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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29063-0.txt b/29063-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4f84fc --- /dev/null +++ b/29063-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5554 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & +Present State of the Gypsies, by John Hoyland + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies + + +Author: John Hoyland + + + +Release Date: June 7, 2009 [eBook #29063] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE +CUSTOMS, HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES*** + + +Transcribed from the 1816 WM. Alexander edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Kensington Library, London, for +allowing the use of their copy in cross-checking the transcription. + + + + + + A + HISTORICAL SURVEY + OF THE + _CUSTOMS_, _HABITS_, & _PRESENT STATE_ + OF + The Gypsies; + DESIGNED TO DEVELOPE + The Origin of this Singular People, + AND TO PROMOTE + _The Amelioration of their Condition_. + + + * * * * * + + BY JOHN HOYLAND, + _Author of an Epitome of the History of the World_, _&c._ + + [Picture: Decorative divider] + + York: + PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; AND SOLD BY + _WM. ALEXANDER_, _YORK_: + + DARTON, HARVEY, & CO.; W. PHILLIPS; AND W. DARTON, JUN. + LONDON. + + * * * * * + + 1816. + + + + * * * * * + + Entered at Stationers’ Hall. + + * * * * * + + * * * * * + +_Printed by HARGROVE_, _GAWTHORP_, _& COBB_, + _Herald-Office_, _York_. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The author of the following Survey, has frequently had opportunity of +observing the very destitute and abject condition of the Gypsey race, in +the counties of Northampton, Bedford, and Herts. The impressions +received from viewing a state so derogatory to human nature, induced him +to make numerous inquiries, in order to ascertain if necessity compelled +their continuance, under circumstances so deplorable as their condition +exhibited. + +Not meeting with satisfactory intelligence on application to various +individuals, to whose observation Gypsies are frequently presented, the +author was excited to an examination of history, for the developement of +a case involved in so much obscurity; and aggravated by circumstances so +repugnant to the mild and genial influences of the Christian Religion. + +He must not however omit to state, that in Northamptonshire, William +Allen, who is in the profession of the law, at Higham Ferrers, and +Steward to Earl Fitzwilliam, very warmly interested himself on the +subject. He said it afforded him much pleasure to find, that some +attention was excited to the condition of the Gypsies, and that he should +be glad to co-operate, as far as was in his power, in any measures likely +to conduce to the reformation of this greatly neglected class of British +subjects. + +He volunteered his services to find out the nearest Gypsey rendezvous, +and soon procured information of an encampment which the writer visited. +An account of the visit will appear in the following sheets. The first +assurance that the Gypsies really had a language peculiar to themselves, +which the author received, was from this intelligent and obliging +professor of the law, who had heard children, as well as adults among +them, speak it with great fluency. + +He also observed, that the situation of this people daily became +increasingly deplorable, in consequence of the establishment of +associations for the prosecution of felons; and that the fear of +apprehension as vagrants, and the progressive inclosures near towns and +villages, had a tendency to drive them to a greater distance from the +habitations of man. And he was fully of opinion, as these houseless +wanderers were expelled from Township after Township, without any +provision being made for their refuge, that it was high time their case +should obtain the consideration of the public. + +Of the historic authorities whence the author has derived information and +interesting observation, he has to place in the foremost rank, the +Dissertation of the learned H. M. G. Grellmann, translated a few years +since, by the late M. Raper, Esq. F.R.S. & A.S. He has, however, to +acknowledge himself indebted to various other intelligent authors, whose +writings will be noticed in the course of the work. + +Another source of information, and which relates especially to the +_present state_ of the Gypsies in Great Britain, has been opened through +inquiries instituted in most parts of the nation, by the author, aided by +several obliging and able coadjutors. The results of these inquiries, it +scarcely need be added, will be presented to the reader in their proper +places. + +The author has much regretted, that scarcely any of the splendid +histories of Counties in England, and even those in which the Gypsies +abound, have in the least noticed that part of the population which so +strongly claims our attention. By bringing their situation into view, +the historian might not merely have served the cause of humanity; he +would have advanced the interest of the state, by promoting an object of +so much public utility, as the improvement of the whole Gypsey race +cannot fail to prove. + +A comparative view of their customs and habits, and how far they appear +coincident in different countries, may afford a criterion by which to +judge if they have all had one origin. By thus tracing them to that +source, we may possibly discover the occasion of their peculiarities; and +if the means hitherto employed to counteract them, have proved +unsuccessful, we may be prepared to consider of others, better adapted to +correct the errors of their education. + +Conceiving that any scheme for ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies, +would not only be premature, but might prove highly injudicious, before +obtaining a knowledge of their history, the author has endeavoured to +collect, from the most authentic European authorities to which he could +have access, a general view of this people, in the different parts of the +world to which they have resorted; and from these and the other sources +of information, he has subjoined accounts of their state in Great +Britain, and of the suggestions offered by other individuals for their +improvement; concluding the subject with a review of the whole, and +proposing a plan to be set on foot for accomplishing this desirable +object. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + SECTION I. + +_Various Appellations of them—Their arrival in Europe_ _page_ 9 + + SECTION II. + +_Accounts of the Gypsies in various Countries_ _page_ 17 + + SECTION III. + +_The Habits_, _Occupations_, _and Polity of the _page_ 37 +Continental Gypsies_ + + SECTION IV. + +_Political Regulations on the Continent respecting _page_ 61 +Gypsies_ + + SECTION V. + +_The Gypsies in Great Britain_ _page_ 75 + + SECTION VI. + +_The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland_ _page_ 91 + + SECTION VII. + +_On the Origin of the Gypsies_ _page_ 112 + + SECTION VIII. + +_Comparative view of the Gypsey_, _Hindostanie_, _and _page_ 131 +Turkish languages_ + + SECTION IX. + +_Present State of the Gypsies in England_ _page_ 151 + + SECTION X. + +_Present State of the Gypsies in and about London_ _page_ 175 + + SECTION XI. + +_Sentiments of various persons on the moral condition of _page_ 191 +the Gypsies_ + + SECTION XII. + +_Review of the Subject_, _and Suggestions for _page_ 221 +ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies in the British +Empire_ + + + + + + +SECTION I. + + +Various appellations of them—Their arrival in Europe. + + * * * * * + +The different appellations by which the People whom we denominate +Gypsies, have been distinguished, appear generally to have had reference +to the countries, from which it was supposed they had emigrated. + +Grellmann states, that the French, having the first accounts of them from +Bohemia, gave them the name of _Bohémiens_, Bohemians. That the Dutch +apprehending they came from Egypt, called them _Heydens_, Heathens. In +Denmark, Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of. +The Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propensity the Gypsies had to +thieving, adopted the name _Charami_, Robbers, for them. + +In Hungary, they were formerly called Pharaohites, (_Pharaoh Nepek_) +Pharaoh’s people; and the vulgar in Transylvania continue that name for +them. The idea of the English appears to be similar, in denominating +them Gypsies, Egyptians; as is, that of the Portuguese and Spaniards, in +calling them _Gitanos_. But the name _Zigeuners_, obtained the most +extensive adoption, and apparently not without cause; for the word +_Zigeuner_, signifies to wander up and down—for which reason, it is said, +our German ancestors denominated every strolling vagrant _Zichegan_. + +The Gypsies are called not only in all Germany, Italy, and Hungary +_Tziganys_; but frequently in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia, +_Cyganis_. But the Turks, and other Eastern nations name them, +_Tschingenes_. + +The origin of this people has been a subject of inquiry for more than +three hundred years. Many persons have been anxious to discover “who +these guests were, that, unknown and uninvited, came into Europe in the +fifteenth century, and have chosen ever since to continue in this quarter +of the globe.” + +Continental writers state, that it is incredible how numerous the hordes +of this people are, and how widely dispersed over the face of the earth. +They wander about in Asia, the inferior of Africa, and have established +themselves in most of the countries of Europe. Grellmann is of opinion, +that America is the only part of the world, in which they are not known. +Though no mention appears to be made of them by Authors who have written +on that quarter of the globe; yet no doubt remains, of their having been +in Europe nearly four hundred years. + +_Wilhelm Dilick_ in his HESZISCHEN _Chronik_, scit 229, beyn Jahr 1414, +informs us they arrived the same year in the Hessian territories; but no +mention of them appears in the public prints till three years afterward. +Mention is made of their being in Germany as early as the year 1417; when +they appeared in the vicinity of the North sea. Fabricius, in _Annalibb +Misn_, says, they were driven from Meissen in 1416, but Calvisius +corrects this date by changing it to 1418. + +Sir Thomas Browne in his “_Vulgar Errors_,” page 287, says, “their first +appearance was in Germany, since the year 1400; nor were they observed +before in other parts of Europe, as is deducible from Munster, Genebrard, +Krantzius and Ortelius.” + +In Germany they spread so rapidly, that in 1418, their names were +recorded in the annual publications of various parts of the country. +They travelled in hordes, each having his leader, sometimes called +_Count_, others had the title of _Dukes_, or _Lords of Lesser Egypt_. + +In 1418 they were found in Switzerland, and in the country of the +Grisons; and in 1422 they made their appearance in Italy. The Bologna +Chronicle states, that the hordes which arrived in that city, on the 18th +of July, 1422, consisted of about one hundred men, the name of whose +leader, or Duke as they termed him, was Andreas. They travelled from +Bologna to Forli, intending to pay the Pope a visit at Rome. + +Their appearance in France bears the date of 1427, when the French say, +they straggled about Paris, having arrived on the 17th day of August in +that year. + +German Historians are agreed, that when the Gypsies first made their +appearance in Europe, they chose to be considered as Pilgrims; and that +their profession met with the more ready belief, as it coincided with the +infatuation of the times. The learned Grellmann states, that several old +writings mention the credulity, with which people cherished the idea, +that they were real pilgrims and holy persons; that it not only procured +for them toleration, but safe-conducts in many places. + +Munster declares, that they carried about with them passports and seals +from the Emperor Sigismund, and other Princes; by means of which, they +had free passage through different countries and cities; and that he had +himself seen, an attested copy of such a letter to the possession of some +Gypsies at Eberbach. + +Krantz, Stumpf, Guler, and Laurentius Palmirenus, all agree in this +statement.. The Gypsies at Bologna also shewed an instrument from +Sigismund; but he appears to have granted this to them, not as Emperor, +and in Germany; but in Hungary, and as King of Hungary. A pass of +Uladislaus II. might also be quoted, which the Gypsies obtained chiefly +on account of their supposed sanctity and pilgrimage. In Transylvania, +it is asserted they received letters of protection from the House of +Bathory. + +Webner says, that the Gypsies in France quoted ancient privileges, +granted to them by the former Kings of that country. + +Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions for wandering +unmolested through all Christian countries, as long as the term of their +pilgrimage lasted; which they asserted was seven years. But at the +expiration of that term, they represented that their return home was +prevented by soldiers stationed to intercept them. + +The impression their pretensions had made on the people among whom they +came, did not entirely subside during half a century; but afterward, “the +Gypsies being watched with a more jealous eye, it appeared but too +clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of +humanity, who, often, under pretexts of safe-conducts, committed all +manner of excesses.” + +Their impositions being detected, it is probable some of them were +reduced to the necessity of having recourse to legitimate means of +subsistence, for within thirty years afterward, we have accounts of +Gypsies in Hungary being employed in the working of iron. This +occupation, appears from old writings, to have been a favourite one with +them. Bellonius also takes notice of its being so; and there is a record +of the Hungarian King Uladislaus, in the year 1496, cited by the Abbé +_Pray_ in his Annals; and by _Friedwalsky_ in his Mineralogy, wherein it +is ordered, “_That every __officer and subject_, _of whatever rank and +condition_, _do allow to Thomas Polgar_, _leader of twenty-five tents of +wandering Gypsies_, _free residence every where_, _and on no account to +molest him_, _or his people_; _because they had prepared military stores +for the Bishop Sigismund at Fünfkirchen_.” + + GRELLMANN. + + + + +SECTION II. + + +Accounts of the Gypsies in various countries. + + * * * * * + +To propose means for improving the condition of Gypsies, before we have +informed ourselves of their real state, and what has been done for them, +would be as injudicious, as for a Physician to prescribe for a patient, +without being acquainted with the nature or extent of his disease, and +the means attempted for his cure. To form a just opinion, on the case of +the Gypsies, it appears necessary to ascertain their general habits, and +their mode of life. + +From Pasquier’s _Recherches de la France_, B. IV. C. 9, is selected the +following account of the Gypsies in that country: “On August 17th, 1427, +came to Paris, twelve Penitents, _Penanciers_, as they called themselves, +viz: a Duke, an Earl, and ten men, all on horse-back, and calling +themselves good christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out, that +not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged +them to embrace christianity, on pain of being put to death. Those who +were baptized, were great Lords in their own country; and had a King and +Queen there. Some time after their conversion, the Saracens over-ran +their country, and obliged them to renounce christianity. + +“When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian +Princes, heard of this; they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of +them, both great and small, to quit their country, and go to the Pope at +Rome; who enjoined them seven years’ penance, to wander over the world, +without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five years when they +came to Paris; first the principal people, and soon after the commonalty, +about 100, or 120, reduced from 1000, or 1200, when they came from home; +the rest being dead, with their King and Queen. They were lodged by the +police, out of the city, at Chapel St. Denis + +“Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and one or two silver rings in +each, which they said were esteemed ornaments in their country. The men +were black, their hair curled; the women remarkably black, all their +faces scarred, _deployez_, their hair black, their only clothes a large +old shaggy garment, _flossoye_, tied over the shoulders with a cloth or +cord, sash, _lien_, and under it a poor petticoat, _roquet_. In short, +they were the poorest miserable creatures that had ever been seen in +France; and notwithstanding their poverty, there were among them women, +who by looking into people’s hands told their fortunes. And what was +worse, they picked people’s pockets of their money; and got it into their +own, through telling these things by art, magic, &c. + +“But though this was the common report, I spoke to them several times, +yet I never lost a farthing by them; or ever saw them look into people’s +hands. But the Bishop of Paris, hearing of it, went to them with a Friar +Preacher, named _Le petit Jacobin_, who, by the Bishop’s order, preached +a sermon excommunicating all the men and women who pretended to believe +these things; and had believed in them, and shown their hands; and it was +agreed that they should go away, and they departed for Pontoise, in +September. + +“This was copied from an old book in the form of a journal, drawn up by a +doctor of divinity in Paris, which fell into the hands of Pasquier; who +remarks upon it, that however the story of a penance savours of a trick, +these people wandered up and down France, under the eye, and with the +knowledge of the magistrates, for 100, or 120 years. At length, in 1661, +an edict was issued, commanding all officers of justice, to turn out of +the kingdom, in the space of two months, under pain of the gallies, and +corporal punishment, all men, women and children, who assumed the name of +_Bohémiens_, or Egyptians.” + +Dufresne, in his Glossary V. Ægyptiaci, confirms Pasquier’s character of +them in these words: “Ægyptiaci, Gallicé Egyptiens, Bohémiens, vagi +homines, harioli, et fatidici, qui hac et illac errantes, ex manu +inspectione futura prœsagire se fingunt; ut de marsupiis incautorum +nummos corrogent;” which may be thus translated, “Egyptians called by the +French Egyptiens, Bohémiens, vagabonds, soothsayers and fortune-tellers, +who, wandering up and down, pretend to foretel future events from the +inspection of the hand, for the purpose of obtaining money from persons +not careful of their purses, &c.” + +Grellmann speaks of Gypsies “being numerous in Lorraine and Alsatia, +before the French Revolution, but especially in the forests of Lorraine. +They increased in this district, in consequence of their having been +assiduously looked after in the dominions of the late Duke Deux-Fonts, +and driven from thence; whither his successor would not suffer them to +return. He adds, that an order of the provincial council, held at +Tarragona, in 1591, subjected them to the magistrates, as people “quos +vix constat esse Christianos, nisi ex eorum relatione, cum tamen sint +mendaces, fures, deceptores, et aliis sceleribus multi eorum assueti;” in +English, “who are scarcely allowed to be Christians, except from their +own account of themselves, seeing they are liars, thieves, cheats, and +many of them accustomed to other kinds of wickedness.” + +Twiss, in his Travels p. 179, gives the following account of them in +Spain: “They are very numerous about, and in, Murcia, Cordova, Codis, and +Ronda. The race of these vagabonds is found in every part of Europe. +The French call them _Bohémiens_, the Italians _Zingari_, the Germans +_Ziegeuners_, the Dutch _Heydenen_, Pagans, the Portuguese _Siganos_, and +the Spaniards _Gitanos_, in Latin, _Cingari_. + +“Their language, which is peculiar to themselves, is every where so +similar, that they are undoubtedly all derived from the same source. +They began to appear in Europe in the 15th century, and are probably a +mixture of Egyptians and Ethiopians. The men are all thieves, and the +women libertines. They follow no certain trade, and have no fixed +religion. They do not enter into the order of society, wherein they are +only tolerated. It is supposed there are upwards of forty thousand of +them in Spain; great numbers of them are innkeepers in the villages, and +small towns; and they are every where fortune-tellers. + +“In Spain, they are not allowed to possess any lands, nor even to serve +as soldiers. They marry among themselves, stroll in troops, about the +country, and bury their dead under water. Their ignorance prevents their +employing themselves in any thing, but in providing for the immediate +wants of nature; beyond which even their roguishness does not extend; +and, only endeavouring to save themselves the trouble of labour, they are +contented if they can procure food by showing feats of dexterity; and +only pilfer to supply themselves with the trifles they want; so that they +never render themselves liable to any severer chastisement, than that of +whipping, for having stolen chickens, linen, &c. Most of the men have a +smattering of physic and surgery, and are skilful in tricks performed by +slight of hand.” + +“The foregoing account is partly extracted from _Le Voyageur François_, +Vol. XVI.; but the assertion that they are all so abandoned, as that +author says, is too general. I have lodged many times in their houses, +and never missed the most trifling things, though I have left my knives, +forks, candlesticks, spoons, and linen at their mercy.” + +Swinburne states, that “they swarm more in the province of Granada, than +in any other part of the realm. This singular sect have kept themselves +separate from the rest of mankind ever since their first appearance which +has been recorded in history. + +“Their origin remains a problem not to be satisfactorily solved; and I +doubt whether the Gitanos themselves, have any secret tradition that +might lead to a discovery of what they really were in the beginning, or +from what country they came. The received opinion sets them down as +Egyptians, and makes them out to be the descendants of those vagabond +votaries of Isis, who appear to have exercised, in ancient Rome, pretty +much the same profession as that followed by the present Gypsies, viz: +fortune-telling, strolling up and down, and pilfering. + +“Few of them employed themselves in works of husbandry, or handicrafts; +indeed the Spaniards would not work with them. Except a small part of +them who follow the trades of blacksmiths, and vintners, most of them are +makers of iron rings, and other little trifles, rather to prevent their +being laid hold of as vagrants, than really as a means of subsistence. +Several of them travel about as carriers and pedlars. + +“Though they conform to the Roman Catholic mode of worship, they are +looked upon in the light of unbelievers; but I never could meet with any +body that pretended to say what their private faith and religion may be. +All the Gypsies I have conversed with, assured me of their sound +Catholicism; and I have seen the medal of _Nuestra Senora del Carmel_ +sewed on the sleeves of several of their women. + +“They seldom venture on any crimes that may endanger their lives; petty +larceny is the utmost extent of their roguishness. + +“The men are tall, well built, and swarthy, with a bad scowling eye, and +a kind of favorite lock of hair left to grow down before their ears, +which rather increases the gloominess of their features; their women are +nimble and supple jointed; when young they are generally handsome, with +fine black eyes. Their ears and necks are loaded with trinkets and +baubles, and most of them wear a large patch on each temple.” + +Of the Italian Gypsies, the same traveller in his journey through +Calabria, p. 304, gives the following account: “The landlord of the inn +at Mirti, earnestly recommended to the servants to leave nothing out of +doors, as there was an encampment of Zingari, or Gypsies, who would lay +their hands upon any part of the baggage, that was not watched with the +strictest attention. His caution led me to an inquiry into the state of +this strange tribe of vagrants, of whom I had seen great numbers in +Spain. The result of this account, combined with those I had received +from others, is as follows: + +“The Gypsies of Calabria do not contract alliances with any other class +of inhabitants; but marry among themselves. + +“It is not possible to say where they reside, as they have no fixed +habitations; and consequently possess neither house nor land, but pitch +their tents wherever they think proper to make any stay. They support +life by the profits of handicrafts; but more by swapping asses and +horses. + +“They generally work in iron, and make trivets, knitting needles, +bodkins, and such trifles. Their dress is extremely shabby; they shave +their chins, but indulge a great length of hair, which they seldom +disturb with either comb or scissars. + +“As to their religion, it is a secret which they keep locked up in their +own breasts. They seem to have no great veneration for the Virgin Mary, +but are supposed to believe in Christ. All the proof we have of their +belief, depends upon appearances, and an occasional conforming to the +ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, in marriages, burials, &c.; +but if the priests start any difficulties, they manage the matter without +their interference, and perform the functions according to their own +ceremonies, which in many points resemble those of the heathens. + +“At their weddings they carry torches, and have paranymphs to give the +bride away, with many other unusual rites. + +“It is in reality, almost absurd to talk of the religion of a set of +people, whose moral characters are so depraved, as to make it evident +they believe in nothing capable of being a check to their passions. They +are usually accounted pilferers, cheats, faithless, and abandoned to +dissoluteness. + +“They tell fortunes, and play juggling tricks, just as they do in all +other countries where they are to be found. In 1560, they were banished +the kingdom as thieves, cheats, and spies for the Turks. In 1569 and +1685, the order was resumed, but not being enforced, had little effect. + +“A Gypsey being brought to trial for a larceny, declared, that his law +allowed him to take as much from others, every day, as sufficed for his +maintenance. + +“These people make use of two languages, one Calabrian, with a foreign +accent and pronunciation; the other a peculiar one of their own, which in +sound, seems to have great affinity to the Oriental tongues; and is +spoken when they have secrets to impart to each other. They sleep like +dogs in a kennel, men, women, and children huddled together.” + +The learned Grellmann states, that “Gypsies were universally to be found +in Italy; insomuch, that even Sicily and Sardinia were not free from +them. + +“But they were the most numerous in the dominions of the church; probably +because there was the worst police, with much superstition. By the +former they were left undisturbed; and the latter enticed them to deceive +the ignorant, as it afforded them an opportunity of obtaining a plentiful +contribution, by their fortune-telling and enchanted amulets. + +“There was a general law throughout Italy, that no Gypsey should remain +more than two nights, in any one place. By this regulation, it is true, +no place retained its guest long; but no sooner was one gone, than +another came in his room. It was a continual circle, and quite as +convenient to them, as a perfect toleration would have been. Italy +rather suffered, than benefited, by this law; as, by keeping those people +in constant motion, they would do more mischief there, than in places +where they were permitted to remain stationary.” + +It appears from the Dissertation of Grellmann, that he had examined with +great care and attention, the continental authorities on the subject of +Gypsies. He asserts, that “In Poland and Lithuania, as well as in +Courland, there is an amazing number of Gypsies. + +“That they are to be found in Denmark and Sweden, is certain, but how +numerous they are in those countries we cannot pronounce, and therefore +proceed to the south east of Europe. + +“The countries in this part seem to be the general rendezvous of the +Gypsies; their number amounts in Hungary, according to a probable +statement, to upwards of 50,000. + +“Cantemir says, the Gypsies are dispersed all over Moldavia, where every +Baron has several families of them subject to him. + +“In Wallachia and the Sclavonian mountains, they are quite as numerous. +Bessarabia, all Tartary, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, swarm with them; +even in Constantinople they are innumerable. In Romania, a large tract +of Mount Hæmus, which they inhabit, has acquired from them the name +_Tschenghe Valkan_, the Gypsey mountain. This district extends from the +city Aydos, quite to Phillipopolis, and contains more Gypsies than any +other province in the Turkish empire.” + +Our countryman Edward Daniel Clark, in his travels in Russia, Tartary, +&c. so lately as the year 1800, states, “that after the ceremony of the +resurrection at Moscow, a party of Gypsies were performing the national +dance, called Barina; others were telling fortunes, according to their +universal practice, or begging for presents of oranges or ice. + +“This extraordinary people, found in all parts of Europe, were originally +one of the Castes of India, driven out of their territory, and +distinguished among Indian tribes, by a name which signifies thieves. +They have a similar appellation among the Fins, and with the same +signification. + +“They preserve every where the same features, manners, and customs, and +what is more remarkable, almost always the same mode of dress. The +extraordinary resemblance of the female Gypsies to the women of India, +was remarked by the British officers and men, in Egypt, when General +Baird arrived with his army to join Lord Hutchinson. The Sea-poys had +many of their women with them, who were exactly like our Gypsies. + +“In their dress, they lavish all their finery upon their heads. Their +costume in Russia is very different to that of the natives. The Russians +hold them in great contempt; never speaking of them without abuse; and +feel themselves contaminated by their touch, unless it be to have their +fortunes told. Formerly they were more scattered over Russia, and paid +no tribute; but now they are collected, and all belong to one nobleman, +to whom they pay a certain tribute, and work among the number of his +slaves.” + +P. 209, he writes: “At Woronetz, the Gypsey tribe are very prevalent, and +a mixed race, resulting from their intermarriage with the Russians.” + +Dr. Clarke observes, Chap. 18, p. 440, 441 of his Travels, between +Kertchy and Caffa, in the Crimea: “In the villages we found parties of +Tzigankies or Gypsies, encamped as we see them in England, but having +their tents stationed between their waggons, in which they move about the +country. + +“Poultry, cats, dogs, and horses, were feeding all round them, seeming +like members of the same family. The Gypsies are much encouraged by the +Tartars, who allow them to encamp in the midst of their villages, where +they exercise the several functions of smiths, musicians, and +astrologers. Many of them are wealthy, possessing fine horses, and +plenty of other cattle; but their way of life, whether rich or poor, is +always the same. As we entered their tents they arose, and cast a +sheep’s hide over their bodies. The filth and stench of these people +were abominable.” + +In the second, part of his Travels, p. 644, he writes respecting the +Gypsies: “We found this people in Nauplia, under the name they bear in +Moldavia, of Tchinganes. How they came thither no one knew; but the +march of their ancestors, from the North of India to Europe, so lately as +the beginning of the 15th century, will account for their not being found +further towards the South; and this is now so well ascertained, that no +one would expect to meet a Gypsey, upon any of the southern shores of the +Mediterranean. + +“To have found them in the Peloponnesus is rather remarkable, considering +that their whole tribe at first did not exceed half a million.” + +In the travels, written by Bell, of Antermony, Vol. 2, p. 157, he states: +“During my stay at Tobolski, I was informed that a large troop of Gypsies +had been lately at that place, to the number of sixty or upwards. The +Russians call these vagabonds, _Tziggany_. Their sorry baggage was +carried upon horses and asses. The Vice-Governor sent for the chief of +this gang, and demanded whither they were going. They answered to China. +He stopped their progress and sent them back.” + +“Bishop Pococke met with these people, still further to the Eastward. He +says, the Chingani, who are spread all over the world, are in great +abundance in the North of Syria, and pass for Mahometans. They live +under tents, and sometimes in grots under ground. + +“They make a coarse sort of tapestry, or carpet work, for hangings of +saddles and other uses; and when they are not far from towns, deal much +in cattle, and have a much better character than their relations in +Hungary, and the Gypsies in England; who are thought by some to have been +originally of the same tribe. + +“These and the Turcomen, with regard to offence, are under the Pasha and +Cadi; though they have a sheik to every encampment, and several great +ones over them: but with regard to taxes, they are immediately under the +Grand Seignior; whose tribute is collected yearly, by an officer over +each of these people; one being called the Turcoman-Agasi, an officer of +great credit, and the other the Chingani-Agasi, who go round the Turkish +dominions to collect the taxes from these people.” Travels, Vol. 2, Part +1, p. 207, 208. + +Grellmann says: “Independently of the number of Gypsies in Egypt, and +some parts of Asia, could we obtain an exact estimate of them in the +countries of Europe, the immense number would probably greatly exceed +what we have any idea of. At a moderate calculation, without being +extravagant, they might be reckoned at between seven and eight hundred +thousand. + +“What a serious matter of consideration, when we reflect that the +greatest part of these people, are idlers, cheats, and thieves! + +“What a field does this open for the contemplation of Governments!” + + + + +SECTION III. + + +The Habits, Occupations, and Polity of Continental Gypsies. + + * * * * * + +The first of them that came to Europe, appeared ragged and miserable, +unless we allow their leaders to have been an exception. In like manner +their descendants have continued for hundreds of years, and still remain. +This is particularly remarkable in the countries about the mouth of the +Danube, which abound with Gypsies; namely Transylvania, Hungary, and +Turkey, in Europe; where they dress even more negligently than in other +parts. + +It is a fact that these people enjoy a good state of health more +uninterruptedly, and perfectly, than persons of the most regular habits, +and who pay the greatest attention to themselves. Neither wet nor dry +weather, heat nor cold, let the extremes follow each other ever so +quickly, seem to have any effect upon them. Any prevailing sickness, or +epidemical disorder, sooner penetrates into ten habitations of civilized +people, than finds its way into a Gypsey’s tent. + +Though they are fond of a great degree of heat, and to lie so near the +fire, as to be in danger of burning, yet they can bear to travel in the +severest cold, bareheaded, with no other covering than some old rags +carelessly thrown over them. + +The causes of these bodily qualities, or at least some of them, evidently +arise from their education, and hardy manner of life. + +The pitiless mother takes her three months old child on her back, and +wanders about, in fair and foul weather, in heat or cold; there it sits +winter and summer, in a linen rug, with its head over her shoulder. +Gypsey women never use a cradle, nor even possess such a piece of +furniture. The child sleeps in their arms, or on the ground. When a boy +attains three years of age, his lot becomes still harder. Whilst an +infant, and his age reckoned by weeks and months, he was wrapt in rags, +but now deprived of these, he is equally with his parents, exposed to the +rigour of the elements, for want of covering; he is now put to trial how +far his legs will carry him; and must be content to travel about with, at +most, no other defence for his feet than thin socks. + +Thus he acquires a robust constitution by hardships and misery; but +though the children of Gypsies do not partake of what the refinements of +art and of tenderness would account advantages, writers are unanimous in +stating, they are good-looking, well-shaped, lively, clever, and have +fine eyes. The Gypsies, in common with uncivilized people, entertain +unbounded love for their children. This is a source of inexcusable +neglect: Gypsey children never feel the rod, they fly into the most +violent passions, and at the same time hear nothing from their parents +but flattering and coaxing. In return they act with ingratitude, as is +commonly the consequence of such education. + +Gypsies would long ago have been divested of their swarthy complexions, +had they discontinued their filthy mode of living. The Laplanders, +Samoieds, as well as the Siberians, likewise, have brown, yellow-coloured +skins, in consequence of living from their childhood, in smoke and dirt, +in the same manner as the Gypsies. + +Experience shows that their dark colour, which is continued from +generation to generation, is more the effect of education, and manner of +life, than of descent. Among those who serve in the Imperial army, where +they have learned to pay attention to order and cleanliness, there are +many to be found, whose extraction is not at all discernible in their +colour; though they had, probably, remained to the age of twelve or +fourteen years under the care of their filthy parents. + +A Gypsey considers a covering for the head as useless, and if he does not +obtain socks, which the female Gypsies in Moldavia and Wallachia knit +with wooden needles for the feet, he winds rags about them, which are +laid aside in summer. He is not better furnished with linen, as the +women neither spin, sew, nor wash. But this inattention is not from +indifference about dress; on the contrary, they are particularly fond of +clothes, which have been worn by people of distinction. The following, +which appeared in the Imperial Gazette, is very much to the purpose: +“Notwithstanding these people are so wretched, that they have nothing but +rags to cover them, which do not at all fit, and are scarcely sufficient +to hide their nakedness; yet they betray their foolish taste, and vain +ostentation, whenever they have in opportunity.” The women are as fond +of dress as the men, and equally expose themselves to the ridicule of the +considerate and reflecting part of mankind. + +They are remarkable not only in hanging their ragged clothes about them +instead of garments, according to the Eastern custom; but their whole +arrangement is singular. Several of their leaders have horses, asses, or +mules with them, on which they load their tents and effects, with their +whole family also. They have likewise dogs in their train, with which +Krantz asserts they are used illegally, to destroy game; but probably the +dogs are not kept so much for that purpose, as to take fowls and geese. + +One strange peculiarity in the ideas of Gypsies we have hitherto forborn +to mention, but, disgusting as the task of recording it way be, it is so +well authenticated, as to have excited the notice of the Hungarian +Legislature; and as it will be found to have some reference to the origin +of this singular race of human beings, it must not be withheld from +public view. The greatest luxury to them is, when they can procure a +roast of cattle that have died of any distemper: to eat their fill of +such a meal, is to them the height of epicurism. When any person +censures their taste, or shows surprise at it, they say: “The flesh of a +beast which God kills, must be better than that of one killed by the hand +of man.” They therefore embrace every opportunity of obtaining such +dainties. + +They are particularly fond of animals that have died by fire; therefore, +whenever a conflagration has happened, the next day, the Gypsies from +every neighbouring quarter assemble, and draw the suffocated, +half-consumed beasts out of the ashes; men, women, and children, in +troops, joyfully carrying the flesh home to their dwellings. + +The Gypsies in Hungary, who have settled habitations, are very partial to +gold and silver plate, particularly silver cups, which is a disposition +they have in common with the wandering tribes. They let slip no +opportunity of acquiring something of this kind; and will even starve +themselves to procure it. Though they seem little anxious to heap up +riches for their children, yet these frequently inherit a treasure of +this sort; and are obliged in their turn to preserve it as a sacred +inheritance. This inclination to deprive themselves of necessaries that +they may possess a superfluity, as well as many others of their customs, +is curious, yet appears to be ancient; and it was probably inherent in +them when they were first seen by Europeans. + +Historians assert, that of all the different people who have migrated +into foreign countries, a single instance is not to be found, which +accords with that of the Gypsies. The religious rites and observances of +the Jews were calculated to prevent their imbibing the customs and habits +of other nations. But it is universally admitted, that Gypsies did not +bring any particular religion with them from their native country, by +which they could be distinguished among other people; being as inconstant +and unsettled respecting religion, as they are to place of residence. + +Indeed it is asserted, that no Gypsey has any idea of submission to any +fixed profession of faith; that patents suffering their children to grow +up as themselves, without education or instruction, they acquire little +knowledge either of morality or justice; that few of them wilt attend to +any discourse on religion, but they hear it with indifference, if not +with impatience and repugnance. Despising all remonstrance; they +endeavour to live without the least solicitude concerning a future state +of being. + +The Turks are so fully convinced of the little religious sincerity +possessed by Gypsies, that although a Jew, by becoming a Mahometan, is +freed from the payment of the _Charadsch_, the Gypsies are not; at least +in the neighbourhood of Constantinople, they are compelled to pay the +poll-tax, even though their ancestors for centuries had been Mahometans, +or though they should actually have been a pilgrimage to Mecca. The +privilege of wearing a white turban, is the only advantage their +conversion gives them, over unbelieving Jews and Gypsies. + +Among warlike nations, many instances have occurred, in which the people +subdued, being more enlightened than their conquerors, the latter have +adopted the manners of the former. After the conquest of Greece, the +Romans assumed the manners of the Greeks; and the Turks in like manner +assumed those of the Gauls. The Mancheans vanquished the Chinese, but +Chinese customs prevailed over those of the Mancheans. + + _Grellmann_. + +Our countryman Dr. Clarke, page 4, of part the second of his Travels in +Greece, says: “There is every reason to believe that the Turks +themselves, at the conquest of Constantinople, adopted many of the +customs, and embraced many of the refinements of a people they had +subdued. + +“Their former habits had been those of nomad tribes, their dwellings were +principally tents, and the camp, rather than the city, distinguished +their abode.” + +But Grellmann observes, Gypsies who have not established themselves by +force in any country, nor obtained toleration from any Government, remain +unchanged. Though they behold fixed dwellings on every side of them, +with settled inhabitants, they nevertheless, proceed in their own way, +and continue, for the most part, unsocial, houseless wanderers. + +To their excessive indolence and aversion to industry, may be attributed +the poverty and want which are generally their lots. They dislike every +kind of employment which requires application; and had rather suffer +hunger and nakedness, than provide against these privations, on the +conditions of labour. They therefore practise music and palmistry, which +allows them many idle hours; or addict themselves to vicious habits and +unlawful courses. Though no one of them marries a person who is not of +Gypsey extraction, there is not any people among whom marriage is +contracted with less consideration, or accomplished with less solemnity. + +Some Gypsies, who are stationary, have regular habitations, according to +their situation in life. To this class belong those who keep +public-houses in Spain; and others in Transylvania and Hungary, who +follow some regular business; which latter have their own miserable huts +near Hermanstadt, Cronstadt, Beatritz, Grosswaradein, Debrezin, Eperies, +Karchan, and other places. But by far the greater number of these +people, lead a very different kind of life; ignorant of the comforts +attending a fixed place of residence, they rove from one district to +another in hordes; having no habitation, but tents, holes in the rocks, +or caves: the former shade them in summer, the latter screen them in +winter. + +Many of these people, particularly in Germany and Spain, do not even +carry tents with them, but shelter themselves from the heat of the sun, +in forests shaded by the rocks, or behind hedges. They are very partial +to willows, under which they erect their sleeping places at the close of +the evening. Some live in their tents, in their language called +_Tschater_, during both summer and winter; which latter indeed the +Gypsies generally prefer. + +In Hungary, those who have discontinued their rambling way of life, and +built houses for themselves, seldom let a spring pass without taking +advantage of the first settled weather, to set up a tent for their summer +residence. Under this, each enjoys himself with his family, nor thinks +of his house till winter returns, and the frost and snow drive him back +to it. + +The wandering Gypsey in Hungary and Transylvania, endeavours to procure a +horse; in Turkey, an ass serves to carry his wife and a couple of +children, with his tent. When he arrives at a place he likes, near a +village, or a city, he unpacks, pitches his tent, ties his animal to a +stake to graze, and remains some weeks there: or if he do not find his +station convenient, he breaks up in a day or two, loads his beast, and +looks out for a more agreeable situation. His furniture seldom consists +of more than an earthen pot, an iron pan, a spoon, a jug and a knife; +with sometimes the addition of a dish. These serve for the whole family. + +Working in iron is the most usual occupation of the Gypsies. In Hungary, +this profession is so common, that there is a proverb: “So many Gypsies +so many smiths.” + +The same may be said of those in Transylvania, Wallachia, Moldavia, and +all Turkey in Europe; at least such workers in fire are very numerous in +all those countries. But the Gypsies of our time, are not willing to +work heavy works; they seldom go beyond a pair of light horse shoes. In +general, they confine themselves to small articles, such as rings and +nails; they mend old pots and kettles; make knives, seals, and needles; +and sometimes they work in tin and brass. Their materials, tools, and +apparatus, are of a very inferior kind. The anvil is a stone; the other +implements are a pair of hand bellows, a hammer, a pair of pincers, a +vice, and a file. These ape the tools which a Nomadic Gypsey takes with +him in his perambulations. + +Whenever he is disposed to work, he is at no loss for fuel: on his +arrival at a station where he proposes to remain a few days, he takes his +beast, loads him with wood, builds a small kiln, and prepares his own +coal. In favourable weather, his work is carried on in the open air; +when it is stormy, he retires under his tent. He does not stand, but +sits down on the ground cross-legged to his work; which position is +rendered necessary, not only by custom, but by the quality of his tools. +The wife sits by to work the bellows, in which operation she is assisted +by the elder children. The Gypsies are generally praised for their +dexterity and quickness, notwithstanding the bad tools they have to work +with. + +Another branch of commerce much followed by Gypsies, is horse-dealing, to +which they have been attached from the earliest period of their history. +In those parts of Hungary, where the climate is so mild, that horses may +lie out all the year, the Gypsies avail themselves of this circumstance +to breed, as well as to deal in horses; by which they sometimes not only +procure a competency, but grew rich. Instances have been known on the +Continent, of gypsies keeping from fifty to seventy horses each; and +those the best bred horses of the country; some of which they let out for +hire, others they exchange or sell. But this description of Gypsey +horse-dealers is not numerous; the greater number of them deal in +inferior kinds. + +In addition to the two professions before-mentioned, commonly followed by +the men, some of them employ themselves as carpenters and turners; the +former making watering troughs and chests; the latter turn, trenchers and +dishes; make sieves, spoons, and other trifling articles, which they hawk +about. Many of them, as well as the smiths, find constant employment in +the houses of the better sort of people; for whom they work the year +round. They are not paid in money, but beside other advantages find a +certain subsistence. + +Those who are not thus circumstanced, do not wait at home for customers, +but with their implements in a sack thrown over their shoulders, seek +business in the cities and villages. When any one calls, they throw down +the bundle, and prepare the apparatus for work, before the door of their +employer. + +The Gypsies have a fixed dislike to agriculture; and had rather suffer +hunger, or any privation, than follow the plough. Since the year 1768, +the Empress Theresa has commanded that the Hungarian, and Transylvanian +Gypsies should be instructed in husbandry; but these orders have been +very little regarded. At this time there are so few of them farmers in +those parts, that they are undeserving of notice. In Spain and other +European countries, it would be difficult to find one who had ever made a +furrow in his life. + +Respecting fortune-telling, with which the female Gypsies impose on +people’s credulity in every district and corner of Europe, the origin, of +the imposition is not to be attributed to them: the cheat was known and +practised in Europe before their arrival; being deeply rooted in the +ignorance of the middle age. The science of divination here was said to +be already brought to a greater degree of perfection than among them. +Rules were invented to tell lies from the inspection of the hand, in +which the poor Gypsies were accounted mere bunglers. They in the +seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were esteemed supernumeraries; there +being men of great learning, who not only read lectures in Colleges on +the art of chiromancy; but wrote many books, vilifying these people, and +endeavouring to spoil their market. But these wise men are no more; +their knowledge is deposited in the dead archives of literature; and +probably had there been no Gypsies, with them would have died the belief +in chiromancy, as is the case with respect to astrology, necromancy, +oneirocritica, and the other offspring of imbecile fancy. + +We must not omit to mention the occupation of gold-washing, by which +thousands of Gypsies, of both sexes, in the Banat, Transylvania, +Wallachia, and Moldavia, procure a livelihood in summer; who, in winter, +make trays and troughs, which they sell in an honest way. + +It is not permitted for every one, without exception, to be a +gold-washer; such only can follow the employment as have permission from +the office of Mons, where a College was established by the Empress +Theresa, in 1748. In the seventh article of instructions granted, the +Gypsies were allowed the privilege of washing for gold, for which each +person pays a tribute to Government. + +The gold-washers in Transylvania and the Banat, pay four guilders +annually in gold dust. The tribute collected in Wallachia and Moldavia +does not go into the public treasury, but belongs to the Princesses for +pin-money. + +The consort of the Wallachian Hospodar, Stephen Rakowitza, in the year +1764, received from her Rudars, being two hundred and forty in number, +twelve hundred and fifty-four drachms. The gold-washers in the Banat and +Transylvania, dispose of their shares at the Royal Redemption-Office, in +Zalatuya. The earnings of these people vary with time, and at different +places; during heavy rains and floods they are usually most successful. +The Transylvanian rivers yield the most gold. It is said, all the rivers +and brooks which the rain forms, produce gold; of these the river +Aranyasch is the richest; insomuch, that Historians have compared it to +the Tagus and Pactolus. + + _Grellmann_. + +In Travels through the Banat of Temeswar, Transylvania, and Hungary, in +the year 1770, described in a series of letters to Professor Ferber, on +the mines and mountains of these different countries, by Baron Inigo +Born, Counsellor of the Royal Mines, in Bohemia, page 76, is the +following account: + +“Observations on the Gold-washings, in the Banat, by Counsellor Koezian. +Translated by R. E. Ruspe. + +“After the several natural advantages of the _Temeswar Banat_, some of +its rivers are known to yield gold dust; I could not neglect the object +when I travelled in these parts. + +“The gold-washing in the Banat, is properly the business of the Gypsies, +_Zigeuner_, and left, as it were, to this poor people, as an exclusive +trade. This laid me under the necessity of applying to them for +instruction. + +“The river Nera, in Almash, carries gold dust; and seemed to me the +fittest for my purpose; accordingly I caused some Gypsies, reputed to be +skilful, to make a washing, near a village called Boshowitz; and I saw +with pleasure, that with much dexterity, and in a few minutes time, they +cleared in the trough, the value of some groshes of gold: they showed me +likewise among their gold dust, some pieces of remarkable bigness.” + +It has been stated, that when Gypsies first arrived in Europe, they had +leaders and chiefs to conduct their various tribes in their migrations. + +Grellmann says, this was necessary, not only to facilitate their progress +through different countries and quarters of the globe; but to unite their +force, if necessary, and thereby enable them to make a more formidable +resistance when opposed; and likewise, to carry any plan they might have +formed, more regularly into effect. + +We accordingly find in old books, mention made of Knights, Counts, Dukes, +and Kings, among this people. Crucius cites a Duke, _Michael_; +Muratorio, a Duke, _Andreas_: and Arentinus records a King, _Zindelo_: +not to speak of inscriptions on monuments erected in different places to +the memories of Duke, _Panuel_; Count, _Johannis_; and a Knight, +_Petrus_, in the fifteenth century. + +But no comment is necessary to show how improperly these appellations +were applied. Though the Gypsey chiefs might be gratified with such +titles; and their descendants probably esteemed them persons of rank, it +was merely a ridiculous imitation of what they had seen, and perhaps +admired, among civilized people. Nevertheless, the custom of having +leaders and chiefs over them, prevails to this time, at least in Hungary +and Transylvania; probably it may also still exist in Turkey, and other +countries, where these people live together in great numbers. + +Their chiefs, or waywodes, were formerly of two degrees in Hungary. Each +petty tribe had its own leader, beside which, there were four superior +waywodes, of their own caste, on both sides the Danube and Teisse; whose +residences were at Raab, Lewentz, Szathmar, and Kaschan; and to these the +smaller waywodes were accountable. But now, only one superior waywode is +appointed in all Transylvania, who has authority over the gold-washers in +those parts. The Gypsies, however, still continue the custom among +themselves, of choosing certain persons, whom they make heads over them, +and call by the exalted Sclavonian title of waywode. + +It would appear extraordinary, that any well-regulated state should allow +these people a distinct establishment in the heart of the country; did +not the Hungarian writers assign as a reason, that in the commotions and +troubles occasioned by the Turkish wars, in former centuries, they were, +by means of their waywode, more easily summoned when occasion required, +and rendered useful to the community. + +In Transylvania, the magistrates do interfere with regard to the person +whom this or that horde hath elected chief, and impose an obligation on +him; but it is only that he should be careful to prevent his subjects +from absconding, when the time arrives for them to discharge their annual +tribute at the Land Regent’s chamber. He has no right to interfere in +disputes or quarrels which the Gypsies have among themselves, or with +other people, further than to give notice of them to the regular courts +of the district, where they happen to be. + + Grellmann. + + + + +SECTION IV. + + +Political Regulations on the Continent, respecting Gypsies. + + * * * * * + +To the ignorance and superstition of the middle age, must be attributed +the powerful ascendency which the Gypsies obtained over the minds of men. +In addition to the chiromantic deception, practised by the women, they +followed also the profession of exorcism; and were greatly in request +during the prevalence of a belief in witchcraft. + +They were employed to cure bewitched cattle, and to loosen the spells of +enchantment; for which they had nostrums of various kinds, consisting of +roots and amulets, made of unfermented dough, marked with strong figures, +and dried in the sun. + +For a long time little attention was paid to them, but at last the evil +became enormous, and complaints against them were so loud, that +Governments were constrained to take official notice of them. Exemplary +punishments were judged necessary; and, at length, the most cruel and +barbarous kinds were resorted to. What a blot upon the history of those +times, are the dreadful tortures of quartering alive, and breaking upon +the wheel! These means being insufficient to prevent the perpetration of +crimes; it was thought expedient to banish the Gypsies. + +German waiters say, that King Ferdinand of Spain, who esteemed it a good +work to expatriate useful and profitable subjects—Jews, and even Moorish +families—could much less be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on +the mischievous progeny of Gypsies. The edict for their extermination, +was published in the year 1492. But instead of passing the boundaries, +they only slunk into hiding-places, and shortly after appeared in as +great numbers as before. + +The Emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did Philip II. also. +Since that time they have nestled in again, and have been also threatened +with another storm, but it has blown over without taking effect. + +In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and at the +Assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all Governors of cities +received orders to drive them away with fire and sword. Nevertheless, in +process of time, they had collected again, and increased to such a +degree, that, in 1612, a new order came out for their extermination. + +In the year 1572, they were compelled to retire from the territories of +Milan and Parma; and at a period somewhat earlier, they were chased +beyond the Venetian jurisdiction. They were not allowed the privilege of +remaining unmolested in Denmark, as the code of Danish law specifies: +“The Tartars, _Gypsies_, who wander about every where, doing great damage +to the people, by their lies, thefts, and witchcraft, shall be taken into +custody by every magistrate.” + +Sweden was not more favourable, having attacked them at three different +times: A very sharp order for their expulsion came out in 1662. The Diet +of 1723 published a second, and that of 1727, repeated the foregoing with +additional severity. + +They were excluded from the Netherlands under pain of death, partly by +Charles the Vth, and afterwards by the United States, in 1582. But the +greatest number of sentences of exile, have been pronounced against them +in Germany. The beginning was made under Maximilian I, at the Augsburgh +Diet, in 1500, where the following was drawn up, respecting those people +who call themselves Gypsies, roving up and down the country. + +“By public edict, to all ranks of the empire, according to the +obligations under which they are bound to Us, and the Holy Empire; it is +strictly ordered, that in future they do not permit the said Gypsies, +since there is authentic evidence of their being spies, scouts, and +conveyers of intelligence, betraying the christians to the Turks, to pass +or remain within their territories; nor to trade; neither to grant them +protection, nor convoy. And that the said Gypsies do withdraw +themselves, before Easter next ensuing, from the German dominions; +entirely quit them, nor suffer themselves to be found therein: as in case +they should transgress after that time, and receive injury from any +person, they shall have no redress, nor shall such person be thought to +have committed any crime.” + +The same business occupied the attention of the Diet, in 1530, 1544, +1548, and 1551; and was also again enforced in the improved police +regulation of Frankfort, in 1577. + +Several Princes were however so little attentive to these orders of the +empire, that instead of endeavouring to drive out the Gypsies, they on +the other hand, furnished them with passports and safe-conducts; but by +far the greater number exerted themselves to the utmost, to clear their +states of them. + +Perhaps there is not any civilized state, Hungary and Transylvania +excepted, where this remedy has not been tried; but in the first place it +had very little effect, and that little was only temporary. Even if +every civilized nation had driven out the Gypsies at the same time, +Europe could not have been entirely cleared of them, so long as they +preserved an asylum in Turkey. Now as experience evinces there is no +country in which a constant, equal attention, is paid to the execution of +the laws, they would, in more, or less time, have again insinuated +themselves into the neighbouring countries; from these into others; and +have recommenced where they left off. + +But a general extermination never did take place. The law for banishing +them passed in one state before it was thought of in the next, or when a +like order had long become obsolete, and sunk into oblivion. These +guests were therefore merely compelled to shift their quarters to an +adjoining state, where they remained till the Government, there, began to +clear them away, upon which the fugitives either retired back whence they +came, or went on progressively to a third place, thus making a continual +revolution. + +Secondly, this remedy was premature: endeavouring to exterminate, was the +same as if a surgeon should proceed directly to the amputation of a +diseased limb, because it created inconvenience to the rest of the body. +Whereas the first inquiry ought to be, whether the disorder is of such a +nature as not to be removed, but by entire separation. This is a +desperate course, and should only be adopted, when no other can be +efficacious. + +It is to be regretted that, not until the reign of the Empress Theresa, +does there appear to have been any plan laid down for the gaining over +these poor ignorant people to virtue, and to the state. Historians +represent that the wise dispositions she enjoined respecting the Gypsies +in Hungary, were intrusted to people inadequate to the task. + +What was done, in her time, for the improvement of their condition, may +be seen by the following article extracted from the _Anzeigen aus den +Kayserl_, _Königl Erbländern_, or Intelligence from the Hereditary +Imperial Royal Dominions. + +“Since the year 1768, several decrees regarding these people have been +published in the country, _Hungary_, and the strictest orders despatched +to the several districts, in consequence. They were prohibited from +dwelling in huts, or tents; from wandering up and down the country; from +dealing in horses; from eating animals which died naturally, and carrion; +and from electing their own Wayda or Judge. It was intended to extirpate +the very name and language of these folks out of the country. They were +no longer to be called Gypsies, but New Boors, _Uj Magyar_; not to +converse any longer with each other in their own language, but in that of +any of the countries in which they had chosen to reside. + +“Some months were to be allowed, after which they were to quit their +Gypsey manner of life, and settle like the other inhabitants, in cities +and villages; to build decent houses and follow some reputable business. +They were to procure Boors’ clothing; to commit themselves to the +protection of some territorial superior, and live regularly.” + +Nevertheless, though these regulations were calculated for the good of +these people, and the state, the greater part were not in the smallest +degree benefited by them. In the year 1773, these orders were not only +repeated, but made more rigid; and as even this measure would not answer +the end, it was then thought necessary to proceed to extremity with them. + +Wherefore it was ordered, that no Gypsey should have permission to marry, +who could not prove himself in condition to support a wife and children; +that from such Gypsies who had families, the children should be taken +away by force; removed from their parents, relations, and intercourse +with the Gypsey race. A beginning was made in some places; and where +they would not comply voluntarily, they were compelled to submit to the +decree. + +At Fahlendorf, in Schütt, and in the district of Presburgh, all the +children of the New Boors, _Gypsies_, above five years old, were carried +away in waggons, during the night of the 21st of December, 1773, by +overseers appointed for that purpose; to order that, at a distance from +their parents, or relations, they might be more usefully educated, and +become accustomed to work. Those Boors who were willing to receive and +bring up these children, were paid eighteen guilders yearly from +Government. + +On the 24th of April, 1774, between five and six o’clock in the morning, +the children of the Gypsies which had been growing up from December of +the foregoing year, were again removed from Fahlendorf, in Schütt, and +Hideghid, for the purpose of being put under the same course of +discipline as the others. Among the children taken away on this +occasion, was a girl fourteen years old, who was forced to be carried off +in her bridal state. She tore her hair for grief and rage, and was quite +beside herself with agitation: but she recovered a composed state of +mind; and, in 1776, in Fasching, obtained permission to accomplish her +marriage. + +So far our intelligence is quoted from the Gazettes, by which we may see +how prudently every thing was concerted. + +But it must be observed, although the publisher of this information +endeavours to conceal it, how little these salutary regulations were put +in force; there were scarcely two places in the kingdom where even an +endeavour was made to give them proper effect. This supineness must have +been unknown to the Emperor Joseph, or he would certainly again have +enforced these regulations, to all chiefs and governors, at the same time +that he gave orders for their being observed in Transylvania. + +The tenor of the decree just mentioned, which was published in the year +1782, was consonant with the intention of Theresa, with regard to the +Hungarian Gypsies; namely, that those also in Transylvania should become +better men, and more useful inhabitants. For the accomplishment of this +end, it prohibits their wandering about, and living under tents; requires +that they become settled, and put themselves under some territorial +chief. In order to strike immediately at the root of the evil, necessary +and minute directions are given for the improvement of their religious +ideas and opinions; and, by correcting their vicious habits, for +rendering them good citizens. + +First, with respect to religion, they must + +1. Not only be taught the principles of religion themselves, but early +send their children to school. + +2. Prevent as much as possible, their children running about naked in +the roads and streets, thereby giving offence and disgust to other +people. + +3. In their dwellings, not permit their children to sleep promiscuously +by each other, without distinction of sex. + +4. Diligently attend at church, particularly on Sundays and holidays, to +give proof of their Christian disposition. + +5. Put themselves under the guidance of spiritual teachers, and conduct +themselves conformably to the rules laid down by them. + +Secondly, with regard to their temporal conduct, and better mode of +living, they are bound + +1. To conform to the custom of the country, in diet, dress, and +language: consequently to abstain from feeding on cattle which have died +of distempers; not to go about in such unseemly dresses; and to +discontinue the use of their own particular language. + +2. Not to appear any more in large cloaks; which are chiefly useful to +hide things that have been stolen. + +3. No Gypsey, except he be a gold-washer, shall keep a horse. + +4. Also the gold-washers must refrain from all kinds of bartering at the +annual fairs. + +5. The magistrates of every place must be very attentive that no Gypsey +waste his time in idleness; but at those seasons, when they have no +employment, either for themselves or any landholder, to recommend them to +some other person, with whom they shall be compelled to work for hire. + +6. They are to be kept particularly to agriculture; therefore + +7. It is to be observed, where possible, that every territorial Lord, +who takes any Gypsies under his jurisdiction, do allot them a certain +piece of ground to cultivate. + +8. Whoever is remiss in his husbandry, shall be liable to corporal +punishment. + +9. They shall be permitted to amuse themselves with music, or other +things, only when there is no field work for them to do. + +Such were the regulations adopted by the Emperor Joseph II. for the +purpose of civilizing, and rendering good and profitable subjects, +upwards of eighty thousand of miserable wretches, ignorant of God and of +virtue. + + _Grellmann_. + + + + +SECTION V. + + +The Gypsies in Great Britain. + + * * * * * + +The traits of character and the habits of the Gypsies on the Continent of +Europe, exhibited in this work, are sufficient for an examination, in +what degree these people correspond with those under the same +denomination in England. + +The earliest account which the writer of this section has been able to +collect from British History, was printed in the year 1612; when a quarto +work, by S. R. was published, to detect and expose the art of juggling +and legerdemain; in which is the following description of the Gypsies. + +“This kind of people, about a hundred years ago, beganne to gather an +head, as the first heere, about the southerne parts. And this as I am +informed, and can gather, was their beginning: Certain Egyptians banished +their country, (belike not for their good conditions,) arrived heere in +England, who for quaint tricks and devices, not known heere, at that +time, among us, were esteemed, and had in great admiration; insomuch, +that many of our English _Loyterers_ joined with them, and in time +learned their craftie cosening. + +“The speach which they used, was the right Egyptian language, with whom +our Englishmen conversing, at least learned their language. These people +continuing about the country, and practising their cosening art, +purchased themselves great credit among the country people, and got much +by palmistry, and telling of fortunes; insomuch, they pitifully cosened +poor country girls, both of money, silver spoons, and the best of their +apparelle, or any goods they could make.” + +From this author, it is collected, they had a leader of the name of +_Giles Hather_, who was termed their King; and a woman of the name of +_Calot_, was called Queen. “These riding through the country on +horseback, and in strange attire, had a prettie traine after them.” + +After mentioning some of the laws passed against them, this writer adds: +“But what numbers were executed on these statutes you would wonder; yet, +notwithstanding, all would not prevaile, but they wandered as before uppe +and downe, and meeting once in a yeare at a place appointed; sometimes at +the Peake’s Hole in Derbyshire, and other whiles by Ketbroak at +Blackheath.” + +About the same time, Spellman’s Portrait of the Gypsey Fraternity seems +to have been taken, ad vivum, and is as follows: + +“Egyptiani, Erronum, Impostorumque genus nequissimum, in Continente +ortum; sed ad Britannos nostras et Europam reliquam pervolans, nigredine +deformes, excocti sole, immundi veste, et usu rerum omnium fædi, &c.;” +which may be thus translated, “Egyptians, the worst kind of wanderers and +impostors, springing up on the Continent, but yet rapidly spreading +themselves through Britain, and other parts of Europe, disfigured by +their swarthiness; sun-burnt; filthy in their clothing, and indecent in +all their customs, &c.” + +According to the first of these statements, the arrival of Gypsies in +England might be about the year 1512; or ten years at least before the +Statute of the 22d of Henry VIII; in the 10th chapter of which, they are +described to be, “_An outlandish people_, _calling themselves Egyptians_, +_using no crafte_, _nor feat of merchandise_; _who have come into this +realm_, _and gone from shine to shire_, _and place to place in great +company_; _and used great_, _subtle_, _and crafty means_, _to deceive the +people_, _bearing them in hand_, _that they by palmistry could tell men’s +and yeomen’s fortunes_; _and so_, _many times by crafte and subtlety have +deceived the people of their money_; _and also have committed many +heinous felonies and robberies_.” Wherefore they are directed to avoid +the realm, and not to return under pain of imprisonment, and forfeiture +of their good and chattels; and upon their trials for any felonies which +they may have committed, they shall not be entitled to a Jury _de +medietate linguæ_. + +The Act passed the 27th of the came reign goes farther, as will appear by +the following abstract of it: “_Whereas certain outlandish people_, _who +do not profess any crafte or trade whereby to maintain themselves_, _but +go about in great numbers from place to place_, _using insidious_, +_underhand means to impose on his Majesty’s subjects_, _making them +believe that they understand the art of foretelling to men and women +their good and evil fortune_, _by looking in their hands_, _whereby they +frequently defraud people of their money_; _likewise are guilty of thefts +and highway robberies_: _it is hereby ordered that the said vagrants_, +_commonly called Egyptians_, _in case they remain one month in the +kingdom_, _shall be proceeded against as thieves and rascals_; _and on +the importation of any such Egyptian_, _he_, (_the importer_) _shall +forfeit_ £40 _for every trespass_.” + +By the above recited Acts of Parliament, it appears, that it was from +their own representation of being Egyptians, they were so denominated in +England; and that they did not on their arrival in this country, feign +themselves, as in Germany, to be pilgrims; or as in France, to be +penitents; neither of which impositions would have been well adapted to +the temper of the government of Henry VIII; or to his subversion of papal +power, and abolition of monastic influence. The character they assumed, +was the best adapted to establish their reputation, for the arts and +deception they intended to practise in England. The fame of Egypt in +astrology, magic, and soothsaying, was universal; and they could not have +devised a more artful expedient, than the profession of this knowledge, +to procure for them a welcome reception by the great mass of the people. + +From the abstract of the Act of 27th, Henry VIII, we may infer, that the +Gypsies were so much in request, as to induce some of our countrymen to +import them from the Continent, or at least to encourage their migration +to this Island. The importation of these people must have been prevalent +from some cause, to require parliamentary interference, and even a fine +to prevent it, of such an amount as £40; which according to the relative +value of money, would, at the present time, be equal to a large sum. + +During the same reign, we find that a number of Gypsies were reshipped at +the public expense, and sent to France. + +In the Book of Receipts and Payments, of the 35th of Henry VIII. are the +following entries. + +“Nett Payments 1st Sept. 36th of Henry VIII, + +“Item to Tho. Warner, Sergeant of the Admyraltie, 10th Sept. for victuals +prepared for a shippe appointed to convey certaine Egupeians, 58s.—Item +to the same Tho. Warner to th’ use of John Bowles for freight of said +shippe, £6 5s. Item to Robt. Ap. Rice, Esq. Shriff of Huntingdon for the +charge of the Egupeians at a special gaile delivery, and the bringing of +them to be conveied over the sees; over and besides the sum of £4. 5s. +0d. growing of seventeen horses, sold at five shillings {82} the piece, +as apperythe by a particular book, £17. 17s. 7d. Item to Will. Wever +appointed to have the charge of the conduct of the said Egupeians to +Callis, £5.” + +There were subsequent acts relating to Gypsies in the reign of Ph. & M.; +and 5th of Eliz.; by which, “_If any person being_ 14 _years old_, +_whether natural born subject or stranger_, _who had been seen in the +fellowship of such persons_, _or had disguised himself like them_, +_should remain with them one month at once_, _or at several times_, _it +should be felony without benefit of clergy_.” + +But notwithstanding these measures to extirpate Gypsies, Wraxall, in his +History of France, Vol. II. page 32, in referring to the Act of Eliz. in +1563, states, that in her reign, the Gypsies throughout England were +supposed to exceed ten thousand. + +And it appears by the following Order of Sessions, copied from the +Harleian M.S.S. British Museum, No. 364, that about the year 1586, there +were great complaints of the increase of vagabonds and loitering persons, +&c. + +“Orders, Rules, and Directions, concluded, appointed, and agreed uppon, +by us the Justices of the Peace, within the countie of Suffolk, assembled +at our General Sessions of Peace, holden at Bury the 22d daie of Aprill, +in the 31st yeare of the Raigne of our Souraigne Lady, the Queen’s +Majestie, for the punishinge and suppressinge of Roags, Vacabonds; idle, +loyteringe, and lewde persons; which doe, or shall hereafter wander and +goe aboute, within the hundreths of Thingo cum Bury, Blackborne, +Thedwardstree, Cosford, Babings, Risbridge, Lackford, and the half +hundreth of Exninge, in the said countie of Suffolk, contrary to the law, +in that case made and provided. + +“Whereas, at the Parliement beganne and holden at Westminster, the 8th +daie of Maye, in the 14th yeare of the raigne of the Queen’s Majestie, +that nowe is, one Acte was made, intytuled, “An Acte for punishment of +Vacabonds, and for releife of the Pooere, and Impotent.” And whereas, at +a Session of the Parliament, holden by prorogacon, at Westminster, the +eight daie of February, in the 28th yeare of her Majestie’s raigne, one +other Acte was made and intytuled, “An Acte for settinge of the Poore to +work, and for the avoydinge of idleness.” By vertue of which, severall +Acts, certeyne provisions and remedies been ordeyned, and established, as +well for the suppressinge, and punishinge of all roags, vacabonds, sturdy +roags, idle and loyteringe persons; as also for the releife, and setting +on worke of the aged and impotente persons within this realm; and +authoritie gyven to Justices of Peace, in their several charges and +commission, to see that the said Acts and Statuts be putte in due +execution, to the glorie of Allmightie God, and the benefite of the +common welth. + +“And whereas also yt appeareth by dayly experience, that the number of +idle, vagraunte, loyteringe, sturdy roags, masterles men, lewde and yll +disposed persons are exceedingly encreased, and multiplied, committinge +many grevious and outeragious disorders and offences, tendinge to the +great . . . of Allmightie God, the contempte of her Majestie’s laws, and +to the great charge, troble, and disquiet of the common welth.—We the +Justices of Peace, above speciefied, assembled and mett together at our +general sessions above named, for remedie of theis and such lyke +enormities which hereafter shall happen to arise or growe within the +hundreths and lymits aforesaid, doe by theis presents, order, decree and +ordeyne, That there shall be builded or provided one convenient house, +which shall be called the House of Correction; and that the same be +established within the towne of Bury, within the hundreth of Thingoe +aforesaid. And that all persons offendinge or lyvinge contrary to the +tenor of the said twoe Acts, within the hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, +shal be, by the warrante of any Justice of Peace, dwellinge in the same +hundreths or lymitts, committed thether and there be releived, punished, +sett to worke, and ordered in such sorte, and accordinge to the +directions, provisions, and limitations, hereafter in theis presents +declared and specified. + +“Fyrst, That yt maie appeare what persons arre to be apprehended, +committed and brought to the House of Correction, it is ordered and +appointed, That all and every person and persons which shal be found and +taken within the hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, above the age of 14 +yeares, and shall take upon them to be procters or procurators goinge +aboute withowt sufficiente lycence from the Queen’s Majestie. All idle +persons goinge aboute usinge subtiltie and unlawfull games or plaie—all +such as faynt themselves to have knowledge in phisiognomye, palmestrie or +other abused sciences—all tellers of destinies, deaths or fortunes, and +such lyke fantasticall imaginations.” + +From the tenor of the above Ordinance, it might be inferred that, at the +time of issuing it, Gypsies, and their adherents, abounded in the County +of Suffolk; and it may be concluded, that they continued to attach +themselves to that part of the nation, as Judge Hale remarks, that “at +one Suffolk Assize, no less than thirteen Gypsies were executed upon +these Statutes, a few years before the restoration.” + +To the honour of our national humanity, however, Judge Blackstone +observes, there are no instances more modern than this, of carrying these +laws into practice; and the last, sanguinary act is itself now repealed. +The severe statute of 5th Eliz. c. 20 is repealed by 23d Geo. III. c. +51—and Gypsies are now only punishable under the Vagrant Act, which +declares, “that all persons pretending to be Gypsies, or wandering in the +habit, and form of Egyptians, shall be deemed rogues, and +vagabonds.”