the State of the Poor,
p. 146: "It is mortifying to reflect, that whilst so many wise measures
were adopted by the great Council of the Nation, neither a Coke, nor a
Bacon, should oppose the law suggested by royal superstition, for making
it felony to _consult_, _covenant with_, _entertain_, _employ_, _feed_,
_or reward_, _any evil_, _or wicked spirit_, 2d James, 12th.--It is still
more mortifying to reflect, that the enlightened Sir M. Hale left a man
for execution, who was convicted on this Act, at Bury, March 10th, 1664;
and that even in the present (the 18th) century, a British Jury should be
persuaded that the crime of witchcraft could exist."

If the annual filling of prisons in England may be attributed, in any
degree, to the neglect of educating the lower orders of the people, it
will appear extraordinary, that instances of Gypsies being convicted of
capital crimes, are not more frequent, rather than that they sometimes
occur.

The Committee of the British and Foreign School Society, in their Report
for 1815, express their conviction of the advantages of education, in
correcting evils, which at once disgrace society, and deprive it of many,
who might be its most useful and active members; and then, they exclaim:
"Surely we may hope the day is not far distant, when Statesmen and
Legislators of all countries, will open their eyes to the awfully
important truth; and beholding in a sound and moral education, the grand
secret of national strength, will co-operate for the _prevention_, rather
than the _punishment_ of crimes!"

It was not until near the conclusion of the last year, and after the
author had inspected some of the Gypsey families who winter in London,
that he was apprized of the correspondence in the Christian Observer,
which forms part of the preceding Section. The position with which it
commences, is worthy of all acceptation, as applied to beings formed for
immortality: "The Divine Spirit of Christianity deems no object, however
unworthy and insignificant, beneath her notice. Gypsies lying at our
doors, seem to have a peculiar claim on our compassion. In the midst of
a highly refined state of society, they are but little removed from
savage life."

The letters extracted from the Christian Observer, are distinguished by a
Christian zeal and liberality, which must be cheering to every one, who
has felt an interest in improving the condition of these greatly
neglected partners of his kind. On thei