THE TOWER OF LONDON. (SEE ENGRAVING.) THIS ancient edifice is situated on the north bank of the Thames, at the extremity of the city. The antiquity of the building has been a subject of much inquiry and discussion. That the Romans had a fort on the spot at present occupied by the Tower, is now past doubt, in consequence of the discovery of a single ingot, and three golden coins; (one of the emperor Honorius, and the others of Arcadius,) which were found in 1777, in digging for the foundation of a new office for the board of ordnance, through the foundation of certain ancient buildings, beneath which they were met with on the natural ground. The present fortress is generally believed to have been built by William I., at the commencement of his reign, and strongly garrisoned with Normans, to secure the allegiance of his new subjects. The first work seems to have been suddenly thrown up in 1066, on his taking pos session of the capital. The great square tower, called the "White Tower," was erected in 1078, when it arose under the directions of the great military architect Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, who gave this noble specimen of innovation in the art of castlebuilding, and which was pursued by him in the execution of Rochester Castle, on the banks of the Medway. The walls, which are eleven feet thick, have a winding stair-case continued along two of the sides, like that in the castle of Dover. The Tower is separated from the Thames by a platform, and part of the ditch. The former, and the parapet were erected in 1761, when sixty cannon, mounted on iron carriages, were placed there, merely for firing on rejoicing days, as there is no kind of cover for the artillery-men who work them. Within the Tower is a very ancient chapel, dedicated to St. John. Adjacent to this room is another very large one, filled with papers. This is called the "Council Chamber," in which many meetings of the first moment have been held. In 1092, a violent tempest did great injury to the Tower; but it was repaired by William Rufus, and his successor. In the south-east angle of the enclosure, were the royal apartments; for the Tower was a palace for nearly 500 years, and only ceased to be so on the accession of Queen Elizabeth. In another portion of the building, called the Wakefield Tower, is a fine octagonal room, in which, tradition records, that Henry VI. was murdered. This room is at present filled with papers belonging to the Record Office, containing all the records, from the conquest to the year 1483. The Beauchamp Tower is noted for the illustrious personages confined within its walls. Among them were the illfated Anna Bullen, and the good and accomplished Lady Jane Grey. Written for the Mother's Assistant. TH E S UN B E A M EY MRS. SARAH E. GOODHUE. On seeing my babe striving to grasp a sunbeam. STRIVING to grasp it,— my beautiful one? Bright hues of the rainbow on all things are thrown, Grasp not at the shadow, though gleaming and bright, Charlestown, Mass., Feb., 1850. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE continues to be a favorite publication among the lovers of good reading. It was a lovely morning in May. The face of nature was lothed in smiles. As I stood in the open door, breathing the fres air of the morning, I felt that, could the moral strife in the orld around us become thus still and peaceful, earth itse would be a Paradise. My young friend S., had stepped out upon the lawn, and in ecstasy exclaimed, The sea, the sea, the deep blue sea, how calm and beautiful!" "Yes; " it truly "like a cradled creature lies," I said as I joined her on the green, and gazed on the vast expanse of ocean bounding our vision from northeast to southwest. "It won't be much like anything, cradled, or sleeping in any way when night comes, I'm thinking," said old Josy, as he busied himself about the wood-pile. "Well, it's napping now, I am sure; for it is as unruffled as a woodland lake; and if quiet rest refreshes old ocean as it does us, he will not be in a stormy mood to-night." "We shall see, Miss," said the old man, glancing his grey eyes toward the east, and then fixing them on us with an expression peculiar to himself. "To those who are on the land, with comfortable shelter, and none of whom they're thinking of are on the deep, such a morning as this may be very pleasant; but one who has followed the sea as many years as I have, never wants to see it napping, as you call it, after this fashion." "You are a sad prophet, Josy," said S., " and yet I always believe you." "Why?" said he. "Because your predictions always prove true," she replied, smiling. "Well, there are a great many now-a-days, who don't believe what has proved true, if they don't like it,” he said, smiling in return. Old Josy had lived until most of the companions of his early years had passed away, and it was a weakness he possessed in connection with many virtues, to feel that all true excellence belonged to the olden time; and he looked upon the few, who, with whitened locks remained of his own generation, "With many fears, Lest goodness die with them, and leave the coming years." "Since you are so good a prophet, then, I too must believe," said I; "but I would like to know what causes you now see in operation to bring about the result you so confidently predict." The old man's philosophy, both natural and moral, was not such as is taught in the schools, yet in his own way he well knew, and loved to trace, the relation of cause and effect. "What causes?" said he. "I know of but one cause of rain, or sunshine. His hand I cannot see; but the signs which are given, that we may prepare for the storm, and know when to expect the calm, I can see, and so may all who will observe them; and it's the same with other difficulties which beset us in life. Providence guides us, and leads sometimes into danger and trial, but not in my opinion without giving us warning in some way, that we may avoid what is before us, or prepare to meet it. But there are some who don't believe in any Providence at all, or at best, that we are but set-a-going, and then left to shape our own course; and |