But the pomp and splendour of those days do not constitute its most cherished associations. Facts of historical and national importance, involving questions of life and death, give the chief and most permanent interest to the Tower. It was long the State prison of England, where the most illustrious victims in the world have suffered and perished, the mention of whose names alone would suffice to recall stirring epochs in our national life. The armoury, with its well kept specimens of ancient war equipments, excites our wonder at the past. Dazzling crown jewels flash in the sunshine as symbols of our greatness. How many heads that have felt their weight now moulder in the grave! What fearful thoughts haunt the mind as we look through the Traitor's Gate, or stand at the foot of the Bloody Tower! Some interesting rooms are unfortunately hid from the public. The room where Lady Jane Grey in solitude traced pathetic lines upon the wall, is now a mess room for the officers of the garrison. The church of St. Peter, near the store-house, is also closed; but it has been the burial-place of great and ambitious men. Indeed, every part of this ancient building calls up its memorable traditions. The establishment of the Mint is situated eastward of the Tower. All the gold, silver, and copper or bronze coinage in circulation in the country, has been through the Mint. In ancient days money was coined at the Mint in the Tower, but it is now carried on in the beautiful, commodious, and complete range of buildings fronting that once formidable fortress. The process is deeply interesting, and the skill by which the perfection of the coin is attained reflects upon the ingenuity and perseverance of all engaged in the work. A fixed sum is charged for changing metal into current coin, and bullion may be sent by any one for that purpose. The London Docks, occupying many acres, are situated between the Mint and the Thames. They are surrounded by large warehouses, in which goods are stored, and supply active employment to a large number of labourers. The commercial importance of the port of London has been one element in extending its influence and enlarging its limits. That por tion of the northern side of the river most intimately connected with the shipping interest, begins at Tower-Hill, extending eastward through Wapping, Ratcliffe-Highway, Shadwell, Limehouse, and Black wall. The history of dock extension is simply the history of our commercial growth. On each side of the water docks have been constructed at great cost, and with beneficial results to the shipping interest. Visiters to Wapping may find much to excite their attention, and a few historical memories also to interest them. The infamous Jeffreys vainly sought to shelter himself in Wapping when James II. abdicated his throne. Though disguised as a common sailor, he was discovered, beaten, and hurried off to the tower, where his miserable life very soon closed. At Execution Dock pirates suffered the penalty of their crimes, and guilty sailors were there put to death after conviction. The principal shaft of the wonderful Thames Tunnel is situated in Wapping. It is a splendid monument of engineering skill and perseverance. The many difficulties overcome, the discouragements against which one master-mind for years fought bravely, and the final triumph of the scheme, have left an imperishable testimony to the genius and resolution of Sir M. I. Brunel. The cost was enormous, but compares favourably, so far as the original outlay is concerned, with several metropolitan bridges; but the returns of the penny toll hardly suffice to meet expenses. Returning from Wapping to Tower-Hill again, and leaving the Mint and the London Docks on the right hand, we pass into Rosemary-lane. "Perhaps there is no quarter of the metropolis where the habits and habitations of the Irish can be better seen and studied than in Rosemarylane, and the little courts and alleys that spring from it on each side. Some of these courts have other courts branching off from them, so that the locality is a perfect labyrinth of 'blind alleys;' and when once in the heart of the maze it is difficult to find the path that leads to the main road. As you walk down the lane,' and look through the narrow openings. between the houses, the place seems like a huge peep-show, with dark holes of gateways to look through, while the court within appears bright with the daylight; and down it are seen rough-headed urchins running with their feet bare through the puddles, and bonnetless girls, huddled in shawls, lolling against the door-posts. Sometimes you see a long narrow alley, with the houses so close together that opposite neighbours are talking from their windows; while the ropes, stretched zigzag from wall to wall, afford just room enough to dry a blanket, or a couple of sheets, that swell out dropsically in the wind." Rosemary-lane runs at right angles into Leman-street, which leads from the Docks to Commercial-street, Whitechapel. Three parallel thoroughfares branch off eastward from Leman-street,-Ratcliffe-Highway, Cablestreet and Back-road, and Ayliff-street leading into Commercial-road,— each of