VAN AMBURGH, EXETER, 1842.

"This celebrated lion tamer entered this city on Monday morning, with his collection of lions, tigers, leopards and other wild beasts, the whole forming a procession such as was never before witnessed in Exeter.

"At the head was a handsome open carriage, containing a band of musicians, drawn by eight fine cream coloured horses, and driven by Van Amburgh himself; a train of caravans containing the various animals followed and the performing elephant marched along with stately strides clothed in oriental style, and bearing a houda filled with aspiring young gentlemen, who eagerly seized the opportunity of having such an unusual ride.  The movements of the elephant were directed by its keeper who sat upon its head.

"A spacious and handsome pavilion for the performance was erected in a field by Summerland-street, and the accommodation afforded was altogether complete.

"The animals exhibited consisted of lions, tigers, leopards, monkeys, a white polar bear, and the stuffed skins of two giraffes.

"In the course of the exhibition Van Amburgh entered two dens containing lions, tigers and leopards, and performed various feats with them, showing that their fierce dispositions had been subdued by his discipline.

"The elephant performed a number of feats, exhibiting wonderful sagacity, and showing that its amazing powers were entirely under the control of its keeper.  -  The elephant left town last evening accompanied to the verge of the city by many hundreds of  the citizens with whom he had become amazingly popular, but less for his bulk than for the docility of his manners and the placidity of his mind. His luggage occupied but little space.  His bed would be found where he stopped, but he had his coverlid on his back and his trunk before him. -  This morning, Mr Van Amburgh drove out of town with wonderful eclat."

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Mr, Isaac Van Amburgh is a Famous American and there is a full biography for him at Wikipedia.  Of course, he visited everywhere he could  and newspapers up and down the land wrote more of less the same report on his travelling menagerie.  Before he came to Exeter, he was in Sidmouth, and after he left he went to Ashburton to perform.  Two years later he wowed Queen Victoria!

But it is pleasant to think of him processing with all his caravans along the High Street in Exeter, and particularly to think of those happy, little Exeter lads who got to ride in the houda, and the hundreds of citizens who had a soft spot for the placid elephant,  his name was Tipoo Sahib!,  who went to the city's edge to wave him goodbye.

I'm afraid Mr Van Amburgh's training methods would have him up before the magistrates these days.  Still, they were clearly effective.  He is famous for being the first man to have stuck his head into the lion's mouth and taken it out again.  

The Times reporter, we know him by now, couldn't resist the trunk pun.  Coverlid  is a recognised variant of coverlet which I have never seen before. I wonder if it was/is a local usage.  In any case it is pleasing in being closer to the French origin.

Source:  The Western Times,  25th June, 1842.