powder--unless, indeed, the peruke was a
true Malplaquet club or Dettingen scratch.

Our duties were no trifling ones, let me assure you. The Tower, as a
place of military strength, was well looked after by the Regiment of
Foot Guards and the Companies of Artillery that did garrison duties on
its ramparts and the foot of its drawbridges; but to us was confided a
charge much more onerous, and the custody of things much more precious.
We had other matters to mind besides seeing that stray dogs did not
venture on to the Tower Green, that dust did not get into the cannon's
mouths, or that Grand Rounds received proper salutes. Was not the
Imperial Crown of England in our keeping? Had we not to look after the
Royal diadem, the orb, the sceptre, the Swords of Justice and of Mercy,
and the great parcel-gilt Salt Cellar that is moulded in the likeness of
the White Tower itself? Did it not behove us to keep up a constant care
and watchfulness, lest among the curious strangers and country cousins
who trudged to the Jewel House to see all that glittering and golden
finery, and who gave us shillings to exhibit them, there might be
lurking some Rogue as dishonest and as desperate as that Colonel Blood
who so nearly succeeded in getting away with the crown and other
valuables in King Charles the Second's time. Oh! I warrant you that we
kept sharp eyes on the curious strangers and the country cousins, and
allowed them not to go too near the grate behind which were those
priceless baubles.

But another charge had we, I trow. Of all times had this famous fortress
of the Tower of London been a place of hold for the King's prisoners.
Felons, nor cutpurses, nor wantons suffered we indeed in our precincts,
nor gave we the hospitality of dungeons to; but of state prisoners,
noblemen and gentlemen in durance for High Treason, or for other
offences against the Royal State and Prerogative, had we always a
plentiful store. Some of the greatest Barons--the proudest names in
England--have pined their lives away within the Tower's inexorable
walls. Walls! why there were little dungeons and casemates built in the
very thickness of those huge mural stones. In ancient days I have heard
that foul deeds were common in the fortress--that princes were done to
Death here--notably the two poor Royal infants that the wicked Richard
of Gloucester bid his hell-hounds smother and bury at the foot of the
stairs in that building which has ever since gone by the