13 
The Bower Tower was close by, and tradition had it that here 
the Duke of Clarence was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. 
The spot was yet marked where many of the illustrious victims 
parted with their lives by the process of the headsman’s axe and 
block. 
At one time the only place in the country where wild beasts 
could be seen was at the Tower, they were spoken of as the 
“lions” and so the phrase about “lions” was coined. By and 
by they were removed to the Zoological Gardens. 
Views of executions were thrown on the screen, with the towers, 
instruments of torture, the block, regalia, beefeaters and 
ceremony of closing the doors. With the atmosphere of the 
20th century, the conversation of visitors from all nations, one 
was apt to feel a little of incongruity about the whole affair at 
the present day, until they saw some of the old beefeaters, and 
they found they were also of to-day. One felt that they would 
like to visit the scenes of the Tower after the gates had been 
closed, and amidst the silence of the night to realise the ghosts 
of the past kings, queens and noblemen who had there met their 
fate. Who would wish themselves back into those days of 
‘“‘merrie England”’ when liberty of life was constantly threatened ? 
On the contrary, they were all glad to be living in the days of 
King Edward VII. (loud cheers). 
In the discussion which followed, expressions of admiration 
were made of the feat of memory of the lecturer who had spoken 
without notes, and appreciations of the high merit of the lecturer 
by Messrs. J. S. Sutcliffe, F. J. Grant, Osborn, and J. W. 
Thompson, and a very hearty resolution of thanks was accorded 
to the Lecturer on the motion of Mr. Ogden, seconded by Ald. 
Mitchell. 
