In 1842 Exeter was described: the environs of the city are hilly, and afford a variety of delightful prospects. Its port is properly at Topsham, 5 miles below, but vessels of 150 tons come up to the quay here. Here is a noble cathedral, court-houses, public institutions for charity and education. It is the seat of an extensive foreign and domestic commerce, and particularly it had a share in the fisheries of Newfoundland and Greenland. Here are flourishing manufactories of serges and other woollen goods. It is seated on the river Exe, over which it has a long stone bridge. It is 173 miles from London.