,transcribed from the #ahca edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,the ,,gipsies' ,,advocate2 ,,or1 ,,observations ,,on ,,the ,,origin1 ,,character1 ,,manners1 ,,and ,,habits ,,of ,the ,english ,gipsies3 ,,to ,,which ,,are ,,added1 ,,many ,,interesting ,,anecdotes1 ,,on ,,the ,,success ,,that ,,has ,,attended ,,the ,,plans ,,of ,,several ,,benevolent ,,individuals1 ,,who ,,anxiously ,,desire ,,their ,,conversion ,,to ,,god4 ,,by ,,james ,,crabb1 ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,penitent ,,magdalen4 ,the ,son of ,man is come to seek and to save that which is lost4 ,let that mind be in you which was in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,london3 ,,seeley1 ,,fleet ,,street2 ,,westley ,,and ,,davis1 ,,ave-,,maria-,,lane2 ,,hatchard1 ,,piccadilly2 ,,lindsay ,,and ,,co41 ,,south ,,street1 ,,andrew ,,street1 ,,edinburgh2 ,,collins1 ,,glasgow2 ,,wakeman1 ,,dublin1 ,,wilson ,,and ,,son1 ,,york4 #ahca4 ,,baker ,,and ,,son1 ,,printers1 ,,southampton4 ,,to ,,the ,,judges1 ,,magistrates1 ,,and ,ministers of ,christ1 ,,as ,,the ,,organs ,,of ,,public ,,justice1 ,,and ,,revealed ,,truth1 ,,the ,,gipsies' ,,advocate ,,is ,,most ,,respectfully ,,and ,,sincerely ,,dedicated ,,by ,,the ,,author4 ,,preface4 ,the ,author of the following pages has been urged by numerous friends1 and more particularly by his own conscience1 to present to the ,christian ,public a brief account of the people called ,gipsies1 now wandering in ,britain4 ,this1 to many readers1 may appear inexpedient2 as ,grellman and ,hoyland have written largely on this neglected part of the human family4 ,but it should be recollected1 that there are thousands of respectable and intelligent christians1 who never have read1 and never may read either of the above authors4 ,the writer of the present work is partly indebted for the sympathies he feels1 and which he wishes to awaken in others toward these miserable wanderers1 to various authors who have written on them1 but more particularly to ,grellman and ,hoyland1 who1 in addition to the facts which came under their own immediate notice1 have published the observations of travellers and others interested in the history of this people4 ,a list of these authors may be seen in the ,appendix4 ,but his knowledge of this people does not entirely depend on the testimony of others1 having had the opportunity of closely examining for himself their habits and character in familiar visits to their tents1 and by allowing his door to be free of access to all those encamped near ,southampton1 when they have needed his help and advice4 ,thus has he gained a general knowledge of their vicious habits1 their comparative virtues1 and their unhappy modes of life1 which he hopes the following pages will fully prove1 and be the means of placing their character in the light of truth1 and of correcting various mistakes respecting them1 which have given rise to many unjust and injurious prejudices against them4 ,the ,author could have enlarged the present work very considerably1 had he detailed all the facts with which he is well acquainted4 ,his object1 however1 was to furnish a work which should be concise and cheap1 that he might be the means of exciting among his countrymen an energetic benevolence toward this despised people2 for it cannot be denied that many thousands of them have never given the condition of the ,gipsies a single thought4 ,such a work is now presented to the public4 ,whether the author has succeeded1 will be best known to those persons who have the most correct and extensive information relative to the unhappy race in question4 ,should he be the honoured instrument of exciting in any breasts the same feelings of pity1 mercy1 love and zeal for these poor ,english heathens1 as is felt and carried into useful plans for the heathens abroad1 by christians of all denominations2 he will then be certain that1 by the blessing of the ,redeemer1 the confidence of the ,gipsies will be gained1 and1 that they will be led to that ,saviour1 who has said1 ,whosoever cometh unto me1 ,i will in no wise cast him out4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,on the ,origin of the ,gipsies4 ,of the ,origin of these wanderers of the human race1 the learned are not agreed2 for we have no authentic records of their first emigrations4 ,some suppose them to be the descendants of ,israel1 and many others1 that they are of ,egyptian origin4 ,but the evidence adduced in confirmation of these opinions appears very inconclusive4 ,we cannot discover more than fifty ,hebrew words in the language they speak1 and they have not a ceremony peculiar to the ,hebrew nation4 ,they have not a word of ,coptic1 and but few of ,persian derivation4 ,and they are deemed as strangers in ,egypt at the present time4 ,they are now found in many countries of ,europe1 ,asia1 and ,africa1 in all of which they speak a language peculiar to themselves4 ,on the continent of ,america alone are there none of them found4 ,grellman informs us that there were great numbers in ,lorraine1 and that they dwelt in its forests1 before the ,french ,revolution of #agij4 ,he supposes that there are no less than #gjj1jjj in the world1 and that the greatest numbers are found in ,europe4 ,throughout the countries they inhabit1 they have kept themselves a distinct race of people in every possible way4 ,they never visit the ,norman ,isles2 and it is said by the natives of ,ireland1 that their numbers are small in that country4 ,hoyland informs us1 that many counties in ,scotland are free of them1 while they wander about in other districts of that country1 as in ,england4 ,he has also informed us1 sec4 #f1 of a colony which resides during the winter months at ,kirk ,yetholm in the county of ,roxburgh4 #aj ,sir ,thomas ,brown1 in his work entitled ,,vulgar ,,errors1 says1 that they were seen first in ,germany1 in the year #adji4 ,in #adah1 they were found in ,switzerland2 and in #adbb1 in ,italy4 ,they appeared in ,france1 on the #agth ,august1 #adbg4 ,it is remarkable that1 when they first came into ,europe1 they were black1 and that the women were still blacker than the men4 ,from ,grellman we learn1 that in ,hungary1 there are #ej1jjj2 in ,spain1 #fj1jjj2 and that they are innumerable in ,constantinople4 ,it appears from the statute of the #bbnd of ,henry ,,viii1 made against this people1 that they must at that time have been in ,england some years1 and must have increased much in number1 and in crime4 ,in the #bgth of that reign1 a law was made against the importation of such persons1 subjecting the importer to #djl penalty4 ,in that reign also they were considered so dangerous to the morals and comfort of the country1 that many of them were sent back to ,calais4 ,yet in the reign of ,elizabeth1 they were estimated at #aj1jjj4 #aa;a ,dr ,walsh says1 that the ,gipsies in ,turkey1 like the ,jews1 are distinguishable by indelible personal marks1 dark eyes1 brown complexion1 and black hair2 and by unalterable moral qualities1 an aversion to labour1 and a propensity to petty thefts4 #aa;b ,the celebrated traveller1 ,dr ,daniel ,clarke1 speaks of great numbers of ,gipsies in ,persia1 who are much encouraged by the ,tartars4 ,formerly1 and particularly on the ,continent1 they had their counts1 lords1 and dukes2 but these were titles without either power or riches4 ,the ,english ,gipsies were formerly accustomed to denominate an aged man and woman among them1 as their king and queen2 but this is a political distinction which has not been recognized by them for many years4 ,if we suppose the ,gipsies to have been heathens before they came into this country1 their separation from pagan degradation and cruelty1 has been attended with many advantages to themselves4 ,they have seen neither the superstitions of idolatry1 nor the unnatural cruelties of heathenism4 ,they are not destitute of those sympathies and attachments which would adorn the most polished circles4 ,in demonstration of this1 we have only to make ourselves acquainted with the fervour and tenderness of their conjugal1 parental1 and filial sensibilities1--and the great care they take of all who are aged1 infirm1 and blind1 among them4 ,were these highly interesting qualities sanctified by pure religion1 they would exhibit much of the beauty and loveliness of the christian character4 ,i am aware that an opinion is general1 that they are cruel to their children2 but it may be questioned if ebullitions of passion are more frequent among them1 in reference to their children1 than among other classes of society2 and when these ebullitions1 which are not lasting1 are over--their conduct toward their children is most affectionate4 ,the attachment of ,gipsy children to their parents is equally vivid and admirable2 it grows with their years1 and strengthens even as their connections increase4 #ab ,and indeed the affection that sisters and brothers have one for the other is very great4 ,a short time since1 the little sister of a ,gipsy youth seventeen years of age1 was taken ill with a fever1 when his mind became exceedingly distressed1 and he gave way to excessive grief and weeping4 ,those who suppose these wanderers of mankind to be of ,hindostanee or ,suder origin1 have much the best proof on their side4 ,a real ,gipsy has a countenance1 eye1 mouth1 hands1 ancle1 and quickness of manners1 strongly indicative of ,hindoo origin4 ,this is more particularly the case with the females4 ,nor is the above mere assertion4 ,the testimony of the most intelligent travellers1 many of whom have long resided in ,india1 fully supports this opinion4 ,and1 indeed1 persons who have not travelled on the ,asiatic ,continent1 but who have seen natives of ,hindostan1 have been surprised at the similarity of manners and features existing between them and the ,gipsies4 ,the ,author of this work once met with a ,hindoo woman1 and was astonished at the great resemblance she bore in countenance and manners to the female ,gipsy of his own country4 ,the ,hindoo ,suder delights in horses1 tinkering1 music1 and fortune telling2 so does the ,gipsy4 ,the ,suder tribes of the same part of the ,asiatic ,continent1 are wanderers1 dwelling chiefly in wretched mud-huts4 ,when they remove from one place to another1 they carry with them their scanty property4 ,the ,english ,gipsies imitate these erratic tribes in this particular4 ,they wander from place to place1 and carry their small tents with them1 which consist of a few bent sticks1 and a blanket4 #ad ,the ,suders in the ,east eat the flesh of nearly every unclean creature2 nor are they careful that the flesh of such creatures should not be putrid4 ,how exactly do the ,gipsies imitate them in this abhorrent choice of food6 ,they have been in the habit of eating many kinds of brutes1 not even excepting dogs and cats2 and when pressed by hunger1 have sought after the most putrid carrion4 ,it has been a common saying among them--that which ,god kills1 is better than that killed by man4 ,but of late years1 with a few exceptions1 they have much improved in this respect2 for they now eat neither dogs nor cats1 and but seldom seek after carrion4 ,but in winter they will dress and eat snails1 hedge-hogs1 and other creatures not generally dressed for food4 ,but the strongest evidence of their ,hindoo origin is the great resemblance their own language bears to the ,hindostanee4 ,the following ,vocabulary is taken from ,grellman1 ,hoyland1 and ,captain ,richardson4 ,the first of these respectable authors declares1 that twelve out of thirty words of the ,gipsies' language1 are either purely ,hindostanee1 or nearly related to it4 ,the following list of words are among those which bear the greatest resemblance to that language4 ,gipsy4 ,hindostanee4 ,english4 ,ick1 ,ek1 ,ek1 ,one4 ,duj1 ,doj1 ,du1 ,two4 ,trin1 ,tri1 ,tin1 ,three4 ,schtar1 ,star1 ,tschar1 ,four4 ,pantsch1 ,pansch1 ,pansch1 ,five4 ,tschowe1 ,sshow1 ,tscho1 ,six4 ,efta1 ,hefta1 ,sat1 ,seven4 ,ochto1 ,aute1 ,eight4 ,desch1 ,des1 ,des1 ,ten4 ,bisch1 ,bis1 ,bis ,twenty4 ,diwes1 ,diw1 ,day4 ,ratti1 ,ratch1 ,night4 ,cham1 ,cam1 ,tschanct ,the sun4 ,panj1 ,panj1 ,water4 ,sonnikey1 ,suna1 ,gold4 ,rup1 ,ruppa1 ,silver4 ,bal1 ,bal1 ,the hair4 ,aok1 ,awk1 ,the eye4 ,kan1 ,kawn1 ,the ear4 ,mui1 ,mu1 ,the mouth4 ,dant1 ,dant1 ,a tooth4 ,sunjo1 ,sunnj1 ,the hearing4 ,sunj1 ,sunkh1 ,the smell4 ,sik1 ,tschik1 ,the taste4 ,tschater1 ,tschater1 ,a tent4 ,rajah1 ,raja1 ,the prince4 ,baro1 ,bura1 ,great4 ,kalo1 ,kala1 ,black4 ,grea1 ,gorra1 ,horse4 ,ker1 ,gurr1 ,house4 ,pawnee1 ,paniee1 ,brook1 drink1 water4 ,bebee1 ,beebe1 ,aunt4 ,bouropanee1 ,bura-panee1 ,ocean1 wave4 ,rattie1 ,rat1 ,dark night1 ,dad1 ,dada1 ,father4 ,mutchee1 ,muchee1 ,fish4 ,this language1 called by themselves ,slang1 or ,gibberish1 invented1 as they think1 by their forefathers for secret purposes1 is not merely the language of one1 or a few of these wandering tribes1 which are found in the ,european ,nations2 but is adopted by the vast numbers who inhabit the earth4 ,one of our reformed ,gipsies1 while in the army1 was with his regiment at ,portsmouth1 and being on garrison duty with an invalid soldier1 he was surprised to hear some words of the ,gipsy language unintentionally uttered by him1 who was a ,german4 ,on enquiring how he understood this language1 the ,german replied1 that he was of ,gipsy origin1 and that it was spoken by this race in every part of his native land1 for purposes of secrecy4 #af ,a well known nobleman1 who had resided many years in ,india1 taking shelter under a tree during a storm in this country1 near a camp of ,gipsies1 was astonished to hear them use several words he well knew were ,hindostanee2 and going up to them1 he found them able to converse with him in that language4 ,not long ago1 a ,missionary from ,india1 who was well acquainted with the language of ,hindostan1 was at the ,author's house when a ,gipsy was present2 and1 after a conversation which he had with her1 he declared1 that1 her people must once have known the ,hindostanee language well4 ,indeed ,gipsies have often expressed surprise when words have been read to them out of the ,hindostanee vocabulary4 ,lord ,teignmouth once said to a young ,gipsy woman in ,hindostanee1 ,tue burra tschur1 that is1 ,thou a great thief4 ,she immediately replied2 ,no--,i am not a thief--,i live by fortune telling4 ,it can be no matter of surprise that this language1 as spoken among this people1 is generally corrupted1 when we consider1 that1 for many centuries1 they have known nothing of elementary science1 and have been strangers to books and letters4 ,perhaps the secrecy necessary to effect many of their designs1 has been the greatest means of preserving its scanty remains among them4 ,but an attempt to prove that they are not of ,hindoo origin1 because they do not speak the ,hindostanee with perfect correctness1 would be as absurd as to declare1 that1 our ,gipsies are not natives of ,england1 because they speak very incorrect ,english4 ,the few words that follow1 and which occurred in some conversations the ,author had with the most intelligent of the ,gipsies he has met1 prove how incorrectly they speak our language2 and yet it would be worse than folly to attempt to prove that they are not natives of ,england4 ,expencival for expensive4 ,cide for decide4 ,device for advice4 ,dixen for dictionary4 #ah ,ealfully for equally4 ,indistructed for instructed4 ,gemmem for gentleman4 ,dauntment for daunted4 ,spiteliness for spitefulness4 ,hawcus ,paccus for ,habeas ,corpus4 ,increach for increase4 ,commist for submit4 ,brand1 in his observations on ,,popular ,,antiquities1 is of opinion that the first ,gipsies fled from ,asia1 when the cruel ,timur ,beg ravaged ,india1 with a view to proselyte the heathen to the ,mohammedan religion2 at which time about #ejj1jjj human beings were butchered by him4 ,some suppose1 that1 soon after this time1 many who escaped the sword of this human fury1 came into ,europe through ,egypt2 and on this account were called1 in ,english1 ,,gipsies4 ,although there is not the least reason whatever to suppose the ,gipsies to have had an ,egyptian origin1 and although1 as we have asserted in a former page1 they are strangers in that land of wonders to the present day2 yet it appears possible to me1 that ,egypt may have had something to do with their present appellation4 ,and allowing that the supposition is well founded1 which ascribes to them a passage through ,egypt into ,european nations1 it is very likely they found their way to that place under the following circumstances4 ,in the years #adjh and #adji1 ,timur ,beg ravaged ,india1 to make1 as has already been observed1 proselytes to the ,mohammedan delusion1 when he put hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants to the sword4 ,it is very rational to suppose1 that numbers of those who had the happiness not to be overtaken by an army so dreadful1 on account of the cruelties it perpetrated1 should save their lives by flying from their native land1 to become wandering strangers in another4 ,now if we assert that the ,gipsies were of the ,suder cast of ,asiatic ,indians1 and that they found their way from ,hindostan into other and remote countries when ,timur ,beg spread around him terrors so dreadful1 it is natural to ask1 why did not some of the other casts of ,india accompany them8 ,this objection has no weight at all when we consider the hatred and contempt poured upon the ,suder by all the other casts of ,india4 ,the ,bramins1 ,tschechteries1 and ,beis1 were as safe1 though menaced with destruction by ,timur ,beg1 as they would have been along with the ,suder tribes1 seeking a retreat from their enemy in lands where he would not be likely to follow them4 ,besides1 the other casts1 from time immemorial1 have looked on their country as especially given them of ,god2 and they would as soon have suffered death1 as leave it4 ,the ,suders had not these prepossessions for their native soil4 ,they were a degraded people--a people looked on as the lowest of the human race2 and1 with an army seeking their destruction1 they had every motive to leave1 and none to stay in ,hindostan4 ,it cannot be determined by what track the forefathers of the ,gipsies found their way from ,hindostan to the countries of ,europe4 ,but it may be presumed that they passed over the southern ,persian deserts of ,sigiston1 ,makran and ,kirman1 along the ,persian ,gulph to the mouth of the ,euphrates1 thence to ,bassora into the deserts of ,arabia1 and thence into ,egypt by the ,isthmus of ,suez4 ,it is a fact not unworthy a place in these remarks on the origin of this people1 that they do not like to be called ,gipsies1 unless by those persons whom they have reason to consider their real friends4 ,this probably arises from two causes of great distress to them--,gipsies are suspected and hated as the perpetrators of all crime--and they are almost universally prosecuted as vagrants4 ,is it to be wondered at1 that to strangers1 they do not like to acknowledge themselves as ,gipsies8 ,i think not4 ,we will conclude our remarks on the origin of these erratic sons of ,adam1 by adding the testimony of ,col4 ,herriot1 read before the ,royal ,asiatic ,society1 ,sir ,george ,staunton in the chair4 ,that gentleman1 giving an account of the ,zingaree of ,india1 says1 that this class of people are frequently met with in that part of ,hindostan which is watered by the ,ganges1 as well as the ,malwa1 ,guzerat1 and the ,decan3 they are called ,nath1 or ,benia2 the first term signifying a rogue--and the second a dancer1 or tumbler4 ,and the same gentleman cites various authorities in demonstration of the resemblance between these ,gipsies and their neglected brethren in ,europe4 ,nor does he think that the ,english ,gipsies are so degraded as is generally supposed2 in support of which he mentions some instances of good feeling displayed by them under his own observation1 while in ,hampshire4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,observations on the ,character1 ,manners1 and ,habits of the ,english ,gipsies4 ,the origin of this people is by no means of so much importance as the knowledge of their present character1 manners and habits1 with the view to the devising of proper plans for the improvement of their condition1 and their conversion to christianity3 for to any one who desires to love his neigbour as himself1 their origin will be but a secondary consideration4 ,fifty years ago the ,gipsies had their regular journeys1 and often remained one or two months in a place1 when they worked at their trades4 ,and as access to different towns was more difficult than at the present day1 partly from the badness of the roads and partly from the paucity of carriers1 they were considered by the peasantry1 and by small farmers1 of whom there were great numbers in those days1 as very useful branches of the human family2 ,i mean the industrious and better part of them4 ,at that period they usually encamped in the farmers' fields1 or slept in their barns2 and not being subject to the driving system1 as they now are1 they seldom robbed hedges2 for their fires were replenished with dead-wood procured1 without any risk of fines or imprisonments1 from decayed trees and wooded banks4 ,and it is proper to suppose1 that1 at such a time1 their outrages and depredations were very few4 ,it has already been stated that the ,gipsies are very numerous1 amounting to about #gjj1jjj4 ,it is supposed that there are about #ah1jjj in this kingdom4 ,but be they less or more1 we ought never to forget--that they are branches of the same family with ourselves--that they are capable of being fitted for all the duties and enjoyments of life--and1 what is better than all1 that they are redeemed by the same ,saviour1 may partake of the same salvation1 and be prepared for the same state of immortal bliss1 from whence flows to the universal church of ,christ1 that peace which the world cannot take from her4 ,their condition1 therefore1 at once commands our sympathies1 energies1 prayers1 and benevolence4 ,gipsies in general are of a tawny or brown colour2 but this is not wholly hereditary4 ,the chief cause is probably the lowness of their habits2 for they very seldom wash their persons1 or the clothes they wear1 their linen excepted4 ,their alternate exposures to cold and heat1 and the smoke surrounding their small camps1 perpetually tend to increase those characteristics of complexion and feature by which they are at present distinguishable4 ,it is not often that a ,gipsy is seen well-dressed1 even when they possess costly apparel2 but their women are fond of finery4 ,they are much delighted with broad lace1 large ear-drops1 a variety of rings1 and glaring colours2 and1 when they possess the means1 shew how great a share they have of that foolish vanity1 which is said to be inherent in females1 and which leads many1 destitute of the faith1 and hope1 and love1 and humility of the gospel1 into utter ruin4 ,a remarkable instance of the love of costly attire in a female ,gipsy1 is well known to the writer4 ,the woman alluded to1 obtained a very large sum of money from three maiden ladies1 pledging that it should be doubled by her art in conjuration4 ,she then decamped to another district1 where she bought a blood-horse1 a black beaver hat1 a new side-saddle and bridle1 a silver-mounted whip1 and figured away in her ill-obtained finery at the fairs4 ,it is not easy to imagine the disappointment and resentment of the covetous and credulous ladies1 whom she had so easily duped4 ,nor indeed are the males of this people less addicted to the love of gay clothing1 if it suited their interests to exhibit it4 ,an orphan1 only ten years of age1 taken from actual starvation last winter1 and who was fed and clothed1 and had every care taken of him1 would not remain with those who wished him well1 and who had been his friends2 but returned to the camp from which he had been taken1 saying1 that he would be a ,gipsy1 and would wear silver buttons on his coat1 and have topped boots2 and when asked how he would get them1 he replied--by catching rats4 ,some ,gipsies try to excel others in the possession of silver buttons4 ,they will sometimes give as much as fifteen pounds for a set4 ,the females too spend many pounds on weighty gold rings for their fingers4 ,the ,author has by him1 belonging to a ,gipsy1 three massy rings soldered together1 and with a half sovereign on the top1 which serves instead of a brilliant stone4 ,we pity a vain ,gipsy whose eyes are taken1 and whose heart delights in such vulgar pomp4 ,are not those equally pitiable1 who estimate themselves only by the gaiety1 singularity1 or costliness of their apparel8 ,the ,saviour has given us a rule by which we may judge persons in reference to their dress1 as well as in other ostensibilities of character--by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,the ,gipsies are not strangers to pawn-brokers shops2 but they do not visit these places for the same purposes as the vitiated poor of our trading towns4 ,a pawnshop is their bank4 ,when they acquire property illegally1 as by stealing1 swindling1 or fortune-telling1 they purchase valuable plate1 and sometimes in the same hour pledge it for safety4 ,such property they have in store against days of adversity and trouble1 which on account of their dishonest habits1 often overtake them4 ,should one of their families stand before a ,judge of his country1 charged with a crime which is likely to cost him his life1 or to transport him1 every article of value is sacrificed to save him from death1 or apprehended banishment4 ,in such cases they generally retain a ,counsellor to plead for the brother in adversity4 ,at other times they carry their plate about with them1 and when visited by friends1 they bring out from dirty bags1 a silver tea-pot1 and a cream-jug and spoons of the same metal4 ,their plate is by no means paltry4 ,of course considerable property in plate is not very generally possessed by them4 ,the ,gipsies of this country are very punctual in paying their debts4 ,all the ,shop-keepers1 with whom they deal in these parts1 have declared1 that they are some of their best and most honest customers4 ,for the payment of a debt which is owing to one of their own people1 the time and place are appointed by them1 and should the debtor disappoint the creditor1 he is liable by their law of honour to pay double the amount he owes2 and he must pay it by personal servitude1 if he cannot with money1 if he wish to be considered by his friends honest and respectable4 ,they call this law pizharris4 ,there are few of these unhappy people that can either read or write4 ,yet a regular and frequent correspondence is kept up between the members of families who have had the least advantage of the sort2 and those who have had no advantages whatever1 correspond through the kindness of friends who write for them4 ,numerous are the letters which they receive from their relatives in ,new ,south ,wales1 to which ,colony so many hundreds of this unsettled race have been transported4 ,their letters are usually left at one particular post-office1 in the districts where they travel2 and should such letters not be called for during a long period1 they are usually kept by the post-master1 who is sure they will be claimed1 sooner or later4 ,a long journey will be no impediment1 when a letter is expected2 for a ,gipsy will travel any distance to obtain an expected favour of the kind4 ,they are never heard to complain of the heavy expense of postage4 ,we have already observed that there are many genuine features of humanity in the character of this degraded and despised people4 ,their constantly retaining an affectionate remembrance of their deceased relatives1 affords a striking proof of this statement4 ,and their attachment to the horse1 donkey1 rings1 snuffbox1 silver-spoons1 and all things1 except the clothes1 of the deceased relatives1 is very strong4 ,with such articles they will never part1 except in the greatest distress2 and then they only pledge some of them1 which are redeemed as soon as they possess the