which helps to give character to the locality. Ratcliffe-Highway is situated near the river, adjoining the Docks. Hence it abounds with "marine" store dealers, English and foreign sailors, lodging-houses, loose and low women, who haunt poor "Jack" when on shore, and with detestable "crimps" who rob and ruin multitudes of our generous and confiding seamen. "Sailors' Homes" have greatly protected this class of persons against imposition, but cases still happen where the hard-earned wages of years are dexterously transferred to the pockets of these trading thieves, who then cast their wretched dupes penniless and destitute upon the streets. The temptations of the public-house and dancing-saloon are also employed to excite the worst passions of human nature. Each night witnesses scenes we cannot attempt to describe. The grossest debauchery is carried on with insatiable greediness. Blasphemies, cursings, and scoffings salute the ear of the passer by; whilst sometimes the foul language of a drunken woman makes the very flesh creep with fear. During the afternoon, before the evening revels have fairly commenced, loitering sailors of all nations, bold and brazen females, and young children apt and clever in their imitation of the scenes around, may be seen idling 3 G VOL. XI. FIFTH SERIES. to and fro. The courts and alleys on either side are their homes, from which they emerge in gaudy ball-room dress as night draws on. To venture alone into some of these rookeries would be to peril life. Unhappy wretches are often lured in, robbed of their money, stripped of their clothing, and then thrust without pity out of doors. Vice has no cloak here, and fallen human nature knows no shame. The wretchedness of sin appears on the surface, and nothing more calculated to excite disgust could be conceived. The immoralities of this part of the metropolis have obtained a fearful notoriety, and many persons shrink from the locality as from a serpent. The difference between Ratcliffe-Highway and other places in London, so far as the existence of immorality is concerned, consists in the sin of the one place being open and that of the others partially concealed. There are splendid thoroughfares, and whole rows of handsome houses, as well as large public squares, in the west, where scenes are nightly acted which may well compare with those in the Highway. In Pimlico, almost within gunshot of Buckingham Palace, scores of infamous houses have recently been closed through parish prosecutions: who shall say how many still remain open? Vice walks the beautiful West-end streets in gay attire. Defiled humanity there glitters in jewels, rustles in silks, and rides in carriages. An air of mystery and luxury pervades the sin practised in aristocratic neighbourhoods. It has not the low, filthy, and degrading garb worn in the east. But in which form is it calculated to do most harm and destroy most souls? Cable-street runs parallel with Ratcliffe-Highway, and extends from Leman-street into Cannon-street road. The entrance to it is generally thronged with loose persons, and a brisk trade is carried on by the shopkeepers. A sickening odour rises from the numerous fish and meat stalls. The street is dirty and disagreeable, as well as the women who mostly frequent it; whilst sailors from the adjoining Home loiter about the footpath. Back-road is a continuation of Cable-street eastward. Passing along it we leave the church of St. George's-in-the-East a little to the right, between Ratcliffe-Highway and Back-road. In the latter street the St. George's Wesleyan chapel stands, and presents a very commanding appearance. The Minister's house adjoins: the whole neighbourhood does not contain a more eligible residence. This part of the road is quiet, and generally free from those annoyances so plentiful around. A large and open space at the back, covered with grass, and only separated by a wall from the extensive premises connected with the parish church, supplies facilities for retirement which are rarely to be obtained in this part of the metropolis. (To be continued.) THE CONFERENCES OF 1865. I. THE FRENCH CONFERENCE. THE fourteenth Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in France and Switzerland, was held in Paris from the 16th to the 24th of June, 1865. President, the Rev. James Hocart; Vice-President, the Rev. Philip Guiton; Secretary, the Rev. P. Lucas. The statistics of the French Connexion were reported as follows: Chapels and preachingrooms, 193; ministers and preachers on trial, 28; colporteurs and schoolmasters, 14; Local preachers, 89; members, 1,658; members on trial, 168; day-schools, 6; Sabbathschools, 37; teachers in the Sabbath-schools, 258; children in the schools, 1,859. One minister, the Rev. Louis Martin, has died in peace during the year, at Aigle, in Switzerland. The Rev. L. F. Galland, having terminated his probation, was ordained by the imposition of hands. The ordination service excited deep interest. Two preachers were received on trial, Messrs. J. Luce and J. Wood; the latter of whom has been for several years a student in the Training Institution at Lausanne. This Students' Home promises to inaugurate