—17th Geo. II. c. 5. + +In Scotland, these people seemed for a time to enjoy some share of +indulgence; for a writ in favour of John Faw, Lord and Earl of Upper +Egypt, was issued by Mary, Queen of Scots, 1553; and in 1554, he obtained +a pardon for the murder of Numan Small. + +In 1579, however all the legislative provisions respecting vagrants, +beggars, &c. in Scotland, were reduced into one law, by the following +very comprehensive statute: “Forameikle as there is sindrie loyabil Acts +of Parliament, maid be our soveraine Lord’s maist nobil progenitours, for +the stanching of maisterful and idle beggars, away putting of Sornares, +and provision for the pure: bearing that nane sall be thoiled to beg, +nouther to burgh, nor to land, betwixt 14 and 70 zeires. + +“That sik as make themselves fules, and ar bairdes, or uther sik like +runners about, being apprehended, sall be put into the Kinge’s waird, or +irones, sa lang as they have ony gudes of their awin to live on. And fra +they have not quhairupon to live of their awin, that their eares be +nayled to the trone, or to an uther tree, and their eares cutted off, and +banished the countrie; and gif thereafter they be found againe, that they +be hanged. + +“And that it may be knowen, qwhat maner of persones ar meaned to be idle +and strang begares, and vagabounds, and warthy of the punischement before +specified, it is declared: “That all idle persones ganging about in ony +countrie of this realm, using subtil, craftie, and unlawful playes, as +juglarie, fast-and-lous, and sik uthers; the idle peopil calling +themselves _Egyptians_, or any uther, that feinzies themselves to have a +knawledge or charming prophecie, or other abused sciences, qwairby they +perswade peopil, that they can tell their weirds, {89} deathes, and +fortunes, and sik uther phantastical imaginations, &c.” + +Notwithstanding this law, a writ of Privy Seal, dated 1594, supports John +Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt, in the execution of justice upon his +company of folk, conform to the laws of Egypt, in punishing certain +persons there named, who had rebelled against him, left him, robbed him, +and refused to return home with him. + +James’ subjects are commanded to aid in apprehending them, and in +assisting Faw and his adherents to return home. + +From all these circumstances, it appears that this John Faw, or two +persons of the same name and distinction, succeeding each other, staid a +long time in Scotland; and from him this kind of strolling people might +receive the name of Faw Gang, which they still retain, as appears by +Burn’s Justice. + +But the Scottish laws, after this time, were not less severe than those +of Queen Elizabeth. By an Act passed in 1609; “Sorners, common thieves, +commonly called Egyptians, were directed to pass forth of the kingdom, +under pain of death, as common, notorious, and condemned thieves.” +Scottish Acts, I. 850. + + + + +SECTION VI. + + +The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland. + + * * * * * + +The energy and perseverance by which North Britons are distinguished, +will be evinced throughout the pages of this section. A friend of the +author, having been requested to make application at the Advocates’ and +the University Libraries, in the city of Edinburgh, for extracts from +some foreign publications, was also desired to transmit with them what +information could be obtained respecting the Gypsies in Scotland. + +With a promptitude and zeal which characterises genuine philanthropy, a +circular, containing four queries, was dispatched to the Sheriff of every +county in that nation; soliciting through the medium of an official +organ, all the intelligence which could be obtained on the subject. In +consequence, returns have been made from nearly the whole of the shires, +either by the Sheriff, or his substitute; generally addressed to George +Miller, jun. Edinburgh; who has been a most effective coadjutor on this +occasion. + +From thirteen counties, the reports are, “No Gypsies resident in them;” +some others give account of their only passing through at times. + +William Frazer Tytler, Sheriff of Invernessshire, writes as follows: “The +undertaking in which you are engaged, for the civilization of so lost a +portion of mankind, merits every support. Its effects may be more +generally and extensively useful in England, where those unfortunate +people are extremely numerous. In Scotland, their number is +comparatively small, and particularly in the county of Inverness.” + +Alexander Moor, Sheriff Depute, of Aberdeenshire, states: “There are not +any Gypsies who have a permanent residence in that Sheriffalty. +Occasionally vagrants, both single and in bands, appear in this part of +the country; resorting to fairs, where they commit depredations on the +unwary. Some of them are supposed to be connected with Gypsies in the +southern part of the island.” + +John Blair, Sheriff Substitute for the County of Bute, writes: “I have to +inform that the people generally known by the description of Gypsies, are +not in use to come hither, unless abject, itinerant tinkers and braziers, +generally from Ireland, may be accounted such. A few of them often visit +us, and take up their abode for a time in different parts of the country, +where people can be prevailed upon to give them the accommodation of an +out-house or hut.” + +They are understood to be illiterate, neither they, nor their children, +who are often numerous, being able to read. + +The distinguished northern Poet, Walter Scott, who is Sheriff of +Selkirkshire, has in a very obliging manner communicated the following +statement: + +“A set of people possessing the same erratic habits, and practising the +trade of tinkers, are well known in the Borders; and have often fallen +under the cognisance of the law. They are often called Gypsies, and pass +through the county annually in small bands, with their carts and asses. +The men are tinkers, poachers, and thieves upon a small scale. They also +sell crockery, deal in old rags, in eggs, in salt, in tobacco and such +trifles; and manufacture horn into spoons, I believe most of those who +come through Selkirkshire, reside, during winter, in the villages of +Sterncliff and Spittal, in Northumberland, and in that of Kirk Yetholm, +Roxburghshire. + +“Mr. Smith, the respectable Baillie {94} of Kelso, can give the most +complete information concerning those who reside at Kirk Yetholm. +Formerly, I believe, they were much more desperate in their conduct than +at present. But some of the most atrocious families have been +extirpated, I allude particularly to the _Winters_, a Northumberland +clan, who I fancy are all buried by this time. + +“Mr. Reddell, Justice of Peace for Roxburghshire, with my assistance and +concurrence, cleared this country of the last of them, about eight or +nine years ago. They were thorough desperadoes, of the worst class of +vagabonds. Those who now travel through this country, give offence +chiefly by poaching, and small thefts. They are divided into clans, the +principal names being Faa, Baillie, Young, Ruthven, and Gordon. + +“All of them are perfectly ignorant of religion, nor do their children +receive any education. They marry and cohabit amongst each other, and +are held in a sort of horror by the common people. + +“I do not conceive them to be the proper Oriental Egyptian race, at least +they are much intermingled with our own national out-laws and vagabonds. +They are said to keep up a communication with each other through +Scotland, and to have some internal government and regulation as to the +districts which each family travels. + +“I cannot help again referring to Mr. Smith of Kelso, a gentleman who can +give the most accurate information respecting the habits of those +itinerants, as their winter-quarters of Yetholm, are upon an estate of +which he has long had the management.” + +It is very satisfactory to have received from an authority so respectably +as that of William Smith, the Baillie of Kelso, above referred to, +answers to the four queries of the circular; accompanied by his own +interesting and appropriate illustrations, from which extracts are made +as follow, dated November, 1815. + +“A considerable time having elapsed, since I had an opportunity, or +occasion to attend to the situation of the colony of Gypsies in our +neighbourhood, I was obliged to delay my answer to your inquiries, until +I could obtain more information respecting their present numbers. + +“The great bar to the benevolent intentions of improving their situation +will be, the impossibility to convince them that there either is, or can +be, a mode of life preferable, or even equal to their own. + +“A strong spirit of independence, or what they would distinguish by the +name of liberty, runs through the whole tribe. It is no doubt a very +licentious liberty, but entirely to their taste. Some kind of honour, +peculiar to themselves, seems to prevail in their community. They reckon +it a disgrace to steal near their homes, or even at a distance, if +detected. I must always except that petty theft of feeding their +shelties and asses on the farmer’s grass and corn, which they will do, +whether at home or abroad. + +“When avowedly trusted, even in money transactions, they never deceived +me, nor forfeited their promise. I am sorry to say, however, that when +checked in their licentious appropriations, &c. they are very much +addicted both to threaten and to execute revenge. + +“Having so far premised with respect to their general conduct and +character, I shall proceed to answer, as far as I am able, the four +queries subjoined to the circular which you sent me, and then subjoin, in +notes, some instances of their conduct in particular cases, which may +perhaps elucidate their general disposition and character.” + +“Query 1st. _What number of Gypsies in the County_? + +“A. I know of none except the colony of Yetholm, and one family who +lately removed from that place to Kelso. Yetholm consists of two towns, +or large villages, called _Town_ Yetholm, and _Kirk_ Yetholm. The first +is in the estate of Mr. Wauchope, of Niddry; the latter in that of the +Marquis of Tweedale. The number of the Gypsey colony at present in Kirk +Yetholm, amounts to at least 109 men, women, and children; and perhaps +two or three may have escaped notice. They marry early in life, in +general have many children, and their number seems to be increasing. + +“Query 2d. _In what do the men and women mostly employ themselves_? + +“B. I have know the colony between forty and fifty years. At my first +remembrance of them, they were called the _Tinklers_, (Tinkers) of +Yetholm, from the males being chiefly then employed in mending pots, and +other culinary utensils, especially in their peregrinations through the +hilly and less populous parts of the country. + +“Sometimes they were called _Horners_, from their occupation in making +and selling horn spoons, called Cutties. Now their common appellation is +that of _Muggers_, or, what pleases them better, _Potters_. They +purchase, at a cheap rate, the cast or faulty articles, at the different +manufactories of earthenware, which they carry for sale all over the +country; consisting of groups of six, ten, and sometimes twelve or +fourteen persons, male and female, young and old, provided with a horse +and cart to transport the pottery; besides shelties and asses to carry +the youngest of the children, and such baggage as they find necessary. + +“In the country, they sleep in barns, and byres, or other out-houses: and +when they cannot find that accommodation, they take the canvas covering +from the pottery cart, and squat below it like a covey of partridges in +the snow. + +“A few of the colony also employ themselves occasionally in making +beesoms, foot-bosses, &c. from heath, broom, and bent, and sell them at +Kelso, and the neighbouring towns. After all, their employment can be +considered little better than an apology for idleness and vagrancy. + +“They are in general great adepts in hunting, shooting, and fishing; in +which last they use the net and spear, as well as the rod; and often +supply themselves with a hearty meal by their dexterity. They have no +notion of being limited in their field sports, either to time, place, or +mode of destruction. + +“I do not see that the women are any otherwise employed, than attending +the young children; and assisting to sell the pottery when carried +through the country.” + +“Query 3rd. _Have they any settled abode in winter_, _and where_? + +“C. Their residence, with the exception of a single family, who some +years ago came to Kelso, is at Kirk Yetholm, and chiefly confined to one +row of houses, or street of that town, which goes by the name of Tinkler +Row. Most of them have leases of their possessions, granted for a term +of nineteen times nineteen years, for payment of a small sum yearly; +something of the nature of a quit rent. There is no tradition in the +neighbourhood concerning the time when the Gypsies first took up their +residence at that place, nor whence they came. + +“Most of their leases, I believe were granted by the family of the +Bennets of Grubet; the last of whom was Sir David Bennet, who died about +sixty years ago. The late Mr. Nesbit of Dirleton, then succeeded to the +estate, comprehending the Baronies of Kirk Yetholm, and Grubet. He died +about the year 1783, and not long after, the property was acquired by the +late Lord Tweedale’s trustees. + +“During the latter part of the life of the late Mr. Nesbit, he was less +frequently at his estate in Roxburghshire than formerly. He was a great +favourite of the Gypsies, and was in use to call them his body guards, +and often gave them money, &c. + +“On the other hand, both the late and present Mr. Wauchope were of +opinion, that the example of these people had a bad effect upon the +morals and industry of the neighbourhood; and seeing no prospect of their +removal, and as little of their reformation, considered it as a duty to +the public, to prevent the evil increasing; and never would consent to +any of the colony taking up their residence in Town Yetholm. + +“They mostly remain at home during winter, but as soon as the weather +becomes tolerably mild in spring, most of them, men, women, and children, +set out on their peregrination over the country, and live in a state of +vagrancy, until again driven into their habitations by the approach of +winter. + +“Seeming to pride themselves as a separate tribe, they very seldom +intermarry out of the colony; and in rare instances where that happens, +the Gypsey, whether male or female, by influence and example, always +induces the stranger husband or wife to adopt the manners of the colony, +so that no improvement is ever obtained in that way. The progeny of such +alliances have almost universally the tawny complexion, and fine black +eyes of the Gypsey parent, whether father or mother. + +“So strongly remarkable is the Gypsey cast of countenance, that even a +description of them to a stranger, who has had no opportunity of formerly +seeing them, will enable him to know them wherever he meets with them. +Some individuals, but very rarely, separate from the colony altogether; +and when they do so early in life, and go to a distance such as London, +or even Edinburgh, their acquaintances in the country get favourable +accounts of them. A few betake themselves to regular and constant +employments at home, but soon tire, and return to their old way of life. + +“When any of them, especially a leader, or man of influence dies, they +have full meetings, not only of the colony, but of the Gypsies from a +distance, and those meetings, or _Late Wakes_, are by no means conducted +with sobriety or decency.” + +“Query 4th. _Are any of their children taught to read_, _and what +proportion of them_? _With any anecdotes respecting their customs and +conduct_. + +“D. Education being obtained at a cheaper rate, the Gypsies in general, +give their male children as good a one, as is bestowed on those of the +labouring people and farm servants in the neighbourhood; such as reading, +writing, and the first principles of arithmetic. They all apply to the +clergyman of the parish for baptism to their children, and a strong +superstitious notion universally prevails with them, that it is unlucky +to have an unchristened child long in the house. Only a very few ever +attend divine service, and those as seldom as they can, just to prevent +being refused as sponsors at their children’s baptism. + +“They are in general, active and lively, particularly when engaged in +field sports; or in such temporary pursuits as are agreeable to their +habits and dispositions; but are destitute of the perseverance necessary +for a settled occupation, or even for finishing what a moderate degree of +continued labour, would enable them to accomplish in a few weeks.” + + + +NOTES + + +_By_ WM. SMITH, _intended to elucidate his answers to the Queries_ A +_and_ B, _on their licentious liberty_. + +“I remember that about 45 years ago, being then apprentice to a writer, +who was in use to receive the rents as well as the small duties of Kirk +Yetholm, he sent me there with a list of names, and a statement of what +was due; recommending me to apply to the landlord of the public-house, in +the village, for any information or assistance which I might need. + + “After waiting a long time, and receiving payment from most of the +feuers, or rentallers, I observed to him that none of the persons of the +names of Faa, Young, Blythe, Fleckie, &c. who, stood at the bottom of the +list for small sums, had come to meet me, according to the notice given +by the Baron Officer; and proposed sending to inform them that they were +detaining me, and to request their immediate attendance. + +“The landlord, with a grave face, inquired whether my master had desired +me to ask money from those men. I said, not particularly; but they stood +on the list. “So, I see,” said the landlord, “but had your master been +here himself, he did _not dare to ask money from them_, _either as rent_, +_or feu duty_.—_He knows that it is as good as if it were in his pocket_. +_They will pay when their own time comes_, _but do not like to pay at a +set time with the rest of the Barony_; _and still less to be craved_.” + +“I accordingly returned without their money, and reported progress. I +found that the landlord was right; my master said with a smile, that it +was unnecessary to send to them, after the previous notice from the Baron +Officer; it was enough if I had received the money, if offered.—Their +rent and feu duty was brought to the office in a few weeks. I need +scarcely add, those persons all belonged to the tribe. + +“Another instance of their licentious, independent spirit, occurs to me. +The family of Niddry always gave a decent, annual remuneration to a Baron +Baillie, for the purpose of keeping good order within their Barony of +Town Yetholm. The person whom I remember first in possession of that +office, was an old man called Doctor Walker, from his being also the +village surgeon; and from him I had the following anecdote:— + +“Between Yetholm and the border farms in Northumberland, there were +formerly, as in most border situations, some uncultivated lands called +the _Plea lands_, or _Debateable lands_, the pasturage of which was +generally eaten up by the Sorners and vagabonds on both sides of the +marches. + +“Many years ago, Lord Tankerville and some other of the English +borderers, made their request to Sir David Bennet, and the late Mr. +Wauchope of Niddry, that they would accompany them at a _riding_ of the +Plea lands, who readily complied with their request. They were induced +to this, as they understood that the Gypsies had taken offence, on the +supposition that they might be circumscribed in the pasture for their +shelties and asses, which they had held a long time, partly by stealth, +and partly by violence. + +“Both threats and entreaties were employed to keep them away; and, at +last, Sir David obtained a promise from some of the heads of the gang, +that none of them should show their faces on the occasion. + +“They, however, got upon the hills at a little distance, whence they +could see every thing that passed. At first they were very quiet. But +when they saw the English Court Book Spread out on a cushion before the +clerk, and apparently taken in a line of direction, interfering with what +they considered to be their privileged ground, it was with great +difficulty that the most moderate of them, could restrain the rest from +running down, and taking vengeance, even in sight of their own Lord of +the Manor. + +“They only abstained for a short time, and no sooner had Sir David, and +the other gentleman taken leave of each other in the most polite and +friendly manner, as border chiefs are wont to do, since border feuds +ceased, and had departed to a sufficient distance, than the clan, armed +with bludgeons, pitch-forks, and such other hostile weapons as they could +find, rushed down in a body; and before the chiefs on either side had +reached their home, there was neither English tenant, horse, cow, nor +sheep left upon the premises. + + + +“Notes on Answers C and D. + + +“_Peculiar cast of_ GYPSEY FEATURES, _every where distinguishable_, &c. + +“When first I knew any thing about the colony, old Will Faa was king, or +leader, and had held the sovereignty for many years. + +“Meeting at Kelso with Mr. Walter Scott, whose discriminating habits and +just observations I had occasion to know from his youth, and at the same +time seeing one of my Yetholm friends in the horse market, I merely said +to Mr. Scott, “Try to get before that man with the long drab coat, look +at him on your return, and tell me whether you ever saw him, and what you +think of him.” He was so good as to indulge me; and rejoining me said +without hesitation, “I never saw the man that I know of; but he is one of +the Gypsies of Yetholm, that you told me of several years ago.” I need +scarcely say that he was perfectly correct. + +“The descendants of Faa, now take the name of _Fall_, from the Messrs. +Falls, of Dunbar, who, they pride themselves in saying, are of the same +stock and lineage. When old Will Faa was upwards of eighty years of age, +he called on me at Kelso, in his way to Edinburgh, telling that he was +going to see the Laird, the late Mr. Nesbit, of Dirleton, as he +understood that he was very unwell, and himself being now old, and not so +stout as he had been, he wished to see him once more before he died. + +“The old man set out by the nearest road, which was by no means his +common practice. Next market-day, same of the farmers informed me, that +they had been in Edinburgh, and seen Will Faa upon the bridge; (the south +bridge was not then built;) that he was tossing about his old brown hat, +and huzzaing with great vociferation, that he had seen the Laird before +he died. Indeed Will himself had no time to lose, for having set his +face homewards by the way of the sea coast, to vary his route, as is the +general custom of the gang, he only got the length of Coldingham, when he +was taken ill, and died. + +“His death being notified to his friends at Yetholm, they and their +acquaintance at Berwick, Spittal, Horncliff, &c. met to pay the last +honours to their old leader. His obsequies were continued three +successive days and nights, and afterwards repeated at Yetholm, whither +he was brought for interment. I cannot say that the funeral rites were +celebrated with decency and sobriety, for that was by no means the case. +This happened in the year 1783, or 1784, and the late Mr. Nesbit did not +long survive.” + +William Dymock, W. S. Edinburgh, distinguished in the profession of the +law, by his sound judgment and strict integrity, having had the perusal +of the preceding report from William Smith, gives the following testimony +concerning that account: “Baillie Smith’s report is quite graphical, +correct truth, and correctly expressed.—It is useful as showing, that the +parties of Tinklers are great detachments from one colony.” + +With this, accords Sir John Sinclair’s observation in his Statistical +Account of Scotland, Vol. II. p. 124, when describing the village of +Eaglesham, he remarks: “There is no magistrate nearer than four miles, +and the place is oppressed with gangs of Gypsies, commonly called +Tinklers, or sturdy beggars.” + +Before receiving the very interesting report from William Smith, the +author of this Survey was entirely at a loss to determine what was become +of the descendants of John Faw, who styled himself Lord and Earl of +Little Egypt; and with a numerous retinue entered Scotland in the reign +of Queen Mary, as stated in Section the 5th.—His complaint of his men +refusing to return home with him, might be only a feint, invented to +cover his design of continuing in the country; for there does not appear +to be any traces in history of the banishment of Faw-gang, or of their +quitting Scotland.—But in the above cited report, we find at the head of +the Tinklers a Will Faa, in whose name there is only a variation of one +letter from that of his distinguished predecessor; and that in reference +to this origin, he asserts the _Falls_ of Dunbar to be of the same stock +and lineage. + + + + +SECTION VII. + + +On the origin of the Gypsies + + * * * * * + +Various are the conjectures which have been indulged, and the +coincidences which have been sought for, in order to obtain a solution of +the query, _What race of people are the Gypsies_? + +Whoever is disposed to refer to Continental writers, may see more than +thirty different opinions started on this subject, founded on no better +authority than some similarity of appellation, garb, complexion, or +unsettled way of life. + +They were sometimes _Torlaques_, _Kalendars_, or _Faquirs_. The +Torlaques are Mahometan Monks, who under the pretence of holiness, are +guilty of the most flagrant excesses. Bajazet the 2d, banished them from +the Turkish empire in 1494. The Kalendars wander about in heathen +countries, as the Gypsies do among Christians. The Faquirs are religious +fanatics; and rove about in heathen and mahometan countries, like the +most atrocious robbers. Anquetil says, the Faquirs in India go a +pilgrimage to Jagrenat; they plunder such villages and cities as lie in +their way; they form considerable bodies about a mile from Jagrenat, +where they choose themselves a leader, to whom they pay all the attention +due to a general. + +With regard to strolling and thieving, the Faquirs and Gypsies agree +exactly. Thomasius, Griselini, and the English geographer Salmon, +imagined that when Sultan Selim conquered Egypt in 1517, several of the +natives refusing to submit to the Turkish yoke, revolted under one +Zinganeus. + +But we have already adverted to authentic documents for the proof, that +they were in Germany, Italy, and France, near a century before the +conquest of Egypt by Selim. + +Yet the belief that Gypsies were of Egyptian origin is parallel with +their existence in Europe. It arose from the report circulated by the +first of them, that they were pilgrims from Egypt; and this statement was +not only adopted by the common people, but here, and there, obtained +credit among men of learning. Grellmann observes, that had this opinion +not been received at a time when almost every thing was taken upon trust, +with little examination; had it not been propagated by the first Gypsies, +and then obtained a sanction, it would have been impossible for it to +have gained such general acceptation, or to have maintained itself to the +present times. Till the 17th century, the Egyptian descent of the +Gypsies rested entirely on tradition. Afterwards, Aventin, Krantz, and +Miinster openly contradict it. + +Aventin relates that they wished it to be thought they came from that +country, but that, in his time, nothing was known concerning them, but +what came from their own mouths; those who accounted them Egyptians, +rested their belief entirely on the veracity of their informants. + +This is collected with greater certainty from Krantz and Miinster, for +they declare expressly, that every thing which could be discovered by any +other means than their own assertions, contradicted, rather than +confirmed their Egyptian descent. But it is not merely that their +Egyptian descent is entirely destitute of proof, the most circumstantial +evidence can be adduced against it. + +Their language differs entirely from the Coptic, and their customs, as +Ahasuerus Fritsch has remarked, are diametrically opposite to the +Egyptian; but what is, if possible, of greater weight, they wander about +in Egypt, like strangers, and _there_, as in other countries, form a +distinct people. + +The testimony of Bellonius is full and decisive on the point. He states; +“No part of the world, I believe, is free from those banditti, wandering +about in troops; whom we, by mistake, call Gypsies, and Bohemians. When +we were at Cairo, and the villages bordering on the Nile, we found troops +of these strolling thieves sitting under palm-trees; and they are +_esteemed foreigners_ in _Egypt_.” + +Aventin expressly makes Turkey their original place of rendezvous; and +this furnishes a reason for the south east parts of Europe being the most +crowded with them. If all that came to Europe passed by this route, it +accounts for a greater number remaining in those countries, than in +others to which they would have a much longer travel; and before their +arrival at which, their hordes might be much divided. + +It is a just assertion, that one of the most infallible methods of +determining the origin of a people, would be the discovery of a country +in which their language is that of the natives. It is a fact +incontrovertibly established, that besides the Gypsies speaking the +language of the country in which they live, they have a general one of +their own, in which they converse with each other. + +Not knowing any speech correspondent with the Gypsies, some have been +ready to pronounce it a mere jargon; not considering how extravagant a +surmise it would be, that a people rude, uncivilized, and separated +hundreds of miles from each other, have invented a language. Others who +are better informed on the subject, allow that the language brought into +Europe with the Gypsies, was really vernacular, of some country; but +suppose it is so disguised and corrupted, partly by design, and partly by +adventitious events, through length of time, and the continued wandering +of these people, that it must be considered a new language, and now used +by the Gypsies only. + +That it is the dialect of some particular part of the globe, though no +longer pure, as in the country whence it originated, is an opinion which +has obtained the greatest concurrence among the learned. Grellmann says, +had a German listened a whole day to a Gypsey conversation, he would not +have comprehended a single expression. It must doubtless appear +extraordinary, that the language of a people who had lived for centuries +in Europe, should have remained so much a secret: but it was not easy to +gain information from the Gypsies concerning it. Acquainted, by +tradition, with the deception their predecessors practised on coming into +Europe, they are suspicious; and fearing an explanation might be +dangerous to themselves, they are not disposed to be communicative.—But +how was it possible for the learned of former centuries, to be competent +to the investigation, who had not the aids which now so copiously occur +to the historical etymologist? + +Many dialects have been discovered, and our knowledge of others greatly +increased, within the last fifty or sixty years. During that time, not +only the literary treasures of the furthest north have been opened to us, +but we have become acquainted with many of the oriental languages; and +even eastern idioms are becoming familiar to us. We need not therefore +be surprised, that before this period, the most learned were unable to +point out the country in which the Gypsey language was spoken. The +Gypsies have no writing peculiar to themselves, in which to give a +specimen of the construction of their dialect. + +Writing and reading are attainments not to be expected from nomadic +tribes. Sciences, and the refined arts, are never to be looked for among +a people whose manner of living, and education, are so irregular. Music +is the only science in which Gypsies participate in any considerable +degree; they likewise compose, but it is after the manner of the eastern +people, extempore. + +Grellmann asserts, that the Hindostanie language has the greatest +affinity with that of the Gypsies; but he does not rest this solely on +the specimen he has introduced, a sketch of which will be presented in +the next section; he adduces many facts in confirmation of his opinion, +which it would be an injustice to him not to exhibit. + +He infers from the following considerations, that Gypsies are of the +lowest class of Indians, namely Pariars, or as they are called in +Hindostan, _Suders_. + +The whole great nation of Indians is known to be divided into four ranks, +or stocks, which are called by a portuguese name, _castes_; each of which +has its own particular subdivisions. Of these castes, the Bramin is the +first; the second contains the _Tschechteries_ or Setreas; the third, +consists of the _Beis_, or Wazziers; the fourth is the caste of the above +mentioned Suders; who upon the peninsula of Malabar, where their +condition is the same as in Hindostan, are called Parias, and Pariers. + +The first were appointed by Brama to seek after knowledge, to give +instructions, and to take care of religion. The second were to serve in +war; the third were as the Bramins, to cultivate science; but +particularly to attend to the breeding of cattle. The caste of Suders +was to be subservient to the Bramins, the Tschecteries, and the Beis. +These Suders are held in disdain, they are considered infamous, and +unclean, from their occupation, and they are abhorred because they eat +flesh; the three other castes living entirely on vegetables. + +Of this very caste it will appear, by the following comparison, our +Gypsies are composed. We have seen that the Gypsies are in the highest +degree filthy and disgusting; and with regard to character, depraved and +fraudulent to excess, and these are the qualities of the Suders. + +Baldeus says, the Parias are a filthy people, and wicked crew, who in +winter steal much cattle, &c. + +It is related in the Danish Mission Intelligence:—Nobody can deny that +the Pariers are the dregs and refuse of all the Indians; they are +thievish, and have wicked dispositions, &c. + +Moreover Neuhof assures us: “The Parruas are full of every kind of +dishonesty; they do not consider lying and cheating to be sinful, as they +have no other custom or maxims among them. The Gypsey’s solicitude to +conceal his language is, also, a striking Indian trait.” + +“Professor Pallas says of the Indians round Astracan: custom has rendered +them to the greatest degree suspicious about their language, insomuch +that I was never able to obtain a small vocabulary from them.” + +With regard to Gypsey marriages, Salmon relates that the nearest +relations cohabit with each other; and as to education, their children +grow up in the most shameful neglect, without either discipline or +instruction. + +All this is precisely the case with the Pariars. In the journal of the +Missionaries already quoted, it is said; “With respect to matrimony, they +act like the beasts, and their children are brought up without restraint +or information.” Gypsies are fond of being about horses, so are the +Suders in India, for which reason, they are commonly employed as +horse-keepers, by the Europeans resident in that country.” + +We have seen that the Gypsies hunt after cattle which have died of +distempers, in order to feed on them; and when they can procure more of +the flesh than is sufficient for one day’s consumption, they dry it in +the sun. Such is likewise a constant custom with the Pariars in India. + +That the Gypsies, and natives of Hindostan, resemble each other in +complexion, and shape is undeniable. And what is asserted of the young +Gypsey girls rambling about with their fathers who are musicians, dancing +with lascivious and indecent gestures, to divert any person who is +willing to give them a small gratuity for so acting, is likewise +perfectly Indian. Sonnerat confirms this in the account he gives of the +dancing girls of Surat. + +Fortune-telling is practised all over the East; but the peculiar kind +professed by the Gypsies, viz: chiromancy, constantly referring to +whether the parties shall be rich or poor, happy or unhappy in marriage, +&c. is no where met with but in India. + +The account we have given of Gypsey smiths may be compared with the +Indian, as related by Sonnerat in the following words: “The smith carries +his tools, his shop, and his forge about with him, and works in any place +where he can find employment; he erects his shop before the house of his +employer, raising a low wall with beaten earth; before which, he places +his hearth; behind this wall, he fixes two leathern bellows. He has a +stone instead of an anvil, and his whole apparatus is a pair of tongs, a +hammer, a beetle, and a file. How exactly does this accord with the +description of the Gypsey smith! + +We have seen that Gypsies always choose their place of residence near +some village, or city, very seldom within them; even though there may not +be any order to prevent it, as is the case in Moldavia, Wallachia, and +all parts of Turkey. Even the more improved Gypsies in Transylvania, who +have long since discontinued the wandering mode of life, and might, with +permission from government, reside within the cities, rather choose to +build their huts in some bye place, without their limits. This custom +appears to be derived from their original Suder education; it being usual +all over India, for the Sunders to have their huts without the villages +of the other castes, and in retired places near their cities. + +With respect to religion, it has appeared that the greater part of the +Gypsies live without any profession of it; _Tollius_ says, worse than +heathens. The more wonderful it is, that a whole people should be so +indifferent and void of religion, the more weight it carries with it, to +confirm their Indian origin, when all this is found to be literally true +of the Suders. + +In relation to the emigration of the Gypsies, no cause can be assigned +for their leaving their native country, so probable, as the war of Timur +Beg, in India. The date of their arrival marks it very plainly. It was +in the years 1408, and 1409, that this Conqueror ravaged India for the +purpose of disseminating the Mahometan religion. Not only every one who +made any resistance was destroyed, and such as fell into the enemies’ +hands, though quite defenceless, were made slaves; but in a short time +those very slaves, to the number of one hundred thousand, were put to +death. In consequence of the universal panic which took place, those, +who could quit the country, might well be supposed to consult their +safety by flight. + +If any of the higher castes did withdraw themselves on account of the +troubles it is probable, they retired southward to people of their own +sort, the Mahrattas. To mix at all with the Suders, would have been +degrading their high characters, which they consider worse than death; it +was therefore morally impossible for them to have united with the Suders +in a retreat. Moreover, by putting themselves into the power of the +Suders, with whom they live in a state of discord and inveteracy, they +might have incurred as much danger as from the common enemy. + +Before presenting a vocabulary of Gypsey words, it may be observed, that +though the Hindostanie language is fundamentally the same, all over +Hindostan; yet, like other languages, it has different dialects in the +various provinces. The eastern dialect, spokes about the Ganges, has +different names for some things; and inflections of some words different +to the western ones spoken about the Indus: There is, besides, a third, +varying from both these, viz: the Surat dialect, which has a number of +Malabar, and other words mixed with it. To this must be added, that in +the Hindostan, as well as in every other language, there are often +several names for the same thing. + +The particular dialect bearing the closest affinity to the Gypsey +language, as will appear hereafter, is the western; and perhaps more +especially that of Surat. With respect to the construction and +inflections of the two languages, they are evidently the same. In that +of Hindostan, every word ending in j is feminine, all the rest masculine; +the Gypsey is the same. That makes the inflections entirely by the +article, adding it at the end of the word. The Gypsey language proceeds +exactly in the same manner + + _Grellmann_. + + + + +SECTION VIII. + + +Comparative view of the Gypsey, Hindostanie, and Turkish languages. + + * * * * * + +The following collection is extracted from Grellmann’s Vocabulary. + + _Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_. + +Ick, Ek Ek One + +Duj, Doj Du Two + +Trin, Tri Tin Three + +Schtar, Star Tschar Four + +Pantsch, Pansch Pansch Five + +Tschowe, Schow Tscho Six + +Efta Hefta, Sat Seven + +Ochto Aute Eight + +Desch, Des Des, Des Ten + +Bisch, Bis Bjs Twenty + +Diwes Diw Day + +Ratti Rateh Night + +Cham, Cam Kam The Sun + +Schan Tschand The Moon + +Panj Panj Water + +Sonnikey Suna Gold + +Rûp Ruppa Silver + +Jiv Giuw Wheat + +Bàl Bàl The Hair + +Aok Awk The Eye + +Kan Kawn The Ear + +Nak Nakk The Nose + +Mui Mu The Mouth + +Dant Dant A Tooth + +Tschib Jibb The Tongue + +Sunjo Sunnj The Hearing + +Sunj Sunkh The Smell + +Sik Tschik The Taste + +Tschater Tschater A Tent + +Rajah Raja The Prince + +Puro Purana Old + +Baro Burra Great + +Kalo Kala Black + +Grea Gorrra Horse + +Jukel Dog + +Maru Bread + +Kil Butter + +Ker Gurr House + + + +It has already been observed, that in the Gypsey, as well as in the +Hindostanie language, the article is not placed before the noun, but +affixed behind it; and that is the sole indication of the case of a noun. + +Grellmann has given examples of the declension of nouns, pronouns, and +adjectives, as well as the conjugation of verbs in both languages; but +the grammatical arrangement of them does not come within the design of +this work. The foregoing list of words is a selection of those that are +most similar: but in Grellmann’s extensive vocabulary, he says, it will +appear on the average, that every third Gypsey word, is likewise +Hindostanie. + +It must be observed, that the words above recited, have been learned from +the Gypsies within a few years, consequently at a time when they had been +nearly four complete centuries away from Hindostan, their native country; +and among people who spoke languages totally different; in which also the +Gypsies conversed. + +Under the constant and so long continued influx of these languages, their +own must necessarily have suffered some alteration; more especially as +they are a people entirely ignorant, either of writing or literature. + +It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the Gypsey language, +as has been generally imagined; and even what there is of it, they may +have brought with them from their native country, as many Persian words +are current in Hindostan. We ought rather to wonder the number of +Hindostanie words in the Gypsey language, is so considerable, than to +require it should be greater, to furnish sufficient proof of the +Hindostanie language being the Gypsies’ mother tongue. + +Since the laborious researches of Grellmann, extended intercourse with +India, has furnished unquestionable evidence in support of his +deductions. The first we shall introduce, is contained in the following +letter from William Marsden to Sir Joseph Banks, F.R.S. read to the +Society of Antiquaries in London, 1785. + +“It has long been surmised, that the vagrant tribes of people called in +this country Gypsies, and on parts of the Continent of Europe, Cingari, +Zingari, and Chingali, were of eastern origin. The former name has been +supposed a corruption of Egyptian, and some learned men have judged it +not improbable that their language might be traced to the Coptic. + +“In the course of researches which I have had occasion to pursue on the +subject of language, I have observed that Ludolfus, in his history of +Ethiopia, makes mention incidentally of the Cingari, vel _Errones +Nubiani_, and gives a specimen of words which he had collected from these +people on his travels, with a view of determining their origin. He +discusses the opinions of various writers concerning them; but forms no +precise sentiment of his own, concluding his observations with these +words: “Eadem vocabula, cum maximam partem reperiam apud Vulcanium à +centum fere annis traditam, non fictitia existimo, ut Megiferus putat nec +corrupta ex aliis linguis, neque Egyptiaca, sive Coptica.”—In English, +thus: “Since I find according to Vulcanius, that most of these words have +been continued traditionally for a period of nearly 100 years, I do not +consider them fictitious, as Megiferus supposes, nor corrupted from other +languages, either the Egyptian or Coptic.” + +“I was surprised to find many of the words familiar to my eye; and I +pointed out to Sir Joseph Banks, in the latter end of the year 1783, +their evident correspondence with terms in the Hindostanie, or as it is +vulgarly termed in India, the Moors’ language. + +“This similitude appeared to me so extraordinary, that I was inclined to +suspect an error in the publication, which might have arisen from a +confusion of obscure vocabularies in the author’s possession. The +circumstance, however, determined me to pay farther attention to the +subject, and to examine, in the first place, whether the language spoken +by the Gypsey tribes in England, and by those in the remoter parts of the +continent of Europe was one, and the same; and then to ascertain, whether +this actually bore the affinity which so forcibly struck me in Ludolfus, +to any of the languages on the Continent of India. + +“Through the obliging assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, who has spared no +pains to promote this investigation, I procured an opportunity of +obtaining a list of words from our Gypsies, which I can depend upon as +genuine, and tolerably accurate in respect to the pronunciation, from +their being corroborated also by words taken down, separately, by Sir +Joseph, and by Dr. Blagden. + +“Mr. Matra did me the favour to transmit for me, a list of words to +Turkey; and from his ingenious friend B. Pisani, I received a complete +and satisfactory translation of them, together with some information, +respecting the manners of the Chingiares, in the Turkish dominions, +which, however, does not come within the design of this paper, as I mean +to confine myself in the present communication, simply to the question of +similarity of language; which, if established, I should esteem a matter +of no little curiosity; presuming it to be perfectly new to the world. + +“Of this similarity, the learned members of the Society will be enabled +to form their judgment from the annexed paper, exhibiting a comparison of +a few of the words procured from the different quarters before mentioned, +with the Hindostanie terms, from the best published, and parole +authorities. It may not be unworthy of remark, that the general +appellation of these people in the eastern part of Europe, is very nearly +connected with that of the inhabitants of Ceylon, in the East-Indies, who +are equally termed. Lingalese and Chingalese; though at the same time it +must be acknowledged, that the language of this Island has much less +correspondence with that of the Gypsies, than many others of the Indian +dialects. + +“His Grace, the Archbishop of York, with his usual discernment, suggested +to me, the probability that the Zingara here spoken of, may have derived +their name, and perhaps their origin from the people called Langari, or +Langarians, who are found in the north-west parts of the Peninsula of +Hindostan, and infest the coasts of Guzerat and Sindy with their +piratical depredations. + +“The maritime turn of this numerous race of people, with their roving and +enterprising disposition, may warrant the idea of occasional emigration +in their boats, by the coarse of the Red Sea. + +“Notwithstanding the resemblance to the Hindostanie, is the predominant +feature in the Gypsey dialect, yet there are words interspersed, which +evidently coincide with other languages. Besides the Mahratta, and +Bengalese, which I have marked in the comparative specimen, it is not a +little singular that the terms for the numerals _seven_, _eight_, and +_nine_, are purely Greek: although the first five, and that for ten, are +indisputably Indian. It is also a curious observation, that although the +Indian term for seven is _saath_, yet that for a week, or seven days; is +the Eftan of the latter. + +“One word only among those I have examined, bears a resemblance to the +Coptic, which is _rom_, the same with _romi_, a man. + +“In comparisons of this nature, a due allowance must be made, not only +for the various modes of spelling adopted by different persons, and +different nations, but also for the dissimilar manner in which the same +individual sound, strikes the organs of the hearers; of which some +pointed instances may be given. + +“Should any be inclined to doubt, which I scarcely suppose possible, the +identity of the Gypsey, or Cingari, and the Hindostanie languages, still +it will be acknowledged as no uninteresting subject, that tribes +wandering through the mountains of Nubia, or the plains of Romania, have +conversed for centuries in a dialect precisely similar to that spoken at +this day, by, the obscure, despised, and wretched people in England, +whose language has been considered as a fabricated gibberish, and +confounded with a cant in use among thieves and beggars; and whose +persons have been, till within the period of a year, an object of the +persecution, instead of the protection of our laws.” + + _William Marsden_. + +In the 386th page of the 7th Vol. of Archæologia, is the comparative view +of the English Gypsey, Turkish Gypsey, and Hindostanie dialects; a +specimen of which will be presented in this section. + +In page 387 of the same volume, are collections on the Zingara, or Gypsey +language, by Jacob Bryant, Esq. transmitted to G. Salusbury Brereton, +Esq. in a letter from Doctor Douglas, read 1785: This learned traveller, +when in Hungary, had taken from the mouths of Gypsies, specimens of their +language, which occupy seven pages. It is remarkable, that of seventeen +words obtained and enumerated in the letters of Coxe, the learned +traveller, fourteen appear to resemble most exactly those of the same +signification, collected by Jacob Bryant + + _John Douglas_. + + + +COMPARISON OF THE GYPSEY, TURKISH, AND HINDOSTANIE LANGUAGES. + +_English_. _English _Turkish _Cingari vel _Hindostanie_. + Gypsey_. Gypsey_. Errones + Nubiani_. + +One Aick Yeck Aick, ek, Yek + +Two Dooce Duy Du, Dow + +Three Trin Trin Trin + +Four Staur, Shtar Shtiar Chaur + +Five Panji Panch Paunch + +Six Shove Shove Chaye + +Seven Heftan Efta Saath + +Eight Okto Aoth Aut + +Nine Henya Enia Noh Nu + +Ten Desh Desh Dus, Doshe + (Bengalese) + +Man Raye, gazo Ram Manush Manusch Manoosha, + (Bengalese) + +Woman Raunee gougee Romee Rendee, Raunee + +Head Bold-uroo shero Shero Schiero Seer, Sirr + +Eyes Yackau, yock Yack Jaka Okhyo + (Bengalese) + +Nose Bol-nak Nack Nak Nauck + +Hair Ballau, bolow Bal Bal Baul, Bal + +Teeth Danau Dan Daunt, Dant + (Bengalese) + +Ear Kanaue Can Kaun + +Day Dewas, Devas Deeves Deendeewas + (Mahratta) + +Night Rautee Rateee Raut, roat + +White Pauno Parnee Paandra + (Mahratta) + +Sheep Baukro Bakro Bhare + +Hog Baulo Balo Palo + +Fish Matcho Muteho Matchee, + Mutchee + +Bind Cheriko Chiriiklo Chereah + +House Kair Ker Ghurr + +Gold Soona-kai Sonna + +Silver Roop Roopau + + + +Brand, in his observations on Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. page 432, +observes: “The Gypsies, as it should seem from some striking proofs +derived from their language, were originally from Hindostan, where they +are supposed to have been of the lowest class of Indians, named Pariars, +or as they are called in Hindostan, Suders. They are thought to have +emigrated about A.D. 1408, or 1409, when Timur Beg ravaged India for the +purpose of spreading the Mahometan religion. On this occasion so many +were made slaves, and put to death, that a universal panic took place, +and a very great number of terrified inhabitants endeavoured to save +themselves by flight. + +“As every part to the north and east was beset by the enemy, it is most +probable that the country below Multan, to the mouth of the Indus, was +the first asylum and rendezvous of the fugitive Suders. This is called +the country of Zinganen. Here they were safe, and remained so till +Timur’s return from the victory of the Ganges. Then it was that they +entirely quitted the country, and probably with them a considerable +number of the natives, which will explain the meaning of their original +name.” + +In the seventh Vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 470, Captain David +Richardson says of the _Panchperee_, or Budee’a Nuts: “’Tis probable +there will be found in their manners, a stronger similitude to the +Gypsies of Europe, than in those of any other which may come under +review. They have no particular system of religion, adopting with +indifference that of the village near to which they happen to be +encamped. In the upper provinces of Hindostan, the little encampments of +these people are frequently very regular and neat, being there formed of +the Sirkee entirely. Each apartment, though not much larger than a +mastiff’s kennel, has its own particular enclosure, or court-yard; +generally erected in such a manner, as to become a species of +circumvallation to the whole portable hamlet. + +“One cannot help wondering where so many men, women, and children, and +other domestic animals manage to sleep; or shelter themselves from the +storms which sometimes assail these itinerant people. The men are +remarkably athletic and active, and also nimble and adroit, in every kind +of slight of hand. Many of the subdivisions of this class of men, pay +little, or no attention to cleanliness, or any restrictions in diet; +eating dead jackalls, bullocks, horses, or any kind of food procurable. + +“The women do not attend the men during their juggling exploits, but have +a peculiar department allotted to themselves; which consists of the +practice of physic, cupping, palmistry, curing disorders of the teeth, +and marking the skin of the Hindoo women, an operation termed Godna. +They have two languages peculiar to themselves; one intended for the use +only of the craftsman, the other general among men, women, and children. + +“The Hindostanie is the basis of both; the first is general, being a mere +transposition or change of syllables; and the second apparently, a +systematic conversion of a few letters; but which will be best elucidated +by the following specimen, which contains twenty-two words.” + +After which, he says: “I find these people in Colebrook’s arrangement of +the Hindoo Classes, mentioned in the sixth class, under the head of +_Nata_, Bazeegurs; and in Sir William Jones’s translation of the +Ordinances of Menu, _Munoo_, Chapter 10. + +“I shall now subjoin a short parallel between the Gypsies of Europe, and +the people I have described. Both the _Gypsies_ and the _Nuts_ are +generally a wandering race of beings, seldom having a fixed habitation. +They have each a language peculiar to themselves. That of the Gypsies is +undoubtedly a species of Hindostanie; as well as that of the Nuts. In +Europe, it answers all the purposes of concealment. + +“The Gypsies have their King, the Nuts their _Nardar Boutoh_; they are +equally formed into companies, and their peculiar employments are exactly +similar; dancing, singing, music, palmistry, &c. They are both +considered as thieves; at least that division of the Nuts, whose manners +come nearest the Gypsies.—In matters of religion they appear equally +indifferent, and as to food, we have seen that neither the Gypsies nor +the Budee’a Nuts are very choice. + +“Though, in the Encyclopædia Britannica, Grellmann’s Theory is thought +slightly of, the similarity of language being deemed but inconclusive +evidence; yet in this instance, and even in opposition to such authority, +I will venture to consider it, as forming a basis of the most substantial +kind. It is not the accidental coincidence of a few words, but the whole +vocabulary he produces, differs not so much from the common Hindostanie, +as provincial dialects of the same country do from each other. + +“Grellmann, from a want of knowledge in the Hindostanie; as to its +provincial dialects, lost many opportunities of producing the proper word +in comparison with the Gypsey one. + +“The following list of words was taken from the Annual Register of 1784, +or 1785, with a few I have now subjoined from Grellmann.—In some of the +instances where he has failed of producing the corresponding Hindostanie +word, the supply of them will, I hope, prove the language of the Gypsies, +and that of Hindostan to be the same, or very intimately connected with +each other. + + _Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_. + +Bebee Beebe Aunt, _a respectful feminine + termination from baba_, + _Father_. + +Pawnee Paniee Brook, Drink, Water + +Cauliban Kalaburn Black + +Davies, Devus Dewus Day + +Rattie Rat Dark night + +Can Kan The Ear + +Dad Dada Father + +Mutchee Muchee Fish + +Bootsee Buholsee Great + +Gur Ghur House + +Shing Seen Horn + +Tuttoo Tutta Heat + +Riah Raye Lord + +Rriena Ra, enee Lady + +Dai Da’ee Mother + +Mass Mas Meat or food + +Nack Nak Nose + +Bouropanee Bura-panee Ocean, wave + +Loon Loon Salt + +Rook Rook, h A Tree + +Tschar Char A Thief + +Mul Mool Wine + +Captain Richardson continues the list through four pages. + + + + +SECTION IX. + + +Present state the Gypsies in England. + + * * * * * + +It has been already stated, in the Introduction to this work, that the +author visited an encampment of Gypsies. It consisted of five tents, +situated near Rushden, within two miles of the pleasant town of Higham +Ferrers. He did not reconnoitre the camp till about mid-day, having been +informed that by this time, it was probable, the able-bodied persons of +both sexes would be drawn off to a feast and a fair, in different +situations, not very distant. It proved so; there were only two women, +three children, and an infant remaining in the tents; which were the +residence of several branches of the numerous families of Smith, and +Loversedge, names well known in the county of Northampton. + +The head of the former, has been many years a dealer in asses, or +donkies; and is reputed to be possessed of some property. His wife, more +than eighty years of age, was seated at the entrance of one of the tents, +weaving a cabbage net. The other woman, who was middle aged, was nursing +an infant; and the eldest of the children, about twelve years of age, was +making preparation for washing; a pan was suspended from three poles, +under which she had kindled a fire, to boil water. The very tattered and +squalid appearance of this poor girl was truly affecting. + +On conversing with the old woman, she said she had forty grand-children; +some gone to the feast, others to the fair; and she signified, that both +men and women were musical performers. + +On being asked whether any of them had learned to read, she shook her +head, and, with apparent regret, acknowledged they had not. This +indication of concern excited an idea, that some impression had been made +on the minds even of Gypsies, of the disadvantages their children were +under. + +Considering how generally education had been extended, to the lowest +description of every other class of British subjects; how many schools +had been opened in villages, as well as in the different towns of the +kingdom, it was not improbable, that information of movements so +extraordinary, might have reached the ears, if not impressed the minds of +these neglected fellow-creatures. The activity which had been +subsequently displayed in the distribution of the Scriptures, and the +zeal excited among the most ignorant to receive them, might also come to +their knowledge. + +Resuming conversation with the female head of the Smith family, she said +they endured great hardships in winter, having no shelter but their +tents, in the worst of weather. + +She was then asked, if they did not experience great difficulty in +obtaining the means of subsistence, during the inclement seasons; and +whether they were not, at times, reduced to the necessity of taking up +with any kind of sustenance, even if it consisted of animals they might +find dead upon the road. + +To this she immediately replied: “Those that have died by the hand of +God, are better than those that have died by the hand of man.” + +This reply, corresponding so exactly with that of the Continental +Gypsies, presents a remarkable trait of their mutual descent from the +Suder caste. + +Some of the peculiarities in Gypsey habits to which we have just now +adverted, had not escaped the observation of that accurate delineator of +men and manners, our celebrated poet, Cowper; as will appear by the +following sketch: + + “I see a column of slow rising smoke, + O’er-top the lofty wood, that skirts the wild. + A vagabond and useless tribe, there eat + Their miserable meal. A Kettle + Slung between two poles, upon a stick transverse, + Receives the morsel: flesh _obscene_ of hog, + Or _vermin_; or, at best, of cock purloined + From his accustom’d perch. Hard faring race, + They pick their fuel out of every hedge, + Which kindled with dry leaves, and wood, just saves + The spark of life. The sportive wind blows wide + Their fluttering rags, and shows a tawney skin, + The vellum of the pedigree they claim.” + +Before the Gypsey’s acknowledgment, of preferring the flesh of animals +which have died by disease, or what is called a natural death, the writer +of this section, knew not how to credit the general testimony of the +farmers and inhabitants of Northamptonshire, that they did not find the +Gypsies committed any depredations on their property, unless it was in +pilfering wood from the fences. He now thinks it probable, that others, +who were unacquainted with this singular idea of the Gypsies, respecting +animal food, may have imagined they were guilty of many more thefts for +subsistence, than is really the case. + +In the further progress of his inquiries, the writer has met with various +instances in which confidence reposed in Gypsies, has not been +disappointed.—He will mention a remarkable one at Feringbury, near +Coggeshall, in Essex, on a farm which had been occupied by three +generations of the family of Corders; during which time, not the least +loss had been sustained, by accommodating Gypsies with lodgings in their +barns and out-houses during inclement weather; but, on the contrary, the +family have considered them a protection to their property. + +After the success of an experiment like the above, it would be +superfluous to ask, if it is not sounder policy to excite the good, than +the bad dispositions of human nature. + +Must not the torrent of invective and abuse, almost universally poured +upon this people, tend to disaffect and indispose them to civil +association! Despised and ill-treated as they often are, have they not +reason to imagine the hand of every man to be against them? Who then can +wonder at their eluding, as much as possible, the inquiries of strangers! + +Looking at their condition among the various inhabitants of Europe, +dignified with the Christian name, the writer has often been reminded of +the universality of the Gospel call, as illustrated in the parable of the +great supper. After the invitation had been given throughout the streets +and lanes of the cities, the command to the servants was: “Go out into +the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” Here is a +description that may have been intended specially to apply to this +people, so exactly and even literally adapted to their condition, in all +countries, is the language: “Go ye into the highways and hedges.” And +the distinction in their case is rendered still more remarkable by the +very pressing injunction, “Compel them to come in.” + +Does it not admit of the inference, that as outcasts of society, being +under greater disadvantages than the other incited classes, their +situation requited a more powerful stimulus to be applied? + +The account of the sufferings of Gypsies in winter, having been confirmed +by many concurring testimonies, from the inhabitants of Northamptonshire, +the following Circular was sent into most of the Counties of England, +with a view to ascertain their state in other parts of the nation. + + + +CIRCULAR. + + +When it is considered how much the exertions of the wise, the +philanthropic, and the good, in all parts of the nation, have been +directed to advancing the morals and religious instruction of the lower +orders of the community, it appears almost incredible that one +description of British subjects, and of all others the most abject and +depraved, should have been either entirely overlooked or neglected. The +Gypsies, to whom this applies, are a people which, more than any other, +it might have been considered the interest of society to reclaim, because +of the depredations they commit upon it. + +The efforts of the good, and of the great, have not been confined to +meliorating the condition of the inhabitants of this country only, they +have been directed to the alleviation of human misery in various other +nations, and even to the augmentation of funds for civilizing the natives +of distant regions of the globe. Can we manifest our solicitude for the +improvement of our fellow-creatures separated from us thousands of miles, +whose faces we never saw, and conclude that numbers of persons in our own +country, whose situation is more desperate, have not a peculiar claim on +our consideration? + +To reclaim the Indians of North America from their wild and roving course +of life, associations have been formed to give them instructions in +agriculture, and to supply them with implements of husbandry; plans of +education adapted to their untutored state have been arranged, and +persons qualified to carry them into effect, in the establishment of +schools, have gone to their assistance. + +Do the numerous Gypsey tribes of England possess any of these advantages? + +In the summer of 1814, when the writer of this circular, visited a number +of Gypsey tents in Northamptonshire, as already stated, a woman about 80 +years of age, who had forty grand-children, acknowledged, that not one of +them had been taught to read. In this land of Christian benevolence, can +we pronounce a certain proportion of its inhabitants to be wretchedly +depraved, and even a wicked set of people; advertise them as rogues and +vagabonds, and offer a reward for their apprehension, without devising +any means of remedying the defects of their habits, or holding out +encouragement to reformation, in any of them who are disposed to +relinquish their vicious courses? + +The associations formed and forming in different parts of the nation for +the prosecution of felons, render the condition of Gypsies every day more +and more deplorable, by their being hunted like beasts of prey from +township to township. + +The last winter but one, a company of these houseless wanderers were dug +out of the snow in Ditchford Lane, near Irchester, Northamptonshire, when +it appeared one woman had been lying in, and that an old man was dying. + +If those who have been zealous in driving them from their accustomed +haunts, were to place themselves, if but ideally in their situation, can +we believe, that instead of augmenting their sufferings, they would not +be disposed to commiserate their case, and even attend to the precept of +the Christian Legislator: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, +do ye even so to them?” It is worse than useless and unavailing to +harrass them from place to place, when no retreat or shelter is provided +for their refuge. + +A writer on this subject, under the designation of Junius, in the +Northampton Mercury of June 27th, 1814, observes: “When we consider the +immense sums raised for every probable means of doing good, which have +hitherto been made public, we cannot doubt, if a proper method should be +proposed for the relief and ameliorating the state of these people, it +would meet with deserved encouragement. Suppose that the Legislature +should think them not unworthy its notice; and as a part of the great +family, they ought not to be overlooked.” Another writer in the +Northampton Mercury of July the 21st of the last year, on the necessity +of some plan being adopted for their advantage, remarks, thereby +“thousands of our fellow-creatures would be raised from depravity and +wretchedness to a state of comfort; the private property of individuals +be much more secure, and the public materially benefited.” In addition +to these observations, it may be asked, Would not the providing of an +education for their children, to which they should be induced to conform, +and the apprenticing of them, at a proper age, to suitable trades, enable +the rising generation to correct the errors of Gypsey habits? + +With a view to ascertain more fully the extent in which this may be +necessary, the friends of humanity, to whom this Circular may be +addressed, are requested to co-operate with others of their friends in +different parts of each county, for procuring answers from the best +informed of the Gypsies, and others, to the subsequent questions. And +should there be any person in their neighbourhood, who after being +brought up among the Gypsies, hath quitted them for a more settled course +of life, information from such is particularly desirable. Answers are +requested in the course of the summer: to be sent to John Hoyland, +Springfield, Sheffield. + + * * * * * + + + +QUESTIONS. + + +1. From whence is it said the Gypsies first came? + +2. How many is it supposed there are in England? + +3. What is your circuit in summer? + +4. How many Gypsey families are supposed to be in it? + +5. What are the names of them? + +6. Have they any meetings with those of other circuits? + +7. And for what purpose? + +8. What number of Gypsies are there computed to be in the county? + +9. What proportion of their number follow business, and what kind? + +10. What do they bring their children up to? + +11. What do the women employ themselves in? + +12. From how many generations can they trace their descent? + +13. Have they kept to one part of the country, or removed to distant +parts? + +14. How long have they lived in this part? + +15. Have they any speech of their own, different to that used by other +people? + +16. What do they call it? Can any one write it? + +17. Is there any writing of it to be seen any where? + +18. Have they any rules of conduct which are general to their community? + +19. What religion do they mostly profess? + +20. Do they marry, and in what manner? + +21. How do they teach their children religion? + +22. Do any of them learn to read? + +23. Who teaches them? + +24. Have they any houses to go to in winter? + +25. What proportion of them, is it supposed, live out of doors in +winter, as in summer? + +5_th_ _Month_, 16_th_, 1815. + + +THE REPORTS + + +_Received from the Counties of England_, _are comprised in the following +general Answers to the Queries of the Circular_. + +1. All Gypsies suppose the first of them came from Egypt. + +2. They cannot form any idea of the number in England. + +3. The Gypsies of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, parts of Buckinghamshire, +Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire, are continually making revolutions within +the range of those counties. + +4. They are either ignorant of the number of Gypsies in the counties +through which they travel, or unwilling to disclose their knowledge. + +5. The most common names are Smith, Cooper, Draper, Taylor, Bosswel, +Lee, Lovell, Loversedge, Allen, Mansfield, Glover, Williams, Carew, +Martin, Stanley, Buckley, Plunkett, Corrie. + +6 & 7. The gangs in different towns have not any regular connection, or +organization; but those who take up their winter quarters in the same +city or town, appear to have some knowledge of the different routes each +horde will pursue; probably with a design to prevent interference. + +8. In the county of Herts, it is computed there may be sixty families, +having many children. Whether they are quite so numerous in +Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Northamptonshire, the answers are not +sufficiently definite to determine. In Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, +Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire, greater numbers are calculated +upon. In various counties, the attention has not been competent to +procuring data for any estimate of families, or individuals. + +9. More than half their number follow no business; others are dealers in +horses and asses; farriers, smiths, tinkers, braziers, grinders of +cutlery, basket-makers, chair-bottomers, and musicians. + +10. Children are brought up in the habits of their parents, particularly +to music and dancing, and are of dissolute conduct. + +11. The women mostly carry baskets with trinkets and small wares; and +tell fortunes. + +12. Too indolent to have acquired accounts of genealogy, and perhaps +indisposed to it by the irregularity of their habits. + +13. In most counties there are particular situations to which they are +partial. In Berkshire is a marsh, near Newbury, much frequented by them; +and Dr. Clarke states, that in Cambridgeshire, their principal rendezvous +is near the western villages. + +14. It cannot be ascertained, whether from their first coming into the +nation, attachment to particular places has prevailed. + +15, 16, & 17. When among strangers, they elude inquiries respecting +their peculiar language, calling it gibberish. Don’t know of any person +that can write it, or of any written specimen of it. + +18. Their habits and customs in all places are peculiar. + +19. Those who profess any religion, represent it to be that of the +country in which they reside: but their description of it, seldom goes +beyond repeating the Lord’s prayer; and only a few of them are capable of +that. Instances of their attending any place for warship are very rare. + +20. They marry for the most part by pledging to each other, without any +ceremony. A few exceptions have occurred when money was plentiful. + +21. They do not teach their children religion. + +22 & 23. Not _one_ in a _thousand_ can read. + +24 & 25. Some go into lodgings in London, Cambridge, &c. during winter; +but it is calculated three-fourths of them live out of doors in winter, +as in summer. + +Most of the answers are confirmed by Riley Smith, who, during many years, +was accounted the chief of the Gypsies in Northamptonshire. He being +much in request by some of the principal inhabitants of that county, as a +musician, had the address to marry the cook out of one of their families, +and afterward obtained a farm near Bedford; but being unsuccessful in +agriculture, he returned to his former occupation. John Forster and +William Carrington, respectable merchants of Biggleswade, and neighbours +to Riley Smith, procured answers from him to all the queries in the +Circular; but they cannot be made the basis of any calculation of the +number of Gypsies in the nation. + +It has not come to the knowledge of the writer, what foundation there has +been for the report commonly circulated, that a Member of Parliament had +stated to the House of Commons, when speaking to some question relating +to Ireland; that there were not less than 36,000 Gypsies in Great +Britain. + +To make up such an aggregate, the numerous hordes must have been +included, who traverse most of the nation with carts and asses, for the +sale of earthenware, and live out of doors great part of the year, after +the manner of the Gypsies.—These potters, as they are commonly called, +acknowledge that Gypsies have intermingled with them, and their habits +are very similar. They take their children along with them on travel, +and, like the Gypsies, regret that they are without education. + +It has already appeared in Baillie Smith’s report, that the Gypsies in +Scotland, of late years, have had recourse to a similar occupation in the +sale of earthenware, which, as they mostly attend fairs, is a mode of +life remarkably adapted to their inclination. + +Some pains have been taken among the potteries in Staffordshire, to +procure information of the number of families of this description, which +annually apply to purchase the refuse of their wares; but no return has +been made. + +The application to the Sheriffs of Scotland, procured from the counties +prompt and decisive reports; and it is not probable that any measure, +short of an order to the constables of every township, to take an account +on the same day, throughout England, would be sufficient for ascertaining +Gypsey population. + +For this purpose a patrole might be necessary, on one and the same day, +in each township, particularly in lanes and situations shaded in summer. +If notice of the requisition were to be communicated to constables, a few +days before, with directions not to disclose the object, further than the +necessary provision for it required; it is probable, that a sufficiently +correct estimate might be formed, of the aggregate number in the nation. + +Such an account might extend also to the itinerant potters, and the +number of their children: or if the potters take out a Hawker’s and +Pedlar’s licence, a return of their numbers might be obtained from the +proper office. There is reason to think that many of these dealers have +acquired property, who, nevertheless take lodgings for the winter, +instead of renting houses; whereby they, equally with Gypsies, evade all +contributions to the service of the State, and parochial assessments. + +On this subject, the writer is reminded of what has often occurred to +him, when inspecting a low description of lodging-houses in the populous +town of Sheffield, of which he is an inhabitant. Finding it difficult to +obtain from the keepers of such houses, sufficient information respecting +their guests; he has thought, that obliging all who lodge itinerants to +take out a licence, would, by rendering them amenable to just authority, +obviate this difficulty; and put it in the power of those respectable +inhabitants, who wish the regulation of these receptacles, to exercise +just discrimination, without infringing upon the liberty of the subject. +He has reason to believe, if this were effected, it would operate as a +considerable check on vagrancy, and save much trouble to magistrates. + + + + +SECTION X. + + +Present state of the Gypsies in and about London. + + * * * * * + +In the autumn of 1815, the author made a journey to London, in order to +obtain information respecting the Gypsies in its vicinity. + +The first account he received of the education of any of them, was from +Thomas Howard, proprietor of a glass and china shop, No. 50, Fetter-lane, +Fleet-street. This person, who preached among the Calvinists, said, that +in the winter of 1811, he had assisted in the establishment of a Sunday +School in Windmill-street, Acre-lane, near Clapham. It was under the +patronage of a single gentlewoman, of the name of Wilkinson, and +principally intended for the neglected and forlorn children of +brick-makers, and the most abject of the poor. It was begun on a small +scale, but increased till the number of scholars amounted to forty. + +During the winter, a family of Gypsies, of the name of Cooper, obtained +lodgings at a house opposite the school. Trinity Cooper, a daughter of +this Gypsey family, who was about thirteen years of age, applied to be +instructed at the school; but, in consequence of the obloquy affixed to +that description of persons, she was repeatedly refused. She +nevertheless persevered in her importunity, till she obtained admission +for herself, and two of her brothers. + +Thomas Howard says, that, surrounded as he was by ragged children, +without shoes and stockings, the first lesson he taught them was silence +and submission.—They acquired habits of subordination, became tractable +and docile; and, of all his scholars, there were not any more attentive +and affectionate than these; and when the Gypsies broke up house in the +spring, to make their usual excursions, the children expressed much +regret at leaving the school. + +This account was confirmed by Thomas Jackson, of Brixton-row, minister of +Stockwell Chapel, who said, since the above experiment, several Gypsies +had been admitted to a sabbath school, under the direction of his +congregation. At their introduction, he compared them to birds when +first put into a cage, which flew against the sides of it, having no idea +of restraint; but by a steady even care over them, and the influence of +the example of other children, they soon became settled, and fell into +their ranks. + +With a view to reconnoitre an encampment of Gypsies, the author accepted +a seat in the carriage of a friend, who drove him to Hainault forest. +This, according to historians, was of vast extent in the times of the +ancient Britons, reaching to the Thames; and so late as the reign of +Henry the 2d, it covered the northern vicinity of the city. + +On this forest, about two miles from the village of Chigwell, Essex, and +ten from London, stands the far-famed oak, at which is held Fairlop Fair, +that great annual resort of the Gypsies. + +According to an account of it printed for Hogg, Paternoster-row, the +trunk or main stem of this tree has been sixty-six feet, and some of the +branches twelve feet, in circumference. The age of this prodigy of the +forest cannot be ascertained with any degree of precision. The oak +viewed by the present King, in Oxfordshire, and some years ago felled in +the domains of one of the Colleges, though only twenty-five feet in +girth, is said to have been six hundred years old. Fairlop oak having +been nearly thrice as large, is supposed to be at least twice that age. + +Phillips employed by the King, applied a patent mixture to stop the +progress of its decay, but, last autumn, when seen by the describer, its +naked gigantic trunk and arms, retaining not the least symptom of +animation, presented a ghastly spectacle of the ravages of time, as +contrasted with the rich verdure of the surrounding scenery. + +The circumstances which gave rise to the establishment of a fair, on this +spot of ground, are somewhat singular. + +Daniel Day, an engine, pump, and block-maker, of Wapping, having a small +estate in the vicinity of this oak, was in the habit of annually +resorting to it about a fortnight after midsummer, to receive his rents, +when he provided a dinner under the tree, and invited several of his +friends to it. The novelty of the scene exciting the attention of the +neighbouring inhabitants, attendance on that occasion increased until +about the year 1725, when booths being erected round the stupendous oak, +the scene assumed the appearance of a regular fair. It has continued to +be held there, and it is said now attracts a great number of attendants. + +As this fair does not appear to be a mart for horses or cattle, there is +reason to fear, it is kept up more for revelry and excess, than for any +useful purpose. The ground has been cleared to some extent about the +oak, which stands at the head of a circular lawn, surrounded by pailing, +to protect it from the ravages of the unthinking part of the multitude, +who assemble there. It is said to have been the practice of the Gypsies, +to kindle fires against the trunk, by which the bulk has been diminished, +and perhaps the vegetation injured. + +On the side of the forest, near to Dagenham, Essex, was the encampment of +Gypsies, of which the author’s friend was in quest. The construction of +their tents, is well known to be wooden hoops fastened into the ground, +and covered with an awning of blankets or canvas, which resembles the +tilt of a waggon; the end is closed from the wind by a curtain. This +gang was called by the name of Corrie. It consisted of an old man, his +wife, a niece, and their son and daughter with ten children; said to be +all from Staffordshire. The men were scissars’ grinders and tinkers. + +Questions being asked them respecting their condition, a young woman made +some observations upon them to an older woman, in their own peculiar +speech. This was the first time the writer had an opportunity of +ascertaining, what the language of Gypsies in England really was. With +the knowledge only of Grellmann’s vocabulary, he pointed out what the +young woman had expressed; upon which they immediately exclaimed, the +gentleman understands what we say; and they gave way to immoderate +transports of joy, saying, they would tell him any thing he wished to +know of them. + +On being asked what gold was in their language, they replied without +hesitation, _sonnaka_, and immediately added, silver was _roop_. + +The opinion which has been entertained, that Gypsey language was composed +only of cant terms, or of what has been denominated the slang of beggars, +has probably been much promoted and strengthened by the dictionary +contained in a pamphlet entitled, “The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde +Moore Carew.” It consists for the most part of English words, vamped up +apparently not so much for the purpose of concealment, as burlesque. +Even if used by this people at all, the introduction of this cant, as the +genuine language of the community of Gypsies, is a gross imposition on +the public. + +One of the women said, the education of their children was to be desired, +but their travelling from place to place was against it.—A young man +among them said, there were a hundred of their people in Staffordshire. +This gang was intelligent as well as communicative, and gave proof of +more civility than is commonly attributed to Gypsies. + +The author also visited Norwood, which was formerly a principal +rendezvous of the Gypsies. This village, near Croydon, in Surry, is +situated on a fine hill, and is a wildly rural spot; but having been +considerably inclosed of late years, it is not now much frequented by the +Gypsies. + +John Westover, deputy of James Furnell, constable of Norwood, stated, +that about two months before, the Gypsies in that neighbourhood had been +apprehended as vagrants, and sent in three coaches to prison. This +account was confirmed by Edward Morris, the landlord at the Gypsey house. +It did not appear that these Gypsies were committed for depredations on +property, but merely on the vagrant act. + +Gypsies being _routed_, as it is termed, in this manner, from various +parts of the south, may probably have occasioned their appearing in +greater numbers in the northern parts of the nation. The writer of this +section being at Scarborough, in the bathing season of 1815, had +intelligence of there being, at the same time, an encampment of Gypsies +at Boroughbridge, another at Knaresborough, and a third at Pocklington, +in the east-riding of Yorkshire. + +On returning from Scarborough, he was told by an acquaintance at +Tadcaster, that a gang of about twenty Gypsies, were just gone from the +neighbourhood, after telling fortunes to most of the people in the town. +The same summer, a numerous horde had been driven from the township of +Rotherham; and there had been two encampments in the neighbourhood of +Sheffield. + +The winter before the last, severe as it was, a gang of about fifty or +sixty, lay upon Bramley Moor, three miles from Chesterfield. This +information was received from Joseph Storrs of Chesterfield, who has been +an assiduous coadjutor. From the same authority, the writer learns, that +a number of Gypsies usually came to Duckmanton, near Chesterfield, at the +feast, who appear to be in pretty good reputation in their transactions. +Also that there is a party of Gypsies who frequent Socombe-lane, near +Shirbrook, which is two miles east of Pleasley. They are called +Bosswell’s gang, consisting of twelve, and sometimes more, who mostly +come once a year, and sometimes continue there for most of it. A woman +among them is about 90 years old. They support a good character; and one +of them who bought a pony, had credit for it, and paid honestly on his +return. + +After obtaining information at Norwood, of the winter-quarters in London, +to which Gypsies resorted; the author had an interview with branches of +several families of them, collected at the house of his friend William +Corder, Grocer, in Broad-street, Giles’s. And in justice to them, he +must observe, that however considerably the fear of apprehension as +vagrants, may dispose them, when on travel and among strangers, to elude +their inquiries, no disposition to do so, appears in the company of +persons to whom they are known, and in whom they can repose confidence. + +Being accustomed to lay out their money at the shop of this grocer, he +said they would be very ready to attend upon his invitation; and +accordingly, a number of them soon made their appearance. They said +there were about twenty of the name of Lovell, who lodged in Bowles’s +yard, in the neighbourhood. These acknowledged themselves Gypsies, and +many of them had the features, as well as the complexion of Asiatics. + +Their account is, that they come into lodgings at Michaelmas, and +continue till April, then they set out on travel, and go into Norfolk, +&c. + +That some time ago, some of them had embraced an offer to educate their +children at St. Patrick’s charity school, which had been established by +the chaplain to the Portuguese ambassador; but some dissatisfaction +arising in consequence of the religion of the conductors of that +Institution, they had removed their children to the school for the Irish, +taught by Partak Ivery, No. 5, George-street. + +Uriah Lovell, the head of one of the families, made a very decent +appearance; three of his children have been four winters at school, and +learned to read and write; their father having paid sixpence per week, +for each of them.—Partak was sent for, and came to the house of William +Corder, where he confirmed the above account, saying there had been six +Gypsey children at his school, and that when placed among others, they +were reducible to order. + +These Gypsies, like those upon Hainault forest, appeared to be greatly +delighted at meeting with a person, acquainted, as they thought, with +their language, and were remarkably free in speaking it. + +James Corder, son of William Corder, obtained the following account of +some of the lodgers in Westminster, and in the Borough, &c. + + _Names_. _Family_. _Occupation and + Residence_. + +John Lovell, wife and 6 children, Chair-bottomer, + Tunbridge-street. + +James Lovell, do. 6 do. Tinker, Church-lane. + +Joseph Lovell, do. 3 do. Chair-bottomer, + New-street. + +Thomas Lovell, do. 2 do. Chair bottomer, + Banbridge-street. + +William Lovell, do. 1 do. Knife-grinder, + Church-street. + +Lussha Cooper, wife and 10 children, Rat-catcher, + Tottenham-court-road. + +Corrie Lovell, do. 5 do. Knife-grinder, + Bolton-street. + +Uriah Lovell, do. 6 do. Chair-bottomer, + Bolton-street. + +Thomas Lovell, do. 7 do. Knife-grinder, + Paddington. + +Solomon Lovell, do. 4 do. Chair-bottomer, + New-street. + +Solomon Jones, do. 2 do. Basket-maker and + Wire-worker, + Battle-bridge. + +Men and Women, 22—52 Children. + +John Lee, wife and 9 children, Chair-bottomer, + Tothil-fields. + +Richard Taylor, do. 3 do. Wire-worker, + New-street. + +Betsey Lovell, widow, Supported by her son + Joseph Lovell. + +Joseph Lovell, wife 1 do. Bellows-mender, + Shore-ditch. + +Diana Lee, widow 1 do. Sells Earthenware, + Shore-ditch. + +Mansfield Lee, wife 0 do. Tinker and Grinder, + Shore-ditch. + +Zachariah Lee, do. 0 do. Fiddler—Travels the + Country. + +Thomas Smith, do. 5 do. Chair-bottomer, + Lisson-green, + Paddington. + +Thomas Porter, do. 3 do. Works at the Canal, + Paddington. + +Charlotte Allen, widow 7 do. Sells Earthenware, + Kent-street, Borough. + +James Cole, wife 4 do. Lamplighter and + Grinder, Kent-street, + Borough. + +Edward Martin, do. 2 do. Sells Fruit in the + Street, Kent-street, + Borough. + +Samuel Martin, do. 6 do. Journeyman Saddler, + White-street. + +John Sinfield, do. 0 do. Sells Fish in the + Streets, + White-street. + +John Taylor, do. 3 do. Ditto. Ditto. + +Men and Women, 25—44 Children. + +There has not been any information obtained concerning who winter in +Bull’s Court, Kingsland Road, or in Cooper’s Gardens. + +The older Gypsey children assist their parents in their trades; a few of +the younger go to school during winter. Most of those who have children, +are desirous of their receiving an education; though but few have the +means of procuring it. + +They complain of the scarcity of work; and in some instances appear to be +distressed for want of it; the more so, as their ideas of independence +prevent their applying to parishes for assistance.—It is much to their +credit, that so few instances occur of their begging in London. In the +minutes of evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons, on +mendicity, there is only one example of a Gypsey girl begging in the +streets. + +Some of the women go in a morning to principal houses in the squares, +before the heads of the families have risen, and tell fortunes to the +servants, from whom they obtain sixpence or a shilling each. + +A few of the Gypsies continue all the year in London, excepting their +attendance of fairs in the vicinity. Others, when work is scarce, go out +twenty or thirty miles round the metropolis, carrying their implements +with them on asses; and support themselves by the employment they obtain +in the towns and villages through which they pass; and assist sometimes +in hay-making, and plucking hops, in the counties of Kent, Surry, and +Sussex. + +Among those who have winter-quarters in London, there are a few that take +circuits of great extent. Some of them mentioned going through Herts +into Suffolk, then crossing Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to +Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Bristol, &c. Others spoke of being at +Yarmouth, Portsmouth, South Wales, Wiltshire, &c. + +There is reason to think, the greatest part of the Island is traversed in +different directions, by hordes of Gypsies. + +For the purpose of comparing the language of English Gypsies with that of +the Continental, exhibited in Section VIII, the following list of words +was sent to James Corder, Broadstreet, Bloomsbury. He obtained from the +Gypsies in his neighbourhood, the translation affixed to them. + + _English_. _Gypsey_. + +One Yake + +Two Duèe + +Three Trin + +Four Stor + +Five Pan + +Ten Dyche + +Head Charro + +Eyes Yock + +Nose Nack + +Bread Mor + +Bread & butter Kil-môr + +Beer Limbar + +Hair Bâlo. + +Cold day Shil-dewes + +Hot day Tal-dewes + +Ear Kau + +Day Dewes + +Night Raut + +White Parnau + +Sheep Bolko + +Hog Borlo + +Fish Marcho + +House Kare + +Gold Sonnekar + +Silver Rupe + +Dog Jukou + +Horse Grarre + +When it is known that Gypsies are unacquainted with letters, and that +James Corder, who took from the mouths of those in the parish called St. +Giles, the preceding Gypsey words, did not know of Grellmann’s +vocabulary, the coincidence appears very remarkable; but it is still more +so with the Turkish Gypsey specimen by Jacob Bryant, exhibited also in +the 8th Section. Robert Forster of Tottenham, who has been a coadjutor +in this work, transmitted the following collection of words obtained from +Gypsies in his neighbourhood. + + _Gypsey_. _English_. + +Parnee Water + +Jewcal Dog + +Maurau Bread + +Kil-maurau Bread & butter + +Lavenar Beer + +Shill-deues Cold day + +Taldu Hot day + +Moila Ass + +Gur Horse + +In the conversation a clergyman had with the Bosswell gang, as published +in the Christian Guardian for 1812 and 1813, they told him _Chum_, was +the sun; _Chuu_, the moon; _Kalmàro_, bread and butter; and _Livina_, +drink. The first two of those words almost exactly accord with +Grellmann’s vocabulary, and the latter as nearly with Robert Forster’s +and James Corder’s collection from Gypsies in and about London. + +From the comparative views which have been taken of Gypsey expressions in +various countries, there is reason to conclude that wherever they have +been scattered on the face of the earth, they have spoken and transmitted +the same language to their descendants. That it should have been +preserved by them, when among people of other tongues, throughout +centuries, for no purpose that we are acquainted with, but that of +concealment, is indeed astonishing. + + + + +SECTION XI. + + +Sentiments of various persons on the moral condition of the Gypsies + + * * * * * + +After the extensive survey which has now been taken of the customs and +habits of this people, in the various countries they inhabit, the reader +will be prepared for the conclusions of Grellmann, that Gypsies are +indeed a singular phenomenon in Europe. And remarkable it is, that the +combined influence of time, climate, and example, have not effected any +material alteration in their state. For the space of three or four +hundred years, they have gone wandering about as pilgrims and strangers; +they are found in eastern, as well as in western countries; as well among +the rude, as the civilized; among indolent and active people; yet they +remain in all places, as to customs and habits, what their fathers were. + +It is asserted, there are two causes to which this coincidence is to be +attributed; one is the country where they originate, with their +consequent train of thinking; the other arises out of the circumstances +which have hitherto attended their situation. Their peculiar notions and +customs, leave no doubt of their being of eastern origin. In oriental +countries, attachment to habit is so strong, that what has been once +current among them, be it ever so pernicious or ridiculous, is persevered +in; any affection which has once predominated, retains its dominion for +ages. + +Mahomet knowing that the weak side of the Arabians was their veneration +for every thing handed down from their forefathers, gave his new +profession the colouring of antiquity, and affirmed it to be the religion +of Abraham. The Jesuits in China, availed themselves of similar means, +by referring to Confucius, in aid of their doctrines, and thus they +obtained admission for their religion among the Chinese. In the eastern +nations, no change is adopted merely because it is an improvement. The +Chinese are acquainted with the use of glass, yet their mirrors are +always made of metal; and their windows of shells.