told me, that he knew several sensible People who believed these Gypsies now and then foretold very strange things; and for half an Hour together appeared more jocund than ordinary. In the Height of his good-Humour, meeting a common Beggar upon the Road who was no Conjurer, as he went to relieve him he found his Pocket was picked: That being a Kind of Palmistry at which this Race of Vermin are very dextrous.

[I]

might here entertain my Reader with Historical Remarks on this idle profligate People,

who

[3]

infest all the Countries of

Europe

, and live in the midst of Governments in a kind of Commonwealth by themselves.

[But]

instead of entering into Observations of this Nature, I shall fill the remaining Part of my Paper with a Story