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 Exeter, 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 ufficially 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.

Bisliopstowt', 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 vi hich has
reached me, what the cause of these violations of the
peace has really been. The wearing of the surplice by
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. Courtenay
and by his predecessor, for 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 %Mai 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 pi event" 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 experienceof 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 seen, not only placards on
the walls of Exeter proclaiming a " G. eat 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" cry
thus wantonly raised should issue in the excesses which
all decent persons must now deplore, 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 your 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 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 their city on future Sabbaths."
Your own letter " adds our prayer to that of the re-
quisitionists, that I will interfere to prevent a repetition
of these disgraceful scenes."
Both you and the requisitionists are pleased to ascribe
to me a "power" which I must in all sincerity disclaim.
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 lab'mr 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 unoffending clergyman harm'ess
through your streets, while no attempt 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 peaceable enjoyments of the rights
of all men.

I can, indeed, write a letter to Mr. Courtenay, ad-
vising him not again to preach in his surplice, unless he
conscientiously, and on lull inquiry, is satisfied that he
may not do so, withcut violating his solemn engagements
to the Church. But even this is a responsibility which I
dare not take upon myself. For 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 contein, t.
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, vv,.ose
office makes you most responsible for the permit-eat
peete and goodorder of Exeter, with a letter to Mr.
Courtenay, which you will, or will not connnunicat to
him, as you shall think proper.

I inclose it unsealed, in order that you may`—
and after reading, may either deliver or withhold it• it
Let me add, that I have bad no cornmun,catiotl
extraordinary Courten, either directly or indirectly, on this
y occurrence.—l have the honour to b
Mayor, Ilith great respect, your mo,t obedient s,e,rvrar
Exl4l),
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Exeter.

A
Exeter, Saturday*, Jar. 2, 1-1 la,
My Lord Bid.lop,—l am in receipt of the letter o the
inst., which your Lordship did me th 2 our
addiiss to me In reply to my letters to your Lordsblifi%
the 21st inst., detailing the serious disturbances 3w
had taken place in the parish of St. Sidwell's, and PrIE
ing for your Lordship's interference to prevent the co'"
of such disorderly assemblies. I have also received lin
open letter, addressed to the Rev. Francis Courirdlo
which your Lordship inclosed in the one address 0.
me, and which I delivered to that gentleman in c°
formity with your Lordship's permission. A Of
I am in thubt whether your Lordship intendeulnej
letter for publication ; and as Mr. Courtenay con* re.
with the advice of his diucesan, and acceded th° tbnebf'
quest of the magistrates, and himself caused t-e .114 lit
cation of your Lordship's letter to him, I thoe" ,
ri .hiPs
better to withhold the publication of your 1/0-jbip.
letter to me until I had again heard from your IA":013
The full bench of magistrates met this afterno,3o,:de-
I read to them your Lordship's letter to re e. The,lblish
sire me to request your Lordship's permission to l'auel
your letter, as they feel quite confident their con,so
will meet the approval of their fellow•citizens.-A,°,o
the honour to be, your Lordship's faithful and oe'"
vr or.
servant, EDWARD WOOLMER, P‘11)
The Right Rev. the Lurd Bishop of Exeter.

Mr. Mayor,—l have the honour to acknowledgcto
Bishopstowe, Jan. 27, 184,50
receipt of your letter of the 25th inst., which kulis do•
day reached me, " requesting my permission, st ne„itet
sire of the full bench of magistrates, to publish
mY
to you of the 22d."
That letter was written, hastily indeed—for Pur ofot
senger was waiting for it—but not inconsideratell
end
I found myself compelled to write in self-defenceoo;
in order to repudiate that responsibility for " tb.Lt
ration of peace and good order to the city.of P"—eiclett
which your own letters of the 21st—then just,rec„,-yoll
(the only ones, indeed, which I had received Tr?"",
doell
isio
on the subject, though the first outrage a St-
occurred on Sunday, the 12th)—seemed by prett Y Pos
implication, and which the accompanying retitils
professed in express terms, to cast upon me. T neitile!
A letter, written under such circumstances,
at the time of writing it wished you to regard
_11,410,
vate, nor do I now hesitate in permitting you to poi," sr
Of course, the communication to which it vvilisbe pub"
sorer, as well as our present correspondence, w,"Lat
lished with it, and no remarks appended, Int"-, apo°
having an opportunity of making any observation ded
them which shall seem to me necessary to be
In
the publication.
As relates to Mr. Courtenay's publication of 01 oletsbiere
to him, I knew nothing of his intention till I sell alier
letter in the newspaper. But under his P
circumstances, I do not blame him for the publicso
especially as the letter itself does not cast blainenllo
r 05/
one.—l have the honour to be, Mr. linYur' -rtl
obedient servant, EXS"
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Exe
P.S. lam just informed, that a statement app to to 0.
some newspaper, that several gentlemen aPP" stutb,°;
last week as I passed through Exeter, to 101. e 7,001'14
rity with Mr. Courtenay to prevent his Win rire.
fa
in the surplice. This statement is altogetherter. otos

