n
situations where they will learn to fear God, and support themselves
honestly in the sight of all men.

CHAP. VII. Of the formation of the Southampton Committee, and the
success that has attended its endeavours.

Although the Gipsies, on account of their unsettled habits, their
disposition to evil practices, and that ignorance of true religion, which
is inseparably connected with a life remote from all the forms of
external worship, and from the influence of religious society, may be
said to be in a most lamentably wretched state; yet is their condition
not desperate. They are rational beings, and have many feelings
honourable to human nature. They are not as the heathens of other
countries, addicted to any system of idolatry; and what is of infinite
encouragement, they inhabit a land of Bibles and of Christian ministers;
and, although at present, they derive so little benefit from these
advantages, there are many of them willing to receive instruction. The
following details, to which I gladly turn, will shew that, when _patient_
and _persevering_ means are used, Gipsies may be brought to know God; and
no body of people were ever yet converted to Christianity without means.
The following circumstances gave rise to the idea of forming a society
for the improvement of this people.

In March, 1827, during the Lent Assizes, the author was in Winchester,
and wishing to speak with the sheriff's chaplain, he went to the court
for that purpose. He happened to enter just as the judge was passing
sentence of death on two unhappy men. To one he held out the hope of
mercy; but to the other, _a poor Gipsy_, who was convicted of
horse-stealing, he said, _no hope could be given_. The young man, for he
was but a youth, immediately fell on his knees, and with uplifted hands
and eyes, apparently unconscious of any persons being present but the
judge and himself, addressed him as follows: "_Oh_! _my Lord_, _save my
life_!" The judge replied, "_No_; _you can have no mercy in this world_:
_I and my brother judges have come to the determination to execute
horse-stealers_, _especially Gipsies_, _because of the increase of the
crime_." The suppliant, still on his knees, entreated--"_Do_, _my Lord
Judge_, _save my life_! _do_, _for God's sake_, _for my wife's sake_,
_for my baby's sake_!" "_No_," replied the judge, "_I cannot_: _you
should have thought of your wife and children before_." He then ordered
him to be taken a