Part 26

During the local supremacy of this statesman, and doubtless under his auspices and sponsorship, there was introduced to the Corporation of Tiverton a member of the Bar, Dudley Ryder, Esq., who in 1735 became their representative. In 1741, the same gentleman, but now known as Sir Dudley Ryder, Solicitor-General, was re-elected; and he continued to hold the seat until 1754, when he was elevated to the great office of Lord Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench. Mr. Nathaniel Thomas Ryder succeeded him, but only for a short time, after which Mr. Nathaniel Ryder occupied the seat, and remained one of the members till, in 1776, he was called to the House of Lords by the title of Baron Harrowby. As the Hon. Dudley Ryder was still an infant, Mr. John Wilmot was permitted to fill the vacancy, but on the clear understanding that he would at the proper time make way for Lord Harrowby’s son and heir. This condition was eventually carried out in the most honourable manner, and, on the part of Lord Harrowby, with a patriotic regard for the public interests.

Thus, little by little and step by step, the Ryders firmly consolidated their political influence in the town, and though only one of the seats was claimed for a member of the family, the other seat also was evidently at their disposal. This for a long series of years was entrusted to the Duntzes, rich merchants of Exeter, who became baronets. Apart from politics, the Ryders had no connection with Devonshire, which they seldom visited, but Sir John Duntze, living at Rockbeare, and a member of the Tiverton Corporation, was able to keep a watchful eye on the local barometer, of whose subtle changes he (and most of his colleagues) kept Lord Harrowby sedulously and punctually informed through the post. On the other hand, poor Duntze, a perfect martyr to rheumatism, experienced, owing to the exposure of the long journey by coach, considerable difficulty in attending to his Parliamentary duties, and for practical purposes Lord Harrowby, or his nominee, was the London agent of the Tiverton Corporation. From the point of view of convenience no arrangement could have been happier.

The above remarks apply to the first Lord Harrowby and the first Sir John Duntze. The second Lord Harrowby, after a distinguished official career, was advanced to the dignity of an earldom, and locally much regret was expressed that he did not take his second title from the town so long represented by his grandfather, his father, and himself. Had this been the case, the present Lord Chancellor, whose eldest son enjoys the courtesy title of Viscount Tiverton, must have looked elsewhere for a subsidiary territorial designation. The second Sir John Duntze lived at Tiverton in a large house, which he either erected or restored for himself in the centre of the town; and an old man named Court, who is still alive, but almost totally blind, told me a year or two since of a lively incident which he can remember as taking place in front of the floridly decorated mansion. The potwallopers of the place, he said, organized a torchlight procession, the principal feature of which was a cavalcade of four-and-twenty bedizened donkeys. The point could not be missed. The asses were aggressively emblematic of the “corporators,” and their riders of the family of which Lord Harrowby was the head.

In 1832, the Parliamentary connection ended with the passage of the Reform Bill. The alliance had always been with the Corporation rather than with the town, although many of the inhabitants, directly and indirectly, had been repeatedly benefited by the generous consideration of Lord Harrowby and his relations. There was, however, in the town a strong body of malcontents numerous enough to carry their point, and a potent counter-attraction had arisen in the person of Mr. John Heathcoat, a resident manufacturer, whom his opponents derisively styled “Lord Tiverton.” In view of these facts, Lord Harrowby’s friends felt it their duty to notify him that no member or adherent of his family would stand a chance of being returned at the approaching open election. The members of the Common Council, loyal to the end, refused the least countenance or support to any of the new candidates until his lordship’s wishes had been disclosed, but the day of their predominance was already past. Politically, the game was up. Both Lord Harrowby and his brother, the Hon. Richard Ryder, consented to remain members of the Corporation, but three years later the “iron hand of Parliament,” as the Town Clerk expressed it, “terminated the long continuance and interchange of friendly communications.” At present the chief, if not the sole surviving, link between the family of Ryder and Tiverton is the large share of the ecclesiastical patronage of the borough still in the hands of Lord Harrowby.

And now for the Ryder correspondence. The earliest letters appear to date from the time when the Georgian lawyer was elevated to the bench and the seat which he had occupied, no doubt to his immense advantage, passed by inheritance to his son, then a young man fresh from college. We have the very epistles written by the gentleman whom Dunsford so grandly names “the _primum mobile_ of the Corporation,” congratulating him on taking his master’s degree and absolving him from the unnecessary trouble of a journey to the south in order to attend his cut-and-dried election. A letter from Mr. Osmond acquaints him with the departure from the town of a “pretty partner” whose lively manners had enhanced the enjoyment of a visit, whilst the member for Tiverton was yet a callow bachelor. Eight years later Mr. Ryder had joined the noble army of Benedicks, and then we find Mrs. Peard afflicted with an unselfish anxiety to gratify his lady with a fine collection of shells.

