either side on my entrance,-no! a warm shake by the hand, a hearty 'how d'ye do, Captain?' (a mere nickname, conferred from some whim by mine host, as I belong to neither army or navy) and a merry joke, cracked perhaps at my own expence, generally comprise my initiatory forms at the Tower. In fact, such is the reception generally given to all comers, that they cannot fail to feel at home; in the words of Giovanni "It is Liberty Hall, you may do as you please, You may come with the cloth and retire with the cheese." Are any of your readers, Mr. Editor, troubled with a locked jaw? If they are, I would advise them to scrape acquaintance with Mr. B. and if he fails to distend the organs of mastication, either by the good cheer he provides, or the hearty laugh he is so fond of raising, the case must indeed be hopeless. I am not the only one, by many, who have felt the genial warmth and comfort of friendship in the society of Mr. and Miss B. Harold, (not the Danish monarch) leaving his snug domicile in Whitechapel, quits the cares of business, forsaking the best fleecy hosiery,' and 'Welch flannel,' for the cheering company of his Tower friends. My friend, Violett, too, neglecting Sun and Star, and caring little for the Times, goes with Dispatch to the same place, where he generally proves the Herald of a mirthful evening. In the Tower, even the very flowers change their nature, for there I have never seen a Violett look blue; and what is more wonderful still I have beheld a Lyon become as harmless and as playful as a kid, when within its walls; Law, too, the terror of all peaceably disposed persons, is here looked upon and greeted as a friend, and proves itself no enemy to mirth. Never, or at least but seldom, am I so happy as when I behold the well-known sovereign spotted table cover, (on which my sister had the patience to count eight hundred and twelve dots) surrounded by these worthy persons, who seem to form a firm compact, one with the other, to drive old wrinkled Care into the fathomless deep. Yet, merry and cheerful as the group may be, it loses half its charms, at least for me, unless my fair cousin be amongst us. Like most of the family, she loves a joke, and is not offended if it should happen to be at her own expence; her laugh is as ready against herself as at any one else, a thing very rare, and as praiseworthy as rare. By the bye, amongst other good natured actions, she has undertaken the arduous task of beating the game of cribbage into my usually thick head, though it were difficult to be dull, having so accomplished a tutor. Will the reader credit it?—I was clever enough the second time of playing to count twenty-two in my own hand, when no one else could discover more than six; but if I did make a mistake was I not right to be on my own side? The heaviest moment we experience in the Tower, is that at which the clock on the side-board by the fire-side, warns us that it wants but five minutes to eleven, then it is, that having the fear of closed gates in our eyes, we are obliged to take our departure, for the Tower being a garrison the gates are closed at eleven, with the exception of Tuesdays and Fridays, when an hour longer is allowed. On more than one occasion that wicked wag, my kinsman, has put back the said clock ten minutes, so to delay the departure of his guests till too late to leave the Tower; a circumstance never to be regretted, since a spare bed or so are easily CONWAY or Conwy Castle, Caernarvonshire, situated on a rock washed on two sides by the river, was erected by Edward I. at the time he built the walls of the town in the year 1283. Its architecture and situation are truly grand. The castle was defended by eight large circular towers, from each of which formerly issued a slender turret, of use as a watch-tower: of the latter only four are remaining. The exterior walls are of the same thickness as those round the tower.These, as well as the towers, except on the south side of the castle, are, in their external appearance, tolerably entire. Some part of the south wall, from the stones having been taken away from the foundation, has fallen down the rock. The upper part remains still suspended at a great height above, and exhibits in the breach, such vast strength of walling, as might have given to the architect the most reasonable hope that his work would have endured to the end of time. The most remarkable part of the interior is the great and most magnificent hall. It is a hundred and thirty feet long, thirty broad, and upwards of twenty in height. The ceiling was supported by eight flat gothic arches, it was lighted by six narrow windows towards the river, and three much larger and more ornamented toward the court. appears to have had cellars under the south side and at the east end, the roof of which has long been destroyed. Only four of the arches above the hall are left, and from these and the walls the ivy hangs in the greatest luxuriance. It The two towers at the end of the castle opposite to the great gate are called, one the King's, and the other the Queen's Tower, from Edward I. and his consort Eleanor, who had their respective apartments in them. Those of the former are altogether plain; but in the room on the second story of the latter, there is an elegant gothic niche of considerable size, in the wall. This was formed by six arches crossing each other, and in the recesses between the pillars which support these, there have once been seats. In the three middle recesses, which command a prospect of the river, are the remains of three small gothic windows. This is supposed to have been what was anciently called the Oriel, and to have contained the Queen's toilet. In the front of the towers is a court, from whence probably the royal pair, when at this castle, used to admire together the numerous beauties of the surrounding country. Edward erected the castle principally to guard against the insurrections of the Welsh under Llewelyn, which for some years before, had been very frequent. The situation fully evinced the judgment of its founder, having a complete command of the river, and by its vicinity to the strong pass of Penmaen Mawr, enabling the King's troops to occupy it on the least commotion, and thus cut off all communication from the interior of the mountains. In one instance Edward found himself very unpleasantly situated here. He, with a few of his men, had preceded the body of his men, and crossed the river, soon after which the tide flowed in, and prevented his men from following. The Welch in the mountains receiving intelligence of this, descended upon the castle in a body, and made a furious attack upon him and his handful of men within.Destitute of every kind of provision, except a little honey and water, they were reduced to great distress; but by the strength of the walls, and their own activity and bravery, they were enabled to hold out until the water again retired, and the rest of the army came over to their relief. In the year 1399 Richard the Second, on his return from Ireland, having landed in Wales, heard that the Duke