William James Roe

“ To the right, as you enter through a narrow arch, is a small opening through which it was necessary to pass, bent almost double, which leads into the bed-chamber of the unfortunate but noble genius. Musty, damp, and dark as night, he spent twelve hours every day in its horrible recesses. The block on which he was beheaded has been lost; but there is another nearly as interesting, on which perished, so tradition says, Lady Jane Grey and Lord Dudley. The prints of the axe, which stands by rusty and grim with its long rest, are easily visible on the dreadful block. ”

“ I would advise all the strangers in London to procure the services of what is called in France a valet de place—known by Americans as connoisseur, for it is impossible without such aid to see all of interest in this great city. London cannot be seen in a day. ”

“ The great city of London, as I have said before, has been so thoroughly explored and written about, that the correspondence of Americans, if they attempt to appear learned and describe things relative to its history, usually ends in being supremely ridiculous. ”