overturning of law, doting on all mankind in general, and hating every body in particular.

Tom. And what mean the other hard words that Tim talks about-organization, and function, and civism, and incivism, and equalization, and inviolability, and imprescriptible, and fraternization?

Jack. Nonsense, gibberish, downright hocus-pocus. I know 'tis not English; sir John says 'tis not Latin; and his valet de sham says 'tis not French neither.

Tom. And yet Tim says he never shall be happy till all these fine things are brought over to England. Jack. What! into this Christian country, Tom? Why dost know they have no Sabbath in France? Their mob parliament meets on a Sunday to do their wicked work, as naturally as we do to go to church,* They have renounced God's word and God's day, and they don't even date in the year of our Lord. Why dost turn pale, man? And the rogues are always making such a noise, Tom, in the midst of their parliament-house, that their speaker rings a bell, like our penny-postman, because he can't keep them in order.

Tom. And dost thou believe they are as cruel as some folks pretend?

Jack. I am sure they are, and I think I know the reason. We Christians set a high value on life, because we know that every fellow-creature has an immortal soul: a soul to be saved or lost, TomWhoever believes that, is a little cautious how he

Since this they have crammed ten days into the week, in order to throw Sunday out of it. One of the first and most capital strokes against Christianity was the alteration of the calendar, and the division of time into decades, instead of weeks of seven days. But though the French convention had such very able mathematicians and astronomers among them, as Bailly and Lalande, their blundering scheme of atheism only served to expose the folly of the inventors. The proscribed calendar was restored, for the sake of convenience; but the Christian Sabbath in France is still desecrated.-ED.

sends a soul unprepared to his grand account. But he who believes a man is no better than a dog, will make no more scruple of killing one than the other. Tom. And dost thou think our rights of man will lead to all this wickedness?

Jack. As sure as eggs are eggs.

Tom. I begin to think we are better off as we are. Jack. I'm sure on't. This is only a scheme to make us go back in every thing. 'Tis making ourselves poor when we are getting rich, and discontented when we are comfortable.

Tom. I begin to think I'm not so very unhappy as I had got to fancy.

Jack. Tom, I don't care for drink myself, but thou dost; and I'll argue with thee, not in the way of principle, but in thy own way; when there's all equality, there will be no superfluity; when there's no wages, there'll be no drink; and levelling will rob thee of thy ale more than the malt-tax does.

Tom. But Standish says, if we had a good government, there'd be no want of any thing.

Jack. He is like many others, who take the king's money and betray him: let him give up the profits of his place before he kicks at the hand that feeds him. Tho' I'm no scholar, I know that a good government is a good thing. But don't go to make me believe that any government can make a bad man good, or a discontented man happy. What art musing upon, man?

Tom. Let me sum up the evidence, as they say at 'sizes-Hem! To cut every man's throat who does not think as I do, or hang him up at a lamppost!-Pretend liberty of conscience, and then banish the parsons only for being conscientious!-Cry out liberty of the press, and hang up the first man who writes his mind !-Lose our poor laws!-Lose one's wife perhaps upon every little tiff!—March without clothes, and fight without victuals!-No

trade !-No bible !-No Sabbath, nor day of rest! -No safety, no comfort, no peace in this world— and no world to come!-Jack, I never knew thee tell a lie in my life.

Jack. Nor wou'd I now, not even against the French.

Tom. And thou art very sure we are not ruined? Jack. I'll tell thee how we are ruined. We have a king, so loving, that he wou'd not hurt the people if he cou'd; and so kept in, that he cou'd not hurt the people if he wou'd. We have as much liberty as can make us happy, and more trade and riches than allows us to be good. We have the best laws in the world, if they were more strictly enforced; and the best religion in the world, if it was but better followed. While Old England is safe, I'll glory in her, and pray for her; and when she is in danger, I'll fight for her, and die for her.

Tom. And so will I too, Jack, that's what I will. (sings) "O the roast beef of Old England!" Jack. Thou art an honest fellow, Tom.

Tom. This is Rose and Crown night, and Tim Standish is now at his mischief; but we'll go and put an end to that fellow's work, or he'll corrupt the whole club.

Jack. Come along.

Tom. No; first I'll stay to burn my book, and then I'll go and make a bonfire, and

Jack. Hold, Tom. There is but one thing worse than a bitter enemy; and that is an imprudent friend. If thou wou'dst shew thy love to thy king and country, let's have no drinking, no riot, no bonfires, but put in practice this text, which our parson preached on last Sunday, "Study to be quiet, work with your own hands, and mind your own business."

Tom. And so I will, Jack-Come on,

THOUGHTS

ON

THE IMPORTANCE

OF

THE MANNERS OF THE GREAT

ΤΟ

GENERAL SOCIETY.

"You are the Makers of Manners."-Shakspeare.

(First Printed anonymously in 1798.)