—Mechanical watches +have been for ages used in the court of Pekin, but the bulk of the nation +depend upon the action of fire and water; the former, by the gradual +burning of a match composed of sweet smelling powder, the latter by +water, somewhat resembling our large hour-glasses. + +If we consider the circumstances under which the Gypsies have existed, we +shall want nothing more to make us comprehend, why they have remained to +the present time, what they were at their first arrival in Europe. +Separating themselves as much as possible from all association, but with +those of their own tribe, they avoid every means which might give a new +turn to their ideas, or in the least degree contribute to eradicate +deep-rooted prejudice.—Unused to reflect, and fettered by habit, they +arrived in our quarter of the globe; and it does not appear that any +measures have been enjoined for instructing or reforming them, except +those of the Empress Theresa, which were never put in execution. + +The most extreme punishments failing to effect a change in the habits of +Gypsies, they were subjected in almost all countries to banishment. They +had been accustomed in their own country, to live remote from cities and +towns; now they became more invariably inhabitants of forests, and +penetrated deeper into deserts; as, in consequence of the search which +was made after them, or, at least, threatened to be made, they judged +themselves more secure in seclusion and concealment, than they would have +been, in frequenting places of established abode, and having free +intercourse with the neighbouring, inhabitants. Thus they became, in a +greater degree, outcasts from civilized society; and divested of the +most, and perhaps the only, probable means, of inducing a change in their +manner. + +Being always either persecuted, or left to themselves, no other could be +expected, than that they must ever remain in all places the same. The +character of people being formed by the instruction they receive in their +early years, can it be thought surprising, that Gypsies who are idlers, +should be also abandoned and thievish? Is it to be expected that men +should become diligent, who have been educated in laziness? Who can have +a general idea of fair dealing, that has never been taught the +distinction between good and evil, virtue and vice? Perhaps it is +reserved for _our age_, in which so much has been attempted for the +benefit of mankind, to humanize a people, who, for centuries, have +wandered in error and neglect; and it may be hoped, that while we are +endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of our African brethren, the +civilization of Gypsies, who form so large a portion of humanity, will +not be overlooked. + +It cannot be denied, that considering the multitude of them, their reform +must be a subject of very serious consideration to many states. The +period in which banishments were generally pronounced on this people, +were too unphilosophical for any preferable mode of punishment to be +suggested; but it may be expected from a better informed age, that better +maxims will be adopted. We send apostles to the east and west, to the +most distant parts of the whole earth; and even into the very country +whence the Gypsies emigrated, to instruct the people who know not God. +Is it not inconsistent for men to be solicitous for the welfare of their +fellow-creatures in distant regions, and to throw off, and leave to +chance, those who, equally wretched, have brought their errors home to +us? If it be a good work to teach religion and virtue to such as are +ignorant of their Creator, why not begin with those nearest to +us?—Especially as neglect in this particular, is attended with detriment +to the society of which we are members. + +The Gypsies have been long enough among civilized people to prove, that +they will not be allured by the mere example of others, to free +themselves from the fetters of old customs and vices. To accomplish that +end, more effectual means are requisite. + +It would be vain to hope for any considerable progress in the improvement +of those who are grown up. Their reformation would be a difficult task, +as the attempts made by the Empress Theresa evinced:—you must begin with +children, and not meddle with the old stock, on whom no efforts will have +effect. + +Expelling the Gypsies entirely, was not merely a premature step, it was a +wasteful one. This is indisputable, so long as the state maxim holds +good, that a numerous population is advantageous. + +Care being taken to enlighten their understandings, and amend their +hearts, they might become useful citizens; for observe them at whatever +employment you may, there always appear sparks of genius. It is well +known, and no writer omits to remark, what artful devices they have +recourse to, in perpetrating any cheat or robbery: but this is not the +only particular in which they show capacity. The following extract is +from a Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer of these people. + + “The Gypsies have a fertile imagination in their way, and are quick + and ready at expedients; so that in many serious, doubtful cases, + they soon recollect how to act, in order to extricate themselves. We + cannot indeed help wondering, when we attend to, and consider the + skill they display in preparing and bringing their works to + perfection; which is the more necessary from the scarcity of proper + tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning in cheating, or + thieving; and when called to account for any fraud or robbery, + fruitful in invention, and persuasive in their arguments to defend + themselves.” + + _Grellmann_. + + * * * * * + +The recommendation of Grellmann, p. 197, to begin the work of reform with +children, appears judicious; but the events of the present day justify +the expectation, that benevolent exertions would not prove fruitless, +should they afterwards be extended even to the “_old stock_.” + +Before the Circular introduced is the 10th Section was distributed, the +author did not know of the correspondence on the subject of Gypsies, +which had appeared in the interesting pages of the Christian Observer. +But he should now consider it an injustice to those benevolent +individuals, who had taken the lead in this work of Christian charity, +not to give full consideration to the ideas they have suggested. + +In Vol. VII. p. 91 of that periodical publication, is the following +letter. + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. + + As the divine spirit of Christianity deems no object, however + unworthy or insignificant, beneath her notice, I venture to apply to + you on behalf of a race, the outcasts of society, of whose pitiable + condition, among the many forms of human misery which have engaged + your efforts, I do not recollect to have seen any notice in the pages + of your excellent miscellany. I allude to the deplorable state of + the Gypsies, on whose behalf I beg leave to solicit your good offices + with the public.—Lying at our very doors, they 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. In this happy country, where the + light of Christianity shines with its purest lustre, they are still + strangers to its cheering influence. I have not heard even of any + efforts which have been made, either by individuals or societies, for + their improvement; and so thoroughly do they appear to despise the + advantages of civilized life, that perhaps nothing less than that + change of heart, which is the effect of the blessing of God on the + means employed for their conversion, would prevent their continuing + to be the pest of society. The great Shepherd of Israel despises not + these unhappy wanderers from his fold; and I am persuaded, that + neither you, nor those who read and prize your work, will be + insensible to the force of His benign example. + + May the Divine Spirit suggest means, by which this wretched race may + be reclaimed from their vagrancy, and be made acquainted with that + Saviour, whom to know is life eternal! + + Yours, &c. NIL. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {201} + + It gave me pleasure to observe in one of the numbers of your + miscellany, a letter on a subject that has frequently engaged my + serious attention: I mean the state of the Gypsies. It is painful to + reflect how many thousands of these unhappy creatures, have, since + the light of Christianity has shone on this Island, gone into + eternity ignorant of the way of salvation, and without one cheering + thought of a Saviour. Surely, Sir, there is an awful responsibility + attached to this neglect! If we look back into the history of the + Christian church, from the earliest ages, we shall find that the + introduction of the gospel amongst any people, has generally been + effected by means of Missionaries; and so numerous are the Gypsies, + and so desultory in their habits of life, that it might well occupy + the time of more than one zealous individual, to go amongst them, and + by plain, simple, affectionate conversation and exhortation, when + practicable, instruct them in the knowledge of their Redeemer. + + Nor in this favoured land, where there are so many who zealously + embrace the doctrines of Christianity, would there, I trust, be + wanting both one, or more persons, who would devote themselves to + this truly apostolic work; and benevolent individuals who would open + their hearts and their purses, for the support and encouragement of + such an undertaking. This labour of love would doubtless prove less + arduous, than the attempts which have been made to establish missions + among the American Indians; the natives of the South-Seas; or the + inhabitants of Southern Africa. + + The dread of the magistracy in this country, would prove a protection + from personal injury, while the painful relinquishment of friends and + country would not be required. I will also beg leave to mention + another suggestion: I have understood that, in different parts of the + kingdom, the neighbouring clergy meet at stated times, for the + purpose of conversing on the important duties of their pastoral + office. At such times, would it not be well to take into + consideration, the perishing condition of so large a part of the + community, as that, which forms the subject of this letter? Some + plan might probably be thus devised, which, through the blessing of + the Lord, would prove effectual for the salvation of this out-cast, + and hitherto neglected people. + + I would also take the liberty of recommending the cause of these + unhappy partners of our kind, to the humanity of our dissenting + brethren; and most earnestly solicit Christians of all denominations, + to unite in prayer to the God of all grace, that he would prosper + every attempt which may be made, to communicate to them the knowledge + of His will. I trust, Sir, I shall obtain your excuse for detaining + you on this important subject; and as I know your pages are read and + valued, by real Christians of various denominations, perhaps they + may, through the Divine Providence, be the means of exciting + effectual attention, to the spiritual wants of this deplorable set of + beings; and the same benevolence which induced you to exert your + talents and influence in behalf of the oppressed negroes, may be + again successfully employed, in ameliorating the condition of a + numerous class of our fellow-creatures, who are second only to them + in wretchedness, and spiritual misery. + + I am, &c. FRATERNICUS. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {205} + + The insertion of the letter of “Fraternicus,” on the moral and + religious state of the Gypsies, in a late number of your work, + (August, p. 496) implies, I presume, an approbation of its contents. + It is a subject that cannot fail to interest the feelings of a real + Christian. + + The writer of this, has it in his power to contribute some pecuniary + aid towards such a truly Christian undertaking, and would most gladly + afford it. He commiserates, equally with Fraternicus, the wretched + state of this people, and hopes to see the day when the nation which + has, at length, done justice to the poor negroes, will be equally + zealous to do their duty in this instance; and attempt to raise the + Gypsies from their state of degradation. If any way can be devised + through the medium of your work, to set about this labour of love, + twenty pounds per annum shall be regularly contributed by the writer + of this; and you are at liberty to make whatever use you can of this + offer. If any good, which I pray God it may, should arise from the + present communication, the name of the writer, who is a constant + reader of the Christian Observer, shall be made known, when thought + necessary by the conductor. + + H. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {206} + + I am much pleased with the interest which your two correspondents, + Fraternicus, and H. appear to take, in the spiritual and eternal + condition of that ignorant and degraded class of human beings, the + Gypsies. + + I wish much to see appropriate and active measures adopted, + immediately to put into execution the benevolent suggestions of your + worthy and sensible correspondents. I cannot do a great deal in a + pecuniary point of view, but in counsel and influence I could do + more. + + I feel no hesitation in inviting your correspondents to a meeting on + the subject, with a view to the formation of some plan, and the + consequent commencement of active exertions. One of the first + objects to be aimed at, is the introduction of cleanliness and + decorum.—Another object to be attended to, is, the teaching of them, + especially the young, to read; and then the supplying of them with + testaments and religious tracts. + + There are many of the latter which would be both entertaining and + useful to them; but the most direct means to do them good is, by + frequent intercourse with them, and plain and familiar conversation, + prudently conducted. And if any thing be done, it must be undertaken + in a patient and persevering spirit. + + The soil which it is proposed to cultivate, is remarkably barren and + unpropitious; of course a plentiful harvest must not be soon + expected. The persons to be employed in this work of faith and + labour of love, must not only be men of prudence and discretion, but + men of information, and possessing clear and cool heads, and warm + hearts. + + I have no doubt, but that in these times of active benevolence and + zeal, when a good plan is laid, and funds provided, instruments will + be found, who with love in their hearts, will go seek those wandering + sheep in the wilderness, for whom no man hath yet cared. + + Many good hints, Mr. Editor, are often fruitless for want of + immediate attention; and many a good work long talked of is not only + suspended, but never begun, for want of some one to put forth the + hand and begin. I for one, say to your two correspondents, “let us + arise and build; let us begin; there is no fear of progress and + help.” + + I remain, &c. MINIMUS. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {208} + + _June_ 13, 1809. + + I was afraid the Gypsies had been quite forgotten; and therefore it + gives me real pleasure to see, by your last number, for May 1809, + that another correspondent has taken up their cause. If the subject + was once fairly before the public, I am persuaded it would interest + the feelings of many amongst us; and should good arise from it, which + with God’s help and blessing, could not fail to be the case, we might + confidently look forward to a daily increasing fund for its support. + Surely when our charity is flowing in so wide a channel, conveying + the blessings of the gospel to the most distant quarters of the + globe, we shall not hesitate to water this one barren and neglected + field, in our own land. + + My attention was first drawn to the state of this miserable class of + human beings, by the letter of “Fraternicus;” and looking upon it as + a reproach to our country, that amidst the great light which + prevails, so many of its children should be walking in darkness and + the shadow of death, I was anxious to contribute something out of my + abundance, towards their spiritual welfare. I perfectly agree with + your correspondent, that no time should be lost in devising some + plan, which may give consistency and effect to this work of faith, + and labour of love. In this short and uncertain life, no + opportunities of usefulness should be neglected. It is a call which + may never again be repeated. I am ready and desirous, to give + Minimus the proposed meeting; and the time and place might be + appointed through the medium of the Christian Observer. + + I must however premise, that the writer of this is a very humble + individual in all respects, both in abilities, and in influence. My + habits are very retired, and at present, my time is occupied in + attending to the ministerial duties of a populous village. I shall + most gladly adhere to my first proposal, and might be induced to do + more, if need required. + + In the meantime, it is my earnest prayer to God, that this may not be + one of those projects, which are only talked of, and never begun; but + that it may tend to the glory of his name, and to the bringing back + of those poor lost sheep to the fold of their Redeemer. Amen. + + Yours, H. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {211} + + As I am not in the constant habit of seeing your publication, it is + only lately, in meeting with your number for February last, at the + house of a friend, that I was aware that the spiritual state of the + Gypsies, had excited interest in the breasts of some of your readers. + + They are a race who have long excited interest in mine; so much, that + in the year 1801, I had written a letter upon the subject to the + society for bettering the condition, and increasing the comforts of + the poor; but I thought on further reflection, that any attempts to + civilize a race of beings so degraded, and held in so much contempt, + would be considered so very visionary, that I gave up the idea and + did not send it. A greater lapse of time, farther observation, and + the suggestions of your correspondents, induce me to trouble you with + the few following remarks; recollecting that in literary attempts and + works of beneficence, it is the same as in pecuniary subscriptions; + that great effects are not always produced from the stores of an + opulent individual, but from the willing contributions of the many. + + It does not appear to me, that a few, or even many Missionaries, + according to the suggestion of Fraternicus, Vol. vii. p. 496, would + answer the purpose of imparting religious knowledge to the Gypsies; + since on account of their wandering mode of life, and from their not + travelling in any numbers together, it would be difficult to form + congregations. What the number of Gypsies, and of those who lead + vagrant lives, like them, may be in this kingdom, I cannot even form + a conjecture; and Mr. Colquhoun, I think does not mention them in his + treatise on the Police of the Metropolis. Neither am I acquainted + with their numbers and modes of life at Norwood, {212} which I + understand is the chief residence of them; what I have to say, + therefore, is only from observations made upon those who frequent + this neighbourhood, and from others seen occasionally when I have + been travelling. + + The suggestions of Minimus, Vol. viii. p. 286, appear to me to be the + most practicable: and I hope that there are many Gypsies who would be + inclined to profit by any judicious and kind exertions made on their + behalf. There are already several families of them within my + knowledge, who reside in houses during the winter, and travel about + only in the summer. Their means of subsistence are tinkering, and + fiddling at feasts and fairs; by which some, I believe, make a good + deal of money, which helps them out in the winter, when there is less + work and less dancing. + + A young man with a large family, whom I have long observed near this + place, in my walks, about six years ago, when many inclosures took + place in this neighbourhood, and he found it less convenient to be + out in the fields, or rather that the farmers were less willing to + let him encamp upon their grounds, took a small house, with a garden + annexed to it, in the suburbs of this town, and has since lived here + constantly in the winter, but travels in the summer. He is now about + 38 years of age. He married when 20, and has 8 children, all of whom + have been baptized in the several parishes where they were born. He + is a very civil man, and is much respected where he is known; having + a good character for honesty. + + He attends church constantly on a Sunday; and though he has not any + regular notion of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, he has some + very good general ideas of religion and morality. He is no swearer; + and he would consider it wicked in his wife to attempt _to tell + fortunes_. + + He is frequently employed to fiddle, at the houses of respectable + farmers and trades-people at Christmas. His other occupation is + tinkering; and he is ingenious at mending fiddles, and making cases, + &c. + + Neither he, nor his wife, can read; and none of his children have + been hitherto sent to school. His third boy, who is about 9 years + old, he has, at my suggestion, promised to send to the new school + which has been established here on Dr. Bell’s and Mr. Lancaster’s + plan: he accepted the offer with great thankfulness. The boy is to + come into the school at Michaelmas, when the family return from their + summer’s travelling. The father would be very glad to have all his + children brought up to any other mode of life; and even to embrace + some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in it. + + He himself, from not having been brought up to work in husbandry, + could not go through the labour of it; and few, if any persons, would + be willing to employ his children, on account of the bad character + which his race bears; and from the censure and ridicule which might + attach to taking them, where they might be willing to do it from + motives of benevolence. + + There is another family of Gypsies resident in this place in the + winter, the father of which was formerly a musician in the guards. + He has a boy now in the school. + + These circumstances lead me to think, that were encouragement given + to them, the Gypsies would be inclined to live in towns and villages + like other people; and would in another generation or two become + civilized, and with the pains which are now taken to educate the + poor, and to diffuse the Scriptures and the knowledge of Jesus + Christ, would become a part of the regular fold: while in the mean + time, from personal intercourse with their pastors, and from + attending public worship, the spiritual condition of the present + generation would be materially improved. It would, however, require + much patient continuance in well doing, in those who attempted it; + and they must be prepared, perhaps, to meet with some untowardness, + and much disappointment; but in due season we could not fail to reap, + if we fainted not. + + All Gypsies must have some parish to which they belong; and if these + parishes were to provide habitations for them, and to hold out + encouragement to them to come and settle, and were to bear for the + present with any ways which might be different from those of the + regular inhabitants, affording them work as tinkers, &c. and + providing education and work for their children; and for the present, + even bearing with their travelling in the summer; this now almost + unprofitable race of beings might be reclaimed to society. Many of + them are accustomed, in the seasons, to undertake hay and harvest + work. These, I think, with proper encouragement, might be induced to + get their living by husbandry work throughout the year. + + Should these suggestions lead to any farther discussion upon the + subject, or to adopting any measures to promote the desired object; + it would give me sincere pleasure to lend my assistance, either + pecuniary or personal. + + I am, Sir, &c. J. P. + + _Cambridge_, _April_ 28, 1810. + + P.S. I recollect having heard that the benevolent Jonas Hanway took + a Gypsey for his servant, but I know not on what authority this was + said. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {217} + + The candid acknowledgment of your benevolent correspondent, in the + Christian Observer for February last, that his attention had been + first drawn to the state of the Gypsies by the letter of Fraternicus, + was matter of unfeigned satisfaction to me; and as it is probable + there may be no want of inclination in the Christian world, to extend + relief effectually to them, permit me to solicit a place in your + pages, for a thought which has occurred to me in my meditations on + the subjects. + + It appears from a letter in your number for May, that they are not + totally destitute of a desire for the benefit of instruction. + Information might easily be obtained, as to what part of England they + are to be found in the greatest numbers; and if a free school could + be instituted, and the means of instruction provided for those of + their children who were willing to attend, at least in the winter + season; might it not be a means of conveying useful knowledge to + them? + + By degrees, they might be brought to attend divine worship regularly; + and if in the parish of a pious clergyman, he would probably embrace + the opportunity of teaching them, more particularly, the way of + salvation. Much, however, might be done by a pious schoolmaster, and + a schoolmistress, by whom the girls might be instructed in different + kinds of work, knitting, sewing, &c.; and if any of the parents + should evince a desire for instruction, they could be admitted at + different hours in the day. It would be an interesting inquiry, what + becomes of orphans among them, and whether there is not a possibility + of at least rescuing them from their present state of ignorance and + misery. + + Should these suggestions be deemed worthy of your insertion, they + might, perhaps awaken the attention of some benevolent persons, whose + superior talents and experience in the ways of beneficence, would + enable them to perfect and carry into execution, a plan for the + effectual benefit of those unhappy partners of our kind. That He may + grant it, from whom every good thought proceeds, is the fervent + prayer of + + FRATERNICUS. + + + + +SECTION XII. + + +Review of the Subject, and Suggestions for ameliorating the condition of +the Gypsies in the British Empire. + + * * * * * + +Since the commencement of the present year, 1816, a friend {221} of the +author has informed him, that about three weeks before, he was in company +with an English and a Persian gentleman, who had lately come from Persia, +through Russia; the latter well understood the languages of both +countries, and spoke them fluently. He had travelled with the Persian +Ambassador; and said that he had met with many hordes of Gypsies in +Persia; had many times conversed with them; and was surprised to find +their language was the true Hindostanie. He did not then know of +Grellmann’s work. He further stated, that the Gypsies in Russia were, in +language and manners, the same, and exactly corresponded with the Gypsies +of this country. Their name in Persia signified _Black Eyes_. + +From whatever part of the world we derive intelligence of this people, it +tends to corroborate the opinion, that they have all had one peculiar +origin. How little has it occupied the contemplation of Britons, that +there existed among them, subjects of such great curiosity as the poor +and despised Gypsies! + +The statute of Henry VIII. imposing a fine of forty pounds upon the +importation of a Gypsey, induces the belief they were much in request in +England at that period. The attention which their low performances +attracted in those times, will not perhaps excite surprise, when we see +the encouragement given in our day, to their idly disposed countrymen, +termed, _Indian Jugglers_. It is remarkable, that the earliest account +of Gypsies in Great Britain, is in a work published to expose and detect +the “Art of Juggling,” &c. + +The first of this people who came into Europe, must have been persons of +discernment and discrimination, to have adapted their deceptions so +exactly to the genius and habits of the different people they visited, as +to ensure success in all countries. + +The stratagem to which they had recourse on entering France, evinces +consummate artifice of plan, and not a little adroitness and dexterity in +the execution. The specious appearance of submission to papal authority, +in the penance of wandering seven years without lying in a bed, combined +three distinct objects. They could not have devised an expedient more +likely to recommend them to the favor of Ecclesiastics; or better +concerted for taking advantage of the superstitious credulity of the +people, and, at the same time, for securing to themselves the +gratification of their own nomadic propensities. So complete was the +deception they practised, that we find they wandered up and down in +France, under the eye of magistracy, not for seven only, but for more +than a hundred years, without molestation. + +In 1561, the edict of the States of Orleans directed their expulsion by +fire and sword; yet in 1612, they had increased to such a degree, that +there was another order for their total extermination. Notwithstanding +this severity, in 1671 they were again spread over the kingdom, as +appears in the letters of the Marchioness de Sévigné to her friends, and +the Countess Grignan, in nine volumes, translated from the last Paris +edition: “Bohemians travel up and down the Provinces of France, and get +their living by dancing, showing postures, and telling fortunes; but +chiefly by pilfering, &c.” + +It is remarkable, that in all countries, they professed to be Egyptians; +but the representation is not only refuted by Bellonius, but by later +writers, who assert, that the “few who are to be found in _Egypt_, wander +about as strangers _there_, and form a distinct people.” + +As historians admit that the greatest numbers of them are to be found in +Turkey, and south of Constantinople, there is reason to apprehend they +had a passage through that country. If many of them did not visit Egypt +previously to their arrival in Europe, they probably wished to avail +themselves of the reputation the Egyptians had acquired in occult +sciences, that they might practise with greater success, the arts to +which they had been previously accustomed, and the practice of which is +common in various parts of Asia. In other respects the habits of Egypt +were very dissimilar to theirs. + +We find by the reports on the first question put by the Circular, +mentioned in Section IX. that “all Gypsies in this country suppose the +first of them came from Egypt;” and this idea is confirmed by many +circumstances that have been brought into view in the course of this +work. In addition it may be observed, that before the discovery of the +passage to India, by the Cape of Good Hope, all the productions of the +east, that were distributed in Europe, came to Egyptian ports. Hence we +have many concurring testimonies, which render it highly probable, if not +evidently clear, that the first Gypsey tribes who came into England, and +other parts of Europe, migrated from hordes of that people who had +previously found their way into Egypt. + +The evidence appears equally strong, that they were not natives of Egypt; +but as the Egyptians were in great repute for the practice of the occult +sciences, common to them and to the Suder caste; we cannot be surprized +to find these crafty itinerants, should avail themselves of such an +opportunity, as coming out of that country, to profess themselves +Egyptians. + +Continental writers exhibit a strange assemblage of crude, and +incongruous ideas on the subject of Gypsey extraction. So numerous are +the opinions diffusely stated, that Grellmann must have exercised much +patient investigation, to deduce from them the rational and satisfactory +conclusions which his Dissertation presents. + +Our countryman Swinborne, in describing the Gypsies in Calabria, is the +first to remark that their peculiar language bears great affinity to the +oriental tongues; and that many of their customs resemble those of the +heathens. But European ignorance of the habits and speech of Asiatics +may be accounted for, whilst the rich productions of India continued to +be brought to Egyptian ports, and to be conveyed thence by the Lombard +merchants, to be distributed over Europe + +The _Cingari_, _Zigeuners_, or _Gypsies_, had been in Germany nearly a +century, before the Portuguese discovered the passage to India by the +Cape of Good Hope. The stimulus which this discovery gave to +improvements in the art of navigation, soon opened immediate intercourse +with the eastern world. Vast are the establishments, which have been +subsequently effected, in that quarter of the globe by naval powers, and +extraordinary have been, of late years, the exertions for the acquisition +of oriental languages; yet so numerous are they in those widely extended +regions, that European knowledge of Asiatic etymology, is yet but in a +state of infancy. + +The case of the Gypsies is singular; for it may fairly be questioned, +whether it has a parallel in the history of the world. Dispersed over +the face of the earth, without any organization of their different +hordes; and all concert between them entirely precluded by separations of +hundreds of miles from each other, in different parts of the globe, and +by their incapacity for literary communication; they have, however, +whilst speaking the languages of the respective countries they inhabit, +preserved in _all places one_ peculiar to themselves, and have +transmitted it through a lapse of centuries to their descendants, almost +unimpaired. + +Increased acquaintance with oriental customs and tongues, has, at length, +discovered the near coincidence they have with the language of the +Gypsies, and has developed an origin of this people, of which those of +the present age were, till now, entirely ignorant. It will appear +extraordinary, that these people should have been able, by oral means +alone, and under all disadvantages, to retain their language, and yet not +to have handed down with it, any tradition that might lead to a discovery +of who they were, or whence they came. But the knowledge recently +acquired, of their very abject condition in the country from which they +emigrated, offers a reason why the first comers might be anxious to +conceal their pedigree, the meanness of which would have but ill accorded +with the titles of rank assumed by some of their leaders. + +The regulations proposed by the Empress Theresa, and the Emperor Joseph +II. could they have been carried into effect, would doubtless have +improved the state of the Gypsies. But an order for children to be torn +away from their parents, was so far from being dictated by the study of +human nature, that it did violence to the tenderest sensibilities, and +set at nought the kindest emotions. Its tendency was to produce in the +minds of Gypsies, disaffection to the state, and to indispose others from +aiding in the execution of the edict. The advantages to be derived by +Governments from a liberal toleration, being not then so well understood +as in succeeding times, they were not duly regarded. + +Those potentates considering Zigeuners of Egyptian origin, might +reasonably conceive agriculture well adapted to their genius and +inclination; but it was a pursuit, which, more than any other, they +disapproved. + +All other Governments appear to have been misled, in like manner, by the +deception which the first Gypsies practised; for had they been apprized +of this people’s descent, and of the almost unalterable pertinacity of an +Indian caste, they would have been sensible that an attempt to change +their habits by force, was a measure the least likely to be attended with +success. + +The Circular introduced in the ninth Section of this work, notices +Gypsies being hunted like beasts of prey, from township to township in +England; and it has been ascertained, that in some places they are +routed, as it is termed, by order of magistrates, whenever they appear, +and sent to prison on the vagrant act, without so much as a charge of +depredation upon property. “This is to make their persons, an object of +persecution, instead of the protection of our laws.” + +For the credit of our country it may be hoped, that instances of this +sort, respecting Gypsies, are not very numerous; seeing all writers +concur in stating, every attempt by coercive means to alter the peculiar +habits of this people, have had a tendency to alienate them still more +from civil associations, and directly to defeat the end proposed. It is +time therefore that a better and a more enlightened policy should be +adopted in Europe, towards a race of human beings, under so many +hereditary disadvantages as are the helpless, the rude, the uninstructed +Gypsies. + +In the decision on the vagrant case, in Crabbe’s “Hall of Justice,” +{231a} and in the treatment of Gypsies on Knoland-Green, {231b} a temper +is displayed so truly Christian, and so different from what is just +alluded to, that in consulting the best feelings of human nature, it adds +dignity to magistracy. + +Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on the State of the Poor, +p. 306, refers to an Act passed in 1741, respecting that class of the +poor, who are considered by the Legislature as the outcasts of society, +namely rogues, vagabonds, &c.; and he remarks: “From perusing the +catalogue of actions which denominate a man, a disorderly person, a +vagabond, or incorrigible rogue, the reader may perhaps incline to think +that many of the offences specified in this Act, and in subsequent +statutes, on the same subject, are of a very dubious nature, and that it +must require nice legal acumen, to distinguish whether a person incurs +any, and what, penalty, under the vagrant laws.” + +In support of this opinion, and of the indefinite and unjustifiable +latitude of those statutes, a late decision at Maidstone, in the action +of Robins, v. Boyce, affords a striking demonstration. + +If the statutes do not admit of any construction in favor of Gypsies, but +enjoin rigorous treatment of them, merely for wandering, it may become a +question whether the peculiar circumstances of their case, might not +constitute an exception to the general rule. + +However wholesome and salutary vagrant Acts may be, to deter persons from +quitting their parishes in order to levy contributions, by practising +impositions in places where they are not known, it is obvious that +Gypsies, having no parochial settlements, cannot come under that +description. Excepting a temporary residence of some of them in winter, +their home is a whole county, and the majority of them are too +independent to apply to any parish for assistance. + +Here is a trait in their character, which, were it grafted on the stock +of half the paupers in the kingdom, would be a national advantage. + +It ought to procure some indulgence for the Gypsies, that their wandering +mode of life does not originate in any contumacious opposition to +judicial order; but in a scrupulous regard to the Institutions of their +ancestors. For the advantages we possess, shall we return injury to our +fellow-men! If after being fully introduced into a situation to taste +the comforts of social order, and to acquire a knowledge of mechanical +professions, which would render them useful and respectable, any of them, +despising these privileges, should indulge wandering dispositions, they +might then deserve all the punishment which under the vagrant Acts, can +be indicted. + +It is worthy of remark, that in the evidence respecting mendicity in +London, adduced last year before the Committee of the House of Commons, +there is only a single instance in the parish called St. Giles, that +noted rendezvous of Gypsies, of one of their tribe, a girl, begging in +the streets. + +Is it not high time the people of England were undeceived, respecting the +motives to Gypsey perseverance in their singular line of conduct. Their +invincible attachment to the traditions they have received, is almost +proof, in itself, of Grellmann’s assertion, that they are the descendants +of an Indian caste; in whose estimation inviolable adherence to the +customs of their order, constitutes the highest perfection of character. + +When any remark is made to them on their strange mode of conduct, they +are ready to reply: “The inhabitants of cieled houses follow the customs +of their predecessors; What more do we? Are they creatures of habit? So +are we.” + +After this account, is it surprising that the violent means pursued +against them in all countries, have been ineffectual to abolish their +peculiarities? + +Their humane and intelligent biographer, Grellmann, styles them a +“singular phenomenon in Europe;” and it may justly be observed of such of +them as inhabit countries accounted the most enlightened, that the +contrast which their destitute state presents to the numerous advantages +of civilized life, and to the refinements of polished society, is truly +astonishing. If there possibly can be a single Briton who is a skeptic +to the benefits of education, let him only take a view of the +intellectual degradation and disgusting condition of the Gypsies. But if +Britons have made greater advancement in civilization than some other +nations, the Gypsies here are left at a greater distance, and furnish the +more occasion for their condition being improved. + +It does not appear that the Pariars, or Suders, from whom it is believed +these swarthy itinerants of our age are descended, were farther advanced +in the knowledge of moral obligations, than were the Spartan people; who, +however celebrated for some of their Institutions, accounted the +successful perpetration of thefts to be honourable. + +The Gypsies at Kirk Yetholm, as stated by Baillie Smith, in this part of +their conduct, are an exact counterpart of the Spartans. To a people of +Greece, the foremost of their time in legislative arrangements, who had +cultivated so little sense of the turpitude of injustice, surely a much +more criminal neglect may be imputed, than to the ignorant, untutored +race we have been surveying! + +Malcolm, in his Anecdotes of the manners and customs of London, p. 350, +says of the English Gypsies: “Despised, and neglected, they naturally +became plunderers and thieves to obtain a subsistence.” But when he +afterward states, that “They increased rapidly, and at length were found +in all parts of the country,” we may be disposed to think that British +fastidiousness was not less ingenious than that of the Spaniards, who +considered themselves _contaminated_ by a touch of the Gypsies, unless it +were to have their fortunes told. Venality and deception meeting with so +much encouragement, those propensities of the human heart would be +generated and fostered, which at length produced flagrant impositions, +and the greatest enormities. + +The dominion of superstition was at its zenith, in what are termed the +middle ages: so absolute and uncontrolled was its influence, that because +of reputed skill in exorcism and witchcraft, the deluded Germans reposed +implicit confidence in persons so ignorant as the Gypsies. + +What an impeachment of British sagacity, is the following observation of +Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on 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 their 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 the strongest of all +obligations, strictly to observe the Institution of their ancestors. Had +Britons been apprized of the origin of this people, and the peculiar +circumstances of their case, the national character would not have been +stained, by the abuse and mal-treatment which Gypsies have received. + +It is very satisfactory to find by the before recited correspondence, an +inhabitant of the county in which the Gypsies are so numerous, advocating +their cause, by a public exposure of the mistaken ideas which have so +long prevailed respecting them. + +From the length of time they have continued to reside in Britain, they +have ceased to become subjects of much curiosity or conversation. And as +they endeavour to avoid populous districts, persons in large towns, who +are occupied in trade, seem little aware that in the county they inhabit, +there may be hordes of these wanderers, traversing the thinly inhabited +parts of it, in various directions, as was the case in Yorkshire during +the last summer. (1815.) + +When the amelioration of the condition of this people is mentioned to +persons of the above description, so little informed are they on the +subject, that it is many times treated as if the existence of Gypsies was +questioned; at others, as if affording any help to them, was visionary, +and even ludicrous. + +Some places formerly frequented by Gypsey gangs, having been much +deserted by them of late years, does not authorize any calculation upon a +decrease of their numbers in the nation. + +In the vicinity of the metropolis, Gypsies have been excluded by +inclosures from various situations to which they had been accustomed to +resort. But there is some reason to apprehend they have become more +numerous, in several other parts of the Island. Baillie Smith of Kelso, +is of opinion, they increase in Scotland, and it is by no means certain +that they do not in England. + +Any idea that routing them will lessen their numbers, may be as +fallacious, and injudicious, as were banishments from the German States, +which, without diminishing Gypsey population, had the injurious effect of +alienating them still more from civil associations. + +Junius, the other correspondent of the Northampton Mercury, in his +Address of October 29, writes: “I trust the time is not distant, when +much will be accomplished, as it respects the civilization of the people +whose cause we plead. In the meantime, I would humbly hope all those +harsh and degrading measures, of publicly in the papers, and upon +placards by the sides of roads, ordering their apprehension and +commitment to prison, will be suspended, until some asylum is offered; +and should nothing be attempted by the Legislature, for reclaiming them +from their present mode of life, surely much may be done by the exertions +of individuals!” + +Many of the observations in the Christian Observer, and in the +Northampton Mercury, are striking and pertinent, as they relate to the +present state of the Gypsies in England; and the philanthropy they +inculcate is honourable to the national character. Had these benevolent +individuals been acquainted with the history of the people, whose cause +they plead, they would, doubtless, have suggested plans adapted to their +peculiar case. For want of this knowledge, it is not surprising that +occupations in husbandry should take the lead in propositions for +employing them. The last mentioned writer, from a desire to render +essential service to this people, suggests, that the Legislature should +fix upon five or six stations in different parts of the kingdom, on which +villages should be erected, in order that they might be employed in +farming. + +It will have been obvious in the survey which has been taken, and it has +been already remarked, that of all occupations, agriculture is the least +adapted to their genius and inclination. + +It has appeared in Section IX, that Riley Smith, a chief of the +Northamptonshire Gypsies, after marrying the cook out of a gentleman’s +family, and obtaining a farm, quitted it, to resume musical performances. + +Conformity to agricultural employments, could not be effected in Gypsies, +by the most rigorous measures to which the Empress Theresa, and the +Emperor Joseph II. resorted.—Much less could it be expected that persons, +who, all their lives, have accustomed themselves to be in the open air, +or others who have lived three parts of the year in this manner, should +be induced, in open weather, to brook the restraint of houses. + +Those who have houses at Kirk Yetholm, quit them in spring: men, women, +and children, set out on their peregrinations over the country, and live +in a state of vagrancy, until driven back to their habitations by the +approach of winter; and it appears, in all countries to which the Gypsies +have had access, that a similar course is pursued by them. + +In a dialogue between a Curate and some Gypsies, as published in the +Christian Guardian, of March, 1812, is the following question and answer: + +_Curate_. “Could you not by degrees bring yourselves to a more settled +mode of life? + +_Gypsey_. I would not tell you a story, Sir; I really think I could not, +having been brought up to it from a child.” + +Upon this conversation, the Curate makes the following remark: “In order +to do good among the Gypsies, we must conciliate their esteem, and gain +their confidence.” + +The plain and simple reply to the Curate, will put out of question the +erection of villages, or the making of establishments for adults among +them. In mechanical operations, to which the Gypsies are most inclined, +British artisans might be as averse to unite with them, as they were with +the Jews. The Spaniards, it has appeared, are unwilling to be associated +with Gypsies in any kind of occupation. Moreover, the competition of +manufacturers in England, during the last fifty years, has effected by +artificial means, so much saving of manual labour, and so much +improvement in the division of it, that the rude operations of Gypsies, +would be a subject of ridicule and contempt. + +J. P., in a letter from Cambridge to the Christian Observer, very +feelingly states the case of a Gypsey family, the father of which, being +a travelling tinker and fiddler, intimated, he would be glad to have all +his children brought up to some other mode of life, and even to embrace +some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in it. Not having been +brought up in husbandry, he could not go through the labour of it; and +few, if any persons, would be willing to employ {248} his children, on +account of the bad character which his race bears, and from the censure +and ridicule which would attach to the taking of them.” + +There appears so little probability of any useful change being effected +in the nomadic habits of adult Gypsies, that it seems better to bear with +that propensity for some time longer, than by directly counteracting it, +so disturb the minds of parents, as to indispose them to consent to the +education of their children. There are thousands of other people in the +nation, who, more than half their time, live out of doors in like manner. +Were they all obliged to take out licences, this measure might operate in +some degree as a check upon them; at least it would be a tacit +acknowledgment of a controlling power, and might admit of some regulation +of their conduct. At present, numbers of them resemble a lawless +banditti, and may not inaptly be termed, _Imperium in imperio_. + +It appears by J. P.’s letter from Cambridge, that six years ago, he had +engaged a Gypsey boy to be sent to a school on the Belleian and +Lancasterian plan. At that time, the system had been but little +appropriated in the country to the instruction of girls; and the +application of it to boys only, would have been doing the work by halves. +But the time seems now to have arrived, when the minds of Gypsies have +generally received an impression in favor of the education, both of their +sons and daughters, as has been manifest in various parts of this Survey; +and that some of those who lodge in London, have been themselves at the +expense of sending their children to school. But if all of them could be +thus taught, three months in a year, would not their running wild the +other nine, under the influence of dissolute and unrestrained example, be +likely to defeat every purpose of instruction. + +Were they to be educated during the whole of the year, it is obvious that +some establishment would be necessary for their maintenance and clothing. +The author of this Survey is not aware of any Institutions so much +adapted to their case, as the charity schools for boys and girls, which +are common to every part of the kingdom. It is not probable that Gypsey +population would furnish more than two boys, and two girls, for each of +these schools. Their being placed among a much greater number of +children, and those of settled, and in some degree of civilized habits, +would greatly facilitate the training of Gypsies to salutary discipline +and subordination; and the associations it provided for them out of +school hours, being under the superintendence of a regular family, would, +in an especial manner, be favorable to their domestication. + +Charity schools, by admitting children so early as at six years of age, +and continuing them to fourteen, seem particularly suited to the case of +Gypsies, in supplying all that is requisite until the boys are at an age +to go out apprentices, and the girls to service in families. + +Gypsies being the children of a whole county, if not of the nation at +large, perhaps the expense of their maintenance might, without +inconsistency, be defrayed out of county rates, which would prevent its +being burdensome to any particular district. By a process so simple and +easy, expensive establishments on the account of Gypsies, might be +entirely avoided. And many parents among them, express a willingness to +part with their children, for education, provided they were cared for in +other respects. + +After several centuries, a degree of solicitude being at length apparent +in the Gypsies, for the improvement of their children, the time has +arrived when some effectual benefit may be communicated to them. + +The distribution proposed, would admit of these itinerants seeing their +children once in the year. But to extirpate Gypsey habits, education +alone would not be sufficient. Yet as there is no reason to think this +people are less susceptible than others, of gainful considerations, a +fund might be provided, out of which, twenty pounds should be paid with +each boy, on his apprenticeship to some handicraft business, in lieu of +finding him with clothes during the term. And in consideration of its +being faithfully served, five pounds might be allowed to find the young +man with tools for his trade, or otherwise setting him forward in the +world. This would excite an interest in civil associations and order, +which are necessary for the successful prosecution of trade; and +probably, an encouragement like this, would have a greater effect in +giving a new direction to Gypsey pursuits, than any coercive or +restrictive measures which could be devised. And who would not wish to +contribute to the means of rescuing from ignorance and vice, such a +portion of the population of their country! Who would not be desirous of +emulating in some degree, that best kind of patriotism, by which the +correspondent H. of the Christian Observer, is so remarkably +distinguished! + +This would be an example worthy of a great nation; and is it not +probable, that the prospect of so much preferment, would induce Gypsey +parents, to promote to the utmost of their power, a disposition in their +children to obtain it? Cooper, a Gypsey at Chingford Green, said, “It is +a pity they should be as ignorant as their fathers.” This may be +considered as the language of “_help us_,” accompanied with this +acknowledgment, “_for we are unable to help ourselves_;” and certainly +there is but too much reason to conclude it is strictly true, respecting +the instruction of this forlorn and destitute race. + +According to the enumeration of Gypsey lodgers, given in Section X, their +families average 5½ in number. This exceeds by one half, what is +reported to be the average of England in general. If we take Gypsey +population at 18,000, their children will be 12,000. Supposing +two-thirds of these to be under twelve years of age, there would be 8,000 +to educate. Reckoning half that number to be girls, 4,000 boys would be +to be apprenticed after leaving school. And if these, after their +apprenticeship, married Gypsey girls, who had been brought up to service +in families, twenty thousand useful subjects might be calculated upon as +gained to the State in the first generation. + +Should the efforts of individuals, require assistance from the State, to +render their plans effectual; surely they may depend on the co-operation +of a British legislature, to promote the cause in which they would +embark! On this point may be adduced the judicious observation of +Grellmann: “If the Gypsey knows not how to make use of the faculties with +which nature has intrusted him, let the State teach him, and keep him in +leading strings till the end is attained. Care being taken to improve +their understandings, and to amend their hearts, they might become useful +citizens; for observe them at whatever employment you may, there always +appear sparks of genius.” + +Every well-wisher to his country must be gratified in observing, that as +soon as the conflicting tumult of nations is calmed, and the +precipitations attendant on military supplies have subsided, the +attention of the Legislature is turned to the investigation of some of +the causes of human misery at home; and to the means of increasing the +social comforts of a considerable portion of British population in the +metropolis of the kingdom. This recommencement of operations, directed +to the important object for which Governments have been instituted,—the +good of the people,—encourages the hope, that the most neglected and +destitute of all persons in this country, whose cause we have been +pleading, will not be suffered to remain much longer unnoticed and +disregarded. + +When at length the veil that has obscured them is once drawn aside, can +British benevolence withhold its exertions, to elevate the moral tone of +this degraded eastern race, and to call forth the dignity of the human +character, in exchange for the strange torpor and vileness in which this +people are involved. Here an occasion presents for the display of a +temper truly Christian, and for the erection of a standard to surrounding +kingdoms, in which also these outcasts of society are dispersed, of that +philanthropy and sound policy which are worthy of a great nation. + +Such an experiment, though on a limited scale, may furnish various data +for judging what may be effected for their countrymen, the countless +myriads of British subjects, inhabiting the vast regions of Hindostan. + +Alexander Fraser Tytler, late Assistant Judge in the twenty-four +Pergunnahs, Bengal Establishment, in his highly important work, entitled, +“Considerations on the present Political State of India,” after pointing +out the depravity which prevails to an extraordinary degree among the +population of India, states in the 313th page of the first volume, that +“Poverty, or according to the definition of writers on Police, +_Indigence_ may be said to be the nurse of almost all crimes. To find +out the causes of poverty, and to attempt their removal, must therefore +be the chief object of a good police.” + +It has been remarked, that this author drew his conclusions, not only +from what he understood of human nature in general, but from what he +daily saw before him, in the circumstances and actions of the people +whose crimes he was called upon to punish. And he reasons upon the +subject in the following manner: “Great poverty among the lower orders in +every country, has an immediate effect in multiplying the number of petty +thieves; and where the bounds of the moral principle have been once +over-stepped, however trivial the first offence, the step is easy from +petty theft to the greater crimes of burglary and robbery.” + +May Britons in their conduct towards the Gypsies, be actuated by a policy +so liberal, as to induce the rising generation among this neglected +class, to attach themselves to civil society, and to enter into +situations designed to inculcate habits of industry, and prepare them to +become useful members of the community. + +The successful experiments lately made by the British and Foreign School +Society, upon persons addicted to every species of depravity, leave no +doubt of the practicability of ameliorating the condition of Gypsies. It +is with pleasure that on this subject the following statement of facts is +introduced, respecting two schools established in the neighbourhood of +the metropolis. One of them at Kingsland, a situation which has been +termed, “A focus where the most abandoned characters constantly assembled +for every species of brutal and licentious disorder.” The other is at +Bowyer-lane, near Camberwell, a district inhabited by persons of the +worst description; among whom the police officers have been accustomed to +look for the various kinds of offenders, who have infested the Borough of +Southwark. + +We are informed by the Committee of that School, that “in the district +embraced by their Society, the consequences of ignorance were evident to +the most superficial observer. Parents and children, appeared alike +regardless of morality and virtue; the former indulging in profligacy, +and the latter exhibiting its lamentable effects. + +“Did the friends of _universal education_ require a fresh illustration, +they would find it in the scene we are now contemplating; and they would +confidently invite those who still entertain a doubt on the subject, to a +more close and rigid examination of that scene, satisfied with the effect +upon every candid and unprejudiced mind. For, assuredly, “men do not +gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles:” and when morality, +decency, and order, are gradually occupying the abodes of licentiousness, +misery, and guilt, the change must be attributed to some operating cause, +and _that_ cause must be derived from the Source of all Good. + +“The principles of decorum, of propriety, and of virtue, are instilled +into the youthful mind; and by a powerful reaction, they reach the heart +of the parent; the moral atmosphere extends—its benefits are felt and +appreciated—the Bible takes its proper place in the habitations of +poverty; and thus in its simple, natural, and certain course, the _germ_ +of _instruction_ yields the happy fruit of _moral reformation_.” + +If as Grellmann computes, there are not fewer than 700,000 of these +people in Europe, who do not either plough, or sow, or the greater part +of them contribute in any manner to the improvement of the country, or +the support of the State, what a subject is this, for the contemplation +of Governments! + +In reference to England, it is a beautiful exclamation of the Christian +Observer: “Surely when our charity is flowing in so wide a channel, +conveying the blessings of the gospel to the most distant quarters of the +globe, we shall not hesitate to water this one barren and neglected +field, in our own land.” Uniting cordially in this appeal, it is a great +satisfaction to be able to state, there are traits of character in this +people, which encourage attention to Gypsey soil. Let it but be cleared +of weeds, and sown with good seed, and the judicious cultivator may +calculate upon a crop to compensate his toil. + +Greater proof of confidence, as to money transactions, not being +misplaced in Gypsies need not be given, than in the testimony of the +landlord at Kirk Yetholm, to William Smith, that his master knew he was +as sure of their money, as if he had it in his pocket. + +In Dr. Clarke’s Travels, published in the present year, Part the 2nd of +Section 3rd, page 592, are the following observations respecting the +Gypsies of Hungary: “The Wallachian Gypsies are not an idle race. They +might rather be described as a laborious people; and the greater part of +them honestly endeavour to earn a livelihood. It is this part of them +who work as gold-washers.” + +In page 637, the Doctor remarks: “The Wallachians of the Bannat, bear a +very bad character, and perhaps many of the offences attributed to +Gypsies, may be due to this people, who are the least civilized, and the +most ferocious of all the inhabitants of Hungary.” {262} + +Could grateful sensibility of favors received, and of personal +attachment, be more strikingly evinced than in the promptitude of Will +Faa, who when he was eighty years of age, on hearing of his landlord +being unwell, undertook, at the hazard of his life, a journey of a +hundred miles, to see him before he died? + +The attention of Gypsies to the aged and infirm of their fraternity, is +not less exhibited in the case of Ann Day, whose age is inserted in a +work on human longevity, published at Salisbury in 1799. She was aged +108, and had not slept in a bed during seventy years. She was well known +in the counties of Bedford and Herts, and having been a long time blind, +she always rode upon an ass, attended by two or three of the tribe. A +friend of the author, a farmer near Baldock, who had frequently given +food and straw for the old woman, says of the attendants she had, her +comfort and support seemed to be their chief concern. He considers her +longevity a proof of the kindness she received. Her interment, which was +at Arsley, near Henlow, was attended by her son and daughter, the one 82, +the other 85 years of age, each having great grand-children. + +It must have been a satisfaction to every one interested in the +improvement of human nature, to observe the number of advocates who have +come forward, within the last ten years, in this country, to plead the +cause of this despised and abused people. + +In bringing their case before the public, the author has aimed at +discharging what he thought incumbent upon him to undertake on their +behalf. He trusts that persons much more competent than himself, will be +induced to give effect to whatever measures may be thought best adapted +to promote the temporal, as well as spiritual benefit of this people; and +that as H, the correspondent of the Christian Observer, remarks: “amidst +the great light that prevails, the reproach may be wiped away from our +country, of so many of its children walking in darkness, and in the +shadow of death.” + +Can a nation, whose diffusive philanthropy extends to the civilization of +a quarter of the globe, and to the evangelization of the whole world, be +regardless of any of the children of her own bosom, or suffer the pious, +truly patriotic solicitude of her King, for the instruction of the +meanest of his subjects to remain unaccomplished. + +Many persons appear zealous to send Missionaries to convert heathens in +the most distant parts of the world; when, as a late writer {264} +observes, “the greatest, perhaps of all heathens, are at home, entirely +neglected.” + +Peace and tranquillity are favorable to the improvement of the internal +condition of a country; and can Britain more unequivocally testify her +gratitude for the signal favors conferred upon her, than in promoting +that object for which rational beings were formed—the glory of God, and +the happiness of his creatures. + +In relation to the uncultivated race we have been surveying, may a +guarded and religious education prove to them, as the voice crying in the +wilderness: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert +an highway for our God.” The subsequent declaration, without doubt, is +descriptive of what should be effected under the gospel dispensation: +“The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the +glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and _all flesh_ shall see it +together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”—Isaiah, Chap. xl. v. +3, 4, 6. + + FINIS. + + * * * * * + + Printed by HARGROVE, GAWTHORP, & COBB. + Herald-Office, York. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +PUBLISHED BY +_WILLIAM ALEXANDER_, _YORK_ + +I. _An epitome of the history of the world_, _by_ JOHN 1 2 0 +HOYLAND, _Author of_ A HISTORICAL SURVEY, &c.—_The +Epitome takes a comprehensive view of the Creation_, _of +the Antediluvians_, _and of the universal Deluge_, +_united with a Biographical Portraiture of the +Patriarchs_, _and an examination of their respective +characters and conduct_. _The historical department +takes a survey of the peopling of the world_, _of the +origin and subversion of nations_, _and exhibits the +fulfilment of prophecies contained in the old +Testament_; _particularly as they relate to the Jews_; +_evincing the connexion of Divine dispensations_, +_during_ 4000 _years_; 2nd edit. much improved, 2 +_vols._ 8_vo. fine paper_, _ext. bds._ + +_Ditto_, _in_ 2 _vols._ 12_mo_, _half bound_, _for the 13 0 +use of Schools_. + +II. “A DESCRIPTION _of the_ RETREAT _near_ YORK,” _for 12 0 +persons afflicted with disorders of the mind_, _among +the Society of Friends_; _giving a historical narrative +of the rise and progress of the Institution_; _a +description of the moral and medical treatment practised +in it_, _and many other interesting particulars_; _with +three_ 4_to plates_, _descriptive of the buildings_, +_by_ S. TUKE, 4_to. fine paper_, _extra bds._ + +III. PRACTICAL HINTS _on the Construction and Economy 2 0 +of_ PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUMS; _including Instructions to +the Architects who offered plans for the Wakefield +Asylum_, _and a sketch of the most approved design_, by +S. TUKE + +IV. DUTIES OF RELIGION AND MORALITY, _as inculcated in 2 6 +the Holy Scriptures_; _adapted to the perusal of persons +of every religious denomination_, _by_ H. TUKE, _pot_ +8_vo_, _sheep lettered_, or 12_mo_, _boards_, _each_ + +_Ditto_, _pot_ 8_vo_, _stitched_ 2 0 + +_Ditto_, 12_mo_, _boards_, _fine paper_ 3 6 + + A good allowance made to purchasers of one dozen copies or more of + this work. + +V. IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION. _In this small tract the 15 0 +advantages and necessity of a religious life are +forcibly impressed_, _in a manner adapted to the +understandings of every capacity_; _and worthy the +attention and perusal of all_, 18_mo_, _stitched_, +_com._ 2_s. per doz._; 12_s. per_ 100; _fine_ 3_d. +each_; _per doz._ 2_s._ 6_d._; _per_ 100 + +_Ditto_, _royal_ 12_mo._ 6_d._;—_per doz._ 5_s._;—_per_ 1 10 0 +100 + + [Picture: Decorative divider] + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{82} In the 31st page of Sir Frederick Morton Eden’s Appendix to the +State of the Poor, it appears that in 1426, a hay horse, for the Prior +(we may suppose of prime quality) cost £1 6s. 8d. and a colt 4s. 6d. And +in the year 1448, page 34, the hay of one acre was estimated at 5s. + +{89} Weirde, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “_wird_;” _i.e._, fatum, or +deafinie, and is used in this sense, in Hollinshed. + +{94} Ballie is a material designation in Scotland, agreeing in rank with +that of Alderman in England. + +{201} Vol. vii. p. 496, 497. + +{205} Vol. vii. p. 712. + +{206} Vol. viii. p. 286. + +{208} Vol. ix. p. 82, 83. + +{211} Vol. ix. p. 278, 279, 280. + +{212} Since writing the above, a friend has informed me that Norwood is +now inclosed, and has ceased to be a rendezvous of Gypsies. + +{217} Vol. ix. p. 554, 555. + +{221} Frederick Smith, of Croydon, Surry. + +{231a} Vide Crabbe’s Poems. + +{231b} See No. 104, Sunday School Tracts. + +{248} The benevolent Jonas Hanway took a Gypsey boy into his family, for +the purpose of making an experiment, but the result has not come to the +knowledge of the author. + +{262} At page 691, is a Vignette of Gypsies washing gold in Hungary. + +{264} Samuel Tuke, Author of a Description of the Retreat, &c. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE CUSTOMS, +HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES*** + + +******* This file should be named 29063-0.txt or 29063-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/0/6/29063 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies + + +Author: John Hoyland + + + +Release Date: June 7, 2009 [eBook #29063] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE +CUSTOMS, HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES*** +</pre> +<p>Transcribed from the 1816 WM. Alexander edition by David +Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Kensington +Library, London, for allowing the use of their copy in +cross-checking the transcription.</p> +<h1>A<br /> +HISTORICAL SURVEY<br /> +<span class="smcap">of the</span><br /> +<i>CUSTOMS</i>, <i>HABITS</i>, & <i>PRESENT STATE</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">of</span><br /> +The Gypsies;<br /> +<span class="smcap">designed to develope</span><br /> +The Origin of this Singular People,<br /> +<span class="smcap">and to promote</span><br /> +<i>The Amelioration of their Condition</i>.</h1> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">By</span> JOHN +HOYLAND,<br /> +<i>Author of an Epitome of the History of the World</i>, +<i>&c.</i></p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p0.jpg"> +<img alt= +"Decorative divider" +title= +"Decorative divider" +src="images/p0.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p style="text-align: center">York:<br /> +<span class="smcap">printed for the author</span>; <span +class="smcap">and sold by</span><br /> +<i>WM. ALEXANDER</i>, <i>YORK</i>:</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">darton</span>, +<span class="smcap">harvey</span>, & <span +class="smcap">co.</span>; <span class="smcap">w. phillips</span>; +<span class="smcap">and w. darton</span>, <span +class="smcap">jun.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">london</span>.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">1816.</p> +<p><!-- page ii--><a name="pageii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +ii</span></p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">Entered at Stationers’ +Hall.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p><i>Printed by </i><span class="smcap"><i>Hargrove</i></span>, +<span class="smcap"><i>Gawthorp</i></span>, <i>& </i><span +class="smcap"><i>Cobb</i></span>,<br /> + <i>Herald-Office</i>, +<i>York</i>.</p> +<h2><!-- page iii--><a name="pageiii"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. iii</span>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<p>The author of the following Survey, has frequently had +opportunity of observing the very destitute and abject condition +of the Gypsey race, in the counties of Northampton, Bedford, and +Herts. The impressions received from viewing a state so +derogatory to human nature, induced him to make numerous +inquiries, in order to ascertain if necessity compelled their +continuance, under circumstances so deplorable as their condition +exhibited.</p> +<p>Not meeting with satisfactory intelligence on application to +various individuals, to whose observation Gypsies are frequently +presented, the author was excited to an examination of history, +for the developement of a case involved in so much obscurity; and +aggravated by circumstances so repugnant to the mild and genial +influences of the Christian Religion.</p> +<p>He must not however omit to state, that in Northamptonshire, +William Allen, who is in the profession of the law, at Higham +Ferrers, and Steward to Earl Fitzwilliam, very warmly interested +himself on the <!-- page iv--><a name="pageiv"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. iv</span>subject. He said it afforded +him much pleasure to find, that some attention was excited to the +condition of the Gypsies, and that he should be glad to +co-operate, as far as was in his power, in any measures likely to +conduce to the reformation of this greatly neglected class of +British subjects.</p> +<p>He volunteered his services to find out the nearest Gypsey +rendezvous, and soon procured information of an encampment which +the writer visited. An account of the visit will appear in +the following sheets. The first assurance that the Gypsies +really had a language peculiar to themselves, which the author +received, was from this intelligent and obliging professor of the +law, who had heard children, as well as adults among them, speak +it with great fluency.</p> +<p>He also observed, that the situation of this people daily +became increasingly deplorable, in consequence of the +establishment of associations for the prosecution of felons; and +that the fear of apprehension as vagrants, and the progressive +inclosures near towns and villages, had a tendency to drive them +to a greater distance from the habitations of man. And he +was fully of opinion, as these houseless wanderers were expelled +from Township after Township, without any provision being made +for their refuge, that it was high time their case should obtain +the consideration of the public.</p> +<p><!-- page v--><a name="pagev"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +v</span>Of the historic authorities whence the author has derived +information and interesting observation, he has to place in the +foremost rank, the Dissertation of the learned H. M. G. +Grellmann, translated a few years since, by the late M. Raper, +Esq. F.R.S. & A.S. He has, however, to +acknowledge himself indebted to various other intelligent +authors, whose writings will be noticed in the course of the +work.</p> +<p>Another source of information, and which relates especially to +the <i>present state</i> of the Gypsies in Great Britain, has +been opened through inquiries instituted in most parts of the +nation, by the author, aided by several obliging and able +coadjutors. The results of these inquiries, it scarcely +need be added, will be presented to the reader in their proper +places.</p> +<p>The author has much regretted, that scarcely any of the +splendid histories of Counties in England, and even those in +which the Gypsies abound, have in the least noticed that part of +the population which so strongly claims our attention. By +bringing their situation into view, the historian might not +merely have served the cause of humanity; he would have advanced +the interest of the state, by promoting an object of so much +public utility, as the improvement of the whole Gypsey race +cannot fail to prove.</p> +<p>A comparative view of their customs and habits, and how far +they appear coincident in different countries, <!-- page vi--><a +name="pagevi"></a><span class="pagenum">p. vi</span>may afford a +criterion by which to judge if they have all had one +origin. By thus tracing them to that source, we may +possibly discover the occasion of their peculiarities; and if the +means hitherto employed to counteract them, have proved +unsuccessful, we may be prepared to consider of others, better +adapted to correct the errors of their education.</p> +<p>Conceiving that any scheme for ameliorating the condition of +the Gypsies, would not only be premature, but might prove highly +injudicious, before obtaining a knowledge of their history, the +author has endeavoured to collect, from the most authentic +European authorities to which he could have access, a general +view of this people, in the different parts of the world to which +they have resorted; and from these and the other sources of +information, he has subjoined accounts of their state in Great +Britain, and of the suggestions offered by other individuals for +their improvement; concluding the subject with a review of the +whole, and proposing a plan to be set on foot for accomplishing +this desirable object.</p> +<h2><!-- page vii--><a name="pagevii"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. vii</span>CONTENTS.</h2> +<table> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION I.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Various Appellations of them—Their arrival in +Europe</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page9">9</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION II.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Accounts of the Gypsies in various Countries</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page17">17</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION III.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>The Habits</i>, <i>Occupations</i>, <i>and Polity of +the Continental Gypsies</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page37">37</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION IV.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Political Regulations on the Continent respecting +Gypsies</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page61">61</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION V.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>The Gypsies in Great Britain</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page75">75</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION VI.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page91">91</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION VII.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>On the Origin of the Gypsies</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page112">112</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center"><!-- page viii--><a +name="pageviii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. viii</span>SECTION +VIII.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Comparative view of the Gypsey</i>, <i>Hindostanie</i>, +<i>and Turkish languages</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page131">131</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION IX.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Present State of the Gypsies in England</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page151">151</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION X.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Present State of the Gypsies in and about +London</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page175">175</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION XI.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Sentiments of various persons on the moral condition of +the Gypsies</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page191">191</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">SECTION XII.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Review of the Subject</i>, <i>and Suggestions for +ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies in the British +Empire</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>page</i> <span +class="indexpageno"><a href="#page221">221</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<h2><!-- page 9--><a name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +9</span>SECTION I.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Various appellations of them—Their +arrival in Europe.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>The different appellations by which the People whom we +denominate Gypsies, have been distinguished, appear generally to +have had reference to the countries, from which it was supposed +they had emigrated.</p> +<p>Grellmann states, that the French, having the first accounts +of them from Bohemia, gave them the name of +<i>Bohémiens</i>, Bohemians. That the Dutch +apprehending they came from Egypt, called them <i>Heydens</i>, +Heathens. In Denmark, Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, +Tartars were thought of. The Moors <!-- page 10--><a +name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>and Arabians, +perceiving the propensity the Gypsies had to thieving, adopted +the name <i>Charami</i>, Robbers, for them.</p> +<p>In Hungary, they were formerly called Pharaohites, (<i>Pharaoh +Nepek</i>) Pharaoh’s people; and the vulgar in Transylvania +continue that name for them. The idea of the English +appears to be similar, in denominating them Gypsies, Egyptians; +as is, that of the Portuguese and Spaniards, in calling them +<i>Gitanos</i>. But the name <i>Zigeuners</i>, obtained the +most extensive adoption, and apparently not without cause; for +the word <i>Zigeuner</i>, signifies to wander up and +down—for which reason, it is said, our German ancestors +denominated every strolling vagrant <i>Zichegan</i>.</p> +<p>The Gypsies are called not only in all Germany, Italy, and +Hungary <i>Tziganys</i>; but frequently in Transylvania, +Wallachia and Moldavia, <i>Cyganis</i>. But the Turks, and +other Eastern nations name them, <i>Tschingenes</i>.</p> +<p>The origin of this people has been a subject of inquiry for +more than three hundred years. Many persons have been +anxious to discover <!-- page 11--><a name="page11"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 11</span>“who these guests were, that, +unknown and uninvited, came into Europe in the fifteenth century, +and have chosen ever since to continue in this quarter of the +globe.”</p> +<p>Continental writers state, that it is incredible how numerous +the hordes of this people are, and how widely dispersed over the +face of the earth. They wander about in Asia, the inferior +of Africa, and have established themselves in most of the +countries of Europe. Grellmann is of opinion, that America +is the only part of the world, in which they are not known. +Though no mention appears to be made of them by Authors who have +written on that quarter of the globe; yet no doubt remains, of +their having been in Europe nearly four hundred years.</p> +<p><i>Wilhelm Dilick</i> in his <span +class="smcap">Heszischen</span> <i>Chronik</i>, scit 229, beyn +Jahr 1414, informs us they arrived the same year in the Hessian +territories; but no mention of them appears in the public prints +till three years afterward. Mention is made of their being +in Germany as early as the year 1417; when they appeared <!-- +page 12--><a name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +12</span>in the vicinity of the North sea. Fabricius, in +<i>Annalibb Misn</i>, says, they were driven from Meissen in +1416, but Calvisius corrects this date by changing it to +1418.</p> +<p>Sir Thomas Browne in his “<i>Vulgar Errors</i>,” +page 287, says, “their first appearance was in Germany, +since the year 1400; nor were they observed before in other parts +of Europe, as is deducible from Munster, Genebrard, Krantzius and +Ortelius.”</p> +<p>In Germany they spread so rapidly, that in 1418, their names +were recorded in the annual publications of various parts of the +country. They travelled in hordes, each having his leader, +sometimes called <i>Count</i>, others had the title of +<i>Dukes</i>, or <i>Lords of Lesser Egypt</i>.</p> +<p>In 1418 they were found in Switzerland, and in the country of +the Grisons; and in 1422 they made their appearance in +Italy. The Bologna Chronicle states, that the hordes which +arrived in that city, on the 18th of July, 1422, consisted of +about one hundred men, the name of whose leader, or Duke as they +termed him, <!-- page 13--><a name="page13"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 13</span>was Andreas. They travelled +from Bologna to Forli, intending to pay the Pope a visit at +Rome.</p> +<p>Their appearance in France bears the date of 1427, when the +French say, they straggled about Paris, having arrived on the +17th day of August in that year.</p> +<p>German Historians are agreed, that when the Gypsies first made +their appearance in Europe, they chose to be considered as +Pilgrims; and that their profession met with the more ready +belief, as it coincided with the infatuation of the times. +The learned Grellmann states, that several old writings mention +the credulity, with which people cherished the idea, that they +were real pilgrims and holy persons; that it not only procured +for them toleration, but safe-conducts in many places.</p> +<p>Munster declares, that they carried about with them passports +and seals from the Emperor Sigismund, and other Princes; by means +of which, they had free passage through different countries and +cities; and that he had <!-- page 14--><a name="page14"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 14</span>himself seen, an attested copy of +such a letter to the possession of some Gypsies at Eberbach.</p> +<p>Krantz, Stumpf, Guler, and Laurentius Palmirenus, all agree in +this statement.. The Gypsies at Bologna also shewed an +instrument from Sigismund; but he appears to have granted this to +them, not as Emperor, and in Germany; but in Hungary, and as King +of Hungary. A pass of Uladislaus II. might also be quoted, +which the Gypsies obtained chiefly on account of their supposed +sanctity and pilgrimage. In Transylvania, it is asserted +they received letters of protection from the House of +Bathory.</p> +<p>Webner says, that the Gypsies in France quoted ancient +privileges, granted to them by the former Kings of that +country.</p> +<p>Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions for +wandering unmolested through all Christian countries, as long as +the term of their pilgrimage lasted; which they asserted was +seven years. But at the expiration of that term, they +represented that their <!-- page 15--><a name="page15"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 15</span>return home was prevented by soldiers +stationed to intercept them.</p> +<p>The impression their pretensions had made on the people among +whom they came, did not entirely subside during half a century; +but afterward, “the Gypsies being watched with a more +jealous eye, it appeared but too clearly, that, instead of holy +pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of humanity, who, often, +under pretexts of safe-conducts, committed all manner of +excesses.”</p> +<p>Their impositions being detected, it is probable some of them +were reduced to the necessity of having recourse to legitimate +means of subsistence, for within thirty years afterward, we have +accounts of Gypsies in Hungary being employed in the working of +iron. This occupation, appears from old writings, to have +been a favourite one with them. Bellonius also takes notice +of its being so; and there is a record of the Hungarian King +Uladislaus, in the year 1496, cited by the Abbé +<i>Pray</i> in his Annals; and by <i>Friedwalsky</i> in his +Mineralogy, wherein it is ordered, “<i>That every </i><!-- +page 16--><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +16</span><i>officer and subject</i>, <i>of whatever rank and +condition</i>, <i>do allow to Thomas Polgar</i>, <i>leader of +twenty-five tents of wandering Gypsies</i>, <i>free residence +every where</i>, <i>and on no account to molest him</i>, <i>or +his people</i>; <i>because they had prepared military stores for +the Bishop Sigismund at Fünfkirchen</i>.”</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">grellmann</span>.</p> +<h2><!