32 ENGLAND 



which for a long time was a royal residence, and is still used as a prison for state criminals. 

 Within its extensive walls are comprised several armories, containing the greatest collection 

 of arms in the wtnd ; the jewel office, in which are kept the crown jewels ; a church ; the 

 royal menagerie, &c. In the horse armory are the effigies of all the English sovereigns, in 

 armor and on horseback. The Royal Exchange, the Mint, the East India House, the Mansion 

 House, or residence of the lord mayor of London, Somerset House, the Bank of England, 

 the Admiralty, the Custom House, &c., deserve notice. The Monument, a hollow Doric 



Hic Bank of England. The Admiralty. 



column 200 feet high, was erected in commemoration of the great fire, which destroyed a 

 great part of the city in 1666. A stairway in the inside leads to the top. 



There are 6 bridges over the Thames. Of these, we may mention Waterloo Bridge, of 

 granite ; and Southwark and Vauxhall Bridges, of iron. A more remarkable object is the 



The Cvstom House. Southwark Bridge. 



Tunnel, a passage under the river at a 

 point where a bridge would be loo detri- 

 mental to the navigalion. This work was 

 performed by sinking a perpendicular 

 shaft near the river, and working hori- 

 zontally under the stream. The labor- 

 ers in this process were aided by a 

 frame work, called a ShieM, which pre- 

 vented the earth from caving in around 

 them, and was pushed forward as the 

 work proceeded. As fast as the exca- 

 vation w^as made, the tunnel was formed 

 by mason-work into two arciies ; and 

 in this manner tlie work has been car- 

 ried beyond the middle of the river, al- 

 thnii?;h the water has several times 

 br.i >l t!irn;i?:lj. The enormous expense 



T Ti I I I ! T' i I I I rri I I I' I M I ■.■|"|-| I r'TTTTTTT 

 r/;« Shield. 