of Lancaster had prepared against him immense forces, fearing the weakness of his own army, he, therefore, in company with a few friends, stole in the night to Conway Castle. Here he hoped to remain secure till something effectual could be resolved upon; but his expectation was vain, for the insinuating treachery of Northumberland drew him into the very snare that he had so much dreaded, and which in the end cost him his crown and his life. SHAKSPEARE'S INTRODUCTION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH, BY THE EARL OF ESSEX. (Concluded from page 20.) I dare not misprise his calling, since it has ever found a gracious patron in your majesty,' replied the bard; but under favour I would venture to affirm, that he who withdraws his fellow subjects from such pastimes, and instructs them in their country's annals, and points out to their admiration the glory of their monarchs, (than whom none have been more illustrious than your majesty's immediate ancestors) can hardly fail to civilize and exalt the people, though he may find it impossible to add to the renown of the sovereign.' It is well, and wisely, and loyally urged,' said the Queen, evidently pleased with the speech; and, by my troth! it may chance to speed the licence for which you are our petitioner. And what led you to our musty chronicles, Sir Poet, when your playwright's art might have found better range in the wider walks of fancy and invention ?' My grand-father fought with good approof in the battle of Bosworth Field,' said Shakspeare, not sorry to have an excuse for mentioning the circumstance, and was fortunate enough to find favour with your grace's ancestor, the valiant King Henry the Seventh. From him and from my father I have inherited a love of loyalty and of my country's glory; and as I despaired of doing justice to such splendid deeds as the defeat of the Armada, and the other exploits that have glorified your grace's reign, I was driven to record the annals of your less illustrious predecessors.' 'Beshrew me,' said the Queen, in an under voice to Essex,' if I have ever heard a varlet speak more honourably, or pithily to the purpose. And yet,' she continued, again addressing herself to Shak' if we forget us not, thou speare, hast somewhere ventured an allusion to our royal self. The passage stays not with us, but we have forgiven it, though it coupled our name, if we mistake not, with some idle flower.' Elizabeth perfectly remembered the lines, though she would not appear to attach so much importance to them, as to have thought them worthy her recollection, Essex, how ever, who saw the real motives of her reserve, and knew that she would be pleased with the quotation, exclaimed, your Majesty may pardon both the poet and myself, when we do but recall a Midsummer Night's Dream;' and then looking passionately at the Queen, he continued: 6 That very time I saw (but thou could'st not) Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid all arm'd: a certain aim he took And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, 'It ran even thus, but I took not, my lord, for so shrewd a remembrancer,' said the Queen. The lines might easily have passed from out my head,' replied. the Earl, but they related to my admired sovereign, and therefore were they treasured in my heart of hearts.' He laid his hand upon his breast as he spoke; Elizabeth looked pleased, though she noticed not the speech, but turning to Shakspeare, resumed, we have already passed our pardon for the liberty of your pen, wherefore we rebuke it not; and touching the license that you seek, it shall be even as you wish, and our secretary shall have order to prepare the patent.' I shall be ever bound to pray for your gracious Majesty,' said the poet, bowing profoundly. God's,pity! sir; they tell me that you playwrights be but scant sayers of your prayers, and since they are henceforward to be put up shall neither lack the means to proffor our own well aud welfare, yon fer them, nor a memorial of her for whom you pray.' So saying, Elizabeth took a volume from a low table that stood beside her chair, and graciously extended it to Shakspeare with these words; • The Queen presents you her prayerbook; you may retire.' Judging from the latter command that he was not expected to express his gratitude, the poet kissed the sacred volume with great reve rence, pressed it to his heart and retired from the royal presence with repeated obeisances, not less delighted at the success of his suit, than flattered by so signal a testimony of her Majesty's favour and condescension. After a prolonged conference, in which he had every reason to believe that he had completely re-instated himself in the Queen's favour, Essex also withdrew, descending the terraces, and crossing towards a postern gate of the park. In this route he most unfortunately encountered the fair Mrs. Bridges, one of the maids of honour, with whom he had long been suspected of being deeply in love, and who on his account had already been exposed to the wrath, and even the blows of her royal mistress. Imagining himself to be screened from observation, the enamoured Earl accosted her in such terms of fervent and high-flown gallantry as were then in vogue among the courtiers, and placing a small collar of chrystals around her neck, which he declared that he had brought from Ireland expressly for her wearing, he would have detained her still longer in dalliance, had not his inamorata hurried away, urging the necessity of resuming her attendance upon the Queen. Although her Majesty had been so embowered in the arbour as not to be visible to Essex, she had unluckily been following him with her eyes, through a treacherous loophole of the leaves, and with a rage envenomed heart had witnessed the whole transaction. It was not without a considerable struggle that she could prevent an immediate explosion of her fury, and assume a forced composure of look and voice as she exclaimed to the approaching offender, 'So, mistress! you can find time to wait upon us when you have finished At this confession Elizabeth could restrain herself no longer.Quick as lightning she bestowed upon her trembling rival a violent box on the ear, tore the collar from her neck, dashed it to the ground, and exclaimed with a look and voice that sufficiently declared her. to be the daughter of Henry the Eighth: - God's death thou hussey, thou wanton! thou gill-flirt! thou flaunting young cockatrice! is our court. and presence to be contaminated and insulted by such doings as these? Begone! and let me never again see thy shameless face: what! did I send this traitorous and temerarious youth to Ireland to collect carcanets for his concubines, instead of putting chains around the rebel Tyrone. By the throne of heaven! he shall dearly rue it. The terrified maid of honour shrunk away to conceal her disgrace; Elizabeth arose and walked towards the mansion, but having had a few minutes to collect herself, and feeling probably that she had betrayed rather more violence than became her sex and station;' she turned towards her attendants, |