-- page 17--><a name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +17</span>SECTION II.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Accounts of the Gypsies in various +countries.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>To propose means for improving the condition of Gypsies, +before we have informed ourselves of their real state, and what +has been done for them, would be as injudicious, as for a +Physician to prescribe for a patient, without being acquainted +with the nature or extent of his disease, and the means attempted +for his cure. To form a just opinion, on the case of the +Gypsies, it appears necessary to ascertain their general habits, +and their mode of life.</p> +<p>From Pasquier’s <i>Recherches de la France</i>, B. IV. +C. 9, is selected the following account of the Gypsies in that +country: “On August 17th, 1427, came to Paris, twelve +Penitents, <i>Penanciers</i>, as they called themselves, viz: a +Duke, an Earl, and ten men, all on horse-back, <!-- page 18--><a +name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>and calling +themselves good christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and +gave out, that not long before, the Christians had subdued their +country, and obliged them to embrace christianity, on pain of +being put to death. Those who were baptized, were great +Lords in their own country; and had a King and Queen there. +Some time after their conversion, the Saracens over-ran their +country, and obliged them to renounce christianity.</p> +<p>“When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and +other Christian Princes, heard of this; they fell upon them, and +obliged the whole of them, both great and small, to quit their +country, and go to the Pope at Rome; who enjoined them seven +years’ penance, to wander over the world, without lying in +a bed. They had been wandering five years when they came to +Paris; first the principal people, and soon after the commonalty, +about 100, or 120, reduced from 1000, or 1200, when they came +from home; the rest being dead, with their King and Queen. +They were lodged by the police, out of the city, at Chapel St. +Denis</p> +<p><!-- page 19--><a name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +19</span>“Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and one +or two silver rings in each, which they said were esteemed +ornaments in their country. The men were black, their hair +curled; the women remarkably black, all their faces scarred, +<i>deployez</i>, their hair black, their only clothes a large old +shaggy garment, <i>flossoye</i>, tied over the shoulders with a +cloth or cord, sash, <i>lien</i>, and under it a poor petticoat, +<i>roquet</i>. In short, they were the poorest miserable +creatures that had ever been seen in France; and notwithstanding +their poverty, there were among them women, who by looking into +people’s hands told their fortunes. And what was +worse, they picked people’s pockets of their money; and got +it into their own, through telling these things by art, magic, +&c.</p> +<p>“But though this was the common report, I spoke to them +several times, yet I never lost a farthing by them; or ever saw +them look into people’s hands. But the Bishop of +Paris, hearing of it, went to them with a Friar Preacher, named +<i>Le petit Jacobin</i>, who, by the Bishop’s order, +preached a sermon excommunicating <!-- page 20--><a +name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 20</span>all the men +and women who pretended to believe these things; and had believed +in them, and shown their hands; and it was agreed that they +should go away, and they departed for Pontoise, in September.</p> +<p>“This was copied from an old book in the form of a +journal, drawn up by a doctor of divinity in Paris, which fell +into the hands of Pasquier; who remarks upon it, that however the +story of a penance savours of a trick, these people wandered up +and down France, under the eye, and with the knowledge of the +magistrates, for 100, or 120 years. At length, in 1661, an +edict was issued, commanding all officers of justice, to turn out +of the kingdom, in the space of two months, under pain of the +gallies, and corporal punishment, all men, women and children, +who assumed the name of <i>Bohémiens</i>, or +Egyptians.”</p> +<p>Dufresne, in his Glossary V. Ægyptiaci, confirms +Pasquier’s character of them in these words: +“Ægyptiaci, Gallicé Egyptiens, +Bohémiens, vagi homines, harioli, et fatidici, qui hac et +illac errantes, ex manu inspectione futura <!-- page 21--><a +name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +21</span>prœsagire se fingunt; ut de marsupiis incautorum +nummos corrogent;” which may be thus translated, +“Egyptians called by the French Egyptiens, +Bohémiens, vagabonds, soothsayers and fortune-tellers, +who, wandering up and down, pretend to foretel future events from +the inspection of the hand, for the purpose of obtaining money +from persons not careful of their purses, &c.”</p> +<p>Grellmann speaks of Gypsies “being numerous in Lorraine +and Alsatia, before the French Revolution, but especially in the +forests of Lorraine. They increased in this district, in +consequence of their having been assiduously looked after in the +dominions of the late Duke Deux-Fonts, and driven from thence; +whither his successor would not suffer them to return. He +adds, that an order of the provincial council, held at Tarragona, +in 1591, subjected them to the magistrates, as people “quos +vix constat esse Christianos, nisi ex eorum relatione, cum tamen +sint mendaces, fures, deceptores, et aliis sceleribus multi eorum +assueti;” in English, “who are scarcely allowed to be +Christians, <!-- page 22--><a name="page22"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 22</span>except from their own account of +themselves, seeing they are liars, thieves, cheats, and many of +them accustomed to other kinds of wickedness.”</p> +<p>Twiss, in his Travels p. 179, gives the following account of +them in Spain: “They are very numerous about, and in, +Murcia, Cordova, Codis, and Ronda. The race of these +vagabonds is found in every part of Europe. The French call +them <i>Bohémiens</i>, the Italians <i>Zingari</i>, the +Germans <i>Ziegeuners</i>, the Dutch <i>Heydenen</i>, Pagans, the +Portuguese <i>Siganos</i>, and the Spaniards <i>Gitanos</i>, in +Latin, <i>Cingari</i>.</p> +<p>“Their language, which is peculiar to themselves, is +every where so similar, that they are undoubtedly all derived +from the same source. They began to appear in Europe in the +15th century, and are probably a mixture of Egyptians and +Ethiopians. The men are all thieves, and the women +libertines. They follow no certain trade, and have no fixed +religion. They do not enter into the order of society, +wherein they are only tolerated. It is supposed there are +upwards of forty thousand of <!-- page 23--><a +name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 23</span>them in +Spain; great numbers of them are innkeepers in the villages, and +small towns; and they are every where fortune-tellers.</p> +<p>“In Spain, they are not allowed to possess any lands, +nor even to serve as soldiers. They marry among themselves, +stroll in troops, about the country, and bury their dead under +water. Their ignorance prevents their employing themselves +in any thing, but in providing for the immediate wants of nature; +beyond which even their roguishness does not extend; and, only +endeavouring to save themselves the trouble of labour, they are +contented if they can procure food by showing feats of dexterity; +and only pilfer to supply themselves with the trifles they want; +so that they never render themselves liable to any severer +chastisement, than that of whipping, for having stolen chickens, +linen, &c. Most of the men have a smattering of physic +and surgery, and are skilful in tricks performed by slight of +hand.”</p> +<p>“The foregoing account is partly extracted from <i>Le +Voyageur François</i>, Vol. XVI.; but the assertion that +they are all so abandoned, <!-- page 24--><a +name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 24</span>as that +author says, is too general. I have lodged many times in +their houses, and never missed the most trifling things, though I +have left my knives, forks, candlesticks, spoons, and linen at +their mercy.”</p> +<p>Swinburne states, that “they swarm more in the province +of Granada, than in any other part of the realm. This +singular sect have kept themselves separate from the rest of +mankind ever since their first appearance which has been recorded +in history.</p> +<p>“Their origin remains a problem not to be satisfactorily +solved; and I doubt whether the Gitanos themselves, have any +secret tradition that might lead to a discovery of what they +really were in the beginning, or from what country they +came. The received opinion sets them down as Egyptians, and +makes them out to be the descendants of those vagabond votaries +of Isis, who appear to have exercised, in ancient Rome, pretty +much the same profession as that followed by the present Gypsies, +viz: fortune-telling, strolling up and down, and pilfering.</p> +<p><!-- page 25--><a name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +25</span>“Few of them employed themselves in works of +husbandry, or handicrafts; indeed the Spaniards would not work +with them. Except a small part of them who follow the +trades of blacksmiths, and vintners, most of them are makers of +iron rings, and other little trifles, rather to prevent their +being laid hold of as vagrants, than really as a means of +subsistence. Several of them travel about as carriers and +pedlars.</p> +<p>“Though they conform to the Roman Catholic mode of +worship, they are looked upon in the light of unbelievers; but I +never could meet with any body that pretended to say what their +private faith and religion may be. All the Gypsies I have +conversed with, assured me of their sound Catholicism; and I have +seen the medal of <i>Nuestra Senora del Carmel</i> sewed on the +sleeves of several of their women.</p> +<p>“They seldom venture on any crimes that may endanger +their lives; petty larceny is the utmost extent of their +roguishness.</p> +<p>“The men are tall, well built, and swarthy, with a bad +scowling eye, and a kind of favorite <!-- page 26--><a +name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>lock of hair +left to grow down before their ears, which rather increases the +gloominess of their features; their women are nimble and supple +jointed; when young they are generally handsome, with fine black +eyes. Their ears and necks are loaded with trinkets and +baubles, and most of them wear a large patch on each +temple.”</p> +<p>Of the Italian Gypsies, the same traveller in his journey +through Calabria, p. 304, gives the following account: “The +landlord of the inn at Mirti, earnestly recommended to the +servants to leave nothing out of doors, as there was an +encampment of Zingari, or Gypsies, who would lay their hands upon +any part of the baggage, that was not watched with the strictest +attention. His caution led me to an inquiry into the state +of this strange tribe of vagrants, of whom I had seen great +numbers in Spain. The result of this account, combined with +those I had received from others, is as follows:</p> +<p>“The Gypsies of Calabria do not contract alliances with +any other class of inhabitants; but marry among themselves.</p> +<p><!-- page 27--><a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +27</span>“It is not possible to say where they reside, as +they have no fixed habitations; and consequently possess neither +house nor land, but pitch their tents wherever they think proper +to make any stay. They support life by the profits of +handicrafts; but more by swapping asses and horses.</p> +<p>“They generally work in iron, and make trivets, knitting +needles, bodkins, and such trifles. Their dress is +extremely shabby; they shave their chins, but indulge a great +length of hair, which they seldom disturb with either comb or +scissars.</p> +<p>“As to their religion, it is a secret which they keep +locked up in their own breasts. They seem to have no great +veneration for the Virgin Mary, but are supposed to believe in +Christ. All the proof we have of their belief, depends upon +appearances, and an occasional conforming to the ceremonies of +the Roman Catholic religion, in marriages, burials, &c.; but +if the priests start any difficulties, they manage the matter +without their interference, and perform the functions according +to their own <!-- page 28--><a name="page28"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 28</span>ceremonies, which in many points +resemble those of the heathens.</p> +<p>“At their weddings they carry torches, and have +paranymphs to give the bride away, with many other unusual +rites.</p> +<p>“It is in reality, almost absurd to talk of the religion +of a set of people, whose moral characters are so depraved, as to +make it evident they believe in nothing capable of being a check +to their passions. They are usually accounted pilferers, +cheats, faithless, and abandoned to dissoluteness.</p> +<p>“They tell fortunes, and play juggling tricks, just as +they do in all other countries where they are to be found. +In 1560, they were banished the kingdom as thieves, cheats, and +spies for the Turks. In 1569 and 1685, the order was +resumed, but not being enforced, had little effect.</p> +<p>“A Gypsey being brought to trial for a larceny, +declared, that his law allowed him to take as much from others, +every day, as sufficed for his maintenance.</p> +<p><!-- page 29--><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +29</span>“These people make use of two languages, one +Calabrian, with a foreign accent and pronunciation; the other a +peculiar one of their own, which in sound, seems to have great +affinity to the Oriental tongues; and is spoken when they have +secrets to impart to each other. They sleep like dogs in a +kennel, men, women, and children huddled together.”</p> +<p>The learned Grellmann states, that “Gypsies were +universally to be found in Italy; insomuch, that even Sicily and +Sardinia were not free from them.</p> +<p>“But they were the most numerous in the dominions of the +church; probably because there was the worst police, with much +superstition. By the former they were left undisturbed; and +the latter enticed them to deceive the ignorant, as it afforded +them an opportunity of obtaining a plentiful contribution, by +their fortune-telling and enchanted amulets.</p> +<p>“There was a general law throughout Italy, that no +Gypsey should remain more than two nights, in any one +place. By this regulation, it is true, no place retained +its guest long; but <!-- page 30--><a name="page30"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 30</span>no sooner was one gone, than another +came in his room. It was a continual circle, and quite as +convenient to them, as a perfect toleration would have +been. Italy rather suffered, than benefited, by this law; +as, by keeping those people in constant motion, they would do +more mischief there, than in places where they were permitted to +remain stationary.”</p> +<p>It appears from the Dissertation of Grellmann, that he had +examined with great care and attention, the continental +authorities on the subject of Gypsies. He asserts, that +“In Poland and Lithuania, as well as in Courland, there is +an amazing number of Gypsies.</p> +<p>“That they are to be found in Denmark and Sweden, is +certain, but how numerous they are in those countries we cannot +pronounce, and therefore proceed to the south east of Europe.</p> +<p>“The countries in this part seem to be the general +rendezvous of the Gypsies; their number amounts in Hungary, +according to a probable statement, to upwards of 50,000.</p> +<p>“Cantemir says, the Gypsies are dispersed all over +Moldavia, where every Baron has several families of them subject +to him.</p> +<p><!-- page 31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +31</span>“In Wallachia and the Sclavonian mountains, they +are quite as numerous. Bessarabia, all Tartary, Bulgaria, +Greece, and Romania, swarm with them; even in Constantinople they +are innumerable. In Romania, a large tract of Mount +Hæmus, which they inhabit, has acquired from them the name +<i>Tschenghe Valkan</i>, the Gypsey mountain. This district +extends from the city Aydos, quite to Phillipopolis, and contains +more Gypsies than any other province in the Turkish +empire.”</p> +<p>Our countryman Edward Daniel Clark, in his travels in Russia, +Tartary, &c. so lately as the year 1800, states, “that +after the ceremony of the resurrection at Moscow, a party of +Gypsies were performing the national dance, called Barina; others +were telling fortunes, according to their universal practice, or +begging for presents of oranges or ice.</p> +<p>“This extraordinary people, found in all parts of +Europe, were originally one of the Castes of India, driven out of +their territory, and distinguished among Indian tribes, by a name +which signifies thieves. They have a similar <!-- page +32--><a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +32</span>appellation among the Fins, and with the same +signification.</p> +<p>“They preserve every where the same features, manners, +and customs, and what is more remarkable, almost always the same +mode of dress. The extraordinary resemblance of the female +Gypsies to the women of India, was remarked by the British +officers and men, in Egypt, when General Baird arrived with his +army to join Lord Hutchinson. The Sea-poys had many of +their women with them, who were exactly like our Gypsies.</p> +<p>“In their dress, they lavish all their finery upon their +heads. Their costume in Russia is very different to that of +the natives. The Russians hold them in great contempt; +never speaking of them without abuse; and feel themselves +contaminated by their touch, unless it be to have their fortunes +told. Formerly they were more scattered over Russia, and +paid no tribute; but now they are collected, and all belong to +one nobleman, to whom they pay a certain tribute, and work among +the number of his slaves.”</p> +<p><!-- page 33--><a name="page33"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +33</span>P. 209, he writes: “At Woronetz, the Gypsey tribe +are very prevalent, and a mixed race, resulting from their +intermarriage with the Russians.”</p> +<p>Dr. Clarke observes, Chap. 18, p. 440, 441 of his Travels, +between Kertchy and Caffa, in the Crimea: “In the villages +we found parties of Tzigankies or Gypsies, encamped as we see +them in England, but having their tents stationed between their +waggons, in which they move about the country.</p> +<p>“Poultry, cats, dogs, and horses, were feeding all round +them, seeming like members of the same family. The Gypsies +are much encouraged by the Tartars, who allow them to encamp in +the midst of their villages, where they exercise the several +functions of smiths, musicians, and astrologers. Many of +them are wealthy, possessing fine horses, and plenty of other +cattle; but their way of life, whether rich or poor, is always +the same. As we entered their tents they arose, and cast a +sheep’s hide over their bodies. The filth and stench +of these people were abominable.”</p> +<p><!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +34</span>In the second, part of his Travels, p. 644, he writes +respecting the Gypsies: “We found this people in Nauplia, +under the name they bear in Moldavia, of Tchinganes. How +they came thither no one knew; but the march of their ancestors, +from the North of India to Europe, so lately as the beginning of +the 15th century, will account for their not being found further +towards the South; and this is now so well ascertained, that no +one would expect to meet a Gypsey, upon any of the southern +shores of the Mediterranean.</p> +<p>“To have found them in the Peloponnesus is rather +remarkable, considering that their whole tribe at first did not +exceed half a million.”</p> +<p>In the travels, written by Bell, of Antermony, Vol. 2, p. 157, +he states: “During my stay at Tobolski, I was informed that +a large troop of Gypsies had been lately at that place, to the +number of sixty or upwards. The Russians call these +vagabonds, <i>Tziggany</i>. Their sorry baggage was carried +upon horses and asses. The Vice-Governor sent for the <!-- +page 35--><a name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +35</span>chief of this gang, and demanded whither they were +going. They answered to China. He stopped their +progress and sent them back.”</p> +<p>“Bishop Pococke met with these people, still further to +the Eastward. He says, the Chingani, who are spread all +over the world, are in great abundance in the North of Syria, and +pass for Mahometans. They live under tents, and sometimes +in grots under ground.</p> +<p>“They make a coarse sort of tapestry, or carpet work, +for hangings of saddles and other uses; and when they are not far +from towns, deal much in cattle, and have a much better character +than their relations in Hungary, and the Gypsies in England; who +are thought by some to have been originally of the same +tribe.</p> +<p>“These and the Turcomen, with regard to offence, are +under the Pasha and Cadi; though they have a sheik to every +encampment, and several great ones over them: but with regard to +taxes, they are immediately under the Grand Seignior; whose +tribute is collected yearly, by an officer over each of these +people; one being called the Turcoman-Agasi, an officer of great +<!-- page 36--><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +36</span>credit, and the other the Chingani-Agasi, who go round +the Turkish dominions to collect the taxes from these +people.” Travels, Vol. 2, Part 1, p. 207, 208.</p> +<p>Grellmann says: “Independently of the number of Gypsies +in Egypt, and some parts of Asia, could we obtain an exact +estimate of them in the countries of Europe, the immense number +would probably greatly exceed what we have any idea of. At +a moderate calculation, without being extravagant, they might be +reckoned at between seven and eight hundred thousand.</p> +<p>“What a serious matter of consideration, when we reflect +that the greatest part of these people, are idlers, cheats, and +thieves!</p> +<p>“What a field does this open for the contemplation of +Governments!”</p> +<h2><!-- page 37--><a name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +37</span>SECTION III.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">The Habits, Occupations, and Polity of +Continental Gypsies.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>The first of them that came to Europe, appeared ragged and +miserable, unless we allow their leaders to have been an +exception. In like manner their descendants have continued +for hundreds of years, and still remain. This is +particularly remarkable in the countries about the mouth of the +Danube, which abound with Gypsies; namely Transylvania, Hungary, +and Turkey, in Europe; where they dress even more negligently +than in other parts.</p> +<p>It is a fact that these people enjoy a good state of health +more uninterruptedly, and perfectly, than persons of the most +regular habits, and who pay the greatest attention to +themselves. Neither wet nor dry weather, heat nor cold, let +the extremes follow each other ever <!-- page 38--><a +name="page38"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 38</span>so quickly, +seem to have any effect upon them. Any prevailing sickness, +or epidemical disorder, sooner penetrates into ten habitations of +civilized people, than finds its way into a Gypsey’s +tent.</p> +<p>Though they are fond of a great degree of heat, and to lie so +near the fire, as to be in danger of burning, yet they can bear +to travel in the severest cold, bareheaded, with no other +covering than some old rags carelessly thrown over them.</p> +<p>The causes of these bodily qualities, or at least some of +them, evidently arise from their education, and hardy manner of +life.</p> +<p>The pitiless mother takes her three months old child on her +back, and wanders about, in fair and foul weather, in heat or +cold; there it sits winter and summer, in a linen rug, with its +head over her shoulder. Gypsey women never use a cradle, +nor even possess such a piece of furniture. The child +sleeps in their arms, or on the ground. When a boy attains +three years of age, his lot becomes still harder. Whilst an +infant, and his age reckoned by <!-- page 39--><a +name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 39</span>weeks and +months, he was wrapt in rags, but now deprived of these, he is +equally with his parents, exposed to the rigour of the elements, +for want of covering; he is now put to trial how far his legs +will carry him; and must be content to travel about with, at +most, no other defence for his feet than thin socks.</p> +<p>Thus he acquires a robust constitution by hardships and +misery; but though the children of Gypsies do not partake of what +the refinements of art and of tenderness would account +advantages, writers are unanimous in stating, they are +good-looking, well-shaped, lively, clever, and have fine +eyes. The Gypsies, in common with uncivilized people, +entertain unbounded love for their children. This is a +source of inexcusable neglect: Gypsey children never feel the +rod, they fly into the most violent passions, and at the same +time hear nothing from their parents but flattering and +coaxing. In return they act with ingratitude, as is +commonly the consequence of such education.</p> +<p>Gypsies would long ago have been divested of their swarthy +complexions, had they discontinued <!-- page 40--><a +name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>their filthy +mode of living. The Laplanders, Samoieds, as well as the +Siberians, likewise, have brown, yellow-coloured skins, in +consequence of living from their childhood, in smoke and dirt, in +the same manner as the Gypsies.</p> +<p>Experience shows that their dark colour, which is continued +from generation to generation, is more the effect of education, +and manner of life, than of descent. Among those who serve +in the Imperial army, where they have learned to pay attention to +order and cleanliness, there are many to be found, whose +extraction is not at all discernible in their colour; though they +had, probably, remained to the age of twelve or fourteen years +under the care of their filthy parents.</p> +<p>A Gypsey considers a covering for the head as useless, and if +he does not obtain socks, which the female Gypsies in Moldavia +and Wallachia knit with wooden needles for the feet, he winds +rags about them, which are laid aside in summer. He is not +better furnished with linen, as the women neither spin, sew, <!-- +page 41--><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +41</span>nor wash. But this inattention is not from +indifference about dress; on the contrary, they are particularly +fond of clothes, which have been worn by people of +distinction. The following, which appeared in the Imperial +Gazette, is very much to the purpose: “Notwithstanding +these people are so wretched, that they have nothing but rags to +cover them, which do not at all fit, and are scarcely sufficient +to hide their nakedness; yet they betray their foolish taste, and +vain ostentation, whenever they have in opportunity.” +The women are as fond of dress as the men, and equally expose +themselves to the ridicule of the considerate and reflecting part +of mankind.</p> +<p>They are remarkable not only in hanging their ragged clothes +about them instead of garments, according to the Eastern custom; +but their whole arrangement is singular. Several of their +leaders have horses, asses, or mules with them, on which they +load their tents and effects, with their whole family also. +They have likewise dogs in their train, with which Krantz asserts +they are used illegally, to destroy <!-- page 42--><a +name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 42</span>game; but +probably the dogs are not kept so much for that purpose, as to +take fowls and geese.</p> +<p>One strange peculiarity in the ideas of Gypsies we have +hitherto forborn to mention, but, disgusting as the task of +recording it way be, it is so well authenticated, as to have +excited the notice of the Hungarian Legislature; and as it will +be found to have some reference to the origin of this singular +race of human beings, it must not be withheld from public +view. The greatest luxury to them is, when they can procure +a roast of cattle that have died of any distemper: to eat their +fill of such a meal, is to them the height of epicurism. +When any person censures their taste, or shows surprise at it, +they say: “The flesh of a beast which God kills, must be +better than that of one killed by the hand of man.” +They therefore embrace every opportunity of obtaining such +dainties.</p> +<p>They are particularly fond of animals that have died by fire; +therefore, whenever a conflagration has happened, the next day, +the <!-- page 43--><a name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +43</span>Gypsies from every neighbouring quarter assemble, and +draw the suffocated, half-consumed beasts out of the ashes; men, +women, and children, in troops, joyfully carrying the flesh home +to their dwellings.</p> +<p>The Gypsies in Hungary, who have settled habitations, are very +partial to gold and silver plate, particularly silver cups, which +is a disposition they have in common with the wandering +tribes. They let slip no opportunity of acquiring something +of this kind; and will even starve themselves to procure +it. Though they seem little anxious to heap up riches for +their children, yet these frequently inherit a treasure of this +sort; and are obliged in their turn to preserve it as a sacred +inheritance. This inclination to deprive themselves of +necessaries that they may possess a superfluity, as well as many +others of their customs, is curious, yet appears to be ancient; +and it was probably inherent in them when they were first seen by +Europeans.</p> +<p>Historians assert, that of all the different people who have +migrated into foreign countries, <!-- page 44--><a +name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 44</span>a single +instance is not to be found, which accords with that of the +Gypsies. The religious rites and observances of the Jews +were calculated to prevent their imbibing the customs and habits +of other nations. But it is universally admitted, that +Gypsies did not bring any particular religion with them from +their native country, by which they could be distinguished among +other people; being as inconstant and unsettled respecting +religion, as they are to place of residence.</p> +<p>Indeed it is asserted, that no Gypsey has any idea of +submission to any fixed profession of faith; that patents +suffering their children to grow up as themselves, without +education or instruction, they acquire little knowledge either of +morality or justice; that few of them wilt attend to any +discourse on religion, but they hear it with indifference, if not +with impatience and repugnance. Despising all remonstrance; +they endeavour to live without the least solicitude concerning a +future state of being.</p> +<p>The Turks are so fully convinced of the little religious +sincerity possessed by Gypsies, <!-- page 45--><a +name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 45</span>that although +a Jew, by becoming a Mahometan, is freed from the payment of the +<i>Charadsch</i>, the Gypsies are not; at least in the +neighbourhood of Constantinople, they are compelled to pay the +poll-tax, even though their ancestors for centuries had been +Mahometans, or though they should actually have been a pilgrimage +to Mecca. The privilege of wearing a white turban, is the +only advantage their conversion gives them, over unbelieving Jews +and Gypsies.</p> +<p>Among warlike nations, many instances have occurred, in which +the people subdued, being more enlightened than their conquerors, +the latter have adopted the manners of the former. After +the conquest of Greece, the Romans assumed the manners of the +Greeks; and the Turks in like manner assumed those of the +Gauls. The Mancheans vanquished the Chinese, but Chinese +customs prevailed over those of the Mancheans.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Grellmann</i>.</p> +<p>Our countryman Dr. Clarke, page 4, of part the second of his +Travels in Greece, says: “There is every reason to believe +that the <!-- page 46--><a name="page46"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 46</span>Turks themselves, at the conquest of +Constantinople, adopted many of the customs, and embraced many of +the refinements of a people they had subdued.</p> +<p>“Their former habits had been those of nomad tribes, +their dwellings were principally tents, and the camp, rather than +the city, distinguished their abode.”</p> +<p>But Grellmann observes, Gypsies who have not established +themselves by force in any country, nor obtained toleration from +any Government, remain unchanged. Though they behold fixed +dwellings on every side of them, with settled inhabitants, they +nevertheless, proceed in their own way, and continue, for the +most part, unsocial, houseless wanderers.</p> +<p>To their excessive indolence and aversion to industry, may be +attributed the poverty and want which are generally their +lots. They dislike every kind of employment which requires +application; and had rather suffer hunger and nakedness, than +provide against these privations, on the conditions of +labour. They therefore practise music and palmistry, which +<!-- page 47--><a name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +47</span>allows them many idle hours; or addict themselves to +vicious habits and unlawful courses. Though no one of them +marries a person who is not of Gypsey extraction, there is not +any people among whom marriage is contracted with less +consideration, or accomplished with less solemnity.</p> +<p>Some Gypsies, who are stationary, have regular habitations, +according to their situation in life. To this class belong +those who keep public-houses in Spain; and others in Transylvania +and Hungary, who follow some regular business; which latter have +their own miserable huts near Hermanstadt, Cronstadt, Beatritz, +Grosswaradein, Debrezin, Eperies, Karchan, and other +places. But by far the greater number of these people, lead +a very different kind of life; ignorant of the comforts attending +a fixed place of residence, they rove from one district to +another in hordes; having no habitation, but tents, holes in the +rocks, or caves: the former shade them in summer, the latter +screen them in winter.</p> +<p><!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +48</span>Many of these people, particularly in Germany and Spain, +do not even carry tents with them, but shelter themselves from +the heat of the sun, in forests shaded by the rocks, or behind +hedges. They are very partial to willows, under which they +erect their sleeping places at the close of the evening. +Some live in their tents, in their language called +<i>Tschater</i>, during both summer and winter; which latter +indeed the Gypsies generally prefer.</p> +<p>In Hungary, those who have discontinued their rambling way of +life, and built houses for themselves, seldom let a spring pass +without taking advantage of the first settled weather, to set up +a tent for their summer residence. Under this, each enjoys +himself with his family, nor thinks of his house till winter +returns, and the frost and snow drive him back to it.</p> +<p>The wandering Gypsey in Hungary and Transylvania, endeavours +to procure a horse; in Turkey, an ass serves to carry his wife +and a couple of children, with his tent. When he arrives at +a place he likes, near a village, or a city, he unpacks, pitches +his tent, ties his <!-- page 49--><a name="page49"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 49</span>animal to a stake to graze, and +remains some weeks there: or if he do not find his station +convenient, he breaks up in a day or two, loads his beast, and +looks out for a more agreeable situation. His furniture +seldom consists of more than an earthen pot, an iron pan, a +spoon, a jug and a knife; with sometimes the addition of a +dish. These serve for the whole family.</p> +<p>Working in iron is the most usual occupation of the +Gypsies. In Hungary, this profession is so common, that +there is a proverb: “So many Gypsies so many +smiths.”</p> +<p>The same may be said of those in Transylvania, Wallachia, +Moldavia, and all Turkey in Europe; at least such workers in fire +are very numerous in all those countries. But the Gypsies +of our time, are not willing to work heavy works; they seldom go +beyond a pair of light horse shoes. In general, they +confine themselves to small articles, such as rings and nails; +they mend old pots and kettles; make knives, seals, and needles; +and sometimes they work in tin and brass. Their materials, +tools, and apparatus, are of a very inferior <!-- page 50--><a +name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>kind. +The anvil is a stone; the other implements are a pair of hand +bellows, a hammer, a pair of pincers, a vice, and a file. +These ape the tools which a Nomadic Gypsey takes with him in his +perambulations.</p> +<p>Whenever he is disposed to work, he is at no loss for fuel: on +his arrival at a station where he proposes to remain a few days, +he takes his beast, loads him with wood, builds a small kiln, and +prepares his own coal. In favourable weather, his work is +carried on in the open air; when it is stormy, he retires under +his tent. He does not stand, but sits down on the ground +cross-legged to his work; which position is rendered necessary, +not only by custom, but by the quality of his tools. The +wife sits by to work the bellows, in which operation she is +assisted by the elder children. The Gypsies are generally +praised for their dexterity and quickness, notwithstanding the +bad tools they have to work with.</p> +<p>Another branch of commerce much followed by Gypsies, is +horse-dealing, to which they have been attached from the earliest +period of their <!-- page 51--><a name="page51"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 51</span>history. In those parts of +Hungary, where the climate is so mild, that horses may lie out +all the year, the Gypsies avail themselves of this circumstance +to breed, as well as to deal in horses; by which they sometimes +not only procure a competency, but grew rich. Instances +have been known on the Continent, of gypsies keeping from fifty +to seventy horses each; and those the best bred horses of the +country; some of which they let out for hire, others they +exchange or sell. But this description of Gypsey +horse-dealers is not numerous; the greater number of them deal in +inferior kinds.</p> +<p>In addition to the two professions before-mentioned, commonly +followed by the men, some of them employ themselves as carpenters +and turners; the former making watering troughs and chests; the +latter turn, trenchers and dishes; make sieves, spoons, and other +trifling articles, which they hawk about. Many of them, as +well as the smiths, find constant employment in the houses of the +better sort of people; for whom they work the year round. +<!-- page 52--><a name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +52</span>They are not paid in money, but beside other advantages +find a certain subsistence.</p> +<p>Those who are not thus circumstanced, do not wait at home for +customers, but with their implements in a sack thrown over their +shoulders, seek business in the cities and villages. When +any one calls, they throw down the bundle, and prepare the +apparatus for work, before the door of their employer.</p> +<p>The Gypsies have a fixed dislike to agriculture; and had +rather suffer hunger, or any privation, than follow the +plough. Since the year 1768, the Empress Theresa has +commanded that the Hungarian, and Transylvanian Gypsies should be +instructed in husbandry; but these orders have been very little +regarded. At this time there are so few of them farmers in +those parts, that they are undeserving of notice. In Spain +and other European countries, it would be difficult to find one +who had ever made a furrow in his life.</p> +<p>Respecting fortune-telling, with which the female Gypsies +impose on people’s credulity in every district and corner +of Europe, the origin, <!-- page 53--><a name="page53"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 53</span>of the imposition is not to be +attributed to them: the cheat was known and practised in Europe +before their arrival; being deeply rooted in the ignorance of the +middle age. The science of divination here was said to be +already brought to a greater degree of perfection than among +them. Rules were invented to tell lies from the inspection +of the hand, in which the poor Gypsies were accounted mere +bunglers. They in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries +were esteemed supernumeraries; there being men of great learning, +who not only read lectures in Colleges on the art of chiromancy; +but wrote many books, vilifying these people, and endeavouring to +spoil their market. But these wise men are no more; their +knowledge is deposited in the dead archives of literature; and +probably had there been no Gypsies, with them would have died the +belief in chiromancy, as is the case with respect to astrology, +necromancy, oneirocritica, and the other offspring of imbecile +fancy.</p> +<p>We must not omit to mention the occupation of gold-washing, by +which thousands of Gypsies, <!-- page 54--><a +name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 54</span>of both +sexes, in the Banat, Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, +procure a livelihood in summer; who, in winter, make trays and +troughs, which they sell in an honest way.</p> +<p>It is not permitted for every one, without exception, to be a +gold-washer; such only can follow the employment as have +permission from the office of Mons, where a College was +established by the Empress Theresa, in 1748. In the seventh +article of instructions granted, the Gypsies were allowed the +privilege of washing for gold, for which each person pays a +tribute to Government.</p> +<p>The gold-washers in Transylvania and the Banat, pay four +guilders annually in gold dust. The tribute collected in +Wallachia and Moldavia does not go into the public treasury, but +belongs to the Princesses for pin-money.</p> +<p>The consort of the Wallachian Hospodar, Stephen Rakowitza, in +the year 1764, received from her Rudars, being two hundred and +forty in number, twelve hundred and fifty-four drachms. The +gold-washers in the Banat and Transylvania, dispose of their +shares at the <!-- page 55--><a name="page55"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 55</span>Royal Redemption-Office, in +Zalatuya. The earnings of these people vary with time, and +at different places; during heavy rains and floods they are +usually most successful. The Transylvanian rivers yield the +most gold. It is said, all the rivers and brooks which the +rain forms, produce gold; of these the river Aranyasch is the +richest; insomuch, that Historians have compared it to the Tagus +and Pactolus.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Grellmann</i>.</p> +<p>In Travels through the Banat of Temeswar, Transylvania, and +Hungary, in the year 1770, described in a series of letters to +Professor Ferber, on the mines and mountains of these different +countries, by Baron Inigo Born, Counsellor of the Royal Mines, in +Bohemia, page 76, is the following account:</p> +<p>“Observations on the Gold-washings, in the Banat, by +Counsellor Koezian. Translated by R. E. Ruspe.</p> +<p>“After the several natural advantages of the <i>Temeswar +Banat</i>, some of its rivers are known to yield gold dust; I +could not neglect the object when I travelled in these parts.</p> +<p><!-- page 56--><a name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +56</span>“The gold-washing in the Banat, is properly the +business of the Gypsies, <i>Zigeuner</i>, and left, as it were, +to this poor people, as an exclusive trade. This laid me +under the necessity of applying to them for instruction.</p> +<p>“The river Nera, in Almash, carries gold dust; and +seemed to me the fittest for my purpose; accordingly I caused +some Gypsies, reputed to be skilful, to make a washing, near a +village called Boshowitz; and I saw with pleasure, that with much +dexterity, and in a few minutes time, they cleared in the trough, +the value of some groshes of gold: they showed me likewise among +their gold dust, some pieces of remarkable bigness.”</p> +<p>It has been stated, that when Gypsies first arrived in Europe, +they had leaders and chiefs to conduct their various tribes in +their migrations.</p> +<p>Grellmann says, this was necessary, not only to facilitate +their progress through different countries and quarters of the +globe; but to unite their force, if necessary, and thereby enable +them to make a more formidable resistance <!-- page 57--><a +name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 57</span>when opposed; +and likewise, to carry any plan they might have formed, more +regularly into effect.</p> +<p>We accordingly find in old books, mention made of Knights, +Counts, Dukes, and Kings, among this people. Crucius cites +a Duke, <i>Michael</i>; Muratorio, a Duke, <i>Andreas</i>: and +Arentinus records a King, <i>Zindelo</i>: not to speak of +inscriptions on monuments erected in different places to the +memories of Duke, <i>Panuel</i>; Count, <i>Johannis</i>; and a +Knight, <i>Petrus</i>, in the fifteenth century.</p> +<p>But no comment is necessary to show how improperly these +appellations were applied. Though the Gypsey chiefs might +be gratified with such titles; and their descendants probably +esteemed them persons of rank, it was merely a ridiculous +imitation of what they had seen, and perhaps admired, among +civilized people. Nevertheless, the custom of having +leaders and chiefs over them, prevails to this time, at least in +Hungary and Transylvania; probably it may also still exist in +Turkey, and <!-- page 58--><a name="page58"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 58</span>other countries, where these people +live together in great numbers.</p> +<p>Their chiefs, or waywodes, were formerly of two degrees in +Hungary. Each petty tribe had its own leader, beside which, +there were four superior waywodes, of their own caste, on both +sides the Danube and Teisse; whose residences were at Raab, +Lewentz, Szathmar, and Kaschan; and to these the smaller waywodes +were accountable. But now, only one superior waywode is +appointed in all Transylvania, who has authority over the +gold-washers in those parts. The Gypsies, however, still +continue the custom among themselves, of choosing certain +persons, whom they make heads over them, and call by the exalted +Sclavonian title of waywode.</p> +<p>It would appear extraordinary, that any well-regulated state +should allow these people a distinct establishment in the heart +of the country; did not the Hungarian writers assign as a reason, +that in the commotions and troubles occasioned by the Turkish +wars, in former centuries, they were, by means of their waywode, +more <!-- page 59--><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +59</span>easily summoned when occasion required, and rendered +useful to the community.</p> +<p>In Transylvania, the magistrates do interfere with regard to +the person whom this or that horde hath elected chief, and impose +an obligation on him; but it is only that he should be careful to +prevent his subjects from absconding, when the time arrives for +them to discharge their annual tribute at the Land Regent’s +chamber. He has no right to interfere in disputes or +quarrels which the Gypsies have among themselves, or with other +people, further than to give notice of them to the regular courts +of the district, where they happen to be.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">Grellmann.</p> +<h2><!-- page 61--><a name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +61</span>SECTION IV.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Political Regulations on the Continent, +respecting Gypsies.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>To the ignorance and superstition of the middle age, must be +attributed the powerful ascendency which the Gypsies obtained +over the minds of men. In addition to the chiromantic +deception, practised by the women, they followed also the +profession of exorcism; and were greatly in request during the +prevalence of a belief in witchcraft.</p> +<p>They were employed to cure bewitched cattle, and to loosen the +spells of enchantment; for which they had nostrums of various +kinds, consisting of roots and amulets, made of unfermented +dough, marked with strong figures, and dried in the sun.</p> +<p><!-- page 62--><a name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +62</span>For a long time little attention was paid to them, but +at last the evil became enormous, and complaints against them +were so loud, that Governments were constrained to take official +notice of them. Exemplary punishments were judged +necessary; and, at length, the most cruel and barbarous kinds +were resorted to. What a blot upon the history of those +times, are the dreadful tortures of quartering alive, and +breaking upon the wheel! These means being insufficient to +prevent the perpetration of crimes; it was thought expedient to +banish the Gypsies.</p> +<p>German waiters say, that King Ferdinand of Spain, who esteemed +it a good work to expatriate useful and profitable +subjects—Jews, and even Moorish families—could much +less be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on the +mischievous progeny of Gypsies. The edict for their +extermination, was published in the year 1492. But instead +of passing the boundaries, they only slunk into hiding-places, +and shortly after appeared in as great numbers as before.</p> +<p><!-- page 63--><a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +63</span>The Emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did +Philip II. also. Since that time they have nestled in +again, and have been also threatened with another storm, but it +has blown over without taking effect.</p> +<p>In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and +at the Assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all Governors +of cities received orders to drive them away with fire and +sword. Nevertheless, in process of time, they had collected +again, and increased to such a degree, that, in 1612, a new order +came out for their extermination.</p> +<p>In the year 1572, they were compelled to retire from the +territories of Milan and Parma; and at a period somewhat earlier, +they were chased beyond the Venetian jurisdiction. They +were not allowed the privilege of remaining unmolested in +Denmark, as the code of Danish law specifies: “The Tartars, +<i>Gypsies</i>, who wander about every where, doing great damage +to the people, by their lies, thefts, and witchcraft, shall be +taken into custody by every magistrate.”</p> +<p><!-- page 64--><a name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +64</span>Sweden was not more favourable, having attacked them at +three different times: A very sharp order for their expulsion +came out in 1662. The Diet of 1723 published a second, and +that of 1727, repeated the foregoing with additional +severity.</p> +<p>They were excluded from the Netherlands under pain of death, +partly by Charles the Vth, and afterwards by the United States, +in 1582. But the greatest number of sentences of exile, +have been pronounced against them in Germany. The beginning +was made under Maximilian I, at the Augsburgh Diet, in 1500, +where the following was drawn up, respecting those people who +call themselves Gypsies, roving up and down the country.</p> +<p>“By public edict, to all ranks of the empire, according +to the obligations under which they are bound to Us, and the Holy +Empire; it is strictly ordered, that in future they do not permit +the said Gypsies, since there is authentic evidence of their +being spies, scouts, and conveyers of intelligence, betraying the +christians to the Turks, to pass or remain within their <!-- page +65--><a name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +65</span>territories; nor to trade; neither to grant them +protection, nor convoy. And that the said Gypsies do +withdraw themselves, before Easter next ensuing, from the German +dominions; entirely quit them, nor suffer themselves to be found +therein: as in case they should transgress after that time, and +receive injury from any person, they shall have no redress, nor +shall such person be thought to have committed any +crime.”</p> +<p>The same business occupied the attention of the Diet, in 1530, +1544, 1548, and 1551; and was also again enforced in the improved +police regulation of Frankfort, in 1577.</p> +<p>Several Princes were however so little attentive to these +orders of the empire, that instead of endeavouring to drive out +the Gypsies, they on the other hand, furnished them with +passports and safe-conducts; but by far the greater number +exerted themselves to the utmost, to clear their states of +them.</p> +<p>Perhaps there is not any civilized state, Hungary and +Transylvania excepted, where this remedy has not been tried; but +in the first <!-- page 66--><a name="page66"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 66</span>place it had very little effect, and +that little was only temporary. Even if every civilized +nation had driven out the Gypsies at the same time, Europe could +not have been entirely cleared of them, so long as they preserved +an asylum in Turkey. Now as experience evinces there is no +country in which a constant, equal attention, is paid to the +execution of the laws, they would, in more, or less time, have +again insinuated themselves into the neighbouring countries; from +these into others; and have recommenced where they left off.</p> +<p>But a general extermination never did take place. The +law for banishing them passed in one state before it was thought +of in the next, or when a like order had long become obsolete, +and sunk into oblivion. These guests were therefore merely +compelled to shift their quarters to an adjoining state, where +they remained till the Government, there, began to clear them +away, upon which the fugitives either retired back whence they +came, or went on progressively to a third place, thus making a +continual revolution.</p> +<p><!-- page 67--><a name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +67</span>Secondly, this remedy was premature: endeavouring to +exterminate, was the same as if a surgeon should proceed directly +to the amputation of a diseased limb, because it created +inconvenience to the rest of the body. Whereas the first +inquiry ought to be, whether the disorder is of such a nature as +not to be removed, but by entire separation. This is a +desperate course, and should only be adopted, when no other can +be efficacious.</p> +<p>It is to be regretted that, not until the reign of the Empress +Theresa, does there appear to have been any plan laid down for +the gaining over these poor ignorant people to virtue, and to the +state. Historians represent that the wise dispositions she +enjoined respecting the Gypsies in Hungary, were intrusted to +people inadequate to the task.</p> +<p>What was done, in her time, for the improvement of their +condition, may be seen by the following article extracted from +the <i>Anzeigen aus den Kayserl</i>, <i>Königl +Erbländern</i>, or Intelligence from the Hereditary Imperial +Royal Dominions.</p> +<p><!-- page 68--><a name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +68</span>“Since the year 1768, several decrees regarding +these people have been published in the country, <i>Hungary</i>, +and the strictest orders despatched to the several districts, in +consequence. They were prohibited from dwelling in huts, or +tents; from wandering up and down the country; from dealing in +horses; from eating animals which died naturally, and carrion; +and from electing their own Wayda or Judge. It was intended +to extirpate the very name and language of these folks out of the +country. They were no longer to be called Gypsies, but New +Boors, <i>Uj Magyar</i>; not to converse any longer with each +other in their own language, but in that of any of the countries +in which they had chosen to reside.</p> +<p>“Some months were to be allowed, after which they were +to quit their Gypsey manner of life, and settle like the other +inhabitants, in cities and villages; to build decent houses and +follow some reputable business. They were to procure +Boors’ clothing; to commit themselves to the protection of +some territorial superior, and live regularly.”</p> +<p><!-- page 69--><a name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +69</span>Nevertheless, though these regulations were calculated +for the good of these people, and the state, the greater part +were not in the smallest degree benefited by them. In the +year 1773, these orders were not only repeated, but made more +rigid; and as even this measure would not answer the end, it was +then thought necessary to proceed to extremity with them.</p> +<p>Wherefore it was ordered, that no Gypsey should have +permission to marry, who could not prove himself in condition to +support a wife and children; that from such Gypsies who had +families, the children should be taken away by force; removed +from their parents, relations, and intercourse with the Gypsey +race. A beginning was made in some places; and where they +would not comply voluntarily, they were compelled to submit to +the decree.</p> +<p>At Fahlendorf, in Schütt, and in the district of +Presburgh, all the children of the New Boors, <i>Gypsies</i>, +above five years old, were carried away in waggons, during the +night of the 21st of December, 1773, by overseers appointed for +that purpose; to order that, at a <!-- page 70--><a +name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 70</span>distance from +their parents, or relations, they might be more usefully +educated, and become accustomed to work. Those Boors who +were willing to receive and bring up these children, were paid +eighteen guilders yearly from Government.</p> +<p>On the 24th of April, 1774, between five and six o’clock +in the morning, the children of the Gypsies which had been +growing up from December of the foregoing year, were again +removed from Fahlendorf, in Schütt, and Hideghid, for the +purpose of being put under the same course of discipline as the +others. Among the children taken away on this occasion, was +a girl fourteen years old, who was forced to be carried off in +her bridal state. She tore her hair for grief and rage, and +was quite beside herself with agitation: but she recovered a +composed state of mind; and, in 1776, in Fasching, obtained +permission to accomplish her marriage.</p> +<p>So far our intelligence is quoted from the Gazettes, by which +we may see how prudently every thing was concerted.</p> +<p><!-- page 71--><a name="page71"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +71</span>But it must be observed, although the publisher of this +information endeavours to conceal it, how little these salutary +regulations were put in force; there were scarcely two places in +the kingdom where even an endeavour was made to give them proper +effect. This supineness must have been unknown to the +Emperor Joseph, or he would certainly again have enforced these +regulations, to all chiefs and governors, at the same time that +he gave orders for their being observed in Transylvania.</p> +<p>The tenor of the decree just mentioned, which was published in +the year 1782, was consonant with the intention of Theresa, with +regard to the Hungarian Gypsies; namely, that those also in +Transylvania should become better men, and more useful +inhabitants. For the accomplishment of this end, it +prohibits their wandering about, and living under tents; requires +that they become settled, and put themselves under some +territorial chief. In order to strike immediately at the +root of the evil, necessary and minute directions are given for +the improvement of their religious ideas and <!-- page 72--><a +name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 72</span>opinions; +and, by correcting their vicious habits, for rendering them good +citizens.</p> +<p>First, with respect to religion, they must</p> +<p>1. Not only be taught the principles of religion +themselves, but early send their children to school.</p> +<p>2. Prevent as much as possible, their children running +about naked in the roads and streets, thereby giving offence and +disgust to other people.</p> +<p>3. In their dwellings, not permit their children to +sleep promiscuously by each other, without distinction of +sex.</p> +<p>4. Diligently attend at church, particularly on Sundays +and holidays, to give proof of their Christian disposition.</p> +<p>5. Put themselves under the guidance of spiritual +teachers, and conduct themselves conformably to the rules laid +down by them.</p> +<p>Secondly, with regard to their temporal conduct, and better +mode of living, they are bound</p> +<p>1. To conform to the custom of the country, in diet, +dress, and language: consequently to abstain from feeding on +cattle which have died <!-- page 73--><a name="page73"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 73</span>of distempers; not to go about in +such unseemly dresses; and to discontinue the use of their own +particular language.</p> +<p>2. Not to appear any more in large cloaks; which are +chiefly useful to hide things that have been stolen.</p> +<p>3. No Gypsey, except he be a gold-washer, shall keep a +horse.</p> +<p>4. Also the gold-washers must refrain from all kinds of +bartering at the annual fairs.</p> +<p>5. The magistrates of every place must be very attentive +that no Gypsey waste his time in idleness; but at those seasons, +when they have no employment, either for themselves or any +landholder, to recommend them to some other person, with whom +they shall be compelled to work for hire.</p> +<p>6. They are to be kept particularly to agriculture; +therefore</p> +<p>7. It is to be observed, where possible, that every +territorial Lord, who takes any Gypsies under his jurisdiction, +do allot them a certain piece of ground to cultivate.</p> +<p><!-- page 74--><a name="page74"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +74</span>8. Whoever is remiss in his husbandry, shall be +liable to corporal punishment.</p> +<p>9. They shall be permitted to amuse themselves with +music, or other things, only when there is no field work for them +to do.</p> +<p>Such were the regulations adopted by the Emperor Joseph II. +for the purpose of civilizing, and rendering good and profitable +subjects, upwards of eighty thousand of miserable wretches, +ignorant of God and of virtue.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Grellmann</i>.</p> +<h2><!-- page 75--><a name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +75</span>SECTION V.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">The Gypsies in Great Britain.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>The traits of character and the habits of the Gypsies on the +Continent of Europe, exhibited in this work, are sufficient for +an examination, in what degree these people correspond with those +under the same denomination in England.</p> +<p>The earliest account which the writer of this section has been +able to collect from British History, was printed in the year +1612; when a quarto work, by S. R. was published, to detect and +expose the art of juggling and legerdemain; in which is the +following description of the Gypsies.</p> +<p>“This kind of people, about a hundred years ago, beganne +to gather an head, as the first heere, about the southerne +parts. And this as I am informed, and can gather, was <!-- +page 76--><a name="page76"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +76</span>their beginning: Certain Egyptians banished their +country, (belike not for their good conditions,) arrived heere in +England, who for quaint tricks and devices, not known heere, at +that time, among us, were esteemed, and had in great admiration; +insomuch, that many of our English <i>Loyterers</i> joined with +them, and in time learned their craftie cosening.</p> +<p>“The speach which they used, was the right Egyptian +language, with whom our Englishmen conversing, at least learned +their language. These people continuing about the country, +and practising their cosening art, purchased themselves great +credit among the country people, and got much by palmistry, and +telling of fortunes; insomuch, they pitifully cosened poor +country girls, both of money, silver spoons, and the best of +their apparelle, or any goods they could make.”</p> +<p>From this author, it is collected, they had a leader of the +name of <i>Giles Hather</i>, who was termed their King; and a +woman of the name of <i>Calot</i>, was called Queen. +“These riding <!-- page 77--><a name="page77"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 77</span>through the country on horseback, and +in strange attire, had a prettie traine after them.”</p> +<p>After mentioning some of the laws passed against them, this +writer adds: “But what numbers were executed on these +statutes you would wonder; yet, notwithstanding, all would not +prevaile, but they wandered as before uppe and downe, and meeting +once in a yeare at a place appointed; sometimes at the +Peake’s Hole in Derbyshire, and other whiles by Ketbroak at +Blackheath.”</p> +<p>About the same time, Spellman’s Portrait of the Gypsey +Fraternity seems to have been taken, ad vivum, and is as +follows:</p> +<p>“Egyptiani, Erronum, Impostorumque genus nequissimum, in +Continente ortum; sed ad Britannos nostras et Europam reliquam +pervolans, nigredine deformes, excocti sole, immundi veste, et +usu rerum omnium fædi, &c.;” which may be thus +translated, “Egyptians, the worst kind of wanderers and +impostors, springing up on the Continent, but yet rapidly +spreading themselves through Britain, and <!-- page 78--><a +name="page78"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 78</span>other parts +of Europe, disfigured by their swarthiness; sun-burnt; filthy in +their clothing, and indecent in all their customs, +&c.”</p> +<p>According to the first of these statements, the arrival of +Gypsies in England might be about the year 1512; or ten years at +least before the Statute of the 22d of Henry VIII; in the 10th +chapter of which, they are described to be, “<i>An +outlandish people</i>, <i>calling themselves Egyptians</i>, +<i>using no crafte</i>, <i>nor feat of merchandise</i>; <i>who +have come into this realm</i>, <i>and gone from shine to +shire</i>, <i>and place to place in great company</i>; <i>and +used great</i>, <i>subtle</i>, <i>and crafty means</i>, <i>to +deceive the people</i>, <i>bearing them in hand</i>, <i>that they +by palmistry could tell men’s and yeomen’s +fortunes</i>; <i>and so</i>, <i>many times by crafte and subtlety +have deceived the people of their money</i>; <i>and also have +committed many heinous felonies and robberies</i>.” +Wherefore they are directed to avoid the realm, and not to return +under pain of imprisonment, and forfeiture of their good and +chattels; and upon their trials for any felonies which they may +have committed, they <!-- page 79--><a name="page79"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 79</span>shall not be entitled to a Jury <i>de +medietate linguæ</i>.</p> +<p>The Act passed the 27th of the came reign goes farther, as +will appear by the following abstract of it: “<i>Whereas +certain outlandish people</i>, <i>who do not profess any crafte +or trade whereby to maintain themselves</i>, <i>but go about in +great numbers from place to place</i>, <i>using insidious</i>, +<i>underhand means to impose on his Majesty’s subjects</i>, +<i>making them believe that they understand the art of +foretelling to men and women their good and evil fortune</i>, +<i>by looking in their hands</i>, <i>whereby they frequently +defraud people of their money</i>; <i>likewise are guilty of +thefts and highway robberies</i>: <i>it is hereby ordered that +the said vagrants</i>, <i>commonly called Egyptians</i>, <i>in +case they remain one month in the kingdom</i>, <i>shall be +proceeded against as thieves and rascals</i>; <i>and on the +importation of any such Egyptian</i>, <i>he</i>, (<i>the +importer</i>) <i>shall forfeit</i> £40 <i>for every +trespass</i>.”</p> +<p>By the above recited Acts of Parliament, it appears, that it +was from their own representation <!-- page 80--><a +name="page80"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 80</span>of being +Egyptians, they were so denominated in England; and that they did +not on their arrival in this country, feign themselves, as in +Germany, to be pilgrims; or as in France, to be penitents; +neither of which impositions would have been well adapted to the +temper of the government of Henry VIII; or to his subversion of +papal power, and abolition of monastic influence. The +character they assumed, was the best adapted to establish their +reputation, for the arts and deception they intended to practise +in England. The fame of Egypt in astrology, magic, and +soothsaying, was universal; and they could not have devised a +more artful expedient, than the profession of this knowledge, to +procure for them a welcome reception by the great mass of the +people.</p> +<p>From the abstract of the Act of 27th, Henry VIII, we may +infer, that the Gypsies were so much in request, as to induce +some of our countrymen to import them from the Continent, or at +least to encourage their migration to this Island. The +importation of these people <!-- page 81--><a +name="page81"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 81</span>must have +been prevalent from some cause, to require parliamentary +interference, and even a fine to prevent it, of such an amount as +£40; which according to the relative value of money, would, +at the present time, be equal to a large sum.</p> +<p>During the same reign, we find that a number of Gypsies were +reshipped at the public expense, and sent to France.</p> +<p>In the Book of Receipts and Payments, of the 35th of Henry +VIII. are the following entries.</p> +<p>“Nett Payments 1st Sept. 36th of Henry VIII,</p> +<p>“Item to Tho. Warner, Sergeant of the Admyraltie, 10th +Sept. for victuals prepared for a shippe appointed to convey +certaine Egupeians, 58s.—Item to the same Tho. Warner to +th’ use of John Bowles for freight of said shippe, £6 +5s. Item to Robt. Ap. Rice, Esq. Shriff of Huntingdon for +the charge of the Egupeians at a special gaile delivery, and the +bringing of them to be conveied over the sees; over and besides +the sum of £4. 5s. 0d. growing of seventeen <!-- page +82--><a name="page82"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +82</span>horses, sold at five shillings <a +name="citation82"></a><a href="#footnote82" +class="citation">[82]</a> the piece, as apperythe by a particular +book, £17. 17s. 7d. Item to Will. Wever appointed to +have the charge of the conduct of the said Egupeians to Callis, +£5.”</p> +<p>There were subsequent acts relating to Gypsies in the reign of +Ph. & M.; and 5th of Eliz.; by which, “<i>If any person +being</i> 14 <i>years old</i>, <i>whether natural born subject or +stranger</i>, <i>who had been seen in the fellowship of such +persons</i>, <i>or had disguised himself like them</i>, <i>should +remain with them one month at once</i>, <i>or at several +times</i>, <i>it should be felony without benefit of +clergy</i>.”</p> +<p>But notwithstanding these measures to extirpate Gypsies, +Wraxall, in his History of France, Vol. II. page 32, in referring +to the Act of Eliz. in 1563, states, that in her reign, the +Gypsies throughout England were supposed to exceed ten +thousand.</p> +<p><!-- page 83--><a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +83</span>And it appears by the following Order of Sessions, +copied from the Harleian M.S.S. British Museum, No. 364, that +about the year 1586, there were great complaints of the increase +of vagabonds and loitering persons, &c.</p> +<p>“Orders, Rules, and Directions, concluded, appointed, +and agreed uppon, by us the Justices of the Peace, within the +countie of Suffolk, assembled at our General Sessions of Peace, +holden at Bury the 22d daie of Aprill, in the 31st yeare of the +Raigne of our Souraigne Lady, the Queen’s Majestie, for the +punishinge and suppressinge of Roags, Vacabonds; idle, +loyteringe, and lewde persons; which doe, or shall hereafter +wander and goe aboute, within the hundreths of Thingo cum Bury, +Blackborne, Thedwardstree, Cosford, Babings, Risbridge, Lackford, +and the half hundreth of Exninge, in the said countie of Suffolk, +contrary to the law, in that case made and provided.</p> +<p>“Whereas, at the Parliement beganne and holden at +Westminster, the 8th daie of Maye, in the 14th yeare of the +raigne of the Queen’s Majestie, that nowe is, one Acte was +made, <!-- page 84--><a name="page84"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 84</span>intytuled, “An Acte for +punishment of Vacabonds, and for releife of the Pooere, and +Impotent.” And whereas, at a Session of the +Parliament, holden by prorogacon, at Westminster, the eight daie +of February, in the 28th yeare of her Majestie’s raigne, +one other Acte was made and intytuled, “An Acte for +settinge of the Poore to work, and for the avoydinge of +idleness.” By vertue of which, severall Acts, +certeyne provisions and remedies been ordeyned, and established, +as well for the suppressinge, and punishinge of all roags, +vacabonds, sturdy roags, idle and loyteringe persons; as also for +the releife, and setting on worke of the aged and impotente +persons within this realm; and authoritie gyven to Justices of +Peace, in their several charges and commission, to see that the +said Acts and Statuts be putte in due execution, to the glorie of +Allmightie God, and the benefite of the common welth.</p> +<p>“And whereas also yt appeareth by dayly experience, that +the number of idle, vagraunte, loyteringe, sturdy roags, +masterles men, lewde and yll disposed persons are exceedingly +<!-- page 85--><a name="page85"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +85</span>encreased, and multiplied, committinge many grevious and +outeragious disorders and offences, tendinge to the great . . . +of Allmightie God, the contempte of her Majestie’s laws, +and to the great charge, troble, and disquiet of the common +welth.—We the Justices of Peace, above speciefied, +assembled and mett together at our general sessions above named, +for remedie of theis and such lyke enormities which hereafter +shall happen to arise or growe within the hundreths and lymits +aforesaid, doe by theis presents, order, decree and ordeyne, That +there shall be builded or provided one convenient house, which +shall be called the House of Correction; and that the same be +established within the towne of Bury, within the hundreth of +Thingoe aforesaid. And that all persons offendinge or +lyvinge contrary to the tenor of the said twoe Acts, within the +hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, shal be, by the warrante of any +Justice of Peace, dwellinge in the same hundreths or lymitts, +committed thether and there be releived, punished, sett to worke, +and <!-- page 86--><a name="page86"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +86</span>ordered in such sorte, and accordinge to the directions, +provisions, and limitations, hereafter in theis presents declared +and specified.</p> +<p>“Fyrst, That yt maie appeare what persons arre to be +apprehended, committed and brought to the House of Correction, it +is ordered and appointed, That all and every person and persons +which shal be found and taken within the hundreths and lymitts +aforesaid, above the age of 14 yeares, and shall take upon them +to be procters or procurators goinge aboute withowt sufficiente +lycence from the Queen’s Majestie. All idle persons +goinge aboute usinge subtiltie and unlawfull games or +plaie—all such as faynt themselves to have knowledge in +phisiognomye, palmestrie or other abused sciences—all +tellers of destinies, deaths or fortunes, and such lyke +fantasticall imaginations.”</p> +<p>From the tenor of the above Ordinance, it might be inferred +that, at the time of issuing it, Gypsies, and their adherents, +abounded in the County of Suffolk; and it may be concluded, that +they continued to attach themselves to that part of the nation, +as Judge Hale remarks, <!-- page 87--><a name="page87"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 87</span>that “at one Suffolk Assize, no +less than thirteen Gypsies were executed upon these Statutes, a +few years before the restoration.”</p> +<p>To the honour of our national humanity, however, Judge +Blackstone observes, there are no instances more modern than +this, of carrying these laws into practice; and the last, +sanguinary act is itself now repealed. The severe statute +of 5th Eliz. c. 20 is repealed by 23d Geo. III. c. 51—and +Gypsies are now only punishable under the Vagrant Act, which +declares, “that all persons pretending to be Gypsies, or +wandering in the habit, and form of Egyptians, shall be deemed +rogues, and vagabonds.”—17th Geo. II. c. 5.</p> +<p>In Scotland, these people seemed for a time to enjoy some +share of indulgence; for a writ in favour of John Faw, Lord and +Earl of Upper Egypt, was issued by Mary, Queen of Scots, 1553; +and in 1554, he obtained a pardon for the murder of Numan +Small.</p> +<p>In 1579, however all the legislative provisions respecting +vagrants, beggars, &c. in Scotland, were reduced into one +law, by the following <!-- page 88--><a name="page88"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 88</span>very comprehensive statute: +“Forameikle as there is sindrie loyabil Acts of Parliament, +maid be our soveraine Lord’s maist nobil progenitours, for +the stanching of maisterful and idle beggars, away putting of +Sornares, and provision for the pure: bearing that nane sall be +thoiled to beg, nouther to burgh, nor to land, betwixt 14 and 70 +zeires.</p> +<p>“That sik as make themselves fules, and ar bairdes, or +uther sik like runners about, being apprehended, sall be put into +the Kinge’s waird, or irones, sa lang as they have ony +gudes of their awin to live on. And fra they have not +quhairupon to live of their awin, that their eares be nayled to +the trone, or to an uther tree, and their eares cutted off, and +banished the countrie; and gif thereafter they be found againe, +that they be hanged.</p> +<p>“And that it may be knowen, qwhat maner of persones ar +meaned to be idle and strang begares, and vagabounds, and warthy +of the punischement before specified, it is declared: “That +all idle persones ganging about in ony countrie of this realm, +using subtil, craftie, and <!-- page 89--><a +name="page89"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 89</span>unlawful +playes, as juglarie, fast-and-lous, and sik uthers; the idle +peopil calling themselves <i>Egyptians</i>, or any uther, that +feinzies themselves to have a knawledge or charming prophecie, or +other abused sciences, qwairby they perswade peopil, that they +can tell their weirds, <a name="citation89"></a><a +href="#footnote89" class="citation">[89]</a> deathes, and +fortunes, and sik uther phantastical imaginations, +&c.”</p> +<p>Notwithstanding this law, a writ of Privy Seal, dated 1594, +supports John Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt, in the +execution of justice upon his company of folk, conform to the +laws of Egypt, in punishing certain persons there named, who had +rebelled against him, left him, robbed him, and refused to return +home with him.</p> +<p>James’ subjects are commanded to aid in apprehending +them, and in assisting Faw and his adherents to return home.</p> +<p>From all these circumstances, it appears that this John Faw, +or two persons of the same name and distinction, succeeding each +other, <!-- page 90--><a name="page90"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 90</span>staid a long time in Scotland; and +from him this kind of strolling people might receive the name of +Faw Gang, which they still retain, as appears by Burn’s +Justice.</p> +<p>But the Scottish laws, after this time, were not less severe +than those of Queen Elizabeth. By an Act passed in 1609; +“Sorners, common thieves, commonly called Egyptians, were +directed to pass forth of the kingdom, under pain of death, as +common, notorious, and condemned thieves.” Scottish +Acts, I. 850.</p> +<h2><!-- page 91--><a name="page91"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +91</span>SECTION VI.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">The present State of the Gypsies in +Scotland.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>The energy and perseverance by which North Britons are +distinguished, will be evinced throughout the pages of this +section. A friend of the author, having been requested to +make application at the Advocates’ and the University +Libraries, in the city of Edinburgh, for extracts from some +foreign publications, was also desired to transmit with them what +information could be obtained respecting the Gypsies in +Scotland.</p> +<p>With a promptitude and zeal which characterises genuine +philanthropy, a circular, containing four queries, was dispatched +to the Sheriff of every county in that nation; soliciting through +the medium of an official organ, all the intelligence which could +be obtained on the subject. In consequence, returns have +<!-- page 92--><a name="page92"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +92</span>been made from nearly the whole of the shires, either by +the Sheriff, or his substitute; generally addressed to George +Miller, jun. Edinburgh; who has been a most effective coadjutor +on this occasion.</p> +<p>From thirteen counties, the reports are, “No Gypsies +resident in them;” some others give account of their only +passing through at times.</p> +<p>William Frazer Tytler, Sheriff of Invernessshire, writes as +follows: “The undertaking in which you are engaged, for the +civilization of so lost a portion of mankind, merits every +support. Its effects may be more generally and extensively +useful in England, where those unfortunate people are extremely +numerous. In Scotland, their number is comparatively small, +and particularly in the county of Inverness.”</p> +<p>Alexander Moor, Sheriff Depute, of Aberdeenshire, states: +“There are not any Gypsies who have a permanent residence +in that Sheriffalty. Occasionally vagrants, both single and +in bands, appear in this part of the country; resorting to fairs, +where they commit <!-- page 93--><a name="page93"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 93</span>depredations on the unwary. +Some of them are supposed to be connected with Gypsies in the +southern part of the island.”</p> +<p>John Blair, Sheriff Substitute for the County of Bute, writes: +“I have to inform that the people generally known by the +description of Gypsies, are not in use to come hither, unless +abject, itinerant tinkers and braziers, generally from Ireland, +may be accounted such. A few of them often visit us, and +take up their abode for a time in different parts of the country, +where people can be prevailed upon to give them the accommodation +of an out-house or hut.”</p> +<p>They are understood to be illiterate, neither they, nor their +children, who are often numerous, being able to read.</p> +<p>The distinguished northern Poet, Walter Scott, who is Sheriff +of Selkirkshire, has in a very obliging manner communicated the +following statement:</p> +<p>“A set of people possessing the same erratic habits, and +practising the trade of tinkers, are well known in the Borders; +and have often <!-- page 94--><a name="page94"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 94</span>fallen under the cognisance of the +law. They are often called Gypsies, and pass through the +county annually in small bands, with their carts and asses. +The men are tinkers, poachers, and thieves upon a small +scale. They also sell crockery, deal in old rags, in eggs, +in salt, in tobacco and such trifles; and manufacture horn into +spoons, I believe most of those who come through Selkirkshire, +reside, during winter, in the villages of Sterncliff and Spittal, +in Northumberland, and in that of Kirk Yetholm, +Roxburghshire.</p> +<p>“Mr. Smith, the respectable Baillie <a +name="citation94"></a><a href="#footnote94" +class="citation">[94]</a> of Kelso, can give the most complete +information concerning those who reside at Kirk Yetholm. +Formerly, I believe, they were much more desperate in their +conduct than at present. But some of the most atrocious +families have been extirpated, I allude particularly to the +<i>Winters</i>, a Northumberland clan, who I fancy are all buried +by this time.</p> +<p><!-- page 95--><a name="page95"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +95</span>“Mr. Reddell, Justice of Peace for Roxburghshire, +with my assistance and concurrence, cleared this country of the +last of them, about eight or nine years ago. They were +thorough desperadoes, of the worst class of vagabonds. +Those who now travel through this country, give offence chiefly +by poaching, and small thefts. They are divided into clans, +the principal names being Faa, Baillie, Young, Ruthven, and +Gordon.</p> +<p>“All of them are perfectly ignorant of religion, nor do +their children receive any education. They marry and +cohabit amongst each other, and are held in a sort of horror by +the common people.</p> +<p>“I do not conceive them to be the proper Oriental +Egyptian race, at least they are much intermingled with our own +national out-laws and vagabonds. They are said to keep up a +communication with each other through Scotland, and to have some +internal government and regulation as to the districts which each +family travels.</p> +<p><!-- page 96--><a name="page96"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +96</span>“I cannot help again referring to Mr. Smith of +Kelso, a gentleman who can give the most accurate information +respecting the habits of those itinerants, as their +winter-quarters of Yetholm, are upon an estate of which he has +long had the management.”</p> +<p>It is very satisfactory to have received from an authority so +respectably as that of William Smith, the Baillie of Kelso, above +referred to, answers to the four queries of the circular; +accompanied by his own interesting and appropriate illustrations, +from which extracts are made as follow, dated November, 1815.</p> +<p>“A considerable time having elapsed, since I had an +opportunity, or occasion to attend to the situation of the colony +of Gypsies in our neighbourhood, I was obliged to delay my answer +to your inquiries, until I could obtain more information +respecting their present numbers.</p> +<p>“The great bar to the benevolent intentions of improving +their situation will be, the impossibility to convince them that +there either is, <!-- page 97--><a name="page97"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 97</span>or can be, a mode of life preferable, +or even equal to their own.</p> +<p>“A strong spirit of independence, or what they would +distinguish by the name of liberty, runs through the whole +tribe. It is no doubt a very licentious liberty, but +entirely to their taste. Some kind of honour, peculiar to +themselves, seems to prevail in their community. They +reckon it a disgrace to steal near their homes, or even at a +distance, if detected. I must always except that petty +theft of feeding their shelties and asses on the farmer’s +grass and corn, which they will do, whether at home or +abroad.</p> +<p>“When avowedly trusted, even in money transactions, they +never deceived me, nor forfeited their promise. I am sorry +to say, however, that when checked in their licentious +appropriations, &c. they are very much addicted both to +threaten and to execute revenge.</p> +<p>“Having so far premised with respect to their general +conduct and character, I shall proceed to answer, as far as I am +able, the four queries subjoined to the circular which you <!-- +page 98--><a name="page98"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +98</span>sent me, and then subjoin, in notes, some instances of +their conduct in particular cases, which may perhaps elucidate +their general disposition and character.”</p> +<p>“Query 1st. <i>What number of Gypsies in the +County</i>?</p> +<p>“A. I know of none except the colony of Yetholm, +and one family who lately removed from that place to Kelso. +Yetholm consists of two towns, or large villages, called +<i>Town</i> Yetholm, and <i>Kirk</i> Yetholm. The first is +in the estate of Mr. Wauchope, of Niddry; the latter in that of +the Marquis of Tweedale. The number of the Gypsey colony at +present in Kirk Yetholm, amounts to at least 109 men, women, and +children; and perhaps two or three may have escaped notice. +They marry early in life, in general have many children, and +their number seems to be increasing.</p> +<p>“Query 2d. <i>In what do the men and women mostly +employ themselves</i>?</p> +<p>“B. I have know the colony between forty and fifty +years. At my first remembrance of them, they were called +the <i>Tinklers</i>, <!-- page 99--><a name="page99"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 99</span>(Tinkers) of Yetholm, from the males +being chiefly then employed in mending pots, and other culinary +utensils, especially in their peregrinations through the hilly +and less populous parts of the country.</p> +<p>“Sometimes they were called <i>Horners</i>, from their +occupation in making and selling horn spoons, called +Cutties. Now their common appellation is that of +<i>Muggers</i>, or, what pleases them better, +<i>Potters</i>. They purchase, at a cheap rate, the cast or +faulty articles, at the different manufactories of earthenware, +which they carry for sale all over the country; consisting of +groups of six, ten, and sometimes twelve or fourteen persons, +male and female, young and old, provided with a horse and cart to +transport the pottery; besides shelties and asses to carry the +youngest of the children, and such baggage as they find +necessary.</p> +<p>“In the country, they sleep in barns, and byres, or +other out-houses: and when they cannot find that accommodation, +they take the canvas covering from the pottery cart, and <!-- +page 100--><a name="page100"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +100</span>squat below it like a covey of partridges in the +snow.</p> +<p>“A few of the colony also employ themselves occasionally +in making beesoms, foot-bosses, &c. from heath, broom, and +bent, and sell them at Kelso, and the neighbouring towns. +After all, their employment can be considered little better than +an apology for idleness and vagrancy.