Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/49

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28 Devon Notes and Queries. The same Magazine for July, 17749 records the in* vention of a submarine vessel by a Mr. Day, who was confident of being able to live in it under water for 24 hours. The trial took place in the Cat water, Plymouth,, where he *'went into it, let the water into her," and with great composure retired to the room constructed for him, and shut up the valve. The ship went gradually down in twenty-two fathom water at two o'clock on Tuesday, in the afternoon, being to return at two the next morning." (304-5) Unfortunately it never rose again^ and the inventor was drowned. Subsequently all efforts to recover both proved to be ineffectual. T.N.B. 25. Exeter Street Nomenclature. — Is it possible to trace the derivation of the name of a small, but deeply- interesting, street in Exeter, at present known as *' Water- beer Street"? Doubtless it has been a centre of civic activities for centuries, and the origin of the appellation, and its correct designation for present use, is worth discovering. It is parallel with High Street and immediately behind the Guildhall. Its entire length is only 440 feet, and it is situate within three parishes, viz., St. Pancras, St.. Petrock, and St. Kerrian. Abutting on the street is the miniature and very ancient Church of St. Pancras, dedi- cated to Pancrasius, a British Saint. Shortt's "Antiquities of Exeter,** both in the text and map, locates in this street the site of a Roman Praetorium, or seat of Justice. Ancient coins have been found there, and in 1887, when excavating foundations for the new Court House (Praetorium) a Roman tesselated pavement was discovered and has been carefully preserved. In the same book it is described as " Waterbeer or Theatre Street." Jenkins, in his " History of Exeter " (1806), calls it, in diflferent places, **Waterbear" and " Water-beare." The iron street sign fixed by the Local Board, perhaps 40 years ago, names it *' Water Beer." I have some remembrance of a letter or essay by the late Mr. Robert Dymond, in which a suggestion was