means4 ,most families visit the graves of their near relatives1 once in the year2 generally about the time of ,christmas4 ,then the depository of the dead becomes a rallying spot for the living2 for there they renew their attachments and sympathies1 and give and receive assurances of continued good will4 ,at such periods however they are too often addicted to feasting and intemperance4 ,the graves of the deceased of this people1 are usually kept in very good order in the various ,church yards where they lie interred4 ,this is done by the ,sextons1 for which they are annually remunerated4 ,sometimes large sums of money are expended on the erection of head-stones2 and in one instance a monument was erected in the ,county of ,wilts at considerable cost4 ,it is not very long since1 that the parents of a deceased ,gipsy child1 whom they loved very much1 paid a great sum to have it buried in the ,church4 ,the ,gipsies have a singular custom of burning all the clothes belonging to any one among them deceased1 with the straw1 litter1 c1 of his tent4 ,whether this be from fear of infection1 or from superstition1 the ,author has not been able to learn4 ,perhaps both unite in the continuation of a custom which must be attended with some loss to them4 #bh ,seldom do these mysterious sons and daughters of ,adam unite themselves in the holy obligations of marriage1 after the form of the ,established ,church of our land4 ,nor1 indeed1 for so sacred a union1 have they any ceremony at all4 ,the parents on each side are consulted on such occasions1 and if their consent be obtained1 the parties become1 after their custom1 husband and wife4 ,should the parents object1 like the thoughtless and imprudent persons in higher life1 who flee to ,gretna ,green1 the ,gipsy lovers also escape from their parents to another district4 ,when the couple are again met by the friends of the female1 they take her from her protector2 but if it appear that he has treated her kindly1 and is likely to continue to do so1 they restore her to him1 and all objections and animosities are forgotten4 ,as it seldom happens that they now stay more than a few days in one place1 the ,gipsy1 his wife1 and each of their children1 may severally belong to different parishes4 ,this is an objection to their ultimate settlement in any one place4 ,it will be some time before this objection can be removed3 not till the present generation of ,gipsies has passed away1 and their posterity cease to make the wilderness their homes1 choosing a parish for a permanent place of settlement4 ,it may naturally be expected that these inhabitants of the field and forest1 the lane and the moor1 are not without a knowledge of the medicinal qualities of certain herbs4 ,in all slight disorders they have recourse to these remedies1 and frequently use the inner bark of the elm1 star-in-the-earth1 parsley1 pellitory-in-the-wall1 and wormwood4 ,they are not subject to the numerous disorders and fevers common in large towns2 but in some instances they are visited with that dreadful scourge of the ,british nation1 the ,typhus fever1 which spreads through their little camp1 and becomes fatal to some of its families4 ,the small-pox and measles are disorders they very much dread2 but they are not more disposed to rheumatic affections than those who live in houses4 ,it is a fact1 however1 that ought not to be passed over here1 that when they leave their tents to settle in towns1 they are generally ill for a time4 ,the children of one family that wintered with us in #ahca1 were nearly all attacked with fever that threatened their lives4 ,this may be occasioned by their taking all at once to regular habits1 and the renunciation of that exercise to which they have been so long accustomed1 with some disposing qualities in their change of diet and the atmosphere of a thickly populated town4 ,this people often live to a considerable age1 many instances of which are well known4 ,in his tent at ,launton1 ,oxfordshire1 died in the year #ahcj1 more than a hundred years of age1 ,james ,smith1 called by some1 the ,king of the ,gipsies4 ,by his tribe he was looked up to with the greatest respect and veneration4 ,his remains were followed to the grave by his widow1 who is herself more than a hundred years old1 and by many of his children1 grand-children1 great grand-children1 and other relatives2 and by several individuals of other tribes4 ,at the funeral his widow tore her hair1 uttered the most frantic exclamations1 and begged to be allowed to throw herself on the coffin1 that she might be buried with her husband4 ,the religion of the ,redeemer would have taught her to say1 ,the ,lord gave1 and the ,lord hath taken away2 blessed be the name of the ,lord4 ,a woman of the name of ,b--- lived to the reputed age of a hundred and twenty years1 and up to that age was accustomed to sing her song very gaily4 ,many events in the life of this woman were very remarkable4 ,in her youth she was a noted swindler4 ,at one time she got a large sum of money1 and other valuable effects1 from a lady2 for which and other offences1 she was condemned to die4 ,a petition was presented to ,george the ,third1 to use the ,gipsy's own expression1 who told the author1 just after he had set up business1 that is1 begun to reign1 and he attended to its prayer4 ,the sentence was reversed1 and her life was consequently spared4 ,but1 poor woman1 she repented not of her sins2 for she taught her daughter to commit the same crimes for which she had been condemned2 so that her delivery from condemnation led to no salutary reformation4 ,the mutual attachment which subsists between the nominal husband and wife1 is so truly sincere1 that instances of infidelity1 on either side1 occur but seldom4 ,they are known strictly to avoid all conversation of an unchaste kind in their camps1 except among the most degraded of them2 and instances of young females having children1 before they pledge themselves to those they love1 are rare4 ,this purity of morals1 among a people living as they do1 speaks much in their favour4 ,the anxiety of a ,gipsy parent to preserve the purity of the morals of a daughter1 is strongly portrayed in the following fact4 ,the author wished to engage as a servant the daughter of a ,gipsy who was desirous of quitting her vagrant life2 but her mother strongly objected for some time2 and when pressed for the reason of such objection1 she named the danger she would be in a town1 far from a mother's eye4 ,it would be well if all others felt for their children as did this unlettered ,gipsy4 ,after having promised that the morals of the child should be watched over1 she was confided to his care4 ,and the author has known a ,gipsy parent correct with stripes a grown daughter1 for mentioning what a profligate person had talked about4 ,the following is an instance of conjugal attachment4 ,a poor woman1 whose eldest child is now under the care of the ,society for the improvement of the ,gipsies1 being near her confinement1 came into the neighbourhood of ,southampton1 to be with her friends1 who are reformed1 during the time4 ,this not taking place so soon as she expected1 and having promised to meet her husband at a distance on a certain day1 he not daring to shew himself in ,hampshire1 she determined on going to him2 and having mounted her donkey1 set off with her little family4 ,she had a distance of nearly fifty miles to travel1 and happily reached the desired spot1 where she met her husband before her confinement took place4 ,the good people at ,warminster1 near which place she was1 afforded her kind and needful assistance2 and one well-disposed lady became ,god-mother to the babe1 who was a fine little girl2 the grateful mother pledging that1 at a proper age1 she should be given up to ,christians to be educated4 ,before this woman left ,southampton1 referring to many kind attentions shewn her by the charitable of that place1 she was heard to say1 ,well--,i did not think any one would take such trouble for me6 ,professing to be church people whenever they speak of religion1 the ,gipsies generally have their children baptized at the church near which they are born1 partly because they think it right1 and partly1 perhaps chiefly1 to secure the knowledge of the parish to which the child belongs2 for every illegitimate child is parishioner in the parish in which it happens to be born4 ,they will sometimes apply to the parish officers for something toward the support of a child1 which they call settling the baby4 ,the sponsors at baptism are generally branches of the same family1 and they speak of their ,god-children with pleasure1 who in return manifest a high feeling of respect for them1 and superstitiously ask their blessing on old ,christmas-days1 when in company with them4 ,it is worthy of remark that all the better sort of ,gipsies teach their children the ,,lord',s ,,prayer4 ,the anxiety evidenced by some parish officers to prevent these families from settling in their districts1 has occasionally led the ,gipsies to act unjustifiably by menacing them with the settlement of a number of their families2 but this1 from their perpetual wandering1 need never be feared4 ,happy would it be for the ,gipsies as a people1 if these civil officers did encourage them to stay longer in their neighbourhood2 for they then might be induced to commence and persevere in honest1 industrious and regular habits4 ,not long ago thirty-five ,gipsies came to a parish in ,hampshire1 to which they belonged1 and demanded of the overseers ten pounds1 declaring that1 if that sum were not given them1 they would remain there4 ,seven pounds were advanced1 and they soon left the place4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,the ,character1 ,manners and ,habits of the ,english ,gipsies1 continued4 ,from the mode of living among the ,gipsies1 the parents are often necessitated to leave their tents in the morning1 and seldom return to them before night4 ,their children are then left in or about their solitary camps1 having many times no adult with them2 the elder children then have the care of the younger4 ,those who are old enough gather wood for fuel2 nor is stealing it thought a crime4 ,by the culpable neglect of the parents in this respect1 the children are often exposed to accidents by fire2 and melancholy instances of children being burnt and scalded to death1 are not unfrequent4 ,the author knows one poor woman1 two of whose children have thus lost their lives1 during her absence from her tent1 at different periods3 and very lately a child was scalded to death in the parish where the author writes4 ,the ,gipsies are not very regular in attending to the calls of appetite and hunger4 ,their principal meal is supper1 and their food is supplied in proportion to the success they have had through the day2 or1 to use their own words1 the luck they have met with4 ,like the poor of the land through which they wander1 they are fond of tea1 drinking it at every meal4 ,when times are hard with them1 they use ,english herbs1 of which they generally carry a stock1 such as agrimony1 ground-ivy1 wild mint1 and the root of a herb called spice-herb4 ,the trades they follow are generally chair-mending1 knife-grinding1 tinkering1 and basket-making1 the wood for which they mostly steal4 ,some of them sell hardware1 brushes1 corks1 c42 but in general1 neither old nor young among them1 do much that can be called labour4 ,and it is lamentable that the greatest part of the little they do earn1 is laid by to spend at their festivals2 for like many tribes of uncivilized ,indians1 they mostly make their women support their families1 who generally do it by swindling and fortune-telling4 ,their baskets introduce them to the servants of families1 of whom they beg victuals1 to whom they sell trifling wares1 and tell their fortunes1 which indeed is their principal aim1 as it is their greatest source of gain4 ,they have been awkwardly fixed1 both servants and the ,gipsy fortune-teller1 when the lady of the house has unexpectedly gone into the kitchen and surprised them while thus employed2 and sometimes1 to avoid detection1 the obnoxious party has been hurried into a closet1 or butler's pantry1 where there has been much plate4 ,few are aware of the losses that have attended the conduct of unprincipled servants in this1 as in other respects4 ,it may be hoped that few families would knowingly look over conduct so improper1 so dangerous4 ,many of these idle soothsayers endeavour to persuade the people whom they delude1 that the power to foretell future events1 is granted to them from heaven1 to enable them to get bread for their families4 ,it would be well were the prognostications of these women encouraged only among servants2 but this is not the case4 ,they are often invited into gay and fashionable circles1 whom they amuse1 if1 by the information possessed by the parties1 they are not cunning enough to deceive4 ,they are well paid1 and are thus encouraged in their iniquity by those who ought to know1 and teach them better4 ,but it is astonishing how many respectable people are led away with the artful flattery of such visitors4 ,they forget that the ,gipsy fortune-teller has often made herself acquainted with their connexions1 business1 and future prospects1 and consider not that ,god commits not his secrets to the wicked and profane4 ,they use not the reason heaven has given them1 and are therefore more easily led astray by these crafty deceivers4 ,they generally prophesy good4 ,knowing the readiest way to deceive1 to a young lady they describe a handsome gentleman1 as one she may be assured will be her husband4 ,to a youth they promise a pretty lady1 with a large fortune4 ,and thus suiting their deluding speeches to the age1 circumstances1 anticipations and prospects of those who employ them1 they seldom fail to please their vanity1 and often gain a rich reward for their fraud4 ,they suit their incantations1 or their pretended means of gaining knowledge1 to their employers4 ,two female servants went into the camp of some ,gipsies near ,southampton1 to have their fortunes told by one well known to the author1 and a great professor of the art4 ,on observing them to appear like persons in service1 she said to a companion1 ,i shall not get my books or cards for them2 they are but tenants4 ,and calling for a frying-pan1 she ordered them to fill it with water1 and hold their faces over it4 ,this being done1 she proceeded to flatter and to promise them great things1 for which she was paid #as #f;d each4 ,this is called the frying-pan fortune4 ,but it ought to be remembered that all fortune-telling is quite as contemptible4 ,these artful pretenders to a knowledge of future events1 generally discover who are in possession of property2 and if they be superstitious and covetous1 they contrive to persuade them there is a lucky stone in their house1 and that1 if they will entrust to them1 all1 or a part of their money1 they will double and treble it4 ,sorry is the author to say that they often gain their point4 ,tradesmen have been known to sell their goods at a considerable loss1 hoping to have the money doubled to them by the supposed power of these wicked females1 who daringly promise to multiply the blessings of ,providence4 ,if the fortune-teller cannot succeed in obtaining a large sum at first1 from such credulous dupes1 she commences with a small one2 and then pretending it to be too insignificant for the planets to work upon1 she soon gets it doubled1 and when she has succeeded in getting all she can1 she decamps with her booty1 leaving her mortified victims to the just punishment of disappointment and shame1 who are afraid of making their losses known1 lest they should be exposed to the ridicule they deserve4 ,parties in ,gloucestershire1 ,dorsetshire1 and ,hampshire1 have been robbed in this manner of considerable sums1 even as much as three and four hundred pounds1 the greatest part of which has been spent in ,hampshire4 ,a young lady in ,gloucestershire allowed herself to be deluded by a ,gipsy woman of artful and insinuating address1 to a very great extent4 ,this lady admired a young gentleman1 and the ,gipsy promised that he would return her love4 ,the lady gave her all the plate in the house1 and a gold chain and locket1 with no other security than a vain promise that they should be restored at a given period4 ,as might be expected1 the wicked woman was soon off with her booty1 and the lady was obliged to expose her folly4 ,the property being too much to lose1 the woman was pursued1 and overtaken4 ,she was found washing her clothes in a ,gipsy camp1 with the gold chain about her neck4 ,she was taken up2 but on restoring the articles1 was allowed to escape4 ,the same woman afterwards persuaded a gentleman's groom1 that she could put him in possession of a great sum of money1 if he would first deposit with her1 all he then had4 ,he gave her five pounds and his watch1 and borrowed for her ten more of two of his friends4 ,she engaged to meet him at midnight in a certain place a mile from the town where he lived1 and that he there should dig up out of the ground a silver pot full of gold1 covered with a clean napkin4 ,he went with his pick-axe and shovel at the appointed time to the supposed lucky spot1 having his confidence strengthened by a dream he happened to have about money1 which he considered a favourable omen of the wealth he was soon to receive4 ,of course he met no ,gipsy2 she had fled another way with the property she had so wickedly obtained4 ,while waiting her arrival1 a hare started suddenly from its resting place1 and so alarmed him1 that he as suddenly took to his heels and made no stop till he reached his master's house1 where he awoke his fellow servants and told to them his disaster4 ,this woman1 who made so many dupes1 rode a good horse1 and dressed both gaily and expensively4 ,one of her saddles cost #cj pounds4 ,it was literally studded with silver2 for she carried on it the emblems of her profession wrought in that metal2 namely1 a half-moon1 seven stars1 and the rising sun4 ,poor woman6 her sun is now nearly set4 ,her sins have found her out4 ,she has been in great distress on account of a son1 who was transported for robbery2 but has never thought of seeking1 as a penitent1 refuge in the ,god of mercy2 for seeing one of her reformed companions reading the ,new ,testament1 she exclaimed1 ,that book will make you crazy1 at the same time calling her a fool for burning her fortune-telling book4 ,her condition is now truly wretched2 for her ill-gotten gains are all fled1 and she is dragging out a miserable existence1 refusing still to seek the mercy of ,god1 and despising those who have made him their refuge4 ,another woman1 whom the author would also call a bad ,gipsy1 who likewise practised similar deceptions1 having persuaded a person to put his notes and money in a wrapper and lock it up in a box1 she obtained the liberty of seeing it in his presence1 that she might pronounce certain words over it2 and although narrowly watched1 she contrived to steal it1 and to convey into the box a parcel similar in appearance1 but which on examination1 contained only a bundle of rubbish4 ,this money amounted to several hundred pounds4 ,she was immediately pursued and taken with the whole amount about her person4 ,she was also allowed to escape justice1 because the covetous old man neither wished to expose himself1 nor waste his money in a prosecution4 ,the daughter of this woman has followed the same evil and infamous practices2 and the crime has descended to her through several generations4 ,many circumstances like the above are hid to prevent the shame that would assuredly follow their exposure4 ,but the day of ,christ will exhibit both these deceivers and their dupes1 who are equally heinous in the sight of ,god4 ,it were well if such characters had paid more attention to the words of the apostle ,paul--,and having food and raiment1 let us therewith be content4 ,they that will be rich1 fall into temptation1 and a snare1 and into many foolish and hurtful lusts1 which drown men in destruction4 ,the love of money is the root of all evil2 which1 while some have coveted after1 they have erred from the faith1 and pierced themselves through with many sorrows4 ,not to mention many other facts with which the author is acquainted1 and which he would relate1 were he not likely thereby too much to enlarge his work1 he will conclude this chapter with observing1 that1 thankfulness to ,almighty ,god1 for the blessings we enjoy1 less anxiety about future events1 and more confidence in what ,god has revealed in his word and providence1 would leave no room for the encouragement of ,gipsy fortune-tellers1 and their craft would soon be discontinued4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,the ,character1 ,manners1 and ,habits of the ,english ,gipsies1 continued4 ,among this poor and destitute people1 instances of great guilt1 depravity and misery are too common2 nor can it be otherwise expected1 while they are destitute of the knowledge of salvation in a crucified and ascended ,saviour4 ,one poor ,gipsy1 who had wandered in a state of wretchedness1 bordering on despair1 for nearly forty years1 had not in all that time1 heard of the ,name which is above every name2 for there is salvation in no other2 till in his last days some ,christian directed him to the ,bible1 as a book that tells poor sinners the way to ,god4 ,he gave a woman a guinea to read its pages to him2 and he remunerated another woman1 who read to him the book of ,common ,prayer4 ,the last few years of his life were marked by strong conviction of sin4 ,his children thought he must have been a murderer4 ,they often saw him under the hedges at prayer4 ,in his last moments he received comfort through a pious minister1 who visited him in his tent1 and made him acquainted with the promises of the gospel4 ,a similar instance has been related by a clergyman known to the author2 nor should the interview of ,,george ,,the ,,third with a poor ,gipsy woman1 be forgotten2 for a brighter example of condescending kindness is not furnished in the history of kings4 ,this gracious monarch became the minister of instruction and comfort to a dying ,gipsy1 to whom he was drawn by the cries of her children1 and saw her expire cheered by the view of that redemption he had set before her4 ,but how few are there of the tens of thousands of ,gipsies1 who have died in ,britain1 that1 whether living or dying1 have been visited by the minister or his people6 ,the father of three orphan children lately taken under the ,care of the ,southampton ,committee for the improvement of the ,gipsies1 had lived an atheist1 but such he could not die4 ,he had often declared there was no ,god2 but before his death1 he called one of his sons to him and said--,i have always said there was no ,god1 but now ,i know there is2 ,i see him now4 ,he attempted to pray1 but knew not how6 ,and many other ,gipsies have been so afraid of ,god1 that they dreaded to be alone4 ,it is a fact not generally known1 that the ,gipsies of this country have not much knowledge of one another's tribes1 or clans1 and are very particular to keep to their own4 ,nor will those who style themselves respectable1 allow their children to marry into the more depraved clans4 ,the following are a few of the family names of the ,gipsies of this country3--,williams1 ,jones1 ,plunkett1 ,cooper1 ,glover1 ,carew 7descendants of the famous ,bamfield ,moore ,carew71 ,loversedge1 ,mansfield1 ,martin1 ,light1 ,lee1 ,barnett1 ,boswell1 ,carter1 ,buckland1 ,lovell1 ,corrie1 ,bosvill1 ,eyres1 ,smalls1 ,draper1 ,fletcher1 ,taylor1 ,broadway1 ,baker1 ,smith1 ,buckly1 ,blewett1 ,scamp1 and ,stanley4 ,of the last-named family there are more than two hundred1 most of whom are known to the author1 and are the most ancient clans in this part of ,england4 ,it is a well-authenticated fact1 that many persons pass for ,gipsies who are not4 ,such persons having done something to exclude them from society1 join themselves to this people1 and marrying into their clans1 become the means of leading them to crimes they would not have thought of1 but for their connection with such wicked people4 ,coining money and forging notes are1 however1 crimes which cannot be justly attributed to them4 ,indeed it has been too much the custom to impute to them a great number of crimes of which they either never were guilty1 or which could only be committed by an inconsiderable portion of their race2 and they have often suffered the penalty of the law1 when they have not in the least deserved it4 ,they have been talked of by the public1 and prosecuted by the authorities1 as the perpetrators of every vice and wickedness alike shocking to civil and savage life4 ,nor is this to be wondered at1 living as they do1 so remote from observation and the walks of common life4 ,whoever has read ,grellman's ,dissertation on the ,continental ,gipsies1 and supposes that those of ,england are equally immoral and vicious1 will be found greatly mistaken4 ,the former are a banditti of robbers1 without natural affection1 living with each other almost like brutes1 and scarcely knowing1 and assuredly never caring about the existence of ,god2 some of them are even counted cannibals4 ,the ,gipsies of this country are altogether different2 for monstrous crimes are seldom heard of among them4 ,the author is not aware of any of them being convicted of house-breaking1 or high-way robbery4 ,seldom are they guilty of sheep-stealing1 or robbing henroosts4 #de ,nor can they be justly charged with stealing children2 this is the work of worthless beggars who often commit far greater crimes than the ,gipsies4 ,they avoid poaching1 knowing that the sporting gentlemen would be severe against them1 and that they would not be permitted to remain in the lanes and commons near villages4 ,they sometimes take osiers from the banks and coppices of the farmer1 of which they make their baskets2 and occasionally have been known to steal a sheep1 but never when they have had any thing to eat1 or money to buy it with2 for according to a proverb they have among themselves1 they despise those who risk their necks for their bellies4 ,the author however recollects a transgression of the sort in the county of ,hants4 ,eight ,gipsy men united in stealing four sheep3 four were chosen by lot for the purpose4 ,they sharpened their knives1 rode to the field1 perpetrated the act1 and before day-break brought to their camp the sheep they had engaged to steal2 and1 before the evening of the same day1 they were thirty miles distant4 ,but when pressed by hunger1 they have been known to take a worse method than this4 ,for as the farmers seldom deny them a sheep that has died in the field1 if they apply for it1 so many were found dead in this way1 that a certain farmer suspected the ,gipsies of occasioning their deaths4 ,he therefore caused one of these animals to be opened1 and discovered a piece of wool in its throat1 with which it had been suffocated4 ,the ,gipsies1 who had no objection to creatures that die in their blood1 had killed all these sheep in the above manner4 ,horse-stealing is one of their principal crimes1 and at this they are very dextrous4 ,when disposed to steal a horse1 they select one a few miles from their tent1 and make arrangements for disposing of it at a considerable distance1 to which place they will convey it in a night4 ,an old and infirm man has been known to ride a stolen horse nearly fifty miles in that time4 ,they pass through bye-lanes1 well known to them1 and thus avoid turnpikes and escape detection4 ,unless they are taught better principles than at present they possess1 and unless those on whom they impose1 use their understandings1 it is to be feared that swindling also will long continue among them2 for they are so ingenious in avoiding detection4 ,when likely to be discovered1 a change of dress enables them to remove with safety to any distance4 ,instances of this kind have been innumerable4 ,but as it is the aim of this book to solicit a better feeling towards them1 