WHAT IS DUE TO ORDER, EXETER, 1844

On 20th April 1844 there was a by-election in Exeter occasioned by the appointment of William Webb Follett  to the post of Attorney General of England and Wales.   The High Sheriff, when he addressed the electors and returned Follett to Parliament made a pretty little speech:

"Gentlemen, before I proceed in the discharge of my duty,  I cannot but make a single remark and that is that I do most cordially and sincerely congratulate you and the citizens of Exeter on the good temper and forbearance which has been displayed by all parties during this contest,  It reflects the highest credit on you, and shows to the country at large and to the world that however the citizens of Exeter may differ on political subjects they know what is due to each other as men - they know what is due to order, - and having manfully fought their political battle, heartily desire again to emerge in the character of neighbours and friends,  (Enthusiastic and general cheering.)

"Gentlemen:  Having said this much,  I will not detain you longer, but proceed at once to state, that the poll books having been made up and examined,  I find the numbers are -

"For Sir William Follett...........1,203

"For Major-General John Briggs...........529

"Being a majority in favour of Sir Wm Follett of 764

"It therefore becomes my duty, and I do hereby declare Sir William Webb Follett to be duly elected to serve as a citizen in the present Parliament for the City and Borough of Exeter."

It was a glorious victory for the Tories and a dignified occasion (When and why did we start having Loonies in tomato-coloured onesies as parliamentary candidates?) but Sir William was a sick man.  He died the next year and the citizens of Exeter soon had another opportunity to demonstrate their good temper and forbearance.

And, nota bene, Sir William went back to Parliament "to serve as a citizen" of Exeter.

Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 18th April 1844

PRIDE IN THE CATHEDRAL, EXETER, 1872.

The  Mayor of Exeter called a meeting at the Guildhall to raise money for the restoration of Exeter cathedral.  £25,000 was needed.   Many city worthies came  to the meeting and Bishop Frederick Temple was there.  The Bishop said that:

"he wished to point out that there was a call on the citizens of Exeter to restore the fabric of their Cathedral because of the pride and affection which they must and ought to feel for it as belonging to their own town.  There was also something ennobling in the desire which great and good men had felt at all times that they should hand down to posterity that which they had received from their ancestors in undiminished beauty and excellence.   And so, too, they could not but feel that those great and good men in past days who had done anything for the city of Exeter, had a claim upon them that they should not neglect their work, but that they should hand it on no less glorious than they had received it..

"....It was for the honour and credit of the diocese that Exeter Cathedral should hold its rank among other Cathedrals, and that strangers, when they visited the West, should see that they really cared for that which belonged to their own native place, for that which was the pride and honour of their own part of their common country."

Source: The Exeter Flying Post,  7th Febtuary 1872.

AN UNPRINCIPLED BISHOP, EXETER, 1839.

Henry Phillpotts was Bishop of Exeter  for nearly forty years.  By December 1839, he had been almost ten years our bishop.  He was famously unpopular in this city but also in the country  These are the opening paragraphs of an article reprinted in The Western Times (28th December1839)  and first published in a contemporary number of The Atlas, "a paper," so  wrote The Western Times, "noted for the respectability and calmness of its tone. and with a bias far from being ultra liberal":

"HENRY PHILLPOTTS,  Bishop of Exeter, is the most unprincipled public man of his age.

"We say this in sober seriousness, and with unaffected reluctance, for we yield to none in respect to the bench of which he forms so unworthy a member.   Our Bishops are generally men of mere scholastic acquirements and of mediocre intellect, but of staid temperament and of unquestionable respectability of public conduct,- PHILLPOTTS is but a third rate scholar, and although his intellect is good, he has neither staidness of temperament, nor respectability of public conduct."

The  Western Times,like the newspaper, The Jupiter, in Trollope's "Warden" (1855),  was busy having fun exposing the 'hypocrisy' &c. of the Anglican Church.  The Tories and the Church on the other hand found little to complain about concerning the long reign of Henry of Exeter.

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EXTREME FAMILIARITY, EXETER, 1829.

Mr. Joseph Congdon's subscription rooms were in Northernhay-place, Exeter.  In October, 1829 a Ball took place which was reported by The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 10 October 1829:

"The Ball at Congdon's on Friday, was not so well attended as we have seen it on former occasions though several distinguished persons were present.  The scene was gaiety itself and the room was fitted up with considerable taste.  The Quadrille predominated, but the Waltz was occasionally introduced. 

