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D. You a Reformer, with that crown on your chay? N. Yes, Friend:-for reform means mending: and if I did not always endeavour to mend my ways, the coronet on my chaise would be a disgrace to me: and as to the Reform of the Nation, I don't forget that Magna Charta is, as its title in the Statutes declares, for THE AMENDMENT OF OUR REALM.' D. Huzza! then you are one of us? N, Yes, I am one of you. self-I have my faults, but I My Father left me a coronet to wear, and why should I throw it away? Your's has given you strong limbs, stout health, and a good trade; why should you throw them away?

I am a man like yourhave my rights like you,

D. Throw them away! no such fool neither-but who told you of the drove getting pounded last night, whilst I was at the Green Dragon?

N. Nobody told me: but something just now is I think telling you the truth-I've thought, whilst we walked along together, that you made but a poor march of it:—why, man, you seem tired already, and you have many a mile yet to drive those poor beasts to London.

D. Aye; I'm not just as I should be-that comes of late hours last night, and the liquor, and the smoke, and the talk, and the row,

N. Well, shall I drive the cattle for you, and you get into the chaise, and go for me to Parliament?

D. A pretty piece of work that would, be-them beasts wouldn't understand your talk, nor would your fine folks make much of mine. No! No! Get into your chay, and I will keep with the cattle; and as I go along, I'll think of what you've been saying: mayhap we're best as we are.

N. And yet we might both be better-and I think I've a book in my carriage which will help to make us better. Have you ever been used to read the Bible?

D. Ah! there was a time when I did that: about three years ago, I never spent an evening at home without reading a chapter, or part on't, to my wife,but there has been no time for that of late.

N. And yet plenty of time for the Green Dragon; plenty of time for reading the Penny Politician, the Reformer's flags and resolutions; and plenty of time for every thing that deals out plenty of abuse against the Government. My notion is, that we have all time enough to read the Bible, if we have but a taste for it, and if our manner of life does not make us afraid to open it. I, for my part, never travel without a Bible in my carriage, and am especially glad of such a companion at this time; for I know, that all the rights and privileges of British Subjects, and all the principles and rules of good government, are derived from that source; and I feel sure, that the politics of my country are right or wrong, according as they agree with that book. I have been employed on my journey in reading and marking several passages which appear to me very instructive in the present times; and as I cannot stop to read them to you, or to converse any more, you will perhaps accept this Bible, and look at the parts marked as you go along. I'shall be glad thus to introduce you to an old friend, who "teaches Radical Reform to nations and individuals, better than any of your market place orators.

D. Well, well! I see you're not the man I took you for. I'll take the Bible, and thank you too and look at it, and think of what you have been say, ing:-Sarvant, my Lord-"Reform means mending" "Mend my ways"-Well, I'll think on't.→

Here the conversation ended;leaving a strong impression on the Drover's mind, that if all Noblemen were like the one who had just left him, they are not such proud people as some suppose: and that they know more about Liberty, and Reform, and the Bill of Rights, and Magna Charta, than those who make so much noise about it.

The Drover, according to his resolution, did think over all that had passed, and read the passages marked in the Bible—and made a reckoning as he went along, of all the time that he had lost, and the distress that he had brought upon his family, by running about amongst flags, and stages, and specch-makers; and, in summing up, matters seemed to be so much against him, that by the time he got to Smithfield, he thought the stalls there better suited to bullocks, than to Radicals; he considered the last Reform Meeting there, the worst shew of cattle he had ever seen; he felt convinced, that the Word of God, is the best Reformer:-he resolved to begin mending his own ways, by minding "his own business; and to leave it to such Lords as he had fallen in with, to mend the Nation.

POSTSCRIPT.

Those who have read this Dialogue, will perhaps feel anxious to know, what the passages were, which were marked in the Nobleman's Bible:-they are here therefore added, arranged under different heads, as the Drover found them on the inside of the covers, and on the blank pages of the book.

THE DUTIES OF

KINGS, PRINCES, AND MAGISTRATES. DEUT. Chap. 17. v. 18. 20.

2 Sam. 23. v. 3. Prov. 16. v. 12. Ezek. 46. v. 18

THE DUTIES OF

KINGS, PRINCES,

AND

MAGISTRATES.

Prov. 28. v. 15. Micah 3. v. 9. Exod. 18. v. 21. 22. 2 Chron. 19. v. 5. 6. 7. Isa. 10. v. 1. 2. Prov. 19. v. 2.

The duties of Subjects.

1. Sam. 26. v. 9. Exod. 2. v. 28. Eccles. 10. v. 20. Prov. 24. v. 21. Ezra. 7. v. 26. Tit. 3. v. 1. Matt. 22. v. 21. Rom. 13. v. 1. 7. 1 Pet. 2. v. 13. 17.

Characters described, resembling some persons in these

Acts 20. v. 30.

days.

Rom, 16. v. 18.

Rom, 16. v. 18. 1 Tim. 1. v. 6. 7. Rom. 1. v 29. 1 Tim. 4. v 2, 2 Tim. 2. v 17. 2 Tim. v 3. 2 Tim. 4. v. 4. 2 Pet. 2. v. 10. Jude 8. v. 16. 19

Miscellaneous.

JOHN CLARE,

THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE PEASANT-POET.

THE following letter was lately sent, with a present of Money, to John Clare, of Helpstone, near Peterborough, a common Gardener's Labourer, the person designated, and justly, as above, by the title of the PEASANT-POET-but as the letter contains, advice of far more value than riches, we give it insertion with: pleasure. Such an incident agreeably illustrates the feeling and manners of the age.*

1

TO MR. JOHN CLARE.

› al:

I have felt such great pleasure in hearing of your attention to poetry and literature, that I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of corresponding with you.*** I earnestly wish to see improvement so diffused around, that every class of society may be alike, in mind and feeling, religion and virtue. Variations in rank and property have always existed: they seem necessary to the political organization of society, and will probably always exist; and no wise and good man will disturb them. But every one can be happy, though he has no rank, or little or no property-especially the intellectual: their pleasure rests in themselves in the use of that gem within them-their mind-in improving and exerting that and with this inexhaustable internal treasure of comfortable and animating feeling, and in the animation, though not pride of soul, which it creates, they possess the most durable means of real * In our next number, we hope to present our tour readers with further particulars of this extraordinary natural genius,boy noutate od) in