This celebrated fortress is situated on the east side of the City, a short distance from London-bridge, near the banks of the river Thames. It at first consisted of no more than what is at present called the White Tower, traditionally reported, without any authority, to have been built by Julius CÆsar, though there is the strongest evidence of its being marked out and a part of it first erected by William the Conqueror, in the year 1076, doubtless with a view to secure to himself and followers a safe retreat, in case the English should ever have recourse to arms to recover their ancient possessions and lost liberties.

The death of the Conqueror, however, in 1087, about eight years after he had commenced this fortress, for some time prevented its progress, and left it to be completed by his son William Rufus, who, in 1098, surrounded it with walls and a broad and deep ditch, which is in some places about one hundred and twenty feet wide, into which water from the river Thames was introduced. Henry III., in 1240, ordered a stone gate, bulwark, and other additions to be made to this fortress, and the ancient tower to be whitened, from whence it was called the White Tower. In 1465, Edward IV. greatly enlarged the fortifications, and built the Lion's Tower, for the reception of foreign beasts, birds, &c., presented to the kings of England; the zoological collection have, however, long since been transferred to more eligible quarters in the Regent's-park. By the command of Charles II., in 1663, the ditch was completely cleansed, the esplanade rebuilt with brick and stone, and sluices were erected for admitting and retaining water from the Thames, as occasion might require.

The Tower is in the best situation that could have been chosen for a fortress, lying near enough to protect the metropolis and the seat of commerce from invasion by water. It is parted from the river Thames by a commodious wharf and narrow ditch, over which is a drawbridge. Upon this wharf is a noble platform, on which are placed sixty-one pieces of cannon, nine-pounders, mounted on handsome iron carriages, which were fired on state holidays, but small pieces are now used for those purposes.

Parallel to the middle part of the wharf, upon the walls, is a platform, seventy yards in length, called the Ladies' Line, from its being much frequented in the summer evenings, as on the inside it is shaded with a row of lofty trees, and without affords a fine prospect of the shipping and of the boats passing and repassing on the river. The ascent to this line is by stone steps, and, being once upon it, there is a walk almost round the walls of the fortress without interruption, in doing which the visiter passes three batteries: the first called the Devil's Battery, where there is a platform on which are mounted seven pieces of cannon; the next is named the Stone Battery, and is defended by eight pieces of cannon; and the last, called the Wooden Battery, is mounted with six pieces of cannon.

The wharf, or esplanade, which is divided from Tower-hill at each end by gates, is opened every morning for the convenience of a free intercourse between the respective inhabitants of the Tower, the City, and its suburbs. From this wharf is an entrance for persons on foot, over the drawbridge already mentioned; and also a water-gate under the Tower-wall, commonly called the Traitor's-gate, through which it has been customary, for the greater privacy, to convey traitors and other state prisoners by water to and from the Tower; the water of the ditch had here a communication with the Thames, by means of a stone bridge on the wharf. Over this water-gate is a regular building, terminated at each end by a round tower, on which are embrasures for pointing cannon.

The principal buildings are the church, a small edifice, dedicated to St. Peter ad Vincula, the White Tower, the Governor's House, the Bloody Tower, the Offices of Ordnance, of the Keepers of the Records, the Jewel Office, the New Spanish Armoury, the New Horse Armoury, the Grand Storehouse, in which is the small armoury, the train of artillery, and the tent room; the New Storehouse, wherein are three armouries; handsome houses for the chief and inferior officers; the Mess-house for the officers of the garrison, and the barracks for the soldiers. In addition to these, there is a street called the Mint, which includes nearly one-third part of the Tower. The principal part of the houses were formerly inhabited by the officers employed in the coinage, but now by the military and various persons employed in the different offices.

The ravages of the fire which occurred in this fortress a few years since have now been repaired, and its ancient walls strengthened and improved in accordance with the rules of fortification adopted by the best engineers of the day. The stagnant moat which formerly encircled it has been drained and converted into an exercise ground for the soldiers in the garrison.

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