"The extreme familiarity of this dance is certainly uncongenial to the taste of Englishmen:  it may be pleasing to a few who delight in the Epicurean pleasure of clasping a beautiful woman in their arms, but it is a notorious fact, which proves the light in which men hold it, that where there is much waltzing there is little marrying."

The Waltz had been danced in England since 1813 but clearly some Englishmen in Exeter, but not, it might seem, Englishwomen,  still found it shockingly 'familiar'.

Ladies! If you want to find a husband stick strictly to the Quadrille!

   

LAMPLIGHTERS. EXETER, 1804.

 "It is curious to observe how correctly the lamplighters of this city comply with the terms of their contract.  In the advertisement for this purpose, it is recited, that they are "to be lighted and kept burning from sun-setting to sun-rising, from the first day of August 1804, to the first day of August 1805, (except three days before and three days after every full-moon.")

"Now it is a notorious fact, that during the first fortnight in August, when the evenings were pitchy dark and the streets were thronged with every description of persons, and all kind of carriages, (being the assizes, races, and lammas fair,) not a lamp was to be seen!  And even at the late new moon, when the nights were "dark as Erebus;" not a single lamp displayed its twinkling glimmer,  Yet, during the last week, when Luna shone so brightly, that she seemed almost to rival the noon-day sun;  an extraordinary degree of care was apparently used to put these "farthing rushlights in a blaze."  - Bless us!  with such things staring us in the face, we cannot but apprehend that the moon has had a very serious influence on many of the regulations in this city, for some time past."

Bless us! How much more conscious we citizens of Exeter were of the movements of sun and moon two centuries ago,  I dare say the City could save a lot of electricity these days by not lighting-up at the full-moon and little children would look up and see good old Luna again. 

"Farthing rushlights"is Aesop and "Dark as Erebus" is Shakespeare.  The Georgian writers of newspaper columns certainly had a lot of fun with their literary allusions. 

Source, The Exeter Flying Post, 27th September 1804.

Source: The Exeter Flying Post 27th September, 1802.

THE BUGLE BAND, BRIDESCOMBE, 1892

In 1892 The Bugle Band of  Exeter's (primarily)  First Rifle Volunteers,  (of which the City should be  inordinately proud and to which stands a Harry Hems memorial in Northernhay Gardens) was in camp, together with the rest of the Devonshire Brigade, at Bridestowe.  As so often with the Volunteers there seems to have been a holiday atmosphere, although reportedly their military exercises went well enough on the slopes of Dartmoor.  The reporter of The Western Times of 9th August 1892, tells how:  

"The principal amusement of the men in Camp seemed to be what I will call "Infantry Tent Pegging" and to the initiated I may say that the modus operandi is as follows.A tent peg is driven into the ground, and the operator, armed with a mallet, having been blindfolded, takes six paces to his front turns about and takes five paces forward, he then lets out with the mallet, his efforts being greeted with merriment according to his nearness or otherwise of the mark."

What larks!, but to return to the Bugle Band:

"Whilst on the humourous side of the camp I may say that Bugle-Major Bourke, the genial conductor of the 1sr R.V. Bugle Band has again this year been the recipient of a present from his "boys".  It has taken the form of a drum-major's staff, and is a splendid specimen of the mountain ash,  It was elaborately and tastefully decorated with heather &c.and forcibly reminded one of the gorgeous pole which used to be carried by "Forward-on" when "Possession-day" was in its glory."

Possession-day was Ascension-day when the Bluecoat Boys famously beat the bounds of the City of Exeter.  It was by now, in 1892, just a memory.  "Forward-on, I assume, was the name  that had traditionally been given to the 'captain' who led the beaters and who famously carried a gorgeous pole decked with flowers.  Perhaps "Forward-on!" was also what was was shouted as they made their progress.

