in the reign of Henry I. or King Stephen, when the way through Ludgate was interrupted by enlarging the cathedral of St. Paul's and the church-yard about it. This gate hath been the county-jail for Middlesex, at least five hundred years. The west, or outside of the gate is adorned with three ranges of pilafters and their entablements of the Tuscan order. Over the loweft, is a circular pediment, and above it the King's arms. The intercolumns are four niches, and as many figures in them, well carved, and large as the life. The east, or infide of the gate, is adorned with a range of pilafters with entablements as the other, and in three niches are the figures of justice, mercy, and truth, with this infcription, viz. "This part of Newgate was begun to be repaired in the mayoralty of Sir "James Campel, Knight, anno 1630, and finifhed in the mayoralty of Sir Robert "Ducie, Bart. anno 1631; and being damnified by the fire in 1666, it was repaired "in the mayoralty of Sir George Waterman, anno 1672.” • Jer. xvii. 25, † 1 Sam. xxii. 1. 5. Ludgate, 5. Ludgate, the ancient western gate of the city, ftands between Newgate and the Thames, built by King Lud, about threescore years before the birth of our Saviour. It was repaired in the reign of King John, anno 1215, and afterwards in the year 1260, when it was adorned with the figures of King Lud, and his two fons, Androgeus and Theomantius; but at the reformation, in the reign of Edward VI. fome zealous people ftruck off all their heads, looking upon images of all kinds to be popish and idolatrous. In the reign of Queen Mary, new heads were placed on the bodies of these kings, and fo remained till the 28th of Queen Elizabeth, anno 1586, when the gate, being very ruinous, was pulled down, and beautifully rebuilt: the eaft, or infide whereof, was adorned with four pilafters and entablature of the Dorick order, and in the intercolumns were placed the figures of King Lud and his two fons (who are fuppofed to have fucceeded him) in their British habits again; and above them the queen's arms, viz. thofe of France and England quarterly, the supporters a lion and a dragon. It was afterwards repaired and beautified, anno 1699, Sir Francis Child, lord-mayor. The weft, or outside of the gate, is adorned with two pilafters and entablature of the Ionick order; alfo two columns and a pediment adorning a nich, wherein is placed a good ftatue of Queen Elizabeth in her robes and the regalia; and over it the queen's arms between the city-fupporters, placed at fome diftance. This gate was made a prison for debtors who were free of the city, anno Richard II. 1378, Nicholas Brembar then mayor, and confirmed fuch by the mayor and common-council, annɔ 1382, John Northampton, mayor. The Tower of London is fituated at the fouth-eaft end of the city, on the river Thames, and confifts in reality of a great number of towers or forts, built at feveral times, which still retain their feveral names; though at present most of them, together with a little town and church, are inclofed within one wall and ditch, and compose but one intire fortrefs. It was the vulgar opinion, that the Tower was built by Julius Cæfar; but, as I have before fhewn, history informs us, that Cæfar made no ftay in England, that he erected no town or fortrefs, unless that with which he inclofed his fhips on the coast of Kent, nor left a fingle garrifon or foldier in the island on his departure. This Tower, as now encompaffed, ftands upon twelve acres of ground, and fome. thing more, being of an irregular form, but approaching near to that of an oblong, one of the longeft fides lying next the river, from whence it rifes gradually towards the north, by a pretty deep afcent, to the armoury, which stands upon the highest ground. in the Tower, overlooking the White Tower built by William the Conqueror, and the remains of the castle below it on the Thames fide, faid to be built by William Rufus. As to the strength of the place, the works being all antique, would not be able to hold out four and twenty hours against an army prepared for a fiege: The ditch indeed is of a great depth, and upwards of an hundred feet broad, into which the water of the Thames may be introduced at pleasure; but I question whether the walls on the infide would bear the firing of their own guns: Certain it is, two or three battering-pieces would foon lay them even with the ground, though, after all, the ditch alone is fufficient to defend it against a fudden affault. There are feveral finall towers upon the walls; thofe of the largest dimenfions, and which appear the most formidable, are the Divelin Tower, on the north-weft; and the Martin Tower, on the north-eaft; and St. Thomas's Tower on the river, by Traytors' Bridge; which I take to be part of the castle faid to be built by William Rufus. There is alfo a large tower on the outside the ditch, called the Lions' Tower, on the fouth-west corner, near which is the principal gate and bridge by which coaches and carriages enter the Tower; and there are two posterns with bridges over the ditch to the wharf on the Thames fide, one whereof is called Traytor's-Bridge, under which ftate prifoners ufed to enter the Tower. The principal places and buildings within the Tower are, 1. The parochial church of St. Peter, (for the Tower is a parish of itself, in which are fifty houfes and upwards, inhabited by the governor, deputy-governor, warders, and other officers belonging to the fortress.) 