and docile; and, of all his scholars, there were not any more attentive
and affectionate than these; and when the Gypsies broke up house in the
spring, to make their usual excursions, the children expressed much
regret at leaving the school.

This account was confirmed by Thomas Jackson, of Brixton-row, minister of
Stockwell Chapel, who said, since the above experiment, several Gypsies
had been admitted to a sabbath school, under the direction of his
congregation. At their introduction, he compared them to birds when
first put into a cage, which flew against the sides of it, having no idea
of restraint; but by a steady even care over them, and the influence of
the example of other children, they soon became settled, and fell into
their ranks.

With a view to reconnoitre an encampment of Gypsies, the author accepted
a seat in the carriage of a friend, who drove him to Hainault forest.
This, according to historians, was of vast extent in the times of the
ancient Britons, reaching to the Thames; and so late as the reign of
Henry the 2d, it covered the northern vicinity of the city.

On this forest, about two miles from the village of Chigwell, Essex, and
ten from London, stands the far-famed oak, at which is held Fairlop Fair,
that great annual resort of the Gypsies.

According to an account of it printed for Hogg, Paternoster-row, the
trunk or main stem of this tree has been sixty-six feet, and some of the
branches twelve feet, in circumference. The age of this prodigy of the
forest cannot be ascertained with any degree of precision. The oak
viewed by the present King, in Oxfordshire, and some years ago felled in
the domains of one of the Colleges, though only twenty-five feet in
girth, is said to have been six hundred years old. Fairlop oak having
been nearly thrice as large, is supposed to be at least twice that age.

Phillips employed by the King, applied a patent mixture to stop the
progress of its decay, but, last autumn, when seen by the describer, its
naked gigantic trunk and arms, retaining not the least symptom of
animation, presented a ghastly spectacle of the ravages of time, as
contrasted with the rich verdure of the surrounding scenery.

The circumstances which gave rise to the establishment of a fair, on this
spot of ground, are somewhat singular.

Daniel Day, an engine, pump, and block-maker, of Wapping, having a small
estate in the vicinity of this oak, was in the habit of annually
resorting t