Should the sympathies of the British public be efficiently directed to the Gipsies of this country, it may call forth the zeal of other nations to improve their still more degraded condition on the Continent, where more than half a million of them wander, ignorant as the heathens of all that is necessary to salvation. Those of this country loudly call upon us for instruction, which may easily be given them. Let all who have either time, money, or ability, give a helping hand; and, above all, assist by their unfeigned and earnest prayers. It may be very advisable to pray publicly for them in places of worship, and at the family altar, after visiting them in the highways and hedges. It might impress those of them who attend, with a grateful sense of the gracious care of God, and lead Christian congregations to think more of them, and to do more 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.