From what has been said in this chapter, it will appear, that, visiting their tents to pray for, and instruct them, teaching such children to read as cannot get to public schools, and prevailing on all who are able to do so, to attend public worship; are the principal things to be attempted, in this great and good undertaking. Those Christians who wish for opportunities of doing good to the Gipsies in and about London, will find many of them in the suburbs in the months of April, May, and June, when they generally find work in the market gardens. In the months of July and August they move into Sussex and Kent, and are engaged in the harvest. And in the month of September, great numbers of them are to be found in the hop-districts of Kent, Sussex and Surry, where they find employment. During the winter, many of them settle in London, Westminster, Bristol, and other large towns, when a good opportunity is presented for teaching, both to the children and adults of this class, the elements of reading, and the principles of true religion. For the information of those who may wish to visit the Gipsies

in London and Bristol, during the winter, the author thinks it his duty to name the streets where they generally reside.

Tottenham-court Road; Battle Bridge; Paddington; Bolton Street; Church Lane; Church Street; Kent Street, Borough; New Street; White Street; Banbridge Street; Shore-ditch; Tothill-fields; and Tunbridge Street. In Bristol they are principally found in Saint Phillip’s, Newfoundland Street, Bedminster, and at the March and September fairs.

At the Ascot and Epsom races, they may be met in large numbers; and if a benevolent, kind, and zealous minister of Christ were to visit them at their encampments at these seasons, and explain to them the facts, doctrines, and blessings of the Gospel, much good might be done. The morning would be the happiest time to visit these Gipsies, as they are too often at races, inebriated before night. It is presumed little could be said to profit them in a state of intoxication, and many of the women are then employed either in swindling or fortune-telling.

Should the sympathies of the British public be efficiently directed to the Gipsies of this country, it may call forth the zeal of other nations to improve their still more degraded condition on the Continent, where more than half a million of them wander, ignorant as the heathens of all that is necessary to salvation. Those of this country loudly call upon us for instruction, which may easily be given them. Let all who have either time, money, or ability, give a helping hand;

and, above all, assist by their unfeigned and earnest prayers. It may be very advisable to pray publicly for them in places of worship, and at the family altar, after visiting them in the highways and hedges. It might impress those of them who attend, with a grateful sense of the gracious care of God, and lead Christian congregations to think more of them, and to do more for them. May the merciful God of heaven and of earth, hasten the happy period, when the Gipsies of this, and of all other countries, shall embrace, and love, and be obedient to the Gospel of the gracious Redeemer!

CHAP. XIII. Further Account of encouraging interviews with Gipsies, and interesting Correspondence.

The author laments that he has passed so many years of his life wholly careless of the Gipsies of this country. Having travelled many times through England, he has had frequent opportunities of seeing them. But, till now, he looked on their conversion as a hopeless case, and nearly wholly neglected them. He has already stated the manner his attention was first roused to consider their condition and necessities more particularly, and he reflects with pleasure on the kindness of Providence in leading him to witness those events which called for sympathy towards them; and on the mercy of God so apparent in blessing the labours of himself and others in their behalf.

The late Rev. Legh Richmond felt a deep interest in the conversion of this people. To awaken the sympathies and energies of his countrymen to that subject, he composed the following hymn on their behalf.

THE GIPSIES’ PETITION.

Oh! ye who have tasted of mercy and love,
And shared in the blessings of pardoning grace;
Let us the kind fruits of your tenderness prove,
And pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race

For long have we wandered, neglected and wild,
Esteemed by all people as wretched and base;
Nor once on our darkness has light ever smiled;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.

Like you, we have lost that pure gem, which, when lost,
Not the mines of Golconda [115] can ever replace;
To redeem it the blood of a Saviour it cost:
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.

Like us, you were wild in the sight of your God;
But he looked, and he loved, and he pitied your case;
The Redeemer has cleansed you in streams of his blood;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.

Ye, who have found mercy, that mercy display;
Ye sons of adoption, your origin trace;
And then sure you cannot your face turn away,
But will pity and pray for the poor Gipsy race;

That we may form part of that numerous throng,
Redeemed from destruction by infinite grace;
And mingle with you in the heavenly song;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.