"
(From the Times.) I,olld ig
or
If the Bishop of Exeter loves notoriety, 011
accomplished his desire, but not very aloe, re
consistently. To set a whole diocese in a „ e:ff,
while it is raging at its won 111
t to fall back uPe"
nity, and plead ignorance of the cause of the 0
Ail j 0
and astonishment at the extent of it, nol,--dereer_dd•
racier with Dr. Phillpotts, but suits not tee
of a discreet, well-juding prelate. From the
°f pe'pr
ence between his Lordship and the MsY;:r; decide •00
will
which we print elsewhere, our readers "' 0001-0
themselves how far the Bishop deserves comet
Eye be
or censure in the matter of the late turaulthsat POLIO
For ourselves, we think there is ranch
termed absurd, and something that carries a sebolVoi,
of insincerity in the Bishop's reply. la item, thrt,/ree
the notion to be entertained for one 1001,7,:terhnsio
though not officially informed of the::a.- tea iis
he could be entirely ignorant of t' e- safethe
after their occurrence ? He professes rese oa
the surplice in the pulpit is not the e6ll_otista the
disorders,. but the agitation about Pretestutd, if
ter'
the "No Popery " cry. Really, nl7 f.pr 1(1;401
charming solitudes of Bishopstowe, whers"so read
detach you so far from all tidings of this grhe,troselieie
world, and absorb your reflections so a_ .00 .°,IIO
canonical studies,—it would be advisable fOrtitin 041 bets
times to leave your remote retreat and aseerefeee, if"
really going on, and how far you can inter hot ilto
need is, in afairs with which, in truth, Y°lite shift
little connexion. It is out of the question heir Pr:o,
blame of these disgraceful scenes from ctiergfreijoi
quarter ; and the fact of a letter to the
,tit ‘aleroo
strangely, indeed, enclosed to the 3filayor-- big, POP°
the discontinuance of the surplice in Preec„ftbeSt
how well his Lordship knew where the ripos'efter ;05
lay, and how it was to be removed. Bet" k
subterfuge about persons of a' superior rao.o poy
stigated the lower orders to disturbances I'lo4loi
to excuse these Courtenays and Coleridge°, iittob
their superior, from the blame that must sr/oy,
imprudence and rashness of the innovators' i 0 ;0 di sr,
didjudges. The fault cannot be sulked orr:she ,017
moroseness, nor sneered away at the exp.ees,e.uet Os,'" tlri
and magistrates, who did on that occasion iuspirit 0
ought to have done. We cannot appprove rbcei wririGt 10%,
diffuse epistle•of the Bishop, who, ,f be he rah,: pet
and less disingenuously and acrimoniousiP. to_tri Vol
far better satisfied the parties concerned .7ipers"woole
tion and power in this instance. If he wl,deesof,'hi
set him right, we will tell him why th,e
.„itheattisoil
he intimates, so long worn in the pulP,it ;IP bets'„ raf
monstrance or popular outbreak ; 5151 r
question of these novelties had not till the- vps
and borne as they were at first in silence, bbtleteel i!leces4
they could ben o longer tolerated when ihtt to3diji,„ old
tain to what extent fresh innovators wig," net tire,'!
go. When, therefore, it was deterniinegudigles!oo
to them, they became a stirring caus© el opooillos fs"
when in spite of the public feeling an° .fits aier.e/
were persisted in, they generated the 01toge ottoo
and 19th inst. Now, unless his LordshiPjleforeleerio
gets one great principle brought in at it eia9/4
viz., the right of private judgment+ ." es se' coy
to the laity the privilege of sonletrn.e ofieedecoof
their own eyes, and judging from thejote ae,4011
tions. And until he, or some other suPhris istiArtlooo"ol
shall define the precise boundaries of, eisoetnielliyri
laity will avail themselves of it (as tueiresPec"
reference to these unwise measures), lowee+ te4Of
firmly. You must allow, then, this mode rveorriPbo/d
_..you must, indeed ! To use your eallt oleos; 10$
own letter to the Mayor—you " oseniste 013014,
been already done ;" you cannot rep e 50d et ': to
yourself admit as a Protestant nt'F'.3 0 el/eceir)itr
fathers of the reformed relieion selecte" AI
the jog,
chief weapons against the delusions 0-, bee) do All
undeceive and enlighten those who he"nd the,' th'oo;
awed by pretensions to infallibility, a-ovirj.ol!•ssol
exercise of the priestly office. It elttY the eject cf
found inconvenient and troublesome °no eeennve sr
whether for good or ill, so it is, and Y it as :" both
e, for -
the fact. You are even responsible re* 1315
dogmas of the Church of which Pe $
must content yourself to endure it.

