The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-31 00:00:00

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF THE CITY

OF EXETER.
We, the undersigned citizens of ExAer, most deeply
deplore the violation of the Sabbaths in our hitherto
peaceful and well-conducted city yesterday and on the
Sunday previous ; and, whilst we deeply regret such a
mode of manifesting public opinion, we should be guilty
of concealing our own feelings, and of a dereliction of
duty to you, were we not to express our decided con-
viction that a representation of the circumstances should
be officially communicated by you to the Lord Bishop of
the diocese, requesting his Lordship (who has the
power) to restore peace and good order to our city on
future Sabbaths.

Dated January 20, 1845.
(Signed by 151 Citizens of Exeter.

Bishopstowe, Jan. 22, 1845.
Mr. Mayor,—l have this day received the letter of the
2 tat instant, which, with the concurrence of the magis-
trates who have assisted you on occasion of the recent
outrages in St. Sidwell's parish, you have done me the
honour of addressing to me, " respectfully inquiring if
I can recommend any measures to prevent the cause of
such disorderly assemblies."
Thus applied to by such authorities, I must not
scruple to answer with the frankness which becomes me.
You and the other magistrates have not informed me
what you consider the cause to be. Thus left to my own
conjectures on the subject, I must first endeavour to
satisfy myself, on the very slight information which nes
reached me, what the cause of these violations of the
peace has really been. The wearing of the surplice bs
Mr. Courtenay or Dr. Coleridge in preaching; is cer-
tainly not, of itself, the cause ; for the surplice was so
worn in St. Sidwell's Church, both by Mr. Curt nay
and by his predecessor. fsr several years, without excit-
ing any popular disturbance, or any intimation, to me at
least, of any adverse feeling on the part of their
parishioners. It was not till the very extraordinary agi-
tation which has recently been excited at Exeter, that
the use of this vestment in the pulpit was visited with
any mark of popular displeasure. It appears to me,
therefore, that it is this agitation which has been the
true cause of the present disgraceful state of things at
Exeter; and as this cause has already acted, I am unable
to " recommend measures to prevent" it.
It is, indeed, within the ability of every one to recom-
mend measures which may prevent the recurrence of so
fruitful a cause of mischief, the principal of which is the
very obvious one, of warning all, in every station, espe
cially those whose station and influence may be expected
to be greatest, to beware how they venture to excite the
fanatical feelings of a mob, which the experience of every
age and every place has proved to be much mote easily
excited than allayed.
I would not dwell unnecessarily on matters too noto-
rious to need to be recounted ; but justice to the mis-
guided populace on this occasion demands the admission,
that their present excesses have been provoked, by the
unreasonable and culpable violence of many of their su
periors, and by the scarcely less culpable indifference of
many others. I have myself seer, not only placards on
the walls of Exeter proclaiming a " Great Protestant
Meeting," but even the report of the proceedings of that
meeting in one of the most respectable public journals of
this or any other county, headed by the same danger-
ously exciting description. That a" No Popery" city
thus wantonly raised should issue in the excesses which
all decent parsons mast now depl-re, cannot be matter
of astonishment to any one who regards history as a re-
cord of the follies and crimes to which the rashness more
frequently than even the wickedness of man may conduce.
While I am writing to you, I have received yoar se-
cond letter, brought to me by an express messenger,
containing a requisition to you signed by many (I doubt
not) very respectable inhabitants of Exeter, who " ex-
press their decided conviction that a representation of
the circumstances should be offieidly comenunicated 1,3
you to the Lord Bishop of the dim- se, requesting his
Lordship (who 1,45 the 'sewer) to re tore peace ane
good order to their cit? en futun e Sabbaths."
Your own letter " adds s our prayer to that of the re-
quisitionists, that I ill interfere to prevent ar. peri.ion
of these diseac-ful scenes."
Both you and the requisitionists ant pleased to ascribe
to me a " power" which I must in all sine rity
I cannot undo what has been already done. I cannot
recal that spirit of sober piety, of respect for the laws of
the Church and of the State, of due regard to the con-
scientious feelings and indisputable rights of the clergy
of Exeter, which it has been the indefatigable labeur of
many of its inhabitants, who are above the vulgar, during
several weeks to chase away.
If the magistrates of your great city are now powerless
—if the law is on each succeeding Lord's-day violated
With impunity—if the utmost boast of those who ad-
minister it be (as I understand your letter as manifestly
implying) to guard an unotfending clergyman harmless
through your streets, while nnattempt is made to vindi
cate justice by punishing a single individual of those
by whom his life has been endangered—l cannot
flatter myself with the hope that I can do anything
towards the restoration of peace, in the legitimate
sense of the word—peace, that is, which is based on
order, and insures the p'aceable enjoyments of the rights
of all men.
I can, indeed, write a letter to Mr. Courtenay, ad-
vising him not again to preach in tits surplice, unless he
conscientious), and on full inquiry, is satisfied that he
may not do so, eith ut violating his sob mn engagements
to the Church. But even this is a responsibility which I
dare not take upon myself. Fur I much fear that thus
to give a triumph to popular violence can only result in
unnerving the law, and exposing its administrators
(whether deserving or not) to contempt.
But, while I refuse to incur this responsibility myself,
I deem it right so far to comply with the urgent appli-
cation made to me, as to furnish you, Mr. Mayor, whose
office makes you most responsible for the permanent
peace and good order of Exeter, with a letter to Mr.
Courtenay, which you will, or will not communicate to
him, as you shall think proper.