SILLY BISHOP BICKERSTETH, EXETER, 1885

The new Bishop of Exeter, Bishop Edward Bickersteth, was distribruting Bishop Phillpott's Prayer-book prizes to  the lucky pupil-teachers who had won them in a religious-knowledge examination. He made a speech in which, according to the report of The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 5th June 1885, he said"

"It was very gratifying to him that the first public meeting in which he was permitted to take part in the city was for religious education. (Applause)  Education without religion, what was it?  He remembered once attending a meeting where an advocate was very strongly supporting secular education, and he said, "Educate, educate, and you will win the day."  His lordship's father, who was sitting by his side, whispered into his ear, "Educate them as much as you will you will never make them so clever as the devil." His lordship thought there was profound truth in that rematk, for religion and education should go hand in hand." (Applause)

"....His lordship went to America once and, with his friend Mr. Hoare, went into a school one day and asked the childen how they came over.  "Steamer, sir," was the reply.  "Yes" they said and his friend then asked if they did not know of One who came over the sea wthout boat or steamer?  The mistress walked up to him and said, "I am very sorry, but I cannot allow that question to be put in this school; nothing must be mentioned in this school which bears upon religion, and that bears upon Christ walking upon the water."  Thus they saw that if once they banished religion from education to what lengths it might go."

God bless America! 

(It is an intriguing image: Christ, or anyone, crossing the Atlantic on foot.)

THE GRACE OF RESIGNATION, EXETER, 1875.

 The Western Times of  29th May 1875 reported that year's exhibition of the Devon and Exeter Botanical and Horticultural Society: 

"The hundred and thirty-eighth exhibition of the above Society was held yesterday afternoon on Northernhay.  Its usual fortune attended it - that is if what everybody said is to be taken as true - it rained in the forenoon, but happily it did not continue to the end.  Abour four the wet covering was a little rent, and the sun took a turn with the showers to make the scene a little more cheerful.

"The grace of resignation was greatly needed.  "It's always so" - "It's a great pity"  - were the expressions frequently heard - no voice of thanksgiving mingled with it for the refreshing drops upon leaf and flower. The Hay itself was a grand example of flower and landscape gardening - the fine avenue up from the Queen-street entrance was solemn as a Cathedral aisle, with flags and banners suspended from nature's lofty columns, the green-shaven turf, the trees in their richest foliage at all points of vantage, gorgeous May blossoms, the scarp under the Castle wall with its rhododendron fringe, and in the midst of all the beauty the Dinham and Acland statues teaching their lessons of faith, hope and charity - formed as bright a picture without as any within the tents."

Is it not curious that the myth that it always rains for the Devon Show has been with us for so many years?

The first 'show' must have been in 1737, ( when The States were still British Colonies.)  There's tradition for you! 

Nowadays the Gardens and the Castle-wall badly need attention.  Mr. Dinham and Sir Thomas Dyke Acland  (might they not still have lessons to teach?)  both  need to be cleaned and, to our shame, Sir Thomas has long since lost his right hand and nothing has been done about it.  Both men gave much to the city, much that we still enjoy.   

THRASHING LADS, EXETER, 1897

 The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 3rd April 1897 reported that:

"at the Exeter Police-court yesterday....lads, of ages ranging from 12 to 14, were summoned on the information of P.C. Lewis for playing football on the Iron Bridge on March 30.  The Chief Constable said that all the defendants were seen by P.C. Lewis playing football on the Iron Bridge.  He had received a large number of complaints, and he felt bound to summon the lads.  They all pleaded guilty.  

"The parents of four of the lads came forward and said that the boys had been thrashed.  The mother of one of the lads said her husband had promised to thrash the boy again if he were fined.  The Chairman said the Bench were of the opinion that the parents were largely responsible and they should exercise greater control.  In consideration of the boys having been punished by their parents they would be let off with a fine of 1s each, to include costs."

There were five of them, living in Exe Lane and Lower North-street.  I think it must have been the Chief Constable to whom the many complaints were addressed.  It is not made clear.  It seems somewhat unfair not to have warned the 'lads' of the likely outcome of their fun and games on the Iron Bridge but I suspect it was thought necessary to make of them an example to others.

The parents were to blame, said the Bench,  but it was accepted that the lads must be thrashed as a matter of course and at least one of the boys was in for a second thrashing.  A razor-strop was the favourite tickler.

 

CRAZY DANCING, EXETER, 1808.

"Mr. Mason's ball, on Friday last, at the Hotel assembly-room, was attended by a very large assemblage of the beauty and fashion of this city and neighbourhood, all of whom were highly gratified by the elegance and grace displayed by his fair pupils, in the various evolutions of the mazy dance.  Great credit is certainly due to Mr. Mason, for his attention to the improvement of his pupils, the judgement he evinced in the arrangement of the dances, as well as in the selection of the music." 