Such pleasing gifts were the regular accompaniment and sweetener of the more serious transactions, the graver obligations which formed the mainstay of the connection. On the part of the members there was the annual present of a pair of bucks for the municipal banquet, and one of the oddest passages in this vast epistolary jungle is to be found in a letter of Sir John Duntze, in which he informs his colleague that a member of the Corporation, on bad terms with another member, announced as the ostensible cause of the quarrel, that he had been improperly helped to venison on the occasion of this important festival. Allusions to the subject are so frequent and unctuous, that one is tempted to conclude that in those gay, convivial days the yearly consignment of venison was a more considerable factor in the case than we should now deem possible. Thus, Mr. Mayor observes, with the distinctive air of a man of the world:—

We had on Thursday the Grand Dinner, when ninety-four gentlemen dined with me, amongst whom was Sir Rich. Bampfylde and Mr. Ackland, eldest son of Sir Thos. Ackland, who is going to be married to Sir Rich^d’s second daughter, a most amiable lady. This is a very great alliance for Sir Richard Bampfylde’s family, and will be the means of keeping everything quiet in the county.

This brings us to the topic of the social status of the Corporation, which was comparatively high. Its critics, indeed, complained that it included attornies, “very improper persons to be elected”; and the members were frequently laughed at for “having Mayors in trade.” In reply to this heavy indictment it was alleged by one of their number that at least twenty-two out of the twenty-four had landed property either in the town or in the parish. This was in 1831. In the reign of William and Mary the “burgesses” are described some as esquires, others as merchants, and one or two as yeomen; and this standard, there is reason to think, was consistently maintained. Tiverton, it may be well to say, was for centuries an important centre of the woollen trade. Instead of one big factory, as now, for the production of lace, there were many modest firms engaged in the manufacture and sale of serges, etc., and consequently the Common Council was, above all things, the valued preserve of families enriched by commerce, some of whom had acquired all the attributes of gentle birth and breeding. Mr. Worth, of Worth, and Mr. Cruwys, of Cruwys Morchard, belonged to two of the oldest families of Devon, and an ancestor of the former had sat in Parliament for Tiverton in days when the choice of members was apparently free and unfettered. With such the Ryders corresponded in the most genial, unaffected, and friendly way, and, in their somewhat infrequent visits to the place, were glad to accept their hospitality. They would, for instance, occasionally stay with Mr. Dickinson, of Knightshayes, an ancestor of the present Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Sir W. H. Walrond), and once, at least, Air. George Owen, of Lowman Green, was honoured by a surprise visit from the younger nobleman.

In the year 1808, this second Lord Harrowby condescended to be Mayor—a concession which resulted in a somewhat diverting misconception. It appears that a Barnstaple correspondent, interested in the working of the mails, had written to him in the belief that he was a “common or garden” mayor—a plain Mr. Mayor. His consternation on learning the truth does not need to be imagined, for he has pictured it himself:—

I was much mortified at my ignorance at the receipt of your Lordship’s letter, for which I beg to apologize. Far from having the least idea that the Corporation of Tiverton was so highly respected and had the Honor of a Nobleman of your Lordship’s High Rank for Mayor, I naturally concluded it to be an open borough like Barnstaple.

Lord Harrowby was coached for the inaugural ceremonies by the cousins Wood, the elder of whom, Mr. Beavis Wood, who long filled the office of Town Clerk, was by far the shrewdest of the Ryders’ multitudinous correspondents. Even now his clever, incisive letters, lit up with many a happy jest, are a pleasure to peruse, and neither in his earlier nor in his later ones was he inclined to spare the feelings and eccentricities of those with whom his lot was cast. Thus, on August 5th, 1808, he writes:—

The Mayor now again produced your Lordship’s Letter, desiring to know the answer they might [deem?] it proper for him to give to it, when they unanimously acknowledged your Lordship’s kind offer, and gladly consented to embrace it, and elect you Mayor for the ensuing year. The Business being unanimous, to be sure on that account from such an offer it must be pleasant; but those assembled on this occasion did not look like _old Christians_ in old Times at previous meetings on such occasions. Twelve o’clock by Day is always a dull, dry time, when old Tiverton aldermen never met to do chearful Business, as they could not fix their Nominee by drinking his Health. Father Tucker gave the Company a Hint of it, but it had no effect. I suppose as those of the Junta are now under pantile Influence, and have turned their Backs on our Lord Bishop, they will leave off drinking wine, unless when quite by themselves.