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Gilmore,.] C— ON S:dr-
T,,RAORDINARY CURE BY HOLLOVl""'°potf "bll'. of
daugt:tersioiforiNeldrit.chtl,enrwyaGiliiioret,-he:essieaciorifir, 60.4.6bi°,019:ti
saca:uder.l(i.sa:
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twtrsathlLoiseet rays. es of this other wis e,:ahhll::lteralitiessnsidrilt;pdesilvielusrtaiect
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t.mlpaoriannbdtt
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sLau is-anent of Professor 110.-°/c'af'
advice maybe had gratis. 11

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sffie°
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BIRTES..; Edoold ' oil
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a daughter. ,,,,,, l'• • fir
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l¢ ay ofGe°
if of
bery, of a son.
On Jan. 22, at Summer. hill, Cork, the ji.•'
Og 1°
Esq., di staff-surgeon of a daughter. d, jp- ip 0
On Jan. 25, at -surgeon,
House, Le .7 .r.,10
daugh t er.
On Jan. 27, at Ryde, the lady of $. 8v•
clelt°ll:,6 Olga
Cara'rtbeti CIIP
AB°
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oaftaAdhaeurmhaterrles- park, .14 Ow
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Esq.,of,aason. rlatgd pia. ce, Notellg of
Frederick Chinnock, of'a daughter WI/ to or
the 0
On Jan. 29, at Peckham- rye, Surrey toe'
Day,croa oe
On Jan. 29, in Endsleigh-street, efts tios.
10 of
O. tot
MARBIOD. t, l'lPAte /
On Jan. 25, at St. Bride's, Fleet-stretebird d is,.
004
of Lincoln's Inn-fields, to Jane Atnelisoster•he se't•llge'dl
late T. Point,.Esq , of the Danes, W u,r...toti, t,,',/ablki,-je
Ou Jan. 28, at 'St. Matthews,,ncro'llege,beuthQoilil'orr
Jephson, M.A., of Corpus Christi ciiya ,9e- 00'
Curate of St. John's, Westminster, t°.'isci., °' ore,
daughter of John Cuthbert Joyner' 011,
Surrey. o,o_ of ,L,
On Jan 29, at St. George's SlaytonChtlrch li,sstet'r °f 9-
bert East, eldest son of Sir East cisag'
Berks, Bart., to Emma Jane. elde,sk t.
Smith, Esq., of Connaught_plaee 1, ef3 SA
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Se 5,
On Jan. 23, at Great Carter-lane,
odso, 0 91.
Edwards, aged 54. •o; hard $5 poll1;0(iglis
On Jan. 25, Jane, wife of Mr...-c dPe lra
street. ilichar j',o 1.,,
On Jan. 26, at Wanstead, Esset surref• ea! or
ag lt°
On Jan 27, at Banstead Dowlis' noolt 01
Esq., aged 68. f Livetor)
On Jan. 28, Mr. T. Winsti uleP, °.,..apder,,Pridge•
On Jan. 28, at Dorset-place, 'tie' ciao" eio• 0, ty,
Esq., M.A.,
On Jan. 29, in University-st.,reet"Jonee gicr' '
Fellow of King's
On Jan. 29, at Camberwell, Ili!. , looPli3rios ,ii Of
On Jan. 29, Mr. David F•willifit'ckfti ,--_,I. OS I,j
turer, of Great Charlotte-street, ---4.; Iv tee e I,
--------iiir/SPOOcyO3I)
110(4 bl $l,O O.
London: Printed and Pub , pie 0
No. 112, Strand, Printer, ..' save,'
3it '
iliddlelex, Friday, JautlarY
Strand, in the Precinct of the 44
Collegf;r.potiloviio
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