present attempt to collect its scanty remains, and by the assistance of the press, rescue it in some degree from destruction. It will not be amiss to state here, that it is only by listening attentively to the speech of the Gitános, whilst discoursing amongst themselves, that an acquaintance with their dialect can be formed, and by seizing upon all unknown words as they fall in succession from their lips. Nothing can be more useless and hopeless than the attempt to obtain possession of their vocabulary by inquiring of them how particular objects and ideas are styled; for with the exception of the names of the most common things, they are totally incapable, as a Spanish writer has observed, of yielding the required information, owing to their great ignorance, the shortness of their memories, or rather the state of bewilderment to which their minds are brought by any question which tends to bring their reasoning faculties into action, though not unfrequently the very words which have been in vain required of them will, a minute subsequently, proceed inadvertently from their mouths. We now take leave of their language. When wishing to praise the proficiency of any individual in their tongue, they are in the habit of saying, ‘He understands the seven jargons.’ In the Gospel which we have printed in this language, and in the dictionary which we have compiled, we have endeavoured, to the utmost of our ability, to deserve that compliment; and at all times it will afford us sincere and heartfelt pleasure to be informed that any Gitáno, capable of appreciating the said little works, has observed, whilst reading them or hearing them read: It is clear that the writer of these books understood THE SEVEN JARGONS. ON ROBBER LANGUAGE; OR, AS IT IS CALLED IN SPAIN, GERMANIA ‘So I went with them to a music booth, where they made me almost drunk with gin, and began to talk their _Flash Language_, which I did not understand.’—Narrative of the Exploits of Henry Simms, executed at Tyburn, 1746. ‘Hablaronse los dos en Germania, de lo qual resultó darme un abraço, y ofrecerseme.’—QUEVEDO. Vida dal gran Tacaño.