_Tempora mutantur._ Of the old times and the old Christians Mr. Wood had told Lord Harrowby not a few entertaining stories, which are still preserved in his faded but excellent handwriting. Possibly at some future date they may be printed for the benefit of students of human nature, together with extracts from other correspondence, but with one more specimen of his admirable humour this paper must be brought to a close.

Sept. 17, 1775.

This afternoon according to the usual Custom the Corporation attended the new Mayor to Church, but before the Procession moved from the Town House, there happened a very unseasonable altercation and Dispute between Mr. Osmond, Mr. Mayor, and Mr. Lewis about the priority of reading the newspapers which are sent here directed to you. For since the late spite commenced, and almost during the whole of Mr. Lewis’s Mayoralty, care has been taken to prevent the newspapers coming to Mr. Osmond’s hands, and they have been sent about to persons out of the Corporation. Words grew high and rough, and this mad Trio did not end ’till each had called the other a damned Liar. Mr. Atherton[28] was present, and being met to go to church, the Magistrates recollected themselves, and after their return from prayers they looked at one another as quietly as if nothing had happened.

Footnote 28:

The Rev. Philip Atherton, M.A., Headmaster of Blundell’s School, and a member of the Corporation.

INDEX

Abbey of St. Rumon, Tavistock, 5, 73. Abbot of Buckfast, former town house of, 68. Abbot of Tavistock, Aldred, 118. ” ” Banham, John, 119. ” ” Campbell, John, 118. ” ” Chubbe, John, 118. ” ” Cullyng, Thomas, 118. ” ” de Courtenay, John, 118. ” ” Denyngton, John, 119. ” ” Langdon, Stephen, 119. ” ” Lyfing, 118. ” ” Peryn, John, 119. Abbot Sithric, last Saxon Abbot of Tavistock, 8. Adelaide, Queen, at “Clarence,” Exeter, 76. Adye, Rev. Frederick, Romance of, 203. Albemarle, George Monk, Duke of, 133. Alexander, Plans of Mr. David, 201. Alfred the Great, Relief of Exeter by, 4. Amicia, Countess of Devon, 48. Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall, 177. Annals of Chagford, 10. Apollo Room, New Inn, Exeter, 67-69. Archbishop of Canterbury, William Courtenay, 50. Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Temple, 60. Armada, Coming of the, 93. ” Fight with the, 92. Arms of Sir George Treby, Plympton Guildhall, 195. Arundel, Sir Humphrey, 11, 82, 83. Asser, Saxon Chronicle of, 4. Athelstan, Charter to Barnstaple from King, 276. ” Drives Britons out of Exeter, 3. Athos, Founder of illustrious family, 34. Attack on Pensaulcoit, 3.

Babb, Lieutenant Colonel, 261. ” ” ” Tablet of, 262. Babbage, Charles, famous mathematician, 166. Babbage, Miss Juliana, 166. Ball, Barnstaple Fair, 281. Barclay, Alexander, “Stultifera Navis” of, 211. Barnstaple Borough, 295. ” ” Charter to, 276. ” ” records, 278. ” Fair, 276, 281, 284. ” poem on, 282. ” Guildhall, 280. ” Quay Hall, 280. Baronet, First Devonshire, 71. Baskerville, Sir Simon, Mural tablet of, 65. Bastard, Mr. William, of Kitley, 255. Battle of Stratton, 105. ” ” Steinkirk, 113. “Bear Inn,” The, Exeter, 73. Bearne, Story of Miss Joan, 175. Beaufort, Duke of, 256. Beer, Harbour construction at, 274. ” birthplace of Jack Rattenbury, 264. ” return to, of Jack Rattenbury, 268, 269. ” to Thorverton Canal, 274. Bercle, David, Prior of Plympton, 186. Berry Pomeroy, Sir Edward Seymour of, 71. Bideford, Importance of, 9. Bishop of Exeter, Peter Courtenay, 56. Black Prince, Relations of Exeter with the, 8. Blake, Admiral, Death of, 95. ” ” Pursuit of Van Tromp, 112. Blewitt, account of the landing of the Prince of Orange, 161–163. Blewitt, “Panorama of Torquay,” 172. “Bob’s Nose” headland, 273. Boger, Mr. Deeble, Recorder of Plympton, 192. Bompas, cross-examination by Mr. Sergeant, 275. Bonville, Lady Cicely, 210. Bray, Mrs., description of Druidic remains, 2. Bray, Mrs., Local tales of, 116. “Brevia Parliamentaria,” Prynne’s, 287. British Revolution, George Moore’s History of the, 287. Brooke, Christopher, 123. Browne, William, Tavistock poet, 117–212. Brutus, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. ” Stone, 24. Brut, Tysilio, 23. ” Gr. ab Arthur, 23. Buller, Francis, puisne judge, 214. Burnet, Dr., proclamation of the Prince of Orange, 17, 174. Burritt, reminiscences of Elihu, 94. Butler, Samuel, caricaturist in verse, 218.