rather than expose them to the continuation of censure1 the writer will not enter into further detail in reference to their crimes1 than barely to shew the great evils into which they have been led by many of those in high life1 who have long encouraged them in the savage practice of prize-fighting4 ,pugilism has been the disgrace of our land1 and our nobility and gentry have not been ashamed to patronize it4 ,not long ago a fight took place in this county which will be a lasting disgrace to the neighbourhood4 ,one of the pugilists1 a ,gipsy1 in the pride of his heart1 said during the fight1 that he never would be beaten so long as he had life4 ,the poor wretch fought till not a feature of his countenance could be seen1 his head and face being swollen to a frightful size1 and his eyes quite closed4 ,he attempted to tear them open that he might see his antagonist2 and was at last taken off the stage4 ,not satisfied with this brutal scene1 the spectators offered a purse of ten guineas for another battle4 ,this golden bait caught the eye of another ,gipsy1 who1 but a few months before1 had ruptured a blood-vessel in fighting4 ,throwing up his hat on the stage1 the sign of challenge1 he was soon met with a fellow as degraded as himself1 but with much more strength and activity4 ,he was three times laid prostrate at the feet of his antagonist1 and was taken away almost lifeless4 ,his conqueror put a half-crown into his hand as he was carried off1 saying1 it was a little something for him to drink4 ,about three months after this1 the author saw this poor ,gipsy in his tent1 in the last stage of a consumption2 but he was without any marks of true penitence4 ,surely the way of wickedness is full of misery6 ,what a disgrace is this demoralizing mode of amusement to our country6 ,degrading to the greatest degree1 it is nevertheless pursued with avidity by all classes of people2 and large bets are often depending on these brutal exercises4 ,gentlemen1 noblemen1 and even ladies1 are1 on such occasions1 mixed with the most degraded part of the community4 ,in the instance referred to it is said1 that fifty pounds were taken by admitting carriages into the field in which the fight took place4 ,where were the peace-officers at this time8 ,perhaps some of them spectators of the horrid scene6 ,verily our men of rank and fortune are guilty in encouraging these shocking practices2 and they are little better than murderers1 who goad their fellow-men on to fight by the offer of money4 ,such persons are frequently instruments of sending sinners1 the most unprepared1 into the presence of a righteous ,god4 ,what an account will they have to give when they meet the victims of their amusement at the bar of ,christ6 ,the ,gipsies often fight with each other at fairs1 and other places where they meet in great numbers4 ,this is their way of settling old grudges2 but so soon as one yields1 the quarrel is made up1 and they repair to a public house to renew their friendship4 ,this forgiving spirit is a pleasing trait in their character4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,further ,account of the ,english ,gipsies4 ,it has been the lot of ,gipsies in all countries to be despised1 persecuted1 hated1 and have the vilest things said about them4 ,in many cases they have too much merited the odium which they have experienced in continental ,europe2 but certainly they are not deserving of universal and unqualified contempt and hatred in this nation4 ,the dislike they have to rule and order has led many of them to maim themselves by cutting off a finger1 that they might not serve in either the army or the navy3 and ,i believe there is one instance known1 of some ,gipsies murdering a witness who was to appear against some of their people for horse-stealing3 the persons who were guilty of the deed have been summoned to the bar of ,christ1 and in their last moments exclaimed with horror and despair1 ,murder1 murder4 ,but these circumstances do not stamp their race without exception as infamous monsters in wickedness4 ,not many years since several of their men were hung in different places for stealing fourteen horses near ,bristol1 who experienced the truth of that scripture1 be sure your sins will find you out4 ,indeed there is not a family among them that has not to mourn over the loss of some relative for the commission of this crime4 ,but even in this respect their guilt has been much over-rated2 for in many cases it is to be feared they have suffered innocently4 ,there was formerly a reward of #djl to those who gave information of offenders1 on their being capitally convicted4 ,those of the lower orders1 therefore1 who were destitute of principle1 had a great temptation before them to swear falsely in reference to ,gipsies2 and of which it is known they sometimes availed themselves1 knowing that few would befriend them4 ,for the sake of the above sum1 vulgarly1 but too justly called blood-money1 they perjured themselves1 and were much more wicked than the people they accused4 ,but the ,gipsies were thought to be universally depraved1 and no one thought it worth his while to investigate their innocence4 ,let us be thankful that many at the present day look upon them with better feelings4 ,very lately one of these vile informers swore to having seen a ,gipsy man on a horse that had been stolen2 and although it came out on the trial1 that it was night when he observed him1 and that he had never seen him before1 which ought to have rendered his evidence invalid1 the prisoner was convicted and condemned to die4 ,his life was afterwards spared by other facts having been discovered and made known to the judge1 after he had left the city4 ,the ,gipsies in this country have for centuries been accused of child-stealing2 and therefore it is not to be wondered at1 that1 when children have been missing1 the ,gipsies should be taxed with having stolen them4 ,about thirty years since1 some parents who had lost a child1 applied to a man at ,portsmouth1 well known in those days1 by the name of ,payne1 or ,pine1 as an astrologer1 wishing to know from him what was become of it4 ,he told them to search the ,gipsy tents for twenty miles round4 ,the distressed parents employed constables1 who made diligent search in every direction to that distance1 but to no purpose2 the child was not to be found in their camps4 ,it was however soon afterwards discovered1 drowned in one of its father's pits1 who was a tanner4 ,thus was this pretended astrologer exposed to the ridicule of those who but a short time before foolishly looked on him as an oracle4 ,on another occasion the same accusation was brought against the ,gipsies1 and proved to be false4 ,the child of a widow at ,portsmouth was lost1 and after every search was made on board the ships in the harbour1 and at ,spithead1 and the ponds dragged in the neighbourhood1 to no effect1 it was concluded that the ,gipsies had stolen him4 ,the boy was found a few years afterwards1 at ,kingston-upon-,thames1 apprenticed to a chimney sweeper4 ,he had been enticed away by a person who had given him sweet-meats2 but not by a ,gipsy4 ,i may be allowed here to say a word about this boy's mother4 ,she was a good and pious woman1 and had known great trials4 ,her husband was drowned in her presence but a short time before she lost her son in the mysterious way mentioned2 and before he was heard of1 she was removed to the enjoyment of a better world4 ,her death was a very happy one1 for it took place while she was engaged in public worship4 ,many are the afflictions of the righteous1 but the ,lord delivereth them out of them all4 ,instances have been known of house-breakers leaving some of their stolen goods near the tents of the ,gipsies2 and these being picked up by the children1 and found upon them1 have been the cause of much unjust suffering among them4 ,the grandfather of three little orphans now under the care of the ,southampton ,committee1 was charged with stealing a horse1 and was condemned and executed2 although the farmer of whom he bought it1 came forward and swore to the horse being the same which he had sold him4 ,his evidence was rejected on account of some slight mistake in the description he gave of it4 ,when under the gallows1 the frantic ,gipsy exclaimed--,oh ,god1 if thou dost not deliver me1 ,i will not believe there is a ,god6 ,the following anecdote will prove the frequent oppression of this people4 ,not many years since1 a collector of taxes in a country town1 said he had been robbed of fifty pounds by a ,gipsy2 and being soon after at ,blandford in ,dorsetshire1 he fixed on a female ,gipsy1 as the person who robbed him in company with two others1 and said she was in man's clothes at the time4 ,they were taken up and kept in custody for some days2 and had not a farmer voluntarily come forward1 and proved that they were many miles distant when the robbery was said to be perpetrated1 they would have been tried for their lives1 and probably hanged4 ,the woman was the wife of ,wm4 ,stanley1 7who was in custody with her17 who now reads the ,scriptures in the ,gipsy tents near ,southampton4 ,their wicked accuser was afterwards convicted of a crime for which he was condemned to die1 when he confessed that he had not been robbed at the time referred to1 but had himself spent the whole of the sum in question4 ,another ,gipsy of the name of ,stanley was lately indicted at ,winchester1 for house-breaking1 and had not his friends at great expense proved an alibi1 it is likely he might have been executed4 ,and in this way have they been suspected and persecuted ever since the days of ,henry the ,eighth4 ,they have been hunted like wild beasts2 their property has been taken from them2 themselves have been frequently imprisoned1 and in many cases their lives taken1 or what to many of them would be much worse1 they have been transported to another part of the world1 for ever divided from their families and friends4 ,in the days of ,judge ,hale1 thirteen of these unhappy beings were hanged at ,bury ,st ,edmonds1 for no other cause than that they were ,gipsies2 and at that time it was death without benefit of clergy1 for any one to live among them for a month4 ,even in later days two of the most industrious of this people have had a small pony and two donkeys taken away merely on suspicion that they were stolen4 ,they were apprehended and carried before a magistrate1 to whom they proved that the animals were their own1 and that they had legally obtained them4 ,the cattle were then pounded for trespassing on the common1 and if their oppressed owners had not had money to defray the expenses1 one of the animals must have been sold for that purpose4 ,not long ago1 one of the ,gipsies was suspected of having stolen lead from a gentleman's house4 ,his cart was searched1 but no lead being found in his possession1 he was imprisoned for three months1 for living under the hedges as a vagrant2 and his horse1 which was worth thirteen pounds1 was sold to meet the demands of the constables4 ,and another ,gipsy1 who had two horses in his possession1 was suspected of having stolen them1 but he proved that they were legally his property4 ,he was committed for three months as a vagrant1 and one of his horses was sold to defray the expenses of his apprehension1 examination1 c4 ,while writing this part of the ,,gipsies' ,,advocate1 the author knows that a poor1 aged1 industrious woman1 with whom he has been long acquainted1 had her donkey taken from her1 and that a man with four witnesses swore that it was his property4 ,the poor woman told a simple1 artless tale to the magistrates1 and was not fully committed4 ,she was allowed two days to bring forward the person of whom she bought it4 ,conscious of her innocence1 she was willing to risk a prison if she could recover her donkey1 and establish her character4 ,after a great deal of trouble and expense in dispatching messengers to bring forward her witnesses1 she succeeded in obtaining them4 ,they had no sooner made their appearance than the accuser and his witnesses fled1 and left the donkey to the right owner1 the poor1 accused and injured woman4 ,it cannot be expected that oppression will ever reform this people1 or cure them of their wandering habits4 ,far more likely is it to confirm them in their vagrant propensities4 ,and as their numbers do not decrease1 oppression will only render them the dread of one part of their fellow-creatures1 while it will make them the objects of scorn and obloquy to others4 ,it is the earnest wish of the author that milder measures may be pursued in reference to the ,gipsies4 ,to endeavour to improve their morals1 and instruct them in the principles of religion1 will1 under the divine blessing1 turn to better account than the hateful and oppressive policy so long adopted4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,further ,account of the ,english ,gipsies4 ,many persons are of opinion in reference to the ,gipsies1 that1 if all the parishes were alike severe in forcing them from their retreats1 they would soon find their way into towns4 ,but if this were the case1 what advantage would they derive from it8 ,in large towns1 in their present ignorant and depraved state1 would they not be still more wicked8 ,they would change their condition only from bad to worse1 unless they were treated better than they now are1 and could be properly employed2 but from the prejudice that exists among all classes of men against them1 this is not likely to be the case3 they would not be employed by any1 while other persons could be got4 ,at a hop plantation1 so lately as #ahcj1 ,gipsies were not allowed to pick hops in some grounds1 while persons as unsettled and undeserving1 were engaged for that purpose4 ,had this been a parochial arrangement to benefit the poor of their own neighbourhood1 who were out of employ1 it were not blameable4 ,if they were driven to settle in towns1 and could not1 generally speaking1 obtain employment1 it might soon become necessary to remove all their children to their own parishes2 a measure not only very unhappy in itself1 but one to which the ,gipsies would never submit4 ,sooner would they die than suffer their children to go to the parish workhouses4 ,the severe and unchristian-like treatment they meet with from many1 only obliges them to travel further1 and often drives them to commit greater depredations4 ,when driven by the constables from their station1 they retire to a more solitary place in another parish1 and there remain till they are again detected1 and again mercilessly driven away4 ,but this severity does not accomplish the end it has in view2 their numbers remain the same1 and they retain the same dislike to the crowded haunts of man4 ,for they only visit towns in small parties1 offering trifling wares for sale1 or telling fortunes2 and this is done to gain a present support4 ,in this neighbourhood there was lately a sweeping of the commons and lanes of the ,gipsy families4 ,their horses and donkeys were driven off1 and the sum of #c pounds #es levied on them as a fine to pay the constables for thus afflicting them4 ,in one tent during this distressing affair1 there was found an unburied child1 that had been scalded to death1 its parents not having money to defray the expenses of its interment4 ,the constables declared that it would make any heart ache to see the anguish the poor people were in1 when thus inhumanly driven from their resting places2 but1 said they1 ,we were obliged to do our duty4 ,to the credit of these men1 thirteen in number1 it should be mentioned1 that1 with only one exception1 they returned the fines to the people2 and one of them1 who is a carpenter1 offered a coffin for the unburied child1 should the parish be unwilling to bury it4 ,in this instance of their affliction and grief1 the propensity to accuse these poor creatures was strongly marked by a report charging them with having dug a grave on the common in which to bury it2 a circumstance very far from their feelings and general habits4 ,the fact was1 some person had been digging holes in search of gravel1 and these poor creatures pitched their tent just by one of them4 ,it was supposed by many in this neighbourhood1 that the poor wretches thus driven away1 were gone out of the country2 but this was not the case4 ,they had only retired to more lonely places in smaller parties1 and were all seen again a few days after at a neighbouring fair4 ,this circumstance is sufficient to prove that they are not to be reclaimed by prosecutions and fines4 ,it is therefore high time the people of ,england should adopt more merciful measures towards them in endeavouring to bring them into a more civilized state4 ,the money spent in sustaining prosecutions against them1 if properly applied1 would accomplish this great and benevolent work4 ,and without flattering any of its members1 the author thinks the ,committee at ,southampton have discovered plans1 wholly different to those usually adopted1 which may prove much more effectual in accomplishing their reformation2 for by these plans being put in prudent operation1 many have already ceased to make the lanes and commons their home2 and their minds are becoming enlightened and their characters religious4 ,in concluding this chapter it may not be improper to remark1 that1 bad as may be the character of any of our fellow-creatures1 it is very lamentable that they should suffer for crimes of which individually they are not guilty4 ,let us hope that1 in reference to this people1 unjust executions have ceased2 that people will be careful in giving evidence which involves the rights1 liberties1 and lives of their fellow-creatures1 though belonging to the unhappy tribes of ,gipsies2 and above all1 let us hope1 that such measures will be pursued by the good and benevolent of this highly favoured land1 as will place them in situations where they will learn to fear ,god1 and support themselves honestly in the sight of all men4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,of the formation of the ,southampton ,committee1 and the success that has attended its endeavours4 ,although the ,gipsies1 on account of their unsettled habits1 their disposition to evil practices1 and that ignorance of true religion1 which is inseparably connected with a life remote from all the forms of external worship1 and from the influence of religious society1 may be said to be in a most lamentably wretched state2 yet is their condition not desperate4 ,they are rational beings1 and have many feelings honourable to human nature4 ,they are not as the heathens of other countries1 addicted to any system of idolatry2 and what is of infinite encouragement1 they inhabit a land of ,bibles and of ,christian ministers2 and1 although at present1 they derive so little benefit from these advantages1 there are many of them willing to receive instruction4 ,the following details1 to which ,i gladly turn1 will shew that1 when patient and persevering means are used1 ,gipsies may be brought to know ,god2 and no body of people were ever yet converted to ,christianity without means4 ,the following circumstances gave rise to the idea of forming a society for the improvement of this people4 ,in ,march1 #ahbg1 during the ,lent ,assizes1 the author was in ,winchester1 and wishing to speak with the sheriff's chaplain1 he went to the court for that purpose4 ,he happened to enter just as the judge was passing sentence of death on two unhappy men4 ,to one he held out the hope of mercy2 but to the other1 a poor ,gipsy1 who was convicted of horse-stealing1 he said1 no hope could be given4 ,the young man1 for he was but a youth1 immediately fell on his knees1 and with uplifted hands and eyes1 apparently unconscious of any persons being present but the judge and himself1 addressed him as follows3 ,oh6 my ,lord1 save my life6 ,the judge replied1 ,no2 you can have no mercy in this world3 ,i and my brother judges have come to the determination to execute horse-stealers1 especially ,gipsies1 because of the increase of the crime4 ,the suppliant1 still on his knees1 entreated--,do1 my ,lord ,judge1 save my life6 do1 for ,god's sake1 for my wife's sake1 for my baby's sake6 ,no1 replied the judge1 ,i cannot3 you should have thought of your wife and children before4 ,he then ordered him to be taken away1 and the poor fellow was rudely dragged from his earthly judge4 ,it is hoped1 as a penitent sinner1 he obtained the more needful mercy of ,god1 through the abounding grace of ,christ4 ,after this scene1 the author could not remain in court4 ,as he returned1 he found the mournful intelligence had been communicated to some ,gipsies who had been waiting without1 anxious to learn the fate of their companion4 ,they seemed distracted4 ,on the outside of the court1 seated on the ground1 appeared an old woman1 and a very young one1 and with them two children1 the eldest three years1 and the other an infant but fourteen days old4 ,the former sat by its mother's side1 alike unconscious of her bitter agonies1 and of her father's despair4 ,the old woman held the infant tenderly in her arms1 and endeavoured to comfort its weeping mother1 soon to be a widow under circumstances the most melancholy4 ,my dear1 don't cry1 said she1 remember you have this dear little baby4 ,impelled by the sympathies of pity and a sense of duty1 the author spoke to them on the evil of sin1 and expressed his hope that the melancholy event would prove a warning to them1 and to all their people4 ,the poor man was executed about a fortnight after his condemnation4 ,this sad scene1 together with ,hoyland's ,survey of the ,gipsies1 which the author read about this time1 combined to make a deep impression on his mind1 and awaken an earnest desire which has never since decreased1 to assist and improve this greatly neglected people4 ,the more he contemplated their condition and necessities1 the difficulties in the way of their reformation continued to lessen1 and his hope of success1 in case any thing could be done for them1 became more and more confirmed4 ,he could not forget the poor young widow whom he had seen in such deep distress at ,winchester1 and was led to resolve1 if he should meet her again1 to offer to provide for her children4 ,some weeks elapsed before he could hear any thing of her1 till one day he saw the old woman sitting on the ground at the entrance of ,southampton1 with the widow's infant on her knee4 ,where is your daughter8 he inquired4 ,sir1 she replied1 ,she is my niece2 she is gone into the town4 ,will you desire her to call at my house8 ,i will1 sir1 said the poor old woman1 to whom the author gave his address4 ,in about an hour after this conversation1 the widow and her aunt appeared4 ,after inviting them to sit down1 he addressed the young woman thus3--,my good woman1 you are now a poor widow1 and ,i wished to see you1 to tell you that ,i would be your friend4 ,i will take your children1 if you will let me have them1 and be a father to them1 and educate them2 and1 when old enough to work1 will have them taught some honest trade4 ,thank you1 sir1 said she2 but ,i don't like to part with my children4 ,the chaplain at the prison offered to take my oldest1 and to send her to ,london to be taken care of2 but ,i could not often see her there4 ,i replied1 ,i commend you for not parting with her1 unless you could occasionally see her2 for ,i suppose you love your children dearly4 ,oh6 yes1 sir1 said the widow4 ,the old aunt also added1 ,our people set great store by their children4 ,well1 ,i replied1 ,i do not wish you to determine on this business hastily2 it is a weighty one4 ,you had better take a fortnight for consideration1 and then give me a second call4 ,how improbable did it then appear that this interview would ultimately lead to so much good to many of her people6 ,when the fortnight expired1 the widow and her aunt again appeared1 when the following conversation took place4 ,i am glad you are come again1 said their friend4 ,yes1 replied the widow1 and ,i will now let you have my ,betsy2 and the aunt immediately added1 pointing to one of her grand-children1 ,i will let you have my little deary1 if you will take care of her4 ,her father1 continued she1 was condemned to die1 but is transported for life1 and her mother now lives with another man4 ,the proposal was readily accepted2 and three days after1 these two children were brought washed very clean1 and dressed in their best clothes4 ,it was promised the women1 that they should see their children whenever they chose1 and all parties were pleased4 ,the eldest of these children was six years of age2 the widow's little daughter1 only three4 ,the first day they amused themselves with running up and down stairs1 and through the rooms of the house4 ,but when put to bed at night1 they cried for two hours1 saying that the house would fall upon them4 ,they had never spent a day in a house before1 and were at night like birds that had been decoyed1 and then robbed of their liberty4 ,a few kisses and some promises at length quieted them1 and they went to sleep4 ,after remaining with the author three days1 they were removed to one of the ,infants' ,schools1 where they were often visited by the widow and her aunt4 ,soon after this the eldest girl was taken ill4 ,a medical gentleman attended her at the tent1 a little way from the town1 whither her grandmother had begged to remove her for change of air4 ,but the sickness of this child was unto death4 ,she was a lovely and affectionate girl1 notwithstanding the disadvantages under which she had necessarily laboured4 ,when on her bed1 in the tent1 suffering much pain1 she was asked by a gentleman1 ,although you love ,mr ,crabb so much1 would you rather live with him1 or die1 and go to ,jesus8 ,she answered1 ,i would rather die and go to ,jesus4 ,her death very much affected her grandmother4 ,she would not leave the corpse1 which she often affectionately embraced1 till persuaded she would endanger her own life4 ,this appeared a melancholy event to all who wished well to the ,gipsies in the neighbourhood of ,southampton4 ,for the widow1 fearing her child would become ill and die too1 immediately removed her from the school4 ,and many of the ,gipsy people treated the women with great contempt1 for giving up their children2 and the prospects of doing them lasting good1 became very much beclouded4 ,it was however represented to them1 that ,god was doing all things for the best1 and their spirits were soothed2 and in consequence1 the little fatherless girl was again brought to the school4 ,after this event1 the women remained a considerable time in the neighbourhood1 waiting to see if the little one1 again given up to the author1 would be kindly treated4 ,by this detention they were often brought into the company of good people1 whose kindness gained their confidence4 ,they began to listen to invitations to settle in the town1 and finally determined on doing so4 ,even the old woman1 who had lived under hedges for fifty years1 and who had declared but a short time before1 that she would not leave her tent for a palace1 now gladly occupied a house2 this greatly encouraged their friends1 who well knew that it was not a small sacrifice1 for a ,gipsy to give up what is thought by them to be their liberty4 ,a short time before these women removed from under the hedges1 the sister of the unhappy man who had been executed1 came out of ,dorsetshire with her three children1 on her way to ,surry1 where she had been accustomed to go to hop-picking4 ,encamping under the same hedge with the widow and her aunt1 she was seen by the author in one of his visits to them4 ,he found them one evening about six o'clock at dinner1 and took his seat near them2 and while they were regaling themselves with broiled meat1 potatoes1 and tea1 the following interesting conversation took place4 ,sir1 said the widow1 this is my sister and her children4 ,no one could have introduced this woman and her little ones with more easy simplicity than she did1 while1 by the smile on her swarthy countenance1 she exhibited real heartfelt pleasure4 ,i am glad to see