NEW JEWEL-HOUSE, AT THE TOWER OF LONDON. THE Regalia, or Crown Jewels, probably, form the most attractive portion of "the sights" of London; and they are referred to by a contemporary, as the "only visible evidence of the palatial splendours of the Tower in times past, that now remains within its walls." The Jewels had been kept for nearly two centuries in a small tower at the north-eastern angle of the great area, close by the Grand Storehouse lately destroyed by fire; and during the conflagration, they were removed in safety to another building, under the direction of Mr. Swift, their custodian, | which act of vigilance received her Majesty's especial approbation. The Jewel-tower itself just escaped the | flames: here the Jewels were exhibited to the public in a low crypt-like apartment, lit with lamps, there being no means of admitting daylight; the treasures were ranged upon shelves within one of the arched sides of the room, which was lined with crimson cloth, and fronted with ironwork, cross-wise. The lamps were placed low down, like the footlights of the stage of a theatre : being provided with reflectors, they threw a strong glare upon the glittering crowns and the richly-chased communion-plate ; and more especially upon the articles immediately before the lights, as the Queen's crown and gold salt-cellar, placed upon revolving stands beneath glass shades, and the sceptres in glass- cases. Across the upper part of the recess was a stout metal rod, from which was suspended a curtain; and this being drawn aside, the magnificent assemblage, of almost inestimable value, was exhibited to the spectators, who were seated upon benches at a short distance; whilst to the left was stationed a warder as the guardian of the regal treasures. Some thirty years ago, we remember, the public were admitted close to the iron railings, when the crowns, &c. were taken from out their cases, and shown one by one, by the female attendant; and the above alteration in the mode of showing them, we believe to have been made upon the great increase of visitors.* The old Jewel-house having been found inconvenient, a new one has been erected, immediately to the south. The design of the façade, in the Tudor style, has considerable merit; but we consider the interior to be of more popular interest, as showing the new mode in which the Jewels are arranged for exhibition. The visitors first enter a small ante-room, and proceed from thence to the principal apartment, which is commodious and well lit. In the centre are placed the Jewels in the order shown in the Engraving, the stage or stand being covered with purple velvet. They are cased with plate-glass in metal framework, and over the whole is a stout iron frame, or cage, of Tudor design, surmounted by a large crown, also in iron. We shall not be expected here to give a detailed account of the Regalia, or their history. They include five crowns: St. Edward's, made at the coronation of Charles II., to replace the previous crown, which the Confessor was stated to have worn. 2. The Crown of State. 3. The Queen's * “ It was not until the reign of Charles II., that the Regalia were allowed to be publicly exhibited. The office up to that time had been one of honour and emolument; thus, for instance, in the reign of Henry VIII., the great minister, Cromwell, was the ، Master and Treasurer of the Jewel House. In Charles's reign, some reductions having been made in the emoluments, on the appointment of Sir Gilbert Talbot as Master, the exhibition of the Jewels was permitted in compensation; Sir Gilbert giving the receipts, by way of salary, to an old and confidential servant, who had the care of them, -one Talbot Edwards-a name familiar to most readers, in connexion with Colonel Blood's daring attempt to steal the crown in 1673."-Knight's London, No. 39. circlet of gold. 4. The Queen's Crown. 5. The Queen's rich Crown. Of these, the first and the fourth are the proper coronation crowns. The State Crown was made from that of George the Fourth; the band, or circlet, is of gold, and has in it a sapphire two inches long and one inch broad, of intense blue; also, the celebrated ruby wor by Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt; the top of the crown is formed by four arches of brilliants and pearls, uniting in a ball and Maltese cross of diamonds. This superb crown occupies the summit of the new stand. The other chief treasures are the Orb, Ampulla, or Eagle of gold, and Swords of Mercy and of Justice, Spiritual and Temporal; and eight sceptres carried at coronations; with armillæ or bracelets, spurs, &c. There are also massive gold communion-plate, cups, and flagons, a wine-fountain and baptismal font; and a golden salt-cellar, somewhat resembling the White Tower, but not a model of it, as generally stated, for it contains a central turret, besides the four at the angles. The tops of the latter are removed to hold the salt. This precious table appointment was presented to the Crown by the city of Exeter, and is stated to have cost £8,000. The public are admitted to the Jewel-room in parties not exceeding twelve in number, when the door is closed; and the company walk round attended by a warden, and a female who describes the several articles. They then retire by another door, at which is stationed a police-constable; and at the principal entrance to the building is placed a sentinel. Our especial thanks are due to Mr. Swift, for his courtesy in aiding the artist of the preceding sketch. PAPER. BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The thought was happy, pertinent, and true; Various