Cadhay, Ottery St. Mary, 213. Caer, Pensauelcoit, 31. Canal, Beer to Thorverton, 274. Canterbury, William Courtenay, Archbishop of, 50. Canute, 4. Captain Cook, departure from Plymouth, 96. Capture of Jack Rattenbury by French privateer, 266. Cardinal Reginald Pole, 52. Carew, Sir Peter, 11, 70, 83. ” Sir Gawen, 11, 70, 83. Carew’s “Survey of Cornwall,” 27. Cargoes from Cherbourg, 273. Cary, Colonel, 261. Castle of Rougemont, 8. ” Plympton, 177, 178. ” Salcombe, 15. Cathedral, ancient, of Cornwall, 177. Catskin Earls, Origin of, 59. Catullus, 145. Chagford, Annals of, 10. Chancellor, Earl of Halsbury, present Lord, 291. ” of the Duchy of Lancaster, present, 294. Chanters House, quarters of Sir Thomas Fairfax, 213. Chapel at Ottery St. Mary, Independent, 214. Charles I., King, 94. ” Lord Lansdowne, 112. Cherbourg, cargoes from, 273. Chronicle of Higden, 31. Church, Colyton, Effigy of Lady Pole in, 244. Church, Plympton Town, 190. ” ” St. Mary, 189. ” St. Germans, 177. Churchyard, ring of Mary, 164. “Clarence” Inn, Exeter, 74. ” ” ” Duchess of Clarence at the, 76. Clinton, Captain Lord, 253. Close, house in the, 68. Cluobrera, Gabriello, the Pindar of Italy, 222. Clyst St. Mary, 85. Coke, Sir Edward, on Magna Carta, 285. Coleridge, Rev. John, 212, 214. ” ” George, 212. ” ” Samuel Taylor, Birthplace of, 214. Collection of manuscripts, 284. College of Ottery St. Mary, 211. Collins, Mary, maid to Mrs. Bray, 117. Collins, Rev. Robert, Nonconformist leader, 213, 214. Comte de Chambord, Funeral of the, 46. Consort, late Prince, visit to the Duchy Estates, 208. Convention Room, 213. Convict Settlement, Formation of, 208. Coplestone Cross, 7. Coplestones of White Spur, Race of the, 7. Corinæus, 25. ” Rule of, 20. ” Combat of, 21. Cosmo III., Grand Duke of Tuscany, 68. Cottenham, First Earl of, 58, 61, 62. Cotton, R. W., on Barnstaple, 132. Courtenay, Baronetcy refused by family of, 57. ” Barony refused by family of, 57. ” Edward, 53–55. ” Edward Baldwin, 12th Earl of Devon, 61. ” Henry, 80. ” Henry Hugh, 13th Earl of Devon, 61, 89. ” Henry Reginald, Lord, 61. ” John, 50. ” Lord, 260. ” Made Viscount, 57. ” Peter, Bishop of Exeter, 56, 183. ” Philip, 49. ” Sir Hugh, 49, 180. ” Sir William, 51. ” Sir William of Powderham, 56, 122, 172. ” Thomas, 80. ” William, 9th Earl of Devon, 59. ” William, 10th Earl of Devon, 59. ” William Reginald, 11th Earl of Devon, 60. Courtneie, Sir Peter, Sheriff of Exeter, 83. Coverdale, Myles, 77. ” translator of the Bible, 169. Crediton, town of, 6, 83. Crockern Tor Parliament, 9. Cynewulf, King of Wessex, 3. Cruwys, Mr., of Cruwys Morchard—old Devon family, 294.