you1 my good woman2 said the author1 are these your children8 ,yes1 sir1 replied she1 very cheerfully4 ,and where are you going8 ,i am going into ,surry1 sir4 ,have you not many difficulties to trouble you in your way of life8 ,yes1 sir1 answered she4 ,the author continued1 ,i wish you would let me have your children to provide for and educate4 ,not ,i1 indeed1 she replied sharply2 others may part with their children1 if they like1 but ,i will never part with mine4 ,well1 my good woman1 the offer to educate them has done no harm3 let me hope it will do good4 ,i would have you recollect that you have now a proposal made you of bettering their present and future condition4 ,you and ,i must soon meet at the judgment-seat of ,christ1 to give an account of this meeting2 and you know that ,i can do better for your little ones than you can4 ,she was silent4 ,the author then addressed these people and left the tents4 ,the next day he visited the camp again1 when the widow woman said1 ,sir1 my sister was so cut up 7putting her hand to her heart71 with what you said last night1 that she could not eat any more1 and declared she felt as she never had done before2 and she has determined to come and live with us at ,michaelmas4 ,what was still better1 in consequence of what was said to this poor stranger1 she did not go to the races1 although she had stopped near ,southampton for that purpose4 ,from this time endeavours were made to confirm the woman's intentions to stay at ,southampton1 and to place her children with the other4 ,she was asked1 why she would not stay at ,southampton then8 ,why1 to tell you the truth1 said she1 for it's no use to tell a lie about that1 ,i don't want to bring my children to you1 like vagabonds2 and as we shall earn a good bit of money at hopping1 ,i shall buy them some clothes2 and then1 if you will take me a room at ,michaelmas1 ,i will surely return and live in ,southampton1 and my children shall go to school2 but ,i will never give them up entirely4 ,she continued with her sister till the house which had been taken for the latter was ready2 during which time a gentleman from ,ireland1 then living near the encampment1 had her children every day to his house1 and taught them to read4 ,the remembrance of him will be precious to them for ever4 ,she came on the day appointed1 and her children were put to the ,infants' ,school1 where they have continued ever since1 clean and respectable1 and very diligent in their learning4 ,they often explain the ,scriptures to their mother4 ,one of them has long been a monitor in the school4 ,may she continue a credit to the institution in which she has been so far educated4 ,although the mother of these children is not yet decidedly pious1 she is very much improved4 ,she is now able to read her ,testament with tolerable ease1 takes great pleasure in receiving instruction1 and we hope is deeply impressed with the importance of personal religion4 ,she attends public worship diligently1 and loves ,christians1 whom she once hated4 ,she weeps with abhorrence over past crimes1 and says she would rather have her hands cut off1 than do as she has done4 ,for more than twelve months after living at ,southampton1 she continued occasionally to tell fortunes for the gain it brought her4 ,but a remarkable dream led her to see the wickedness of this practice2 for it so terrified her that she rose from her bed1 lighted a fire1 and burnt the book in which she had pretended to see the fortune of others4 ,large sums of money had been offered her for this volume2 but1 though in extreme poverty1 she determined to make any sacrifice1 rather than enrich herself by its sale4 ,she dreamed that she was at the adult school1 where she regularly attended1 and1 that while she was reading her ,testament1 it changed into a book of divination1 and she began to tell the fortune of the lady who was teaching her2 and while thus employed1 she thought she heard awful thunderings1 and the sound of trumpets2 after which a tremendous tempest ensued1 during which she fancied herself in an extensive plain1 exposed to all the fury of the storm4 ,she then thought the day of judgment was come1 and that she was summoned to render up her account4 ,she awoke in great terror1 and as soon as she had a little recovered herself1 arose and followed the example of those we read of in the ,acts of the ,apostles3--,and many of them which also used curious arts1 brought their books together1 and burned them before all men2 and they counted the price of them1 and found fifty thousand pieces silver4 ,acts xix4 #ai4 ,when relating this dream to a lady1 she was asked whether she had formerly been in the habit of seeking by any means1 the aid of the devil1 in order to know future events2 it having been asserted that many of the ,gipsies had done so4 ,she informed the lady that she never had done so1 and that she thought none of her people had any thing to do with him1 otherwise than by giving themselves up to do wickedly4 ,the devil tempted them to do still worse2 as those who neglect to seek to ,god for help1 must of course be under the power of the wicked one4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,of the plans pursued by the ,southampton ,committee1 and the success which has attended them1 continued4 ,sixteen reformed ,gipsies are now living at ,southampton1 one of whom is the aged ,gipsy whose history has been published by a lady4 #gb ,there are also her brother and four of his children1 her sister1 who has been a wanderer for more than fifty years1 and her daughter1 three orphans1 and a boy who has been given up to the ,committee by his mother1 a woman and her three children1 and the young woman before mentioned1 who has1 since her reformation1 lost her two children by the measles4 ,in addition to those who have retired from a wandering life1 and are pursuing habits of honest industry1 three other families1 whose united number is sixteen1 begged the privilege of wintering with us in the beginning of #ahca4 ,these ,gipsies regularly attended divine service twice on a ,sunday1 and on the work-day evenings the adults went to school to learn to read4 ,the children were placed at one of the ,infants' ,schools4 ,the prospects of doing one of the families lasting good1 are rather dark1 as they are grown old and hardened in crime2 but the condition of the others is more encouraging4 ,the children1 who would gladly have stayed longer with us1 were sickly2 and it is apprehended1 had not this been the case1 the parents would have continued longer1 that they might have gone to school4 ,two women1 mother and daughter1 in one family1 are much interested in the worship of ,god1 and already begin to feel the value of their souls2 and both regret that they are under the necessity of submitting to the arbitrary will of the father4 ,one of them declared that she could never more act as a ,gipsy1 and with weeping eyes she said1 that1 she feared she never should be pardoned1 or saved4 ,when directed to go to ,jesus1 she replied1 she knew not how to go to him4 ,in three days they will leave us1 and it will be a painful separation4 ,it was very gratifying to the author to see so many ,gipsies attend the house of ,god1 and he frequently recollected with pleasure1 that promise of holy ,scripture1 ,for as the rain cometh down1 and the snow from heaven1 and returneth not thither1 but watereth the earth1 and maketh it bring forth and bud1 that it may give seed to the sower1 and bread to the eater3 so shall my word be that goeth forth of my mouth3 it shall not return unto me void1 but it shall accomplish that which ,i please1 and it shall prosper in the thing whereto ,i send it4 ,for ye shall go out with joy1 and be led forth with peace2 the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing1 and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands4 ,instead of the thorn shall come up the fur tree1 and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree3 and it stall be to the ,lord for a name1 for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off4 ,six of the children are at an ,infants' ,school at ,southampton1 and three others attend a charity school2 and another is learning to be a coach wheelwright4 ,this youth has behaved so well in his situation1 that he has been advanced by his master to a higher branch in the business4 ,his fellow-workmen1 who at first disliked him for being a ,gipsy1 have subscribed money to assist him in the purchase of additional tools1 to which the foreman added five shillings1 and the master one pound4 ,this is a most encouraging circumstance4 ,the aged man who has been so many years reformed1 is a basket maker4 ,he often visits his brethren in their tents1 under the direction of the ,committee1 to give advice and instruction4 ,his sister1 lately reclaimed1 takes care of the six ,gipsy children1 and is become very serious and industrious2 and though in the decline of life1 she receives but one shilling per week from the ,committee4 ,two instances of the gratitude of this woman ought not to be omitted4 ,the author's horse having strayed from the field1 a sovereign was offered to any one who would bring it back to him4 ,several persons sought for it in vain4 ,this old ,gipsy woman was sent in quest of it1 and in two days returned with the horse4 ,of course she was offered the sovereign that had been named as a reward2 but she refused to take it1 saying1 she owed the author more than that2 yea1 all that she had1 for the comfort she was then enjoying4 ,this was the language of an honest and grateful heart4 ,on being compelled to take it1 she bought herself some garments for the winter4 ,on another occasion1 when she was coming from some place which she had visited1 and was detained on the road longer than she had expected1 she became penniless2 yet would she not beg1 lest it might be looked on as one step towards turning back to habits she had entirely abandoned4 ,she assured the author that she would rather have starved than return to her old trade of begging2 and besides1 added she1 the people know that ,i am one of your reformed ,gipsies1 and ,i will never bring a reproach upon my best friends4 ,the young widow was taught to make shoes2 but becoming depressed in spirits after the death of her children1 she has been placed in service4 ,and another young ,gipsy woman has also obtained a situation as a servant4 ,but while the ,committee has had to rejoice over the success that has attended its efforts1 it has also experienced great and manifold disappointments4 ,but its members are not discouraged1 and it is hoped they never will be4 ,one young woman stayed with the ,committee a month1 and then ran away4 ,she was lamentably ignorant1 and could never be brought to work4 #ge ,another very promising in temper and habits1 stayed in a family three months1 and then left them to live again with her parents1 who encouraged her to believe that she would be married to one of her clan4 ,it may be hoped the knowledge she gained while in service may be useful to her at some future time4 ,she is not1 cannot be happy1 and is sorry that she left her service and her friends4 ,the father and mother have promised to stay in ,southampton through the next winter1 which they will be encouraged to do1 with the hope of gaining instruction in the truths of religion4 ,a woman1 her four sons1 and their grandmother1 #gf joined the family of reformed ,gipsies for a short time1 and we had considerable hopes of them all1 the two eldest boys excepted1 who refused to work1 and who grew much more vicious than when under the hedges4 ,their father had formerly been sentenced to death1 but by the interest of a friend1 the sentence was changed to fourteen years' hard labour on board the hulks at ,portsmouth1 nearly nine of which had expired at the time his family came under the direction of the ,committee4 ,his wife intimating that if they were to apply for his release1 it might be granted1 and that then he might govern the boys1 and make them work1 his liberty was obtained4 ,but within three days afterwards1 he declared he would not constrain any of his children to labour2 they might do it or not1 as they pleased4 ,and1 in the course of the week1 he took them all away and went to ,brighton4 ,a lady then staying at that place1 and who had known this family at ,southampton1 sent to the place where the ,gipsies usually encamp1 hoping to recall some of them to a sense of their duty1 but was informed that the whole of the party had set off a few days before4 ,early on the following morning1 a ,gipsy called at the house of this lady1 and offered to tell the fortunes of the servants4 ,she was asked if she knew the woman who was enquired for the preceding day8 ,she replied1 that she was the very person4 ,on hearing by whose servant she was addressed1 she became almost speechless with shame1 and said1 ,i would rather have met the king4 ,on recovering1 she expressed great delight and gratitude that she was not forgotten by the lady1 and declared she had been very unhappy since she had left ,southampton1 and that the sin of fortune-telling greatly distressed her mind2 but that she knew not how to support her family without it4 ,they had undergone many hardships4 ,the little boys1 she said1 had frequently amused themselves with trying to spell the different things about their tent1 and were often wishing for their ,southampton fire4 ,the next morning she brought them to see their kind benefactress4 ,the youngest of them1 a fine promising boy1 both as to talent and disposition1 was overjoyed at the meeting2 his little eyes were filled with tears1 and he could scarcely speak4 ,he and his brother were immediately provided with clothing1 and sent to the ,school of ,industry2 where1 in addition to the religious instruction given them1 they were taught reading1 writing1 arithmetic1 digging1 c4 ,their master has been much pleased with their progress4 ,the mother was afterwards induced to stay at ,brighton1 being allowed a small sum weekly4 ,she has been taught to read by some kind friends1 and many hopes are entertained of her conversion to ,god4 ,a letter has lately been received1 which gives a very interesting account of her increase in knowledge and improvement in morals4 ,a very promising ,gipsy youth1 who was placed with a coach-maker in ,southampton1 after working some time1 cut his hand1 and then relinquished his employment1 to wander with his father1 who is a rat-catcher4 ,but it is hoped that he1 as well as others of his brethren who have returned to their former courses1 will be brought back1 or find some other desirable and permanent abode2 that what has been done by this society may not ultimately be lost4 ,indeed1 while writing this1 ,i am happy to be able to state1 that the morals of this young man appear very correct1 and that he has1 by constant application1 learned to read tolerably well since he left ,southampton4 ,he supports himself by selling brushes1 lines1 and corks1 but talks very seriously of giving up his wandering habits to return to us again4 ,among the reclaimed ,gipsies are three women who were notorious fortune-tellers1 and who doubtless have done much injury to the morals of society4 ,they are now very promising2 and there is a fair prospect of their children being saved from much sin and misery1 as they are placed at ,infants' ,schools1 where they are gradually acquiring useful scriptural knowledge1 and correctness of habits2 in which1 if they persevere1 by the grace of the ,redeemer1 their present and everlasting welfare will be secured4 ,such examples of success amply repay the ,committee for the trouble and expense already bestowed on the ,gipsies2 and it is hoped its members will be stimulated to every exertion in their power by the good done to those in a state of reformation and improvement1 that the whole wandering race may be led into the right way4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,of the plans pursued by the ,southampton ,committee1 and the success which has attended them1 continued4 ,a gipsy woman1 of whose reformation we have already taken some notice1 having gone to solicit the assistance of the parish to which one of her children belonged1 met with many difficulties and troubles4 ,she was not at this time destitute of the knowledge of religion4 ,she had learned to read1 and had become acquainted with the ,scriptures1 at an adult school1 and by attending at a place of worship2 and these instructions were not thrown away on her2 for although she was frequently invited to eat and drink in the tents of the ,gipsies on her journey1 she conscientiously refused1 fearing that what they were partaking of might not be honestly obtained4 ,she informed them that her ,testament had taught her better habits than those she had formerly known4 ,her children helped to keep alive her religious impressions4 ,they often talked to her about the school from which she had taken them1 of their lessons1 and the observations of the master and mistress1 on different parts of the ,scriptures1 and at other times they catechised each other on the objects that presented themselves on the road1 in the same way they had been used to in the ,infants' ,schools2 to which they often begged their mother to let them return4 ,these circumstances1 she has since said1 made her so miserable that she felt she could not live as she had done4 ,some time after this1 she made a visit to a parish in which another of her children was born1 near ,basingstoke4 ,she entered the cottage of an old couple who sold fruit1 c4 ,tea being proposed1 the old woman expressed her surprise that she had not seen her visitor for so long a time1 saying she was glad she was come1 as she wanted her to tell her many things1 meaning future events4 ,she mentioned a great deal that another ,gipsy woman had told her1 on which the reformed one exclaimed--,don't believe her1 dame4 ,it is all lies4 ,she knows no more about it than you do4 ,if you trust to what she says1 you will be deceived4 ,the old woman was still more surprised1 and asked how she1 who had so often told their fortunes1 and had promised them such good luck1 could be so much altered8 ,the woman taking her ,testament from her bosom1 replied1 ,i have learned from this blessed book1 and from my kind friends1 that all liars shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with brimstone and fire2 and rather than tell fortunes again1 ,i would starve4 ,she then opened her book and began reading a chapter1 endeavouring to explain as she read1 at which her host and hostess began to weep4 ,she told them that though she knew she had been a great sinner1 and was one still1 yet she never had felt so happy as then4 ,the old woman observed1 that she could not say she was happy1 and wished to know what she must do to feel happy4 ,the ,gipsy replied1 you must leave off selling on ,sundays1 and go to a place of worship1 and learn to read the ,testament1 and to pray1 and then you will become happy4 ,this poor ,gipsy woman1 who was so anxious to instruct those she had many times deceived1 was soon after taken sick1 at which time her distress of soul was very great2 and she then said1 were she to die1 her soul could not go to heaven4 ,many were her temptations1 while in great poverty1 to renew the practice of fortune-telling4 ,several genteel parties have visited her1 and sometimes offered her gold1 tempting her to begin again the sins she had for ever given up2 but1 much to her credit1 she at all times resolutely refused all such unholy gain4 ,at one time some very gay young women called on her1 desiring to have their fortunes told4 ,her ,testament lay on the table1 which she had but a short time before been reading1 and pointing to it1 she said--,that book1 and that only1 will tell your fortunes2 for it is ,god's book2 it is his own word4 ,she reproved them for their sin1 and said1 the ,bible had told her1 all unrighteousness is sin4 ,they then requested she would not tell any one that they had called upon her4 ,she replied--,oh6 you fear man more than ,god6 ,a few days since1 this reformed woman was sweeping the pavement in front of her house1 when two female servants came up1 enquiring for the house of the fortune-teller2 mourning over them for their folly1 she said--,my dears1 she cannot tell your fortunes4 ,i have been a professed fortune-teller1 and have deceived hundreds4 ,she succeeded in persuading them to go home4 ,at a meeting of ,gipsies held at a gentleman's house1 ,jan4 #ahcj1 the youngest child of this woman said to her mother1 ,mammy1 who be all these folks8 ,the mother replied1 ,they are ,gipsies4 ,was ,i ever like 'em8 asked the child4 ,yes1 said the mother1 you was once a poor little ,gipsy without stockings and shoes1 and glad to beg a halfpenny of any body4 ,it is a circumstance not to be lamented1 that the condition even of a little child1 has been so much bettered by the exertions of the ,committee4 ,in addition to the encouragement afforded us by this woman1 giving up with so much decision the practice of fortune-telling1 the author must not forget to mention an instance of her forbearance of temper under provocation and outrage4 ,she had1 when a vagrant1 a quarrel with some of her ignorant people of another tribe4 ,meeting with them after her reformation1 she was severely beaten by them1 and had her ear-drops torn from her ears1 while they contemptuously called her ,methodist4 ,when asked1 why she did not bring her persecutors to justice1 she replied1 ,how can ,i be forgiven1 if ,i do not forgive8 ,that is what my ,testament tells me4 ,the young widow we have before mentioned1 continued to tell fortunes for some time after we had taken her children2 but it pleased the ,holy ,spirit to awaken her conscience1 and to shew her the wickedness of such crimes1 by which she was led to true repentance and reformation of character4 ,after the death of both the children of this interesting individual1 she went into the service of a kind and pious lady in ,london4 ,for this situation she was prepared by one of equal benevolence in ,southampton1 who had her for some time in her own house for that purpose4 ,she continued in this situation till the lady's death1 and has since been in other service1 where she has conducted herself so well as to prove she is become a sincere servant of ,christ4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,some ,remarks on the ,sin of ,fortune-telling4 ,the author will be pardoned1 he is willing to hope1 by the kind reader1 if he digress in one or two paragraphs in this part of his work1 purposely to expose the great wickedness of prognostication and fortune-telling2 as the whole is not only unsound1 foolish1 absurd and false1 but is most peremptorily forbidden in the ,scriptures4 ,in the law of ,moses it is commanded1 that there should not be found among the people1 any that used divination1 or that was an observer of the times1 or that was an enchanter3 ,deut4 xiii4 #aj4 ,in the prophecies of ,malachi1 the ,lord has declared--,thou shalt have no more soothsayers3 ,mal4 v4 #ab4 ,balaam and ,balak were cursed of the ,lord of ,hosts2 the former for using enchantments1 and the latter for employing ,balaam in this wicked work4 ,woe to them that devise iniquity3 ,micah1 ii4 #a4 ,those who employ unhappy ,gipsy women1 should think on the portion of the liar2 ,rev4 xxi4 #h3 for the person who tempts another to utter falsehood by offering rewards1 is equally guilty before ,god4 ,a companion of fools shall be destroyed3 ,prov4 xiii4 #bj4 ,though hand join in hand1 in sin1 the wicked shall not go unpunished3 ,prov4 xvi4 #e4 ,the destruction of the transgressors and the sinners shall be together3 ,isai4 i4 #bh4 ,it may be safely affirmed that the sin of those persons1 who trifle with ,gipsy women in having their fortunes told by them1 nearly resembles that of the first king of ,israel2 who1 by consulting1 in his trouble1 a wicked woman1 who pretended to supernatural power1 filled up the measure of those sins1 by which he lost the protection of heaven1 his crown1 and his life1 and by which he involved his family in the most ruinous calamity4 ,reader1 have you encouraged any of these people in such crimes8 ,if you have so far forgotten yourselves1 the commands of ,god1 and the curse that awaits you and those who deceive themselves the same way2 reflect1 before it be too late1 on the evil into which you have willingly1 wilfully1 and without the least reasonable excuse1 fallen1 and on the guilt that must of necessity attach to your consciences thereby4 ,should you never meet those you encouraged to sin in this world1 and therefore never have an opportunity of warning them of their danger1 yet must you meet at the bar of ,christ2 and if then loaded with the weight of the sin in question1 how awful will be your condition6 ,yourself and a fellow creature turned out for ever from ,god1 and heaven1 and hope6 ,you may find mercy now1 if you1 by faith in the ,redeemer1 seek for it2 and who can tell but if you sincerely pray for those you led into sin1 but that the mercy of which you part take1 may find out them6 ,may it even be so1 to your everlasting comfort6 ,some have supposed that this contemptible practice was first introduced into ,europe by the ,gipsies3 but such persons are greatly mistaken4 ,in the dark ages of superstition1 in which this wandering people came to our part of the world1 prognostication and fortune-telling were carried on to an infinite extent2 and so enraged were the deceivers of those days against the ,gipsies1 that they proclaimed they knew nothing of the art2 that they were deceivers and impostors4 ,it were well if the ,gipsies were now the only persons addicted to such wickedness2 but this is not the case2 for it is well known that almost every town is cursed with an astrological1 magical1 or slight-of-hand fortune-teller4 ,there are two now in ,southampton2 and their wretched abodes are visited not only by vain and ignorant servants1 but often by those who belong to the higher circles1 and not unfrequently by those who drive their carriages4 ,to conclude this chapter1 it may be safely said1 that the sort of wickedness in question1 is not only forbidden in the ,scriptures1 and will add much to the guilt of an impenitent death2 but that it is calculated to give us the most airy anticipations1 or oppress us with the most unreasonable despair4 ,sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof2 why should we then afflict ourselves about ill-fortune in future years8 ,if we seek1 as the first great object of life1 the kingdom of heaven1 all necessary things shall be added4 ,and why should we deceive ourselves with gay and splendid expectations8 ,riches make themselves wings and soon fly away4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,plans suggested to the pious and benevolent for promoting a ,reformation among the ,gipsies4 ,as no event happens without a cause1 so no good is accomplished without means4 ,it is in the power of man as an instrument1 frequently to make his fellow-creatures either happy or miserable4 ,and it may safely be asserted1 that much of the ignorance1 depravity1 and consequent misery found in the world1 are occasioned by the want of a united and persevering application of the energies of ,christians1 to the reformation of the most debased classes of ,society4 ,this backwardness to perform that which is good1 with respect to our fellow men1 must be accounted for1 by the want of faith in ,god's word1 and the little influence we allow the religion of the ,saviour to have on our own hearts4 ,it may also be occasioned by the strong evidences we have of the corruption of human nature1 and the little good we see attend the labours of others3 and we are often likewise discouraged because our own efforts fail4 ,on these accounts1 how often do we sigh for opportunities of doing good1 whilst we neglect the openings of ,providence in little things1 which would frequently lead to the accomplishment of most important usefulness4 ,dr ,johnson used to say1 ,he who waits to do a great deal of good at once1 will never do any4 ,good is done by degrees4 ,however small in proportion the benefit which follows individual attempts to do good1 a great deal may thus be accomplished by perseverance1 even in the midst of discouragements and disappointments4 ,the first missionaries who visited ,england1 had to contend with all the frightful cruelties of savage life1 and the more horrid rites of ,druidical worship4 ,but now1 though much wickedness abounds in ,england1 it is1 in a religious point of view1 the paradise of the earth4 ,may all those who wish to diffuse the genuine influences of ,christianity among the poor ,gipsies1 imitate the example of the adorable ,saviour1 who made himself of no reputation1 that he might enlighten the most ignorant1 and impart happiness to the most miserable4 ,it will not be denied that the ,gipsies are capable of feeling the influence1 and appreciating the worth of the ,gospel3 and no one will doubt that the earlier the plans are adopted for their improvement1 the sooner will this desirable work be accomplished4 ,the reader is requested to pay particular attention to the following suggestions4 ,the establishment of an ,institution to supply instruction to the ,gipsies by regular ,ministers1 or ,missionaries1 would be of but little use4 ,indeed such a measure could scarcely be carried into effect4 ,for the ,gipsies1 beside associating in very small companies1 are perpetually driven from place to place4 ,to supply them1 therefore1 with regular instruction1 a preacher would be necessary to every family2 who would condescend to their mode of life1 travel when they travelled1 rest when they rested1 and be content with the ground and straw for his bed1 and a blanket tent for his covering6 ,all this would subject them to great personal inconvenience1 and at the same time be very expensive and highly improper4 ,neither would it be possible for ministers to be appointed occasionally and alternately to visit the ,gipsies in different counties4 ,for it might often happen that1 before intelligence could be forwarded to those appointed to give them instruction1 they might be removed by a peace officer1 or have set out on a journey of several miles distance4 ,benevolent1 zealous1 and prudent persons may do much by visiting the camps near towns2 and the most suitable parts of the day for promoting this object1 are morning and evening4 ,but the most simple and easy plans of instruction should invariably be adopted4 ,to those persons who are afraid of visiting the ,gipsies1 lest they should be insulted1 abused1 and robbed1 the author may be allowed to say that they have not the least grounds for such fears4 ,in ,scotland this fear is quite as general among the religious people as it is in ,england2 and in that country the inhabitants are even afraid to prosecute them for their depredations and crimes4 ,in ,england ladies are frequently known to visit their camps singly1 when more than a mile from towns1 and to sit and read and converse with them for a considerable time1 with the greatest confidence and safety4 ,there is not the least prospect of doing them good1 by forcing instruction upon them4 ,about the year #agdh1 the ,empress ,theresa attempted the improvement of the ,gipsies in ,germany1 by taking away1 by force1 all their children of a certain age1 in order to educate and protect them2 but such an unnatural and arbitrary mode of benevolence1 defeated its own object2 and this is not to be wondered at3 the souls of the free resist every effort of compulsion1 whether the object be good or bad4 ,compulsatory instruction1 therefore1 would do no good among the ,gipsies4 ,but they are easily won by kindness1 and whoever wishes really to benefit them1 must convince them that this is his intention1 by patiently bearing with the unpleasing parts of their characters1 and by a willingness to lessen their distresses so far as it is in his power4 ,such kindness will never be lost upon them4 ,nor would the author recommend their being encouraged to live in ,towns1 except they are truly desirous of leading a new life1 as it is almost certain that their morals would be greatly corrupted thereby3 and they would be capable of more extensive injury to society1 should they take to their wandering habits again4 ,a correspondent of a friend of the author1 has just communicated the following particulars1 which prove the truth of the above remarks4 ,there is in the neighbourhood of ,harz1 at ,nordausen1 a colony of ,gipsies1 to whom a ,missionary has been sent from ,berlin4 ,his last letter speaks very favourably of their disposition to receive the word of life4 ,the manner of his introduction to them was by no means likely to ensure him a favourable reception4 ,here1 said the person who brought him among them1 you have a ,missionary1 who is come to convert you2 now mind and be converted1 or you shall go to prison4 ,the effect this foolish speech produced on the ,gipsies may be easily imagined1 and likewise how useless it rendered the situation of the ,missionary who desired to labour among them4 ,they took to flight whenever they saw him approach1 and thus1 humanly speaking1 there appeared not the least prospect of success1 as the seed of the word could not so much as be sown4 ,but ,,he1 who alone is able to turn the heart1 mercifully looked upon the work1 and directed him to the right means effectually to bring it about4 ,the ,gipsies were obliged to cultivate the land on which they were permitted to reside2 but being quite ignorant of agriculture1 they were at a loss how to proceed4 ,the missionary undertook himself to give them advice and assistance in the work4 ,seeing the success that attended his labours1 they began to be much more diligent in the cultivation of their grounds1 while their confidence daily increased in their missionary1 and they became more accessible and willing to be taught4 ,at last they asked him for what reason the people at ,berlin had sent him among them8 and when he told them1 they were overpowered with gratitude1 and melted into tears4 ,their attachment to him and the friends who had sent him1 became stronger and stronger4 ,in some cases1 it may be true1 the conquest of their prejudices against the missionary1 might proceed from the advantages they reaped by attending to his advice2 and this is much to their credit1 and is a most desirable improvement4 ,it is hoped they will soon be led to attend sincerely to his religious instructions4 ,a gentleman resident in one of the towns of ,hampshire1 was agreeably surprised one sabbath morning1 by seeing a number of ,gipsies at public worship2 and on being induced to converse with them1 was pleased to find that they regularly attended divine service at ,southampton1 and other places4 ,he directed them to move their tents into a more commodious situation in one of his own fields4 ,this unusual act of kindness1 which however required no great sacrifice on his part1 made so deep an impression on the hearts of this people1 as is not likely to be forgotten3 they will speak of his kindness as long as they live4 ,this1 as well as the instances we have mentioned already in this work1 and many more which we may not notice1 shew that we are not without opportunities of observing their gratitude for those favours that have been bestowed upon them4 ,they receive with willingness one of their own people1 who is now a reformed and pious character1 living at ,southampton1 and whom we have named in a former page4 ,they now rejoice1 too1 in the assurance that a great number of good ,christians pity and love them1 and are seeking to promote their present and everlasting happiness4 ,it is therefore much to be wished1 that committees of ladies or gentlemen were formed in every town in the kingdom1 and their attention directed to this neglected class of ,british subjects4 ,an active person might be found in every place1 to act under the sanction of such committees1 who should visit their tents1 instruct them in the ,scriptures1 and pray with and for them 7the latter he should never neglect7 by which means he would gain their confidence1 and would always be looked on as a friend4 ,such a person should not be ashamed to speak kindly to them when he meets them in the street1 or on the road4 ,indeed at all times he should converse with them plainly and affectionately about the great love of the ,redeemer1 in coming into this our world1 to suffer and die for guilty sinners1 of whom they make a number4 ,but all the labour should not be confined to one person4 ,every member of these committees should be alive to this good work2 as also all ,christians1 and especially ministers4 ,but should there not be sufficient energy and benevolence in all towns to form a committee1 two or three who are well disposed to the object1 may unite together and accomplish a great deal4 ,and should there not be found more than one person thus benevolently disposed1 let not that one be discouraged4 ,the single talent must not be neglected1 should it be only the power to give a cup of cold water1 or to speak one word about the water of life to a necessitous and perishing ,gipsy2 for it may not1 cannot be in vain4 ,reader1 are you doing what you can in this humble way8 ,it may be1 you would rather ascend the pulpit and preach to well-informed ,christians1 or visit the ignorant in your own town6 ,this is well2 but the other should not be left undone4 ,the wanderers in the wilderness are not to be forgotten2 the outcasts of society are to be sought after4 ,let us imitate our adorable ,redeemer1 who went about doing good1 and who sought those who were not the least desirous of finding him4 ,as an encouragement to ,british ,christians1 who are alive to the happiness of the ,gipsies1 they should know that there are many among them desirous of a new mode of life1 as will appear by an application lately made to the author4 ,bristol1 ,oct4 #aath1 #ahcj4 ,my dear ,sir1 ,i am unwilling to let a parcel go to ,southampton1 without sending you a line to give you a little information respecting ,h---1 of whom ,i made enquiry if she had called on the friends to whom ,i directed her8 ,this was done by her2 but she could obtain no employment4 ,both ,h--- and her husband conduct themselves in a very satisfactory manner4 ,a young lady1 ,i hope1 will employ her soon2 and1 perhaps1 in time she may get into regular work2 but at present1 she gets very little1 and it is very necessary that the man should have employment4 ,the cork trade is now over2 7he used to sell corks47 ,they can have the loan of a donkey for two months for nothing1 and that being the case1 ,i told ,h--- to look out for a small cart1 which ,i desired her to hire for a week1 and sell coals and potatoes in small quantities4 #ig ,i have felt fearful lest you should think me too busy2 but necessity has compelled me to do something1 or they must have almost starved2 and ,i cannot bear the thought of their wanting bread2 knowing it must be a great temptation for them to return to their old habits4 ,the man appears much altered for the better4 ,he said one day1 when they wanted food1 that he would rather beg than oblige his wife to return to fortune-telling4 ,h--- tells me that her husband and she live happily1 and that they have had words but once since they left their vagrant life4 ,i am also happy to discover in her pleasing evidences of honesty1 as she pays her weekly rent often before it is due1 when she has money1 fearing that she may spend it in food4 ,job1 their son1 has no work1 but ,i hope that he will be able to help his father4 ,do1 my dear ,mr ,crabb1 pray for this little branch of your family4 ,i have received two pounds for your ,infants' ,schools1 from ,mr ---1 and would send it now1 but ,i have been obliged to expend a considerable part of it on these poor ,gipsies4 ,do write to me when you can1 and give me advice respecting this poor family4 ,the author must remark that1 since the above letter was received1 others also have been sent from two ladies in that neighbourhood1 which give the ,southampton committee great pleasure4 ,the following are extracts4 ,i have seen ,mr ---1 and have had a pleasing interview with ,miss ---1 relating to the poor wanderers you wrote to me about4 ,i have had the man and woman at my house4 ,after having heard ,h--- read1 ,i told her 'that the leprosy she had been reading of1 represented the evil of our sinful heart2 that we were born with it2 that it prevailed in every part of the soul2 and that we had lived always under its influence4' ,she exclaimed1 dear me6 ,i never heard the like of that before6 now it seems good for me to know this4 ,she wept much4 ,when ,i told her of the love of ,christ1 she appeared struck with her own extreme ingratitude4 ,her expressions were so simple and full of pathos1 that my heart was quite overcome4 ,she ran out of the room for her husband1 and on her return1 said1 ah6 do talk to my poor husband1 just what you said to me4 ,i found him not so interesting1 but desirous of leaving his wandering life for ever1 and get employment if possible4 ,they have made some flower baskets for me2 and hoping they may obtain orders for more1 ,i have recommended them to my friends4 ,i have heard of another family1 consisting of fourteen souls1 who encamp on ,bedminster ,down1 and there by ,god's help1 ,i intend to send a minister of ,jesus1 to try what can be done for them4 ,there is also another family expected1 who have a house of their own at ,bedminster1 and who winter there4 ,should the ,lord bless our humble endeavours1 we must have a regular ,committee1 and set about our work in a workman-like manner2 nothing short of a ,colony will satisfy me4 ,i intend to introduce this interesting subject at a party this evening1 and hope the ,lord will open the hearts of his people1 to do good to those poor benighted wanderers4 ,the author has also just received from a clergyman in ,scotland1 a most interesting account of a colony of ,gipsies in that country1 where1 ,i am happy to observe1 they do not seem so much hunted as in ,england4 ,and as the severity of their winters drive them into houses for three months1 during that season1 there is offered a fair opportunity to both ministers and kindly disposed ,christians to do them good4 ,the letter alluded to is most gladly inserted with the view to encourage the ,christian denominations of ,england to imitate the benevolence1 zeal1 and industry of their much respected brethren the ,scotch4 ,yetholm ,hall1 ,dec4 #aath1 #ahcj4 ,my dear ,sir1 ,through the report of the ,society for ameliorating the condition of that unfortunate race1 the ,gipsies1 ,i am acquainted with your name1 and with your benevolent exertions in their behalf4 ,as the minister of a parish in which perhaps the largest colony of this people in ,scotland reside1 and naturally1 therefore1 very much interested in any plan that promises to improve their condition1 ,i take the liberty of writing you2 not so much for the purpose of answering the numerous queries subjoined to the report1 as of requesting your advice and opinion1 with regard to what plan might be adopted for the improvement of the colony1 placed1 in some degree1 under my care and superintendence4 ,i have but lately been called to the ministerial office1 and appointed to the pastoral care of this parish2 and previous to the period of my appointment1 ,i had no opportunity of being acquainted with the character and habits of the ,gipsies4 ,your longer acquaintance with this people1 and experience1 may suggest to me some useful hints on the subject1 should you take the trouble to notice this letter4 ,the number of ,gipsies in the parish of ,yetholm is about #ajj4 ,you are no doubt already in some degree acquainted with the ,gipsies of ,kirk ,yetholm1 from the interesting notices furnished by ,mr ,smith1 of ,kelso1 and published in ,,hoyland',s ,,survey1 and in one of the earliest numbers of ,blackwood's ,magazine4 ,and his account of them is substantially correct to this day4 ,it would appear that the ,gipsy population of this place is fluctuating4 ,in #agih1 there were only #ei4 ,in #ahah1 when ,mr ,smith wrote1 there were #aji4 ,in #ahcj1 there are #ajj4 ,and in a few years more1 this number may be considerably diminished or increased4 ,the greater part of them are muggers1 or potters1 who carry earthen-ware about the country for sale4 ,there are two horn spoon makers2 all the others are abroad from their head quarters1 of ,kirk ,yetholm1 from eight to nine months in the year4 ,the history of some of the individuals and families of the clan1 would furnish something very interesting4 ,one of the family of the ,taa's is still denominated the ,king4 ,the number of children belonging to each family is generally large4 ,there may be thirty children under twelve years of age4 ,the parents express themselves very anxious that their children should be educated1 and are willing1 for this purpose1 to leave them at home all the summer2 and farther1 that they should be trained to some occupation different from their own4 ,many of the parents declare1 that they would willingly remain at home1 could they be supplied with constant employment4 ,of late1 the greater number of them have occasionally attended church1 and some of them continue to attend most regularly when at home4 ,a considerable number of the younger children also1 when at home1 attend our ,sabbath ,school4 ,i have likewise assisted the parents to send most of their children to the ,day ,school3 still1 however1 these children are at home scarcely three months in the depth of winter4 ,several families have not returned yet4 ,their education1 therefore1 even were they sent regularly to school1 during this time1 would be very limited4 ,and besides1 by attending the parents to the country1 they contract an attachment to their loose1 wandering life1 which must tend to perpetuate the peculiarities of the tribe4 ,a few weeks ago ,i was requested by ,dr ,baird1 the ,principal of the ,university1 and one of the ministers of ,edinburgh1 to write out a pretty full account of these my parishioners4 ,this ,i have done4 ,the account1 however1 was written so hastily1 that ,i had not time even to correspond with you on the subject1 before doing so1 as my object in writing to you was chiefly to propose some plan which might be adopted for their improvement1 on which you might give me some useful information4 ,in this account1 ,i have proposed that a fund or subscription should be raised for the purpose of keeping the children at home during those months their parents are traversing the country1 for paying their school wages1 and1 if possible1 for giving a salary to a teacher to superintend their education1 and that a small additional sum be occasionally in readiness for paying an apprentice-fee with the boys4 ,this account may probably be published4 ,i am in hopes1 also1 that the ,principal will interest himself in the cause4 ,should the account be published1 the proof-sheet may be sent down to me1 ere long1 in which case ,i should wish to hear from you before that time1 as ,i may have then an opportunity of supplying any hint1 or otherwise altering the plan proposed1 from your kind communication4 ,the sum which ,i conceived would be required for the purpose was about a hundred pounds per annum4 ,mr ,b---1 of ,killau1 with whom1 ,i believe1 we both have the pleasure of being acquainted1 has more than once wished me to open a correspondence with you on this subject4 ,he also is interested in the cause1 and promises to use his influence with others4 ,i think he told me that some more detailed account of your plan was published1 or preparing for the press1 in which various alterations and improvements had been made4 ,this was an additional reason for my wishing to hear from you1 before submitting to the people of ,scotland any plan on the subject4 ,i should wish to know how the cause prospers with you1 and what number you have at present under your care4 ,i am extremely interested for this unfortunate people1 and any information therefore with regard to what is doing elsewhere1 would be acceptable4 ,may ,he prosper the cause1 whose blessing alone can render our labours effectual6 ,i remain1 my dear ,sir1 ,with much respect and esteem1 ,yours truly1 ,,john ,,baird4 ,p4 ,s4--,i have just received a letter from ,principal ,baird1 informing me that my account of the ,gipsies of ,kirk ,yetholm1 will be published1 and a proof for correction be sent to me shortly4 ,it will be published in a new statistical account of ,scotland1 which will ensure for it a very extensive circulation1 especially among the ministers of the established church of ,scotland4 ,another letter relating to the ,gipsies of ,yetholm1 has been received from the same clergyman1 extracts of which may be seen in the ,appendix4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,plans suggested to the pious and benevolent1 for promoting a ,reformation among the ,gipsies1 continued4 ,it is usual1 in ,southampton1 for a few pence to be given to a child who informs any of the members of the ,committee when a family of ,gipsies begin to erect their tents on the common1 that they may immediately be visited by our ,reader4 ,this may be done elsewhere4 ,it may be well1 too1 to buy a basket1 or any other article they may honestly have to dispose of1 when opportunity offers2 but it is not well to bestow money on them1 unless in sickness or want4 ,when their wives are confined1 a favourable opportunity offers to bring into action the sympathies of compassion in other females2 and what gratitude would such an instance of tenderness beget6 ,these poor women have frequently been heard to exclaim1 while tears filled their eyes1 ,how kind1 how good to us6 for favours very much less6 ,the author has seldom met with instances of ingratitude1 though he is obliged to record one4 ,he was interested in the reformation of a ,gipsy family that encamped1 a short time since1 about five miles from ,southampton1 whom he visited early on a ,monday morning4 ,reaching the camp1 accompanied by the old ,gipsy he has often mentioned in the course of this work1 he said to them1 ,since you would not come to see me1 ,i am come to see you4 ,the camp1 consisting of eight persons1 gave him a cordial reception1 the husband excepted1 who said1 he did not want his company4 ,you certainly do not mean what you say1 said his friend2 to which he ungratefully replied1 ,i never speak words without meaning4 ,in a good-natured way he was questioned as to the truth of his being a ,gipsy1 accompanied with the remark1 that ,gipsies were seldom ungrateful for the favours which were shown them4 ,in half an hour after1 he left the camp very angrily4 ,this man had been released from many years' imprisonment1 through the author's intercession2 but having associated with thieves so long1 the worst principles of his heart were drawn forth4 ,before he left the camp1 he said he had no care about his children1 but to feed and clothe them4 ,then you only treat your children as a man does his dogs and pigs4 ,he replied1 that such treatment was good enough4 ,this is a common sentiment2 for the generality of parents have no further care about their children than to feed and clothe them4 ,such persons are not perhaps aware how nearly they come to that dreadful state of mind and heart1 of which this ungrateful ,gipsy so wickedly boasted4 ,after he had left the party1 those who remained attended to conversation and prayer1 when one of the women wept bitterly on account of her sin of fortune-telling4 ,the author has since been informed that this poor man expresses his sorrow for his uncalled-for behaviour4 ,the plans adopted in ,southampton1 for the conversion of the ,gipsies in ,hampshire1 are now generally known among their people4 ,not long ago1 an old woman brought four orphans of a deceased relative from a great distance1 in order to place them under the care of the ,committee4 ,on this occasion the old woman thus addressed the author4 ,are you ,mr ,crabb8 ,being told1 yes1 she continued--,mr ,chas4 ,stanley1 a ,gipsey1 desired me to bring you these poor orphans4 ,the author being assured that they were orphans1 promised1 after some conversation1 to visit their tent the following day4 ,he did so1 and never can he forget the distressing scene he then witnessed4 ,it was winter1 and the weather was unusually cold1 there being much snow on the ground4 ,the tent1 which was only covered with a ragged blanket1 was pitched on the lee side of a small hawthorn bush4 ,the children had stolen a few green sticks from the hedges1 but they would not burn4 ,there was no straw in the tent1 and only one blanket to lay betwixt six children and the frozen ground1 with nothing to cover them4 ,the youngest of these children was three1 and the eldest1 seventeen years old4 ,in addition to this wretchedness1 the smaller children were nearly naked4 ,the youngest was squatted on the ground1 her little feet and legs bare1 and gnawing a frozen turnip1 which had been stolen from an adjoining field4 ,none of them had tasted bread for more than a day4 ,the moment they saw their visitor1 the little ones repeatedly shouted1 ,here is the gemman come for us6 ,some money was given to the oldest sister to buy bread with1 at which their joy was greatly increased4 ,straw was also provided for them to sleep on1 four were measured for clothes1 and1 after a few days1 they were placed under the care of one of our reformed ,gipsies4 ,the youngest child died1 however1 a short time after1 in consequence of having been so neglected in infancy4 ,the children were cleanly washed and newly clothed1 before they were removed from the common4 ,perhaps they had never been thoroughly washed before4 ,the oldest sister would not give up her wandering habits2 and the oldest boy chose to go back to the camp again2 so that the ,committee had soon only three of them in charge4 ,and these were so filthy in their habits for a long time1 that it was very disagreeable to be near them4 ,it is hoped that1 though they have lost their earthly parents1 they may be led1 through this event1 to ,god their heavenly ,father4 ,these children were soon baptized1 and two of them are improving at one of the ,infants' ,schools4 ,a short account of their parents may not be out of place here4 ,the mother was a great fortune-teller and swindler4 ,she once robbed a poor shepherd in ,dorsetshire of twenty pounds1 by promising to fill his box with money4 ,their father was a most depraved character4 ,their life and practices are well described in the language of the ,apostle1 ,let us eat and drink1 for to morrow we die4 #a ,cor4 xv4 #cb4 ,the man was the buffoon of their company1 and became more depraved every year4 ,they often had a great deal of money1 which was1 no doubt1 obtained through dishonest means4 ,on one occasion1 he and many other ,gipsies1 entered the parlour of a small public house on the borders of ,hants1 when emptying the contents of a dirty purse into an half-pint cup1 he nearly filled it with sovereigns2 and declared1 they would not leave the house1 till they had spent it all4 ,his wife1 at this time1 who was intoxicated1 was robbed of all the money she had got from the poor credulous shepherd1 excepting one pound4 ,the same man once put #aej sovereigns into his kettle1 to treat himself with what he called1 gold water1 for his tea2 a piece of folly and wickedness only equalled by a fact with which the author is well acquainted1 when an old man had his gold put under his pillow1 and often shown to him1 when he was dying4 ,we need not wonder1 therefore1 that the children of this ,gipsy couple should be so ignorant1 depraved1 and destitute4 ,for money that is ill-gotten1 and squandered in extravagance1 entails a double curse on the parties concerned4 ,but to return to the subject of this chapter4 ,to visit the ,gipsies in their tents is of great importance4 ,clergymen of the ,establishment1 dissenting ministers1 and home missionaries1 have at various times done this1 and conversed freely with them on the ,christian religion2 and it has not been in vain4 ,indeed1 nothing that is done1 through ,jesus ,christ1 purposely to please ,god1 and benefit the wretched1 can fail to produce a good effect4 ,the ,rev4 ,messrs ,hyatt and ,cobbin1 who were deputed by the ,home ,missionary ,society1 to visit many parts of ,england1 to enquire into the condition of this people1 had no doubt1 but that much good may be done among them1 if proper means are pursued4 ,it has many times been proved1 that to attempt to raise them in society1 without the influence of religious instruction1 would be improper4 ,they have not sufficient principles of honesty1 nor purity of conduct1 till they are taught those principles1 and changed1 by religion4 ,one1 among several instances1 may be named4 ,a young female ,gipsy1 remarkable for the beauty of her person1 was much noticed by a lady of rank4 ,she was made to sit many times for her portrait1 was introduced into the drawing-room1 and became of consequence as one of the family4 ,she might have done well1 had she not given up all her prospects by running away with a ,gipsy youth1 for whom she had an attachment1 and with whom she has ever since lived in great misery4 ,if less attention had been paid to her beauty1 and more to the cultivation of right principles1 she might now have been reformed1 religious1 and happy4 ,to those who wish to forward the instruction of the children of these wanderers1 which is of vast importance1 the use of tins with letters and monosyllables stamped upon them1 is recommended4 ,a little ink or paint will be necessary to make the letters visible4 ,this plan would save much expense1 and render elementary books unnecessary4 ,they could not be torn1 as books generally are4 ,the pieces thrown away by the tinman1 if the corners were taken off1 would answer every purpose4 ,to induce those children1 who cannot be got from the tent1 to learn from these tins1 the visitor might promise them an old garment1 or some other trifle4 ,should the ,gipsies conduct themselves properly1 when thus visited1 a little willow-wood may be given them to encourage them in industry1 and forward the manufactory of baskets4 ,and it might be well were a small piece of ground devoted to the growth of willows1 in neighbourhoods frequented by them1 on purpose to encourage them thereby4 ,it might be adviseable1 too1 to give them testimonials on a card1 of good conduct1 when about to remove to another district1 which might serve as an introduction to benevolent persons1 and those interested in their welfare in other places2 and this means would effectually prevent all imposition1 keep up the attention of the good among them1 and would constantly bring them before the notice of christian society4 ,such kindness would be felt by the ,gipsies1 and1 in time1 might produce a good effect4 ,this method has been attended to by the ,southampton ,committee4 ,the great object that ,christians should have in view1 should be to instruct them in the blessed truths of the ,christian religion1 imbue them with a happy sense of honesty and morality1 and then reclaim them wholly from their unsettled and wandering habits2 for until they have some knowledge of religion1 and some anxiety to reform1 they would only be worse by being brought constantly before the bad examples that would be set them in towns4 ,of course1 such a change cannot be fully accomplished in the present generation2 it cannot be expected4 ,but their conversion to ,god will wholly be accomplished in time1 if all ,christians do their duty1 depending on the influence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,from what has been said in this chapter1 it will appear1 that1 visiting their tents to pray for1 and instruct them1 teaching such children to read as cannot get to public schools1 and prevailing on all who are able to do so1 to attend public worship2 are the principal things to be attempted1 in this great and good undertaking4 ,those ,christians who wish for opportunities of doing good to the ,gipsies in and about ,london1 will find many of them in the suburbs in the months of ,april1 ,may1 and ,june1 when they generally find work in the market gardens4 ,in the months of ,july and ,august they move into ,sussex and ,kent1 and are engaged in the harvest4 ,and in the month of ,september1 great numbers of them are to be found in the hop-districts of ,kent1 ,sussex and ,surry1 where they find employment4 ,during the winter1 many of them settle in ,london1 ,westminster1 ,bristol1 and other large towns1 when a good opportunity is presented for teaching1 both to the children and adults of this class1 the elements of reading1 and the principles of true religion4 ,for the information of those who may wish to visit the ,gipsies in ,london and ,bristol1 during the winter1 the author thinks it his duty to name the streets where they generally reside4 ,tottenham-court ,road2 ,battle ,bridge2 ,paddington2 ,bolton ,street2 ,church ,lane2 ,church ,street2 ,kent ,street1 ,borough2 ,new ,street2 ,white ,street2 ,banbridge ,street2 ,shore-ditch2 ,tothill-fields2 and ,tunbridge ,street4 ,in ,bristol they are principally found in ,saint ,phillip's1 ,newfoundland ,street1 ,bedminster1 and at the ,march and ,september fairs4 ,at the ,ascot and ,epsom races1 they may be met in large numbers2 and if a benevolent1 kind1 and zealous minister of ,christ were to visit them at their encampments at these seasons1 and explain to them the facts1 doctrines1 and blessings of the ,gospel1 much good might be done4 ,the morning would be the happiest time to visit these ,gipsies1 as they are too often at races1 inebriated before night4 ,it is presumed little could be said to profit them in a state of intoxication1 and many of the women are then employed either in swindling or fortune-telling4 ,should the sympathies of the ,british public be efficiently directed to the ,gipsies of this country1 it may call forth the zeal of other nations to improve their still more degraded condition on the ,continent1 where more than half a million of them wander1 ignorant as the heathens of all that is necessary to salvation4 ,those of this country loudly call upon us for instruction1 which may easily be given them4 ,let all who have either time1 money1 or ability1 give a helping hand2 and1 above all1 assist by their unfeigned and earnest prayers4 ,it may be very advisable to pray publicly for them in places of worship1 and at the family altar1 after visiting them in the highways and hedges4 ,it might impress those of them who attend1 with a grateful sense of the gracious care of ,god1 and lead ,christian congregations to think more of them1 and to do more for them4 ,may the merciful ,god of heaven and of earth1 hasten the happy period1 when the ,gipsies of this1 and of all other countries1 shall embrace1 and love1 and be obedient to the ,gospel of the gracious ,redeemer6 ,,chap4 ,,xiii4 ,further ,account of encouraging interviews with ,gipsies1 and interesting ,correspondence4 ,the author laments that he has passed so many years of his life wholly careless of the ,gipsies of this country4 ,having travelled many times through ,england1 he has had frequent opportunities of seeing them4 ,but1 till now1 he looked on their conversion as a hopeless case1 and nearly wholly neglected them4 ,he has already stated the manner his attention was first roused to consider their condition and necessities more particularly1 and he reflects with pleasure on the kindness of ,providence in leading him to witness those events which called for sympathy towards them2 and on the mercy of ,god so apparent in blessing the labours of himself and others in their behalf4 ,the late ,rev4 ,legh ,richmond felt a deep interest in the conversion of this people4 ,to awaken the sympathies and energies of his countrymen to that subject1 he composed the following hymn on their behalf4 ,,the ,,gipsies' ,,petition4 ,oh6 ye who have tasted of mercy and love1 ,and shared in the blessings of pardoning grace2 ,let us the kind fruits of your tenderness prove1 ,and pity1 oh6 pity the poor ,gipsy race ,for long have we wandered1 neglected and wild1 ,esteemed by all people as wretched and base2 ,nor once on our darkness has light ever smiled2 ,then pity1 oh6 pity the poor ,gipsy race4 ,like you1 we have lost that pure gem1 which1 when lost1 ,not the mines of ,golconda #aae can ever replace2 ,to redeem it the blood of a ,saviour it cost3 ,then pity1 oh6 pity the poor ,gipsy race4 ,like us1 you were wild in the sight of your ,god2 ,but he looked1 and he loved1 and he pitied your case2 ,the ,redeemer has cleansed you in streams of his blood2 ,then pity1 oh6 pity the poor ,gipsy race4 ,ye1 who have found mercy1 that mercy display2 ,ye sons of adoption1 your origin trace2 ,and then sure you cannot your face turn away1 ,but will pity and pray for the poor ,gipsy race2 ,that we may form part of that numerous throng1 ,redeemed from destruction by infinite grace2 ,and mingle with you in the heavenly song2 ,then pity1 oh6 pity the poor ,gipsy race4 ,it has been the custom of the author to have a yearly meeting of the ,gipsies at his own house1 which is then open to all their families4 ,here1 early in the year #ahcj1 those who were in the lanes and on the common near ,southampton1 met many of their kind and religious friends1 who are interested in their happiness4 ,the morning was agreeably spent in a religious service1 conducted for their spiritual benefit2 after which some attention was paid to their temporal wants4 ,forty-eight of them1 all nearly related to each other1 who were at that time assembled in the neighbourhood to renew their family friendships1 attended on this occasion1 and were much pleased with the services in which they engaged4 ,different portions of the ,scriptures were read and expounded to them1 after which they had a plain and familiar address4 ,it was a pleasure to meet these people at a throne of grace4 ,after partaking of bread and cheese and ale1 during which they conducted themselves very properly1 a blanket was presented to the proprietor of each tent1 a pair of stockings to every individual1 and a quantity of calico for changes for the children4 ,there were thirteen reformed ,gipsies among them1 who spent the rest of the day in reading the ,scriptures to their brethren at their own houses4 ,these people expressed themselves very gratefully4 ,one of the families1 of whom the mother could read1 begged a bible4 ,some weeks after this bible had been given1 the family was visited in its tent1 when this copy of the ,holy ,scriptures was shewn to him1 who observed many of the pages doubled down to mark the passages with which the reader had been impressed4 ,the father of the family said--,i will never rest till ,i can read that book through4 ,this poor man now attends divine service whenever he has an opportunity1 although he strongly opposed1 at one time1 the reading of the ,scriptures in his tent4 ,a lady1 who was present at this meeting1 asked one of the reformed ,gipsies1 how she had felt herself on that morning8 ,she replied--,i never was so happy2 and1 after a short silence1 continued--,the dinner we had last year1 was much better than that we had to-day1 as it was roast beef and plum-pudding2 but what ,i heard then1 of the minister's address1 was only the word of man to me2 but to-day1 it has been the word of ,god2 ,i am sure it has4 ,although it may be feared1 that to many ,gipsies then present1 the reading of the ,scriptures1 and the familiar address1 were only as the words of man1 yet is there reason to hope they understood it1 and that they will benefit thereby4 ,this woman had an only surviving brother who was killed in fighting1 and whose death was instantaneous4 ,she was exceedingly distressed1 and observed1 in reference to this awful circumstance1 ,i should not have thought of his soul after death1 at one time2 but now ,i can read my ,testament1 ,i am sure that none can go to heaven but those who are born again4 ,and she made an observation1 too1 of the utmost importance1 shewing the great necessity there is for the ,gipsies to be taught to read4 ,my being able to read myself1 said she1 has a great deal more effect upon me1 than it would if another read it to me1 and ,i could not read2 for now ,i ,,am ,,sure ,,it ,,is ,,in ,,the ,,book4 ,she carries her ,testament in her pocket when she goes a journey1 and reads it to her former companions1 when she meets them on the road2 and if they express any wonder at the change that has taken place1 she refers them to the ,scriptures as the cause1 and her kind friends at ,southampton1 as the instruments4 ,the following circumstance lately occurred1 and will shew the improvement that has taken place in her daughters4 ,one of them had been sent by her mother to receive the weekly sum allowed her4 ,on receiving the money1 she said1 ,this is twopence too much1 sir4 ,being accustomed now and then to give her a few pence towards buying a ,testament1 she was told to keep it for that purpose4 ,i thank you1 said she1 ,i have got a ,testament1 now1 and mother has given her's to my next sister1 since she has had a bible2 and my youngest sister had a ,testament given her at the ,sunday ,school3 but one of us is saving money to buy a hymn-book with2 ,i will give her the twopence4 ,this incident1 trifling as it may seem to some1 will not fail to gratify others1 whose hearts are anxiously desirous of improving the ,gipsies4 ,in the autumn of #ahcj1 the author felt a strong desire to visit ,farnham1 where were1 at that time1 thousands of poor people assembled to pick hops1 among whom were many ,gipsies4 ,stanley was sent a few days before to make known his intentions of preaching to them on the evening of a fixed day4 ,while at ,farnham1 ,stanley ate1 drank1 and slept in some of their camps1 by which he gained their confidence and affection4 ,during the author's stay he accompanied ,stanley to various hop-plantations1 where great numbers of the most wretched part of the community are employed in the hopping season4 ,great numbers of tracts were distributed among them1 while the author entered into many free and familiar conversations with them4 ,many were found very much depraved2 but none were more depraved among the ,gipsies1 than many of the other class2 for they were blasphemers of ,god and his religion4 ,one man1 like many of old1 stirred up the people to reject and despise the truth4 ,he said1 ,no one would get any thing by praying to ,god2 and1 if people wanted bread on a ,sunday1 it would be better for them to steal a mess of potatoes1 and wood to cook them with1 than go to church4 ,some of the poor shuddered at his boldness1 and contempt of ,god's law4 ,with much impudence he declared1 that he knew a man who put his dough into the oven on a ,sunday without heating it1 and then went to church to pray that ,god would bake it for him2 but that the fool was disappointed4 ,the minister said to him--,you know that you have told a wilful lie4 ,you never knew such a man4 ,there is not one of these little children will believe you4 ,he appeared confounded at this unexpected rebuke4 ,may this sinner repent and be saved6 ,among the hop-pickers of ,farnham were many ,gipsies the visitors had long known2 and their smiling faces spoke the gladness of their hearts and the warmth of their gratitude1 when they were noticed by their friends affectionately and kindly2 nor had they forgotten the favours that had been shewn them at ,southampton4 ,those of the ,gipsies who were not acquainted with the object the author had in view1 in paying them a visit1 were much alarmed when enquiries were made for the ,gipsies in the hop-grounds2 supposing they were pursued by the magistrates4 ,one youth told ,stanley1 that he knew not whether to run1 or stay where he was2 but recollecting to have been in no spray lately1 he resolved on staying4 ,when ,stanley spoke to him in his own language1 and introduced the minister1 all his fears vanished4 ,the ,gipsies were astonished that any one should travel forty miles to see them4 ,their public meeting was after the labours of the day1 near one of the hop-grounds1 about half an hour after sun-set4 ,a few small candles gave light to a small tenement1 used as a lodging place for the hop-gatherers1 where the congregation was accommodated4 ,a few of the inhabitants of ,farnham1 and some of the female ,gipsies1 who were much delighted to mingle with them in the worship of ,god1 were put inside1 and the men1 with such women and children as could not get in1 stood outside1 the place being very much too small for so great a number of people4 ,the preacher stood on the threshold of the door and addressed the people1 of whom those without could only be seen now and then1 as an adjacent wood fire cast at intervals upon them an intermitting light4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr ,johnson kindly attended1 and assisted in the devotional part of the service2 and some of his congregation obligingly assisted in the singing4 ,on this occasion the ,gospel of ,christ was addressed to many who had never before heard an exposition of the blessed word of ,god4 ,the sermon was from ,psalm lxxxvi4 #e4 ,after service the ,gipsies were exhorted to seek for opportunities of attending the house of ,god2 to beg of some minister a bible for every tent2 and to ask every one who may come near them to read certain of its pages to them4 ,during the address1 many of their crimes were enlarged upon1 and their dread of1 and liability to punishment for them in this world2 and they were urged to call on the ,god of all compassion and mercy1 for help and for forgiveness1 by that all-powerful motive1 that he will never be inattentive to the prayers of the most helpless1 wretched1 and guilty sinner1 when presented to ,god by faith in our only mediator1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,stanley1 who1 after the service1 accompanied the ,gipsies to their tents1 found that the sermon afforded conversation for the whole evening4 ,one of them said1 ,the minister has told us every thing1 as though he had lived with us4 ,another observed1 ,if it be all true what the gentleman has said1 not a ,gipsy can be saved4 ,a third exhorted his children never to say bad words again4 ,the little creature replied--,then ,i hope my grandfer 7grandfather7 will never swear any more4 ,many of them talked of the evils of fortune-telling1 and some resolved on going to ,southampton1 to see the reformed ,gipsies4 ,during the stay of the minister in that neighbourhood1 eighty of them were visited1 among whom was a dying woman1 who very gladly received instruction1 and heard prayer4 ,a minister1 in the neighbourhood1 had been asked to visit her1 but had neglected to do so4 ,the author must not forget to acknowledge the kindness of the farmers who assisted him in the distribution of tracts1 c4 c41 and who solicited that some might be left them for that purpose4 ,this visit afforded an opportunity to contradict many false reports of the treatment with which the ,gipsy children had met in the ,infants' ,schools at ,southampton4 ,it was said that they were all confined1 and would at a future period be transported4 ,this shews how easily people who deceive others1 are imposed on themselves4 ,the following letter was addressed to the author by a ,gipsy woman when she was in great trouble of mind4 ,it is presented to the reader just as it was received1 and may be found interesting to the friends of their cause4 ,sir1 ,i ,hope you will ,excuse ,me for ,riun ,these few ,lines too you1 ,i did ,not ,now where ,to ,cend to ,my ,sister1 ,i ,have ,been very ,il and my ,familee4 ,my ,children ,ave ,had ,the ,measils1 ,they are ,got ,well from ,that4 ,i am ,sorry to hinform you ,i ,have ,had ,a ,shockin ,accedent ,to my ,little ,girl1 ,she was ,burnd to ,death4 ,i ,give ,my ,luv ,to ,my ,son ,job4 ,plese to ,give ,my ,luv to ,my ,sister ,paishince1 and ,hur ,childern4 ,plese to ,give ,my ,luv ,to ,my ,ant ,pheny1 and ,plese to ,lett ,me ,now ,how ,my ,cuzin ,james doos ,go on1 ,plese to ,lett ,me ,now ,how ,my ,unkil ,charls and ,his ,famly ,is4 ,wm ,duff ,gives ,his ,best ,rispecs ,to ,all4 ,plese ,to ,tel ,my ,sister too ,anser ,this ,letter ,by ,returne of ,post4 ,i ,am ,so unappy in ,my ,mind ,till ,i ,do ,hear ,from ,er4 ,dear ,sister1 ,i ,have ,mett ,with so ,much ,trubel ,sinc ,i ,saw you ,last1 ,that ,i ,am ,sorre ,to inform you4 ,plese to ,tel my ,child from ,me ,to ,bee ,a ,good ,boy1 and ,think ,imself ,wel off ,wher ,he ,is4 ,my ,distris and ,my ,trubel ,makes ,me ,think ,more of ,my ,sister4 ,ples ,to ,direct the ,letter ,to ,be ,left ,at ,the ,post ,offis1 for ,haryett ,duff1 ,till ,caulld for1 in ,bristil4 ,plese ,to ,give ,my ,luv ,to ,my ,son ,job4 ,so ,no ,more ,at ,prezint from your ,umble ,sarvint4 ,plese ,god ,i ,am ,coming ,to ,see ,you ,some time ,this ,munth4 ,my ,littel ,girl ,met ,the ,accedent ,wednesday1 ,april #bc1 #ahbh4 ,the following letter1 too1 refers to the writer of the above4 ,bristol1 ,august1 #ahcj4 ,my dear ,sir1 ,as ,i know that you are deeply interested in every circumstance relating to the ,gipsies1 ,i trouble you with the following anecdote4 ,in the month of ,january last1 when walking in the city of ,bristol1 ,i met a ,gipsy woman1 who accosted me with the usual salutation of her race1 ,shall ,i tell you your fortune8 ,i enquired her name1 and then said1 ,you well know that you are not able to tell me my fortune2 and ,i am sorry to see you carrying on such deception4 ,i then endeavoured to speak to her about the importance of considering her eternal welfare1 and of seeking the salvation which is in ,christ ,jesus2 at the same time pointing out the certain condemnation she was bringing upon herself1 by willingly following the multitude to do evil1 even carrying a lie in her right hand4 ,she urged that her trade 7which she acknowledged to be built on deceit and falsehood7 was her only support2 and that she must starve if she followed my advice4 ,i reminded her that she would be like ,dives1 if she gained the whole world and lost her own soul2 but that were she indeed to honour ,god1 by giving up her wicked trade1 because she knew that it was displeasing to him1 he would never suffer her to want any good thing4 ,after much more conversation1 she assured me that she would never tell fortunes again1 and would discontinue her evil habits of life4 ,i told her that ,i could not allow her to make to me any promise of the kind2 for she did not know her wickedness1 nor the power which could alone prevent her from committing sin4 ,i again besought her to avail herself of the means of instruction within her power4 ,before leaving the city1 ,i commended her to the care of some pious friends1 who were interested in my account of her1 and who kindly promised not to lose sight of her4 ,since that time ,i have received very pleasing accounts from them respecting her4 ,they have purchased materials in order that she may be able to support herself by basket-making1 which she has begun2 and ,i trust she has relinquished her former trade4 ,she is making progress in reading1 and constantly attends the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,i hope also that she is really in earnest for the welfare of her soul4 ,i earnestly wish that every one would take an interest in the same2 and ,i should be much rejoiced if the circumstance which ,i have just mentioned1 should be the means of encouraging any one to notice those ,gipsies with whom they may occasionally meet1 and to exert themselves in saving them from their present degraded condition4 ,i am1 my dear ,sir1 ,yours respectfully1 99 99 99 99 99 ,wm4 ,stanley's ,letter to the ,author4 ,hon4 ,sir1 ,as you wish me to give you some account of the ,gipsies1 ,i gladly comply with your request4 ,i am a poor individual of that wandering race1 called ,gipsies2 yet1 by the mercies of ,god1 ,i was rescued from that wandering life4 ,in my youthful days ,i entered into the ,wiltshire militia1 when it pleased ,god to bring me under the preaching of the ,gospel at ,exeter2 and it was the means of awakening my conscience4 ,from that time ,i have often been led to bepity the sad state of the people whereof ,i made a part4 ,i have given them the best instruction that lay in my power1 and by reading the ,scriptures to them2 but with very little visible effect for many years4 ,neither did ,i think1 till lately1 that there were any of them in the world1 that cared for their souls1 till the year #ahbg2 when ,i was quite overcome with love to ,god1 to find that the ,lord had put it into the hearts of his dear people at ,southampton1 to pity them in their forlorn condition2 and now wonder not if ,i am at a loss for words to speak the feeling of my heart2 for1 since that time ,i have seen seventeen or eighteen2 nay1 from twenty to thirty2 nay1 from forty to fifty attend divine worship2 and add to this the many happy hours ,i have spent with them in their tents near ,southampton1 in reading and praying with them2 and some of them that six months ago would not stay in their camp on my approach to them1 but would go away swearing1 will now receive me gladly1 and produce a ,bible or a ,testament1 which had been given to them1 and desire me to read it to them1 saying1 this book was given to me by our dear friends in ,southampton4 ,but1 dreadful to relate1 ,i find some children1 from three years old to fifteen1 who never said a prayer to their ,god2 who never heard any one pray1 and who was never in a church or chapel1 nor have heard of the name of ,christ1 but in blaspheming2 and these are the inhabitants of ,england6 ,oh1 ,england6 ,england6 they are living and dying without ,god3 no wonder if they draw down the divine vengeance of ,heaven on the land6 ,many of these poor ignorant mortals do not know that they are doing wrong by fortune-telling2 and being informed that it is displeasing to ,god1 and ruinous to their own souls1 they will say1 it is of no service for me to give attendance to religion1 for ,i am forced to ruin my soul for every morsel of bread ,i eat2 but if ,god spares my life ,i will leave it off as soon as ,i can2 while others who are both ignorant and hardened in their crimes1 have told me it was the gift of ,god to them1 by which they were to gain their living4 ,surely they call darkness light6 ,many of my people who join in talk with me1 declare1 that if the ,bible which ,i read to them be true1 there cannot be many saved4 ,but they say that a reformation is needful1 and this is promised by them2 and ,i am in great hopes that the time is at hand4 ,oh1 ,lord6 work for thine own glory1 and stir up the minds of thy people in all parts of the land1 that they may help forward this good work amongst these poor wanderers6 ,their ignorance and their crimes seem to have increased of late years4 ,when ,i was a boy1 ,i well recollect their parting expressions1 which was so common amongst them--,artmee ,devillesty1 which is--,god bless you4 ,but now it is truly awful2 it is darkness itself1 for they now ask ,god to send them good luck in their crimes4 ,i myself thought for many years1 till ,i heard the ,gospel1 that ,god was like some great gentleman1 living at a great distance from us2 but ,i had not a thought that he was every where present to notice the conduct of his creatures1 or to hear prayer4 ,the ignorance of my people is a loud call to ,christians to assist2 and1 blessed be ,god1 they find that assistance in ,southampton4 ,the ,bible has often been taken away from ,southampton in the ,gipsies' pack1 and ,i have seen it when they have returned1 preserved with a great deal of care1 and produced for me to read1 with great delight on their part4 ,surely this blessed book will not be idle1 but will do wonders amongst them1 through ,god's grace4 ,i see the effects already2 do you say1 how8 ,i answer1 ,was it ever known1 till now1 that ,gipsies assembled on the sabbath day on the common and in the lanes for divine worship8 ,did you ever see them come to town on a sabbath day in such great numbers as they now do1 when encamping near ,southampton8 ,some of the most ignorant of them are now learning to read the ,scriptures4 ,this is the beginning of