2. To the eastward of the church ftands a noble pile of building, usually called the armoury, begun by King James II. and finifhed by King William III. being three hundred and ninety feet in length, and fixty in breadth: The ftately door-cafe on the fouth-fide is adorned with four columns, entablature and triangular pediment, of the Dorick order. Under the pediment are the king's arms, with inrichments of trophywork, very ornamental. It confifts of two lofty rooms, reaching the whole length of the building In the lower room is a compleat train of artillery, confifting of brafs cannon and mortars fit to attend an army of an hundred thoufand men; but none of the cannon I obferve there, were above four and twenty pounders; the large batteringpieces, which carry balls of thirty-two and forty-eight pounds weight, I perceive, are in the king's ftore-houses at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, and Portsmouth. In the armoury also we find a great many of the little cohorn mortars, fo called from the Dutch engineer Cohorn, who invented them for firing a great number of hand-grenades from them at once; with other extraordinary pieces caft at home, or taken from the enemy. In the room over the artillery is the armoury of small arms, of equal dimensions with that underneath, in which are placed, in admirable order, muskets and other small arms for fourscore thousand men, most of them of the newest make, having the best locks, barrels and stocks, that can be contrived for fervice; neither the locks or barrels indeed are wrought, but I look upon them to be the more durable and serviceable, and much eafier cleaned. There are abundance of hands always employed in keeping them bright, and they are so artfully laid up, that any one piece may be taken down without moving another. Befides thefe, which with pilafters of pikes furnish all the middle of the room from top to bottom, leaving only a walk through the middle, and another on each fide; the north and fouth walls of the armoury are each of them adorned with eight pilafters of pikes and pistols of the Corinthian order, whofe intercolumns are chequer-work of carbines and piftols; waves of the fea in cutlaffes, fwords and bayonets; half moons, femicircles, and a target of bayonets; the form of a battery in fwords and piftols; funs, with circles of piftols; a pair of gates in halberts and piftols; the Witch of Endor, as it is called, within three elipfes of piftols; the back. bone of a whale in carbines; a fiery ferpent, Jupiter and the Hydra in bayonets, &c. But nothing looks more beautiful and magnificent than the four lofty wreathed columns formed with piftols in the middle of the room, which feem to fupport it. They fhew us alfo fome other arms, which are only remarkable for the ufe they have been put to; as the two fwords of ftate, carried before the Pretender when he invaded Scotland in the year 1715; and the arms taken from the Spaniards who landed in Scotland, in the year 1719, &c. The small arms were placed in this beautiful order by one Mr. Harris, originally a blacksmith, who was properly the forger of his own fortune, having raised himself by his merit: He had a place or penfion granted him by the government for this piece of fervice in particular, which he richly deferved, no nation in Europe being able to fhew a magazine of fmall arms fo good in their kind, and fo ingeniously difpofed. In the place where the armoury now ftands was formerly a bowling green, a garden, and fome fome buildings, which were demolished to make room for the grand arfenal I have been defcribing. In the horse-armoury the most remarkable things are fome of the English kings on horfeback in compleat armour, among which the chief are Edward III. Henries V. and VII. King Charles I. and II. and King William, and a fuit of filver armour, faid to belong to John of Gaunt, feven feet and a half high. Here alfo they fhew us the armour of the Lord Kingfale, with the fword he took from the French general, which gained him the privilege of being covered in the king's prefence, which his pofterity enjoy to this day. The office of ordnance is in the Tower, with the feveral apartments of the officers that belong to it, who have the direction of all the arms, ammunition, artillery, magazines, and stores of war in the kingdom. The White Tower is a lofty, fquare, stone building, with a turret at each angle, standing on the declivity of the hill, a little below the armoury, and difengaged from the other buildings, where fome thousand barrels of powder were formerly kept; but great part of the publick magazine of powder is now diftributed in the feveral yards and ftore-houfes belonging to the government, as at Woolwich, Chatham, Portfmouth, Plymouth, &c. to prevent accidents, I prefume; for fhould fuch a prodigious quantity of powder take fire, it must be of fatal confequence to the city, as well as the Tower. The main guard of the Tower, with the lodgings of the