</p> +<p>“They are in general great adepts in hunting, shooting, +and fishing; in which last they use the net and spear, as well as +the rod; and often supply themselves with a hearty meal by their +dexterity. They have no notion of being limited in their +field sports, either to time, place, or mode of destruction.</p> +<p>“I do not see that the women are any otherwise employed, +than attending the young children; and assisting to sell the +pottery when carried through the country.”</p> +<p>“Query 3rd. <i>Have they any settled abode in +winter</i>, <i>and where</i>?</p> +<p>“C. Their residence, with the exception of a +single family, who some years ago came to <!-- page 101--><a +name="page101"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 101</span>Kelso, is +at Kirk Yetholm, and chiefly confined to one row of houses, or +street of that town, which goes by the name of Tinkler Row. +Most of them have leases of their possessions, granted for a term +of nineteen times nineteen years, for payment of a small sum +yearly; something of the nature of a quit rent. There is no +tradition in the neighbourhood concerning the time when the +Gypsies first took up their residence at that place, nor whence +they came.</p> +<p>“Most of their leases, I believe were granted by the +family of the Bennets of Grubet; the last of whom was Sir David +Bennet, who died about sixty years ago. The late Mr. Nesbit +of Dirleton, then succeeded to the estate, comprehending the +Baronies of Kirk Yetholm, and Grubet. He died about the +year 1783, and not long after, the property was acquired by the +late Lord Tweedale’s trustees.</p> +<p>“During the latter part of the life of the late Mr. +Nesbit, he was less frequently at his estate in Roxburghshire +than formerly. He was a great favourite of the Gypsies, and +was <!-- page 102--><a name="page102"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 102</span>in use to call them his body guards, +and often gave them money, &c.</p> +<p>“On the other hand, both the late and present Mr. +Wauchope were of opinion, that the example of these people had a +bad effect upon the morals and industry of the neighbourhood; and +seeing no prospect of their removal, and as little of their +reformation, considered it as a duty to the public, to prevent +the evil increasing; and never would consent to any of the colony +taking up their residence in Town Yetholm.</p> +<p>“They mostly remain at home during winter, but as soon +as the weather becomes tolerably mild in spring, most of them, +men, women, and children, set out on their peregrination over the +country, and live in a state of vagrancy, until again driven into +their habitations by the approach of winter.</p> +<p>“Seeming to pride themselves as a separate tribe, they +very seldom intermarry out of the colony; and in rare instances +where that happens, the Gypsey, whether male or female, by +influence and example, always induces the <!-- page 103--><a +name="page103"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 103</span>stranger +husband or wife to adopt the manners of the colony, so that no +improvement is ever obtained in that way. The progeny of +such alliances have almost universally the tawny complexion, and +fine black eyes of the Gypsey parent, whether father or +mother.</p> +<p>“So strongly remarkable is the Gypsey cast of +countenance, that even a description of them to a stranger, who +has had no opportunity of formerly seeing them, will enable him +to know them wherever he meets with them. Some individuals, +but very rarely, separate from the colony altogether; and when +they do so early in life, and go to a distance such as London, or +even Edinburgh, their acquaintances in the country get favourable +accounts of them. A few betake themselves to regular and +constant employments at home, but soon tire, and return to their +old way of life.</p> +<p>“When any of them, especially a leader, or man of +influence dies, they have full meetings, not only of the colony, +but of the Gypsies from a distance, and those meetings, or +<i>Late Wakes</i>, are by no means conducted with sobriety or +decency.”</p> +<p><!-- page 104--><a name="page104"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +104</span>“Query 4th. <i>Are any of their children +taught to read</i>, <i>and what proportion of them</i>? +<i>With any anecdotes respecting their customs and +conduct</i>.</p> +<p>“D. Education being obtained at a cheaper rate, +the Gypsies in general, give their male children as good a one, +as is bestowed on those of the labouring people and farm servants +in the neighbourhood; such as reading, writing, and the first +principles of arithmetic. They all apply to the clergyman +of the parish for baptism to their children, and a strong +superstitious notion universally prevails with them, that it is +unlucky to have an unchristened child long in the house. +Only a very few ever attend divine service, and those as seldom +as they can, just to prevent being refused as sponsors at their +children’s baptism.</p> +<p>“They are in general, active and lively, particularly +when engaged in field sports; or in such temporary pursuits as +are agreeable to their habits and dispositions; but are destitute +of the perseverance necessary for a settled occupation, or even +for finishing what a moderate degree of continued labour, would +enable them to accomplish in a few weeks.”</p> +<h3><!-- page 105--><a name="page105"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 105</span>NOTES</h3> +<p class="gutsumm"><i>By</i> <span class="smcap">Wm. +Smith</span>, <i>intended to elucidate his answers to the +Queries</i> A <i>and</i> B, <i>on their licentious +liberty</i>.</p> +<p>“I remember that about 45 years ago, being then +apprentice to a writer, who was in use to receive the rents as +well as the small duties of Kirk Yetholm, he sent me there with a +list of names, and a statement of what was due; recommending me +to apply to the landlord of the public-house, in the village, for +any information or assistance which I might need.</p> +<p> “After waiting a long time, and receiving payment +from most of the feuers, or rentallers, I observed to him that +none of the persons of the names of Faa, Young, Blythe, Fleckie, +&c. who, stood at the bottom of the list for small sums, had +come to meet me, according to the notice given by the Baron +Officer; and proposed sending to inform them that they were +detaining me, and to request their immediate attendance.</p> +<p>“The landlord, with a grave face, inquired whether my +master had desired me to ask money from those men. I said, +not particularly; <!-- page 106--><a name="page106"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 106</span>but they stood on the list. +“So, I see,” said the landlord, “but had your +master been here himself, he did <i>not dare to ask money from +them</i>, <i>either as rent</i>, <i>or feu duty</i>.—<i>He +knows that it is as good as if it were in his pocket</i>. +<i>They will pay when their own time comes</i>, <i>but do not +like to pay at a set time with the rest of the Barony</i>; <i>and +still less to be craved</i>.”</p> +<p>“I accordingly returned without their money, and +reported progress. I found that the landlord was right; my +master said with a smile, that it was unnecessary to send to +them, after the previous notice from the Baron Officer; it was +enough if I had received the money, if offered.—Their rent +and feu duty was brought to the office in a few weeks. I +need scarcely add, those persons all belonged to the tribe.</p> +<p>“Another instance of their licentious, independent +spirit, occurs to me. The family of Niddry always gave a +decent, annual remuneration to a Baron Baillie, for the purpose +of keeping good order within their Barony of Town Yetholm. +The person whom I remember <!-- page 107--><a +name="page107"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 107</span>first in +possession of that office, was an old man called Doctor Walker, +from his being also the village surgeon; and from him I had the +following anecdote:—</p> +<p>“Between Yetholm and the border farms in Northumberland, +there were formerly, as in most border situations, some +uncultivated lands called the <i>Plea lands</i>, or <i>Debateable +lands</i>, the pasturage of which was generally eaten up by the +Sorners and vagabonds on both sides of the marches.</p> +<p>“Many years ago, Lord Tankerville and some other of the +English borderers, made their request to Sir David Bennet, and +the late Mr. Wauchope of Niddry, that they would accompany them +at a <i>riding</i> of the Plea lands, who readily complied with +their request. They were induced to this, as they +understood that the Gypsies had taken offence, on the supposition +that they might be circumscribed in the pasture for their +shelties and asses, which they had held a long time, partly by +stealth, and partly by violence.</p> +<p><!-- page 108--><a name="page108"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +108</span>“Both threats and entreaties were employed to +keep them away; and, at last, Sir David obtained a promise from +some of the heads of the gang, that none of them should show +their faces on the occasion.</p> +<p>“They, however, got upon the hills at a little distance, +whence they could see every thing that passed. At first +they were very quiet. But when they saw the English Court +Book Spread out on a cushion before the clerk, and apparently +taken in a line of direction, interfering with what they +considered to be their privileged ground, it was with great +difficulty that the most moderate of them, could restrain the +rest from running down, and taking vengeance, even in sight of +their own Lord of the Manor.</p> +<p>“They only abstained for a short time, and no sooner had +Sir David, and the other gentleman taken leave of each other in +the most polite and friendly manner, as border chiefs are wont to +do, since border feuds ceased, and had departed to a sufficient +distance, than the clan, armed with bludgeons, pitch-forks, and +<!-- page 109--><a name="page109"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +109</span>such other hostile weapons as they could find, rushed +down in a body; and before the chiefs on either side had reached +their home, there was neither English tenant, horse, cow, nor +sheep left upon the premises.</p> +<h3>“Notes on Answers C and D.</h3> +<p>“<i>Peculiar cast of</i> <span class="smcap">Gypsey +Features</span>, <i>every where distinguishable</i>, &c.</p> +<p>“When first I knew any thing about the colony, old Will +Faa was king, or leader, and had held the sovereignty for many +years.</p> +<p>“Meeting at Kelso with Mr. Walter Scott, whose +discriminating habits and just observations I had occasion to +know from his youth, and at the same time seeing one of my +Yetholm friends in the horse market, I merely said to Mr. Scott, +“Try to get before that man with the long drab coat, look +at him on your return, and tell me whether you ever saw him, and +what you think of him.” He was so good as to indulge +me; and rejoining me said without hesitation, “I never saw +the man that I know of; but he is one of the Gypsies of Yetholm, +that you told me of several years <!-- page 110--><a +name="page110"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +110</span>ago.” I need scarcely say that he was +perfectly correct.</p> +<p>“The descendants of Faa, now take the name of +<i>Fall</i>, from the Messrs. Falls, of Dunbar, who, they pride +themselves in saying, are of the same stock and lineage. +When old Will Faa was upwards of eighty years of age, he called +on me at Kelso, in his way to Edinburgh, telling that he was +going to see the Laird, the late Mr. Nesbit, of Dirleton, as he +understood that he was very unwell, and himself being now old, +and not so stout as he had been, he wished to see him once more +before he died.</p> +<p>“The old man set out by the nearest road, which was by +no means his common practice. Next market-day, same of the +farmers informed me, that they had been in Edinburgh, and seen +Will Faa upon the bridge; (the south bridge was not then built;) +that he was tossing about his old brown hat, and huzzaing with +great vociferation, that he had seen the Laird before he +died. Indeed Will himself had no time to lose, for having +set his face homewards <!-- page 111--><a +name="page111"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 111</span>by the way +of the sea coast, to vary his route, as is the general custom of +the gang, he only got the length of Coldingham, when he was taken +ill, and died.</p> +<p>“His death being notified to his friends at Yetholm, +they and their acquaintance at Berwick, Spittal, Horncliff, +&c. met to pay the last honours to their old leader. +His obsequies were continued three successive days and nights, +and afterwards repeated at Yetholm, whither he was brought for +interment. I cannot say that the funeral rites were +celebrated with decency and sobriety, for that was by no means +the case. This happened in the year 1783, or 1784, and the +late Mr. Nesbit did not long survive.”</p> +<p>William Dymock, W. S. Edinburgh, distinguished in the +profession of the law, by his sound judgment and strict +integrity, having had the perusal of the preceding report from +William Smith, gives the following testimony concerning that +account: “Baillie Smith’s report is quite graphical, +correct truth, and <!-- page 112--><a name="page112"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 112</span>correctly expressed.—It is +useful as showing, that the parties of Tinklers are great +detachments from one colony.”</p> +<p>With this, accords Sir John Sinclair’s observation in +his Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. II. p. 124, when +describing the village of Eaglesham, he remarks: “There is +no magistrate nearer than four miles, and the place is oppressed +with gangs of Gypsies, commonly called Tinklers, or sturdy +beggars.”</p> +<p>Before receiving the very interesting report from William +Smith, the author of this Survey was entirely at a loss to +determine what was become of the descendants of John Faw, who +styled himself Lord and Earl of Little Egypt; and with a numerous +retinue entered Scotland in the reign of Queen Mary, as stated in +Section the 5th.—His complaint of his men refusing to +return home with him, might be only a feint, invented to cover +his design of continuing in the country; for there does not +appear to be any traces in history of the banishment of Faw-gang, +or of their quitting <!-- page 113--><a name="page113"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 113</span>Scotland.—But in the above +cited report, we find at the head of the Tinklers a Will Faa, in +whose name there is only a variation of one letter from that of +his distinguished predecessor; and that in reference to this +origin, he asserts the <i>Falls</i> of Dunbar to be of the same +stock and lineage.</p> +<h2><!-- page 115--><a name="page115"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 115</span>SECTION VII.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">On the origin of the Gypsies</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>Various are the conjectures which have been indulged, and the +coincidences which have been sought for, in order to obtain a +solution of the query, <i>What race of people are the +Gypsies</i>?</p> +<p>Whoever is disposed to refer to Continental writers, may see +more than thirty different opinions started on this subject, +founded on no better authority than some similarity of +appellation, garb, complexion, or unsettled way of life.</p> +<p>They were sometimes <i>Torlaques</i>, <i>Kalendars</i>, or +<i>Faquirs</i>. The Torlaques are Mahometan Monks, who +under the pretence of holiness, are guilty of the most flagrant +excesses. Bajazet the 2d, banished them from the Turkish +empire in 1494. The Kalendars <!-- page 116--><a +name="page116"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 116</span>wander +about in heathen countries, as the Gypsies do among +Christians. The Faquirs are religious fanatics; and rove +about in heathen and mahometan countries, like the most atrocious +robbers. Anquetil says, the Faquirs in India go a +pilgrimage to Jagrenat; they plunder such villages and cities as +lie in their way; they form considerable bodies about a mile from +Jagrenat, where they choose themselves a leader, to whom they pay +all the attention due to a general.</p> +<p>With regard to strolling and thieving, the Faquirs and Gypsies +agree exactly. Thomasius, Griselini, and the English +geographer Salmon, imagined that when Sultan Selim conquered +Egypt in 1517, several of the natives refusing to submit to the +Turkish yoke, revolted under one Zinganeus.</p> +<p>But we have already adverted to authentic documents for the +proof, that they were in Germany, Italy, and France, near a +century before the conquest of Egypt by Selim.</p> +<p>Yet the belief that Gypsies were of Egyptian origin is +parallel with their existence in Europe. <!-- page 117--><a +name="page117"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 117</span>It arose +from the report circulated by the first of them, that they were +pilgrims from Egypt; and this statement was not only adopted by +the common people, but here, and there, obtained credit among men +of learning. Grellmann observes, that had this opinion not +been received at a time when almost every thing was taken upon +trust, with little examination; had it not been propagated by the +first Gypsies, and then obtained a sanction, it would have been +impossible for it to have gained such general acceptation, or to +have maintained itself to the present times. Till the 17th +century, the Egyptian descent of the Gypsies rested entirely on +tradition. Afterwards, Aventin, Krantz, and Miinster openly +contradict it.</p> +<p>Aventin relates that they wished it to be thought they came +from that country, but that, in his time, nothing was known +concerning them, but what came from their own mouths; those who +accounted them Egyptians, rested their belief entirely on the +veracity of their informants.</p> +<p><!-- page 118--><a name="page118"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +118</span>This is collected with greater certainty from Krantz +and Miinster, for they declare expressly, that every thing which +could be discovered by any other means than their own assertions, +contradicted, rather than confirmed their Egyptian descent. +But it is not merely that their Egyptian descent is entirely +destitute of proof, the most circumstantial evidence can be +adduced against it.</p> +<p>Their language differs entirely from the Coptic, and their +customs, as Ahasuerus Fritsch has remarked, are diametrically +opposite to the Egyptian; but what is, if possible, of greater +weight, they wander about in Egypt, like strangers, and +<i>there</i>, as in other countries, form a distinct people.</p> +<p>The testimony of Bellonius is full and decisive on the +point. He states; “No part of the world, I believe, +is free from those banditti, wandering about in troops; whom we, +by mistake, call Gypsies, and Bohemians. When we were at +Cairo, and the villages bordering on the Nile, we found troops of +these strolling <!-- page 119--><a name="page119"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 119</span>thieves sitting under palm-trees; +and they are <i>esteemed foreigners</i> in +<i>Egypt</i>.”</p> +<p>Aventin expressly makes Turkey their original place of +rendezvous; and this furnishes a reason for the south east parts +of Europe being the most crowded with them. If all that +came to Europe passed by this route, it accounts for a greater +number remaining in those countries, than in others to which they +would have a much longer travel; and before their arrival at +which, their hordes might be much divided.</p> +<p>It is a just assertion, that one of the most infallible +methods of determining the origin of a people, would be the +discovery of a country in which their language is that of the +natives. It is a fact incontrovertibly established, that +besides the Gypsies speaking the language of the country in which +they live, they have a general one of their own, in which they +converse with each other.</p> +<p>Not knowing any speech correspondent with the Gypsies, some +have been ready to pronounce it a mere jargon; not considering +how extravagant <!-- page 120--><a name="page120"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 120</span>a surmise it would be, that a people +rude, uncivilized, and separated hundreds of miles from each +other, have invented a language. Others who are better +informed on the subject, allow that the language brought into +Europe with the Gypsies, was really vernacular, of some country; +but suppose it is so disguised and corrupted, partly by design, +and partly by adventitious events, through length of time, and +the continued wandering of these people, that it must be +considered a new language, and now used by the Gypsies only.</p> +<p>That it is the dialect of some particular part of the globe, +though no longer pure, as in the country whence it originated, is +an opinion which has obtained the greatest concurrence among the +learned. Grellmann says, had a German listened a whole day +to a Gypsey conversation, he would not have comprehended a single +expression. It must doubtless appear extraordinary, that +the language of a people who had lived for centuries in Europe, +should have remained so much a secret: but it was not easy to +gain information from the Gypsies <!-- page 121--><a +name="page121"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 121</span>concerning +it. Acquainted, by tradition, with the deception their +predecessors practised on coming into Europe, they are +suspicious; and fearing an explanation might be dangerous to +themselves, they are not disposed to be communicative.—But +how was it possible for the learned of former centuries, to be +competent to the investigation, who had not the aids which now so +copiously occur to the historical etymologist?</p> +<p>Many dialects have been discovered, and our knowledge of +others greatly increased, within the last fifty or sixty +years. During that time, not only the literary treasures of +the furthest north have been opened to us, but we have become +acquainted with many of the oriental languages; and even eastern +idioms are becoming familiar to us. We need not therefore +be surprised, that before this period, the most learned were +unable to point out the country in which the Gypsey language was +spoken. The Gypsies have no writing peculiar to themselves, +in which to give a specimen of the construction of their +dialect.</p> +<p><!-- page 122--><a name="page122"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +122</span>Writing and reading are attainments not to be expected +from nomadic tribes. Sciences, and the refined arts, are +never to be looked for among a people whose manner of living, and +education, are so irregular. Music is the only science in +which Gypsies participate in any considerable degree; they +likewise compose, but it is after the manner of the eastern +people, extempore.</p> +<p>Grellmann asserts, that the Hindostanie language has the +greatest affinity with that of the Gypsies; but he does not rest +this solely on the specimen he has introduced, a sketch of which +will be presented in the next section; he adduces many facts in +confirmation of his opinion, which it would be an injustice to +him not to exhibit.</p> +<p>He infers from the following considerations, that Gypsies are +of the lowest class of Indians, namely Pariars, or as they are +called in Hindostan, <i>Suders</i>.</p> +<p>The whole great nation of Indians is known to be divided into +four ranks, or stocks, which are called by a portuguese name, +<i>castes</i>; each <!-- page 123--><a name="page123"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 123</span>of which has its own particular +subdivisions. Of these castes, the Bramin is the first; the +second contains the <i>Tschechteries</i> or Setreas; the third, +consists of the <i>Beis</i>, or Wazziers; the fourth is the caste +of the above mentioned Suders; who upon the peninsula of Malabar, +where their condition is the same as in Hindostan, are called +Parias, and Pariers.</p> +<p>The first were appointed by Brama to seek after knowledge, to +give instructions, and to take care of religion. The second +were to serve in war; the third were as the Bramins, to cultivate +science; but particularly to attend to the breeding of +cattle. The caste of Suders was to be subservient to the +Bramins, the Tschecteries, and the Beis. These Suders are +held in disdain, they are considered infamous, and unclean, from +their occupation, and they are abhorred because they eat flesh; +the three other castes living entirely on vegetables.</p> +<p>Of this very caste it will appear, by the following +comparison, our Gypsies are composed. We have seen that the +Gypsies are in the highest degree filthy and disgusting; and with +<!-- page 124--><a name="page124"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +124</span>regard to character, depraved and fraudulent to excess, +and these are the qualities of the Suders.</p> +<p>Baldeus says, the Parias are a filthy people, and wicked crew, +who in winter steal much cattle, &c.</p> +<p>It is related in the Danish Mission Intelligence:—Nobody +can deny that the Pariers are the dregs and refuse of all the +Indians; they are thievish, and have wicked dispositions, +&c.</p> +<p>Moreover Neuhof assures us: “The Parruas are full of +every kind of dishonesty; they do not consider lying and cheating +to be sinful, as they have no other custom or maxims among +them. The Gypsey’s solicitude to conceal his language +is, also, a striking Indian trait.”</p> +<p>“Professor Pallas says of the Indians round Astracan: +custom has rendered them to the greatest degree suspicious about +their language, insomuch that I was never able to obtain a small +vocabulary from them.”</p> +<p>With regard to Gypsey marriages, Salmon relates that the +nearest relations cohabit with <!-- page 125--><a +name="page125"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 125</span>each other; +and as to education, their children grow up in the most shameful +neglect, without either discipline or instruction.</p> +<p>All this is precisely the case with the Pariars. In the +journal of the Missionaries already quoted, it is said; +“With respect to matrimony, they act like the beasts, and +their children are brought up without restraint or +information.” Gypsies are fond of being about horses, +so are the Suders in India, for which reason, they are commonly +employed as horse-keepers, by the Europeans resident in that +country.”</p> +<p>We have seen that the Gypsies hunt after cattle which have +died of distempers, in order to feed on them; and when they can +procure more of the flesh than is sufficient for one day’s +consumption, they dry it in the sun. Such is likewise a +constant custom with the Pariars in India.</p> +<p>That the Gypsies, and natives of Hindostan, resemble each +other in complexion, and shape is undeniable. And what is +asserted of the young Gypsey girls rambling about with their +fathers who are musicians, dancing with lascivious <!-- page +126--><a name="page126"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +126</span>and indecent gestures, to divert any person who is +willing to give them a small gratuity for so acting, is likewise +perfectly Indian. Sonnerat confirms this in the account he +gives of the dancing girls of Surat.</p> +<p>Fortune-telling is practised all over the East; but the +peculiar kind professed by the Gypsies, viz: chiromancy, +constantly referring to whether the parties shall be rich or +poor, happy or unhappy in marriage, &c. is no where met with +but in India.</p> +<p>The account we have given of Gypsey smiths may be compared +with the Indian, as related by Sonnerat in the following words: +“The smith carries his tools, his shop, and his forge about +with him, and works in any place where he can find employment; he +erects his shop before the house of his employer, raising a low +wall with beaten earth; before which, he places his hearth; +behind this wall, he fixes two leathern bellows. He has a +stone instead of an anvil, and his whole apparatus is a pair of +tongs, a hammer, a beetle, and a file. How <!-- page +127--><a name="page127"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +127</span>exactly does this accord with the description of the +Gypsey smith!</p> +<p>We have seen that Gypsies always choose their place of +residence near some village, or city, very seldom within them; +even though there may not be any order to prevent it, as is the +case in Moldavia, Wallachia, and all parts of Turkey. Even +the more improved Gypsies in Transylvania, who have long since +discontinued the wandering mode of life, and might, with +permission from government, reside within the cities, rather +choose to build their huts in some bye place, without their +limits. This custom appears to be derived from their +original Suder education; it being usual all over India, for the +Sunders to have their huts without the villages of the other +castes, and in retired places near their cities.</p> +<p>With respect to religion, it has appeared that the greater +part of the Gypsies live without any profession of it; +<i>Tollius</i> says, worse than heathens. The more +wonderful it is, that a whole people should be so indifferent and +void of religion, the more weight it carries with <!-- page +128--><a name="page128"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +128</span>it, to confirm their Indian origin, when all this is +found to be literally true of the Suders.</p> +<p>In relation to the emigration of the Gypsies, no cause can be +assigned for their leaving their native country, so probable, as +the war of Timur Beg, in India. The date of their arrival +marks it very plainly. It was in the years 1408, and 1409, +that this Conqueror ravaged India for the purpose of +disseminating the Mahometan religion. Not only every one +who made any resistance was destroyed, and such as fell into the +enemies’ hands, though quite defenceless, were made slaves; +but in a short time those very slaves, to the number of one +hundred thousand, were put to death. In consequence of the +universal panic which took place, those, who could quit the +country, might well be supposed to consult their safety by +flight.</p> +<p>If any of the higher castes did withdraw themselves on account +of the troubles it is probable, they retired southward to people +of their own sort, the Mahrattas. To mix at all with the +Suders, would have been degrading <!-- page 129--><a +name="page129"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 129</span>their high +characters, which they consider worse than death; it was +therefore morally impossible for them to have united with the +Suders in a retreat. Moreover, by putting themselves into +the power of the Suders, with whom they live in a state of +discord and inveteracy, they might have incurred as much danger +as from the common enemy.</p> +<p>Before presenting a vocabulary of Gypsey words, it may be +observed, that though the Hindostanie language is fundamentally +the same, all over Hindostan; yet, like other languages, it has +different dialects in the various provinces. The eastern +dialect, spokes about the Ganges, has different names for some +things; and inflections of some words different to the western +ones spoken about the Indus: There is, besides, a third, varying +from both these, viz: the Surat dialect, which has a number of +Malabar, and other words mixed with it. To this must be +added, that in the Hindostan, as well as in every other language, +there are often several names for the same thing.</p> +<p><!-- page 130--><a name="page130"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +130</span>The particular dialect bearing the closest affinity to +the Gypsey language, as will appear hereafter, is the western; +and perhaps more especially that of Surat. With respect to +the construction and inflections of the two languages, they are +evidently the same. In that of Hindostan, every word ending +in j is feminine, all the rest masculine; the Gypsey is the +same. That makes the inflections entirely by the article, +adding it at the end of the word. The Gypsey language +proceeds exactly in the same manner</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Grellmann</i>.</p> +<h2><!-- page 131--><a name="page131"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 131</span>SECTION VIII.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Comparative view of the Gypsey, Hindostanie, +and Turkish languages.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>The following collection is extracted from Grellmann’s +Vocabulary.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Hindostanie</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>English</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ick, Ek</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ek</p> +</td> +<td><p>One</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Duj, Doj</p> +</td> +<td><p>Du</p> +</td> +<td><p>Two</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Trin, Tri</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tin</p> +</td> +<td><p>Three</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Schtar, Star</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tschar</p> +</td> +<td><p>Four</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Pantsch, Pansch</p> +</td> +<td><p>Pansch</p> +</td> +<td><p>Five</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tschowe, Schow</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tscho</p> +</td> +<td><p>Six</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Efta</p> +</td> +<td><p>Hefta, Sat</p> +</td> +<td><p>Seven</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ochto</p> +</td> +<td><p>Aute</p> +</td> +<td><p>Eight</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Desch, Des</p> +</td> +<td><p>Des, Des</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ten</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bisch, Bis</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bjs</p> +</td> +<td><p>Twenty</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Diwes</p> +</td> +<td><p>Diw</p> +</td> +<td><p>Day</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ratti</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rateh</p> +</td> +<td><p>Night</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Cham, Cam</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kam</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Sun</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 132--><a name="page132"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 132</span>Schan</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tschand</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Moon</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Panj</p> +</td> +<td><p>Panj</p> +</td> +<td><p>Water</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sonnikey</p> +</td> +<td><p>Suna</p> +</td> +<td><p>Gold</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rûp</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ruppa</p> +</td> +<td><p>Silver</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Jiv</p> +</td> +<td><p>Giuw</p> +</td> +<td><p>Wheat</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bàl</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bàl</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Hair</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Aok</p> +</td> +<td><p>Awk</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Eye</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Kan</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kawn</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Ear</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nak</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nakk</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Nose</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mui</p> +</td> +<td><p>Mu</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Mouth</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Dant</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dant</p> +</td> +<td><p>A Tooth</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tschib</p> +</td> +<td><p>Jibb</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Tongue</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sunjo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sunnj</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Hearing</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sunj</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sunkh</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Smell</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sik</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tschik</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Taste</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tschater</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tschater</p> +</td> +<td><p>A Tent</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rajah</p> +</td> +<td><p>Raja</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Prince</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Puro</p> +</td> +<td><p>Purana</p> +</td> +<td><p>Old</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Baro</p> +</td> +<td><p>Burra</p> +</td> +<td><p>Great</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Kalo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kala</p> +</td> +<td><p>Black</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Grea</p> +</td> +<td><p>Gorrra</p> +</td> +<td><p>Horse</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Jukel</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Dog</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Maru</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Bread</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Kil</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Butter</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ker</p> +</td> +<td><p>Gurr</p> +</td> +<td><p>House</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<p><!-- page 133--><a name="page133"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +133</span>It has already been observed, that in the Gypsey, as +well as in the Hindostanie language, the article is not placed +before the noun, but affixed behind it; and that is the sole +indication of the case of a noun.</p> +<p>Grellmann has given examples of the declension of nouns, +pronouns, and adjectives, as well as the conjugation of verbs in +both languages; but the grammatical arrangement of them does not +come within the design of this work. The foregoing list of +words is a selection of those that are most similar: but in +Grellmann’s extensive vocabulary, he says, it will appear +on the average, that every third Gypsey word, is likewise +Hindostanie.</p> +<p>It must be observed, that the words above recited, have been +learned from the Gypsies within a few years, consequently at a +time when they had been nearly four complete centuries away from +Hindostan, their native country; and among people who spoke +languages totally different; in which also the Gypsies +conversed.</p> +<p><!-- page 134--><a name="page134"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +134</span>Under the constant and so long continued influx of +these languages, their own must necessarily have suffered some +alteration; more especially as they are a people entirely +ignorant, either of writing or literature.</p> +<p>It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the Gypsey +language, as has been generally imagined; and even what there is +of it, they may have brought with them from their native country, +as many Persian words are current in Hindostan. We ought +rather to wonder the number of Hindostanie words in the Gypsey +language, is so considerable, than to require it should be +greater, to furnish sufficient proof of the Hindostanie language +being the Gypsies’ mother tongue.</p> +<p>Since the laborious researches of Grellmann, extended +intercourse with India, has furnished unquestionable evidence in +support of his deductions. The first we shall introduce, is +contained in the following letter from William Marsden to Sir +Joseph Banks, F.R.S. read to the Society of Antiquaries in +London, 1785.</p> +<p><!-- page 135--><a name="page135"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +135</span>“It has long been surmised, that the vagrant +tribes of people called in this country Gypsies, and on parts of +the Continent of Europe, Cingari, Zingari, and Chingali, were of +eastern origin. The former name has been supposed a +corruption of Egyptian, and some learned men have judged it not +improbable that their language might be traced to the Coptic.</p> +<p>“In the course of researches which I have had occasion +to pursue on the subject of language, I have observed that +Ludolfus, in his history of Ethiopia, makes mention incidentally +of the Cingari, vel <i>Errones Nubiani</i>, and gives a specimen +of words which he had collected from these people on his travels, +with a view of determining their origin. He discusses the +opinions of various writers concerning them; but forms no precise +sentiment of his own, concluding his observations with these +words: “Eadem vocabula, cum maximam partem reperiam apud +Vulcanium à centum fere annis traditam, non fictitia +existimo, ut Megiferus putat nec corrupta ex aliis linguis, <!-- +page 136--><a name="page136"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +136</span>neque Egyptiaca, sive Coptica.”—In English, +thus: “Since I find according to Vulcanius, that most of +these words have been continued traditionally for a period of +nearly 100 years, I do not consider them fictitious, as Megiferus +supposes, nor corrupted from other languages, either the Egyptian +or Coptic.”</p> +<p>“I was surprised to find many of the words familiar to +my eye; and I pointed out to Sir Joseph Banks, in the latter end +of the year 1783, their evident correspondence with terms in the +Hindostanie, or as it is vulgarly termed in India, the +Moors’ language.</p> +<p>“This similitude appeared to me so extraordinary, that I +was inclined to suspect an error in the publication, which might +have arisen from a confusion of obscure vocabularies in the +author’s possession. The circumstance, however, +determined me to pay farther attention to the subject, and to +examine, in the first place, whether the language spoken by the +Gypsey tribes in England, and by those in the remoter parts of +the continent of Europe was one, and the same; and then to +ascertain, <!-- page 137--><a name="page137"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 137</span>whether this actually bore the +affinity which so forcibly struck me in Ludolfus, to any of the +languages on the Continent of India.</p> +<p>“Through the obliging assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, +who has spared no pains to promote this investigation, I procured +an opportunity of obtaining a list of words from our Gypsies, +which I can depend upon as genuine, and tolerably accurate in +respect to the pronunciation, from their being corroborated also +by words taken down, separately, by Sir Joseph, and by Dr. +Blagden.</p> +<p>“Mr. Matra did me the favour to transmit for me, a list +of words to Turkey; and from his ingenious friend B. Pisani, I +received a complete and satisfactory translation of them, +together with some information, respecting the manners of the +Chingiares, in the Turkish dominions, which, however, does not +come within the design of this paper, as I mean to confine myself +in the present communication, simply to the question of +similarity of language; which, if established, I should esteem a +matter <!-- page 138--><a name="page138"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 138</span>of no little curiosity; presuming it +to be perfectly new to the world.</p> +<p>“Of this similarity, the learned members of the Society +will be enabled to form their judgment from the annexed paper, +exhibiting a comparison of a few of the words procured from the +different quarters before mentioned, with the Hindostanie terms, +from the best published, and parole authorities. It may not +be unworthy of remark, that the general appellation of these +people in the eastern part of Europe, is very nearly connected +with that of the inhabitants of Ceylon, in the East-Indies, who +are equally termed. Lingalese and Chingalese; though at the +same time it must be acknowledged, that the language of this +Island has much less correspondence with that of the Gypsies, +than many others of the Indian dialects.</p> +<p>“His Grace, the Archbishop of York, with his usual +discernment, suggested to me, the probability that the Zingara +here spoken of, may have derived their name, and perhaps their +origin from the people called Langari, or <!-- page 139--><a +name="page139"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 139</span>Langarians, +who are found in the north-west parts of the Peninsula of +Hindostan, and infest the coasts of Guzerat and Sindy with their +piratical depredations.</p> +<p>“The maritime turn of this numerous race of people, with +their roving and enterprising disposition, may warrant the idea +of occasional emigration in their boats, by the coarse of the Red +Sea.</p> +<p>“Notwithstanding the resemblance to the Hindostanie, is +the predominant feature in the Gypsey dialect, yet there are +words interspersed, which evidently coincide with other +languages. Besides the Mahratta, and Bengalese, which I +have marked in the comparative specimen, it is not a little +singular that the terms for the numerals <i>seven</i>, +<i>eight</i>, and <i>nine</i>, are purely Greek: although the +first five, and that for ten, are indisputably Indian. It +is also a curious observation, that although the Indian term for +seven is <i>saath</i>, yet that for a week, or seven days; is the +Eftan of the latter.</p> +<p><!-- page 140--><a name="page140"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +140</span>“One word only among those I have examined, bears +a resemblance to the Coptic, which is <i>rom</i>, the same with +<i>romi</i>, a man.</p> +<p>“In comparisons of this nature, a due allowance must be +made, not only for the various modes of spelling adopted by +different persons, and different nations, but also for the +dissimilar manner in which the same individual sound, strikes the +organs of the hearers; of which some pointed instances may be +given.</p> +<p>“Should any be inclined to doubt, which I scarcely +suppose possible, the identity of the Gypsey, or Cingari, and the +Hindostanie languages, still it will be acknowledged as no +uninteresting subject, that tribes wandering through the +mountains of Nubia, or the plains of Romania, have conversed for +centuries in a dialect precisely similar to that spoken at this +day, by, the obscure, despised, and wretched people in England, +whose language has been considered as a fabricated gibberish, and +confounded with a cant in use among thieves and beggars; and +whose persons have been, till <!-- page 141--><a +name="page141"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 141</span>within the +period of a year, an object of the persecution, instead of the +protection of our laws.”</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>William Marsden</i>.</p> +<p>In the 386th page of the 7th Vol. of Archæologia, is the +comparative view of the English Gypsey, Turkish Gypsey, and +Hindostanie dialects; a specimen of which will be presented in +this section.</p> +<p>In page 387 of the same volume, are collections on the +Zingara, or Gypsey language, by Jacob Bryant, Esq. transmitted to +G. Salusbury Brereton, Esq. in a letter from Doctor Douglas, read +1785: This learned traveller, when in Hungary, had taken from the +mouths of Gypsies, specimens of their language, which occupy +seven pages. It is remarkable, that of seventeen words +obtained and enumerated in the letters of Coxe, the learned +traveller, fourteen appear to resemble most exactly those of the +same signification, collected by Jacob Bryant</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>John Douglas</i>.</p> +<h3><!-- page 142--><a name="page142"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 142</span>COMPARISON OF THE GYPSEY, TURKISH, +AND HINDOSTANIE LANGUAGES.</h3> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><i>English</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>English Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Turkish Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Cingari vel Errones Nubiani</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Hindostanie</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>One</p> +</td> +<td><p>Aick</p> +</td> +<td><p>Yeck</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Aick, ek, Yek</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Two</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dooce</p> +</td> +<td><p>Duy</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Du, Dow</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Three</p> +</td> +<td><p>Trin</p> +</td> +<td><p>Trin</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Trin</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Four</p> +</td> +<td><p>Staur, Shtar</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shtiar</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Chaur</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Five</p> +</td> +<td><p>Panji</p> +</td> +<td><p>Panch</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Paunch</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Six</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shove</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shove</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Chaye</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Seven</p> +</td> +<td><p>Heftan</p> +</td> +<td><p>Efta</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Saath</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Eight</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Okto</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Aoth Aut</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nine</p> +</td> +<td><p>Henya</p> +</td> +<td><p>Enia</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Noh Nu</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ten</p> +</td> +<td><p>Desh</p> +</td> +<td><p>Desh</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Dus, Doshe (Bengalese)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Man</p> +</td> +<td><p>Raye, gazo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ram Manush</p> +</td> +<td><p>Manusch</p> +</td> +<td><p>Manoosha, (Bengalese)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Woman</p> +</td> +<td><p>Raunee gougee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Romee</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Rendee, Raunee</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Head</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bold-uroo shero</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shero</p> +</td> +<td><p>Schiero</p> +</td> +<td><p>Seer, Sirr</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Eyes</p> +</td> +<td><p>Yackau, yock</p> +</td> +<td><p>Yack</p> +</td> +<td><p>Jaka</p> +</td> +<td><p>Okhyo (Bengalese)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nose</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bol-nak</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nack</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nak</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nauck</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hair</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ballau, bolow</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bal</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bal</p> +</td> +<td><p>Baul, Bal</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Teeth</p> +</td> +<td><p>Danau</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dan</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Daunt, Dant (Bengalese)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ear</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kanaue</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Can</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kaun</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Day</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dewas, Devas</p> +</td> +<td><p>Deeves</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Deendeewas (Mahratta)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Night</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rautee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rateee</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Raut, roat</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 143--><a name="page143"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 143</span>White</p> +</td> +<td><p>Pauno</p> +</td> +<td><p>Parnee</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Paandra (Mahratta)</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sheep</p> +</td> +<td><p>Baukro</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Bakro</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bhare</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hog</p> +</td> +<td><p>Baulo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Balo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Palo</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Fish</p> +</td> +<td><p>Matcho</p> +</td> +<td><p>Muteho</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Matchee, Mutchee</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bind</p> +</td> +<td><p>Cheriko</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chiriiklo</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Chereah</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>House</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kair</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Ker</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ghurr</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Gold</p> +</td> +<td><p>Soona-kai</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Sonna</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Silver</p> +</td> +<td><p>Roop</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p>Roopau</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<p>Brand, in his observations on Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. +page 432, observes: “The Gypsies, as it should seem from +some striking proofs derived from their language, were originally +from Hindostan, where they are supposed to have been of the +lowest class of Indians, named Pariars, or as they are called in +Hindostan, Suders. They are thought to have emigrated about +A.D. 1408, or 1409, when Timur Beg ravaged India for the purpose +of spreading the Mahometan religion. On this occasion so +many were made slaves, and put to death, that a universal panic +took place, <!-- page 144--><a name="page144"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 144</span>and a very great number of terrified +inhabitants endeavoured to save themselves by flight.</p> +<p>“As every part to the north and east was beset by the +enemy, it is most probable that the country below Multan, to the +mouth of the Indus, was the first asylum and rendezvous of the +fugitive Suders. This is called the country of +Zinganen. Here they were safe, and remained so till +Timur’s return from the victory of the Ganges. Then +it was that they entirely quitted the country, and probably with +them a considerable number of the natives, which will explain the +meaning of their original name.”</p> +<p>In the seventh Vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 470, +Captain David Richardson says of the <i>Panchperee</i>, or +Budee’a Nuts: “’Tis probable there will be +found in their manners, a stronger similitude to the Gypsies of +Europe, than in those of any other which may come under +review. They have no particular system of religion, +adopting with indifference that of the village near to which they +happen to be encamped. In the upper provinces of Hindostan, +the little encampments of these people <!-- page 145--><a +name="page145"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 145</span>are +frequently very regular and neat, being there formed of the +Sirkee entirely. Each apartment, though not much larger +than a mastiff’s kennel, has its own particular enclosure, +or court-yard; generally erected in such a manner, as to become a +species of circumvallation to the whole portable hamlet.</p> +<p>“One cannot help wondering where so many men, women, and +children, and other domestic animals manage to sleep; or shelter +themselves from the storms which sometimes assail these itinerant +people. The men are remarkably athletic and active, and +also nimble and adroit, in every kind of slight of hand. +Many of the subdivisions of this class of men, pay little, or no +attention to cleanliness, or any restrictions in diet; eating +dead jackalls, bullocks, horses, or any kind of food +procurable.</p> +<p>“The women do not attend the men during their juggling +exploits, but have a peculiar department allotted to themselves; +which consists of the practice of physic, cupping, palmistry, +curing disorders of the teeth, and marking the skin of the Hindoo +women, an <!-- page 146--><a name="page146"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 146</span>operation termed Godna. They +have two languages peculiar to themselves; one intended for the +use only of the craftsman, the other general among men, women, +and children.</p> +<p>“The Hindostanie is the basis of both; the first is +general, being a mere transposition or change of syllables; and +the second apparently, a systematic conversion of a few letters; +but which will be best elucidated by the following specimen, +which contains twenty-two words.”</p> +<p>After which, he says: “I find these people in +Colebrook’s arrangement of the Hindoo Classes, mentioned in +the sixth class, under the head of <i>Nata</i>, Bazeegurs; and in +Sir William Jones’s translation of the Ordinances of Menu, +<i>Munoo</i>, Chapter 10.</p> +<p>“I shall now subjoin a short parallel between the +Gypsies of Europe, and the people I have described. Both +the <i>Gypsies</i> and the <i>Nuts</i> are generally a wandering +race of beings, seldom having a fixed habitation. They have +each a language peculiar to themselves. That of the Gypsies +is undoubtedly a species of Hindostanie; <!-- page 147--><a +name="page147"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 147</span>as well as +that of the Nuts. In Europe, it answers all the purposes of +concealment.</p> +<p>“The Gypsies have their King, the Nuts their <i>Nardar +Boutoh</i>; they are equally formed into companies, and their +peculiar employments are exactly similar; dancing, singing, +music, palmistry, &c. They are both considered as +thieves; at least that division of the Nuts, whose manners come +nearest the Gypsies.—In matters of religion they appear +equally indifferent, and as to food, we have seen that neither +the Gypsies nor the Budee’a Nuts are very choice.</p> +<p>“Though, in the Encyclopædia Britannica, +Grellmann’s Theory is thought slightly of, the similarity +of language being deemed but inconclusive evidence; yet in this +instance, and even in opposition to such authority, I will +venture to consider it, as forming a basis of the most +substantial kind. It is not the accidental coincidence of a +few words, but the whole vocabulary he produces, differs not so +much from the common Hindostanie, as provincial dialects of the +same country do from each other.</p> +<p><!-- page 148--><a name="page148"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +148</span>“Grellmann, from a want of knowledge in the +Hindostanie; as to its provincial dialects, lost many +opportunities of producing the proper word in comparison with the +Gypsey one.</p> +<p>“The following list of words was taken from the Annual +Register of 1784, or 1785, with a few I have now subjoined from +Grellmann.—In some of the instances where he has failed of +producing the corresponding Hindostanie word, the supply of them +will, I hope, prove the language of the Gypsies, and that of +Hindostan to be the same, or very intimately connected with each +other.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Hindostanie</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>English</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bebee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Beebe</p> +</td> +<td><p>Aunt, <i>a respectful feminine termination from baba</i>, +<i>Father</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Pawnee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Paniee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Brook, Drink, Water</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Cauliban</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kalaburn</p> +</td> +<td><p>Black</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Davies, Devus</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dewus</p> +</td> +<td><p>Day</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rattie</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rat</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dark night</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Can</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kan</p> +</td> +<td><p>The Ear</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Dad</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dada</p> +</td> +<td><p>Father</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mutchee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Muchee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Fish</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 149--><a name="page149"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 149</span>Bootsee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Buholsee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Great</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Gur</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ghur</p> +</td> +<td><p>House</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Shing</p> +</td> +<td><p>Seen</p> +</td> +<td><p>Horn</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tuttoo</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tutta</p> +</td> +<td><p>Heat</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Riah</p> +</td> +<td><p>Raye</p> +</td> +<td><p>Lord</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rriena</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ra, enee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Lady</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Dai</p> +</td> +<td><p>Da’ee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Mother</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mass</p> +</td> +<td><p>Mas</p> +</td> +<td><p>Meat or food</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nack</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nak</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nose</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bouropanee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bura-panee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ocean, wave</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Loon</p> +</td> +<td><p>Loon</p> +</td> +<td><p>Salt</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rook</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rook, h</p> +</td> +<td><p>A Tree</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tschar</p> +</td> +<td><p>Char</p> +</td> +<td><p>A Thief</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mul</p> +</td> +<td><p>Mool</p> +</td> +<td><p>Wine</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>Captain Richardson continues the list through four pages.</p> +<h2><!-- page 151--><a name="page151"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 151</span>SECTION IX.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Present state the Gypsies in England.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>It has been already stated, in the Introduction to this work, +that the author visited an encampment of Gypsies. It +consisted of five tents, situated near Rushden, within two miles +of the pleasant town of Higham Ferrers. He did not +reconnoitre the camp till about mid-day, having been informed +that by this time, it was probable, the able-bodied persons of +both sexes would be drawn off to a feast and a fair, in different +situations, not very distant. It proved so; there were only +two women, three children, and an infant remaining in the tents; +which were the residence of several branches of the numerous +families of Smith, and Loversedge, names well known in the county +of Northampton.</p> +<p><!-- page 152--><a name="page152"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +152</span>The head of the former, has been many years a dealer in +asses, or donkies; and is reputed to be possessed of some +property. His wife, more than eighty years of age, was +seated at the entrance of one of the tents, weaving a cabbage +net. The other woman, who was middle aged, was nursing an +infant; and the eldest of the children, about twelve years of +age, was making preparation for washing; a pan was suspended from +three poles, under which she had kindled a fire, to boil +water. The very tattered and squalid appearance of this +poor girl was truly affecting.</p> +<p>On conversing with the old woman, she said she had forty +grand-children; some gone to the feast, others to the fair; and +she signified, that both men and women were musical +performers.</p> +<p>On being asked whether any of them had learned to read, she +shook her head, and, with apparent regret, acknowledged they had +not. This indication of concern excited an idea, that some +impression had been made on the minds even of Gypsies, of the +disadvantages their children were under.</p> +<p><!-- page 153--><a name="page153"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +153</span>Considering how generally education had been extended, +to the lowest description of every other class of British +subjects; how many schools had been opened in villages, as well +as in the different towns of the kingdom, it was not improbable, +that information of movements so extraordinary, might have +reached the ears, if not impressed the minds of these neglected +fellow-creatures. The activity which had been subsequently +displayed in the distribution of the Scriptures, and the zeal +excited among the most ignorant to receive them, might also come +to their knowledge.</p> +<p>Resuming conversation with the female head of the Smith +family, she said they endured great hardships in winter, having +no shelter but their tents, in the worst of weather.</p> +<p>She was then asked, if they did not experience great +difficulty in obtaining the means of subsistence, during the +inclement seasons; and whether they were not, at times, reduced +to the necessity of taking up with any kind of sustenance, even +if it consisted of animals they might find dead upon the +road.</p> +<p><!-- page 154--><a name="page154"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +154</span>To this she immediately replied: “Those that have +died by the hand of God, are better than those that have died by +the hand of man.”</p> +<p>This reply, corresponding so exactly with that of the +Continental Gypsies, presents a remarkable trait of their mutual +descent from the Suder caste.</p> +<p>Some of the peculiarities in Gypsey habits to which we have +just now adverted, had not escaped the observation of that +accurate delineator of men and manners, our celebrated poet, +Cowper; as will appear by the following sketch:</p> +<p class="poetry">“I see a column of slow rising smoke,<br +/> +O’er-top the lofty wood, that skirts the wild.<br /> +A vagabond and useless tribe, there eat<br /> +Their miserable meal. A Kettle<br /> +Slung between two poles, upon a stick transverse,<br /> +Receives the morsel: flesh <i>obscene</i> of hog,<br /> +Or <i>vermin</i>; or, at best, of cock purloined<br /> +From his accustom’d perch. Hard faring race,<br /> +They pick their fuel out of every hedge,<br /> +Which kindled with dry leaves, and wood, just saves<br /> +The spark of life. The sportive wind blows wide<br /> +Their fluttering rags, and shows a tawney skin,<br /> +The vellum of the pedigree they claim.”</p> +<p><!-- page 155--><a name="page155"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +155</span>Before the Gypsey’s acknowledgment, of preferring +the flesh of animals which have died by disease, or what is +called a natural death, the writer of this section, knew not how +to credit the general testimony of the farmers and inhabitants of +Northamptonshire, that they did not find the Gypsies committed +any depredations on their property, unless it was in pilfering +wood from the fences. He now thinks it probable, that +others, who were unacquainted with this singular idea of the +Gypsies, respecting animal food, may have imagined they were +guilty of many more thefts for subsistence, than is really the +case.</p> +<p>In the further progress of his inquiries, the writer has met +with various instances in which confidence reposed in Gypsies, +has not been disappointed.—He will mention a remarkable one +at Feringbury, near Coggeshall, in Essex, on a farm which had +been occupied by three generations of the family of Corders; +during which time, not the least loss had been sustained, by +accommodating Gypsies with lodgings in their barns and out-houses +during <!-- page 156--><a name="page156"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 156</span>inclement weather; but, on the +contrary, the family have considered them a protection to their +property.</p> +<p>After the success of an experiment like the above, it would be +superfluous to ask, if it is not sounder policy to excite the +good, than the bad dispositions of human nature.</p> +<p>Must not the torrent of invective and abuse, almost +universally poured upon this people, tend to disaffect and +indispose them to civil association! Despised and +ill-treated as they often are, have they not reason to imagine +the hand of every man to be against them? Who then can +wonder at their eluding, as much as possible, the inquiries of +strangers!</p> +<p>Looking at their condition among the various inhabitants of +Europe, dignified with the Christian name, the writer has often +been reminded of the universality of the Gospel call, as +illustrated in the parable of the great supper. After the +invitation had been given throughout the streets and lanes of the +cities, the command to the servants was: “Go out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” +<!-- page 157--><a name="page157"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +157</span>Here is a description that may have been intended +specially to apply to this people, so exactly and even literally +adapted to their condition, in all countries, is the language: +“Go ye into the highways and hedges.” And the +distinction in their case is rendered still more remarkable by +the very pressing injunction, “Compel them to come +in.”</p> +<p>Does it not admit of the inference, that as outcasts of +society, being under greater disadvantages than the other incited +classes, their situation requited a more powerful stimulus to be +applied?</p> +<p>The account of the sufferings of Gypsies in winter, having +been confirmed by many concurring testimonies, from the +inhabitants of Northamptonshire, the following Circular was sent +into most of the Counties of England, with a view to ascertain +their state in other parts of the nation.</p> +<h3><!-- page 158--><a name="page158"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 158</span>CIRCULAR.</h3> +<p>When it is considered how much the exertions of the wise, the +philanthropic, and the good, in all parts of the nation, have +been directed to advancing the morals and religious instruction +of the lower orders of the community, it appears almost +incredible that one description of British subjects, and of all +others the most abject and depraved, should have been either +entirely overlooked or neglected. The Gypsies, to whom this +applies, are a people which, more than any other, it might have +been considered the interest of society to reclaim, because of +the depredations they commit upon it.</p> +<p>The efforts of the good, and of the great, have not been +confined to meliorating the condition of the inhabitants of this +country only, they have been directed to the alleviation of human +misery in various other nations, and even to the augmentation of +funds for civilizing the natives of distant regions of the +globe. <!-- page 159--><a name="page159"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 159</span>Can we manifest our solicitude for +the improvement of our fellow-creatures separated from us +thousands of miles, whose faces we never saw, and conclude that +numbers of persons in our own country, whose situation is more +desperate, have not a peculiar claim on our consideration?</p> +<p>To reclaim the Indians of North America from their wild and +roving course of life, associations have been formed to give them +instructions in agriculture, and to supply them with implements +of husbandry; plans of education adapted to their untutored state +have been arranged, and persons qualified to carry them into +effect, in the establishment of schools, have gone to their +assistance.</p> +<p>Do the numerous Gypsey tribes of England possess any of these +advantages?</p> +<p>In the summer of 1814, when the writer of this circular, +visited a number of Gypsey tents in Northamptonshire, as already +stated, a woman about 80 years of age, who had forty +grand-children, acknowledged, that not one of them had been +taught to read. In this land <!-- page 160--><a +name="page160"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 160</span>of +Christian benevolence, can we pronounce a certain proportion of +its inhabitants to be wretchedly depraved, and even a wicked set +of people; advertise them as rogues and vagabonds, and offer a +reward for their apprehension, without devising any means of +remedying the defects of their habits, or holding out +encouragement to reformation, in any of them who are disposed to +relinquish their vicious courses?</p> +<p>The associations formed and forming in different parts of the +nation for the prosecution of felons, render the condition of +Gypsies every day more and more deplorable, by their being hunted +like beasts of prey from township to township.</p> +<p>The last winter but one, a company of these houseless +wanderers were dug out of the snow in Ditchford Lane, near +Irchester, Northamptonshire, when it appeared one woman had been +lying in, and that an old man was dying.</p> +<p>If those who have been zealous in driving them from their +accustomed haunts, were to place themselves, if but ideally in +their situation, <!-- page 161--><a name="page161"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 161</span>can we believe, that instead of +augmenting their sufferings, they would not be disposed to +commiserate their case, and even attend to the precept of the +Christian Legislator: “Whatsoever ye would that men should +do to you, do ye even so to them?” It is worse than +useless and unavailing to harrass them from place to place, when +no retreat or shelter is provided for their refuge.</p> +<p>A writer on this subject, under the designation of Junius, in +the Northampton Mercury of June 27th, 1814, observes: “When +we consider the immense sums raised for every probable means of +doing good, which have hitherto been made public, we cannot +doubt, if a proper method should be proposed for the relief and +ameliorating the state of these people, it would meet with +deserved encouragement. Suppose that the Legislature should +think them not unworthy its notice; and as a part of the great +family, they ought not to be overlooked.” Another +writer in the Northampton Mercury of July the 21st of the last +year, on the necessity of some plan <!-- page 162--><a +name="page162"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 162</span>being +adopted for their advantage, remarks, thereby “thousands of +our fellow-creatures would be raised from depravity and +wretchedness to a state of comfort; the private property of +individuals be much more secure, and the public materially +benefited.” In addition to these observations, it may +be asked, Would not the providing of an education for their +children, to which they should be induced to conform, and the +apprenticing of them, at a proper age, to suitable trades, enable +the rising generation to correct the errors of Gypsey habits?</p> +<p>With a view to ascertain more fully the extent in which this +may be necessary, the friends of humanity, to whom this Circular +may be addressed, are requested to co-operate with others of +their friends in different parts of each county, for procuring +answers from the best informed of the Gypsies, and others, to the +subsequent questions. And should there be any person in +their neighbourhood, who after being brought up among the +Gypsies, hath quitted them for a more settled course of life, +<!-- page 163--><a name="page163"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +163</span>information from such is particularly desirable. +Answers are requested in the course of the summer: to be sent to +John Hoyland, Springfield, Sheffield.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<h3>QUESTIONS.</h3> +<p>1. From whence is it said the Gypsies first came?</p> +<p>2. How many is it supposed there are in England?</p> +<p>3. What is your circuit in summer?</p> +<p>4. How many Gypsey families are supposed to be in +it?</p> +<p>5. What are the names of them?</p> +<p>6. Have they any meetings with those of other +circuits?</p> +<p>7. And for what purpose?</p> +<p>8. What number of Gypsies are there computed to be in +the county?</p> +<p>9. What proportion of their number follow business, and +what kind?</p> +<p>10. What do they bring their children up to?</p> +<p>11. What do the women employ themselves in?</p> +<p><!-- page 164--><a name="page164"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +164</span>12. From how many generations can they trace +their descent?</p> +<p>13. Have they kept to one part of the country, or +removed to distant parts?</p> +<p>14. How long have they lived in this part?</p> +<p>15. Have they any speech of their own, different to that +used by other people?</p> +<p>16. What do they call it? Can any one write +it?</p> +<p>17. Is there any writing of it to be seen any where?</p> +<p>18. Have they any rules of conduct which are general to +their community?</p> +<p>19. What religion do they mostly profess?</p> +<p>20. Do they marry, and in what manner?</p> +<p>21. How do they teach their children religion?</p> +<p>22. Do any of them learn to read?</p> +<p>23. Who teaches them?</p> +<p>24. Have they any houses to go to in winter?</p> +<p>25. What proportion of them, is it supposed, live out of +doors in winter, as in summer?</p> +<p>5<i>th</i> <i>Month</i>, 16<i>th</i>, 1815.</p> +<h4><!-- page 165--><a name="page165"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 165</span>THE REPORTS</h4> +<p class="gutsumm"><i>Received from the Counties of England</i>, +<i>are comprised in the following general Answers to the Queries +of the Circular</i>.</p> +<p>1. All Gypsies suppose the first of them came from +Egypt.</p> +<p>2. They cannot form any idea of the number in +England.</p> +<p>3. The Gypsies of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, parts of +Buckinghamshire, Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire, are continually +making revolutions within the range of those counties.</p> +<p>4. They are either ignorant of the number of Gypsies in +the counties through which they travel, or unwilling to disclose +their knowledge.</p> +<p>5. The most common names are Smith, Cooper, Draper, +Taylor, Bosswel, Lee, Lovell, Loversedge, Allen, Mansfield, +Glover, Williams, Carew, Martin, Stanley, Buckley, Plunkett, +Corrie.</p> +<p>6 & 7. The gangs in different towns have not any +regular connection, or organization; <!-- page 166--><a +name="page166"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 166</span>but those +who take up their winter quarters in the same city or town, +appear to have some knowledge of the different routes each horde +will pursue; probably with a design to prevent interference.</p> +<p>8. In the county of Herts, it is computed there may be +sixty families, having many children. Whether they are +quite so numerous in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and +Northamptonshire, the answers are not sufficiently definite to +determine. In Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, +Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire, greater numbers are calculated +upon. In various counties, the attention has not been +competent to procuring data for any estimate of families, or +individuals.</p> +<p>9. More than half their number follow no business; +others are dealers in horses and asses; farriers, smiths, +tinkers, braziers, grinders of cutlery, basket-makers, +chair-bottomers, and musicians.</p> +<p>10. Children are brought up in the habits of their +parents, particularly to music and dancing, and are of dissolute +conduct.</p> +<p><!-- page 167--><a name="page167"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +167</span>11. The women mostly carry baskets with trinkets +and small wares; and tell fortunes.</p> +<p>12. Too indolent to have acquired accounts of genealogy, +and perhaps indisposed to it by the irregularity of their +habits.</p> +<p>13. In most counties there are particular situations to +which they are partial. In Berkshire is a marsh, near +Newbury, much frequented by them; and Dr. Clarke states, that in +Cambridgeshire, their principal rendezvous is near the western +villages.</p> +<p>14. It cannot be ascertained, whether from their first +coming into the nation, attachment to particular places has +prevailed.</p> +<p>15, 16, & 17. When among strangers, they elude +inquiries respecting their peculiar language, calling it +gibberish. Don’t know of any person that can write +it, or of any written specimen of it.</p> +<p>18. Their habits and customs in all places are +peculiar.</p> +<p>19. Those who profess any religion, represent it to be +that of the country in which they reside: but their description +of it, seldom goes <!-- page 168--><a name="page168"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 168</span>beyond repeating the Lord’s +prayer; and only a few of them are capable of that. +Instances of their attending any place for warship are very +rare.</p> +<p>20. They marry for the most part by pledging to each +other, without any ceremony. A few exceptions have occurred +when money was plentiful.</p> +<p>21. They do not teach their children religion.</p> +<p>22 & 23. Not <i>one</i> in a <i>thousand</i> can +read.</p> +<p>24 & 25. Some go into lodgings in London, Cambridge, +&c. during winter; but it is calculated three-fourths of them +live out of doors in winter, as in summer.</p> +<p>Most of the answers are confirmed by Riley Smith, who, during +many years, was accounted the chief of the Gypsies in +Northamptonshire. He being much in request by some of the +principal inhabitants of that county, as a musician, had the +address to marry the cook out of one of their families, and +afterward obtained a farm near Bedford; but being unsuccessful in +agriculture, he returned to his former occupation. <!-- +page 169--><a name="page169"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +169</span>John Forster and William Carrington, respectable +merchants of Biggleswade, and neighbours to Riley Smith, procured +answers from him to all the queries in the Circular; but they +cannot be made the basis of any calculation of the number of +Gypsies in the nation.</p> +<p>It has not come to the knowledge of the writer, what +foundation there has been for the report commonly circulated, +that a Member of Parliament had stated to the House of Commons, +when speaking to some question relating to Ireland; that there +were not less than 36,000 Gypsies in Great Britain.</p> +<p>To make up such an aggregate, the numerous hordes must have +been included, who traverse most of the nation with carts and +asses, for the sale of earthenware, and live out of doors great +part of the year, after the manner of the Gypsies.—These +potters, as they are commonly called, acknowledge that Gypsies +have intermingled with them, and their habits are very +similar. They take their children along with them on +travel, and, like the Gypsies, regret that they are without +education.</p> +<p><!-- page 170--><a name="page170"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +170</span>It has already appeared in Baillie Smith’s +report, that the Gypsies in Scotland, of late years, have had +recourse to a similar occupation in the sale of earthenware, +which, as they mostly attend fairs, is a mode of life remarkably +adapted to their inclination.</p> +<p>Some pains have been taken among the potteries in +Staffordshire, to procure information of the number of families +of this description, which annually apply to purchase the refuse +of their wares; but no return has been made.</p> +<p>The application to the Sheriffs of Scotland, procured from the +counties prompt and decisive reports; and it is not probable that +any measure, short of an order to the constables of every +township, to take an account on the same day, throughout England, +would be sufficient for ascertaining Gypsey population.</p> +<p>For this purpose a patrole might be necessary, on one and the +same day, in each township, particularly in lanes and situations +shaded in summer. If notice of the requisition were to be +communicated to constables, a few days before, with directions +not to disclose the object, <!-- page 171--><a +name="page171"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 171</span>further +than the necessary provision for it required; it is probable, +that a sufficiently correct estimate might be formed, of the +aggregate number in the nation.</p> +<p>Such an account might extend also to the itinerant potters, +and the number of their children: or if the potters take out a +Hawker’s and Pedlar’s licence, a return of their +numbers might be obtained from the proper office. There is +reason to think that many of these dealers have acquired +property, who, nevertheless take lodgings for the winter, instead +of renting houses; whereby they, equally with Gypsies, evade all +contributions to the service of the State, and parochial +assessments.</p> +<p>On this subject, the writer is reminded of what has often +occurred to him, when inspecting a low description of +lodging-houses in the populous town of Sheffield, of which he is +an inhabitant. Finding it difficult to obtain from the +keepers of such houses, sufficient information respecting their +guests; he has thought, that obliging all who lodge itinerants to +take out a licence, would, by rendering them amenable <!-- page +172--><a name="page172"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 172</span>to +just authority, obviate this difficulty; and put it in the power +of those respectable inhabitants, who wish the regulation of +these receptacles, to exercise just discrimination, without +infringing upon the liberty of the subject. He has reason +to believe, if this were effected, it would operate as a +considerable check on vagrancy, and save much trouble to +magistrates.</p> +<h2><!-- page 173--><a name="page173"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 173</span>SECTION X.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Present state of the Gypsies in and about +London.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>In the autumn of 1815, the author made a journey to London, in +order to obtain information respecting the Gypsies in its +vicinity.</p> +<p>The first account he received of the education of any of them, +was from Thomas Howard, proprietor of a glass and china shop, No. +50, Fetter-lane, Fleet-street. This person, who preached +among the Calvinists, said, that in the winter of 1811, he had +assisted in the establishment of a Sunday School in +Windmill-street, Acre-lane, near Clapham. It was under the +patronage of a single gentlewoman, of the name of Wilkinson, and +principally intended for the neglected and forlorn children of +brick-makers, and the most abject of the poor. It was begun +on a small scale, but increased till the number of scholars +amounted to forty.</p> +<p><!-- page 174--><a name="page174"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +174</span>During the winter, a family of Gypsies, of the name of +Cooper, obtained lodgings at a house opposite the school. +Trinity Cooper, a daughter of this Gypsey family, who was about +thirteen years of age, applied to be instructed at the school; +but, in consequence of the obloquy affixed to that description of +persons, she was repeatedly refused. She nevertheless +persevered in her importunity, till she obtained admission for +herself, and two of her brothers.</p> +<p>Thomas Howard says, that, surrounded as he was by ragged +children, without shoes and stockings, the first lesson he taught +them was silence and submission.—They acquired habits of +subordination, became tractable and docile; and, of all his +scholars, there were not any more attentive and affectionate than +these; and when the Gypsies broke up house in the spring, to make +their usual excursions, the children expressed much regret at +leaving the school.</p> +<p>This account was confirmed by Thomas Jackson, of Brixton-row, +minister of Stockwell Chapel, who said, since the above +experiment, several Gypsies had been admitted to a sabbath <!-- +page 175--><a name="page175"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +175</span>school, under the direction of his congregation. +At their introduction, he compared them to birds when first put +into a cage, which flew against the sides of it, having no idea +of restraint; but by a steady even care over them, and the +influence of the example of other children, they soon became +settled, and fell into their ranks.</p> +<p>With a view to reconnoitre an encampment of Gypsies, the +author accepted a seat in the carriage of a friend, who drove him +to Hainault forest. This, according to historians, was of +vast extent in the times of the ancient Britons, reaching to the +Thames; and so late as the reign of Henry the 2d, it covered the +northern vicinity of the city.</p> +<p>On this forest, about two miles from the village of Chigwell, +Essex, and ten from London, stands the far-famed oak, at which is +held Fairlop Fair, that great annual resort of the Gypsies.