The  Castle-street dancing master,'s, Mr. Joseph Edward Mason's, 'Pupils' Ball' was, for decades,  an annual treat for the beauty and fashion of Exeter.  Only the Nobility and the Gentry were invited but I dare say some lesser citizens winkled in!  The ball started at seven o' clock but Mr Mason was obligingly at the Hotel at lunchtime to give any information that may be required relative to the Figures.  Later one drank tea.  There was usually also a General Quadrille Ball so that everybody had the chance to hop about, not just Mr. Mason's girls.   The latter, however, were the exponents of the mazy dance, with its various evolutions, which was the highlight of the evening.

Mazed in the South West, as every Exonian knows, means crazy, but I don't know where the mazy dance originated.  It's popularity was widespread. 

Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 7th April 1808.

A MELANCHOLY TALE, EXETER, 1818.

Below is a report from the Exeter Flying Post of December 17th 1818: 

"On Friday last, as Miss Mary Jackson, who resided in the parish of Bishop's Clist, near this city, was walking on the Terrace, in front of Summerland Place, on her return home, she was suddenly alarmed at the approach of a cow towards her, and in her haste to avoid the animal, she fell from the footpath. - She was instantly taken, in a most terrified state, to the house of a gentleman, close by, where she experienced every attention that humanity could suggest.  Medical assistance was procured, she was bled, and appeared to have recovered, in some degree, from the effects of her fright.  She was then, at her particular request, taken to the house of an acquaintance, in Paris-street, where we are sorry to add, she died shortly after her arrival. - A Coroner's Inquest was held on the body, at the Old London Inn, on Saturday, when the Jury returned a verdict - Died by excessive fright, occasioned by a cow."

This inconsequential tale reads, to me, like a 'Jane Austen' gone wrong.  (Jane Austen had died the year before at the too-green age of 41.)  Mary Jackson should, of course, have recovered and married, after some entertaining inconveniences, the attentive, humane gentleman who had delivered her from the cow.  Alas she died! 

Mary was on her way home to Bishop's Clist, a distance of some three miles.  It was December.  It was probably cold.  Most countryfolk must, at this time, have been consummate pedestrians.  She was prepared for the brisk walk but not for the Summerlands cow.

Mind you, I am suspicious of the findings of the Inquest.  The bleeding doctor is my prime suspect not the poor cow.

THE WAGES OF PROFANITY, EXETER, 1833.

The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for 16th November 1833 reported that:

"Mr. Humphrey Lee, of St. Sidwell's, was charged by the Rev, Prebendary Dennis, with profanely swearing on Saturday se'nnight.

The Rev. Gentleman deposed as to the words made use of by the defendant which were scarcely fit, he said, to be repeated, namely - "Go to h---,  d--------n seize you."  

The Court said that the Legislature had wisely enacted that if any poor man should be convicted of profanely cursing or swearing, he should be fined one shilling; a person of better circumstances, such as the defendant, but below the degree of a gentleman, two shillings; and a gentleman, five shillings. The defendant was fined according to the Act, two shillings, and one shilling the expense of the summons."

I don't hear too much of "Go to hell, damnation seize you!" on the streets of Exeter these days but I hear an amazing amount of "F---- off you c----! &c. which I suppose to be the functional equivalent.  I imagine these would not have come under the Act, not being profane, merely vulgar, but certainly plenty of ear-splitting OMG!s, J---s C----t!s and the like are still to be heard, enough to shock all the canons, major and minor, precentors and prebendaries &c. of Exeter Cathedral as well as shocking the few 'respectable' citizens and visitors who choose to come into our city centre.

I rejoice that the theocratic element has largely left the law books but every day and night there is an amazing amount of roaring-loud and aggressive swearing on the High Street.  Such offensive swearing is still a crime but there seem never to be any policemen on the street to confront the swearers and profaners and nobody, not even a reverend prebendary, feels that he has the authority to do anything about it. 

Se'nnight is a beautiful contraction.  I have said so before.  Bring back se'nnight!      

DELIGHT AND GRATITUDE IN THE CATHEDRAL, EXETER, 1822.

".... last  Thursday was indeed an exhilairating - a triumphant day, for all the real friends of the old Church of England in this city and neighbourhood.   The large number of children (more than 1,300) assembled in the House of God - all of whom are being educated in the good old paths of Christianity, or, in other words, in the doctrines of the Established Church of this country;  the sound of the voices of these little ones, poured forth to the praise and glory of their God and Father, in the words of that beautiful .... Christian psalm the 16th; - the crowded Congregation of all ranks of society, met to give their support to so entirely unexceptional an Institution as the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; - and though last , by no means the least,  the truly sound, judicious, and impressive sermon of the Archdeacon of Totnes, - all together conspired to excite, within the minds of those present, unmingled sentiments of delight and gratitude."