Danes at Exmouth, 4. Dartmoor, King Edgar on, 6. ” Pre-historic Remains on, 1. ” Rowe’s, 209. Dartmouth Castle, Last Governor of, 167. ” Charming, 9. ” French Vessel taken at, 18. ” Jail, 271. ” Trade with Newfoundland, 12. Davidson, J. B., of Secktor, 155. Davy, Birthplace of Edward, 216. Dean Bourn, 146. ” Court, 143. ” Prior, Village of, 141, 143. Debrun, Ponce Denis, Pindar of France, 222. de Courtenay, Baldwin, 43. ” ” Jocelyn, 35, 39. ” ” ” II., 36. ” ” ” III., 37. ” ” ” IV., 38. ” ” Peter, 41. ” ” Reginald, 39, 40. ” ” Robert, 42. ” ” William, 39. de Courteney, John, Abbot of Tavistock, 118. ” ” Reginald, 47. ” ” Robert, 48. de Grandisson, John, 80. de Grenville, First Sir Richard, 99. ” ” Sir Richard, Marshal of Calais, 99. ” ” Sir Richard, Capture of Spanish Vessel, 100. ” ” Sir Roger, sea captain, 99. Delaney, letters of Mrs., 246. Denyngton, John, Abbot of Tavistock, 118. De Quincey, Anecdote of, 214. Devon, Amicia, Countess of, 48. ” Edward Baldwin, 12th Earl of, 61. ” Edward, Earl of, 55. ” Henry Hugh, 13th Earl of, 61, 89. ” Notes to Risdon’s, 201. ” William, 10th Earl of, 57. ” William Reginald, 11th Earl of, 60. Dickinson, Mr., of Knightshayes, 294. Dodbrooke, birthplace of Dr. John Wolcot, 219. Dodderidge, Effigy of Lady, 244. “Dolphin” Inn at Exeter, 71, 72. Dolvin Road, 124. Dorot, Jean, a French Pindar, 222. “Dover,” adventures of the, 264. Drake, Sir Francis, 90, 91, 93, 192. ” ” Statue of, 121. Drayton, Michael, poet, 27, 123, 129, 213. Drewe, John and Edward, of Killerton, 72. Druids in Devon, 2. Duchess of Clarence (afterwards Queen Adelaide) at Exeter, 76. Duchy of Lancaster, present Chancellor of, 294. Dugdale, copying register, 47. Duke of Kent at Exeter, 76. ” ” ” Death of, 19. “Duke of Millaine,” Massinger’s, 130. Duncan, Arrival in Exeter of Lord, 76. Dunsford, Martin, historian of Tiverton, 289. Duntze, family of, 291.

Earl of Cottenham, Mr. Pepys, afterwards first, 58, 61, 62. Earl Ethelwold, 5. Earl of Harrowby’s present to Tiverton, 284. Earl of Torrington, George Monk, 133. Earls, Catskin, Origin of, 59. Eastlake, First school of Sir Charles, 196. Eddystone Lighthouse, Completion of, 95. Edgar, King, 5. Edith, Queen, 7. Edward the Confessor, 7. Edward I. varies direction of writs, 286. Effigy of Lady Pole, 244. ” ” ” Dodderidge, 244. Elfrida, Loveliness of, 5. Elizabeth, Queen, 239. Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke Nicholas, afterwards, 76. Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke, 128. Ethelwolf, Saxon King, 181. Evans, Poetry and prose of Miss Rachel, 117. Exeter, 3, 85, 86. ” Arrival of Lord Duncan at, 76. ” “Bear Inn” at, 73, 233. ” “Clarence” at, 74. ” Danes at, 4. ” “Dolphin Inn” at, 71, 72. ” Free Republic of, 7. ” Headquarters of the Danes at, 4. ” Henry, first Marquis of, 51, 52. ” History of, Jenkin’s, 73. ” “Mermaid” Inn at, 69. ” “New” Inn, 63–68. ” Peter Courtenay, Bishop of, 56. ” Royalist, 13. ” Sieges of, 8, 10, 87. ” William Warelwast, Bishop of, 182. Exmouth, Danes at, 4.

Fair ball, Barnstaple, 281. Fair, poem on Barnstaple, 282. Fairfax, Letter to Speaker from General, 136. ” March to Great Torrington by General, 133. ” Sir Thomas, 213. ” Sir Thomas, Wonderful preservation of, 138. Field, Mr. Barron, on Dean Prior, 153. Firing of Teignmouth, 18. First Earl of Cottenham, Pepys, afterwards, 58, 61, 62. First Marquis of Exeter, 51. Foote, Maria, celebrated actress, 75. Former Town Mansion of Abbot of Buckfast, 68. Fortescue, Lord, 256. ” Lieutenant-Colonel, 260. ” Sir Edmund, 14. Freemasons, French, in England, 206. Free Republic of Exeter, 7. French landing at Torquay, 18. French privateer, capture by, 266. Froude on Sir Richard Grenville, 100. Fuller on bone lace, 241.