The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-17 00:00:00

BISHOP PHILLPOTTS AND THE

CHOLERA.

EXETER, AUG. IC—The cholera, which made its
appearance in Exeter about a month since, has
been, on the whole, severe in its operation, though
by no means to be compared in virulence to the fea-
ture it has manifested at Plymouth. Trade, how-
ever, has suffered great depression in consequence,
for nearly every one who has the means has taken
himself off to the coast, or the secluded inland
vil-
lages. Bishop Phillpotts has very snugly housed
his episcopal person and family in the beautiful
neighbourhood of Teignmouth, taking very good
care to keep seventeen miles of good fresh air " be-
tween the tainted wind and his nobility ;" and there
is this holy man to be found, if any one should
happen to want him, or if any contingency should
arise in which it would be necessary for the Clergy
to consult him. Many inconsiderate persons have
ventured to censure the Bishop for departing from
his episcopal palace at a time like the present; but
we are not aware that he attempted any sanatory
regulations prior to the arrival of the pestilence, or
that he attempted anything effectual to put the citi-
zens in a proper state to meet its approach. After
nearly twelve months' warning, it approached like a
thief in the night, and it was not till several most
malignant cases had appeared that our prudent shop-
keepers would admit that we had it. It was then
discovered that we had no hospital for patients, and
no burying-ground for the victims—that the Board
of Health had no power to enforce their regulations,
as the Aet did not apply to Exeter--all the pa-
rishes being incorporated. We have but two places
of public sepulture here that are generally used :
one of these is in the heart of the city, directly in
front of the county hospital ; and the other hds a
dense population on three sides of it, with four Dis-
senting places of worship and two large schools
verging close upon it. In addition to this, the ground
has long been considered to be " full," and it has for
some years past formed the subject of complaint
against the corporation, whose property it is, that
they did not provide a better place. How great
then was the surprise of the inhabitants when they
discovered that in these places it had been deter-
mined the cholera subjects should be interred !
Bishop Phillpotts was strongly urged to consecrate
some piece of ground apart from the city, and one
piece, Bury Meadow, was mentioned as the most
eligible spot that could be selected. This spot was
objected to by the Bishop, because it had one path
through it that was used by a very few inhabitants
on their way to church. Mr. John Dymond, a
most respectable man, a member of the Society of
Friends, hearing this notable objection of the holy
Priest, said, "With due respect to thee, Henry (or
William—I have not yet learnt his Christian name)
Phillpots, I do not see the force of thy objection.
Bury Meadow has but one pathway through it, and
that but seldom used; whilst Bartholomew-yard,
the place alluded to, has three pathways through it,
and each of them in constant use." The Lord
Bishop, however, had more power than the Quaker;
and, though defeated by his logic, he took shelter
behind his prerogative, and refused to consecrate the
ground. The pestilential nuisance continues up to
the present moment, one impediment after another
being thrown in the way of removing this nuisance,
that adds another brilliant specimen of the benefit of
ecclesiastical and corporate domination. Our Board
of Health has shown that it is constructed of wooden
materials; our corporation have maintained their
glorious consistency in disregarding the welfare and
wishes of their fellow-citizens ; and our Bishop—
but he is best where he is. How unlike the noble
and the Christian conduct of Bclsunce, commemo-
rated by Pope, whose exalted conduct during the
plague at Marseilles has placed an everlasting halo
of glory around his sacred memory :

" Why drew Marseilles' good Bishop purer breath,
When Nature sicken'd, and each gale was death ?"
Because he was animated by a feeling of the im-
portance of his holy office; because he had received
that office in the divine spirit in which it originated,
and in which he of the pamphlets would do well to
imitate.