</p> +<p>According to an account of it printed for Hogg, +Paternoster-row, the trunk or main stem of this tree has been +sixty-six feet, and <!-- page 176--><a name="page176"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 176</span>some of the branches twelve feet, in +circumference. The age of this prodigy of the forest cannot +be ascertained with any degree of precision. The oak viewed +by the present King, in Oxfordshire, and some years ago felled in +the domains of one of the Colleges, though only twenty-five feet +in girth, is said to have been six hundred years old. +Fairlop oak having been nearly thrice as large, is supposed to be +at least twice that age.</p> +<p>Phillips employed by the King, applied a patent mixture to +stop the progress of its decay, but, last autumn, when seen by +the describer, its naked gigantic trunk and arms, retaining not +the least symptom of animation, presented a ghastly spectacle of +the ravages of time, as contrasted with the rich verdure of the +surrounding scenery.</p> +<p>The circumstances which gave rise to the establishment of a +fair, on this spot of ground, are somewhat singular.</p> +<p>Daniel Day, an engine, pump, and block-maker, of Wapping, +having a small estate in the vicinity of this oak, was in the +habit of <!-- page 177--><a name="page177"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 177</span>annually resorting to it about a +fortnight after midsummer, to receive his rents, when he provided +a dinner under the tree, and invited several of his friends to +it. The novelty of the scene exciting the attention of the +neighbouring inhabitants, attendance on that occasion increased +until about the year 1725, when booths being erected round the +stupendous oak, the scene assumed the appearance of a regular +fair. It has continued to be held there, and it is said now +attracts a great number of attendants.</p> +<p>As this fair does not appear to be a mart for horses or +cattle, there is reason to fear, it is kept up more for revelry +and excess, than for any useful purpose. The ground has +been cleared to some extent about the oak, which stands at the +head of a circular lawn, surrounded by pailing, to protect it +from the ravages of the unthinking part of the multitude, who +assemble there. It is said to have been the practice of the +Gypsies, to kindle fires against the trunk, by which the bulk has +been diminished, and perhaps the vegetation injured.</p> +<p><!-- page 178--><a name="page178"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +178</span>On the side of the forest, near to Dagenham, Essex, was +the encampment of Gypsies, of which the author’s friend was +in quest. The construction of their tents, is well known to +be wooden hoops fastened into the ground, and covered with an +awning of blankets or canvas, which resembles the tilt of a +waggon; the end is closed from the wind by a curtain. This +gang was called by the name of Corrie. It consisted of an +old man, his wife, a niece, and their son and daughter with ten +children; said to be all from Staffordshire. The men were +scissars’ grinders and tinkers.</p> +<p>Questions being asked them respecting their condition, a young +woman made some observations upon them to an older woman, in +their own peculiar speech. This was the first time the +writer had an opportunity of ascertaining, what the language of +Gypsies in England really was. With the knowledge only of +Grellmann’s vocabulary, he pointed out what the young woman +had expressed; upon which they immediately exclaimed, the +gentleman understands what we say; and they gave way to <!-- page +179--><a name="page179"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +179</span>immoderate transports of joy, saying, they would tell +him any thing he wished to know of them.</p> +<p>On being asked what gold was in their language, they replied +without hesitation, <i>sonnaka</i>, and immediately added, silver +was <i>roop</i>.</p> +<p>The opinion which has been entertained, that Gypsey language +was composed only of cant terms, or of what has been denominated +the slang of beggars, has probably been much promoted and +strengthened by the dictionary contained in a pamphlet entitled, +“The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde Moore +Carew.” It consists for the most part of English +words, vamped up apparently not so much for the purpose of +concealment, as burlesque. Even if used by this people at +all, the introduction of this cant, as the genuine language of +the community of Gypsies, is a gross imposition on the +public.</p> +<p>One of the women said, the education of their children was to +be desired, but their travelling from place to place was against +it.—A young man among them said, there were a <!-- page +180--><a name="page180"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +180</span>hundred of their people in Staffordshire. This +gang was intelligent as well as communicative, and gave proof of +more civility than is commonly attributed to Gypsies.</p> +<p>The author also visited Norwood, which was formerly a +principal rendezvous of the Gypsies. This village, near +Croydon, in Surry, is situated on a fine hill, and is a wildly +rural spot; but having been considerably inclosed of late years, +it is not now much frequented by the Gypsies.</p> +<p>John Westover, deputy of James Furnell, constable of Norwood, +stated, that about two months before, the Gypsies in that +neighbourhood had been apprehended as vagrants, and sent in three +coaches to prison. This account was confirmed by Edward +Morris, the landlord at the Gypsey house. It did not appear +that these Gypsies were committed for depredations on property, +but merely on the vagrant act.</p> +<p>Gypsies being <i>routed</i>, as it is termed, in this manner, +from various parts of the south, may probably have occasioned +their appearing in greater numbers in the northern parts of the +<!-- page 181--><a name="page181"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +181</span>nation. The writer of this section being at +Scarborough, in the bathing season of 1815, had intelligence of +there being, at the same time, an encampment of Gypsies at +Boroughbridge, another at Knaresborough, and a third at +Pocklington, in the east-riding of Yorkshire.</p> +<p>On returning from Scarborough, he was told by an acquaintance +at Tadcaster, that a gang of about twenty Gypsies, were just gone +from the neighbourhood, after telling fortunes to most of the +people in the town. The same summer, a numerous horde had +been driven from the township of Rotherham; and there had been +two encampments in the neighbourhood of Sheffield.</p> +<p>The winter before the last, severe as it was, a gang of about +fifty or sixty, lay upon Bramley Moor, three miles from +Chesterfield. This information was received from Joseph +Storrs of Chesterfield, who has been an assiduous +coadjutor. From the same authority, the writer learns, that +a number of Gypsies usually came to Duckmanton, near +Chesterfield, at the feast, who appear to be in pretty good +reputation in <!-- page 182--><a name="page182"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 182</span>their transactions. Also that +there is a party of Gypsies who frequent Socombe-lane, near +Shirbrook, which is two miles east of Pleasley. They are +called Bosswell’s gang, consisting of twelve, and sometimes +more, who mostly come once a year, and sometimes continue there +for most of it. A woman among them is about 90 years +old. They support a good character; and one of them who +bought a pony, had credit for it, and paid honestly on his +return.</p> +<p>After obtaining information at Norwood, of the winter-quarters +in London, to which Gypsies resorted; the author had an interview +with branches of several families of them, collected at the house +of his friend William Corder, Grocer, in Broad-street, +Giles’s. And in justice to them, he must observe, +that however considerably the fear of apprehension as vagrants, +may dispose them, when on travel and among strangers, to elude +their inquiries, no disposition to do so, appears in the company +of persons to whom they are known, and in whom they can repose +confidence.</p> +<p><!-- page 183--><a name="page183"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +183</span>Being accustomed to lay out their money at the shop of +this grocer, he said they would be very ready to attend upon his +invitation; and accordingly, a number of them soon made their +appearance. They said there were about twenty of the name +of Lovell, who lodged in Bowles’s yard, in the +neighbourhood. These acknowledged themselves Gypsies, and +many of them had the features, as well as the complexion of +Asiatics.</p> +<p>Their account is, that they come into lodgings at Michaelmas, +and continue till April, then they set out on travel, and go into +Norfolk, &c.</p> +<p>That some time ago, some of them had embraced an offer to +educate their children at St. Patrick’s charity school, +which had been established by the chaplain to the Portuguese +ambassador; but some dissatisfaction arising in consequence of +the religion of the conductors of that Institution, they had +removed their children to the school for the Irish, taught by +Partak Ivery, No. 5, George-street.</p> +<p><!-- page 184--><a name="page184"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +184</span>Uriah Lovell, the head of one of the families, made a +very decent appearance; three of his children have been four +winters at school, and learned to read and write; their father +having paid sixpence per week, for each of them.—Partak was +sent for, and came to the house of William Corder, where he +confirmed the above account, saying there had been six Gypsey +children at his school, and that when placed among others, they +were reducible to order.</p> +<p>These Gypsies, like those upon Hainault forest, appeared to be +greatly delighted at meeting with a person, acquainted, as they +thought, with their language, and were remarkably free in +speaking it.</p> +<p>James Corder, son of William Corder, obtained the following +account of some of the lodgers in Westminster, and in the +Borough, &c.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Names</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Family</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Occupation and +Residence</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>John Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife and 6 children,</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, Tunbridge-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>James Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 6 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tinker, Church-lane.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Joseph Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 3 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, New-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Thomas Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 2 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair bottomer, Banbridge-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>William Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 1 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Knife-grinder, Church-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 185--><a name="page185"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 185</span>Lussha Cooper,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife and 10 children,</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rat-catcher, Tottenham-court-road.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Corrie Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 5 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Knife-grinder, Bolton-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Uriah Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 6 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, Bolton-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Thomas Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 7 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Knife-grinder, Paddington.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Solomon Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 4 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, New-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Solomon Jones,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 2 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Basket-maker and Wire-worker, Battle-bridge.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Men and Women,</p> +</td> +<td><p>22—52 Children.</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>John Lee,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife and 9 children,</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, Tothil-fields.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Richard Taylor,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 3 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Wire-worker, New-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Betsey Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>widow,</p> +</td> +<td><p>Supported by her son Joseph Lovell.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Joseph Lovell,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife 1 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bellows-mender, Shore-ditch.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Diana Lee,</p> +</td> +<td><p>widow 1 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sells Earthenware, Shore-ditch.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mansfield Lee,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife 0 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tinker and Grinder, Shore-ditch.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Zachariah Lee,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 0 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Fiddler—Travels the Country.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Thomas Smith,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 5 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chair-bottomer, Lisson-green, Paddington.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Thomas Porter,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 3 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Works at the Canal, Paddington.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Charlotte Allen,</p> +</td> +<td><p>widow 7 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sells Earthenware, Kent-street, Borough.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>James Cole,</p> +</td> +<td><p>wife 4 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Lamplighter and Grinder, Kent-street, Borough.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Edward Martin,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 2 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sells Fruit in the Street, Kent-street, Borough.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Samuel Martin,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 6 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Journeyman Saddler, White-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>John Sinfield,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 0 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sells Fish in the Streets, White-street.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>John Taylor,</p> +</td> +<td><p>do. 3 do.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ditto. Ditto.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Men and Women,</p> +</td> +<td><p>25—44 Children.</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><!-- page 186--><a name="page186"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +186</span>There has not been any information obtained concerning +who winter in Bull’s Court, Kingsland Road, or in +Cooper’s Gardens.</p> +<p>The older Gypsey children assist their parents in their +trades; a few of the younger go to school during winter. +Most of those who have children, are desirous of their receiving +an education; though but few have the means of procuring it.</p> +<p>They complain of the scarcity of work; and in some instances +appear to be distressed for want of it; the more so, as their +ideas of independence prevent their applying to parishes for +assistance.—It is much to their credit, that so few +instances occur of their begging in London. In the minutes +of evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons, on +mendicity, there is only one example of a Gypsey girl begging in +the streets.</p> +<p>Some of the women go in a morning to principal houses in the +squares, before the heads of the families have risen, and tell +fortunes to the servants, from whom they obtain sixpence or a +shilling each.</p> +<p><!-- page 187--><a name="page187"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +187</span>A few of the Gypsies continue all the year in London, +excepting their attendance of fairs in the vicinity. +Others, when work is scarce, go out twenty or thirty miles round +the metropolis, carrying their implements with them on asses; and +support themselves by the employment they obtain in the towns and +villages through which they pass; and assist sometimes in +hay-making, and plucking hops, in the counties of Kent, Surry, +and Sussex.</p> +<p>Among those who have winter-quarters in London, there are a +few that take circuits of great extent. Some of them +mentioned going through Herts into Suffolk, then crossing +Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, +Bristol, &c. Others spoke of being at Yarmouth, +Portsmouth, South Wales, Wiltshire, &c.</p> +<p>There is reason to think, the greatest part of the Island is +traversed in different directions, by hordes of Gypsies.</p> +<p>For the purpose of comparing the language of English Gypsies +with that of the Continental, exhibited in Section VIII, the +following list of <!-- page 188--><a name="page188"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 188</span>words was sent to James Corder, +Broadstreet, Bloomsbury. He obtained from the Gypsies in +his neighbourhood, the translation affixed to them.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>English</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>One</p> +</td> +<td><p>Yake</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Two</p> +</td> +<td><p>Duèe</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Three</p> +</td> +<td><p>Trin</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Four</p> +</td> +<td><p>Stor</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Five</p> +</td> +<td><p>Pan</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ten</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dyche</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Head</p> +</td> +<td><p>Charro</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Eyes</p> +</td> +<td><p>Yock</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nose</p> +</td> +<td><p>Nack</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bread</p> +</td> +<td><p>Mor</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bread & butter</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kil-môr</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Beer</p> +</td> +<td><p>Limbar</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hair</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bâlo.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Cold day</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shil-dewes</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hot day</p> +</td> +<td><p>Tal-dewes</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Ear</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kau</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Day</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dewes</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Night</p> +</td> +<td><p>Raut</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>White</p> +</td> +<td><p>Parnau</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Sheep</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bolko</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hog</p> +</td> +<td><p>Borlo</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Fish</p> +</td> +<td><p>Marcho</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>House</p> +</td> +<td><p>Kare</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Gold</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sonnekar</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Silver</p> +</td> +<td><p>Rupe</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Dog</p> +</td> +<td><p>Jukou</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Horse</p> +</td> +<td><p>Grarre</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>When it is known that Gypsies are unacquainted with letters, +and that James Corder, who took from the mouths of those in the +parish called St. Giles, the preceding Gypsey <!-- page 189--><a +name="page189"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 189</span>words, did +not know of Grellmann’s vocabulary, the coincidence appears +very remarkable; but it is still more so with the Turkish Gypsey +specimen by Jacob Bryant, exhibited also in the 8th +Section. Robert Forster of Tottenham, who has been a +coadjutor in this work, transmitted the following collection of +words obtained from Gypsies in his neighbourhood.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>Gypsey</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center"><i>English</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Parnee</p> +</td> +<td><p>Water</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Jewcal</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dog</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Maurau</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bread</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Kil-maurau</p> +</td> +<td><p>Bread & butter</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Lavenar</p> +</td> +<td><p>Beer</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Shill-deues</p> +</td> +<td><p>Cold day</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Taldu</p> +</td> +<td><p>Hot day</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Moila</p> +</td> +<td><p>Ass</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Gur</p> +</td> +<td><p>Horse</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>In the conversation a clergyman had with the Bosswell gang, as +published in the Christian Guardian for 1812 and 1813, they told +him <i>Chum</i>, was the sun; <i>Chuu</i>, the moon; +<i>Kalmàro</i>, bread and butter; and <i>Livina</i>, +drink. The first two of those words almost exactly accord +with Grellmann’s vocabulary, and the latter as nearly with +Robert Forster’s and James <!-- page 190--><a +name="page190"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +190</span>Corder’s collection from Gypsies in and about +London.</p> +<p>From the comparative views which have been taken of Gypsey +expressions in various countries, there is reason to conclude +that wherever they have been scattered on the face of the earth, +they have spoken and transmitted the same language to their +descendants. That it should have been preserved by them, +when among people of other tongues, throughout centuries, for no +purpose that we are acquainted with, but that of concealment, is +indeed astonishing.</p> +<h2><!-- page 191--><a name="page191"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 191</span>SECTION XI.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Sentiments of various persons on the moral +condition of the Gypsies</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>After the extensive survey which has now been taken of the +customs and habits of this people, in the various countries they +inhabit, the reader will be prepared for the conclusions of +Grellmann, that Gypsies are indeed a singular phenomenon in +Europe. And remarkable it is, that the combined influence +of time, climate, and example, have not effected any material +alteration in their state. For the space of three or four +hundred years, they have gone wandering about as pilgrims and +strangers; they are found in eastern, as well as in western +countries; as well among the rude, as the civilized; among +indolent and active people; yet they remain in all places, as to +customs and habits, what their fathers were.</p> +<p><!-- page 192--><a name="page192"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +192</span>It is asserted, there are two causes to which this +coincidence is to be attributed; one is the country where they +originate, with their consequent train of thinking; the other +arises out of the circumstances which have hitherto attended +their situation. Their peculiar notions and customs, leave +no doubt of their being of eastern origin. In oriental +countries, attachment to habit is so strong, that what has been +once current among them, be it ever so pernicious or ridiculous, +is persevered in; any affection which has once predominated, +retains its dominion for ages.</p> +<p>Mahomet knowing that the weak side of the Arabians was their +veneration for every thing handed down from their forefathers, +gave his new profession the colouring of antiquity, and affirmed +it to be the religion of Abraham. The Jesuits in China, +availed themselves of similar means, by referring to Confucius, +in aid of their doctrines, and thus they obtained admission for +their religion among the Chinese. In the eastern nations, +no change is adopted merely because it is an improvement. +The <!-- page 193--><a name="page193"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 193</span>Chinese are acquainted with the use +of glass, yet their mirrors are always made of metal; and their +windows of shells.—Mechanical watches have been for ages +used in the court of Pekin, but the bulk of the nation depend +upon the action of fire and water; the former, by the gradual +burning of a match composed of sweet smelling powder, the latter +by water, somewhat resembling our large hour-glasses.</p> +<p>If we consider the circumstances under which the Gypsies have +existed, we shall want nothing more to make us comprehend, why +they have remained to the present time, what they were at their +first arrival in Europe. Separating themselves as much as +possible from all association, but with those of their own tribe, +they avoid every means which might give a new turn to their +ideas, or in the least degree contribute to eradicate deep-rooted +prejudice.—Unused to reflect, and fettered by habit, they +arrived in our quarter of the globe; and it does not appear that +any measures have been enjoined for instructing or reforming +them, except <!-- page 194--><a name="page194"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 194</span>those of the Empress Theresa, which +were never put in execution.</p> +<p>The most extreme punishments failing to effect a change in the +habits of Gypsies, they were subjected in almost all countries to +banishment. They had been accustomed in their own country, +to live remote from cities and towns; now they became more +invariably inhabitants of forests, and penetrated deeper into +deserts; as, in consequence of the search which was made after +them, or, at least, threatened to be made, they judged themselves +more secure in seclusion and concealment, than they would have +been, in frequenting places of established abode, and having free +intercourse with the neighbouring, inhabitants. Thus they +became, in a greater degree, outcasts from civilized society; and +divested of the most, and perhaps the only, probable means, of +inducing a change in their manner.</p> +<p>Being always either persecuted, or left to themselves, no +other could be expected, than that they must ever remain in all +places the same. The character of people being formed by +the <!-- page 195--><a name="page195"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 195</span>instruction they receive in their +early years, can it be thought surprising, that Gypsies who are +idlers, should be also abandoned and thievish? Is it to be +expected that men should become diligent, who have been educated +in laziness? Who can have a general idea of fair dealing, +that has never been taught the distinction between good and evil, +virtue and vice? Perhaps it is reserved for <i>our age</i>, +in which so much has been attempted for the benefit of mankind, +to humanize a people, who, for centuries, have wandered in error +and neglect; and it may be hoped, that while we are endeavouring +to ameliorate the condition of our African brethren, the +civilization of Gypsies, who form so large a portion of humanity, +will not be overlooked.</p> +<p>It cannot be denied, that considering the multitude of them, +their reform must be a subject of very serious consideration to +many states. The period in which banishments were generally +pronounced on this people, were too unphilosophical for any +preferable mode of punishment to be suggested; but it may be <!-- +page 196--><a name="page196"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +196</span>expected from a better informed age, that better maxims +will be adopted. We send apostles to the east and west, to +the most distant parts of the whole earth; and even into the very +country whence the Gypsies emigrated, to instruct the people who +know not God. Is it not inconsistent for men to be +solicitous for the welfare of their fellow-creatures in distant +regions, and to throw off, and leave to chance, those who, +equally wretched, have brought their errors home to us? If +it be a good work to teach religion and virtue to such as are +ignorant of their Creator, why not begin with those nearest to +us?—Especially as neglect in this particular, is attended +with detriment to the society of which we are members.</p> +<p>The Gypsies have been long enough among civilized people to +prove, that they will not be allured by the mere example of +others, to free themselves from the fetters of old customs and +vices. To accomplish that end, more effectual means are +requisite.</p> +<p>It would be vain to hope for any considerable progress in the +improvement of those who are <!-- page 197--><a +name="page197"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 197</span>grown +up. Their reformation would be a difficult task, as the +attempts made by the Empress Theresa evinced:—you must +begin with children, and not meddle with the old stock, on whom +no efforts will have effect.</p> +<p>Expelling the Gypsies entirely, was not merely a premature +step, it was a wasteful one. This is indisputable, so long +as the state maxim holds good, that a numerous population is +advantageous.</p> +<p>Care being taken to enlighten their understandings, and amend +their hearts, they might become useful citizens; for observe them +at whatever employment you may, there always appear sparks of +genius. It is well known, and no writer omits to remark, +what artful devices they have recourse to, in perpetrating any +cheat or robbery: but this is not the only particular in which +they show capacity. The following extract is from a +Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer of these +people.</p> +<blockquote><p>“The Gypsies have a fertile imagination in +their way, and are quick and ready at expedients; so that in many +serious, doubtful cases, <!-- page 198--><a +name="page198"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 198</span>they soon +recollect how to act, in order to extricate themselves. We +cannot indeed help wondering, when we attend to, and consider the +skill they display in preparing and bringing their works to +perfection; which is the more necessary from the scarcity of +proper tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning +in cheating, or thieving; and when called to account for any +fraud or robbery, fruitful in invention, and persuasive in their +arguments to defend themselves.”</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Grellmann</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapmediumline"> </div> +<p><!-- page 199--><a name="page199"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +199</span>The recommendation of Grellmann, p. 197, to begin the +work of reform with children, appears judicious; but the events +of the present day justify the expectation, that benevolent +exertions would not prove fruitless, should they afterwards be +extended even to the “<i>old stock</i>.”</p> +<p>Before the Circular introduced is the 10th Section was +distributed, the author did not know of the correspondence on the +subject of Gypsies, which had appeared in the interesting pages +of the Christian Observer. But he should now consider it an +injustice to those benevolent individuals, who had taken the lead +in this work of Christian charity, not to give full consideration +to the ideas they have suggested.</p> +<p>In Vol. VII. p. 91 of that periodical publication, is the +following letter.</p> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>To the Editor of the +Christian Observer</i>.</p> +<p>As the divine spirit of Christianity deems no object, however +unworthy or insignificant, beneath <!-- page 200--><a +name="page200"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 200</span>her notice, +I venture to apply to you on behalf of a race, the outcasts of +society, of whose pitiable condition, among the many forms of +human misery which have engaged your efforts, I do not recollect +to have seen any notice in the pages of your excellent +miscellany. I allude to the deplorable state of the +Gypsies, on whose behalf I beg leave to solicit your good offices +with the public.—Lying at our very doors, they seem to have +a peculiar claim on our compassion.</p> +<p>In the midst of a highly refined state of society, they are +but little removed from savage life. In this happy country, +where the light of Christianity shines with its purest lustre, +they are still strangers to its cheering influence. I have +not heard even of any efforts which have been made, either by +individuals or societies, for their improvement; and so +thoroughly do they appear to despise the advantages of civilized +life, that perhaps nothing less than that change of heart, which +is the effect of the blessing of God on the means employed for +their conversion, would prevent their continuing <!-- page +201--><a name="page201"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 201</span>to +be the pest of society. The great Shepherd of Israel +despises not these unhappy wanderers from his fold; and I am +persuaded, that neither you, nor those who read and prize your +work, will be insensible to the force of His benign example.</p> +<p>May the Divine Spirit suggest means, by which this wretched +race may be reclaimed from their vagrancy, and be made acquainted +with that Saviour, whom to know is life eternal!</p> +<p style="text-align: right">Yours, &c. <span +class="smcap">Nil</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>To the Editor of the +Christian Observer</i>. <a name="citation201"></a><a +href="#footnote201" class="citation">[201]</a></p> +<p>It gave me pleasure to observe in one of the numbers of your +miscellany, a letter on a subject that has frequently engaged my +serious attention: I mean the state of the Gypsies. It is +painful to reflect how many thousands of these unhappy creatures, +have, since the light of Christianity has shone on this Island, +gone into eternity ignorant of the way of salvation, <!-- page +202--><a name="page202"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +202</span>and without one cheering thought of a Saviour. +Surely, Sir, there is an awful responsibility attached to this +neglect! If we look back into the history of the Christian +church, from the earliest ages, we shall find that the +introduction of the gospel amongst any people, has generally been +effected by means of Missionaries; and so numerous are the +Gypsies, and so desultory in their habits of life, that it might +well occupy the time of more than one zealous individual, to go +amongst them, and by plain, simple, affectionate conversation and +exhortation, when practicable, instruct them in the knowledge of +their Redeemer.</p> +<p>Nor in this favoured land, where there are so many who +zealously embrace the doctrines of Christianity, would there, I +trust, be wanting both one, or more persons, who would devote +themselves to this truly apostolic work; and benevolent +individuals who would open their hearts and their purses, for the +support and encouragement of such an undertaking. This +labour of love would doubtless prove less arduous, than the +attempts which have been <!-- page 203--><a +name="page203"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 203</span>made to +establish missions among the American Indians; the natives of the +South-Seas; or the inhabitants of Southern Africa.</p> +<p>The dread of the magistracy in this country, would prove a +protection from personal injury, while the painful relinquishment +of friends and country would not be required. I will also +beg leave to mention another suggestion: I have understood that, +in different parts of the kingdom, the neighbouring clergy meet +at stated times, for the purpose of conversing on the important +duties of their pastoral office. At such times, would it +not be well to take into consideration, the perishing condition +of so large a part of the community, as that, which forms the +subject of this letter? Some plan might probably be thus +devised, which, through the blessing of the Lord, would prove +effectual for the salvation of this out-cast, and hitherto +neglected people.</p> +<p>I would also take the liberty of recommending the cause of +these unhappy partners of our kind, to the humanity of our +dissenting brethren; and most earnestly solicit Christians <!-- +page 204--><a name="page204"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +204</span>of all denominations, to unite in prayer to the God of +all grace, that he would prosper every attempt which may be made, +to communicate to them the knowledge of His will. I trust, +Sir, I shall obtain your excuse for detaining you on this +important subject; and as I know your pages are read and valued, +by real Christians of various denominations, perhaps they may, +through the Divine Providence, be the means of exciting effectual +attention, to the spiritual wants of this deplorable set of +beings; and the same benevolence which induced you to exert your +talents and influence in behalf of the oppressed negroes, may be +again successfully employed, in ameliorating the condition of a +numerous class of our fellow-creatures, who are second only to +them in wretchedness, and spiritual misery.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">I am, &c. <span +class="smcap">Fraternicus</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><!-- page 205--><a +name="page205"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 205</span><i>To the +Editor of the Christian Observer</i>. <a +name="citation205"></a><a href="#footnote205" +class="citation">[205]</a></p> +<p>The insertion of the letter of “Fraternicus,” on +the moral and religious state of the Gypsies, in a late number of +your work, (August, p. 496) implies, I presume, an approbation of +its contents. It is a subject that cannot fail to interest +the feelings of a real Christian.</p> +<p>The writer of this, has it in his power to contribute some +pecuniary aid towards such a truly Christian undertaking, and +would most gladly afford it. He commiserates, equally with +Fraternicus, the wretched state of this people, and hopes to see +the day when the nation which has, at length, done justice to the +poor negroes, will be equally zealous to do their duty in this +instance; and attempt to raise the Gypsies from their state of +degradation. If any way can be devised through the medium +of your work, to set about this labour of love, twenty pounds per +annum shall be regularly contributed by the writer of this; and +you are at liberty to make whatever use you can of this <!-- page +206--><a name="page206"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +206</span>offer. If any good, which I pray God it may, +should arise from the present communication, the name of the +writer, who is a constant reader of the Christian Observer, shall +be made known, when thought necessary by the conductor.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">H.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>To the Editor of the +Christian Observer</i>. <a name="citation206"></a><a +href="#footnote206" class="citation">[206]</a></p> +<p>I am much pleased with the interest which your two +correspondents, Fraternicus, and H. appear to take, in the +spiritual and eternal condition of that ignorant and degraded +class of human beings, the Gypsies.</p> +<p>I wish much to see appropriate and active measures adopted, +immediately to put into execution the benevolent suggestions of +your worthy and sensible correspondents. I cannot do a +great deal in a pecuniary point of view, but in counsel and +influence I could do more.</p> +<p>I feel no hesitation in inviting your correspondents to a +meeting on the subject, with a view to the formation of some +plan, and the <!-- page 207--><a name="page207"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 207</span>consequent commencement of active +exertions. One of the first objects to be aimed at, is the +introduction of cleanliness and decorum.—Another object to +be attended to, is, the teaching of them, especially the young, +to read; and then the supplying of them with testaments and +religious tracts.</p> +<p>There are many of the latter which would be both entertaining +and useful to them; but the most direct means to do them good is, +by frequent intercourse with them, and plain and familiar +conversation, prudently conducted. And if any thing be +done, it must be undertaken in a patient and persevering +spirit.</p> +<p>The soil which it is proposed to cultivate, is remarkably +barren and unpropitious; of course a plentiful harvest must not +be soon expected. The persons to be employed in this work +of faith and labour of love, must not only be men of prudence and +discretion, but men of information, and possessing clear and cool +heads, and warm hearts.</p> +<p>I have no doubt, but that in these times of active benevolence +and zeal, when a good plan <!-- page 208--><a +name="page208"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 208</span>is laid, +and funds provided, instruments will be found, who with love in +their hearts, will go seek those wandering sheep in the +wilderness, for whom no man hath yet cared.</p> +<p>Many good hints, Mr. Editor, are often fruitless for want of +immediate attention; and many a good work long talked of is not +only suspended, but never begun, for want of some one to put +forth the hand and begin. I for one, say to your two +correspondents, “let us arise and build; let us begin; +there is no fear of progress and help.”</p> +<p style="text-align: right">I remain, &c. <span +class="smcap">Minimus</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>To the Editor of the +Christian Observer</i>. <a name="citation208"></a><a +href="#footnote208" class="citation">[208]</a></p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>June</i> 13, 1809.</p> +<p>I was afraid the Gypsies had been quite forgotten; and +therefore it gives me real pleasure to see, by your last number, +for May 1809, that another correspondent has taken up their +cause. If the subject was once fairly before the public, I +am persuaded it would interest <!-- page 209--><a +name="page209"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 209</span>the +feelings of many amongst us; and should good arise from it, which +with God’s help and blessing, could not fail to be the +case, we might confidently look forward to a daily increasing +fund for its support. Surely when our charity is flowing in +so wide a channel, conveying the blessings of the gospel to the +most distant quarters of the globe, we shall not hesitate to +water this one barren and neglected field, in our own land.</p> +<p>My attention was first drawn to the state of this miserable +class of human beings, by the letter of +“Fraternicus;” and looking upon it as a reproach to +our country, that amidst the great light which prevails, so many +of its children should be walking in darkness and the shadow of +death, I was anxious to contribute something out of my abundance, +towards their spiritual welfare. I perfectly agree with +your correspondent, that no time should be lost in devising some +plan, which may give consistency and effect to this work of +faith, and labour of love. In this short and uncertain +life, no opportunities of usefulness should be <!-- page 210--><a +name="page210"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +210</span>neglected. It is a call which may never again be +repeated. I am ready and desirous, to give Minimus the +proposed meeting; and the time and place might be appointed +through the medium of the Christian Observer.</p> +<p>I must however premise, that the writer of this is a very +humble individual in all respects, both in abilities, and in +influence. My habits are very retired, and at present, my +time is occupied in attending to the ministerial duties of a +populous village. I shall most gladly adhere to my first +proposal, and might be induced to do more, if need required.</p> +<p>In the meantime, it is my earnest prayer to God, that this may +not be one of those projects, which are only talked of, and never +begun; but that it may tend to the glory of his name, and to the +bringing back of those poor lost sheep to the fold of their +Redeemer. Amen.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">Yours, H.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p><!-- page 211--><a name="page211"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 211</span><i>To the Editor of the Christian +Observer</i>. <a name="citation211"></a><a href="#footnote211" +class="citation">[211]</a></p> +<p>As I am not in the constant habit of seeing your publication, +it is only lately, in meeting with your number for February last, +at the house of a friend, that I was aware that the spiritual +state of the Gypsies, had excited interest in the breasts of some +of your readers.</p> +<p>They are a race who have long excited interest in mine; so +much, that in the year 1801, I had written a letter upon the +subject to the society for bettering the condition, and +increasing the comforts of the poor; but I thought on further +reflection, that any attempts to civilize a race of beings so +degraded, and held in so much contempt, would be considered so +very visionary, that I gave up the idea and did not send +it. A greater lapse of time, farther observation, and the +suggestions of your correspondents, induce me to trouble you with +the few following remarks; recollecting that in literary attempts +and works of beneficence, it is the same as in pecuniary +subscriptions; that <!-- page 212--><a name="page212"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 212</span>great effects are not always +produced from the stores of an opulent individual, but from the +willing contributions of the many.</p> +<p>It does not appear to me, that a few, or even many +Missionaries, according to the suggestion of Fraternicus, Vol. +vii. p. 496, would answer the purpose of imparting religious +knowledge to the Gypsies; since on account of their wandering +mode of life, and from their not travelling in any numbers +together, it would be difficult to form congregations. What +the number of Gypsies, and of those who lead vagrant lives, like +them, may be in this kingdom, I cannot even form a conjecture; +and Mr. Colquhoun, I think does not mention them in his treatise +on the Police of the Metropolis. Neither am I acquainted +with their numbers and modes of life at Norwood, <a +name="citation212"></a><a href="#footnote212" +class="citation">[212]</a> which I understand is the chief +residence of them; what I have to say, therefore, is only from +observations made upon those who frequent this neighbourhood, and +from others seen occasionally when I have been travelling.</p> +<p><!-- page 213--><a name="page213"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +213</span>The suggestions of Minimus, Vol. viii. p. 286, appear +to me to be the most practicable: and I hope that there are many +Gypsies who would be inclined to profit by any judicious and kind +exertions made on their behalf. There are already several +families of them within my knowledge, who reside in houses during +the winter, and travel about only in the summer. Their +means of subsistence are tinkering, and fiddling at feasts and +fairs; by which some, I believe, make a good deal of money, which +helps them out in the winter, when there is less work and less +dancing.</p> +<p>A young man with a large family, whom I have long observed +near this place, in my walks, about six years ago, when many +inclosures took place in this neighbourhood, and he found it less +convenient to be out in the fields, or rather that the farmers +were less willing to let him encamp upon their grounds, took a +small house, with a garden annexed to it, in the suburbs of this +town, and has since lived here constantly in the winter, but +travels in the summer. He is now about 38 years of +age. <!-- page 214--><a name="page214"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 214</span>He married when 20, and has 8 +children, all of whom have been baptized in the several parishes +where they were born. He is a very civil man, and is much +respected where he is known; having a good character for +honesty.</p> +<p>He attends church constantly on a Sunday; and though he has +not any regular notion of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, +he has some very good general ideas of religion and +morality. He is no swearer; and he would consider it wicked +in his wife to attempt <i>to tell fortunes</i>.</p> +<p>He is frequently employed to fiddle, at the houses of +respectable farmers and trades-people at Christmas. His +other occupation is tinkering; and he is ingenious at mending +fiddles, and making cases, &c.</p> +<p>Neither he, nor his wife, can read; and none of his children +have been hitherto sent to school. His third boy, who is +about 9 years old, he has, at my suggestion, promised to send to +the new school which has been established here on Dr. +Bell’s and Mr. Lancaster’s plan: he accepted the +offer with great thankfulness. The boy is to come into the +school at Michaelmas, <!-- page 215--><a name="page215"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 215</span>when the family return from their +summer’s travelling. The father would be very glad to +have all his children brought up to any other mode of life; and +even to embrace some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in +it.</p> +<p>He himself, from not having been brought up to work in +husbandry, could not go through the labour of it; and few, if any +persons, would be willing to employ his children, on account of +the bad character which his race bears; and from the censure and +ridicule which might attach to taking them, where they might be +willing to do it from motives of benevolence.</p> +<p>There is another family of Gypsies resident in this place in +the winter, the father of which was formerly a musician in the +guards. He has a boy now in the school.</p> +<p>These circumstances lead me to think, that were encouragement +given to them, the Gypsies would be inclined to live in towns and +villages like other people; and would in another generation or +two become civilized, and with the pains which are now taken to +educate the poor, and to diffuse the Scriptures and the <!-- page +216--><a name="page216"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +216</span>knowledge of Jesus Christ, would become a part of the +regular fold: while in the mean time, from personal intercourse +with their pastors, and from attending public worship, the +spiritual condition of the present generation would be materially +improved. It would, however, require much patient +continuance in well doing, in those who attempted it; and they +must be prepared, perhaps, to meet with some untowardness, and +much disappointment; but in due season we could not fail to reap, +if we fainted not.</p> +<p>All Gypsies must have some parish to which they belong; and if +these parishes were to provide habitations for them, and to hold +out encouragement to them to come and settle, and were to bear +for the present with any ways which might be different from those +of the regular inhabitants, affording them work as tinkers, +&c. and providing education and work for their children; and +for the present, even bearing with their travelling in the +summer; this now almost unprofitable race of beings might be +reclaimed to society. Many of them <!-- page 217--><a +name="page217"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 217</span>are +accustomed, in the seasons, to undertake hay and harvest +work. These, I think, with proper encouragement, might be +induced to get their living by husbandry work throughout the +year.</p> +<p>Should these suggestions lead to any farther discussion upon +the subject, or to adopting any measures to promote the desired +object; it would give me sincere pleasure to lend my assistance, +either pecuniary or personal.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">I am, Sir, &c. J. P.</p> +<p><i>Cambridge</i>, <i>April</i> 28, 1810.</p> +<p>P.S. I recollect having heard that the benevolent Jonas +Hanway took a Gypsey for his servant, but I know not on what +authority this was said.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"><i>To the Editor of the +Christian Observer</i>. <a name="citation217"></a><a +href="#footnote217" class="citation">[217]</a></p> +<p>The candid acknowledgment of your benevolent correspondent, in +the Christian Observer for February last, that his attention had +been first drawn to the state of the Gypsies by the <!-- page +218--><a name="page218"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +218</span>letter of Fraternicus, was matter of unfeigned +satisfaction to me; and as it is probable there may be no want of +inclination in the Christian world, to extend relief effectually +to them, permit me to solicit a place in your pages, for a +thought which has occurred to me in my meditations on the +subjects.</p> +<p>It appears from a letter in your number for May, that they are +not totally destitute of a desire for the benefit of +instruction. Information might easily be obtained, as to +what part of England they are to be found in the greatest +numbers; and if a free school could be instituted, and the means +of instruction provided for those of their children who were +willing to attend, at least in the winter season; might it not be +a means of conveying useful knowledge to them?</p> +<p>By degrees, they might be brought to attend divine worship +regularly; and if in the parish of a pious clergyman, he would +probably embrace the opportunity of teaching them, more +particularly, the way of salvation. Much, however, might be +done by a pious schoolmaster, and a <!-- page 219--><a +name="page219"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +219</span>schoolmistress, by whom the girls might be instructed +in different kinds of work, knitting, sewing, &c.; and if any +of the parents should evince a desire for instruction, they could +be admitted at different hours in the day. It would be an +interesting inquiry, what becomes of orphans among them, and +whether there is not a possibility of at least rescuing them from +their present state of ignorance and misery.</p> +<p>Should these suggestions be deemed worthy of your insertion, +they might, perhaps awaken the attention of some benevolent +persons, whose superior talents and experience in the ways of +beneficence, would enable them to perfect and carry into +execution, a plan for the effectual benefit of those unhappy +partners of our kind. That He may grant it, from whom every +good thought proceeds, is the fervent prayer of</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Fraternicus</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<h2><!-- page 221--><a name="page221"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 221</span>SECTION XII.</h2> +<p class="gutsumm">Review of the Subject, and Suggestions for +ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies in the British +Empire.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p>Since the commencement of the present year, 1816, a friend <a +name="citation221"></a><a href="#footnote221" +class="citation">[221]</a> of the author has informed him, that +about three weeks before, he was in company with an English and a +Persian gentleman, who had lately come from Persia, through +Russia; the latter well understood the languages of both +countries, and spoke them fluently. He had travelled with +the Persian Ambassador; and said that he had met with many hordes +of Gypsies in Persia; had many times conversed with them; and was +surprised to find their language was the true Hindostanie. +He did not then know of Grellmann’s work. He further +stated, that the Gypsies in Russia were, in language and manners, +the <!-- page 222--><a name="page222"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 222</span>same, and exactly corresponded with +the Gypsies of this country. Their name in Persia signified +<i>Black Eyes</i>.</p> +<p>From whatever part of the world we derive intelligence of this +people, it tends to corroborate the opinion, that they have all +had one peculiar origin. How little has it occupied the +contemplation of Britons, that there existed among them, subjects +of such great curiosity as the poor and despised Gypsies!</p> +<p>The statute of Henry VIII. imposing a fine of forty pounds +upon the importation of a Gypsey, induces the belief they were +much in request in England at that period. The attention +which their low performances attracted in those times, will not +perhaps excite surprise, when we see the encouragement given in +our day, to their idly disposed countrymen, termed, <i>Indian +Jugglers</i>. It is remarkable, that the earliest account +of Gypsies in Great Britain, is in a work published to expose and +detect the “Art of Juggling,” &c.</p> +<p>The first of this people who came into Europe, must have been +persons of discernment and discrimination, to have adapted their +deceptions <!-- page 223--><a name="page223"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 223</span>so exactly to the genius and habits +of the different people they visited, as to ensure success in all +countries.</p> +<p>The stratagem to which they had recourse on entering France, +evinces consummate artifice of plan, and not a little adroitness +and dexterity in the execution. The specious appearance of +submission to papal authority, in the penance of wandering seven +years without lying in a bed, combined three distinct +objects. They could not have devised an expedient more +likely to recommend them to the favor of Ecclesiastics; or better +concerted for taking advantage of the superstitious credulity of +the people, and, at the same time, for securing to themselves the +gratification of their own nomadic propensities. So +complete was the deception they practised, that we find they +wandered up and down in France, under the eye of magistracy, not +for seven only, but for more than a hundred years, without +molestation.</p> +<p>In 1561, the edict of the States of Orleans directed their +expulsion by fire and sword; yet in 1612, they had increased to +such a degree, <!-- page 224--><a name="page224"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 224</span>that there was another order for +their total extermination. Notwithstanding this severity, +in 1671 they were again spread over the kingdom, as appears in +the letters of the Marchioness de Sévigné to her +friends, and the Countess Grignan, in nine volumes, translated +from the last Paris edition: “Bohemians travel up and down +the Provinces of France, and get their living by dancing, showing +postures, and telling fortunes; but chiefly by pilfering, +&c.”</p> +<p>It is remarkable, that in all countries, they professed to be +Egyptians; but the representation is not only refuted by +Bellonius, but by later writers, who assert, that the “few +who are to be found in <i>Egypt</i>, wander about as strangers +<i>there</i>, and form a distinct people.”</p> +<p>As historians admit that the greatest numbers of them are to +be found in Turkey, and south of Constantinople, there is reason +to apprehend they had a passage through that country. If +many of them did not visit Egypt previously to their arrival in +Europe, they probably wished to avail themselves of the +reputation <!-- page 225--><a name="page225"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 225</span>the Egyptians had acquired in occult +sciences, that they might practise with greater success, the arts +to which they had been previously accustomed, and the practice of +which is common in various parts of Asia. In other respects +the habits of Egypt were very dissimilar to theirs.</p> +<p>We find by the reports on the first question put by the +Circular, mentioned in Section IX. that “all Gypsies in +this country suppose the first of them came from Egypt;” +and this idea is confirmed by many circumstances that have been +brought into view in the course of this work. In addition +it may be observed, that before the discovery of the passage to +India, by the Cape of Good Hope, all the productions of the east, +that were distributed in Europe, came to Egyptian ports. +Hence we have many concurring testimonies, which render it highly +probable, if not evidently clear, that the first Gypsey tribes +who came into England, and other parts of Europe, migrated from +hordes of that people who had previously found their way into +Egypt.</p> +<p><!-- page 226--><a name="page226"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +226</span>The evidence appears equally strong, that they were not +natives of Egypt; but as the Egyptians were in great repute for +the practice of the occult sciences, common to them and to the +Suder caste; we cannot be surprized to find these crafty +itinerants, should avail themselves of such an opportunity, as +coming out of that country, to profess themselves Egyptians.</p> +<p>Continental writers exhibit a strange assemblage of crude, and +incongruous ideas on the subject of Gypsey extraction. So +numerous are the opinions diffusely stated, that Grellmann must +have exercised much patient investigation, to deduce from them +the rational and satisfactory conclusions which his Dissertation +presents.</p> +<p>Our countryman Swinborne, in describing the Gypsies in +Calabria, is the first to remark that their peculiar language +bears great affinity to the oriental tongues; and that many of +their customs resemble those of the heathens. But European +ignorance of the habits and speech of Asiatics may be accounted +for, whilst the rich <!-- page 227--><a name="page227"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 227</span>productions of India continued to be +brought to Egyptian ports, and to be conveyed thence by the +Lombard merchants, to be distributed over Europe</p> +<p>The <i>Cingari</i>, <i>Zigeuners</i>, or <i>Gypsies</i>, had +been in Germany nearly a century, before the Portuguese +discovered the passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope. +The stimulus which this discovery gave to improvements in the art +of navigation, soon opened immediate intercourse with the eastern +world. Vast are the establishments, which have been +subsequently effected, in that quarter of the globe by naval +powers, and extraordinary have been, of late years, the exertions +for the acquisition of oriental languages; yet so numerous are +they in those widely extended regions, that European knowledge of +Asiatic etymology, is yet but in a state of infancy.</p> +<p>The case of the Gypsies is singular; for it may fairly be +questioned, whether it has a parallel in the history of the +world. Dispersed over the face of the earth, without any +organization of their different hordes; and all <!-- page +228--><a name="page228"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +228</span>concert between them entirely precluded by separations +of hundreds of miles from each other, in different parts of the +globe, and by their incapacity for literary communication; they +have, however, whilst speaking the languages of the respective +countries they inhabit, preserved in <i>all places one</i> +peculiar to themselves, and have transmitted it through a lapse +of centuries to their descendants, almost unimpaired.</p> +<p>Increased acquaintance with oriental customs and tongues, has, +at length, discovered the near coincidence they have with the +language of the Gypsies, and has developed an origin of this +people, of which those of the present age were, till now, +entirely ignorant. It will appear extraordinary, that these +people should have been able, by oral means alone, and under all +disadvantages, to retain their language, and yet not to have +handed down with it, any tradition that might lead to a discovery +of who they were, or whence they came. But the knowledge +recently acquired, of their very abject condition in the country +from which they <!-- page 229--><a name="page229"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 229</span>emigrated, offers a reason why the +first comers might be anxious to conceal their pedigree, the +meanness of which would have but ill accorded with the titles of +rank assumed by some of their leaders.</p> +<p>The regulations proposed by the Empress Theresa, and the +Emperor Joseph II. could they have been carried into effect, +would doubtless have improved the state of the Gypsies. But +an order for children to be torn away from their parents, was so +far from being dictated by the study of human nature, that it did +violence to the tenderest sensibilities, and set at nought the +kindest emotions. Its tendency was to produce in the minds +of Gypsies, disaffection to the state, and to indispose others +from aiding in the execution of the edict. The advantages +to be derived by Governments from a liberal toleration, being not +then so well understood as in succeeding times, they were not +duly regarded.</p> +<p>Those potentates considering Zigeuners of Egyptian origin, +might reasonably conceive agriculture well adapted to their +genius and <!-- page 230--><a name="page230"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 230</span>inclination; but it was a pursuit, +which, more than any other, they disapproved.</p> +<p>All other Governments appear to have been misled, in like +manner, by the deception which the first Gypsies practised; for +had they been apprized of this people’s descent, and of the +almost unalterable pertinacity of an Indian caste, they would +have been sensible that an attempt to change their habits by +force, was a measure the least likely to be attended with +success.</p> +<p>The Circular introduced in the ninth Section of this work, +notices Gypsies being hunted like beasts of prey, from township +to township in England; and it has been ascertained, that in some +places they are routed, as it is termed, by order of magistrates, +whenever they appear, and sent to prison on the vagrant act, +without so much as a charge of depredation upon property. +“This is to make their persons, an object of persecution, +instead of the protection of our laws.”</p> +<p>For the credit of our country it may be hoped, that instances +of this sort, respecting <!-- page 231--><a +name="page231"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 231</span>Gypsies, +are not very numerous; seeing all writers concur in stating, +every attempt by coercive means to alter the peculiar habits of +this people, have had a tendency to alienate them still more from +civil associations, and directly to defeat the end +proposed. It is time therefore that a better and a more +enlightened policy should be adopted in Europe, towards a race of +human beings, under so many hereditary disadvantages as are the +helpless, the rude, the uninstructed Gypsies.</p> +<p>In the decision on the vagrant case, in Crabbe’s +“Hall of Justice,” <a name="citation231a"></a><a +href="#footnote231a" class="citation">[231a]</a> and in the +treatment of Gypsies on Knoland-Green, <a +name="citation231b"></a><a href="#footnote231b" +class="citation">[231b]</a> a temper is displayed so truly +Christian, and so different from what is just alluded to, that in +consulting the best feelings of human nature, it adds dignity to +magistracy.</p> +<p>Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on the State of +the Poor, p. 306, refers to an Act passed in 1741, respecting +that class of the poor, who are considered by the Legislature +<!-- page 232--><a name="page232"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +232</span>as the outcasts of society, namely rogues, vagabonds, +&c.; and he remarks: “From perusing the catalogue of +actions which denominate a man, a disorderly person, a vagabond, +or incorrigible rogue, the reader may perhaps incline to think +that many of the offences specified in this Act, and in +subsequent statutes, on the same subject, are of a very dubious +nature, and that it must require nice legal acumen, to +distinguish whether a person incurs any, and what, penalty, under +the vagrant laws.”</p> +<p>In support of this opinion, and of the indefinite and +unjustifiable latitude of those statutes, a late decision at +Maidstone, in the action of Robins, v. Boyce, affords a striking +demonstration.</p> +<p>If the statutes do not admit of any construction in favor of +Gypsies, but enjoin rigorous treatment of them, merely for +wandering, it may become a question whether the peculiar +circumstances of their case, might not constitute an exception to +the general rule.</p> +<p><!-- page 233--><a name="page233"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +233</span>However wholesome and salutary vagrant Acts may be, to +deter persons from quitting their parishes in order to levy +contributions, by practising impositions in places where they are +not known, it is obvious that Gypsies, having no parochial +settlements, cannot come under that description. Excepting +a temporary residence of some of them in winter, their home is a +whole county, and the majority of them are too independent to +apply to any parish for assistance.</p> +<p>Here is a trait in their character, which, were it grafted on +the stock of half the paupers in the kingdom, would be a national +advantage.</p> +<p>It ought to procure some indulgence for the Gypsies, that +their wandering mode of life does not originate in any +contumacious opposition to judicial order; but in a scrupulous +regard to the Institutions of their ancestors. For the +advantages we possess, shall we return injury to our +fellow-men! If after being fully introduced into a +situation to taste the comforts of social order, and to acquire a +knowledge of mechanical professions, which would render <!-- page +234--><a name="page234"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +234</span>them useful and respectable, any of them, despising +these privileges, should indulge wandering dispositions, they +might then deserve all the punishment which under the vagrant +Acts, can be indicted.</p> +<p>It is worthy of remark, that in the evidence respecting +mendicity in London, adduced last year before the Committee of +the House of Commons, there is only a single instance in the +parish called St. Giles, that noted rendezvous of Gypsies, of one +of their tribe, a girl, begging in the streets.</p> +<p>Is it not high time the people of England were undeceived, +respecting the motives to Gypsey perseverance in their singular +line of conduct. Their invincible attachment to the +traditions they have received, is almost proof, in itself, of +Grellmann’s assertion, that they are the descendants of an +Indian caste; in whose estimation inviolable adherence to the +customs of their order, constitutes the highest perfection of +character.</p> +<p>When any remark is made to them on their strange mode of +conduct, they are ready to <!-- page 235--><a +name="page235"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 235</span>reply: +“The inhabitants of cieled houses follow the customs of +their predecessors; What more do we? Are they creatures of +habit? So are we.”</p> +<p>After this account, is it surprising that the violent means +pursued against them in all countries, have been ineffectual to +abolish their peculiarities?</p> +<p>Their humane and intelligent biographer, Grellmann, styles +them a “singular phenomenon in Europe;” and it may +justly be observed of such of them as inhabit countries accounted +the most enlightened, that the contrast which their destitute +state presents to the numerous advantages of civilized life, and +to the refinements of polished society, is truly +astonishing. If there possibly can be a single Briton who +is a skeptic to the benefits of education, let him only take a +view of the intellectual degradation and disgusting condition of +the Gypsies. But if Britons have made greater advancement +in civilization than some other nations, the Gypsies here are +left at a greater <!-- page 236--><a name="page236"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 236</span>distance, and furnish the more +occasion for their condition being improved.</p> +<p>It does not appear that the Pariars, or Suders, from whom it +is believed these swarthy itinerants of our age are descended, +were farther advanced in the knowledge of moral obligations, than +were the Spartan people; who, however celebrated for some of +their Institutions, accounted the successful perpetration of +thefts to be honourable.</p> +<p>The Gypsies at Kirk Yetholm, as stated by Baillie Smith, in +this part of their conduct, are an exact counterpart of the +Spartans. To a people of Greece, the foremost of their time +in legislative arrangements, who had cultivated so little sense +of the turpitude of injustice, surely a much more criminal +neglect may be imputed, than to the ignorant, untutored race we +have been surveying!</p> +<p>Malcolm, in his Anecdotes of the manners and customs of +London, p. 350, says of the English Gypsies: “Despised, and +neglected, they naturally became plunderers and thieves to obtain +a subsistence.” But when he afterward <!-- page +237--><a name="page237"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +237</span>states, that “They increased rapidly, and at +length were found in all parts of the country,” we may be +disposed to think that British fastidiousness was not less +ingenious than that of the Spaniards, who considered themselves +<i>contaminated</i> by a touch of the Gypsies, unless it were to +have their fortunes told. Venality and deception meeting +with so much encouragement, those propensities of the human heart +would be generated and fostered, which at length produced +flagrant impositions, and the greatest enormities.</p> +<p>The dominion of superstition was at its zenith, in what are +termed the middle ages: so absolute and uncontrolled was its +influence, that because of reputed skill in exorcism and +witchcraft, the deluded Germans reposed implicit confidence in +persons so ignorant as the Gypsies.</p> +<p>What an impeachment of British sagacity, is the following +observation of Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on +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, <!-- page 238--><a +name="page238"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 238</span>neither a +Coke, nor a Bacon, should oppose the law suggested by royal +superstition, for making it felony to <i>consult</i>, <i>covenant +with</i>, <i>entertain</i>, <i>employ</i>, <i>feed</i>, <i>or +reward</i>, <i>any evil</i>, <i>or wicked spirit</i>, 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.”</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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; <!-- page 239--><a name="page239"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 239</span>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 <i>prevention</i>, rather than the +<i>punishment</i> of crimes!”</p> +<p>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.”</p> +<p><!-- page 240--><a name="page240"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +240</span>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 their 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.”</p> +<p>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 <!-- page 241--><a name="page241"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 241</span>open not only to the alleviation of +<i>present</i> misery, but such an Institution as the Bible +Society, is calculated to excite thousands to seek for +<i>future</i> 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.</p> +<p>“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: <!-- page 242--><a name="page242"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 242</span>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.”</p> +<p>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 the strongest of all obligations, strictly to +observe the Institution of their ancestors. Had Britons +been apprized of the origin of this people, and the peculiar +circumstances of their case, the national character would not +have been stained, by the abuse and mal-treatment which Gypsies +have received.</p> +<p>It is very satisfactory to find by the before recited +correspondence, an inhabitant of the county in which the Gypsies +are so numerous, advocating their cause, by a public exposure of +<!-- page 243--><a name="page243"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +243</span>the mistaken ideas which have so long prevailed +respecting them.</p> +<p>From the length of time they have continued to reside in +Britain, they have ceased to become subjects of much curiosity or +conversation. And as they endeavour to avoid populous +districts, persons in large towns, who are occupied in trade, +seem little aware that in the county they inhabit, there may be +hordes of these wanderers, traversing the thinly inhabited parts +of it, in various directions, as was the case in Yorkshire during +the last summer. (1815.)</p> +<p>When the amelioration of the condition of this people is +mentioned to persons of the above description, so little informed +are they on the subject, that it is many times treated as if the +existence of Gypsies was questioned; at others, as if affording +any help to them, was visionary, and even ludicrous.</p> +<p>Some places formerly frequented by Gypsey gangs, having been +much deserted by them of late years, does not authorize any +calculation upon a decrease of their numbers in the nation.</p> +<p><!-- page 244--><a name="page244"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +244</span>In the vicinity of the metropolis, Gypsies have been +excluded by inclosures from various situations to which they had +been accustomed to resort. But there is some reason to +apprehend they have become more numerous, in several other parts +of the Island. Baillie Smith of Kelso, is of opinion, they +increase in Scotland, and it is by no means certain that they do +not in England.</p> +<p>Any idea that routing them will lessen their numbers, may be +as fallacious, and injudicious, as were banishments from the +German States, which, without diminishing Gypsey population, had +the injurious effect of alienating them still more from civil +associations.</p> +<p>Junius, the other correspondent of the Northampton Mercury, in +his Address of October 29, writes: “I trust the time is not +distant, when much will be accomplished, as it respects the +civilization of the people whose cause we plead. In the +meantime, I would humbly hope all those harsh and degrading +measures, of publicly in the papers, and upon placards by the +sides of roads, ordering their apprehension and <!-- page +245--><a name="page245"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +245</span>commitment to prison, will be suspended, until some +asylum is offered; and should nothing be attempted by the +Legislature, for reclaiming them from their present mode of life, +surely much may be done by the exertions of +individuals!”</p> +<p>Many of the observations in the Christian Observer, and in the +Northampton Mercury, are striking and pertinent, as they relate +to the present state of the Gypsies in England; and the +philanthropy they inculcate is honourable to the national +character. Had these benevolent individuals been acquainted +with the history of the people, whose cause they plead, they +would, doubtless, have suggested plans adapted to their peculiar +case. For want of this knowledge, it is not surprising that +occupations in husbandry should take the lead in propositions for +employing them. The last mentioned writer, from a desire to +render essential service to this people, suggests, that the +Legislature should fix upon five or six stations in different +parts of the kingdom, on which <!-- page 246--><a +name="page246"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 246</span>villages +should be erected, in order that they might be employed in +farming.</p> +<p>It will have been obvious in the survey which has been taken, +and it has been already remarked, that of all occupations, +agriculture is the least adapted to their genius and +inclination.</p> +<p>It has appeared in Section IX, that Riley Smith, a chief of +the Northamptonshire Gypsies, after marrying the cook out of a +gentleman’s family, and obtaining a farm, quitted it, to +resume musical performances.</p> +<p>Conformity to agricultural employments, could not be effected +in Gypsies, by the most rigorous measures to which the Empress +Theresa, and the Emperor Joseph II. resorted.—Much less +could it be expected that persons, who, all their lives, have +accustomed themselves to be in the open air, or others who have +lived three parts of the year in this manner, should be induced, +in open weather, to brook the restraint of houses.</p> +<p>Those who have houses at Kirk Yetholm, quit them in spring: +men, women, and children, <!-- page 247--><a +name="page247"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 247</span>set out on +their peregrinations over the country, and live in a state of +vagrancy, until driven back to their habitations by the approach +of winter; and it appears, in all countries to which the Gypsies +have had access, that a similar course is pursued by them.</p> +<p>In a dialogue between a Curate and some Gypsies, as published +in the Christian Guardian, of March, 1812, is the following +question and answer:</p> +<p><i>Curate</i>. “Could you not by degrees bring +yourselves to a more settled mode of life?</p> +<p><i>Gypsey</i>. I would not tell you a story, Sir; I +really think I could not, having been brought up to it from a +child.”</p> +<p>Upon this conversation, the Curate makes the following remark: +“In order to do good among the Gypsies, we must conciliate +their esteem, and gain their confidence.”</p> +<p>The plain and simple reply to the Curate, will put out of +question the erection of villages, or the making of +establishments for adults among them. In mechanical +operations, to which the Gypsies are most inclined, British <!-- +page 248--><a name="page248"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +248</span>artisans might be as averse to unite with them, as they +were with the Jews. The Spaniards, it has appeared, are +unwilling to be associated with Gypsies in any kind of +occupation. Moreover, the competition of manufacturers in +England, during the last fifty years, has effected by artificial +means, so much saving of manual labour, and so much improvement +in the division of it, that the rude operations of Gypsies, would +be a subject of ridicule and contempt.</p> +<p>J. P., in a letter from Cambridge to the Christian Observer, +very feelingly states the case of a Gypsey family, the father of +which, being a travelling tinker and fiddler, intimated, he would +be glad to have all his children brought up to some other mode of +life, and even to embrace some other himself; but he finds a +difficulty in it. Not having been brought up in husbandry, +he could not go through the labour of it; and few, if any +persons, would be willing to employ <a name="citation248"></a><a +href="#footnote248" class="citation">[248]</a> his children, on +account of <!-- page 249--><a name="page249"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 249</span>the bad character which his race +bears, and from the censure and ridicule which would attach to +the taking of them.”</p> +<p>There appears so little probability of any useful change being +effected in the nomadic habits of adult Gypsies, that it seems +better to bear with that propensity for some time longer, than by +directly counteracting it, so disturb the minds of parents, as to +indispose them to consent to the education of their +children. There are thousands of other people in the +nation, who, more than half their time, live out of doors in like +manner. Were they all obliged to take out licences, this +measure might operate in some degree as a check upon them; at +least it would be a tacit acknowledgment of a controlling power, +and might admit of some regulation of their conduct. At +present, numbers of them resemble a lawless banditti, and may not +inaptly be termed, <i>Imperium in imperio</i>.</p> +<p>It appears by J. P.’s letter from Cambridge, that six +years ago, he had engaged a Gypsey boy to be sent to a school on +the Belleian and <!-- page 250--><a name="page250"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 250</span>Lancasterian plan. At that +time, the system had been but little appropriated in the country +to the instruction of girls; and the application of it to boys +only, would have been doing the work by halves. But the +time seems now to have arrived, when the minds of Gypsies have +generally received an impression in favor of the education, both +of their sons and daughters, as has been manifest in various +parts of this Survey; and that some of those who lodge in London, +have been themselves at the expense of sending their children to +school. But if all of them could be thus taught, three +months in a year, would not their running wild the other nine, +under the influence of dissolute and unrestrained example, be +likely to defeat every purpose of instruction.</p> +<p>Were they to be educated during the whole of the year, it is +obvious that some establishment would be necessary for their +maintenance and clothing. The author of this Survey is not +aware of any Institutions so much adapted to their case, as the +charity schools for boys and girls, which are common to every +part of the <!-- page 251--><a name="page251"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 251</span>kingdom. It is not probable +that Gypsey population would furnish more than two boys, and two +girls, for each of these schools. Their being placed among +a much greater number of children, and those of settled, and in +some degree of civilized habits, would greatly facilitate the +training of Gypsies to salutary discipline and subordination; and +the associations it provided for them out of school hours, being +under the superintendence of a regular family, would, in an +especial manner, be favorable to their domestication.</p> +<p>Charity schools, by admitting children so early as at six +years of age, and continuing them to fourteen, seem particularly +suited to the case of Gypsies, in supplying all that is requisite +until the boys are at an age to go out apprentices, and the girls +to service in families.</p> +<p>Gypsies being the children of a whole county, if not of the +nation at large, perhaps the expense of their maintenance might, +without inconsistency, be defrayed out of county rates, which +would prevent its being burdensome to any particular +district. By a process so simple <!-- page 252--><a +name="page252"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 252</span>and easy, +expensive establishments on the account of Gypsies, might be +entirely avoided. And many parents among them, express a +willingness to part with their children, for education, provided +they were cared for in other respects.</p> +<p>After several centuries, a degree of solicitude being at +length apparent in the Gypsies, for the improvement of their +children, the time has arrived when some effectual benefit may be +communicated to them.</p> +<p>The distribution proposed, would admit of these itinerants +seeing their children once in the year. But to extirpate +Gypsey habits, education alone would not be sufficient. Yet +as there is no reason to think this people are less susceptible +than others, of gainful considerations, a fund might be provided, +out of which, twenty pounds should be paid with each boy, on his +apprenticeship to some handicraft business, in lieu of finding +him with clothes during the term. And in consideration of +its being faithfully served, five pounds might be allowed to find +the young man with tools for his trade, <!-- page 253--><a +name="page253"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 253</span>or +otherwise setting him forward in the world. This would +excite an interest in civil associations and order, which are +necessary for the successful prosecution of trade; and probably, +an encouragement like this, would have a greater effect in giving +a new direction to Gypsey pursuits, than any coercive or +restrictive measures which could be devised. And who would +not wish to contribute to the means of rescuing from ignorance +and vice, such a portion of the population of their +country! Who would not be desirous of emulating in some +degree, that best kind of patriotism, by which the correspondent +H. of the Christian Observer, is so remarkably distinguished!</p> +<p>This would be an example worthy of a great nation; and is it +not probable, that the prospect of so much preferment, would +induce Gypsey parents, to promote to the utmost of their power, a +disposition in their children to obtain it? Cooper, a +Gypsey at Chingford Green, said, “It is a pity they should +be as ignorant as their fathers.” This may be +considered as the language of “<i>help us</i>,” +accompanied with this acknowledgment, <!-- page 254--><a +name="page254"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +254</span>“<i>for we are unable to help +ourselves</i>;” and certainly there is but too much reason +to conclude it is strictly true, respecting the instruction of +this forlorn and destitute race.