the papers various wants produce,— Pray note the fop-half powder and half lace- The wretch, whom avarice bids to pinch and spare, Starve, cheat, and pilfer, to enrich an heir, Is coarse brown paper; such as pedlars choose To wrap up wares, which better men will use. Take next the miser's contrast, who destroys Health, fame, and fortune, in a round of joys. Will any paper match him? Yes, throughout, He's a true sinking-paper, past all doubt. The retail politician's anxious thought Deems this side always right, and that stark naught; He foams with censure; with applause he ravesA dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves; He'll want no type his weakness to proclaim, The hasty gentleman, whose blood runs high, Observe the maiden, innocently sweet, One instance more, and only one I'll bring; Of all the kinds most precious, purest, best. THE BROTHERS. A TALE OF TO-DAY. THE romance-period has not yet passed, the improved administration of the laws, and the increased spread of education, have not quite put an end to deeds of startling daring, and seemingly improbable character; prompted now as of old, oftener by man's evil passions than by his higher qualities. In earlier times, when might made right, through the weakness and uncertainty of the protecting powers, and when the perception of good and evil in the multitude was less clear than now,-the brother's child who interfered with an uncle's succession-the timid, patient wife, whose existence prevented the indulgence of her lord's ambitious or sensual views, or the successful suitor for a fair dame's favour, to the prejudice of a powerful rival,-were removed without difficulty, almost without danger. These various motives still occur; and although the execution of their promptings (even when unrepressed at once in the mind by inculcated truth,) is less practicable, | and of consequence less frequent, deeds are done, even in the nineteenth century, which the world would hardly credit, if it heard of. What I am about to speak of, which occurred under my own notice, although it is not exactly included in the above category, has yet in it so strong a spice of the old leaven, that it would seem to belong rather to a preceding age, than our own. My most intimate friend, whom, as he is still alive, we will designate Stuart, had been long engaged in a distressing lawsuit, to maintain his right to a property bequeathed him by an uncle, but claimed by his twin-brother, Alic, as the first-born. The ordinary course of nature seemed to have been changed, with regard to Stuart and his brother. It is hardly possible to conceive two individuals more unlike, both in person and mind, than were these men; for, while one possessed the most confiding and amiable character it has ever been my fortune to meet with, during a long intercourse with the world, the other exhibited a repulsive and malignant disposition, almost fiendish; was a slave to coarse passions, and a headstrong temper, and full of scorn for all that was good or exalted. Towards his brother, Alic's feelings had ever been those of implacable hatred, a hatred which was strengthened as they advanced in youth, by the superior influence in his own circle, which Stuart necessarily obtained. Ultimately, it was found necessary to separate these mismatched brothers; and a clerkship in Barbadoes being offered to the father, Alic was sent out, and remained there twelve or fourteen years in various capacities; at the expiration of which time, both parents dying, he returned to England with little alteration in his feelings or pursuits, save that experience had rendered him more powerful for evil. When the circumstance I am about to mention, occurred -it is not two years ago-Stuart occupied an old house near Amesbury, in Wiltshire; where, with his young wife, he endeavoured to forget the earlier part of a life which, although yet brief, had been embittered by trials of no ordinary severity. An uncle, resident abroad, had bequeathed the property in question to the eldest of the brothers, ignorant of the circumstance of their birth. Stuart, first born by a few minutes, preferred his claim: Alic opposed it, and maintained his right to the bequest on the ground that he was senior. A division was at once proposed by Stuart, but insultingly refused with menaces, which none would give credence to, but those who have watched how bitter the hatred of relatives ever is, when it does exist. Now, it appeared that only one individual lived, who could testify to the fact of priority of birth; and to obtain her evidence, I travelled with Stuart into the north of Scotland; for I was then acting not merely as his friend, but his professional adviser. The evidence gained was as conclusive as could be desired; the age of the witness, however, prevented her removal to London, and the deposition was taken in writing, and properly authenticated by the authorities, and resident minister. And well it appeared to be for us that no delay had been allowed to occur; for during the next day, agitated by the cause of our visit, the woman actually died. When we returned to Amesbury, it yet wanted five days of the time when my presence in London would be necessary; and this interval it was arranged should be spent at my friend's house; the information that the necessary certificate had been obtained, having been first forwarded to the metropolis. On the third day after our return, the servants spoke of strangers who had been seen in the village, and whose appearance was not liked by the inhabitants. The residence of Stuart was situated about three-fourths