[7] The Parsees, in their account of the Tunnel, mention a fact now not generally remembered, that the attempt was far from a new one:—­“In 1802, a Cornish miner having been selected for the purpose, operations were commenced 330 feet from the Thames, on the Rotherhithe side.  Two or three different engineers were engaged, and the affair was nearly abandoned, till in 1809 it was quite given up.”

“Some days after this,” continues the khan, “I paid a visit to the Tower, which is the fortress of London, placed close to the Thames on its left bank.  Within the ramparts is another fort of white stone, which in past times was frequently occupied by the sovereigns of the country.  It is said to have been constructed by King William, surnamed Muzuffer, or the Conqueror; others are of opinion that it was founded by Keesar the Roman emperor; but God alone can solve this doubt.  In times past it was also used as a state prison for persons of rank, and was the scene of the execution of most of the princes and nobles whose fate is recorded in the chronicles of England.  They still show the block on which the decapitations took place.”  Among the trophies in the armoury, he particularizes the gun and girdle of Tippoo Sultan, “which seemed to be taken great care of, and were preserved under a glass case;” but the horse armoury and the regalia, usually the most attractive part of the exhibition to strangers, are passed over with but slight notice, though, from the Parsees, the sight of the equestrian figures in the former, draws the only allusion which escapes them throughout their narrative to the fallen glories of their race.  “The representations of some of these monarchs was in the very armour they wore; and we were here very forcibly put in mind of Persia, once our own country, where this iron clothing was anciently used; but, alas! we have no remains of these things; all we know of them is from historical works.”  The crown jewels might have been supposed to present to a native of India an object of peculiar interest; but the khan remarks only the great ruby, “which is so brilliant that (it is said) one would be able to read by its light by placing it on a book in the dark.  I made some enquiries respecting its value, but could not get no satisfactory answer, as they said no jeweller could ascertain it.”

It would appear that the Khan must now have been for several months resident in London, (for he takes no note of the lapse of time,) since we next find him a spectator of the pomps and pageants of Lord Mayor’s day.  He gives no account, however, of the procession, but contents himself with informing his readers that the Lord Mayor (except in his tenure of office being annual instead of for life) is the same as a “patel” or “mukaddam” in the East:  adding that “he is the only person in England, except the sovereign, who is allowed to have a train of armed followers in attendance on him.”  It is not very evident whether the idea of civic army was