</p> +<p>According to the enumeration of Gypsey lodgers, given in +Section X, their families average 5½ in number. This +exceeds by one half, what is reported to be the average of +England in general. If we take Gypsey population at 18,000, +their children will be 12,000. Supposing two-thirds of +these to be under twelve years of age, there would be 8,000 to +educate. Reckoning half that number to be girls, 4,000 boys +would be to be apprenticed after leaving school. And if +these, after their apprenticeship, married Gypsey girls, who had +been brought up to service in families, twenty thousand useful +subjects might be calculated upon as gained to the State in the +first generation.</p> +<p>Should the efforts of individuals, require assistance from the +State, to render their plans effectual; surely they may depend on +the co-operation of a British legislature, to promote the <!-- +page 255--><a name="page255"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +255</span>cause in which they would embark! On this point +may be adduced the judicious observation of Grellmann: “If +the Gypsey knows not how to make use of the faculties with which +nature has intrusted him, let the State teach him, and keep him +in leading strings till the end is attained. Care being +taken to improve their understandings, and to amend their hearts, +they might become useful citizens; for observe them at whatever +employment you may, there always appear sparks of +genius.”</p> +<p>Every well-wisher to his country must be gratified in +observing, that as soon as the conflicting tumult of nations is +calmed, and the precipitations attendant on military supplies +have subsided, the attention of the Legislature is turned to the +investigation of some of the causes of human misery at home; and +to the means of increasing the social comforts of a considerable +portion of British population in the metropolis of the +kingdom. This recommencement of operations, directed to the +important object for which Governments have been +instituted,—the good of the people,—encourages <!-- +page 256--><a name="page256"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +256</span>the hope, that the most neglected and destitute of all +persons in this country, whose cause we have been pleading, will +not be suffered to remain much longer unnoticed and +disregarded.</p> +<p>When at length the veil that has obscured them is once drawn +aside, can British benevolence withhold its exertions, to elevate +the moral tone of this degraded eastern race, and to call forth +the dignity of the human character, in exchange for the strange +torpor and vileness in which this people are involved. Here +an occasion presents for the display of a temper truly Christian, +and for the erection of a standard to surrounding kingdoms, in +which also these outcasts of society are dispersed, of that +philanthropy and sound policy which are worthy of a great +nation.</p> +<p>Such an experiment, though on a limited scale, may furnish +various data for judging what may be effected for their +countrymen, the countless myriads of British subjects, inhabiting +the vast regions of Hindostan.</p> +<p><!-- page 257--><a name="page257"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +257</span>Alexander Fraser Tytler, late Assistant Judge in the +twenty-four Pergunnahs, Bengal Establishment, in his highly +important work, entitled, “Considerations on the present +Political State of India,” after pointing out the depravity +which prevails to an extraordinary degree among the population of +India, states in the 313th page of the first volume, that +“Poverty, or according to the definition of writers on +Police, <i>Indigence</i> may be said to be the nurse of almost +all crimes. To find out the causes of poverty, and to +attempt their removal, must therefore be the chief object of a +good police.”</p> +<p>It has been remarked, that this author drew his conclusions, +not only from what he understood of human nature in general, but +from what he daily saw before him, in the circumstances and +actions of the people whose crimes he was called upon to +punish. And he reasons upon the subject in the following +manner: “Great poverty among the lower orders in every +country, has an immediate effect in multiplying the number of +petty thieves; and where the bounds of the moral principle have +<!-- page 258--><a name="page258"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +258</span>been once over-stepped, however trivial the first +offence, the step is easy from petty theft to the greater crimes +of burglary and robbery.”</p> +<p>May Britons in their conduct towards the Gypsies, be actuated +by a policy so liberal, as to induce the rising generation among +this neglected class, to attach themselves to civil society, and +to enter into situations designed to inculcate habits of +industry, and prepare them to become useful members of the +community.</p> +<p>The successful experiments lately made by the British and +Foreign School Society, upon persons addicted to every species of +depravity, leave no doubt of the practicability of ameliorating +the condition of Gypsies. It is with pleasure that on this +subject the following statement of facts is introduced, +respecting two schools established in the neighbourhood of the +metropolis. One of them at Kingsland, a situation which has +been termed, “A focus where the most abandoned characters +constantly assembled for every species of brutal and licentious +disorder.” The other is at Bowyer-lane, near +Camberwell, a district inhabited by persons <!-- page 259--><a +name="page259"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 259</span>of the +worst description; among whom the police officers have been +accustomed to look for the various kinds of offenders, who have +infested the Borough of Southwark.</p> +<p>We are informed by the Committee of that School, that +“in the district embraced by their Society, the +consequences of ignorance were evident to the most superficial +observer. Parents and children, appeared alike regardless +of morality and virtue; the former indulging in profligacy, and +the latter exhibiting its lamentable effects.</p> +<p>“Did the friends of <i>universal education</i> require a +fresh illustration, they would find it in the scene we are now +contemplating; and they would confidently invite those who still +entertain a doubt on the subject, to a more close and rigid +examination of that scene, satisfied with the effect upon every +candid and unprejudiced mind. For, assuredly, “men do +not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles:” and +when morality, decency, and order, are gradually occupying the +abodes of licentiousness, misery, and guilt, the change must <!-- +page 260--><a name="page260"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +260</span>be attributed to some operating cause, and <i>that</i> +cause must be derived from the Source of all Good.</p> +<p>“The principles of decorum, of propriety, and of virtue, +are instilled into the youthful mind; and by a powerful reaction, +they reach the heart of the parent; the moral atmosphere +extends—its benefits are felt and appreciated—the +Bible takes its proper place in the habitations of poverty; and +thus in its simple, natural, and certain course, the <i>germ</i> +of <i>instruction</i> yields the happy fruit of <i>moral +reformation</i>.”</p> +<p>If as Grellmann computes, there are not fewer than 700,000 of +these people in Europe, who do not either plough, or sow, or the +greater part of them contribute in any manner to the improvement +of the country, or the support of the State, what a subject is +this, for the contemplation of Governments!</p> +<p>In reference to England, it is a beautiful exclamation of the +Christian Observer: “Surely when our charity is flowing in +so wide a channel, conveying the blessings of the gospel to the +<!-- page 261--><a name="page261"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +261</span>most distant quarters of the globe, we shall not +hesitate to water this one barren and neglected field, in our own +land.” Uniting cordially in this appeal, it is a +great satisfaction to be able to state, there are traits of +character in this people, which encourage attention to Gypsey +soil. Let it but be cleared of weeds, and sown with good +seed, and the judicious cultivator may calculate upon a crop to +compensate his toil.</p> +<p>Greater proof of confidence, as to money transactions, not +being misplaced in Gypsies need not be given, than in the +testimony of the landlord at Kirk Yetholm, to William Smith, that +his master knew he was as sure of their money, as if he had it in +his pocket.</p> +<p>In Dr. Clarke’s Travels, published in the present year, +Part the 2nd of Section 3rd, page 592, are the following +observations respecting the Gypsies of Hungary: “The +Wallachian Gypsies are not an idle race. They might rather +be described as a laborious people; and the greater part of them +honestly endeavour to earn a livelihood. It is this part of +them who work as gold-washers.”</p> +<p><!-- page 262--><a name="page262"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +262</span>In page 637, the Doctor remarks: “The Wallachians +of the Bannat, bear a very bad character, and perhaps many of the +offences attributed to Gypsies, may be due to this people, who +are the least civilized, and the most ferocious of all the +inhabitants of Hungary.” <a name="citation262"></a><a +href="#footnote262" class="citation">[262]</a></p> +<p>Could grateful sensibility of favors received, and of personal +attachment, be more strikingly evinced than in the promptitude of +Will Faa, who when he was eighty years of age, on hearing of his +landlord being unwell, undertook, at the hazard of his life, a +journey of a hundred miles, to see him before he died?</p> +<p>The attention of Gypsies to the aged and infirm of their +fraternity, is not less exhibited in the case of Ann Day, whose +age is inserted in a work on human longevity, published at +Salisbury in 1799. She was aged 108, and had not slept in a +bed during seventy years. She was well known in the +counties of Bedford and Herts, and having been a long time blind, +she always rode upon an ass, attended by two or three of <!-- +page 263--><a name="page263"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +263</span>the tribe. A friend of the author, a farmer near +Baldock, who had frequently given food and straw for the old +woman, says of the attendants she had, her comfort and support +seemed to be their chief concern. He considers her +longevity a proof of the kindness she received. Her +interment, which was at Arsley, near Henlow, was attended by her +son and daughter, the one 82, the other 85 years of age, each +having great grand-children.</p> +<p>It must have been a satisfaction to every one interested in +the improvement of human nature, to observe the number of +advocates who have come forward, within the last ten years, in +this country, to plead the cause of this despised and abused +people.</p> +<p>In bringing their case before the public, the author has aimed +at discharging what he thought incumbent upon him to undertake on +their behalf. He trusts that persons much more competent +than himself, will be induced to give effect to whatever measures +may be thought best adapted to promote the temporal, as well as +spiritual benefit of this people; and <!-- page 264--><a +name="page264"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 264</span>that as H, +the correspondent of the Christian Observer, remarks: +“amidst the great light that prevails, the reproach may be +wiped away from our country, of so many of its children walking +in darkness, and in the shadow of death.”</p> +<p>Can a nation, whose diffusive philanthropy extends to the +civilization of a quarter of the globe, and to the evangelization +of the whole world, be regardless of any of the children of her +own bosom, or suffer the pious, truly patriotic solicitude of her +King, for the instruction of the meanest of his subjects to +remain unaccomplished.</p> +<p>Many persons appear zealous to send Missionaries to convert +heathens in the most distant parts of the world; when, as a late +writer <a name="citation264"></a><a href="#footnote264" +class="citation">[264]</a> observes, “the greatest, perhaps +of all heathens, are at home, entirely neglected.”</p> +<p>Peace and tranquillity are favorable to the improvement of the +internal condition of a country; and can Britain more +unequivocally <!-- page 265--><a name="page265"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 265</span>testify her gratitude for the signal +favors conferred upon her, than in promoting that object for +which rational beings were formed—the glory of God, and the +happiness of his creatures.</p> +<p>In relation to the uncultivated race we have been surveying, +may a guarded and religious education prove to them, as the voice +crying in the wilderness: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, +make straight in the desert an highway for our God.” +The subsequent declaration, without doubt, is descriptive of what +should be effected under the gospel dispensation: “The +crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And +the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and <i>all flesh</i> +shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken +it.”—Isaiah, Chap. xl. v. 3, 4, 6.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="smcap">finis</span>.</p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">Printed by <span +class="smcap">Hargrove</span>, <span +class="smcap">Gawthorp</span>, & <span +class="smcap">Cobb</span>.<br /> +Herald-Office, York.</p> +<p> </p> +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<h2><!-- page 266--><a name="page266"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 266</span><span class="smcap">published +by</span><br /> +<i>WILLIAM ALEXANDER</i>, <i>YORK</i></h2> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p>I. <i>An epitome of the history of the world</i>, +<i>by</i> <span class="smcap">John Hoyland</span>, <i>Author +of</i> <span class="smcap">A Historical Survey</span>, +&c.—<i>The Epitome takes a comprehensive view of the +Creation</i>, <i>of the Antediluvians</i>, <i>and of the +universal Deluge</i>, <i>united with a Biographical Portraiture +of the Patriarchs</i>, <i>and an examination of their respective +characters and conduct</i>. <i>The historical department +takes a survey of the peopling of the world</i>, <i>of the origin +and subversion of nations</i>, <i>and exhibits the fulfilment of +prophecies contained in the old Testament</i>; <i>particularly as +they relate to the Jews</i>; <i>evincing the connexion of Divine +dispensations</i>, <i>during</i> 4000 <i>years</i>; 2nd edit. +much improved, 2 <i>vols.</i> 8<i>vo. fine paper</i>, <i>ext. +bds.</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">1 2 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Ditto</i>, <i>in</i> 2 <i>vols.</i> 12<i>mo</i>, +<i>half bound</i>, <i>for the use of Schools</i>.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">13 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>II. “<span class="smcap">A Description</span> +<i>of the</i> <span class="smcap">Retreat</span> <i>near</i> +<span class="smcap">York</span>,” <i>for persons afflicted +with disorders of the mind</i>, <i>among the Society of +Friends</i>; <i>giving a historical narrative of the rise and +progress of the Institution</i>; <i>a description of the moral +and medical treatment practised in it</i>, <i>and many other +interesting particulars</i>; <i>with three</i> 4<i>to plates</i>, +<i>descriptive of the buildings</i>, <i>by</i> <span +class="smcap">S. Tuke</span>, 4<i>to. fine paper</i>, <i>extra +bds.</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">12 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>III. <span class="smcap">Practical Hints</span> +<i>on the Construction and Economy of</i> <span +class="smcap">Pauper Lunatic Asylums</span>; <i>including +Instructions to the Architects who offered plans for the +Wakefield Asylum</i>, <i>and a sketch of the most approved +design</i>, by <span class="smcap">S. Tuke</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">2 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 267--><a name="page267"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 267</span>IV. <span class="smcap">Duties +of Religion and Morality</span>, <i>as inculcated in the Holy +Scriptures</i>; <i>adapted to the perusal of persons of every +religious denomination</i>, <i>by</i> <span class="smcap">H. +Tuke</span>, <i>pot</i> 8<i>vo</i>, <i>sheep lettered</i>, or +12<i>mo</i>, <i>boards</i>, <i>each</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">2 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Ditto</i>, <i>pot</i> 8<i>vo</i>, <i>stitched</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">2 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Ditto</i>, 12<i>mo</i>, <i>boards</i>, <i>fine +paper</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">3 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p style="text-align: center">A good allowance +made to purchasers of one dozen copies or more of this work.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>V. <span class="smcap">Importance of +Religion</span>. <i>In this small tract the advantages and +necessity of a religious life are forcibly impressed</i>, <i>in a +manner adapted to the understandings of every capacity</i>; +<i>and worthy the attention and perusal of all</i>, 18<i>mo</i>, +<i>stitched</i>, <i>com.</i> 2<i>s. per doz.</i>; 12<i>s. per</i> +100; <i>fine</i> 3<i>d. each</i>; <i>per doz.</i> 2<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i>; <i>per</i> 100</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">15 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Ditto</i>, <i>royal</i> 12<i>mo.</i> +6<i>d.</i>;—<i>per doz.</i> 5<i>s.</i>;—<i>per</i> +100</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right">1 10 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p267.jpg"> +<img alt= +"Decorative divider" +title= +"Decorative divider" +src="images/p267.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<h2>Footnotes:</h2> +<p><a name="footnote82"></a><a href="#citation82" +class="footnote">[82]</a> In the 31st page of Sir Frederick +Morton Eden’s Appendix to the State of the Poor, it appears +that in 1426, a hay horse, for the Prior (we may suppose of prime +quality) cost £1 6s. 8d. and a colt 4s. 6d. And in +the year 1448, page 34, the hay of one acre was estimated at +5s.</p> +<p><a name="footnote89"></a><a href="#citation89" +class="footnote">[89]</a> Weirde, is derived from the +Anglo-Saxon “<i>wird</i>;” <i>i.e.</i>, fatum, or +deafinie, and is used in this sense, in Hollinshed.</p> +<p><a name="footnote94"></a><a href="#citation94" +class="footnote">[94]</a> Ballie is a material designation +in Scotland, agreeing in rank with that of Alderman in +England.</p> +<p><a name="footnote201"></a><a href="#citation201" +class="footnote">[201]</a> Vol. vii. p. 496, 497.</p> +<p><a name="footnote205"></a><a href="#citation205" +class="footnote">[205]</a> Vol. vii. p. 712.</p> +<p><a name="footnote206"></a><a href="#citation206" +class="footnote">[206]</a> Vol. viii. p. 286.</p> +<p><a name="footnote208"></a><a href="#citation208" +class="footnote">[208]</a> Vol. ix. p. 82, 83.</p> +<p><a name="footnote211"></a><a href="#citation211" +class="footnote">[211]</a> Vol. ix. p. 278, 279, 280.</p> +<p><a name="footnote212"></a><a href="#citation212" +class="footnote">[212]</a> Since writing the above, a +friend has informed me that Norwood is now inclosed, and has +ceased to be a rendezvous of Gypsies.</p> +<p><a name="footnote217"></a><a href="#citation217" +class="footnote">[217]</a> Vol. ix. p. 554, 555.</p> +<p><a name="footnote221"></a><a href="#citation221" +class="footnote">[221]</a> Frederick Smith, of Croydon, +Surry.</p> +<p><a name="footnote231a"></a><a href="#citation231a" +class="footnote">[231a]</a> Vide Crabbe’s Poems.</p> +<p><a name="footnote231b"></a><a href="#citation231b" +class="footnote">[231b]</a> See No. 104, Sunday School +Tracts.</p> +<p><a name="footnote248"></a><a href="#citation248" +class="footnote">[248]</a> The benevolent Jonas Hanway took +a Gypsey boy into his family, for the purpose of making an +experiment, but the result has not come to the knowledge of the +author.</p> +<p><a name="footnote262"></a><a href="#citation262" +class="footnote">[262]</a> At page 691, is a Vignette of +Gypsies washing gold in Hungary.</p> +<p><a name="footnote264"></a><a href="#citation264" +class="footnote">[264]</a> Samuel Tuke, Author of a +Description of the Retreat, &c.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE CUSTOMS, +HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 29063-h.htm or 29063-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/0/6/29063 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +</pre></body> +</html> diff --git a/29063-h/images/p0.jpg b/29063-h/images/p0.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2108b79 --- /dev/null +++ b/29063-h/images/p0.jpg diff --git a/29063-h/images/p267.jpg b/29063-h/images/p267.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2108b79 --- /dev/null +++ b/29063-h/images/p267.jpg diff --git a/29063.txt b/29063.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..284d4d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/29063.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5559 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & +Present State of the Gypsies, by John Hoyland + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies + + +Author: John Hoyland + + + +Release Date: June 7, 2009 [eBook #29063] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE +CUSTOMS, HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES*** + + +Transcribed from the 1816 WM. Alexander edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Kensington Library, London, for +allowing the use of their copy in cross-checking the transcription. + + + + + + A + HISTORICAL SURVEY + OF THE + _CUSTOMS_, _HABITS_, & _PRESENT STATE_ + OF + The Gypsies; + DESIGNED TO DEVELOPE + The Origin of this Singular People, + AND TO PROMOTE + _The Amelioration of their Condition_. + + + * * * * * + + BY JOHN HOYLAND, + _Author of an Epitome of the History of the World_, _&c._ + + [Picture: Decorative divider] + + York: + PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; AND SOLD BY + _WM. ALEXANDER_, _YORK_: + + DARTON, HARVEY, & CO.; W. PHILLIPS; AND W. DARTON, JUN. + LONDON. + + * * * * * + + 1816. + + + + * * * * * + + Entered at Stationers' Hall. + + * * * * * + + * * * * * + +_Printed by HARGROVE_, _GAWTHORP_, _& COBB_, + _Herald-Office_, _York_. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The author of the following Survey, has frequently had opportunity of +observing the very destitute and abject condition of the Gypsey race, in +the counties of Northampton, Bedford, and Herts. The impressions +received from viewing a state so derogatory to human nature, induced him +to make numerous inquiries, in order to ascertain if necessity compelled +their continuance, under circumstances so deplorable as their condition +exhibited. + +Not meeting with satisfactory intelligence on application to various +individuals, to whose observation Gypsies are frequently presented, the +author was excited to an examination of history, for the developement of +a case involved in so much obscurity; and aggravated by circumstances so +repugnant to the mild and genial influences of the Christian Religion. + +He must not however omit to state, that in Northamptonshire, William +Allen, who is in the profession of the law, at Higham Ferrers, and +Steward to Earl Fitzwilliam, very warmly interested himself on the +subject. He said it afforded him much pleasure to find, that some +attention was excited to the condition of the Gypsies, and that he should +be glad to co-operate, as far as was in his power, in any measures likely +to conduce to the reformation of this greatly neglected class of British +subjects. + +He volunteered his services to find out the nearest Gypsey rendezvous, +and soon procured information of an encampment which the writer visited. +An account of the visit will appear in the following sheets. The first +assurance that the Gypsies really had a language peculiar to themselves, +which the author received, was from this intelligent and obliging +professor of the law, who had heard children, as well as adults among +them, speak it with great fluency. + +He also observed, that the situation of this people daily became +increasingly deplorable, in consequence of the establishment of +associations for the prosecution of felons; and that the fear of +apprehension as vagrants, and the progressive inclosures near towns and +villages, had a tendency to drive them to a greater distance from the +habitations of man. And he was fully of opinion, as these houseless +wanderers were expelled from Township after Township, without any +provision being made for their refuge, that it was high time their case +should obtain the consideration of the public. + +Of the historic authorities whence the author has derived information and +interesting observation, he has to place in the foremost rank, the +Dissertation of the learned H. M. G. Grellmann, translated a few years +since, by the late M. Raper, Esq. F.R.S. & A.S. He has, however, to +acknowledge himself indebted to various other intelligent authors, whose +writings will be noticed in the course of the work. + +Another source of information, and which relates especially to the +_present state_ of the Gypsies in Great Britain, has been opened through +inquiries instituted in most parts of the nation, by the author, aided by +several obliging and able coadjutors. The results of these inquiries, it +scarcely need be added, will be presented to the reader in their proper +places. + +The author has much regretted, that scarcely any of the splendid +histories of Counties in England, and even those in which the Gypsies +abound, have in the least noticed that part of the population which so +strongly claims our attention. By bringing their situation into view, +the historian might not merely have served the cause of humanity; he +would have advanced the interest of the state, by promoting an object of +so much public utility, as the improvement of the whole Gypsey race +cannot fail to prove. + +A comparative view of their customs and habits, and how far they appear +coincident in different countries, may afford a criterion by which to +judge if they have all had one origin. By thus tracing them to that +source, we may possibly discover the occasion of their peculiarities; and +if the means hitherto employed to counteract them, have proved +unsuccessful, we may be prepared to consider of others, better adapted to +correct the errors of their education. + +Conceiving that any scheme for ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies, +would not only be premature, but might prove highly injudicious, before +obtaining a knowledge of their history, the author has endeavoured to +collect, from the most authentic European authorities to which he could +have access, a general view of this people, in the different parts of the +world to which they have resorted; and from these and the other sources +of information, he has subjoined accounts of their state in Great +Britain, and of the suggestions offered by other individuals for their +improvement; concluding the subject with a review of the whole, and +proposing a plan to be set on foot for accomplishing this desirable +object. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + SECTION I. + +_Various Appellations of them--Their arrival in Europe_ _page_ 9 + + SECTION II. + +_Accounts of the Gypsies in various Countries_ _page_ 17 + + SECTION III. + +_The Habits_, _Occupations_, _and Polity of the _page_ 37 +Continental Gypsies_ + + SECTION IV. + +_Political Regulations on the Continent respecting _page_ 61 +Gypsies_ + + SECTION V. + +_The Gypsies in Great Britain_ _page_ 75 + + SECTION VI. + +_The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland_ _page_ 91 + + SECTION VII. + +_On the Origin of the Gypsies_ _page_ 112 + + SECTION VIII. + +_Comparative view of the Gypsey_, _Hindostanie_, _and _page_ 131 +Turkish languages_ + + SECTION IX. + +_Present State of the Gypsies in England_ _page_ 151 + + SECTION X. + +_Present State of the Gypsies in and about London_ _page_ 175 + + SECTION XI. + +_Sentiments of various persons on the moral condition of _page_ 191 +the Gypsies_ + + SECTION XII. + +_Review of the Subject_, _and Suggestions for _page_ 221 +ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies in the British +Empire_ + + + + + + +SECTION I. + + +Various appellations of them--Their arrival in Europe. + + * * * * * + +The different appellations by which the People whom we denominate +Gypsies, have been distinguished, appear generally to have had reference +to the countries, from which it was supposed they had emigrated. + +Grellmann states, that the French, having the first accounts of them from +Bohemia, gave them the name of _Bohemiens_, Bohemians. That the Dutch +apprehending they came from Egypt, called them _Heydens_, Heathens. In +Denmark, Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of. +The Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propensity the Gypsies had to +thieving, adopted the name _Charami_, Robbers, for them. + +In Hungary, they were formerly called Pharaohites, (_Pharaoh Nepek_) +Pharaoh's people; and the vulgar in Transylvania continue that name for +them. The idea of the English appears to be similar, in denominating +them Gypsies, Egyptians; as is, that of the Portuguese and Spaniards, in +calling them _Gitanos_. But the name _Zigeuners_, obtained the most +extensive adoption, and apparently not without cause; for the word +_Zigeuner_, signifies to wander up and down--for which reason, it is +said, our German ancestors denominated every strolling vagrant +_Zichegan_. + +The Gypsies are called not only in all Germany, Italy, and Hungary +_Tziganys_; but frequently in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia, +_Cyganis_. But the Turks, and other Eastern nations name them, +_Tschingenes_. + +The origin of this people has been a subject of inquiry for more than +three hundred years. Many persons have been anxious to discover "who +these guests were, that, unknown and uninvited, came into Europe in the +fifteenth century, and have chosen ever since to continue in this quarter +of the globe." + +Continental writers state, that it is incredible how numerous the hordes +of this people are, and how widely dispersed over the face of the earth. +They wander about in Asia, the inferior of Africa, and have established +themselves in most of the countries of Europe. Grellmann is of opinion, +that America is the only part of the world, in which they are not known. +Though no mention appears to be made of them by Authors who have written +on that quarter of the globe; yet no doubt remains, of their having been +in Europe nearly four hundred years. + +_Wilhelm Dilick_ in his HESZISCHEN _Chronik_, scit 229, beyn Jahr 1414, +informs us they arrived the same year in the Hessian territories; but no +mention of them appears in the public prints till three years afterward. +Mention is made of their being in Germany as early as the year 1417; when +they appeared in the vicinity of the North sea. Fabricius, in _Annalibb +Misn_, says, they were driven from Meissen in 1416, but Calvisius +corrects this date by changing it to 1418. + +Sir Thomas Browne in his "_Vulgar Errors_," page 287, says, "their first +appearance was in Germany, since the year 1400; nor were they observed +before in other parts of Europe, as is deducible from Munster, Genebrard, +Krantzius and Ortelius." + +In Germany they spread so rapidly, that in 1418, their names were +recorded in the annual publications of various parts of the country. +They travelled in hordes, each having his leader, sometimes called +_Count_, others had the title of _Dukes_, or _Lords of Lesser Egypt_. + +In 1418 they were found in Switzerland, and in the country of the +Grisons; and in 1422 they made their appearance in Italy. The Bologna +Chronicle states, that the hordes which arrived in that city, on the 18th +of July, 1422, consisted of about one hundred men, the name of whose +leader, or Duke as they termed him, was Andreas. They travelled from +Bologna to Forli, intending to pay the Pope a visit at Rome. + +Their appearance in France bears the date of 1427, when the French say, +they straggled about Paris, having arrived on the 17th day of August in +that year. + +German Historians are agreed, that when the Gypsies first made their +appearance in Europe, they chose to be considered as Pilgrims; and that +their profession met with the more ready belief, as it coincided with the +infatuation of the times. The learned Grellmann states, that several old +writings mention the credulity, with which people cherished the idea, +that they were real pilgrims and holy persons; that it not only procured +for them toleration, but safe-conducts in many places. + +Munster declares, that they carried about with them passports and seals +from the Emperor Sigismund, and other Princes; by means of which, they +had free passage through different countries and cities; and that he had +himself seen, an attested copy of such a letter to the possession of some +Gypsies at Eberbach. + +Krantz, Stumpf, Guler, and Laurentius Palmirenus, all agree in this +statement.. The Gypsies at Bologna also shewed an instrument from +Sigismund; but he appears to have granted this to them, not as Emperor, +and in Germany; but in Hungary, and as King of Hungary. A pass of +Uladislaus II. might also be quoted, which the Gypsies obtained chiefly +on account of their supposed sanctity and pilgrimage. In Transylvania, +it is asserted they received letters of protection from the House of +Bathory. + +Webner says, that the Gypsies in France quoted ancient privileges, +granted to them by the former Kings of that country. + +Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions for wandering +unmolested through all Christian countries, as long as the term of their +pilgrimage lasted; which they asserted was seven years. But at the +expiration of that term, they represented that their return home was +prevented by soldiers stationed to intercept them. + +The impression their pretensions had made on the people among whom they +came, did not entirely subside during half a century; but afterward, "the +Gypsies being watched with a more jealous eye, it appeared but too +clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of +humanity, who, often, under pretexts of safe-conducts, committed all +manner of excesses." + +Their impositions being detected, it is probable some of them were +reduced to the necessity of having recourse to legitimate means of +subsistence, for within thirty years afterward, we have accounts of +Gypsies in Hungary being employed in the working of iron. This +occupation, appears from old writings, to have been a favourite one with +them. Bellonius also takes notice of its being so; and there is a record +of the Hungarian King Uladislaus, in the year 1496, cited by the Abbe +_Pray_ in his Annals; and by _Friedwalsky_ in his Mineralogy, wherein it +is ordered, "_That every __officer and subject_, _of whatever rank and +condition_, _do allow to Thomas Polgar_, _leader of twenty-five tents of +wandering Gypsies_, _free residence every where_, _and on no account to +molest him_, _or his people_; _because they had prepared military stores +for the Bishop Sigismund at Funfkirchen_." + + GRELLMANN. + + + + +SECTION II. + + +Accounts of the Gypsies in various countries. + + * * * * * + +To propose means for improving the condition of Gypsies, before we have +informed ourselves of their real state, and what has been done for them, +would be as injudicious, as for a Physician to prescribe for a patient, +without being acquainted with the nature or extent of his disease, and +the means attempted for his cure. To form a just opinion, on the case of +the Gypsies, it appears necessary to ascertain their general habits, and +their mode of life. + +From Pasquier's _Recherches de la France_, B. IV. C. 9, is selected the +following account of the Gypsies in that country: "On August 17th, 1427, +came to Paris, twelve Penitents, _Penanciers_, as they called themselves, +viz: a Duke, an Earl, and ten men, all on horse-back, and calling +themselves good christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out, that +not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged +them to embrace christianity, on pain of being put to death. Those who +were baptized, were great Lords in their own country; and had a King and +Queen there. Some time after their conversion, the Saracens over-ran +their country, and obliged them to renounce christianity. + +"When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian +Princes, heard of this; they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of +them, both great and small, to quit their country, and go to the Pope at +Rome; who enjoined them seven years' penance, to wander over the world, +without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five years when they +came to Paris; first the principal people, and soon after the commonalty, +about 100, or 120, reduced from 1000, or 1200, when they came from home; +the rest being dead, with their King and Queen. They were lodged by the +police, out of the city, at Chapel St. Denis + +"Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and one or two silver rings in +each, which they said were esteemed ornaments in their country. The men +were black, their hair curled; the women remarkably black, all their +faces scarred, _deployez_, their hair black, their only clothes a large +old shaggy garment, _flossoye_, tied over the shoulders with a cloth or +cord, sash, _lien_, and under it a poor petticoat, _roquet_. In short, +they were the poorest miserable creatures that had ever been seen in +France; and notwithstanding their poverty, there were among them women, +who by looking into people's hands told their fortunes. And what was +worse, they picked people's pockets of their money; and got it into their +own, through telling these things by art, magic, &c. + +"But though this was the common report, I spoke to them several times, +yet I never lost a farthing by them; or ever saw them look into people's +hands. But the Bishop of Paris, hearing of it, went to them with a Friar +Preacher, named _Le petit Jacobin_, who, by the Bishop's order, preached +a sermon excommunicating all the men and women who pretended to believe +these things; and had believed in them, and shown their hands; and it was +agreed that they should go away, and they departed for Pontoise, in +September. + +"This was copied from an old book in the form of a journal, drawn up by a +doctor of divinity in Paris, which fell into the hands of Pasquier; who +remarks upon it, that however the story of a penance savours of a trick, +these people wandered up and down France, under the eye, and with the +knowledge of the magistrates, for 100, or 120 years. At length, in 1661, +an edict was issued, commanding all officers of justice, to turn out of +the kingdom, in the space of two months, under pain of the gallies, and +corporal punishment, all men, women and children, who assumed the name of +_Bohemiens_, or Egyptians." + +Dufresne, in his Glossary V. AEgyptiaci, confirms Pasquier's character of +them in these words: "AEgyptiaci, Gallice Egyptiens, Bohemiens, vagi +homines, harioli, et fatidici, qui hac et illac errantes, ex manu +inspectione futura proesagire se fingunt; ut de marsupiis incautorum +nummos corrogent;" which may be thus translated, "Egyptians called by the +French Egyptiens, Bohemiens, vagabonds, soothsayers and fortune-tellers, +who, wandering up and down, pretend to foretel future events from the +inspection of the hand, for the purpose of obtaining money from persons +not careful of their purses, &c." + +Grellmann speaks of Gypsies "being numerous in Lorraine and Alsatia, +before the French Revolution, but especially in the forests of Lorraine. +They increased in this district, in consequence of their having been +assiduously looked after in the dominions of the late Duke Deux-Fonts, +and driven from thence; whither his successor would not suffer them to +return. He adds, that an order of the provincial council, held at +Tarragona, in 1591, subjected them to the magistrates, as people "quos +vix constat esse Christianos, nisi ex eorum relatione, cum tamen sint +mendaces, fures, deceptores, et aliis sceleribus multi eorum assueti;" in +English, "who are scarcely allowed to be Christians, except from their +own account of themselves, seeing they are liars, thieves, cheats, and +many of them accustomed to other kinds of wickedness." + +Twiss, in his Travels p. 179, gives the following account of them in +Spain: "They are very numerous about, and in, Murcia, Cordova, Codis, and +Ronda. The race of these vagabonds is found in every part of Europe. +The French call them _Bohemiens_, the Italians _Zingari_, the Germans +_Ziegeuners_, the Dutch _Heydenen_, Pagans, the Portuguese _Siganos_, and +the Spaniards _Gitanos_, in Latin, _Cingari_. + +"Their language, which is peculiar to themselves, is every where so +similar, that they are undoubtedly all derived from the same source. +They began to appear in Europe in the 15th century, and are probably a +mixture of Egyptians and Ethiopians. The men are all thieves, and the +women libertines. They follow no certain trade, and have no fixed +religion. They do not enter into the order of society, wherein they are +only tolerated. It is supposed there are upwards of forty thousand of +them in Spain; great numbers of them are innkeepers in the villages, and +small towns; and they are every where fortune-tellers. + +"In Spain, they are not allowed to possess any lands, nor even to serve +as soldiers. They marry among themselves, stroll in troops, about the +country, and bury their dead under water. Their ignorance prevents their +employing themselves in any thing, but in providing for the immediate +wants of nature; beyond which even their roguishness does not extend; +and, only endeavouring to save themselves the trouble of labour, they are +contented if they can procure food by showing feats of dexterity; and +only pilfer to supply themselves with the trifles they want; so that they +never render themselves liable to any severer chastisement, than that of +whipping, for having stolen chickens, linen, &c. Most of the men have a +smattering of physic and surgery, and are skilful in tricks performed by +slight of hand." + +"The foregoing account is partly extracted from _Le Voyageur Francois_, +Vol. XVI.; but the assertion that they are all so abandoned, as that +author says, is too general. I have lodged many times in their houses, +and never missed the most trifling things, though I have left my knives, +forks, candlesticks, spoons, and linen at their mercy." + +Swinburne states, that "they swarm more in the province of Granada, than +in any other part of the realm. This singular sect have kept themselves +separate from the rest of mankind ever since their first appearance which +has been recorded in history. + +"Their origin remains a problem not to be satisfactorily solved; and I +doubt whether the Gitanos themselves, have any secret tradition that +might lead to a discovery of what they really were in the beginning, or +from what country they came. The received opinion sets them down as +Egyptians, and makes them out to be the descendants of those vagabond +votaries of Isis, who appear to have exercised, in ancient Rome, pretty +much the same profession as that followed by the present Gypsies, viz: +fortune-telling, strolling up and down, and pilfering. + +"Few of them employed themselves in works of husbandry, or handicrafts; +indeed the Spaniards would not work with them. Except a small part of +them who follow the trades of blacksmiths, and vintners, most of them are +makers of iron rings, and other little trifles, rather to prevent their +being laid hold of as vagrants, than really as a means of subsistence. +Several of them travel about as carriers and pedlars. + +"Though they conform to the Roman Catholic mode of worship, they are +looked upon in the light of unbelievers; but I never could meet with any +body that pretended to say what their private faith and religion may be. +All the Gypsies I have conversed with, assured me of their sound +Catholicism; and I have seen the medal of _Nuestra Senora del Carmel_ +sewed on the sleeves of several of their women. + +"They seldom venture on any crimes that may endanger their lives; petty +larceny is the utmost extent of their roguishness. + +"The men are tall, well built, and swarthy, with a bad scowling eye, and +a kind of favorite lock of hair left to grow down before their ears, +which rather increases the gloominess of their features; their women are +nimble and supple jointed; when young they are generally handsome, with +fine black eyes. Their ears and necks are loaded with trinkets and +baubles, and most of them wear a large patch on each temple." + +Of the Italian Gypsies, the same traveller in his journey through +Calabria, p. 304, gives the following account: "The landlord of the inn +at Mirti, earnestly recommended to the servants to leave nothing out of +doors, as there was an encampment of Zingari, or Gypsies, who would lay +their hands upon any part of the baggage, that was not watched with the +strictest attention. His caution led me to an inquiry into the state of +this strange tribe of vagrants, of whom I had seen great numbers in +Spain. The result of this account, combined with those I had received +from others, is as follows: + +"The Gypsies of Calabria do not contract alliances with any other class +of inhabitants; but marry among themselves. + +"It is not possible to say where they reside, as they have no fixed +habitations; and consequently possess neither house nor land, but pitch +their tents wherever they think proper to make any stay. They support +life by the profits of handicrafts; but more by swapping asses and +horses. + +"They generally work in iron, and make trivets, knitting needles, +bodkins, and such trifles. Their dress is extremely shabby; they shave +their chins, but indulge a great length of hair, which they seldom +disturb with either comb or scissars. + +"As to their religion, it is a secret which they keep locked up in their +own breasts. They seem to have no great veneration for the Virgin Mary, +but are supposed to believe in Christ. All the proof we have of their +belief, depends upon appearances, and an occasional conforming to the +ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, in marriages, burials, &c.; +but if the priests start any difficulties, they manage the matter without +their interference, and perform the functions according to their own +ceremonies, which in many points resemble those of the heathens. + +"At their weddings they carry torches, and have paranymphs to give the +bride away, with many other unusual rites. + +"It is in reality, almost absurd to talk of the religion of a set of +people, whose moral characters are so depraved, as to make it evident +they believe in nothing capable of being a check to their passions. They +are usually accounted pilferers, cheats, faithless, and abandoned to +dissoluteness. + +"They tell fortunes, and play juggling tricks, just as they do in all +other countries where they are to be found. In 1560, they were banished +the kingdom as thieves, cheats, and spies for the Turks. In 1569 and +1685, the order was resumed, but not being enforced, had little effect. + +"A Gypsey being brought to trial for a larceny, declared, that his law +allowed him to take as much from others, every day, as sufficed for his +maintenance. + +"These people make use of two languages, one Calabrian, with a foreign +accent and pronunciation; the other a peculiar one of their own, which in +sound, seems to have great affinity to the Oriental tongues; and is +spoken when they have secrets to impart to each other. They sleep like +dogs in a kennel, men, women, and children huddled together." + +The learned Grellmann states, that "Gypsies were universally to be found +in Italy; insomuch, that even Sicily and Sardinia were not free from +them. + +"But they were the most numerous in the dominions of the church; probably +because there was the worst police, with much superstition. By the +former they were left undisturbed; and the latter enticed them to deceive +the ignorant, as it afforded them an opportunity of obtaining a plentiful +contribution, by their fortune-telling and enchanted amulets. + +"There was a general law throughout Italy, that no Gypsey should remain +more than two nights, in any one place. By this regulation, it is true, +no place retained its guest long; but no sooner was one gone, than +another came in his room. It was a continual circle, and quite as +convenient to them, as a perfect toleration would have been. Italy +rather suffered, than benefited, by this law; as, by keeping those people +in constant motion, they would do more mischief there, than in places +where they were permitted to remain stationary." + +It appears from the Dissertation of Grellmann, that he had examined with +great care and attention, the continental authorities on the subject of +Gypsies. He asserts, that "In Poland and Lithuania, as well as in +Courland, there is an amazing number of Gypsies. + +"That they are to be found in Denmark and Sweden, is certain, but how +numerous they are in those countries we cannot pronounce, and therefore +proceed to the south east of Europe. + +"The countries in this part seem to be the general rendezvous of the +Gypsies; their number amounts in Hungary, according to a probable +statement, to upwards of 50,000. + +"Cantemir says, the Gypsies are dispersed all over Moldavia, where every +Baron has several families of them subject to him. + +"In Wallachia and the Sclavonian mountains, they are quite as numerous. +Bessarabia, all Tartary, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, swarm with them; +even in Constantinople they are innumerable. In Romania, a large tract +of Mount Haemus, which they inhabit, has acquired from them the name +_Tschenghe Valkan_, the Gypsey mountain. This district extends from the +city Aydos, quite to Phillipopolis, and contains more Gypsies than any +other province in the Turkish empire." + +Our countryman Edward Daniel Clark, in his travels in Russia, Tartary, +&c. so lately as the year 1800, states, "that after the ceremony of the +resurrection at Moscow, a party of Gypsies were performing the national +dance, called Barina; others were telling fortunes, according to their +universal practice, or begging for presents of oranges or ice. + +"This extraordinary people, found in all parts of Europe, were originally +one of the Castes of India, driven out of their territory, and +distinguished among Indian tribes, by a name which signifies thieves. +They have a similar appellation among the Fins, and with the same +signification. + +"They preserve every where the same features, manners, and customs, and +what is more remarkable, almost always the same mode of dress. The +extraordinary resemblance of the female Gypsies to the women of India, +was remarked by the British officers and men, in Egypt, when General +Baird arrived with his army to join Lord Hutchinson. The Sea-poys had +many of their women with them, who were exactly like our Gypsies. + +"In their dress, they lavish all their finery upon their heads. Their +costume in Russia is very different to that of the natives. The Russians +hold them in great contempt; never speaking of them without abuse; and +feel themselves contaminated by their touch, unless it be to have their +fortunes told. Formerly they were more scattered over Russia, and paid +no tribute; but now they are collected, and all belong to one nobleman, +to whom they pay a certain tribute, and work among the number of his +slaves." + +P. 209, he writes: "At Woronetz, the Gypsey tribe are very prevalent, and +a mixed race, resulting from their intermarriage with the Russians." + +Dr. Clarke observes, Chap. 18, p. 440, 441 of his Travels, between +Kertchy and Caffa, in the Crimea: "In the villages we found parties of +Tzigankies or Gypsies, encamped as we see them in England, but having +their tents stationed between their waggons, in which they move about the +country. + +"Poultry, cats, dogs, and horses, were feeding all round them, seeming +like members of the same family. The Gypsies are much encouraged by the +Tartars, who allow them to encamp in the midst of their villages, where +they exercise the several functions of smiths, musicians, and +astrologers. Many of them are wealthy, possessing fine horses, and +plenty of other cattle; but their way of life, whether rich or poor, is +always the same. As we entered their tents they arose, and cast a +sheep's hide over their bodies. The filth and stench of these people +were abominable." + +In the second, part of his Travels, p. 644, he writes respecting the +Gypsies: "We found this people in Nauplia, under the name they bear in +Moldavia, of Tchinganes. How they came thither no one knew; but the +march of their ancestors, from the North of India to Europe, so lately as +the beginning of the 15th century, will account for their not being found +further towards the South; and this is now so well ascertained, that no +one would expect to meet a Gypsey, upon any of the southern shores of the +Mediterranean. + +"To have found them in the Peloponnesus is rather remarkable, considering +that their whole tribe at first did not exceed half a million." + +In the travels, written by Bell, of Antermony, Vol. 2, p. 157, he states: +"During my stay at Tobolski, I was informed that a large troop of Gypsies +had been lately at that place, to the number of sixty or upwards. The +Russians call these vagabonds, _Tziggany_. Their sorry baggage was +carried upon horses and asses. The Vice-Governor sent for the chief of +this gang, and demanded whither they were going. They answered to China. +He stopped their progress and sent them back." + +"Bishop Pococke met with these people, still further to the Eastward. He +says, the Chingani, who are spread all over the world, are in great +abundance in the North of Syria, and pass for Mahometans. They live +under tents, and sometimes in grots under ground. + +"They make a coarse sort of tapestry, or carpet work, for hangings of +saddles and other uses; and when they are not far from towns, deal much +in cattle, and have a much better character than their relations in +Hungary, and the Gypsies in England; who are thought by some to have been +originally of the same tribe. + +"These and the Turcomen, with regard to offence, are under the Pasha and +Cadi; though they have a sheik to every encampment, and several great +ones over them: but with regard to taxes, they are immediately under the +Grand Seignior; whose tribute is collected yearly, by an officer over +each of these people; one being called the Turcoman-Agasi, an officer of +great credit, and the other the Chingani-Agasi, who go round the Turkish +dominions to collect the taxes from these people." Travels, Vol. 2, Part +1, p. 207, 208. + +Grellmann says: "Independently of the number of Gypsies in Egypt, and +some parts of Asia, could we obtain an exact estimate of them in the +countries of Europe, the immense number would probably greatly exceed +what we have any idea of. At a moderate calculation, without being +extravagant, they might be reckoned at between seven and eight hundred +thousand. + +"What a serious matter of consideration, when we reflect that the +greatest part of these people, are idlers, cheats, and thieves! + +"What a field does this open for the contemplation of Governments!" + + + + +SECTION III. + + +The Habits, Occupations, and Polity of Continental Gypsies. + + * * * * * + +The first of them that came to Europe, appeared ragged and miserable, +unless we allow their leaders to have been an exception. In like manner +their descendants have continued for hundreds of years, and still remain. +This is particularly remarkable in the countries about the mouth of the +Danube, which abound with Gypsies; namely Transylvania, Hungary, and +Turkey, in Europe; where they dress even more negligently than in other +parts. + +It is a fact that these people enjoy a good state of health more +uninterruptedly, and perfectly, than persons of the most regular habits, +and who pay the greatest attention to themselves. Neither wet nor dry +weather, heat nor cold, let the extremes follow each other ever so +quickly, seem to have any effect upon them. Any prevailing sickness, or +epidemical disorder, sooner penetrates into ten habitations of civilized +people, than finds its way into a Gypsey's tent. + +Though they are fond of a great degree of heat, and to lie so near the +fire, as to be in danger of burning, yet they can bear to travel in the +severest cold, bareheaded, with no other covering than some old rags +carelessly thrown over them. + +The causes of these bodily qualities, or at least some of them, evidently +arise from their education, and hardy manner of life. + +The pitiless mother takes her three months old child on her back, and +wanders about, in fair and foul weather, in heat or cold; there it sits +winter and summer, in a linen rug, with its head over her shoulder. +Gypsey women never use a cradle, nor even possess such a piece of +furniture. The child sleeps in their arms, or on the ground. When a boy +attains three years of age, his lot becomes still harder. Whilst an +infant, and his age reckoned by weeks and months, he was wrapt in rags, +but now deprived of these, he is equally with his parents, exposed to the +rigour of the elements, for want of covering; he is now put to trial how +far his legs will carry him; and must be content to travel about with, at +most, no other defence for his feet than thin socks. + +Thus he acquires a robust constitution by hardships and misery; but +though the children of Gypsies do not partake of what the refinements of +art and of tenderness would account advantages, writers are unanimous in +stating, they are good-looking, well-shaped, lively, clever, and have +fine eyes. The Gypsies, in common with uncivilized people, entertain +unbounded love for their children. This is a source of inexcusable +neglect: Gypsey children never feel the rod, they fly into the most +violent passions, and at the same time hear nothing from their parents +but flattering and coaxing. In return they act with ingratitude, as is +commonly the consequence of such education. + +Gypsies would long ago have been divested of their swarthy complexions, +had they discontinued their filthy mode of living. The Laplanders, +Samoieds, as well as the Siberians, likewise, have brown, yellow-coloured +skins, in consequence of living from their childhood, in smoke and dirt, +in the same manner as the Gypsies. + +Experience shows that their dark colour, which is continued from +generation to generation, is more the effect of education, and manner of +life, than of descent. Among those who serve in the Imperial army, where +they have learned to pay attention to order and cleanliness, there are +many to be found, whose extraction is not at all discernible in their +colour; though they had, probably, remained to the age of twelve or +fourteen years under the care of their filthy parents. + +A Gypsey considers a covering for the head as useless, and if he does not +obtain socks, which the female Gypsies in Moldavia and Wallachia knit +with wooden needles for the feet, he winds rags about them, which are +laid aside in summer. He is not better furnished with linen, as the +women neither spin, sew, nor wash. But this inattention is not from +indifference about dress; on the contrary, they are particularly fond of +clothes, which have been worn by people of distinction. The following, +which appeared in the Imperial Gazette, is very much to the purpose: +"Notwithstanding these people are so wretched, that they have nothing but +rags to cover them, which do not at all fit, and are scarcely sufficient +to hide their nakedness; yet they betray their foolish taste, and vain +ostentation, whenever they have in opportunity." The women are as fond +of dress as the men, and equally expose themselves to the ridicule of the +considerate and reflecting part of mankind. + +They are remarkable not only in hanging their ragged clothes about them +instead of garments, according to the Eastern custom; but their whole +arrangement is singular. Several of their leaders have horses, asses, or +mules with them, on which they load their tents and effects, with their +whole family also. They have likewise dogs in their train, with which +Krantz asserts they are used illegally, to destroy game; but probably the +dogs are not kept so much for that purpose, as to take fowls and geese. + +One strange peculiarity in the ideas of Gypsies we have hitherto forborn +to mention, but, disgusting as the task of recording it way be, it is so +well authenticated, as to have excited the notice of the Hungarian +Legislature; and as it will be found to have some reference to the origin +of this singular race of human beings, it must not be withheld from +public view. The greatest luxury to them is, when they can procure a +roast of cattle that have died of any distemper: to eat their fill of +such a meal, is to them the height of epicurism. When any person +censures their taste, or shows surprise at it, they say: "The flesh of a +beast which God kills, must be better than that of one killed by the hand +of man." They therefore embrace every opportunity of obtaining such +dainties. + +They are particularly fond of animals that have died by fire; therefore, +whenever a conflagration has happened, the next day, the Gypsies from +every neighbouring quarter assemble, and draw the suffocated, +half-consumed beasts out of the ashes; men, women, and children, in +troops, joyfully carrying the flesh home to their dwellings. + +The Gypsies in Hungary, who have settled habitations, are very partial to +gold and silver plate, particularly silver cups, which is a disposition +they have in common with the wandering tribes. They let slip no +opportunity of acquiring something of this kind; and will even starve +themselves to procure it. Though they seem little anxious to heap up +riches for their children, yet these frequently inherit a treasure of +this sort; and are obliged in their turn to preserve it as a sacred +inheritance. This inclination to deprive themselves of necessaries that +they may possess a superfluity, as well as many others of their customs, +is curious, yet appears to be ancient; and it was probably inherent in +them when they were first seen by Europeans. + +Historians assert, that of all the different people who have migrated +into foreign countries, a single instance is not to be found, which +accords with that of the Gypsies. The religious rites and observances of +the Jews were calculated to prevent their imbibing the customs and habits +of other nations. But it is universally admitted, that Gypsies did not +bring any particular religion with them from their native country, by +which they could be distinguished among other people; being as inconstant +and unsettled respecting religion, as they are to place of residence. + +Indeed it is asserted, that no Gypsey has any idea of submission to any +fixed profession of faith; that patents suffering their children to grow +up as themselves, without education or instruction, they acquire little +knowledge either of morality or justice; that few of them wilt attend to +any discourse on religion, but they hear it with indifference, if not +with impatience and repugnance. Despising all remonstrance; they +endeavour to live without the least solicitude concerning a future state +of being. + +The Turks are so fully convinced of the little religious sincerity +possessed by Gypsies, that although a Jew, by becoming a Mahometan, is +freed from the payment of the _Charadsch_, the Gypsies are not; at least +in the neighbourhood of Constantinople, they are compelled to pay the +poll-tax, even though their ancestors for centuries had been Mahometans, +or though they should actually have been a pilgrimage to Mecca. The +privilege of wearing a white turban, is the only advantage their +conversion gives them, over unbelieving Jews and Gypsies. + +Among warlike nations, many instances have occurred, in which the people +subdued, being more enlightened than their conquerors, the latter have +adopted the manners of the former. After the conquest of Greece, the +Romans assumed the manners of the Greeks; and the Turks in like manner +assumed those of the Gauls. The Mancheans vanquished the Chinese, but +Chinese customs prevailed over those of the Mancheans. + + _Grellmann_. + +Our countryman Dr. Clarke, page 4, of part the second of his Travels in +Greece, says: "There is every reason to believe that the Turks +themselves, at the conquest of Constantinople, adopted many of the +customs, and embraced many of the refinements of a people they had +subdued. + +"Their former habits had been those of nomad tribes, their dwellings were +principally tents, and the camp, rather than the city, distinguished +their abode." + +But Grellmann observes, Gypsies who have not established themselves by +force in any country, nor obtained toleration from any Government, remain +unchanged. Though they behold fixed dwellings on every side of them, +with settled inhabitants, they nevertheless, proceed in their own way, +and continue, for the most part, unsocial, houseless wanderers. + +To their excessive indolence and aversion to industry, may be attributed +the poverty and want which are generally their lots. They dislike every +kind of employment which requires application; and had rather suffer +hunger and nakedness, than provide against these privations, on the +conditions of labour. They therefore practise music and palmistry, which +allows them many idle hours; or addict themselves to vicious habits and +unlawful courses. Though no one of them marries a person who is not of +Gypsey extraction, there is not any people among whom marriage is +contracted with less consideration, or accomplished with less solemnity. + +Some Gypsies, who are stationary, have regular habitations, according to +their situation in life. To this class belong those who keep +public-houses in Spain; and others in Transylvania and Hungary, who +follow some regular business; which latter have their own miserable huts +near Hermanstadt, Cronstadt, Beatritz, Grosswaradein, Debrezin, Eperies, +Karchan, and other places. But by far the greater number of these +people, lead a very different kind of life; ignorant of the comforts +attending a fixed place of residence, they rove from one district to +another in hordes; having no habitation, but tents, holes in the rocks, +or caves: the former shade them in summer, the latter screen them in +winter. + +Many of these people, particularly in Germany and Spain, do not even +carry tents with them, but shelter themselves from the heat of the sun, +in forests shaded by the rocks, or behind hedges. They are very partial +to willows, under which they erect their sleeping places at the close of +the evening. Some live in their tents, in their language called +_Tschater_, during both summer and winter; which latter indeed the +Gypsies generally prefer. + +In Hungary, those who have discontinued their rambling way of life, and +built houses for themselves, seldom let a spring pass without taking +advantage of the first settled weather, to set up a tent for their summer +residence. Under this, each enjoys himself with his family, nor thinks +of his house till winter returns, and the frost and snow drive him back +to it. + +The wandering Gypsey in Hungary and Transylvania, endeavours to procure a +horse; in Turkey, an ass serves to carry his wife and a couple of +children, with his tent. When he arrives at a place he likes, near a +village, or a city, he unpacks, pitches his tent, ties his animal to a +stake to graze, and remains some weeks there: or if he do not find his +station convenient, he breaks up in a day or two, loads his beast, and +looks out for a more agreeable situation. His furniture seldom consists +of more than an earthen pot, an iron pan, a spoon, a jug and a knife; +with sometimes the addition of a dish. These serve for the whole family. + +Working in iron is the most usual occupation of the Gypsies. In Hungary, +this profession is so common, that there is a proverb: "So many Gypsies +so many smiths." + +The same may be said of those in Transylvania, Wallachia, Moldavia, and +all Turkey in Europe; at least such workers in fire are very numerous in +all those countries. But the Gypsies of our time, are not willing to +work heavy works; they seldom go beyond a pair of light horse shoes. In +general, they confine themselves to small articles, such as rings and +nails; they mend old pots and kettles; make knives, seals, and needles; +and sometimes they work in tin and brass. Their materials, tools, and +apparatus, are of a very inferior kind. The anvil is a stone; the other +implements are a pair of hand bellows, a hammer, a pair of pincers, a +vice, and a file. These ape the tools which a Nomadic Gypsey takes with +him in his perambulations. + +Whenever he is disposed to work, he is at no loss for fuel: on his +arrival at a station where he proposes to remain a few days, he takes his +beast, loads him with wood, builds a small kiln, and prepares his own +coal. In favourable weather, his work is carried on in the open air; +when it is stormy, he retires under his tent. He does not stand, but +sits down on the ground cross-legged to his work; which position is +rendered necessary, not only by custom, but by the quality of his tools. +The wife sits by to work the bellows, in which operation she is assisted +by the elder children. The Gypsies are generally praised for their +dexterity and quickness, notwithstanding the bad tools they have to work +with. + +Another branch of commerce much followed by Gypsies, is horse-dealing, to +which they have been attached from the earliest period of their history. +In those parts of Hungary, where the climate is so mild, that horses may +lie out all the year, the Gypsies avail themselves of this circumstance +to breed, as well as to deal in horses; by which they sometimes not only +procure a competency, but grew rich. Instances have been known on the +Continent, of gypsies keeping from fifty to seventy horses each; and +those the best bred horses of the country; some of which they let out for +hire, others they exchange or sell. But this description of Gypsey +horse-dealers is not numerous; the greater number of them deal in +inferior kinds. + +In addition to the two professions before-mentioned, commonly followed by +the men, some of them employ themselves as carpenters and turners; the +former making watering troughs and chests; the latter turn, trenchers and +dishes; make sieves, spoons, and other trifling articles, which they hawk +about. Many of them, as well as the smiths, find constant employment in +the houses of the better sort of people; for whom they work the year +round. They are not paid in money, but beside other advantages find a +certain subsistence. + +Those who are not thus circumstanced, do not wait at home for customers, +but with their implements in a sack thrown over their shoulders, seek +business in the cities and villages. When any one calls, they throw down +the bundle, and prepare the apparatus for work, before the door of their +employer. + +The Gypsies have a fixed dislike to agriculture; and had rather suffer +hunger, or any privation, than follow the plough. Since the year 1768, +the Empress Theresa has commanded that the Hungarian, and Transylvanian +Gypsies should be instructed in husbandry; but these orders have been +very little regarded. At this time there are so few of them farmers in +those parts, that they are undeserving of notice. In Spain and other +European countries, it would be difficult to find one who had ever made a +furrow in his life. + +Respecting fortune-telling, with which the female Gypsies impose on +people's credulity in every district and corner of Europe, the origin, of +the imposition is not to be attributed to them: the cheat was known and +practised in Europe before their arrival; being deeply rooted in the +ignorance of the middle age. The science of divination here was said to +be already brought to a greater degree of perfection than among them. +Rules were invented to tell lies from the inspection of the hand, in +which the poor Gypsies were accounted mere bunglers. They in the +seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were esteemed supernumeraries; there +being men of great learning, who not only read lectures in Colleges on +the art of chiromancy; but wrote many books, vilifying these people, and +endeavouring to spoil their market. But these wise men are no more; +their knowledge is deposited in the dead archives of literature; and +probably had there been no Gypsies, with them would have died the belief +in chiromancy, as is the case with respect to astrology, necromancy, +oneirocritica, and the other offspring of imbecile fancy. + +We must not omit to mention the occupation of gold-washing, by which +thousands of Gypsies, of both sexes, in the Banat, Transylvania, +Wallachia, and Moldavia, procure a livelihood in summer; who, in winter, +make trays and troughs, which they sell in an honest way. + +It is not permitted for every one, without exception, to be a +gold-washer; such only can follow the employment as have permission from +the office of Mons, where a College was established by the Empress +Theresa, in 1748. In the seventh article of instructions granted, the +Gypsies were allowed the privilege of washing for gold, for which each +person pays a tribute to Government. + +The gold-washers in Transylvania and the Banat, pay four guilders +annually in gold dust. The tribute collected in Wallachia and Moldavia +does not go into the public treasury, but belongs to the Princesses for +pin-money. + +The consort of the Wallachian Hospodar, Stephen Rakowitza, in the year +1764, received from her Rudars, being two hundred and forty in number, +twelve hundred and fifty-four drachms. The gold-washers in the Banat and +Transylvania, dispose of their shares at the Royal Redemption-Office, in +Zalatuya. The earnings of these people vary with time, and at different +places; during heavy rains and floods they are usually most successful. +The Transylvanian rivers yield the most gold. It is said, all the rivers +and brooks which the rain forms, produce gold; of these the river +Aranyasch is the richest; insomuch, that Historians have compared it to +the Tagus and Pactolus. + + _Grellmann_. + +In Travels through the Banat of Temeswar, Transylvania, and Hungary, in +the year 1770, described in a series of letters to Professor Ferber, on +the mines and mountains of these different countries, by Baron Inigo +Born, Counsellor of the Royal Mines, in Bohemia, page 76, is the +following account: + +"Observations on the Gold-washings, in the Banat, by Counsellor Koezian. +Translated by R. E. Ruspe. + +"After the several natural advantages of the _Temeswar Banat_, some of +its rivers are known to yield gold dust; I could not neglect the object +when I travelled in these parts. + +"The gold-washing in the Banat, is properly the business of the Gypsies, +_Zigeuner_, and left, as it were, to this poor people, as an exclusive +trade. This laid me under the necessity of applying to them for +instruction. + +"The river Nera, in Almash, carries gold dust; and seemed to me the +fittest for my purpose; accordingly I caused some Gypsies, reputed to be +skilful, to make a washing, near a village called Boshowitz; and I saw +with pleasure, that with much dexterity, and in a few minutes time, they +cleared in the trough, the value of some groshes of gold: they showed me +likewise among their gold dust, some pieces of remarkable bigness." + +It has been stated, that when Gypsies first arrived in Europe, they had +leaders and chiefs to conduct their various tribes in their migrations. + +Grellmann says, this was necessary, not only to facilitate their progress +through different countries and quarters of the globe; but to unite their +force, if necessary, and thereby enable them to make a more formidable +resistance when opposed; and likewise, to carry any plan they might have +formed, more regularly into effect. + +We accordingly find in old books, mention made of Knights, Counts, Dukes, +and Kings, among this people. Crucius cites a Duke, _Michael_; +Muratorio, a Duke, _Andreas_: and Arentinus records a King, _Zindelo_: +not to speak of inscriptions on monuments erected in different places to +the memories of Duke, _Panuel_; Count, _Johannis_; and a Knight, +_Petrus_, in the fifteenth century. + +But no comment is necessary to show how improperly these appellations +were applied. Though the Gypsey chiefs might be gratified with such +titles; and their descendants probably esteemed them persons of rank, it +was merely a ridiculous imitation of what they had seen, and perhaps +admired, among civilized people. Nevertheless, the custom of having +leaders and chiefs over them, prevails to this time, at least in Hungary +and Transylvania; probably it may also still exist in Turkey, and other +countries, where these people live together in great numbers. + +Their chiefs, or waywodes, were formerly of two degrees in Hungary. Each +petty tribe had its own leader, beside which, there were four superior +waywodes, of their own caste, on both sides the Danube and Teisse; whose +residences were at Raab, Lewentz, Szathmar, and Kaschan; and to these the +smaller waywodes were accountable. But now, only one superior waywode is +appointed in all Transylvania, who has authority over the gold-washers in +those parts. The Gypsies, however, still continue the custom among +themselves, of choosing certain persons, whom they make heads over them, +and call by the exalted Sclavonian title of waywode. + +It would appear extraordinary, that any well-regulated state should allow +these people a distinct establishment in the heart of the country; did +not the Hungarian writers assign as a reason, that in the commotions and +troubles occasioned by the Turkish wars, in former centuries, they were, +by means of their waywode, more easily summoned when occasion required, +and rendered useful to the community. + +In Transylvania, the magistrates do interfere with regard to the person +whom this or that horde hath elected chief, and impose an obligation on +him; but it is only that he should be careful to prevent his subjects +from absconding, when the time arrives for them to discharge their annual +tribute at the Land Regent's chamber. He has no right to interfere in +disputes or quarrels which the Gypsies have among themselves, or with +other people, further than to give notice of them to the regular courts +of the district, where they happen to be. + + Grellmann. + + + + +SECTION IV. + + +Political Regulations on the Continent, respecting Gypsies. + + * * * * * + +To the ignorance and superstition of the middle age, must be attributed +the powerful ascendency which the Gypsies obtained over the minds of men. +In addition to the chiromantic deception, practised by the women, they +followed also the profession of exorcism; and were greatly in request +during the prevalence of a belief in witchcraft. + +They were employed to cure bewitched cattle, and to loosen the spells of +enchantment; for which they had nostrums of various kinds, consisting of +roots and amulets, made of unfermented dough, marked with strong figures, +and dried in the sun. + +For a long time little attention was paid to them, but at last the evil +became enormous, and complaints against them were so loud, that +Governments were constrained to take official notice of them. Exemplary +punishments were judged necessary; and, at length, the most cruel and +barbarous kinds were resorted to. What a blot upon the history of those +times, are the dreadful tortures of quartering alive, and breaking upon +the wheel! These means being insufficient to prevent the perpetration of +crimes; it was thought expedient to banish the Gypsies. + +German waiters say, that King Ferdinand of Spain, who esteemed it a good +work to expatriate useful and profitable subjects--Jews, and even Moorish +families--could much less be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on +the mischievous progeny of Gypsies. The edict for their extermination, +was published in the year 1492. But instead of passing the boundaries, +they only slunk into hiding-places, and shortly after appeared in as +great numbers as before. + +The Emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did Philip II. also. +Since that time they have nestled in again, and have been also threatened +with another storm, but it has blown over without taking effect. + +In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and at the +Assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all Governors of cities +received orders to drive them away with fire and sword. Nevertheless, in +process of time, they had collected again, and increased to such a +degree, that, in 1612, a new order came out for their extermination. + +In the year 1572, they were compelled to retire from the territories of +Milan and Parma; and at a period somewhat earlier, they were chased +beyond the Venetian jurisdiction. They were not allowed the privilege of +remaining unmolested in Denmark, as the code of Danish law specifies: +"The Tartars, _Gypsies_, who wander about every where, doing great damage +to the people, by their lies, thefts, and witchcraft, shall be taken into +custody by every magistrate." + +Sweden was not more favourable, having attacked them at three different +times: A very sharp order for their expulsion came out in 1662. The Diet +of 1723 published a second, and that of 1727, repeated the foregoing with +additional severity. + +They were excluded from the Netherlands under pain of death, partly by +Charles the Vth, and afterwards by the United States, in 1582. But the +greatest number of sentences of exile, have been pronounced against them +in Germany. The beginning was made under Maximilian I, at the Augsburgh +Diet, in 1500, where the following was drawn up, respecting those people +who call themselves Gypsies, roving up and down the country. + +"By public edict, to all ranks of the empire, according to the +obligations under which they are bound to Us, and the Holy Empire; it is +strictly ordered, that in future they do not permit the said Gypsies, +since there is authentic evidence of their being spies, scouts, and +conveyers of intelligence, betraying the christians to the Turks, to pass +or remain within their territories; nor to trade; neither to grant them +protection, nor convoy. And that the said Gypsies do withdraw +themselves, before Easter next ensuing, from the German dominions; +entirely quit them, nor suffer themselves to be found therein: as in case +they should transgress after that time, and receive injury from any +person, they shall have no redress, nor shall such person be thought to +have committed any crime." + +The same business occupied the attention of the Diet, in 1530, 1544, +1548, and 1551; and was also again enforced in the improved police +regulation of Frankfort, in 1577. + +Several Princes were however so little attentive to these orders of the +empire, that instead of endeavouring to drive out the Gypsies, they on +the other hand, furnished them with passports and safe-conducts; but by +far the greater number exerted themselves to the utmost, to clear their +states of them. + +Perhaps there is not any civilized state, Hungary and Transylvania +excepted, where this remedy has not been tried; but in the first place it +had very little effect, and that little was only temporary. Even if +every civilized nation had driven out the Gypsies at the same time, +Europe could not have been entirely cleared of them, so long as they +preserved an asylum in Turkey. Now as experience evinces there is no +country in which a constant, equal attention, is paid to the execution of +the laws, they would, in more, or less time, have again insinuated +themselves into the neighbouring countries; from these into others; and +have recommenced where they left off. + +But a general extermination never did take place. The law for banishing +them passed in one state before it was thought of in the next, or when a +like order had long become obsolete, and sunk into oblivion. These +guests were therefore merely compelled to shift their quarters to an +adjoining state, where they remained till the Government, there, began to +clear them away, upon which the fugitives either retired back whence they +came, or went on progressively to a third place, thus making a continual +revolution. + +Secondly, this remedy was premature: endeavouring to exterminate, was the +same as if a surgeon should proceed directly to the amputation of a +diseased limb, because it created inconvenience to the rest of the body. +Whereas the first inquiry ought to be, whether the disorder is of such a +nature as not to be removed, but by entire separation. This is a +desperate course, and should only be adopted, when no other can be +efficacious. + +It is to be regretted that, not until the reign of the Empress Theresa, +does there appear to have been any plan laid down for the gaining over +these poor ignorant people to virtue, and to the state. Historians +represent that the wise dispositions she enjoined respecting the Gypsies +in Hungary, were intrusted to people inadequate to the task. + +What was done, in her time, for the improvement of their condition, may +be seen by the following article extracted from the _Anzeigen aus den +Kayserl_, _Konigl Erblandern_, or Intelligence from the Hereditary +Imperial Royal Dominions. + +"Since the year 1768, several decrees regarding these people have been +published in the country, _Hungary_, and the strictest orders despatched +to the several districts, in consequence. They were prohibited from +dwelling in huts, or tents; from wandering up and down the country; from +dealing in horses; from eating animals which died naturally, and carrion; +and from electing their own Wayda or Judge. It was intended to extirpate +the very name and language of these folks out of the country. They were +no longer to be called Gypsies, but New Boors, _Uj Magyar_; not to +converse any longer with each other in their own language, but in that of +any of the countries in which they had chosen to reside. + +"Some months were to be allowed, after which they were to quit their +Gypsey manner of life, and settle like the other inhabitants, in cities +and villages; to build decent houses and follow some reputable business. +They were to procure Boors' clothing; to commit themselves to the +protection of some territorial superior, and live regularly." + +Nevertheless, though these regulations were calculated for the good of +these people, and the state, the greater part were not in the smallest +degree benefited by them. In the year 1773, these orders were not only +repeated, but made more rigid; and as even this measure would not answer +the end, it was then thought necessary to proceed to extremity with them. + +Wherefore it was ordered, that no Gypsey should have permission to marry, +who could not prove himself in condition to support a wife and children; +that from such Gypsies who had families, the children should be taken +away by force; removed from their parents, relations, and intercourse +with the Gypsey race. A beginning was made in some places; and where +they would not comply voluntarily, they were compelled to submit to the +decree. + +At Fahlendorf, in Schutt, and in the district of Presburgh, all the +children of the New Boors, _Gypsies_, above five years old, were carried +away in waggons, during the night of the 21st of December, 1773, by +overseers appointed for that purpose; to order that, at a distance from +their parents, or relations, they might be more usefully educated, and +become accustomed to work. Those Boors who were willing to receive and +bring up these children, were paid eighteen guilders yearly from +Government. + +On the 24th of April, 1774, between five and six o'clock in the morning, +the children of the Gypsies which had been growing up from December of +the foregoing year, were again removed from Fahlendorf, in Schutt, and +Hideghid, for the purpose of being put under the same course of +discipline as the others. Among the children taken away on this +occasion, was a girl fourteen years old, who was forced to be carried off +in her bridal state. She tore her hair for grief and rage, and was quite +beside herself with agitation: but she recovered a composed state of +mind; and, in 1776, in Fasching, obtained permission to accomplish her +marriage. + +So far our intelligence is quoted from the Gazettes, by which we may see +how prudently every thing was concerted. + +But it must be observed, although the publisher of this information +endeavours to conceal it, how little these salutary regulations were put +in force; there were scarcely two places in the kingdom where even an +endeavour was made to give them proper effect. This supineness must have +been unknown to the Emperor Joseph, or he would certainly again have +enforced these regulations, to all chiefs and governors, at the same time +that he gave orders for their being observed in Transylvania. + +The tenor of the decree just mentioned, which was published in the year +1782, was consonant with the intention of Theresa, with regard to the +Hungarian Gypsies; namely, that those also in Transylvania should become +better men, and more useful inhabitants. For the accomplishment of this +end, it prohibits their wandering about, and living under tents; requires +that they become settled, and put themselves under some territorial +chief. In order to strike immediately at the root of the evil, necessary +and minute directions are given for the improvement of their religious +ideas and opinions; and, by correcting their vicious habits, for +rendering them good citizens. + +First, with respect to religion, they must + +1. Not only be taught the principles of religion themselves, but early +send their children to school. + +2. Prevent as much as possible, their children running about naked in +the roads and streets, thereby giving offence and disgust to other +people. + +3. In their dwellings, not permit their children to sleep promiscuously +by each other, without distinction of sex. + +4. Diligently attend at church, particularly on Sundays and holidays, to +give proof of their Christian disposition. + +5. Put themselves under the guidance of spiritual teachers, and conduct +themselves conformably to the rules laid down by them. + +Secondly, with regard to their temporal conduct, and better mode of +living, they are bound + +1. To conform to the custom of the country, in diet, dress, and +language: consequently to abstain from feeding on cattle which have died +of distempers; not to go about in such unseemly dresses; and to +discontinue the use of their own particular language. + +2. Not to appear any more in large cloaks; which are chiefly useful to +hide things that have been stolen. + +3. No Gypsey, except he be a gold-washer, shall keep a horse. + +4. Also the gold-washers must refrain from all kinds of bartering at the +annual fairs. + +5. The magistrates of every place must be very attentive that no Gypsey +waste his time in idleness; but at those seasons, when they have no +employment, either for themselves or any landholder, to recommend them to +some other person, with whom they shall be compelled to work for hire. + +6. They are to be kept particularly to agriculture; therefore + +7. It is to be observed, where possible, that every territorial Lord, +who takes any Gypsies under his jurisdiction, do allot them a certain +piece of ground to cultivate. + +8. Whoever is remiss in his husbandry, shall be liable to corporal +punishment. + +9. They shall be permitted to amuse themselves with music, or other +things, only when there is no field work for them to do. + +Such were the regulations adopted by the Emperor Joseph II. for the +purpose of civilizing, and rendering good and profitable subjects, +upwards of eighty thousand of miserable wretches, ignorant of God and of +virtue. + + _Grellmann_. + + + + +SECTION V. + + +The Gypsies in Great Britain. + + * * * * * + +The traits of character and the habits of the Gypsies on the Continent of +Europe, exhibited in this work, are sufficient for an examination, in +what degree these people correspond with those under the same +denomination in England. + +The earliest account which the writer of this section has been able to +collect from British History, was printed in the year 1612; when a quarto +work, by S. R. was published, to detect and expose the art of juggling +and legerdemain; in which is the following description of the Gypsies. + +"This kind of people, about a hundred years ago, beganne to gather an +head, as the first heere, about the southerne parts. And this as I am +informed, and can gather, was their beginning: Certain Egyptians banished +their country, (belike not for their good conditions,) arrived heere in +England, who for quaint tricks and devices, not known heere, at that +time, among us, were esteemed, and had in great admiration; insomuch, +that many of our English _Loyterers_ joined with them, and in time +learned their craftie cosening. + +"The speach which they used, was the right Egyptian language, with whom +our Englishmen conversing, at least learned their language. These people +continuing about the country, and practising their cosening art, +purchased themselves great credit among the country people, and got much +by palmistry, and telling of fortunes; insomuch, they pitifully cosened +poor country girls, both of money, silver spoons, and the best of their +apparelle, or any goods they could make." + +From this author, it is collected, they had a leader of the name of +_Giles Hather_, who was termed their King; and a woman of the name of +_Calot_, was called Queen. "These riding through the country on +horseback, and in strange attire, had a prettie traine after them." + +After mentioning some of the laws passed against them, this writer adds: +"But what numbers were executed on these statutes you would wonder; yet, +notwithstanding, all would not prevaile, but they wandered as before uppe +and downe, and meeting once in a yeare at a place appointed; sometimes at +the Peake's Hole in Derbyshire, and other whiles by Ketbroak at +Blackheath." + +About the same time, Spellman's Portrait of the Gypsey Fraternity seems +to have been taken, ad vivum, and is as follows: + +"Egyptiani, Erronum, Impostorumque genus nequissimum, in Continente +ortum; sed ad Britannos nostras et Europam reliquam pervolans, nigredine +deformes, excocti sole, immundi veste, et usu rerum omnium faedi, &c.;" +which may be thus translated, "Egyptians, the worst kind of wanderers and +impostors, springing up on the Continent, but yet rapidly spreading +themselves through Britain, and other parts of Europe, disfigured by +their swarthiness; sun-burnt; filthy in their clothing, and indecent in +all their customs, &c." + +According to the first of these statements, the arrival of Gypsies in +England might be about the year 1512; or ten years at least before the +Statute of the 22d of Henry VIII; in the 10th chapter of which, they are +described to be, "_An outlandish people_, _calling themselves Egyptians_, +_using no crafte_, _nor feat of merchandise_; _who have come into this +realm_, _and gone from shine to shire_, _and place to place in great +company_; _and used great_, _subtle_, _and crafty means_, _to deceive the +people_, _bearing them in hand_, _that they by palmistry could tell men's +and yeomen's fortunes_; _and so_, _many times by crafte and subtlety have +deceived the people of their money_; _and also have committed many +heinous felonies and robberies_." Wherefore they are directed to avoid +the realm, and not to return under pain of imprisonment, and forfeiture +of their good and chattels; and upon their trials for any felonies which +they may have committed, they shall not be entitled to a Jury _de +medietate linguae_. + +The Act passed the 27th of the came reign goes farther, as will appear by +the following abstract of it: "_Whereas certain outlandish people_, _who +do not profess any crafte or trade whereby to maintain themselves_, _but +go about in great numbers from place to place_, _using insidious_, +_underhand means to impose on his Majesty's subjects_, _making them +believe that they understand the art of foretelling to men and women +their good and evil fortune_, _by looking in their hands_, _whereby they +frequently defraud people of their money_; _likewise are guilty of thefts +and highway robberies_: _it is hereby ordered that the said vagrants_, +_commonly called Egyptians_, _in case they remain one month in the +kingdom_, _shall be proceeded against as thieves and rascals_; _and on +the importation of any such Egyptian_, _he_, (_the importer_) _shall +forfeit_ 40 pounds _for every trespass_." + +By the above recited Acts of Parliament, it appears, that it was from +their own representation of being Egyptians, they were so denominated in +England; and that they did not on their arrival in this country, feign +themselves, as in Germany, to be pilgrims; or as in France, to be +penitents; neither of which impositions would have been well adapted to +the temper of the government of Henry VIII; or to his subversion of papal +power, and abolition of monastic influence. The character they assumed, +was the best adapted to establish their reputation, for the arts and +deception they intended to practise in England. The fame of Egypt in +astrology, magic, and soothsaying, was universal; and they could not have +devised a more artful expedient, than the profession of this knowledge, +to procure for them a welcome reception by the great mass of the people. + +From the abstract of the Act of 27th, Henry VIII, we may infer, that the +Gypsies were so much in request, as to induce some of our countrymen to +import them from the Continent, or at least to encourage their migration +to this Island. The importation of these people must have been prevalent +from some cause, to require parliamentary interference, and even a fine +to prevent it, of such an amount as 40 pounds; which according to the +relative value of money, would, at the present time, be equal to a large +sum. + +During the same reign, we find that a number of Gypsies were reshipped at +the public expense, and sent to France. + +In the Book of Receipts and Payments, of the 35th of Henry VIII. are the +following entries. + +"Nett Payments 1st Sept. 36th of Henry VIII, + +"Item to Tho. Warner, Sergeant of the Admyraltie, 10th Sept. for victuals +prepared for a shippe appointed to convey certaine Egupeians, 58s.