of a mile from Amesbury, and being quite isolated, was regarded by the villagers as likely to offer inducements to depredators, should such be in the neighbourhood. Some hints of this sort were given to him, the more so too as one of the strangers had been seen in conversation with a farmservant in his employ, who occupied the out-buildings; but these had no other effect than to lead Stuart to remove the papers obtained from Scotland, from a chest in which were contained what little cash he possessed, (not much, poor fellow,) and to place them in his writing-case; his impression being, that if perchance the house were robbed, the papers, which were of so much consequence to him, might also be taken away or destroyed. On the last night of my story, we sat late, discoursing less of hopes than fears; and as I was to leave early in the morning, Stuart placed in my hands the case containing the papers. During the whole night, circumstances occurred to disturb me the weather was boisterous, and being awakened by its fury, I fancied in each after-blast alarms and disturbance. Once, indeed, I had a distinct impression of the noise of wheels; but hearing no response from a particularly ferocious dog, which I knew to be in the fore-court, I soon slept again. How long I remained so, can hardly be said,-it could not have been two hours, but when I awoke, it was with a confused feeling of having been disturbed, without any clear notion of the cause. The first glance round the room showed me that the door was open; the second, that the writing-case was gone! OUR SERVANT JANE. The truth of the whole matter was at once apparent. | impression on my mind, which I am satisfied will not be Alic had made a desperate effort to obtain the certificate, effaced by years; and I think it justifies me in saying the and had been too successful. On examination, the entrance- days of romance have not yet passed away. G. G. door had been opened, evidently without force, and the dog was dead in his kennel. As, however, my aim is not to write a romance, but to recite an actual occurrence, suffice it to say, that in a very few minutes Stuart and myself, although bewildered, had saddled two horses and were on the road. The farm-servant, we found, would not be roused-the case was clear against him, and we accordingly rode off alone, at the top of our beasts' speed, in the hope of overtaking the miscreants, as it was certain they could have had but a short start of us. The dawn was faintly breaking, and enabled us to see the traces of a vehicle we then thought a gig, but which, as we afterwards found, was a light cart, such as is sometimes used by country hucksters. The tracks led us to the main road that crosses Salisbury Plain, towards Bath, past the sole mysterious occupier of that dreary expanse, Stonehenge, the masses composing which, when viewed as we then saw them, seemed, (as if with a feeling that they had outlived their age,) to have cowered together in one spot for mutual support and countenance. Not to delay, however, on we passed faster and more fast, till we reached a cross road, branching to the right, which leads to Old Sarum; and here, to our infinite sorrow and surprise, the marks of wheels ceased to be visible. We searched some time for a satisfactory clue, but fruitlessly; footmarks, both of horses and men, were visible on both roads, but those on the cross-road were apparently the more recent, and this was accordingly pursued; although we were still lost in amazement at the entire disappearance of the wheel-tracks, and much less sanguine of success than at starting. We followed the cross-road for a considerable distance perhaps two miles-when suddenly we espied a small mud hovel, a few hundred yards from the path, erected for the protection of the shepherds of the numerous flocks which find pasture on the plain. Simultaneously, we dashed over to it; a cart turned on its side lay near to it, and we felt we were upon the right scent. The door was fastened, but forcing it with a bound, we entered the hovel together. On the earthen floor, appeared the form of a man in the prime of life, literally steeped in blood. He was alive, but the hand of death was visibly upon him; his eye, however, turned listlessly towards us as we entered; when, espying Stuart, he suddenly hissed a curse, which I still hear and shudder at, so awful was its effect; a fresh torrent of blood poured from him, he gasped convulsively, endeavoured to rise, and died! I need hardly say it was Alic. After the successful abstraction of the papers, fearing the means of tracing him, which the wheels of the cart afforded, he had, with the assistance of his comrade, as it afterwards appeared, carried the vehicle the whole distance from the cross-road; an effort which, although he was a powerful man, nerved too by strong inducements, proved too great, and caused the rupture of a blood-vessel on the lungs, the fatal termination of which we had witnessed. The writing-case was never recovered; the companion of Alic's daring attempt finding him unable to move, when he reached the hovel, mounted the horse, and left him to die. He was ultimately taken; but, proving to be simply a servant, acting under his master's orders, was not prosecuted. From him it was learnt that Alic had destroyed the writing-case and its contents, before leaving his brother's house. This, however, was of no consequence, as by Alic's death, Stuart came into possession of the disputed property. The scene in the hovel made an JANE is a very steady, midlle-aged servant, who has been in our household for some years. My wife considers herself extremely fortunate in having obtained at least one suitable domestic; for she is wont to assert-and from my share of annoyances, I should say with perfect truth-that no one of her duties has been so perplexing, since her marriage, as that of obtaining and retaining good servants. I grant that whenever I have been privileged or condemned, as the case may be considered, to listen to the conversation of a knot of housewives, I have invariably found that no small portion of it consisted of invectives against the treachery and incapacity of their servants.