Thirteen hundred 'little ones' chanted this good old 'Christian!?' psalm of David whereby they declared that the sorrows of people who hastened after other gods would be multiplied and that they, the children who sang, would refuse to drink the offerings of blood that these same 'others' drank.   Moreover they declared  their gratitude to God that he would not leave their souls in hell.  I wonder what sense the many  'little ones' made of Psalm 16. 

The representative of The Exeter Flying News (26th  September 1822) and  the rest of the crowded congregation were, we are told, grateful for and delighted by this Gathering of Charity School children in Exeter's Cathedral in 1822.  

EXETER AND THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT, 1868.

The Editor of the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (19th June 1868 was alarmed that the Volunteers in Exeter were underfunded.   The Exeter Volunteer battalion depended on local subscriptions and, as always in more peaceful times, these were drying up.

"EXETER is bound to stand by the volunteer movement.  In the year 1859 all England awakened to the important fact that the best possible method by which a country could gain the prestige abroad of being a well-fortifed land was that of arming the flower of its citizens., and teaching them how courage and patriotism might be utilised to the end of preserving our shores from foreign invasion."

When he looked at the continent of Europe the Editor saw that: 

"Numberless schemes occupy the minds of Sovereigns and Ministers, and, for the most part, they are not schemes of commerce or peace, but of war; of changes of dominions, of re-arrangements of empire." 

"It is true that for the last year or two we have been less prosperous than heretofore, but to cease to encourage and subscribe to the Volunteer army now would be to yield a point of nationality which might prove the worst piece of economy ever practiced in England."

"We believe the momentary error will soon be amended, but it is expecially depressing to the pride of the city which writes Semper Fidelis on its banners, and whose civilians did not wait for the crowing of the French colonels before they put themselves under arms, to be told that the Exeter battalion languishes, not for want of men or military zeal, but for lack of public subscriptions".

The Exeter and South Devon Volunteers, formed in 1852. were the premier unit of the national Volunteer Force.  The City was proud of them. 

The Gazette was proved right to fear that there would be further threats of invasion and, however remote the possibility may seem, the threat of an armed invasion of our shores never altogether disappears. 

When did I last see, hear or read of territorials (Reservists) in Exeter?  They seem to keep an amzingly low profile.  I hope we still have some.

"RELIGIOUS FRENZY", EXETER, 1828

 On Sarurday 17th May 1823 a young man who had been exhibiting extraordinary conduct in the street was brought before the magistrates at the Exeter Guildhall.   His name was Josiah Stonelake,  He came from Bovey Tracey and Contable Howard had found him distributing religious tracts,   Josiah said that he had been with the Lord, and that the speedy destruction of the world had been communicated to him.

"....previous to getting into this state of religious frenzy he had been the mate of a most respectable Devonshire mercantile house, in the Newfoundland trade.  The unfortunate young man's violent conduct soon rendered retraint necessary,  but consistent therewith, every humane attention was paid him, and , under proper attention he has been conveyed to his friends."

It would seem that for some in every generation the end of the world is nigh.  Josiah Stonelake was wrong about the speedy destruction of the world.  His information came from the Lord; two hundred years later it comes from the scientists and is therefore perhaps a tad more reliable.   

I am aware that, as I write, there are frenzied young men and women, not just millenarians, extraordinary and violent in their conduct, on the streets of Exeter every day and night.  No one seems to pay them any attention, never mind proper attention.   Is this progress or regression?  

Source The Western Times, 24th May 1828. 

A WANTED MAN, EXETER, 1813.

 An advertisement that appeared in The Exeter Flying Post (of the 8th April 1813) gave information that:

"JOSEPH COLERIDGE, of this city, Wheelright, having left his Wife and Family chargeable to the Corporation of the Poor of the said city, This is to give notice, that a reward of FIVE GUINEAS will be given to such person or persons who shall inform Mr. Robert Davey, the Inspector of the Poor of the said city, of the residence of the said Joseph Coleridge, so as he may be apprehended for the said offence.

"N.B. The said Joseph Coleridge is about 31 years of age, five feet five inches high, light complexion, light brown hair, and is supposed to be in or near London."

