and then, they exclaim: “Surely we may hope the day is not far distant, when Statesmen and Legislators of all countries, will open their eyes to the awfully important truth; and beholding in a sound and moral education, the grand secret of national strength, will co-operate for the prevention, rather than the punishment of crimes!”
It was not until near the conclusion of the last year, and after the author had inspected some of the Gypsey families who winter in London, that he was apprized of the correspondence in the Christian Observer, which forms part of the preceding Section. The position with which it commences, is worthy of all acceptation, as applied to beings formed for immortality: “The Divine Spirit of Christianity deems no object, however unworthy and insignificant, beneath her notice. Gypsies lying at our doors, seem to have a peculiar claim on our compassion. In the midst of a highly refined state of society, they are but little removed from savage life.”
The letters extracted from the Christian Observer, are distinguished by a Christian zeal and liberality, which must be cheering to every one, who has felt an interest in improving the condition of these greatly neglected partners of his kind. On their behalf, appeals to the public have been subsequently made, as we have seen in Section IX, through the medium of the Northampton Mercury of 1814, by two correspondents; one under the designation of “A Friend to Religion;” the other, that of “Junius.”
Communications from a county which has long been a noted rendezvous of Gypsies, may be considered the result of observations actually made on their state. The first of these appeals is introduced in the following manner: “Various are the religious and moral Institutions in this country; humanity and benevolence have risen to an unprecedented height. Not only for our country, are the exertions of the good and great employed, but at this time the greatest efforts are making on behalf of the distressed Germans. The hand of charity is
open not only to the alleviation of present misery, but such an Institution as the Bible Society, is calculated to excite thousands to seek for future happiness. Yet amidst all, one set of people seems to be entirely excluded from participating in any of those blessings; I mean Gypsies, who are accounted rogues and vagabonds. When we consider that they, equally with ourselves, are bought with a price, much remains to be done for them. These people, however wretched and depraved, certainly demand attention; their being overlooked with indifference, is really much to be regretted.
“Instead of being subjects of commiseration, they are advertised as rogues and vagabonds; and a reward offered for their apprehension. But no asylum is offered them, nothing is held out to encourage a reformation in any that might be disposed to abandon their accustomed vices.” The same writer, in a subsequent letter, dated September 8, respecting these houseless wanderers, remarks: “I was representing the deplorable state they are in, to a person of my acquaintance; and his reply was:
They were a set of worthless and undeserving wretches; and he believed they would rather live as they do, than otherwise; with many other such like inconsiderate ideas; resulting, I believe, from a prejudiced mind, and from not properly considering their situation; and I fear these sentiments are too prevalent.”
It will readily be admitted, that they are generally prevalent: and how should it be otherwise, so long as the great mass of the population of England continues to be uninformed of the motives inducing the strange conduct of Gypsies, who consider themselves under the strongest of all obligations, strictly to observe the Institution of their ancestors. Had Britons been apprized of the origin of this people, and the peculiar circumstances of their case, the national character would not have been stained, by the abuse and mal-treatment which Gypsies have received.
It is very satisfactory to find by the before recited correspondence, an inhabitant of the county in which the Gypsies are so numerous, advocating their cause, by a public exposure of
the mistaken ideas which have so long prevailed respecting them.