THIS picturesque-looking gate occupies | absurd custom connected with Temple Bar
the site of the ancient City boundary to the which may not be known generally. The
west. It was built by Wren, in the year gates are invariably closed by the city au-
1670. On the east side, in niches, are the thorities whenever the sovereign has occasion
statues of Queen Elizabeth and King James to enter the city, and at no other time.
I., and on the west side those of Charles I. The visit of the sovereign is, indeed, a rare
and Charles II. It derives its name from occurrence, confined to a thanksgiving in St.
its contiguity to the Temple. On the tops Paul's for some important victory, or the
of Temple Bar there used to be displayed opening of a public building like the New
the unsightly exhibition of traitors' heads. Royal Exchange. A herald sounds a trum-
Walpole, in one of his letters, dated August pet before the gate-another herald knocks
16th, 1746, says "I have been this morn- -a parley ensues-the gates are then
ing at the Tower, and passed under the new thrown open, and the Lord Mayor for the
heads at Temple Bar, where people make a time being makes over the sword of the
trade of letting spying-glasses at a half-city to the sovereign, who graciously returns
penny a look." There is an ancient and it. Stow describes a scene like this, when