* And, on the other hand, I grant, that whenever I pass a congregation of neighbouring holders of brooms and brushes, in the course of my traverse of the street-length before breakfast, I cannot avoid overhearing the subject of complaint and conversation to be the tyranny of their respective mistresses, and their own contrivances for defeating or eluding it. Yet, when both these facts are admitted, I am inclined to doubt if any delicate and sensitive lady, or any studious and fidgety husband, has been more unmercifully subjected to every variety of domestic delinquency, than ourselves. We had beneath our roof, during the first ten years of our union, such a variety of female assistants, that my recollection of them is indistinct; and it requires a considerable effort of memory on my part to identify, out of all the misty shapes that float before me, like the phantoms of a troubled dream, any particular maiden whose faults and history are the subjects of animadversion by my wife, when we are in a mutually sympathising humour, and converse on our several troubles by way of diminishing their pressure. If my wife mention the Christian name of the person in question to assist my efforts, it is indeed but a sorry aid; for I verily believe we have harboured at least one tenant of every female appellation to be found in a dictionary of proper names; and I have become so confused with the variety and vicissitude, that I have fully determined to call every servant in future, by the name of Jane; compelling each to assume that additional name, whenever she shall enter our household, in the same way that the inheritor of an estate is frequently compelled to append the name of his predecessor to his own. This is by no means very readily acquiesced in, by such as flatter themselves that their parents did perfectly right in bestowing upon them most lengthy and unsuitable names. Frequently, maidens have declared themselves to be distinguished by the euphonious titles of Priscilla, Annetta, Georgiana, and the like; and we were even compelled to part with one otherwise eligible, who refused to be shorn of her legitimate possession of the prefix-Arabella. The personal peculiarities of our old friends most frequently served as helps to my memory; and while the mistress is endeavouring to aid me by descanting upon the length of servitude, tartness of temper, or demand of increased wages, I usually succeed in discovering the maiden alluded to, by recalling either an obliquity of vision, or of the nasal organ, or a rotundity or gawkiness of make; or by the more melancholy memorial of the frag ment of a favourite vase, or the broken cover and severed or stained leaf of a favourite volume. Although my *Lady Blessington shrewdly observes that one of the standard topics of conversation among the English, is the misconduct of their servants.-ED. L. S. J. habits and avocations have permitted me to mix but little in the world, I suspect that I have had as complete an opportunity of observing domestic maidens and manners, as if I had actually sought out the shades of character in company and travel. I felt assured that I might much more readily note the workings of human nature in such instances as these, where education and fashion had laid but little restraint upon the manifestations of feeling, than in contact with those who cast the oil of good breeding upon the waves of passion and excitement in their bosoms, and bury the fury of resentment in a cold smile or haughty silence. that the tenacity of its hold upon her thinking powers, and the extent of its dominion over them, are such as to preclude the admittance of a second, or of a counteraction. Hence, her mistress is compelled to consider the whole bearings of any piece of information or counsel, which she is about to bestow upon Jane. If it be capable of tortion or distortion, of misconstruction or unfavourable influence, Jane must be prepared for its reception by a storming of the outposts of her prejudices. Being well acquainted with these peculiarities, we were not forcibly struck, or greatly surprised, when we lately observed Jane to become more and more abstracted. Her As we have had every variety of name, so I apprehend close temper prevented her from being communicative at we have had a large portion of the whole existing varieties any time, and therefore at this we did not think it desirable of temper, and mental capacity. Such as were captious to question her upon the cause of her gloominess. Day and cross, sullen and stupid, vivacious and vixenish, mo- after day, however, it increased in intensity, and her rose and melancholy, we have endured with remarkable silence was proportionate. It was, indeed, observed, forbearance; adapting our behaviour to their necessity, and that she was visited by her female tea-table friends rather endeavouring to modify their asperities or excite their more frequently than formerly, and that their conferences obstinate dullness; to encourage confidence, or repress were more protracted