ceived them
in a cottage in the town of ---, and after allowing them some
refreshment, proceeded to put the different questions to them that
are inserted in the Observer. They told me that their family,
altogether, consisted of eighteen persons, who travelled about the
country in three camps; that the men found it difficult to obtain
regular employment; that sometimes, during the winter, they made
cabbage-nets, and mended culinary utensils; that in the summer, men
and women were occasionally employed in making hay, &c. These women
appeared very destitute of necessary clothing, which they said they
found great difficulty in obtaining. They appeared careful to speak
the truth, alleging that it hurt their consciences to speak
otherwise. On the question being put to them, whether they
appropriated to themselves the property of those near whom they
encamped? they candidly confessed that they sometimes took a little
straw, hay, and sticks; but no fowls or any other live-stock. They
shewed a very affectionate disposition and warm feelings towards
their children. The eldest of them assured me, that if any in their
camp became orphans, she considered herself more bound to provide for
them than her own, as the former needed it the more, being destitute.
She did not object to their gaining instruction, if it came in the
way, and she wished to be read to herself, and appeared to take much
pleasure in listening to my explanations of the important doctrines
of religion. They said that none of their party could read, but that
they were sometimes visited by a relative who was a good scholar.
She said, too, that she always kept in her possession a _godly book_,
for the purpose of asking, as opportunity offered, a traveller to
read to them. She assured me, too, (which I rather doubted,) that
they constantly attended Divine worship, when encamped near enough to
churches; that they send for the nearest clergyman _to preach_ to the
dying, and that they never omit having their babes _full christened_,
excepting in cases of sickness, when the child is only baptized: and
should such child die, they obtain the services of a parochial
clergyman to inter it. They said, thinking, no doubt, to please me,
that they did not like the Ranters, but that they thought well of the
_church folks_. I fear that, t