ad legally obtained them. The cattle were then pounded
for trespassing on the common, and if their oppressed owners had not had
money to defray the expenses, one of the animals must have been sold for
that purpose.

Not long ago, one of the Gipsies was suspected of having stolen lead from
a gentleman's house. His cart was searched, but no lead being found in
his possession, he was imprisoned for three months, for living under the
hedges as a vagrant; and his horse, which was worth thirteen pounds, was
sold to meet the demands of the constables. And another Gipsy, who had
two horses in his possession, was suspected of having stolen them, but he
proved that they were legally his property. He was committed for three
months as a vagrant, and one of his horses was sold to defray the
expenses of his apprehension, examination, &c.

While writing this part of the GIPSIES' ADVOCATE, the author knows that a
poor, aged, industrious woman, with whom he has been long acquainted, had
her donkey taken from her, and that a man with four witnesses swore that
it was his property. The poor woman told a simple, artless tale to the
magistrates, and was not fully committed. She was allowed two days to
bring forward the person of whom she bought it. Conscious of her
innocence, she was willing to risk a prison if she could recover her
donkey, and establish her character. After a great deal of trouble and
expense in dispatching messengers to bring forward her witnesses, she
succeeded in obtaining them. They had no sooner made their appearance
than the accuser and his witnesses fled, and left the donkey to the right
owner, the poor, accused and injured woman.

It cannot be expected that oppression will ever reform this people, or
cure them of their wandering habits. Far more likely is it to confirm
them in their vagrant propensities. And as their numbers do not
decrease, oppression will only render them the dread of one part of their
fellow-creatures, while it will make them the objects of scorn and
obloquy to others.

It is the earnest wish of the author that milder measures may be pursued
in reference to the Gipsies. To endeavour to improve their morals, and
instruct them in the principles of religion, will, under the divine
blessing, turn to better account than the hateful and oppressive policy
so long adopted.

CHAP. VI. Further Account of the English Gipsies.

Many persons are of opinion in reference to the Gipsie