e
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 pi