than usual; but this excited only a boldness. But, alas! we have rarely been repaid otherwise small share of our notice, until it was remarked that after than by suspicion or assumption, frowardness or familiarity. these meetings, she sometimes seemed incapable of supIt was, therefore, with no expectation of securing a perma- porting her ordinary troubles and trials. She would stop nent housemaid, that we took Jane—the last Jane-into | moodily in her work in the middle of the day, and was our pay and service. But we have been in some degree heard to talk hurriedly to herself in the night. Her pleasingly disappointed: for, after making a number of fellow-servants were questioned without throwing any mutual concessions, we proceed at a tolerably even pace; light upon the cause of her melancholy; and as her duties and although we still sometimes experience a rough jolt, were but indifferently performed, her mistress felt herself yet we manage to regain our positions without material called upon to interfere. She interrogated, examined, discomposure from the shock. "Tis true, Jane will not rise re-examined, and cross-examined Jane, but all to no purwith the sun, but is most diligently observant of our own pose. One answer alone was to be obtained from her, and time of stirring; which, if she precede by an hour, she that was: "It's a dreadful thing-a dreadful thing!" thinks a sufficient relative distance is preserved between One sunny morning, I rang the bell of my study, and us. But then, she does not talk away half her morning Jane was asked to come in, when I undertook the office of with the milkman, or receive the small-talk of the baker. grand inquisitor. I piqued myself upon my skill in ex'Tis true, she will dust my papers and books, and dis- tracting evidence from a reluctant witness. I therefore arrange my library-table by way of "putting it to rights;" began very cautiously; and by kindness and dignity, although receiving positive orders not to touch it. But calmness and succeeding fervour, stealthy and bold apthen, she does not read my letters, or grease and thumb proaches, attempted to gain an entrance into her heart, my volumes. She will, indeed, dust my books, and and secure her confidence. The manifestations of effects return them to their shelves, upside down, or out of rank observable in her countenance induced me to redouble my and file; but then, she does not scrub at the gilt edges application; and ever and anon she seemed upon the with a black-lead brush, or place a cup of tea, or glass of point of capitulating, and opening her mind. But so wine, upon the last new Annual, where its magic circle soon as the gates appeared to be creaking on their hinges, may stand impressed for all time. She is rather deficient in so soon were they suddenly slammed back again in one personal civility, as far as the terms of "Sir" and "Ma'am" moment, and the citadel remained unmoved. I was are concerned; but then she does not indulge in tor- about to give it up, and hand her over, too, to another rents of scurrility behind our backs. She will have a female master, when a signal of a wish for terms of treaty shone friend now and then to tea, without informing us of the in- forth in the shape of a tear coursing down Jane's somevitation given and accepted; but then, we find our pounds what channelled cheek. This was an evidence of feeling I of tea and sugar much more lasting than when we were never before observed on this rugged soil, and I therefore served by a Jane professing to have "no followers." She hailed it as the forerunner of a full surrender at diseretion. will not dress herself in the neatest and trimmest style of She sobbed, and twirled the corner of her apron, kicked servant-fashion, and is rather late in the day in "cleaning down the corner of the rug, which was a little upstartish, and herself," but then, my wife can always find any article of picked up sundry morsels of torn paper from the carpet, dress that belongs to her, and is never informed how well and consigned them to the flames. These I knew to be her black or green silk gown became her maid the other infallible indications of the potency of her passions, and evening at a kitchen party, where sundry scenes of high the victory of her feelings of communicativeness. Nor fashion were enacted below stairs, and certain persons did I await the utterance of her lips in long suspense; mimicked in their own proper garments. Jane has these for, after a few convulsive sobs, she slowly and interruptand numerous other positive faults and negative counter-edly exclaimed: "Oh, master! it's a dreadful thing-a balances to them; and we have been in great hopes, that if we could succeed in inducing her to cultivate her powers of mind now and then, that she might be materially improved both in demeanour and value as a servant, and in importance as a fellow-creature. Here, however, her mistress labours apparently in vain. She cannot succeed in drilling into Jane's mind more than one idea at a time, and that one must be a simple one. It is evident, if it be an idea of a paradoxical or marvellous nature, dreadful thing!" Here a full stop ensued, which I endeavoured to break by interposing the query,-" What is a dreadful thing, Jane? What is it you mean, my good girl? Come now, tell me at once; I shall never betray your confidence." All was of no avail; and I almost felt assured, against my inclination, that Jane had committed some serious crime, of which she was terribly afraid; and the remorse at which was pursuing her with severest inflictions. I then changed my tactics, and |