The reader is requested to pay particular attention to the following suggestions.
The establishment of an Institution to supply instruction to the Gipsies by regular Ministers, or Missionaries, would be of but little use. Indeed such a measure could scarcely be carried into effect. For the Gipsies, beside associating in very small companies, are perpetually driven from place to place. To supply them, therefore, with regular instruction, a preacher
would be necessary to every family; who would condescend to their mode of life, travel when they travelled, rest when they rested, and be content with the ground and straw for his bed, and a blanket tent for his covering! All this would subject them to great personal inconvenience, and at the same time be very expensive and highly improper. Neither would it be possible for ministers to be appointed occasionally and alternately to visit the Gipsies in different counties. For it might often happen that, before intelligence could be forwarded to those appointed to give them instruction, they might be removed by a peace officer, or have set out on a journey of several miles distance. Benevolent, zealous, and prudent persons may do much by visiting the camps near towns; and the most suitable parts of the day for promoting this object, are morning and evening. But the most simple and easy plans of instruction should invariably be adopted.
To those persons who are afraid of visiting the Gipsies, lest they should be insulted, abused, and robbed, the author may be allowed to say that they have not the least grounds for such fears. In Scotland this fear is quite as general among the religious people as it is in England; and in that country the inhabitants are even afraid to prosecute them for their depredations and crimes. In England ladies are frequently known to visit their camps singly, when more than a mile from towns, and to sit and read and converse with them for a considerable time, with the greatest confidence and safety.
There is not the least prospect of doing them good, by forcing instruction upon them. About the year 1748, the Empress Theresa attempted the improvement of the Gipsies in Germany, by taking away, by force, all their children of a certain age, in order to educate and protect them; but such an unnatural and arbitrary mode of benevolence, defeated its own object; and this is not to be wondered at: the souls of the free resist every effort of compulsion, whether the object be good or bad. Compulsatory instruction, therefore, would do no good among the Gipsies. But they are easily won by kindness, and whoever wishes really to benefit them, must convince them that this is his intention, by patiently bearing with the unpleasing parts of their characters, and by a willingness to lessen their distresses so far as it is in his power. Such kindness will never be lost upon them. Nor would the author recommend their being encouraged to live in Towns, except they are truly desirous of leading a new life, as it is almost certain that their morals would be greatly corrupted thereby: and they would be capable of more extensive injury to society, should they take to their wandering habits again.
A correspondent of a friend of the author, has just communicated the following particulars, which prove the truth of the above remarks.
There is in the neighbourhood of Harz, at Nordausen, a colony of Gipsies, to whom a Missionary has been sent from Berlin. His last letter speaks very favourably of their disposition to receive the word of
life. The manner of his introduction to them was by no means likely to ensure him a favourable reception. “Here,” said the person who brought him among them, “you have a Missionary, who is come to convert you; now mind and be converted, or you shall go to prison.” The effect this foolish speech produced on the Gipsies may be easily imagined, and likewise how useless it rendered the situation of the Missionary who desired to labour among them. They took to flight whenever they saw him approach, and thus, humanly speaking, there appeared not the least prospect of success, as the seed of the word could not so much as be sown. But He, who alone is able to turn the heart, mercifully looked upon the work, and directed him to the right means effectually to bring it about.
The Gipsies were obliged to cultivate the land on which they were permitted to reside; but being quite ignorant of agriculture, they were at a loss how to proceed. The missionary undertook himself to give them advice and assistance in the work. Seeing the success that attended his labours, they began to be much more diligent in the cultivation of their grounds, while their confidence daily increased in their missionary, and they became more accessible and willing to be taught. At last they asked him for what reason the people at Berlin had sent him among them? and when he told them, they were overpowered with gratitude, and melted into tears. Their attachment to him and the friends who had sent him, became stronger and stronger. In some cases, it may be true, the conquest of their
prejudices against the missionary, might proceed from the advantages they reaped by attending to his advice; and this is much to their credit, and is a most desirable improvement. It is hoped they will soon be led to attend sincerely to his religious instructions.