officers, are on the east side of this building. In the chapel of the White Tower, ufually called Cæfar's Chapel, and in a large room adjoining on the east fide thereof, fixty-four foot long, and thirty-one broad, are kept many ancient records, fuch as privy-feals in feveral reigns, bills, answers, and depofitions in chancery, in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, King James I. and King Charles I. writs of diftringas, fuperfedeas, de excommunicato capiendo, and other writs relating to the courts of law; but the records of the greatest importance are lodged in the Tower called Wakefield Tower, confifting of ftatute-rolls from the 6th of Edward I. to the 8th of Edward III. Parliament-rolls beginning anno 5 of Edward II. and ending with the reign of Edward IV. Patent-rolls beginning anno 3 of John, and ending with the reign of Edward IV. In these are contained grants of offices, lands, tenements, temporalities, &c. paffing under the great feal. Charter-rolls, from the 1ft of King John, to the end of Edward IV. in which are inrollments of grants, and confirmations of liberties and privileges to cities and towns corporate, and to private perfons, as markets, fairs, free warren, common of pasture, waifs, trays, felons goods, &c. The foundations of abbies and priories, of colleges and fchools, together with lands and privileges granted to them. The patents of creation of noblemen. Clofe rolls, from the 6th of King John, to the end of Edward IV. in which are writs of various kinds, but more efpecially on the back of the roll are entered the writs of fummons to parliament, both to the lords and commons, and of the bishops and inferior clergy to convocations: There are alfo proclamations, and inrollments of deeds between party and party. French rolls, beginning anno 1. of Edward II. and ending with Edward IV. in which are leagues and treaties with the kings of France, and other matters relating to that kingdom. Scotch rolls, containing tranfactions with that kingdom. Rome, touching the affairs of that fee. Vafcon rolls, relating to Gafcoign. There are alfo other rolls and records of different natures. In this tower are alfo kept the inquifitions poft mortem, from the ift year Henry III. to the 3d year of Richard III. of King The inquifitions ad quod damnum, from the 1ft of Edward II. to the end of Henry V. Writs of fummons, and returns to parliament, from the reign of Edward I. to the 17th of Edward IV. Popes bulls, and original letters from foreign princes. All which were put into order, and fecured in excellent wainscot preffes, by order of the house of peers, in the year 1719 and 1720. Attendance is given at this office,, and fearches may be made from seven o'clock in the morning to eleven, and from one to five in the afternoon, unless in December, January and February, when the office is open only from eight to eleven in the morning, and from one to four, except holy-days. The next office I fhall mention is the Mint, where, at prefent, all the money in the kingdom is coined: This makes a confiderable street in the Tower, wherein are apartments for the officers belonging to it. The principal officers are, 1. The warden, who receives the gold and filver bullion, and pays the full value for it, the charge being defrayed by a fmall duty on wines. 2. The master and worker, who takes the bullion from the warden, caufes it to be melted, delivers it to the moneyers, and when it is minted receives it from them again. 3. The comptroller, who fees that the money be made according to the juft aflize, overlooks the officers, and controlls them. 4. The affay-mafter, who fees that the money be according to the standard of fineness. 5. The auditor, who takes the accounts, and makes them up. 6. The furveyorgeneral, who takes care that the fineness be not altered in the melting. And, 7. The weigher and teller. The Jewel-office, where the regalia are repofited, stands near the east end of the Armoury. A lift is ufually given to thofe who come daily to fee thefe curiofities in the Jewel-house, a copy whereof follows, viz. A lift of his Majesty's regalia, befides plate, and other rich things, at the Jewel-house in the Tower of London. 1. The imperial crown, which all the kings of England have been crowned with, ever fince Edward the Confeffor's time. 2. The orb, or globe, held in the king's left hand at the coronation; on the top of which is a jewel near an inch and half in height. 3. The royal fcepter with the crofs, which has another jewel of great value under it. 4. The fcepter with the dove, being the emblem of peace. 5 St. Edward's staff, all beaten gold, carried before the king at the coronation. 6. A rich falt-fellar of state, the figure of the Tower, used on the king's table at the coronation. 7. Curtana, or the fword of mercy, borne between the two swords of justice, the fpiritual and temporal, at the coronation. 8. A noble filver font, double gilt, that the kings and royal family were christened in. 9. A large filver fountain, prefented to King Charles II. by the town of Plymouth. 10. Queen Anne's diadem, or circlet which her majefty wore in proceeding to her coronation. 11. The coronation-crown made for the late Queen Mary. 12. The |