a new era for Methodism in France and Switzerland. Previous to its opening, there was a lack of ministerial candidates; but since that time suitable young men of Methodist families, and trained in Methodist Sunday-schools, have presented themselves in sufficient numbers for the necessities of the work. The openings in Roman Catholic districts, and the desire for plain Gospel truth in Protestant centres where rationalistic pastors are found, call for an increase in the number of ministers, and especially for the erection of good, substantial chapels. But such is the poverty of the people, that progress in these respects is greatly retarded. failure of the silk-worm crop, in two southern provinces, for twelve years past, has brought on great distress; and the failure of the crop this year is more complete than in any previous one. The The general accounts of the Conference showed a large pecuniary deficiency. This subject occupied the anxious attention of the brethren, whose trial of faith is the greater as the present prospects of the work are brighter than ever they were. The congregations, in general, are on the increase, and the schools are prosperous. It was much regretted that some new stations could not be occupied, and especially that the island of Corsica, where there is no resident Protestant minister, should still remain vacant. The next Conference is to be held at Anduze, (Gard,) on the third Thursday in June, 1866. The prospective elections are:-President, James Vice-President, Peter Lucas; Secretary, J. P. Cook. Hocart; Hocart; II. THE IRISH CONFERENCE. UNDER the Presidency of the Rev. Dr. Osborn, accompanied by the Rev. Charles Prest and the Rev. W. Arthur, A.M., the Irish Con The ference assembled at Cork. Cork Conference was distinguished by the presence of Bishop Janes, from America, and the Rev. Daniel Draper, from Australia, representatives to the British Conference; as also of Dr. Butler, Missionary from India, and the Rev. J. Clarkson, from Canada. The Stationing Committee prepared the first draft of stations on Wednesday, the 14th of June; and, on the day following, the Reports of the Connexional School, and of the Committee for General Education, were laid before Committees of Review. The state of our education work was shown to be very satisfactory, so far as it goes; the last Census returns placing the Wesleyans in Ireland among the first in proportion to their numbers. Measures were proposed for providing means for the extension of this work. On the 16th, attention was given to the affairs of the New Educational Institution; and it is expected that the foundation-stone of a new Institution-building will very soon be laid. On the 17th, the Missionary Committee of Review assembled; and it was found that, notwithstanding the efforts made on behalf of the Jubilee Fund and the New College during the past year, there had been a small increase in Missionary contributions. Monday 19th, was devoted to the business of the Building and Chapel Committee; and although the operations of this Committee are on a scale by far too small in proportion to the necessities of Ireland, the reduction of debt to the amount of more than £2,250 is gratifying. On the 20th, the Circuit Aid and Contingent Fund Committee presented its Report, showing that the ordinary contributions to this important fund have slightly diminished for the past year; and that although the ministers on several Circuits have been considerably relieved, other ministers are still suffering extreme poverty. As there is now nothing in the state of Ireland to discourage the hope of greatly-increased contributions on their behalf, it may reasonably be expected that the appeals put forth by the Irish Conference will awaken some Circuits from their apathy, and call forth an enlarged liberality towards their ministers in all. The Conference was opened on Wednesday, June 21st. One of its most important acts was the reestablishment of the General Missions in Ireland, at the instance of an Irish gentleman resident in England, who promises £100 annually for four years. His offer received generous practical support from Dr. Butler, and led to the immediate appointment of two ministers for that special service, under the designation of "General Missionaries." It is to be regretted that there is a decrease of 965 in the number of members in Ireland this year; the present returns being 20,031 members, 606 on trial, and 715 emigrations. Emigrations, as is well known, are incessant; but other causes must have largely contributed to the decrease now reported; and our ministers in Ireland, like the brethren elsewhere, are applying themselves with renewed earnestness to the discharge of their sacred duties, and bring to the mercy-seat of God the fervent supplication, “O Lord, we beseech Thee, send now pros perity!" III. THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE, THE fourth Birmingham Conference began its sittings on Thursday, July 27th, and proceeded happily, under the presidency of the Rev. William Shaw. The presence in the chair, until the election of the new President, of the Rev. Dr. Osborn, who presided over the Shef |
