EXETER (the Car-18c of the Britons, the Bea Damnoniorum of the Romans, Evan cester of the Saxons), a city, episcopal see, separate county, parliamentary and munici pal borough, and river-port, in the s.e. of Devonshire, and the capital of that county. It lies ou an activity on the left bank of the Exe, 10 m. n.w. of its mouth, 170 in. w.s.w. of London, and 73 in. s.w. of Bristol, It is on the whole well built and clean, and has two main lines of street meeting near the center. There are some fine squares and ter races. The guildhall has a singular portico, added in 1593, and projecting into the street. It was restored, with considerable regard to artistic effect, in 1864. In 1865, an elegant new post-office was erected, as was also a lunatic asylum, just outside the city. A quadrangle of almshouses, 45 in number, was completed in 1866, along with a church attached to them; and the Albert memorial museum was opened in 1868. The number of British and foreign vessels (sailing and steam) which entered the port in 1872 was 524, tonnage 61,000; which cleared it, 222, of 17,620 tons. The pop. of the parliamentary borough in 1871 was 44,226. E. cathedral, a cruciform structure, magnificent in its ornamentation, was erected 1112-1478. In one of its towers is the great Tom of E. or
Peter's bell, 12,500 lbs. weight, and a large curious antique clock. E. has a large float ing ship-basin, 917 ft. long, 90 to 110 ft. broad, and 18 ft. deep; and a ship-canal, 15 ft. deep and 30 ft. broad. This canal extends 5 m., and terminates at Turf, about 2 m. from the head of the estuary of the Exe. E. has magnificent nurseries, and exports. dairy, farm, and orchard produce from a neighborhood rich in such products. The town sends two members to parliament. E. was anciently the chief residence of the West Saxon kings. E. bishopric, fixed here in 1050 by Edward the confessor, includes Devon and Cornwall, 23 deaneries and 588 benefices. The city was formerly: sur rounded with walls and strongly fortified. On a height to the n. of E. are the ruins of Rougemont castle, built by William I., on the site of one said to be as old as Coesar's time. Many Roman and Greek coins have been found in E., besides tesselated pave ments, fragments of columns, and small bronze statues.