good days4 ,oh6 the good this will do to my people at large6 ,nothing of importance took place in their camp all last summer1 and ,i almost fainted under the discouragement2 but of late it shows another face2 and ,i make no doubt but it will spread1 and ,i shall soon see greater things than these4 ,i am1 hon4 ,sir1 ,your most obliged and humble ,servant1 ,,william ,,stanley4 ,p4 ,s4--,on examining the different branches of my family1 ,i find upwards of #bjj of us in different parts of ,england4 ,this poor man1 when a soldier1 and in the habit of attending divine service1 as a part of his duty1 often heard his comrades speak of the text1 on their return to the barracks4 ,he one day made up his mind to bring home the text also1 the next time he went to church4 ,he heard with attention1 and when he returned to the barracks1 he said1 ,i've got the text now4 ,what is it1 ,stanley8 he was asked by a comrade1 when he answered1 ,the #aith day of the month1 and the #ieth ,psalm4 ,when relating this to the author1 he added1 ,i had the mortification to be laughed at by all my comrades who witnessed my ignorance4 ,do not many professing ,christians come away from the house of ,god as ignorant as this poor ,gipsy8 ,or if they have been taught to know and remember the text1 it is all they attend to4 ,this man's mind did not long remain in this dark state4 ,after the above event he learned to read1 and one day1 taking up a ,testament from the barracks' table1 he read a portion of it1 7for so he expressed himself7 ,the sublimity of the language struck his mind with astonishment1 and he said1 ,i will buy that book if ,i can4 ,his comrade asked him three halfpence for it2 and he was glad of his purchase2 although the ,testament was very much torn4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures were scarce in those days1 a copy of which could seldom be bought by the poor2 nor1 indeed1 would the word of life have been useful to them1 as not one in a hundred could read4 ,soon after this1 he was invited to attend a ,wesleyan chapel in ,exeter1 where a funeral sermon was to be preached by the ,rev4 ,wm4 ,aver4 ,the text was1 ,let me die the death of the righteous1 and let my last end be like his4 ,while the minister was describing the happiness of the righteous1 divine light shone upon his soul1 he felt that he was not that character1 and that there was no prospect of his dying happily1 unless he possessed it4 ,this sermon was the means of his conversion4 ,,chap4 ,,xiv4 ,interesting particulars of the ,gipsies1 related by a ,clergyman4 ,the following account is selected from a tract published in ,york1 in #ahbb1 detailing several interesting visits that a ,yorkshire clergyman made to some of the camps of that wandering and neglected people4 ,were the author of the little book known1 application would have been made to him1 for permission to reprint these extracts4 ,but it is hoped he will excuse the liberty taken1 as the design is to induce other clergymen and ministers to go and do likewise4 ,this clergyman1 having fallen in with a gang of ,gipsies on the road1 who were travelling to their place of encampment1 addressed a young female among them1 and found her not ignorant of religion4 ,how1 said the clergyman1 did you obtain the knowledge of religion8 ,sir1 answered she1 in the depth of winter1 the men folks only travel2 the women and children belonging to my family and party1 always live in the town4 ,in those seasons ,i have gone with some of our relatives1 who live there1 and are religious people1 to the worship of ,god3 in that way ,i have learned these things4 ,this was a practical comment on the text which says1 ,the entrance of the word giveth light2 it giveth understanding to the simple4 ,after giving her some suitable advice1 and with it his benediction1 he left her2 but not without hopeful expectations that the seeds of grace were sown in her heart4 ,he next overtook the grandmother and several of her grandchildren4 ,she was pleased at his noticing her1 and answered his enquiries with modesty and propriety4 ,she corroborated what her daughter had said1 and in her answers discovered not only an acquaintance with the general truths of the ,gospel1 but a feeling sense of their importance4 ,she said1 ',i love to go to church1 and do go now1 sir1 when ,i can2 but do not always meet with the right doctrines3 my prayers ,i offer up night and morning1 under the hedge4 ,i hope ,god ,almighty hears my prayers4' ,the clergyman observed1 that sincere prayer was acceptable to ,god any where1 equally under the hedge1 as in the parlour1 or in the church4 ,when arrived at their camp1 he promised them a ,bible1 as they had none1 and directed some of the party to call at the friend's house in the neighbourhood where he was staying4 ,soon after his return thither1 a knock was heard at the door1 when it was announced1 ',two ,gipsies1 sir1 are come for a ,bible4' ,on going out1 he found in the hall the young man who could read1 and a younger brother1 a fine boy of about fourteen years of age4 ,the gentleman who wrote the account1 adds as follows3-- ,their countenances were very animated and expressive2 there seemed to be a ray of heavenly brightness resting upon them2 and while ,i gave them a charge how to read the sacred gift1 they were much affected3 the boy1 in particular1 listened with eager attention1 fixing his eyes first on me1 then on the ,bible4 ,after ,i had inscribed their names in the title-page1 they departed with my blessing2 and what is better--with the blessing of ,god4 ,at another part of the year1 this clergyman returned to the same spot where he had before been so delightfully engaged in attempting to benefit the poor ,gipsies4 ,he found out another camp1 and thus writes of them4 ,on my approach to the camp 7where was a group of nearly naked children17 the ,gipsy girls rose up1 and1 in a modest and respectful manner1 answered my questions2 while the little swarthy group of children gathered around me4 ,to one of these girls ,i said1 ',how is it that you bear such a wandering and exposed life8' ,in reply1 she said1 ',sir1 it is use2 use is second nature4' ',but have you any religion8 ,do you think about ,god1 about judgment1 and eternity8 ,do you know how to pray8' ,she answered1 ',i say my prayers1 sir1 night and morning4' ,i then said1 'can any of your people read8' ',yes1 sir1' she replied1 'one of our men that is not here1 can read very well4' ',have you a ,bible among you8' ',no1 sir2 we should be thankful for one1 sir4' ,on leaving the camp1 the clergyman promised to call on them again1 when the other part of the family should be returned from the town1 where they were gone to vend their wares4 ,on my return to the encampment1 says he1 ,i was met by two men who came out to greet me4 ,i asked them kindly of their names4 ,they informed me it was ,bosvill4 ,the women and children were now collected around me4 ,i inquired who among them could read4 ,captain ,bosvill1 for so ,i called him1 answered me1 ',my wife1 sir1 can read any thing in ,english4' ,i was glad to hear this1 and asked them if they had any books4 ,bosvill went to a package and brought forth his stock1 fragments of an old ,testament1 and an old spelling-book4 ',and what use do you make of your spelling book8' asked ,i4 ',my wife1' replied ,bosvill1 'when she has time1 teaches the children their letters4' ,i now shewed them the ,bible ,i had in my pocket1 saying1 that as it was so holy and blessed a book1 it ought not to be given in an indifferent and common manner2 and asked1 if ,i were to ride over in the evening to give it them1 and to explain to them its use1 whether they would be all together to hear me4 ',yes1 yes2' was the reply1 from many voices4 ,i appointed seven o'clock for the purpose4 ,i then distributed amongst them some tracts1 containing passages for every day in the week1 and also the tract of ,short ,sermons2 for which they were very thankful4 ,i told them that ,i intended to give them a ,bible in the evening1 a book which few of them had ever seen1 and which fewer understood4 ,i was pleased with the modesty of their deportment1 and with their eagerness for instruction4 ,surely they are a people whose hearts the ,lord has prepared for the reception of his word4 ,at the hour appointed1 ,i put the ,bible in my pocket1 and rode again to the camp4 ,the evening was particularly fine3 the sun1 hidden behind some thick fleecy clouds1 had thrown around a mild and pleasing tint2 the birds were every where singing their evening song2 the ploughman was 'whistling o'er the lea2' and nature1 after the labours of the day1 was preparing for her wonted rest4 ,it was a fit time for meditation1 prayer1 and praise4 ,such an evening1 perhaps1 as that which led the patriarch of old to meditation1 when he lifted up his eyes and saw the returning servants of his father bringing home his future wife4 ,as ,i drew near to the camp1 ,i began to revolve in my mind the best way of making them acquainted with the importance of the most essential doctrines contained in the holy book ,i was about to give them4 ,on my arrival1 ,i found that ,i had been long expected4 ,the men1 however1 were not there2 they were gone to water a horse1 which they had lent all the day to a farmer2 but a tawny girl ran with great speed1 barefooted1 and brought them to the camp4 ,i now dismounted1 and gave my horse1 with my stick1 to the care of one of the men4 ,the family circle was formed into an irregular circle round some pale embers1 some of them sitting cross-legged on the grass1 and others standing4 ,i placed myself so as to have the women and children chiefly before me4 ,the woman who could read1 was seated opposite me3 the men1 the tents1 and the package to the right2 while the horses and asses belonging to the tribe1 were quietly grazing at a short distance in the lane4 ,all was solemn stillness2 all was attentive expectation4 ,as ,i took from my pocket the ,bible1 the eyes of the whole company were instantly fixed upon it4 ,this book1 said ,i1 which ,i bring you1 is the book of ,god2 it is sent from heaven to make poor miserable and dying man happy4 ,i then spoke a short time on ,god2 on creation2 how ,god created man upright2 how he was once happy in paradise2 the way in which he sinned1 and broke the law of his ,maker1 and became guilty1 polluted1 and exposed to death and hell2 that to save men from this dreadful state1 ,god devised a plan of mercy2 that he sent his ,son1 and the ,scriptures of truth1 which shew unto us the way of salvation4 ,this was something of the outline of my lecture2 but ,i added the responsibility of men to read the book1 and to seek to understand it4 ,i solemnly charged them1 by the sacred book itself1 and by the account which they1 at the day of judgment1 must give to ,god for it1 to make the most sacred and constant use of it1 by reading it together daily in their camp4 ,in the course of my discourse1 ,i stopped1 and said1--',now do you understand what ,i say8' ,captain ,bosvill's wife replied1 ',we understand you1 sir2 but we have not the same words which you have4' ,in conclusion1 ,i spoke of the coming judgment1 when they and all men must stand and be judged at the righteous bar of ,god4 ,the ,bible was then delivered to the care of the captain of the gang1 and of his wife1 the woman who could read4 ,now1 ,i said1 let us all kneel down on the grass1 and pray for ,god's blessing with this holy book4 ,instantly a female brought from her tent a small piece of carpet1 and spread it before me on the grass1 for me to kneel upon2 and then all kneeling down1 ,i prayed that the minds of these miserable outcasts of society might be enlightened1 to discover the exceeding sinfulness of sin1 and the blessedness and efficiency of the ,saviour2 that the sacred book given them through the influence of the ,holy ,ghost1 might lead them into the way of righteousness1 and finally guide them to everlasting life4 ,when we rose from our knees1 gratitude was seen in every countenance1 and expressed by every tongue4 ',god bless you1 sir2 thank you1 sir2' echoed throughout the camp4 ,the next evening this clergyman went again to the camp1 when one of the ,gipsies came to meet him1 and informed him of the arrival of some of their relatives4 ,i shook hands with them1 says the clergyman1 and asked of their welfare4 ,never was a king received with a more hearty welcome1 or with greater attention and respect4 ,as ,i was expected1 the utmost order1 cleanliness1 and quiet1 prevailed throughout the camp2 and all were dressed in their best clothes to receive me4 ,the arrangement of my congregation was much the same as the preceding evening4 ,i spoke to them of the blessed ,jesus2 his birth1 his ministry1 his death1 passion1 and grace2 and his glory at his second coming in the clouds of heaven1 to judge the world in righteousness4 ,i spoke also of death1 and of the immortality of the soul4 ,i had not proceeded far in my lecture1 before several farmers and passengers1 some on horse back1 and others on foot1 joined my congregation4 ,before concluding my address1 ,i said1 ',it may seem singular to some of you that a stranger should interest himself on your behalf in the way ,i have done2 and it might be expected that ,i should give some reasons for doing as ,i have4 ,my chief reason is a sense of duty4 ,gipsies have long been neglected1 and left to perish in their sins2 but ,gipsies have souls equally precious as others1 and of equal price in the sight of ,god4 ,who1 ,i asked1 cares for the souls of ,gipsies8 who uses means for their instruction in righteousness8 ,yet must it be equally our duty to care for them1 and to endeavour their conversion and happiness1 as to plan societies1 obtain subscriptions1 and send out missionaries to the heathen4' ,i said1 moreover1 that1 'supposing1 when ,i first saw your camp1 ,i had rode by you on the other side1 and taken no notice of you1 nor felt an interest in your welfare2 and after that1 had met you at the bar of judgment2 what would have been the language with which you might have addressed me at that awful period8 ,might you not have charged the misery of your eternal condemnation upon me1 and said1 ,the curse we are doomed to bear1 thoughtless man1 might1 perchance1 have been prevented by you8 ,you saw us when riding by our camp lying in ignorance1 and unbelief3 you might have rode up to us1 and imparted instruction to our perishing souls2 because to you were committed the oracles of ,god1 and you knew the way to heaven4 ,but1 no1 cruel man1 our state excited in you no compassion1 or desire for our salvation4 ,in your conduct there was no imitation of your ,lord and ,master4 ,go1 cruel man1 and if heaven you enter1 let your felicity be embittered by the recollection of neglect to the ,gipsy wanderers1 whom ,providence had placed in your way1 that you might direct them to ,god1 but which you neglected4' ,in conclusion1 ,i again referred to the holy ,bible1 which ,i had given them2 and again repeated the way to use it4 ,after which ,i said1 ,now we will conclude with prayer1 as we did last evening4 ,immediately the same female who before brought the carpet1 again spread it1 with great civility1 for me to kneel upon2 and again ,i offered up a solemn prayer for the salvation of these lost and perishing mortals4 ,the greatest seriousness and awe rested upon the assembly4 ,surely the prayer was registered in heaven1 and shall1 in time not far distant1 be answered4--,come1 and take these heathens for thine inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession4--,when ,i proposed to take leave of my swarthy flock1 it was not without feelings of attachment on both sides4 ,i had observed several of them much affected under my discourse1 and now they manifested it more openly4 ,as ,i shook hands with them1 ,i said1 ',you see1 ,i did not come among you to give you money4 ,i considered religious instruction of the most value2 therefore ,i have endeavoured to impart it4' ',sir1' replied several1 'we did not want your money2 your instruction is better to us than money2 and we thank you for coming4' ,the camp now resounded with voices1 saying1 ',thank you1 sir2 ,god bless you1 sir2' and every countenance seemed to glow with gratitude4 ,the young branches of the family seemed to think a great honour and blessing had been conferred upon them4 ,as ,i mounted my pony to come away1 ,i observed one of the females1 a fine young woman about twenty-five years of age1 the same that brought the carpet from the package1 and spread on the grass for me to kneel upon1 to retire from the rest4 ,she walked slowly near to the hedge1 and appeared evidently much distressed4 ,her expressive eyes were lifted up to heaven1 while the big tears rolling down her cheeks1 were wiped away with her long black tresses4 ,i thought--,here1 surely1 are some of the first fruits6--,thus did the woman1 who was a sinner1 weep1 and with her hair wipe away the tears from the feet of her ,saviour4 ,may those tears be as acceptable to ,god3 may the same ,redeemer bid her go in peace6 ,her conduct attracted the notice of her family1 and she was asked the reason of her sorrow4 ,at first she could scarcely speak2 but at length exclaimed1 ',oh6 ,i am a sinner6' ,then lifting up her eyes to heaven1 she wept aloud1 and again wiped away the falling tears with her hair4 ',but did you not know that before8 we are all sinners4 ,what have you done to cause you so much distress8' ,she made no reply1 but shook her head and wept4 ,the author of the ,,gipsies' ,,advocate1 who1 for the encouragement of his readers1 has embodied the above interesting paragraphs in his work1 sincerely hopes and prays that all ministers of ,christ will1 ere long1 be led to imitate this clergyman in his benevolent and ,christian attempts to benefit by the influence of religion and the word of ,god1 the lost1 and ignorant1 and miserable1 and perishing among mankind4 ,,chap4 ,,xv4 ,interesting visits to ,gipsy camps1 including an ,anecdote of his late beloved ,,majesty1 ,,george ,,the ,,third4 ,the following account is extracted from the ,home ,missionary ,magazine for ,june1 #ahbc4 ,march1 #ahbc4 ,sir1 ,if the following facts should afford any encouragement to the benevolent intentions of the ,home ,missionary ,society1 which has1 for one of its objects1 the improvement of the state of the poor ,gipsies1 my end in relating them will be amply answered4 ,on ,saturday evening1 in the month of ,october1 the narrator followed several ,gipsy families4 ,being arrived at the place of their encampment1 his first object was to gain their confidence4 ,this was accomplished2 after which1 to amuse their unexpected visitant1 they shewed forth their night diversions in music and dancing2 likewise the means by which they obtained their livelihood1 such as tinkering1 fortune-telling1 and conjuring4 ,that the narrator might be satisfied whether he had obtained their confidence or not1 he represented his dangerous situation1 in the midst of which1 they all with one voice cried1 ',sir1 we would kiss your feet1 rather than hurt you6' ,after manifesting a confidence in return1 the master of this formidable gang1 about forty in number1 was challenged by the narrator for a conjuring match4 ,the challenge was instantly accepted4 ,the ,gipsies placed themselves in the circular form1 and both being in the middle1 commenced with their conjuring powers to the best advantage4 ,at last the narrator proposed the making of something out of nothing4 ,this proposal was accepted4 ,a stone which never existed1 was to be created1 and appear in a certain form in the middle of a circle made on the turf4 ,the master of the gang commenced1 and after much stamping with his foot1 and the narrator warmly exhorting him to cry aloud2 like the roaring of a lion1 he endeavoured to call forth nonentity into existence4 ,asking him if he could do it8 he answered1 ',i am not strong enough4' ,they were all asked the same question1 which received the same answer4 ,the narrator commenced4 ,every eye was fixed upon him1 eager to behold this unheard-of exploit2 but 7and not to be wondered at17 he failed6--telling them1 he possessed no more power to create than themselves4 ,perceiving the thought of insufficiency pervading their minds1 he thus spoke3--,now1 if you have not power to create a poor little stone1 and if ,i have not power either2 what must that power be1 which made the whole world out of nothing8--men1 women1 and children6 that power ,i call ,god ,almighty4 ,the night's diversion having received a change1 the golden moment was eagerly seized to impress on their minds the infinite power1 holiness1 and justice of their ,creator4 ,this being done1 the origin of sin1 and the immortality of the soul1 were1 in the second place1 impressed on their minds4 ,then followed the awful effects of sin1 and the soul's eternal punishment in hell1 because of offending this great ,god1 whose holiness could not look on sin1 and whose justice would punish it4 ,representing the soul's eternal punishment by the wrath of an incensed ,god1 never did the preacher before witness such an effect2 the poor ,gipsies1 with tremulous voice1 crying1 ',did you ever hear the like6 ,what ever shall we do8' ,these expressions gave new energies to the preacher1 and still brighter hopes of a good effect4 ,going on with the awful representation1 and in the act of turning1 as if to leave them1 he bade them the long farewell4 ',never1 never more to meet till we meet in hell6 ,oh6 what a dreadful thing it is1 my fellow-sinners1 that we have to part in this world with the thought of meeting in an eternal world of pains1 never to see ,god6 never to see heaven6 never to see any thing to comfort our poor souls6 ,oh6 we are lost1 lost1 poor souls1 we are lost for ever6--farewell6' ,in the act of leaving them1 these poor creatures cried1 ',not yet1 ,sir1 not yet4' ,now was the glorious moment come1 which the preacher eagerly anticipated of proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified ,saviour4 ,asking how long they would stand to hear the way of escape from the wrath to come1 they instantly lifted up their voices1 answering1 ',all night1 ,sir1 all night4' ,then the preacher1 without much persuasion1 exhibited a ,saviour1 in all his sufferings1 merits1 death1 and glory4 ,they were sorry that such a good being should suffer so much2 but the preacher took care to show the absolute necessity of his sufferings4 ,their manner bespoke an imperfect idea of a substitute4 ,this was soon made clear to their understandings by comparisons1 when the master of the gang cried1 ',i see it1 ,i see it6' ,he was asked what he saw8 ',i see ,jesus ,christ getting between us and ,god1 and satisfying our great ,god's justice by dying instead of us4' ,this truly made the preacher's heart glad1 seeing the great plan of salvation was so clearly understood by those who declared 7although in a land of light17 they never heard of ,jesus ,christ before4 ,the preacher sang the hymn3-- ,how condescending1 and how kind ,was ,god's eternal ,son1 c1 and then ended with prayer4 ,they solicited him to return on the sabbath morning2 he did so1 and1 as he hopes1 under the influence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the master gratefully accepted of a bible2 for though the ,gipsies could not read1 a little boy was among them1 who was not a ,gipsy1 that could read remarkably well1 having been taught at a ,sunday school at ,hastings1 in ,sussex4 ,they all joyfully anticipated the pleasure of going to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,carter's ,chapel1 of ,braintree1 in the afternoon1 but met with a disappointment1 arising from an unexpected decampment4 ,about one month after1 in the latter end of ,november1 two ,gipsy women called on the narrator1 earnestly entreating him to go and preach to them1 which they called conversation4 ,asking the reason1 why they entreated this favour8 their answer was1 ',we have heard much about your conversation1 sir1 and we should like to hear it4 ,come1 do come1 and we will be all ready to receive you4' ,asking who they were that told them of the conversation just mentioned1 they said1 'some of our people1 ,sir1 that you were with about a month since4 ,they told us a great deal about your conversation1 and we should so much like to hear it4 ,oh6 sir1 do come to us poor creatures1 for we have an invitation for you1 if you would condescend to take it1 to meet with the ,gipsies on ,christmas day4' ,that night1 the narrator walked a few miles to their camp1 and in their smoky tent preached ,jesus ,christ the only way of salvation1 to these poor1 despised1 neglected creatures4 ,after being with them two hours and a half1 he bade them farewell1 and going behind a hedge1 anxious to know what effect the new unheard of doctrines would produce on their minds1 he listened for a short time4 ,in the midst of conversation with each other1 one of them said1 ',well1 ,i know this1 if ,i could get a house near where that gentleman lives1 and could live by my business1 ,i would send all my children to that school there1 and hear him as long as ever ,i could live4' ,while they were conversing about ,adam and ,eve1 and the evil effects of sinning against ,god2 one of the women said1 ',however1 you see1 all the punishment that us women get1 is sorrow and pains in child-bearing4' ',stop1 stop1' says one of the men1 'that won't do1 ,ann1 that won't do4 ,if sorrow and pains in child-bearing be all the punishment that women are to have1 what punishment must those women have that do not bear children8 ,you are quite wrong1 ,ann2 you women are as bad as us4' ,this led on to a further discovery1 and the conversation among themselves was truly interesting4 ,one of the children telling a lie1 the mother touched it on the head1 saying1 ',what are you telling lies about8 ,have you forgotten what the gentleman said to night8 ,you will go to hell1 if you tell any more lies4 ,let me never hear you tell another1 you bad lad1 for ,god will not take you to heaven4' ,these1 and several remarks about ,jesus ,christ1 afforded no small pleasure to the preacher1 and he hopes that these facts will afford no small encouragement to the ,home ,missionary ,society4 ,your very humble ,servant1 ,j4 ,h4 ,c4 ,before the author relates one of the most extraordinary anecdotes with which he is acquainted1 one1 of which a ,king and a dying ,gipsy are the characters1 he will relate another interesting account of a visit to a ,gipsy camp1 which will1 it is hoped1 prove that such visits are not in vain1 when made in dependence on the ,divine blessing4 ,a ,gipsy1 in great distress of mind1 and with weeping eyes1 came to inform him of one of their people1 who was in great anguish of mind1 and entreated him to visit them at the camp1 which was several miles distant4 ,the request was gladly complied with4 ,on arriving at the tent1 he found a woman sitting in a melancholy attitude on the ground2 and distress and anguish were strongly marked in her countenance4 ,she appeared quite indifferent to any thing that was said2 and kept herself apparently engaged with the sticks and brands around the fire near the mouth of the tent4 ,the man also appeared very melancholy4 ,we learned that the cause of their distress was jealousy on the part of the man1 who was called her husband4 ,the circumstance which gave rise to those unhappy feelings had taken place several years before2 yet the poor man has been so unhappy1 that he has often intended to destroy both himself and his wife2 and not many days before this visit to the camp1 he had threatened to execute his purpose4 ,the author talked and prayed with him1 and exhorted him to look to ,god for strength and grace4 ,their repeated conversations were made useful to him1 and those miserable feelings were subdued1 and he now lives happily with the woman he had before hated1 even to an intention of murder4 ,this is another evidence1 although a distressing one1 that a want of chastity is evil in their sight4 ,a king of ,england1 of happy memory1 who loved his people and his ,god1 better than kings in