Many jocular little pieces like the following are strewn among his verses:— =ODE (_Introductory_).= Simplicity, I dote upon thy tongue; And thee, O white-rob’d _Truth_, I’ve reverenced long— I’m fond too of that flashy varlet wit, Who skims earth, sea, heav’n, hell, existence o’er To put the merry table in a roar, And shake the sides with laugh-convulsing fit. O yes! in sweet simplicity I glory— To _her_ we owe a charming little story. =WILLIAM PENN, NATHAN, AND THE BAILIFF.= A Tale. As well as I can recollect, It is a story of fam’d _William Penn_, By bailiffs oft beset, without effect, Like numbers of our Lords and Gentlemen. William had got a private hole to spy The folks who came with writs, or “How d’ye do?” Possessing too a penetrating eye Friends from his foes the Quaker quickly knew. A bailiff in disguise, one day, Though not disguised to our friend Will, Came, to Will’s shoulder compliments to pay, Concealed, the catchpole thought, with wondrous skill. Boldly he knocked at William’s door, Drest like a gentleman from top to toe, Expecting quick admittance, to be sure, But no! WILL’S servant NATHAN, with a strait-hair’d head Unto the window gravely stalked, not _ran_. “Master at home?” the Bailiff sweetly said— “Thou canst not speak to him,” replied the man. “What,” quoth the Bailiff, “won’t he see me then?” “Nay,” snuffled Nathan, “let it not thus strike thee; Know, verily, that WILLIAM PENN _Hath seen_ thee, but he doth not _like_ thee.” A Kingsbridge gentleman having recently come across the original manuscript of one of the characteristic pieces written by Peter Pindar, has kindly allowed its publication. It will be seen that the rhyme describes in his forceful and not over polite style the outcome of a magistrates’ meeting at Morleigh after the passing of the law against poaching. It is in the Devonshire dialect:— =EPISTLE.= From Deggony Dolt, farmer, of Stanborough; to John Tolt, waggoner, of Clannaborough. Lord Jan! hast thee heer’d that at leet Morleigh Town, Where Just Asses often rag w——e, rogue and clown, A learge drove of Passons and Tomies and Squires Met lately to ruin the Poachers and Buyers? How vierce and how vine they came scampering in, Zome dreiving, zome riding, zome vat and zome thin; This mounted on Pony and that Rozinante, Zome Galloways shodded, zome whisky, zome jaunty.