r behalf, appeals to the public
have been subsequently made, as we have seen in Section IX, through the
medium of the Northampton Mercury of 1814, by two correspondents; one
under the designation of "A Friend to Religion;" the other, that of
"Junius."

Communications from a county which has long been a noted rendezvous of
Gypsies, may be considered the result of observations actually made on
their state. The first of these appeals is introduced in the following
manner: "Various are the religious and moral Institutions in this
country; humanity and benevolence have risen to an unprecedented height.
Not only for our country, are the exertions of the good and great
employed, but at this time the greatest efforts are making on behalf of
the distressed Germans. The hand of charity is open not only to the
alleviation of _present_ misery, but such an Institution as the Bible
Society, is calculated to excite thousands to seek for _future_
happiness. Yet amidst all, one set of people seems to be entirely
excluded from participating in any of those blessings; I mean Gypsies,
who are accounted rogues and vagabonds. When we consider that they,
equally with ourselves, are bought with a price, much remains to be done
for them. These people, however wretched and depraved, certainly demand
attention; their being overlooked with indifference, is really much to be
regretted.

"Instead of being subjects of commiseration, they are advertised as
rogues and vagabonds; and a reward offered for their apprehension. But
no asylum is offered them, nothing is held out to encourage a reformation
in any that might be disposed to abandon their accustomed vices." The
same writer, in a subsequent letter, dated September 8, respecting these
houseless wanderers, remarks: "I was representing the deplorable state
they are in, to a person of my acquaintance; and his reply was: They were
a set of worthless and undeserving wretches; and he believed they would
rather live as they do, than otherwise; with many other such like
inconsiderate ideas; resulting, I believe, from a prejudiced mind, and
from not properly considering their situation; and I fear these
sentiments are too prevalent."

It will readily be admitted, that they are generally prevalent: and how
should it be otherwise, so long as the great mass of the population of
England continues to be uninformed of the motives inducing the strange
conduct of Gypsies, who consider themselves under th