Poor Joseph had had enough of Exeter and of his wife and family and he had skipped it.   But it was not going to be that easy!  Robert Davey was on his track and hoped to haul him back to Exeter to be punished for his offence and there to fulfil his responsibilities to his family.

I find myself sympathising, for no good reason, with little Joseph Coleridge, the fugitive wheelright, and hoping that he managed successfully to lose himself in the Great Wen. 

And why do petty bureaucrats of every said time and place end up murdering the said language?

"THE SAVOURY FLUID", EXETER, 1895.

 On the first day of 1895, the Editor of The Western Times called for the soup kitchen to be opened:

"During the prevalence of the bitter weather which has just set in, it is hoped that the promoters of the Soup Kitchen will take speedy measures to commence the delivery of the savoury fluid.  The new year is destined to open to-day in a very severe position, with frost and snow and all the most trying aspects of winter.   This means that many men will be thrown out of employment and there will be much privation among their families, as well as in households with limited means.  The supply of rich, nourishing soup at such a time is doubly welcome, therefore, and I trust that it may soon be obtainable.   

"The kitchen became the means at about this time last year when we had such a fit of frosty weather, of doing a vast amount of good by giving the right sustenance at the right moment.  The corners of the streets at the present moment are the places of assembly of men who look as if a good basin of soup would be welcome, whilst there are children to be met with to whom such a meal would be a positive blessing."

Only ten days later the  newspaper was able to report that the kitchen had been established and soup had been served.  The ingredients had been meat, peas, onions and parsnips and 6,135 quarts had already been provided to the needy at 'tuppence' a bowl.   The charitable citizens had provided the means, mainly in tickets, bought by the dozen and then distributed by the buyer, for the families of the poor and the unemployed to eat rich, nourishing soup.

Source  The Western Times, 1st and 10th January, 1895.

LISTEN TO TOMMY BUCKNILL!, EXETER 1894.

The Recorder had travelled 200 miles to Exeter's Guildhall and on the last day of December 1894  the Grand Jury had been assembled for the Exeter Quarter Sessions but there were no prisoners to be tried.  There was nothing to be done except for the Sheriff to present to the Recorder, T. T. ("Tommy") Bucknill, who was born in Exminster, the customary pair of white gloves and for them all to go home again.  Mr. Bucknill made a speech to the Jury in which he said:

"....I am going to ask you to listen to me for a moment or two , because I think we have good reason to be proud of ourselves as citizens.  There can be no greater sign of success, of good local government, and of those things of which we ought to be proud, than the absence of crime.  Crime may be traced to many causes and may arise from various sources,  bur we may take this as true and indisputable - that where a city is badly managed, where its local administration is carelessly managed, where its police force do not do their duty, where its Corporation is idle and careless, there you certainly will find crime, there you will find trouble, there you will find those things which you do not now happily possess in the City of Exeter.

"Therefore I say again, as an old Exonian, as an old Grammar school boy, as one who has the privilege - the high privilege - of presiding over a  court where I held my first brief, I have reason to feel proud of the facr that I meet you here on the closing day of the year to congratulate you and Exeter that nothing is found for us to do in the shape of administering the criminal law." 

Source The Western Times, 1st January 1895

INGENUITY AND PERSEVERENCE, EXETER, 1815.

"The public were highly gratified on Thursday evening by the first exhibition of Gas Lights in the streets of this city.  The communication with the Gasometer erected at Mr Phillip's house, being made so far as the Guildhall;  two superb lamps have been placed in the front of this building, each furnished with a burner, from which radiate three flames sufficiently brilliant to illuminate the street at a very considerable distance.  The purity of the light had a most pleasing effect, and excited much admiration. The highest praise is due to Mr Reuben Phillips, Jun. by whose ingenuity and perseverence this modern discovery has been so readily introduced into Exeter, and from the success which has already attended the experiment, there is no doubt but it will meet with general encouragement."

It is, I feel, a charming image: a December evening in front of the Guildhall and the Regency public being  gratified by gaslight. 

I read in the Wikipedia article on gas-lighting that, outside London: "the first place in England to have gas lighting was Preston, Lancashire, in 1816."  so our Exeter High Street, in 1815, must have a fair claim to be the earliest gas-illuminated English street beyond the capital.   

The ingenious and persevering citizen, Reuben Phillips, son of an eighteenth-century Mayor of Exeter, went on to build an Exeter gas-company and to make a fortune.   He merits one of those little blue plaques!

 Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 14th December, 1815.