general are wont to do1 occasionally took the exercise of hunting4 ,being out one day for this purpose1 the chase lay through the shrubs of the forest4 ,the stag had been hard run2 and1 to escape the dogs1 had crossed the river in a deep part4 ,as the dogs could not be brought to follow1 it became necessary1 in order to come up with it1 to make a circuitous route along the banks of the river1 through some thick and troublesome underwood4 ,the roughness of the ground1 the long grass and frequent thickets1 gave opportunity for the sportsmen to separate from each other2 each one endeavouring to make the best and speediest route he could4 ,before they had reached the end of the forest1 the king's horse manifested signs of fatigue and uneasiness2 so much so1 that his ,majesty resolved upon yielding the pleasures of the chase to those of compassion for his horse4 ,with this view1 he turned down the first avenue in the forest1 and determined on riding gently to the oaks1 there to wait for some of his attendants4 ,his ,majesty had only proceeded a few yards1 when1 instead of the cry of the hounds1 he fancied he heard the cry of human distress4 ,as he rode forward1 he heard it more distinctly4 ',oh1 my mother6 my mother6 ,god pity and bless my poor mother6' ,the curiosity and kindness of the king led him instantly to the spot4 ,it was a little green plot on one side of the forest1 where was spread on the grass1 under a branching oak1 a little pallet1 half covered with a kind of tent2 and a basket or two1 with some packs1 lay on the ground at a few paces distant from the tent4 ,near to the root of the tree he observed a little swarthy girl1 about eight years of age1 on her knees1 praying1 while her little black eyes ran down with tears4 ,distress of any kind was always relieved by his ,majesty1 for he had a heart which melted at 'human woe2' nor was it unaffected on this occasion4 ,and now he inquired1 ',what1 my child1 is the cause of your weeping8 ,for what do you pray8' ,the little creature at first started1 then rose from her knees1 and pointing to the tent1 said1 ',oh1 sir6 my dying mother6' ',what8' said his ,majesty1 dismounting1 and fastening his horse up to the branches of the oak1 'what1 my child8 tell me all about it4' ,the little creature now led the ,king to the tent3--there lay1 partly covered1 a middle-aged female ,gipsy1 in the last stages of a decline1 and in the last moments of life4 ,she turned her dying eyes expressively to the royal visitor1 then looked up to heaven2 but not a word did she utter2 the organs of speech had ceased their office2 the silver cord was loosed1 and the wheel broken at the cistern4 ,the little girl then wept aloud1 and1 stooping down1 wiped the dying sweat from her mother's face4 ,the ,king1 much affected1 asked the child her name1 and of her family2 and how long her mother had been ill4 ,just at that moment another ,gipsy girl1 much older1 came1 out of breath1 to the spot4 ,she had been at the town of ,w---1 and had brought some medicine for her dying mother4 ,observing a stranger1 she modestly courtsied1 and1 hastening to her mother1 knelt down by her side1 kissed her pallid lips1 and burst into tears4 ',what1 my dear child1' said his ,majesty1 'can be done for you8' ',oh1 sir6' she replied1 'my dying mother wanted a religious person to teach her1 and to pray with her1 before she died4 ,i ran all the way before it was light this morning to ,w---1 and asked for a minister1 but no one could ,i get to come with me to pray with my dear mother6' ,the dying woman seemed sensible of what her daughter was saying1 and her countenance was much agitated4 ,the air was again rent with the cries of the distressed daughters4 ,the ,king1 full of kindness1 instantly endeavoured to comfort them3 he said1 ',i am a minister1 and ,god has sent me to instruct and comfort your mother4' ,he then sat down on a pack1 by the side of the pallet1 and taking the hand of the dying ,gipsy1 discoursed on the demerit of sin1 and the nature of redemption4 ,he then pointed her to ,christ1 the all sufficient ,saviour4 ,while the ,king was doing this1 the poor creature seemed to gather consolation and hope3 her eyes sparkled with brightness1 and her countenance became animated4 ,she looked up2 she smiled2 but it was the last smile2 it was the glimmering of expiring nature4 ,as the expression of peace1 however1 remained strong in her countenance1 it was not till some little time had elapsed1 that they perceived the struggling spirit had left mortality4 ,it was at this moment that some of his ,majesty's attendants1 who had missed him at the chase1 and who had been riding through the forest in search of him1 rode up1 and found the ,king comforting the afflicted ,gipsies4 ,it was an affecting sight1 and worthy of everlasting record in the annals of kings4 ,his ,majesty now rose up1 put some gold into the hands of the afflicted girls1 promised them his protection1 and bade them look to heaven4 ,he then wiped the tears from his eyes1 and mounted his horse4 ,his attendants1 greatly affected1 stood in silent admiration4 ,lord ,l--- was now going to speak1 when his ,majesty1 turning to the ,gipsies1 and pointing to the breathless corpse1 and to the weeping girls1 said1 with strong emotion1 ',who1 my lord1 who1 thinkest thou1 was neighbour unto these8' ,,chap4 ,,xvi4 ,further interesting ,correspondence4 ,dear ,sir1 ,in answer to your inquiries1 ,i have to say1 that within my knowledge1 little or nothing has as yet been accomplished for the ,gipsies4 ,the ,home ,missionaries have frequently paid flying visits to their camps1 and prayed1 read1 preached and distributed tracts4 ,in all cases they have been treated with much respect1 and their labour has been repaid with the most sincere marks of gratitude4 ,but ,i never met with very warm support in carrying on this object1 but was often exposed to some sarcastical insinuations or sardonic smiles from those who thought the attempt to ameliorate the condition of the ,gipsies1 only ,quixotic4 ,i think their wandering life is one very great impediment in the way of improving the ,gipsy tribes1 and yet they are so attached to it1 that1 when taken into families1 as servants1 they will not stay4 ,nor can any good be done to their children2 for1 like all wild people1 the parents are attached to them to a fault2 so that they cannot allow them to be absent from them even to enjoy the instruction of a school1 suspecting that such a separation might end in their final disunion4 ,were a distinct society formed to effect a reformation among the ,gipsies1 many of the nobility1 and other classes of the higher orders1 would no doubt subscribe4 ,there is a feeling among them on the subject1 and many times the formation of a society has been on the tapis4 ,the ,gipsies are singularly attached to the ,establishment1 and many of them are married at the parish churches2 and it is a pity the episcopalian body have not taken them up4 ,there is a prejudice against them which ,i think is unfounded2 but ,i cannot enter into details in a mere letter4 ,people look on them as vagabonds1 and they seem shy in return2 and hence they continue a kind of outcast body in a civilized country4 ,if any further steps are taken1 and if ,i can in any way assist in promoting your good object1 you may command my services4 ,i am1 dear sir1 respectfully yours1 ,i4 ,,cobbin4 ,extracts from the ,letter of a ,clergyman's ,lady4 ,sir1 ,my best thanks are due to you for your compliance with my request2 and1 in return1 ,i beg to assure you1 that ,i consider your answer to my friend's objection1 as quite satisfactory and efficient4 ,i rejoice to hear that ,god has been pleased to bless the endeavours and earnest exertion of the ,scripture-readers 7to the ,gipsies7 with success4 ,to behold sixteen1 and afterwards twenty-one ,gipsies voluntarily attending ,divine worship1 must have conveyed feelings of heartfelt gratitude to the heart of every ,christian1 and at the same time encourage him to persevere in earnest prayer to the ,father of mercies1 to pour his holy ,spirit into their souls1 that they might become the true and faithful followers of the ,redeemer4 ,you say you would be glad to receive any intelligence respecting this interesting people2 by which ,i am led to suppose that an account of an interview which ,i had with some of them1 may not be unacceptable2 an interview that was highly pleasing and satisfactory1 as ,i found them less ignorant of spiritual concerns1 and to possess better qualities1 than ,i had imagined4 ,having sent for two women1 7the heads of the camps7 ,i received them in a cottage in the town of ---1 and after allowing them some refreshment1 proceeded to put the different questions to them that are inserted in the ,observer4 ,they told me that their family1 altogether1 consisted of eighteen persons1 who travelled about the country in three camps2 that the men found it difficult to obtain regular employment2 that sometimes1 during the winter1 they made cabbage-nets1 and mended culinary utensils2 that in the summer1 men and women were occasionally employed in making hay1 c4 ,these women appeared very destitute of necessary clothing1 which they said they found great difficulty in obtaining4 ,they appeared careful to speak the truth1 alleging that it hurt their consciences to speak otherwise4 ,on the question being put to them1 whether they appropriated to themselves the property of those near whom they encamped8 they candidly confessed that they sometimes took a little straw1 hay1 and sticks2 but no fowls or any other live-stock4 ,they shewed a very affectionate disposition and warm feelings towards their children4 ,the eldest of them assured me1 that if any in their camp became orphans1 she considered herself more bound to provide for them than her own1 as the former needed it the more1 being destitute4 ,she did not object to their gaining instruction1 if it came in the way1 and she wished to be read to herself1 and appeared to take much pleasure in listening to my explanations of the important doctrines of religion4 ,they said that none of their party could read1 but that they were sometimes visited by a relative who was a good scholar4 ,she said1 too1 that she always kept in her possession a godly book1 for the purpose of asking1 as opportunity offered1 a traveller to read to them4 ,she assured me1 too1 7which ,i rather doubted17 that they constantly attended ,divine worship1 when encamped near enough to churches2 that they send for the nearest clergyman to preach to the dying1 and that they never omit having their babes full christened1 excepting in cases of sickness1 when the child is only baptized3 and should such child die1 they obtain the services of a parochial clergyman to inter it4 ,they said1 thinking1 no doubt1 to please me1 that they did not like the ,ranters1 but that they thought well of the church folks4 ,i fear that1 though they had a general knowledge of the ,supreme ,being1 they were sadly ignorant of the most important point of ,christianity1 namely1 the all-sufficient sacrifice that was made for the whole world4 ,while ,i expatiated to them on the day of judgment and the final doom of man1 displaying the extreme and exquisite happiness of the righteous part of the human family1 and the dreadful misery of the wicked1 the younger of them1 who appeared indisposed1 was considerably agitated4 ,they then said1 that they were not in the habit of swearing1 but occasionally did so1 though they were aware it was very wicked4 ,when travelling1 they told me that they avoid breaking the sabbath2 and that they visit all places included in the district through which they wander1 three times per year1 from which plan they seldom deviate4 ,i inquired if they would like to settle in cottages1 and gain their livelihood by industry4 ,they replied1 that if house-rent1 clothes1 food1 and all other necessaries were found them1 they would2 but that they would not settle on any other condition4 ,i am desirous of obtaining your opinion respecting the plan ,i have lately formed to benefit this people2 for1 should you approve of it1 it will be carried into immediate execution4 ,i thought it would be very advantageous to offer an adequate remuneration to a pious person who would devote every half-day to reading and explaining the ,scriptures to the old1 and teaching the young to read4 ,i was aware that it would be difficult to obtain one1 who1 while he would teach the young to read1 and explain the ,scriptures to the aged1 would be wise enough to give wholesome advice to every case of mental distress1 and be gifted to guide the first steps of those who are disposed to be good1 in the way of ,christian godliness4 ,after much anxiety and many attempts1 ,i at length succeeded in meeting with a person most disinterestedly pious2 one who was willing to accede to any proposal to benefit his fellow-creatures4 ,he appears to attach little importance to himself1 but to have much confidence in ,god1 in reference to his exertions4 ,he is really desirous to promote the immortal interests of the poor people to whom his attention has been directed1 and is pious1 zealous and intelligent4 ,he1 however1 cannot devote himself to this work more than three days per week4 ,he will visit all ,gipsy camps for seven or eight miles round4 ,some clear1 forcible1 simple1 religious tracts1 such as are likely to instruct and awaken1 with the ,scriptures1 would1 perhaps1 be of service4 ,i shall hold out rewards of clothes and books to those of whom ,i hear the best accounts1 and shall endeavour to meet them1 a few at a time1 in a cottage1 at least once per year4 ,will you let me know whether you think ,i am doing right8 ,extracts of a ,letter from a man of plain1 but pious character1 addressed to the ,southampton ,committee4 ,gentlemen1 ,it is natural for me to suppose that you expect1 by this period1 to hear something of the success that has attended my labours on the common among the people called ,gipsies4 ,i visit them three or four times a-week1 besides going among them on sabbath days4 ,i go from tent to tent1 and talk to them on religious subjects1 read and explain the word of ,god to them1 so far as ,i am able1 and pray with them4 ,at such times they thankfully receive what ,i humbly communicate to them1 and often1 with tears and gratitude1 wonder that ,i should think of them in their poor degraded state4 ,i hope some of them may be brought to the knowledge of ,god4 ,after some other pleasing details1 this humble person concludes his letter thus3 ,with regard to the children1 ,i meet with here and there one among them that can read1 but it is very little4 ,these children1 however1 are desirous1 ,i may say very desirous to have some little books4 ,to such ,i have given books1 till ,i have none left4 ,i could have given away1 where desired1 and with the prospect of knowing they might be useful1 many more1 had ,i possessed them4 ,upon the whole ,i think there is cause for much encouragement4 ,i am1 gentlemen1 your humble servant1 99 99 99 99 99 ,a clergyman1 a most valuable correspondent1 observes1 while addressing the ,committee1 through the author3 ,in speaking to the ,gipsies on the road side1 and offering a tract1 ,i have never but once met with impertinence4 ,it is probable that the individual had been impertinently treated1 first1 by people called ,christians4 ,dr ,more has well said1 with respect to the ,jews1 ',if ,christians had believed and acted like ,christians1 it would have been a miracle if the ,jews had not been converted4' ,this observation is equally applicable to the ,gipsies of ,england2 for1 if ,christian denominations did their duty1 they would cease to be ,gipsies4 ,,chap4 ,,xvii4 ,concluding ,remarks4 ,had the author availed himself of all the facts relating to the addresses which have been given in different places by clergymen1 home missionaries1 and other ministers1 and published all the letters of an interesting nature addressed to himself and the ,southampton ,committee1 in reference to the ,gipsies1 together with the gratitude they have shown for such ,christian attentions1 it might have gratified many readers2 but these pages would thereby have been increased to too great a number4 ,but1 before concluding this little work1 he desires to impress upon the reader1 the necessity there is of engaging in the great work of the conversion of the poor ,gipsies4 ,why do not all ministers1 and all good people unite in it8 ,may we not conclude that they do not feel the value of their souls as they ought1 if they do not perform all that is in their power for this end8 ,both ministers and their congregations are too lukewarm4 ,we are discouraged by difficulties under the influence of unbelief1 and we often say1 ,how can these things be accomplished8 ,every ,christian is called by his ,saviour to attempt the instruction of his fellow-creatures2 and no common excuse1 such as business1 poverty1 a want of time1 acknowledged ignorance1 and a want of talent1 can justify us in neglecting the attempt to speak a word of advice1 or reproof1 or promise1 to our fellow-creatures4 ,this is the duty of every ,christian1 and if done in faith1 ,almighty ,god will bless the effort4 ,to the magistrates the author would make a most ardent appeal on behalf of the despised members of the ,gipsy family4 ,most respectfully and most earnestly does he entreat them to pity their destitute condition1 when brought before them as vagrants1 and from which they have been so often made to suffer2 for1 sooner would the wild creatures of the forest be tamed1 than those branches of the human family be brought1 through coercion1 to dwell in houses and follow trades1 who were born under the hedges1 and have1 through life1 made unfrequented solitudes their homes4 ,much better would it be for the magistrates to encourage the education of their children1 with the view to improve and reform the rising generation4 ,the author hopes and prays that they may4 ,blessed are the merciful1 for they shall obtain mercy4 ,if we all felt the importance and necessity of discharging our ,christian duties as the sailor and the soldier do in their different stations1 no difficulties would deter us2 but ,god expects every ,christian to do his duty4 ,a celebrated commander once called his officers together1 and said1 ,we must carry such a garrison4 ,the officers said1 ,it is impossible2 the attempt would be vain4 ,the general replied1 ,it can1 and must be done1 for ,i have the order in my pocket4 ,oh6 ye ministers of ,christ6 you have the order lying on your table1 and in your desks1 at this moment2 read it in the ,bible3--,go ye into the highways and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house may be filled4 ,luke xiv4 #bc4 ,the duty is ours3 have we done it8 ,have we done it as opportunities have presented themselves8 ,have we done it as we ought8 ,yea1 more2 have we sought for opportunities to instruct souls8 ,our adorable ,master did so4 ,he came from heaven to earth1 to seek and to save them who were lost4 ,private ,christians6 you also have your order from the high throne of heaven1 in your houses1 perhaps unnoticed2 or1 it may be1 you have not rightly interpreted these orders to their full extent4 ,others may have acted the coward's part1 and thrown these orders aside4 ,would a soldier or a sailor thus serve his king and country8 ,if you saw your countrymen perishing on your shores by shipwreck1 or likely to be destroyed by fire1 would you not be anxious to assist both the virtuous and the wicked8 ,gipsies are perishing around you2 hear their cries1 ere they are plunged into eternity2 and attend to these orders from the ,king of ,kings3-- ,thou shalt not avenge1 nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people2 but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,leviticus1 xix4 #ah4 ,the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be as one born amongst you1 and thou shalt love him as thyself2 xxxiv4 #e4 ,beware of hardness of heart toward thy poor brother4 ,deut4 vii4 #ae1 #i4 ,be ye therefore merciful1 as your ,father who is in heaven is merciful4 ,luke vi4 #cf4 ,for he raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill4 ,psalm cxiii4 #g4 ,therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you1 do ye even so to them2 for this is the law and the prophets4 ,matt4 vii4 #ab4 ,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,matt4 xix4 #ai4 ,and who is thy neighbour8 ,read the parable of the ,good ,samaritan1 and ,go and do likewise4 ,luke x4 #ae4 ,the author will finally conclude by observing1 that ,england will have a great deal to answer for in reference to the ,gipsies of past generations4 ,for1 from a very moderate calculation that he has made1 #aej1jjj of these outcasts have passed into the eternal world1 uninformed1 unacquainted with ,god1 since they came to this country4 ,may the present1 and succeeding generations1 be wiser than the past6 ,,appendix4 ,since the ,,gipsies' ,,advocate was put to press1 the author1 as might naturally be expected on a subject so interesting as the conversion of the ,gipsies1 has had many other pleasing communications4 ,from his ,bristol correspondents he has been favoured with several of delightful interest1 in reference to a small colony in that neighbourhood2 and these state that several of the ,gipsies not only begin to evidence an aversion to their former life1 but increase in seriousness1 and in habits of industry4 ,and happy is he to say1 that several influential ,christians of that city are growing in the interest they manifest to these outcasts of society2 for they are endeavouring to improve every opportunity of affording them instruction4 ,it is with peculiar pleasure too1 the author learns1 that the students of the ,baptist ,academy of the above-named city1 are not dead to the affecting necessities of this poor people4 ,some of the students of that academy spent the whole of one day in endeavouring to find one of their large encampments1 of which they had had some previous information1 and spent the evening in giving such instruction as appeared to them to be the best calculated to enlighten and reform the people to whom they were so anxious to do good2 some of them occupying themselves with the children1 and others with the adults4 ,may their example have its due influence on surrounding ,christians6 ,the author must not forget to mention here1 that he has been apprised by the clergyman in ,scotland1 whose letter forms so interesting a part of the ninth chapter1 that the account he mentioned to him1 as gaining insertion in a statistical publication1 has not been published1 he believes1 in consequence of the death of the gentleman who had interested himself for its insertion in the work referred to2 but that he hopes it may meet the public eye in a short time4 ,and now1 having redeemed the pledge which he gave his friends about twelve months since2 having furnished them with a history of the ,gipsies1 such a one as he hopes will be beneficial to the race1 whose conduct1 condition1 and necessities it narrates2 he will conclude by thanking those kind friends who have unintentionally contributed to the interest of these pages1 and by asking the continuation of their favours1 with a view to give increasing interest to an intended second edition4 ,he would not forget publicly to solicit1 likewise1 the correspondence of ladies and gentlemen who may be in possession of facts or plans likely to interest the public towards the ,gipsies4 ,the author now commits these pages to the all-influential blessing of ,god1 earnestly praying that these poor1 hard-faring wanderers1 whose character he has endeavoured to delineate1 may be speedily rescued from their present forlorn condition1 and1 that they may eventually be conducted to the mansions of eternal bliss1 where neither storm nor tempest shall any longer afflict them1 but where they shall join with the ransomed of the ,lord1 in ascribing blessing1 and honour1 and glory1 and power1 unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 ,,the ,,end4 ,,list ,,of ,,authors ,,who ,,have ,,written ,,on ,,the ,,gipsies4 ,h4 ,m4 ,g4 ,,grellman',s ,,dissertation ,,on ,,the ,,gipsies4 ,translated by ,m4 ,rapier4 ,,hoyland',s ,,survey ,,of ,,the ,,gipsies4 ,,twiss',s ,,travels ,,in ,,spain4 ,,swinburne',s ,,travels ,,in ,,italy4 ,,dr ,c4 ,d4 ,,clark',s ,,travels ,,in ,,russia4 ,,capt4 ,,david ,,richardson4 ,referred to in the seventh volume of ,asiatic ,researches4 ,,sir ,,thomas ,,brown',s ,,vulgar ,,errors4 ,while these are the leading authors1 whose works are either composed in1 or translated into ,english1 it may impress us with the importance by which the ,gipsies have been viewed1 to know1 that nearly #bjj have written about them in other languages4 ,,errata4 ,page ,line #ca1 #bd1 ,for 'would be in a town1' read1 'would be in1 in a town4' #ee1 #cj1 ,for 'dispatching1' read1 'despatching4' ,,baker ,,and ,,son1 ,,printers1 ,,southampton4 ,footnotes3 #aj ,see a late account of this ,colony in a subsequent page4 #aa;a ,see ,hoyland1 pages #gh1 #gi1 and #hj4 #aa;b ,we should not forget that the grace of ,god can change their hearts and morals4 ,the facts contained in this book are very encouraging examples of the power of divine grace upon the heart and character of the ,gipsy people4 ,the reader would do well to turn to the following scriptures--,isaiah1 ,,xi4 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i4 #a ,cor4 ,,vi4 #i1 #aj1 #aa4 #ab ,children1 after grown up to men and women1 have an affection for their parents somewhat childish4 ,a young ,gipsey man known to the author1 when his mother stays longer from the camp than usual1 expresses his anxiety for her return1 by saying--,where is my mum8 ,i wish my mum would come home4 #ad ,some of those ,gipsies who have families1 and a little property1 provide themselves with a cart1 or waggon1 as most convenient for a warehouse for their goods1 and more comfortable than a tent to dwell in during winter4 #af ,should any be inclined to doubt1 which ,i scarcely suppose possible1 the identity of the ,gipsy or ,cingari1 and ,hindostanee languages1 still it will be acknowledged as no uninteresting subject1 that tribes wandering through the mountains of ,nubia1 or the plains of ,romania1 have conversed for centuries in a dialect precisely similar to that spoken at this day1 by the obscure1 despised1 and wretched people in ,england1 whose language has been considered as a fabricated gibberish1 and confounded with a cant in use among thieves and beggars2 and whose persons have been1 till within the period of the last year1 an object of the persecution1 instead of the protection of our laws4--,extract from a letter of ,william ,marsden1 ,esq4 addressed to ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,f4 ,r4 ,s41 and read to the ,society of ,antiquaries in ,london1 #aghe4 #ah ,the gentleman spoke dixen to me1 said a ,gipsy to the ,author2 that is1 long hard words4 #bh ,may not this be a proof of their ,hindostanee origin8 ,there is this difference1 however--the clothes1 c4 of the deceased ,gipsy1 are burnt instead of his body6 #de ,one ,gipsy1 ,i believe1 has been convicted of having some stolen poultry in his tent2 but he had received it from the thief4 ,no other fact of the sort has come to my knowledge4 #gb ,sold by ,seeley1 and by ,westley and ,co1 ,london2 ,clark1 ,bristol2 ,binns1 ,bath2 and ,lindsay and ,co1 ,edinburgh4 #ge ,i ought to say perhaps1 that though this young and ignorant woman ran away1 she did not go with any thing that was not her own2 for she left behind her a bonnet that had been lent her1 while she had nothing more on her head than a piece of cloth4 #gf ,the latter was the daughter of the dying ,gipsy1 an account of whom may be seen in the tract numbered #hjc1 and published by the ,tract ,society4 #ig ,the friends of this good cause at ,bristol1 now think that manual labour is far more conducive to their conversion than hawking any article whatever3 the above plan is therefore totally abandoned for labour4 #aae ,a district in ,east ,india celebrated for diamonds4