--Item +to the same Tho. Warner to th' use of John Bowles for freight of said +shippe, 6 pounds 5s. Item to Robt. Ap. Rice, Esq. Shriff of Huntingdon +for the charge of the Egupeians at a special gaile delivery, and the +bringing of them to be conveied over the sees; over and besides the sum +of 4 pounds 5s. 0d. growing of seventeen horses, sold at five shillings +{82} the piece, as apperythe by a particular book, 17 pounds 17s. 7d. +Item to Will. Wever appointed to have the charge of the conduct of the +said Egupeians to Callis, 5 pounds." + +There were subsequent acts relating to Gypsies in the reign of Ph. & M.; +and 5th of Eliz.; by which, "_If any person being_ 14 _years old_, +_whether natural born subject or stranger_, _who had been seen in the +fellowship of such persons_, _or had disguised himself like them_, +_should remain with them one month at once_, _or at several times_, _it +should be felony without benefit of clergy_." + +But notwithstanding these measures to extirpate Gypsies, Wraxall, in his +History of France, Vol. II. page 32, in referring to the Act of Eliz. in +1563, states, that in her reign, the Gypsies throughout England were +supposed to exceed ten thousand. + +And it appears by the following Order of Sessions, copied from the +Harleian M.S.S. British Museum, No. 364, that about the year 1586, there +were great complaints of the increase of vagabonds and loitering persons, +&c. + +"Orders, Rules, and Directions, concluded, appointed, and agreed uppon, +by us the Justices of the Peace, within the countie of Suffolk, assembled +at our General Sessions of Peace, holden at Bury the 22d daie of Aprill, +in the 31st yeare of the Raigne of our Souraigne Lady, the Queen's +Majestie, for the punishinge and suppressinge of Roags, Vacabonds; idle, +loyteringe, and lewde persons; which doe, or shall hereafter wander and +goe aboute, within the hundreths of Thingo cum Bury, Blackborne, +Thedwardstree, Cosford, Babings, Risbridge, Lackford, and the half +hundreth of Exninge, in the said countie of Suffolk, contrary to the law, +in that case made and provided. + +"Whereas, at the Parliement beganne and holden at Westminster, the 8th +daie of Maye, in the 14th yeare of the raigne of the Queen's Majestie, +that nowe is, one Acte was made, intytuled, "An Acte for punishment of +Vacabonds, and for releife of the Pooere, and Impotent." And whereas, at +a Session of the Parliament, holden by prorogacon, at Westminster, the +eight daie of February, in the 28th yeare of her Majestie's raigne, one +other Acte was made and intytuled, "An Acte for settinge of the Poore to +work, and for the avoydinge of idleness." By vertue of which, severall +Acts, certeyne provisions and remedies been ordeyned, and established, as +well for the suppressinge, and punishinge of all roags, vacabonds, sturdy +roags, idle and loyteringe persons; as also for the releife, and setting +on worke of the aged and impotente persons within this realm; and +authoritie gyven to Justices of Peace, in their several charges and +commission, to see that the said Acts and Statuts be putte in due +execution, to the glorie of Allmightie God, and the benefite of the +common welth. + +"And whereas also yt appeareth by dayly experience, that the number of +idle, vagraunte, loyteringe, sturdy roags, masterles men, lewde and yll +disposed persons are exceedingly encreased, and multiplied, committinge +many grevious and outeragious disorders and offences, tendinge to the +great . . . of Allmightie God, the contempte of her Majestie's laws, and +to the great charge, troble, and disquiet of the common welth.--We the +Justices of Peace, above speciefied, assembled and mett together at our +general sessions above named, for remedie of theis and such lyke +enormities which hereafter shall happen to arise or growe within the +hundreths and lymits aforesaid, doe by theis presents, order, decree and +ordeyne, That there shall be builded or provided one convenient house, +which shall be called the House of Correction; and that the same be +established within the towne of Bury, within the hundreth of Thingoe +aforesaid. And that all persons offendinge or lyvinge contrary to the +tenor of the said twoe Acts, within the hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, +shal be, by the warrante of any Justice of Peace, dwellinge in the same +hundreths or lymitts, committed thether and there be releived, punished, +sett to worke, and ordered in such sorte, and accordinge to the +directions, provisions, and limitations, hereafter in theis presents +declared and specified. + +"Fyrst, That yt maie appeare what persons arre to be apprehended, +committed and brought to the House of Correction, it is ordered and +appointed, That all and every person and persons which shal be found and +taken within the hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, above the age of 14 +yeares, and shall take upon them to be procters or procurators goinge +aboute withowt sufficiente lycence from the Queen's Majestie. All idle +persons goinge aboute usinge subtiltie and unlawfull games or plaie--all +such as faynt themselves to have knowledge in phisiognomye, palmestrie or +other abused sciences--all tellers of destinies, deaths or fortunes, and +such lyke fantasticall imaginations." + +From the tenor of the above Ordinance, it might be inferred that, at the +time of issuing it, Gypsies, and their adherents, abounded in the County +of Suffolk; and it may be concluded, that they continued to attach +themselves to that part of the nation, as Judge Hale remarks, that "at +one Suffolk Assize, no less than thirteen Gypsies were executed upon +these Statutes, a few years before the restoration." + +To the honour of our national humanity, however, Judge Blackstone +observes, there are no instances more modern than this, of carrying these +laws into practice; and the last, sanguinary act is itself now repealed. +The severe statute of 5th Eliz. c. 20 is repealed by 23d Geo. III. c. +51--and Gypsies are now only punishable under the Vagrant Act, which +declares, "that all persons pretending to be Gypsies, or wandering in the +habit, and form of Egyptians, shall be deemed rogues, and +vagabonds."--17th Geo. II. c. 5. + +In Scotland, these people seemed for a time to enjoy some share of +indulgence; for a writ in favour of John Faw, Lord and Earl of Upper +Egypt, was issued by Mary, Queen of Scots, 1553; and in 1554, he obtained +a pardon for the murder of Numan Small. + +In 1579, however all the legislative provisions respecting vagrants, +beggars, &c. in Scotland, were reduced into one law, by the following +very comprehensive statute: "Forameikle as there is sindrie loyabil Acts +of Parliament, maid be our soveraine Lord's maist nobil progenitours, for +the stanching of maisterful and idle beggars, away putting of Sornares, +and provision for the pure: bearing that nane sall be thoiled to beg, +nouther to burgh, nor to land, betwixt 14 and 70 zeires. + +"That sik as make themselves fules, and ar bairdes, or uther sik like +runners about, being apprehended, sall be put into the Kinge's waird, or +irones, sa lang as they have ony gudes of their awin to live on. And fra +they have not quhairupon to live of their awin, that their eares be +nayled to the trone, or to an uther tree, and their eares cutted off, and +banished the countrie; and gif thereafter they be found againe, that they +be hanged. + +"And that it may be knowen, qwhat maner of persones ar meaned to be idle +and strang begares, and vagabounds, and warthy of the punischement before +specified, it is declared: "That all idle persones ganging about in ony +countrie of this realm, using subtil, craftie, and unlawful playes, as +juglarie, fast-and-lous, and sik uthers; the idle peopil calling +themselves _Egyptians_, or any uther, that feinzies themselves to have a +knawledge or charming prophecie, or other abused sciences, qwairby they +perswade peopil, that they can tell their weirds, {89} deathes, and +fortunes, and sik uther phantastical imaginations, &c." + +Notwithstanding this law, a writ of Privy Seal, dated 1594, supports John +Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt, in the execution of justice upon his +company of folk, conform to the laws of Egypt, in punishing certain +persons there named, who had rebelled against him, left him, robbed him, +and refused to return home with him. + +James' subjects are commanded to aid in apprehending them, and in +assisting Faw and his adherents to return home. + +From all these circumstances, it appears that this John Faw, or two +persons of the same name and distinction, succeeding each other, staid a +long time in Scotland; and from him this kind of strolling people might +receive the name of Faw Gang, which they still retain, as appears by +Burn's Justice. + +But the Scottish laws, after this time, were not less severe than those +of Queen Elizabeth. By an Act passed in 1609; "Sorners, common thieves, +commonly called Egyptians, were directed to pass forth of the kingdom, +under pain of death, as common, notorious, and condemned thieves." +Scottish Acts, I. 850. + + + + +SECTION VI. + + +The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland. + + * * * * * + +The energy and perseverance by which North Britons are distinguished, +will be evinced throughout the pages of this section. A friend of the +author, having been requested to make application at the Advocates' and +the University Libraries, in the city of Edinburgh, for extracts from +some foreign publications, was also desired to transmit with them what +information could be obtained respecting the Gypsies in Scotland. + +With a promptitude and zeal which characterises genuine philanthropy, a +circular, containing four queries, was dispatched to the Sheriff of every +county in that nation; soliciting through the medium of an official +organ, all the intelligence which could be obtained on the subject. In +consequence, returns have been made from nearly the whole of the shires, +either by the Sheriff, or his substitute; generally addressed to George +Miller, jun. Edinburgh; who has been a most effective coadjutor on this +occasion. + +From thirteen counties, the reports are, "No Gypsies resident in them;" +some others give account of their only passing through at times. + +William Frazer Tytler, Sheriff of Invernessshire, writes as follows: "The +undertaking in which you are engaged, for the civilization of so lost a +portion of mankind, merits every support. Its effects may be more +generally and extensively useful in England, where those unfortunate +people are extremely numerous. In Scotland, their number is +comparatively small, and particularly in the county of Inverness." + +Alexander Moor, Sheriff Depute, of Aberdeenshire, states: "There are not +any Gypsies who have a permanent residence in that Sheriffalty. +Occasionally vagrants, both single and in bands, appear in this part of +the country; resorting to fairs, where they commit depredations on the +unwary. Some of them are supposed to be connected with Gypsies in the +southern part of the island." + +John Blair, Sheriff Substitute for the County of Bute, writes: "I have to +inform that the people generally known by the description of Gypsies, are +not in use to come hither, unless abject, itinerant tinkers and braziers, +generally from Ireland, may be accounted such. A few of them often visit +us, and take up their abode for a time in different parts of the country, +where people can be prevailed upon to give them the accommodation of an +out-house or hut." + +They are understood to be illiterate, neither they, nor their children, +who are often numerous, being able to read. + +The distinguished northern Poet, Walter Scott, who is Sheriff of +Selkirkshire, has in a very obliging manner communicated the following +statement: + +"A set of people possessing the same erratic habits, and practising the +trade of tinkers, are well known in the Borders; and have often fallen +under the cognisance of the law. They are often called Gypsies, and pass +through the county annually in small bands, with their carts and asses. +The men are tinkers, poachers, and thieves upon a small scale. They also +sell crockery, deal in old rags, in eggs, in salt, in tobacco and such +trifles; and manufacture horn into spoons, I believe most of those who +come through Selkirkshire, reside, during winter, in the villages of +Sterncliff and Spittal, in Northumberland, and in that of Kirk Yetholm, +Roxburghshire. + +"Mr. Smith, the respectable Baillie {94} of Kelso, can give the most +complete information concerning those who reside at Kirk Yetholm. +Formerly, I believe, they were much more desperate in their conduct than +at present. But some of the most atrocious families have been +extirpated, I allude particularly to the _Winters_, a Northumberland +clan, who I fancy are all buried by this time. + +"Mr. Reddell, Justice of Peace for Roxburghshire, with my assistance and +concurrence, cleared this country of the last of them, about eight or +nine years ago. They were thorough desperadoes, of the worst class of +vagabonds. Those who now travel through this country, give offence +chiefly by poaching, and small thefts. They are divided into clans, the +principal names being Faa, Baillie, Young, Ruthven, and Gordon. + +"All of them are perfectly ignorant of religion, nor do their children +receive any education. They marry and cohabit amongst each other, and +are held in a sort of horror by the common people. + +"I do not conceive them to be the proper Oriental Egyptian race, at least +they are much intermingled with our own national out-laws and vagabonds. +They are said to keep up a communication with each other through +Scotland, and to have some internal government and regulation as to the +districts which each family travels. + +"I cannot help again referring to Mr. Smith of Kelso, a gentleman who can +give the most accurate information respecting the habits of those +itinerants, as their winter-quarters of Yetholm, are upon an estate of +which he has long had the management." + +It is very satisfactory to have received from an authority so respectably +as that of William Smith, the Baillie of Kelso, above referred to, +answers to the four queries of the circular; accompanied by his own +interesting and appropriate illustrations, from which extracts are made +as follow, dated November, 1815. + +"A considerable time having elapsed, since I had an opportunity, or +occasion to attend to the situation of the colony of Gypsies in our +neighbourhood, I was obliged to delay my answer to your inquiries, until +I could obtain more information respecting their present numbers. + +"The great bar to the benevolent intentions of improving their situation +will be, the impossibility to convince them that there either is, or can +be, a mode of life preferable, or even equal to their own. + +"A strong spirit of independence, or what they would distinguish by the +name of liberty, runs through the whole tribe. It is no doubt a very +licentious liberty, but entirely to their taste. Some kind of honour, +peculiar to themselves, seems to prevail in their community. They reckon +it a disgrace to steal near their homes, or even at a distance, if +detected. I must always except that petty theft of feeding their +shelties and asses on the farmer's grass and corn, which they will do, +whether at home or abroad. + +"When avowedly trusted, even in money transactions, they never deceived +me, nor forfeited their promise. I am sorry to say, however, that when +checked in their licentious appropriations, &c. they are very much +addicted both to threaten and to execute revenge. + +"Having so far premised with respect to their general conduct and +character, I shall proceed to answer, as far as I am able, the four +queries subjoined to the circular which you sent me, and then subjoin, in +notes, some instances of their conduct in particular cases, which may +perhaps elucidate their general disposition and character." + +"Query 1st. _What number of Gypsies in the County_? + +"A. I know of none except the colony of Yetholm, and one family who +lately removed from that place to Kelso. Yetholm consists of two towns, +or large villages, called _Town_ Yetholm, and _Kirk_ Yetholm. The first +is in the estate of Mr. Wauchope, of Niddry; the latter in that of the +Marquis of Tweedale. The number of the Gypsey colony at present in Kirk +Yetholm, amounts to at least 109 men, women, and children; and perhaps +two or three may have escaped notice. They marry early in life, in +general have many children, and their number seems to be increasing. + +"Query 2d. _In what do the men and women mostly employ themselves_? + +"B. I have know the colony between forty and fifty years. At my first +remembrance of them, they were called the _Tinklers_, (Tinkers) of +Yetholm, from the males being chiefly then employed in mending pots, and +other culinary utensils, especially in their peregrinations through the +hilly and less populous parts of the country. + +"Sometimes they were called _Horners_, from their occupation in making +and selling horn spoons, called Cutties. Now their common appellation is +that of _Muggers_, or, what pleases them better, _Potters_. They +purchase, at a cheap rate, the cast or faulty articles, at the different +manufactories of earthenware, which they carry for sale all over the +country; consisting of groups of six, ten, and sometimes twelve or +fourteen persons, male and female, young and old, provided with a horse +and cart to transport the pottery; besides shelties and asses to carry +the youngest of the children, and such baggage as they find necessary. + +"In the country, they sleep in barns, and byres, or other out-houses: and +when they cannot find that accommodation, they take the canvas covering +from the pottery cart, and squat below it like a covey of partridges in +the snow. + +"A few of the colony also employ themselves occasionally in making +beesoms, foot-bosses, &c. from heath, broom, and bent, and sell them at +Kelso, and the neighbouring towns. After all, their employment can be +considered little better than an apology for idleness and vagrancy. + +"They are in general great adepts in hunting, shooting, and fishing; in +which last they use the net and spear, as well as the rod; and often +supply themselves with a hearty meal by their dexterity. They have no +notion of being limited in their field sports, either to time, place, or +mode of destruction. + +"I do not see that the women are any otherwise employed, than attending +the young children; and assisting to sell the pottery when carried +through the country." + +"Query 3rd. _Have they any settled abode in winter_, _and where_? + +"C. Their residence, with the exception of a single family, who some +years ago came to Kelso, is at Kirk Yetholm, and chiefly confined to one +row of houses, or street of that town, which goes by the name of Tinkler +Row. Most of them have leases of their possessions, granted for a term +of nineteen times nineteen years, for payment of a small sum yearly; +something of the nature of a quit rent. There is no tradition in the +neighbourhood concerning the time when the Gypsies first took up their +residence at that place, nor whence they came. + +"Most of their leases, I believe were granted by the family of the +Bennets of Grubet; the last of whom was Sir David Bennet, who died about +sixty years ago. The late Mr. Nesbit of Dirleton, then succeeded to the +estate, comprehending the Baronies of Kirk Yetholm, and Grubet. He died +about the year 1783, and not long after, the property was acquired by the +late Lord Tweedale's trustees. + +"During the latter part of the life of the late Mr. Nesbit, he was less +frequently at his estate in Roxburghshire than formerly. He was a great +favourite of the Gypsies, and was in use to call them his body guards, +and often gave them money, &c. + +"On the other hand, both the late and present Mr. Wauchope were of +opinion, that the example of these people had a bad effect upon the +morals and industry of the neighbourhood; and seeing no prospect of their +removal, and as little of their reformation, considered it as a duty to +the public, to prevent the evil increasing; and never would consent to +any of the colony taking up their residence in Town Yetholm. + +"They mostly remain at home during winter, but as soon as the weather +becomes tolerably mild in spring, most of them, men, women, and children, +set out on their peregrination over the country, and live in a state of +vagrancy, until again driven into their habitations by the approach of +winter. + +"Seeming to pride themselves as a separate tribe, they very seldom +intermarry out of the colony; and in rare instances where that happens, +the Gypsey, whether male or female, by influence and example, always +induces the stranger husband or wife to adopt the manners of the colony, +so that no improvement is ever obtained in that way. The progeny of such +alliances have almost universally the tawny complexion, and fine black +eyes of the Gypsey parent, whether father or mother. + +"So strongly remarkable is the Gypsey cast of countenance, that even a +description of them to a stranger, who has had no opportunity of formerly +seeing them, will enable him to know them wherever he meets with them. +Some individuals, but very rarely, separate from the colony altogether; +and when they do so early in life, and go to a distance such as London, +or even Edinburgh, their acquaintances in the country get favourable +accounts of them. A few betake themselves to regular and constant +employments at home, but soon tire, and return to their old way of life. + +"When any of them, especially a leader, or man of influence dies, they +have full meetings, not only of the colony, but of the Gypsies from a +distance, and those meetings, or _Late Wakes_, are by no means conducted +with sobriety or decency." + +"Query 4th. _Are any of their children taught to read_, _and what +proportion of them_? _With any anecdotes respecting their customs and +conduct_. + +"D. Education being obtained at a cheaper rate, the Gypsies in general, +give their male children as good a one, as is bestowed on those of the +labouring people and farm servants in the neighbourhood; such as reading, +writing, and the first principles of arithmetic. They all apply to the +clergyman of the parish for baptism to their children, and a strong +superstitious notion universally prevails with them, that it is unlucky +to have an unchristened child long in the house. Only a very few ever +attend divine service, and those as seldom as they can, just to prevent +being refused as sponsors at their children's baptism. + +"They are in general, active and lively, particularly when engaged in +field sports; or in such temporary pursuits as are agreeable to their +habits and dispositions; but are destitute of the perseverance necessary +for a settled occupation, or even for finishing what a moderate degree of +continued labour, would enable them to accomplish in a few weeks." + + + +NOTES + + +_By_ WM. SMITH, _intended to elucidate his answers to the Queries_ A +_and_ B, _on their licentious liberty_. + +"I remember that about 45 years ago, being then apprentice to a writer, +who was in use to receive the rents as well as the small duties of Kirk +Yetholm, he sent me there with a list of names, and a statement of what +was due; recommending me to apply to the landlord of the public-house, in +the village, for any information or assistance which I might need. + +"After waiting a long time, and receiving payment from most of the +feuers, or rentallers, I observed to him that none of the persons of the +names of Faa, Young, Blythe, Fleckie, &c. who, stood at the bottom of the +list for small sums, had come to meet me, according to the notice given +by the Baron Officer; and proposed sending to inform them that they were +detaining me, and to request their immediate attendance. + +"The landlord, with a grave face, inquired whether my master had desired +me to ask money from those men. I said, not particularly; but they stood +on the list. "So, I see," said the landlord, "but had your master been +here himself, he did _not dare to ask money from them_, _either as rent_, +_or feu duty_.--_He knows that it is as good as if it were in his +pocket_. _They will pay when their own time comes_, _but do not like to +pay at a set time with the rest of the Barony_; _and still less to be +craved_." + +"I accordingly returned without their money, and reported progress. I +found that the landlord was right; my master said with a smile, that it +was unnecessary to send to them, after the previous notice from the Baron +Officer; it was enough if I had received the money, if offered.--Their +rent and feu duty was brought to the office in a few weeks. I need +scarcely add, those persons all belonged to the tribe. + +"Another instance of their licentious, independent spirit, occurs to me. +The family of Niddry always gave a decent, annual remuneration to a Baron +Baillie, for the purpose of keeping good order within their Barony of +Town Yetholm. The person whom I remember first in possession of that +office, was an old man called Doctor Walker, from his being also the +village surgeon; and from him I had the following anecdote:-- + +"Between Yetholm and the border farms in Northumberland, there were +formerly, as in most border situations, some uncultivated lands called +the _Plea lands_, or _Debateable lands_, the pasturage of which was +generally eaten up by the Sorners and vagabonds on both sides of the +marches. + +"Many years ago, Lord Tankerville and some other of the English +borderers, made their request to Sir David Bennet, and the late Mr. +Wauchope of Niddry, that they would accompany them at a _riding_ of the +Plea lands, who readily complied with their request. They were induced +to this, as they understood that the Gypsies had taken offence, on the +supposition that they might be circumscribed in the pasture for their +shelties and asses, which they had held a long time, partly by stealth, +and partly by violence. + +"Both threats and entreaties were employed to keep them away; and, at +last, Sir David obtained a promise from some of the heads of the gang, +that none of them should show their faces on the occasion. + +"They, however, got upon the hills at a little distance, whence they +could see every thing that passed. At first they were very quiet. But +when they saw the English Court Book Spread out on a cushion before the +clerk, and apparently taken in a line of direction, interfering with what +they considered to be their privileged ground, it was with great +difficulty that the most moderate of them, could restrain the rest from +running down, and taking vengeance, even in sight of their own Lord of +the Manor. + +"They only abstained for a short time, and no sooner had Sir David, and +the other gentleman taken leave of each other in the most polite and +friendly manner, as border chiefs are wont to do, since border feuds +ceased, and had departed to a sufficient distance, than the clan, armed +with bludgeons, pitch-forks, and such other hostile weapons as they could +find, rushed down in a body; and before the chiefs on either side had +reached their home, there was neither English tenant, horse, cow, nor +sheep left upon the premises. + + + +"Notes on Answers C and D. + + +"_Peculiar cast of_ GYPSEY FEATURES, _every where distinguishable_, &c. + +"When first I knew any thing about the colony, old Will Faa was king, or +leader, and had held the sovereignty for many years. + +"Meeting at Kelso with Mr. Walter Scott, whose discriminating habits and +just observations I had occasion to know from his youth, and at the same +time seeing one of my Yetholm friends in the horse market, I merely said +to Mr. Scott, "Try to get before that man with the long drab coat, look +at him on your return, and tell me whether you ever saw him, and what you +think of him." He was so good as to indulge me; and rejoining me said +without hesitation, "I never saw the man that I know of; but he is one of +the Gypsies of Yetholm, that you told me of several years ago." I need +scarcely say that he was perfectly correct. + +"The descendants of Faa, now take the name of _Fall_, from the Messrs. +Falls, of Dunbar, who, they pride themselves in saying, are of the same +stock and lineage. When old Will Faa was upwards of eighty years of age, +he called on me at Kelso, in his way to Edinburgh, telling that he was +going to see the Laird, the late Mr. Nesbit, of Dirleton, as he +understood that he was very unwell, and himself being now old, and not so +stout as he had been, he wished to see him once more before he died. + +"The old man set out by the nearest road, which was by no means his +common practice. Next market-day, same of the farmers informed me, that +they had been in Edinburgh, and seen Will Faa upon the bridge; (the south +bridge was not then built;) that he was tossing about his old brown hat, +and huzzaing with great vociferation, that he had seen the Laird before +he died. Indeed Will himself had no time to lose, for having set his +face homewards by the way of the sea coast, to vary his route, as is the +general custom of the gang, he only got the length of Coldingham, when he +was taken ill, and died. + +"His death being notified to his friends at Yetholm, they and their +acquaintance at Berwick, Spittal, Horncliff, &c. met to pay the last +honours to their old leader. His obsequies were continued three +successive days and nights, and afterwards repeated at Yetholm, whither +he was brought for interment. I cannot say that the funeral rites were +celebrated with decency and sobriety, for that was by no means the case. +This happened in the year 1783, or 1784, and the late Mr. Nesbit did not +long survive." + +William Dymock, W. S. Edinburgh, distinguished in the profession of the +law, by his sound judgment and strict integrity, having had the perusal +of the preceding report from William Smith, gives the following testimony +concerning that account: "Baillie Smith's report is quite graphical, +correct truth, and correctly expressed.--It is useful as showing, that +the parties of Tinklers are great detachments from one colony." + +With this, accords Sir John Sinclair's observation in his Statistical +Account of Scotland, Vol. II. p. 124, when describing the village of +Eaglesham, he remarks: "There is no magistrate nearer than four miles, +and the place is oppressed with gangs of Gypsies, commonly called +Tinklers, or sturdy beggars." + +Before receiving the very interesting report from William Smith, the +author of this Survey was entirely at a loss to determine what was become +of the descendants of John Faw, who styled himself Lord and Earl of +Little Egypt; and with a numerous retinue entered Scotland in the reign +of Queen Mary, as stated in Section the 5th.--His complaint of his men +refusing to return home with him, might be only a feint, invented to +cover his design of continuing in the country; for there does not appear +to be any traces in history of the banishment of Faw-gang, or of their +quitting Scotland.--But in the above cited report, we find at the head of +the Tinklers a Will Faa, in whose name there is only a variation of one +letter from that of his distinguished predecessor; and that in reference +to this origin, he asserts the _Falls_ of Dunbar to be of the same stock +and lineage. + + + + +SECTION VII. + + +On the origin of the Gypsies + + * * * * * + +Various are the conjectures which have been indulged, and the +coincidences which have been sought for, in order to obtain a solution of +the query, _What race of people are the Gypsies_? + +Whoever is disposed to refer to Continental writers, may see more than +thirty different opinions started on this subject, founded on no better +authority than some similarity of appellation, garb, complexion, or +unsettled way of life. + +They were sometimes _Torlaques_, _Kalendars_, or _Faquirs_. The +Torlaques are Mahometan Monks, who under the pretence of holiness, are +guilty of the most flagrant excesses. Bajazet the 2d, banished them from +the Turkish empire in 1494. The Kalendars wander about in heathen +countries, as the Gypsies do among Christians. The Faquirs are religious +fanatics; and rove about in heathen and mahometan countries, like the +most atrocious robbers. Anquetil says, the Faquirs in India go a +pilgrimage to Jagrenat; they plunder such villages and cities as lie in +their way; they form considerable bodies about a mile from Jagrenat, +where they choose themselves a leader, to whom they pay all the attention +due to a general. + +With regard to strolling and thieving, the Faquirs and Gypsies agree +exactly. Thomasius, Griselini, and the English geographer Salmon, +imagined that when Sultan Selim conquered Egypt in 1517, several of the +natives refusing to submit to the Turkish yoke, revolted under one +Zinganeus. + +But we have already adverted to authentic documents for the proof, that +they were in Germany, Italy, and France, near a century before the +conquest of Egypt by Selim. + +Yet the belief that Gypsies were of Egyptian origin is parallel with +their existence in Europe. It arose from the report circulated by the +first of them, that they were pilgrims from Egypt; and this statement was +not only adopted by the common people, but here, and there, obtained +credit among men of learning. Grellmann observes, that had this opinion +not been received at a time when almost every thing was taken upon trust, +with little examination; had it not been propagated by the first Gypsies, +and then obtained a sanction, it would have been impossible for it to +have gained such general acceptation, or to have maintained itself to the +present times. Till the 17th century, the Egyptian descent of the +Gypsies rested entirely on tradition. Afterwards, Aventin, Krantz, and +Miinster openly contradict it. + +Aventin relates that they wished it to be thought they came from that +country, but that, in his time, nothing was known concerning them, but +what came from their own mouths; those who accounted them Egyptians, +rested their belief entirely on the veracity of their informants. + +This is collected with greater certainty from Krantz and Miinster, for +they declare expressly, that every thing which could be discovered by any +other means than their own assertions, contradicted, rather than +confirmed their Egyptian descent. But it is not merely that their +Egyptian descent is entirely destitute of proof, the most circumstantial +evidence can be adduced against it. + +Their language differs entirely from the Coptic, and their customs, as +Ahasuerus Fritsch has remarked, are diametrically opposite to the +Egyptian; but what is, if possible, of greater weight, they wander about +in Egypt, like strangers, and _there_, as in other countries, form a +distinct people. + +The testimony of Bellonius is full and decisive on the point. He states; +"No part of the world, I believe, is free from those banditti, wandering +about in troops; whom we, by mistake, call Gypsies, and Bohemians. When +we were at Cairo, and the villages bordering on the Nile, we found troops +of these strolling thieves sitting under palm-trees; and they are +_esteemed foreigners_ in _Egypt_." + +Aventin expressly makes Turkey their original place of rendezvous; and +this furnishes a reason for the south east parts of Europe being the most +crowded with them. If all that came to Europe passed by this route, it +accounts for a greater number remaining in those countries, than in +others to which they would have a much longer travel; and before their +arrival at which, their hordes might be much divided. + +It is a just assertion, that one of the most infallible methods of +determining the origin of a people, would be the discovery of a country +in which their language is that of the natives. It is a fact +incontrovertibly established, that besides the Gypsies speaking the +language of the country in which they live, they have a general one of +their own, in which they converse with each other. + +Not knowing any speech correspondent with the Gypsies, some have been +ready to pronounce it a mere jargon; not considering how extravagant a +surmise it would be, that a people rude, uncivilized, and separated +hundreds of miles from each other, have invented a language. Others who +are better informed on the subject, allow that the language brought into +Europe with the Gypsies, was really vernacular, of some country; but +suppose it is so disguised and corrupted, partly by design, and partly by +adventitious events, through length of time, and the continued wandering +of these people, that it must be considered a new language, and now used +by the Gypsies only. + +That it is the dialect of some particular part of the globe, though no +longer pure, as in the country whence it originated, is an opinion which +has obtained the greatest concurrence among the learned. Grellmann says, +had a German listened a whole day to a Gypsey conversation, he would not +have comprehended a single expression. It must doubtless appear +extraordinary, that the language of a people who had lived for centuries +in Europe, should have remained so much a secret: but it was not easy to +gain information from the Gypsies concerning it. Acquainted, by +tradition, with the deception their predecessors practised on coming into +Europe, they are suspicious; and fearing an explanation might be +dangerous to themselves, they are not disposed to be communicative.--But +how was it possible for the learned of former centuries, to be competent +to the investigation, who had not the aids which now so copiously occur +to the historical etymologist? + +Many dialects have been discovered, and our knowledge of others greatly +increased, within the last fifty or sixty years. During that time, not +only the literary treasures of the furthest north have been opened to us, +but we have become acquainted with many of the oriental languages; and +even eastern idioms are becoming familiar to us. We need not therefore +be surprised, that before this period, the most learned were unable to +point out the country in which the Gypsey language was spoken. The +Gypsies have no writing peculiar to themselves, in which to give a +specimen of the construction of their dialect. + +Writing and reading are attainments not to be expected from nomadic +tribes. Sciences, and the refined arts, are never to be looked for among +a people whose manner of living, and education, are so irregular. Music +is the only science in which Gypsies participate in any considerable +degree; they likewise compose, but it is after the manner of the eastern +people, extempore. + +Grellmann asserts, that the Hindostanie language has the greatest +affinity with that of the Gypsies; but he does not rest this solely on +the specimen he has introduced, a sketch of which will be presented in +the next section; he adduces many facts in confirmation of his opinion, +which it would be an injustice to him not to exhibit. + +He infers from the following considerations, that Gypsies are of the +lowest class of Indians, namely Pariars, or as they are called in +Hindostan, _Suders_. + +The whole great nation of Indians is known to be divided into four ranks, +or stocks, which are called by a portuguese name, _castes_; each of which +has its own particular subdivisions. Of these castes, the Bramin is the +first; the second contains the _Tschechteries_ or Setreas; the third, +consists of the _Beis_, or Wazziers; the fourth is the caste of the above +mentioned Suders; who upon the peninsula of Malabar, where their +condition is the same as in Hindostan, are called Parias, and Pariers. + +The first were appointed by Brama to seek after knowledge, to give +instructions, and to take care of religion. The second were to serve in +war; the third were as the Bramins, to cultivate science; but +particularly to attend to the breeding of cattle. The caste of Suders +was to be subservient to the Bramins, the Tschecteries, and the Beis. +These Suders are held in disdain, they are considered infamous, and +unclean, from their occupation, and they are abhorred because they eat +flesh; the three other castes living entirely on vegetables. + +Of this very caste it will appear, by the following comparison, our +Gypsies are composed. We have seen that the Gypsies are in the highest +degree filthy and disgusting; and with regard to character, depraved and +fraudulent to excess, and these are the qualities of the Suders. + +Baldeus says, the Parias are a filthy people, and wicked crew, who in +winter steal much cattle, &c. + +It is related in the Danish Mission Intelligence:--Nobody can deny that +the Pariers are the dregs and refuse of all the Indians; they are +thievish, and have wicked dispositions, &c. + +Moreover Neuhof assures us: "The Parruas are full of every kind of +dishonesty; they do not consider lying and cheating to be sinful, as they +have no other custom or maxims among them. The Gypsey's solicitude to +conceal his language is, also, a striking Indian trait." + +"Professor Pallas says of the Indians round Astracan: custom has rendered +them to the greatest degree suspicious about their language, insomuch +that I was never able to obtain a small vocabulary from them." + +With regard to Gypsey marriages, Salmon relates that the nearest +relations cohabit with each other; and as to education, their children +grow up in the most shameful neglect, without either discipline or +instruction. + +All this is precisely the case with the Pariars. In the journal of the +Missionaries already quoted, it is said; "With respect to matrimony, they +act like the beasts, and their children are brought up without restraint +or information." Gypsies are fond of being about horses, so are the +Suders in India, for which reason, they are commonly employed as +horse-keepers, by the Europeans resident in that country." + +We have seen that the Gypsies hunt after cattle which have died of +distempers, in order to feed on them; and when they can procure more of +the flesh than is sufficient for one day's consumption, they dry it in +the sun. Such is likewise a constant custom with the Pariars in India. + +That the Gypsies, and natives of Hindostan, resemble each other in +complexion, and shape is undeniable. And what is asserted of the young +Gypsey girls rambling about with their fathers who are musicians, dancing +with lascivious and indecent gestures, to divert any person who is +willing to give them a small gratuity for so acting, is likewise +perfectly Indian. Sonnerat confirms this in the account he gives of the +dancing girls of Surat. + +Fortune-telling is practised all over the East; but the peculiar kind +professed by the Gypsies, viz: chiromancy, constantly referring to +whether the parties shall be rich or poor, happy or unhappy in marriage, +&c. is no where met with but in India. + +The account we have given of Gypsey smiths may be compared with the +Indian, as related by Sonnerat in the following words: "The smith carries +his tools, his shop, and his forge about with him, and works in any place +where he can find employment; he erects his shop before the house of his +employer, raising a low wall with beaten earth; before which, he places +his hearth; behind this wall, he fixes two leathern bellows. He has a +stone instead of an anvil, and his whole apparatus is a pair of tongs, a +hammer, a beetle, and a file. How exactly does this accord with the +description of the Gypsey smith! + +We have seen that Gypsies always choose their place of residence near +some village, or city, very seldom within them; even though there may not +be any order to prevent it, as is the case in Moldavia, Wallachia, and +all parts of Turkey. Even the more improved Gypsies in Transylvania, who +have long since discontinued the wandering mode of life, and might, with +permission from government, reside within the cities, rather choose to +build their huts in some bye place, without their limits. This custom +appears to be derived from their original Suder education; it being usual +all over India, for the Sunders to have their huts without the villages +of the other castes, and in retired places near their cities. + +With respect to religion, it has appeared that the greater part of the +Gypsies live without any profession of it; _Tollius_ says, worse than +heathens. The more wonderful it is, that a whole people should be so +indifferent and void of religion, the more weight it carries with it, to +confirm their Indian origin, when all this is found to be literally true +of the Suders. + +In relation to the emigration of the Gypsies, no cause can be assigned +for their leaving their native country, so probable, as the war of Timur +Beg, in India. The date of their arrival marks it very plainly. It was +in the years 1408, and 1409, that this Conqueror ravaged India for the +purpose of disseminating the Mahometan religion. Not only every one who +made any resistance was destroyed, and such as fell into the enemies' +hands, though quite defenceless, were made slaves; but in a short time +those very slaves, to the number of one hundred thousand, were put to +death. In consequence of the universal panic which took place, those, +who could quit the country, might well be supposed to consult their +safety by flight. + +If any of the higher castes did withdraw themselves on account of the +troubles it is probable, they retired southward to people of their own +sort, the Mahrattas. To mix at all with the Suders, would have been +degrading their high characters, which they consider worse than death; it +was therefore morally impossible for them to have united with the Suders +in a retreat. Moreover, by putting themselves into the power of the +Suders, with whom they live in a state of discord and inveteracy, they +might have incurred as much danger as from the common enemy. + +Before presenting a vocabulary of Gypsey words, it may be observed, that +though the Hindostanie language is fundamentally the same, all over +Hindostan; yet, like other languages, it has different dialects in the +various provinces. The eastern dialect, spokes about the Ganges, has +different names for some things; and inflections of some words different +to the western ones spoken about the Indus: There is, besides, a third, +varying from both these, viz: the Surat dialect, which has a number of +Malabar, and other words mixed with it. To this must be added, that in +the Hindostan, as well as in every other language, there are often +several names for the same thing. + +The particular dialect bearing the closest affinity to the Gypsey +language, as will appear hereafter, is the western; and perhaps more +especially that of Surat. With respect to the construction and +inflections of the two languages, they are evidently the same. In that +of Hindostan, every word ending in j is feminine, all the rest masculine; +the Gypsey is the same. That makes the inflections entirely by the +article, adding it at the end of the word. The Gypsey language proceeds +exactly in the same manner + + _Grellmann_. + + + + +SECTION VIII. + + +Comparative view of the Gypsey, Hindostanie, and Turkish languages. + + * * * * * + +The following collection is extracted from Grellmann's Vocabulary. + + _Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_. + +Ick, Ek Ek One + +Duj, Doj Du Two + +Trin, Tri Tin Three + +Schtar, Star Tschar Four + +Pantsch, Pansch Pansch Five + +Tschowe, Schow Tscho Six + +Efta Hefta, Sat Seven + +Ochto Aute Eight + +Desch, Des Des, Des Ten + +Bisch, Bis Bjs Twenty + +Diwes Diw Day + +Ratti Rateh Night + +Cham, Cam Kam The Sun + +Schan Tschand The Moon + +Panj Panj Water + +Sonnikey Suna Gold + +Rup Ruppa Silver + +Jiv Giuw Wheat + +Bal Bal The Hair + +Aok Awk The Eye + +Kan Kawn The Ear + +Nak Nakk The Nose + +Mui Mu The Mouth + +Dant Dant A Tooth + +Tschib Jibb The Tongue + +Sunjo Sunnj The Hearing + +Sunj Sunkh The Smell + +Sik Tschik The Taste + +Tschater Tschater A Tent + +Rajah Raja The Prince + +Puro Purana Old + +Baro Burra Great + +Kalo Kala Black + +Grea Gorrra Horse + +Jukel Dog + +Maru Bread + +Kil Butter + +Ker Gurr House + + + +It has already been observed, that in the Gypsey, as well as in the +Hindostanie language, the article is not placed before the noun, but +affixed behind it; and that is the sole indication of the case of a noun. + +Grellmann has given examples of the declension of nouns, pronouns, and +adjectives, as well as the conjugation of verbs in both languages; but +the grammatical arrangement of them does not come within the design of +this work. The foregoing list of words is a selection of those that are +most similar: but in Grellmann's extensive vocabulary, he says, it will +appear on the average, that every third Gypsey word, is likewise +Hindostanie. + +It must be observed, that the words above recited, have been learned from +the Gypsies within a few years, consequently at a time when they had been +nearly four complete centuries away from Hindostan, their native country; +and among people who spoke languages totally different; in which also the +Gypsies conversed. + +Under the constant and so long continued influx of these languages, their +own must necessarily have suffered some alteration; more especially as +they are a people entirely ignorant, either of writing or literature. + +It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the Gypsey language, +as has been generally imagined; and even what there is of it, they may +have brought with them from their native country, as many Persian words +are current in Hindostan. We ought rather to wonder the number of +Hindostanie words in the Gypsey language, is so considerable, than to +require it should be greater, to furnish sufficient proof of the +Hindostanie language being the Gypsies' mother tongue. + +Since the laborious researches of Grellmann, extended intercourse with +India, has furnished unquestionable evidence in support of his +deductions. The first we shall introduce, is contained in the following +letter from William Marsden to Sir Joseph Banks, F.R.S. read to the +Society of Antiquaries in London, 1785. + +"It has long been surmised, that the vagrant tribes of people called in +this country Gypsies, and on parts of the Continent of Europe, Cingari, +Zingari, and Chingali, were of eastern origin. The former name has been +supposed a corruption of Egyptian, and some learned men have judged it +not improbable that their language might be traced to the Coptic. + +"In the course of researches which I have had occasion to pursue on the +subject of language, I have observed that Ludolfus, in his history of +Ethiopia, makes mention incidentally of the Cingari, vel _Errones +Nubiani_, and gives a specimen of words which he had collected from these +people on his travels, with a view of determining their origin. He +discusses the opinions of various writers concerning them; but forms no +precise sentiment of his own, concluding his observations with these +words: "Eadem vocabula, cum maximam partem reperiam apud Vulcanium a +centum fere annis traditam, non fictitia existimo, ut Megiferus putat nec +corrupta ex aliis linguis, neque Egyptiaca, sive Coptica."--In English, +thus: "Since I find according to Vulcanius, that most of these words have +been continued traditionally for a period of nearly 100 years, I do not +consider them fictitious, as Megiferus supposes, nor corrupted from other +languages, either the Egyptian or Coptic." + +"I was surprised to find many of the words familiar to my eye; and I +pointed out to Sir Joseph Banks, in the latter end of the year 1783, +their evident correspondence with terms in the Hindostanie, or as it is +vulgarly termed in India, the Moors' language. + +"This similitude appeared to me so extraordinary, that I was inclined to +suspect an error in the publication, which might have arisen from a +confusion of obscure vocabularies in the author's possession. The +circumstance, however, determined me to pay farther attention to the +subject, and to examine, in the first place, whether the language spoken +by the Gypsey tribes in England, and by those in the remoter parts of the +continent of Europe was one, and the same; and then to ascertain, whether +this actually bore the affinity which so forcibly struck me in Ludolfus, +to any of the languages on the Continent of India. + +"Through the obliging assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, who has spared no +pains to promote this investigation, I procured an opportunity of +obtaining a list of words from our Gypsies, which I can depend upon as +genuine, and tolerably accurate in respect to the pronunciation, from +their being corroborated also by words taken down, separately, by Sir +Joseph, and by Dr. Blagden. + +"Mr. Matra did me the favour to transmit for me, a list of words to +Turkey; and from his ingenious friend B. Pisani, I received a complete +and satisfactory translation of them, together with some information, +respecting the manners of the Chingiares, in the Turkish dominions, +which, however, does not come within the design of this paper, as I mean +to confine myself in the present communication, simply to the question of +similarity of language; which, if established, I should esteem a matter +of no little curiosity; presuming it to be perfectly new to the world. + +"Of this similarity, the learned members of the Society will be enabled +to form their judgment from the annexed paper, exhibiting a comparison of +a few of the words procured from the different quarters before mentioned, +with the Hindostanie terms, from the best published, and parole +authorities. It may not be unworthy of remark, that the general +appellation of these people in the eastern part of Europe, is very nearly +connected with that of the inhabitants of Ceylon, in the East-Indies, who +are equally termed. Lingalese and Chingalese; though at the same time it +must be acknowledged, that the language of this Island has much less +correspondence with that of the Gypsies, than many others of the Indian +dialects. + +"His Grace, the Archbishop of York, with his usual discernment, suggested +to me, the probability that the Zingara here spoken of, may have derived +their name, and perhaps their origin from the people called Langari, or +Langarians, who are found in the north-west parts of the Peninsula of +Hindostan, and infest the coasts of Guzerat and Sindy with their +piratical depredations. + +"The maritime turn of this numerous race of people, with their roving and +enterprising disposition, may warrant the idea of occasional emigration +in their boats, by the coarse of the Red Sea. + +"Notwithstanding the resemblance to the Hindostanie, is the predominant +feature in the Gypsey dialect, yet there are words interspersed, which +evidently coincide with other languages. Besides the Mahratta, and +Bengalese, which I have marked in the comparative specimen, it is not a +little singular that the terms for the numerals _seven_, _eight_, and +_nine_, are purely Greek: although the first five, and that for ten, are +indisputably Indian. It is also a curious observation, that although the +Indian term for seven is _saath_, yet that for a week, or seven days; is +the Eftan of the latter. + +"One word only among those I have examined, bears a resemblance to the +Coptic, which is _rom_, the same with _romi_, a man. + +"In comparisons of this nature, a due allowance must be made, not only +for the various modes of spelling adopted by different persons, and +different nations, but also for the dissimilar manner in which the same +individual sound, strikes the organs of the hearers; of which some +pointed instances may be given. + +"Should any be inclined to doubt, which I scarcely suppose possible, the +identity of the Gypsey, or Cingari, and the Hindostanie languages, still +it will be acknowledged as no uninteresting subject, that tribes +wandering through the mountains of Nubia, or the plains of Romania, have +conversed for centuries in a dialect precisely similar to that spoken at +this day, by, the obscure, despised, and wretched people in England, +whose language has been considered as a fabricated gibberish, and +confounded with a cant in use among thieves and beggars; and whose +persons have been, till within the period of a year, an object of the +persecution, instead of the protection of our laws." + + _William Marsden_. + +In the 386th page of the 7th Vol. of Archaeologia, is the comparative +view of the English Gypsey, Turkish Gypsey, and Hindostanie dialects; a +specimen of which will be presented in this section. + +In page 387 of the same volume, are collections on the Zingara, or Gypsey +language, by Jacob Bryant, Esq. transmitted to G. Salusbury Brereton, +Esq. in a letter from Doctor Douglas, read 1785: This learned traveller, +when in Hungary, had taken from the mouths of Gypsies, specimens of their +language, which occupy seven pages. It is remarkable, that of seventeen +words obtained and enumerated in the letters of Coxe, the learned +traveller, fourteen appear to resemble most exactly those of the same +signification, collected by Jacob Bryant + + _John Douglas_. + + + +COMPARISON OF THE GYPSEY, TURKISH, AND HINDOSTANIE LANGUAGES. + +_English_. _English _Turkish _Cingari vel _Hindostanie_. + Gypsey_. Gypsey_. Errones + Nubiani_. + +One Aick Yeck Aick, ek, Yek + +Two Dooce Duy Du, Dow + +Three Trin Trin Trin + +Four Staur, Shtar Shtiar Chaur + +Five Panji Panch Paunch + +Six Shove Shove Chaye + +Seven Heftan Efta Saath + +Eight Okto Aoth Aut + +Nine Henya Enia Noh Nu + +Ten Desh Desh Dus, Doshe + (Bengalese) + +Man Raye, gazo Ram Manush Manusch Manoosha, + (Bengalese) + +Woman Raunee gougee Romee Rendee, Raunee + +Head Bold-uroo shero Shero Schiero Seer, Sirr + +Eyes Yackau, yock Yack Jaka Okhyo + (Bengalese) + +Nose Bol-nak Nack Nak Nauck + +Hair Ballau, bolow Bal Bal Baul, Bal + +Teeth Danau Dan Daunt, Dant + (Bengalese) + +Ear Kanaue Can Kaun + +Day Dewas, Devas Deeves Deendeewas + (Mahratta) + +Night Rautee Rateee Raut, roat + +White Pauno Parnee Paandra + (Mahratta) + +Sheep Baukro Bakro Bhare + +Hog Baulo Balo Palo + +Fish Matcho Muteho Matchee, + Mutchee + +Bind Cheriko Chiriiklo Chereah + +House Kair Ker Ghurr + +Gold Soona-kai Sonna + +Silver Roop Roopau + + + +Brand, in his observations on Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. page 432, +observes: "The Gypsies, as it should seem from some striking proofs +derived from their language, were originally from Hindostan, where they +are supposed to have been of the lowest class of Indians, named Pariars, +or as they are called in Hindostan, Suders. They are thought to have +emigrated about A.D. 1408, or 1409, when Timur Beg ravaged India for the +purpose of spreading the Mahometan religion. On this occasion so many +were made slaves, and put to death, that a universal panic took place, +and a very great number of terrified inhabitants endeavoured to save +themselves by flight. + +"As every part to the north and east was beset by the enemy, it is most +probable that the country below Multan, to the mouth of the Indus, was +the first asylum and rendezvous of the fugitive Suders. This is called +the country of Zinganen. Here they were safe, and remained so till +Timur's return from the victory of the Ganges. Then it was that they +entirely quitted the country, and probably with them a considerable +number of the natives, which will explain the meaning of their original +name." + +In the seventh Vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 470, Captain David +Richardson says of the _Panchperee_, or Budee'a Nuts: "'Tis probable +there will be found in their manners, a stronger similitude to the +Gypsies of Europe, than in those of any other which may come under +review. They have no particular system of religion, adopting with +indifference that of the village near to which they happen to be +encamped. In the upper provinces of Hindostan, the little encampments of +these people are frequently very regular and neat, being there formed of +the Sirkee entirely. Each apartment, though not much larger than a +mastiff's kennel, has its own particular enclosure, or court-yard; +generally erected in such a manner, as to become a species of +circumvallation to the whole portable hamlet. + +"One cannot help wondering where so many men, women, and children, and +other domestic animals manage to sleep; or shelter themselves from the +storms which sometimes assail these itinerant people. The men are +remarkably athletic and active, and also nimble and adroit, in every kind +of slight of hand. Many of the subdivisions of this class of men, pay +little, or no attention to cleanliness, or any restrictions in diet; +eating dead jackalls, bullocks, horses, or any kind of food procurable. + +"The women do not attend the men during their juggling exploits, but have +a peculiar department allotted to themselves; which consists of the +practice of physic, cupping, palmistry, curing disorders of the teeth, +and marking the skin of the Hindoo women, an operation termed Godna. +They have two languages peculiar to themselves; one intended for the use +only of the craftsman, the other general among men, women, and children. + +"The Hindostanie is the basis of both; the first is general, being a mere +transposition or change of syllables; and the second apparently, a +systematic conversion of a few letters; but which will be best elucidated +by the following specimen, which contains twenty-two words." + +After which, he says: "I find these people in Colebrook's arrangement of +the Hindoo Classes, mentioned in the sixth class, under the head of +_Nata_, Bazeegurs; and in Sir William Jones's translation of the +Ordinances of Menu, _Munoo_, Chapter 10. + +"I shall now subjoin a short parallel between the Gypsies of Europe, and +the people I have described. Both the _Gypsies_ and the _Nuts_ are +generally a wandering race of beings, seldom having a fixed habitation. +They have each a language peculiar to themselves. That of the Gypsies is +undoubtedly a species of Hindostanie; as well as that of the Nuts. In +Europe, it answers all the purposes of concealment. + +"The Gypsies have their King, the Nuts their _Nardar Boutoh_; they are +equally formed into companies, and their peculiar employments are exactly +similar; dancing, singing, music, palmistry, &c. They are both +considered as thieves; at least that division of the Nuts, whose manners +come nearest the Gypsies.--In matters of religion they appear equally +indifferent, and as to food, we have seen that neither the Gypsies nor +the Budee'a Nuts are very choice. + +"Though, in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Grellmann's Theory is thought +slightly of, the similarity of language being deemed but inconclusive +evidence; yet in this instance, and even in opposition to such authority, +I will venture to consider it, as forming a basis of the most substantial +kind. It is not the accidental coincidence of a few words, but the whole +vocabulary he produces, differs not so much from the common Hindostanie, +as provincial dialects of the same country do from each other. + +"Grellmann, from a want of knowledge in the Hindostanie; as to its +provincial dialects, lost many opportunities of producing the proper word +in comparison with the Gypsey one. + +"The following list of words was taken from the Annual Register of 1784, +or 1785, with a few I have now subjoined from Grellmann.--In some of the +instances where he has failed of producing the corresponding Hindostanie +word, the supply of them will, I hope, prove the language of the Gypsies, +and that of Hindostan to be the same, or very intimately connected with +each other. + + _Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_. + +Bebee Beebe Aunt, _a respectful feminine + termination from baba_, + _Father_. + +Pawnee Paniee Brook, Drink, Water + +Cauliban Kalaburn Black + +Davies, Devus Dewus Day + +Rattie Rat Dark night + +Can Kan The Ear + +Dad Dada Father + +Mutchee Muchee Fish + +Bootsee Buholsee Great + +Gur Ghur House + +Shing Seen Horn + +Tuttoo Tutta Heat + +Riah Raye Lord + +Rriena Ra, enee Lady + +Dai Da'ee Mother + +Mass Mas Meat or food + +Nack Nak Nose + +Bouropanee Bura-panee Ocean, wave + +Loon Loon Salt + +Rook Rook, h A Tree + +Tschar Char A Thief + +Mul Mool Wine + +Captain Richardson continues the list through four pages. + + + + +SECTION IX. + + +Present state the Gypsies in England. + + * * * * * + +It has been already stated, in the Introduction to this work, that the +author visited an encampment of Gypsies. It consisted of five tents, +situated near Rushden, within two miles of the pleasant town of Higham +Ferrers. He did not reconnoitre the camp till about mid-day, having been +informed that by this time, it was probable, the able-bodied persons of +both sexes would be drawn off to a feast and a fair, in different +situations, not very distant. It proved so; there were only two women, +three children, and an infant remaining in the tents; which were the +residence of several branches of the numerous families of Smith, and +Loversedge, names well known in the county of Northampton. + +The head of the former, has been many years a dealer in asses, or +donkies; and is reputed to be possessed of some property. His wife, more +than eighty years of age, was seated at the entrance of one of the tents, +weaving a cabbage net. The other woman, who was middle aged, was nursing +an infant; and the eldest of the children, about twelve years of age, was +making preparation for washing; a pan was suspended from three poles, +under which she had kindled a fire, to boil water. The very tattered and +squalid appearance of this poor girl was truly affecting. + +On conversing with the old woman, she said she had forty grand-children; +some gone to the feast, others to the fair; and she signified, that both +men and women were musical performers. + +On being asked whether any of them had learned to read, she shook her +head, and, with apparent regret, acknowledged they had not. This +indication of concern excited an idea, that some impression had been made +on the minds even of Gypsies, of the disadvantages their children were +under. + +Considering how generally education had been extended, to the lowest +description of every other class of British subjects; how many schools +had been opened in villages, as well as in the different towns of the +kingdom, it was not improbable, that information of movements so +extraordinary, might have reached the ears, if not impressed the minds of +these neglected fellow-creatures. The activity which had been +subsequently displayed in the distribution of the Scriptures, and the +zeal excited among the most ignorant to receive them, might also come to +their knowledge. + +Resuming conversation with the female head of the Smith family, she said +they endured great hardships in winter, having no shelter but their +tents, in the worst of weather. + +She was then asked, if they did not experience great difficulty in +obtaining the means of subsistence, during the inclement seasons; and +whether they were not, at times, reduced to the necessity of taking up +with any kind of sustenance, even if it consisted of animals they might +find dead upon the road. + +To this she immediately replied: "Those that have died by the hand of +God, are better than those that have died by the hand of man." + +This reply, corresponding so exactly with that of the Continental +Gypsies, presents a remarkable trait of their mutual descent from the +Suder caste. + +Some of the peculiarities in Gypsey habits to which we have just now +adverted, had not escaped the observation of that accurate delineator of +men and manners, our celebrated poet, Cowper; as will appear by the +following sketch: + + "I see a column of slow rising smoke, + O'er-top the lofty wood, that skirts the wild. + A vagabond and useless tribe, there eat + Their miserable meal. A Kettle + Slung between two poles, upon a stick transverse, + Receives the morsel: flesh _obscene_ of hog, + Or _vermin_; or, at best, of cock purloined + From his accustom'd perch. Hard faring race, + They pick their fuel out of every hedge, + Which kindled with dry leaves, and wood, just saves + The spark of life. The sportive wind blows wide + Their fluttering rags, and shows a tawney skin, + The vellum of the pedigree they claim." + +Before the Gypsey's acknowledgment, of preferring the flesh of animals +which have died by disease, or what is called a natural death, the writer +of this section, knew not how to credit the general testimony of the +farmers and inhabitants of Northamptonshire, that they did not find the +Gypsies committed any depredations on their property, unless it was in +pilfering wood from the fences. He now thinks it probable, that others, +who were unacquainted with this singular idea of the Gypsies, respecting +animal food, may have imagined they were guilty of many more thefts for +subsistence, than is really the case. + +In the further progress of his inquiries, the writer has met with various +instances in which confidence reposed in Gypsies, has not been +disappointed.--He will mention a remarkable one at Feringbury, near +Coggeshall, in Essex, on a farm which had been occupied by three +generations of the family of Corders; during which time, not the least +loss had been sustained, by accommodating Gypsies with lodgings in their +barns and out-houses during inclement weather; but, on the contrary, the +family have considered them a protection to their property. + +After the success of an experiment like the above, it would be +superfluous to ask, if it is not sounder policy to excite the good, than +the bad dispositions of human nature. + +Must not the torrent of invective and abuse, almost universally poured +upon this people, tend to disaffect and indispose them to civil +association! Despised and ill-treated as they often are, have they not +reason to imagine the hand of every man to be against them? Who then can +wonder at their eluding, as much as possible, the inquiries of strangers! + +Looking at their condition among the various inhabitants of Europe, +dignified with the Christian name, the writer has often been reminded of +the universality of the Gospel call, as illustrated in the parable of the +great supper. After the invitation had been given throughout the streets +and lanes of the cities, the command to the servants was: "Go out into +the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Here is a +description that may have been intended specially to apply to this +people, so exactly and even literally adapted to their condition, in all +countries, is the language: "Go ye into the highways and hedges." And +the distinction in their case is rendered still more remarkable by the +very pressing injunction, "Compel them to come in." + +Does it not admit of the inference, that as outcasts of society, being +under greater disadvantages than the other incited classes, their +situation requited a more powerful stimulus to be applied? + +The account of the sufferings of Gypsies in winter, having been confirmed +by many concurring testimonies, from the inhabitants of Northamptonshire, +the following Circular was sent into most of the Counties of England, +with a view to ascertain their state in other parts of the nation. + + + +CIRCULAR. + + +When it is considered how much the exertions of the wise, the +philanthropic, and the good, in all parts of the nation, have been +directed to advancing the morals and religious instruction of the lower +orders of the community, it appears almost incredible that one +description of British subjects, and of all others the most abject and +depraved, should have been either entirely overlooked or neglected. The +Gypsies, to whom this applies, are a people which, more than any other, +it might have been considered the interest of society to reclaim, because +of the depredations they commit upon it. + +The efforts of the good, and of the great, have not been confined to +meliorating the condition of the inhabitants of this country only, they +have been directed to the alleviation of human misery in various other +nations, and even to the augmentation of funds for civilizing the natives +of distant regions of the globe. Can we manifest our solicitude for the +improvement of our fellow-creatures separated from us thousands of miles, +whose faces we never saw, and conclude that numbers of persons in our own +country, whose situation is more desperate, have not a peculiar claim on +our consideration? + +To reclaim the Indians of North America from their wild and roving course +of life, associations have been formed to give them instructions in +agriculture, and to supply them with implements of husbandry; plans of +education adapted to their untutored state have been arranged, and +persons qualified to carry them into effect, in the establishment of +schools, have gone to their assistance. + +Do the numerous Gypsey tribes of England possess any of these advantages? + +In the summer of 1814, when the writer of this circular, visited a number +of Gypsey tents in Northamptonshire, as already stated, a woman about 80 +years of age, who had forty grand-children, acknowledged, that not one of +them had been taught to read. In this land of Christian benevolence, can +we pronounce a certain proportion of its inhabitants to be wretchedly +depraved, and even a wicked set of people; advertise them as rogues and +vagabonds, and offer a reward for their apprehension, without devising +any means of remedying the defects of their habits, or holding out +encouragement to reformation, in any of them who are disposed to +relinquish their vicious courses? + +The associations formed and forming in different parts of the nation for +the prosecution of felons, render the condition of Gypsies every day more +and more deplorable, by their being hunted like beasts of prey from +township to township. + +The last winter but one, a company of these houseless wanderers were dug +out of the snow in Ditchford Lane, near Irchester, Northamptonshire, when +it appeared one woman had been lying in, and that an old man was dying. + +If those who have been zealous in driving them from their accustomed +haunts, were to place themselves, if but ideally in their situation, can +we believe, that instead of augmenting their sufferings, they would not +be disposed to commiserate their case, and even attend to the precept of +the Christian Legislator: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, +do ye even so to them?" It is worse than useless and unavailing to +harrass them from place to place, when no retreat or shelter is provided +for their refuge. + +A writer on this subject, under the designation of Junius, in the +Northampton Mercury of June 27th, 1814, observes: "When we consider the +immense sums raised for every probable means of doing good, which have +hitherto been made public, we cannot doubt, if a proper method should be +proposed for the relief and ameliorating the state of these people, it +would meet with deserved encouragement. Suppose that the Legislature +should think them not unworthy its notice; and as a part of the great +family, they ought not to be overlooked." Another writer in the +Northampton Mercury of July the 21st of the last year, on the necessity +of some plan being adopted for their advantage, remarks, thereby +"thousands of our fellow-creatures would be raised from depravity and +wretchedness to a state of comfort; the private property of individuals +be much more secure, and the public materially benefited." In addition +to these observations, it may be asked, Would not the providing of an +education for their children, to which they should be induced to conform, +and the apprenticing of them, at a proper age, to suitable trades, enable +the rising generation to correct the errors of Gypsey habits? + +With a view to ascertain more fully the extent in which this may be +necessary, the friends of humanity, to whom this Circular may be +addressed, are requested to co-operate with others of their friends in +different parts of each county, for procuring answers from the best +informed of the Gypsies, and others, to the subsequent questions. And +should there be any person in their neighbourhood, who after being +brought up among the Gypsies, hath quitted them for a more settled course +of life, information from such is particularly desirable. Answers are +requested in the course of the summer: to be sent to John Hoyland, +Springfield, Sheffield. + + * * * * * + + + +QUESTIONS. + + +1. From whence is it said the Gypsies first came? + +2. How many is it supposed there are in England? + +3. What is your circuit in summer? + +4. How many Gypsey families are supposed to be in it? + +5. What are the names of them? + +6. Have they any meetings with those of other circuits? + +7. And for what purpose? + +8. What number of Gypsies are there computed to be in the county? + +9. What proportion of their number follow business, and what kind? + +10. What do they bring their children up to? + +11. What do the women employ themselves in? + +12. From how many generations can they trace their descent? + +13. Have they kept to one part of the country, or removed to distant +parts? + +14. How long have they lived in this part? + +15. Have they any speech of their own, different to that used by other +people? + +16. What do they call it? Can any one write it? + +17. Is there any writing of it to be seen any where? + +18. Have they any rules of conduct which are general to their community? + +19. What religion do they mostly profess? + +20. Do they marry, and in what manner? + +21. How do they teach their children religion? + +22. Do any of them learn to read? + +23. Who teaches them? + +24. Have they any houses to go to in winter? + +25. What proportion of them, is it supposed, live out of doors in +winter, as in summer? + +5_th_ _Month_, 16_th_, 1815. + + +THE REPORTS + + +_Received from the Counties of England_, _are comprised in the following +general Answers to the Queries of the Circular_. + +1. All Gypsies suppose the first of them came from Egypt. + +2. They cannot form any idea of the number in England. + +3. The Gypsies of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, parts of Buckinghamshire, +Cambridge, and Huntingdonshire, are continually making revolutions within +the range of those counties. + +4. They are either ignorant of the number of Gypsies in the counties +through which they travel, or unwilling to disclose their knowledge. + +5. The most common names are Smith, Cooper, Draper, Taylor, Bosswel, +Lee, Lovell, Loversedge, Allen, Mansfield, Glover, Williams, Carew, +Martin, Stanley, Buckley, Plunkett, Corrie. + +6 & 7. The gangs in different towns have not any regular connection, or +organization; but those who take up their winter quarters in the same +city or town, appear to have some knowledge of the different routes each +horde will pursue; probably with a design to prevent interference. + +8. In the county of Herts, it is computed there may be sixty families, +having many children. Whether they are quite so numerous in +Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Northamptonshire, the answers are not +sufficiently definite to determine. In Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, +Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire, greater numbers are calculated +upon. In various counties, the attention has not been competent to +procuring data for any estimate of families, or individuals. + +9. More than half their number follow no business; others are dealers in +horses and asses; farriers, smiths, tinkers, braziers, grinders of +cutlery, basket-makers, chair-bottomers, and musicians. + +10. Children are brought up in the habits of their parents, particularly +to music and dancing, and are of dissolute conduct. + +11. The women mostly carry baskets with trinkets and small wares; and +tell fortunes. + +12. Too indolent to have acquired accounts of genealogy, and perhaps +indisposed to it by the irregularity of their habits. + +13. In most counties there are particular situations to which they are +partial. In Berkshire is a marsh, near Newbury, much frequented by them; +and Dr. Clarke states, that in Cambridgeshire, their principal rendezvous +is near the western villages. + +14. It cannot be ascertained, whether from their first coming into the +nation, attachment to particular places has prevailed. + +15, 16, & 17. When among strangers, they elude inquiries respecting +their peculiar language, calling it gibberish. Don't know of any person +that can write it, or of any written specimen of it. + +18. Their habits and customs in all places are peculiar. + +19. Those who profess any religion, represent it to be that of the +country in which they reside: but their description of it, seldom goes +beyond repeating the Lord's prayer; and only a few of them are capable of +that. Instances of their attending any place for warship are very rare. + +20. They marry for the most part by pledging to each other, without any +ceremony. A few exceptions have occurred when money was plentiful. + +21. They do not teach their children religion. + +22 & 23. Not _one_ in a _thousand_ can read. + +24 & 25. Some go into lodgings in London, Cambridge, &c. during winter; +but it is calculated three-fourths of them live out of doors in winter, +as in summer. + +Most of the answers are confirmed by Riley Smith, who, during many years, +was accounted the chief of the Gypsies in Northamptonshire. He being +much in request by some of the principal inhabitants of that county, as a +musician, had the address to marry the cook out of one of their families, +and afterward obtained a farm near Bedford; but being unsuccessful in +agriculture, he returned to his former occupation. John Forster and +William Carrington, respectable merchants of Biggleswade, and neighbours +to Riley Smith, procured answers from him to all the queries in the +Circular; but they cannot be made the basis of any calculation of the +number of Gypsies in the nation. + +It has not come to the knowledge of the writer, what foundation there has +been for the report commonly circulated, that a Member of Parliament had +stated to the House of Commons, when speaking to some question relating +to Ireland; that there were not less than 36,000 Gypsies in Great +Britain. + +To make up such an aggregate, the numerous hordes must have been +included, who traverse most of the nation with carts and asses, for the +sale of earthenware, and live out of doors great part of the year, after +the manner of the Gypsies.--These potters, as they are commonly called, +acknowledge that Gypsies have intermingled with them, and their habits +are very similar. They take their children along with them on travel, +and, like the Gypsies, regret that they are without education. + +It has already appeared in Baillie Smith's report, that the Gypsies in +Scotland, of late years, have had recourse to a similar occupation in the +sale of earthenware, which, as they mostly attend fairs, is a mode of +life remarkably adapted to their inclination. + +Some pains have been taken among the potteries in Staffordshire, to +procure information of the number of families of this description, which +annually apply to purchase the refuse of their wares; but no return has +been made. + +The application to the Sheriffs of Scotland, procured from the counties +prompt and decisive reports; and it is not probable that any measure, +short of an order to the constables of every township, to take an account +on the same day, throughout England, would be sufficient for ascertaining +Gypsey population. + +For this purpose a patrole might be necessary, on one and the same day, +in each township, particularly in lanes and situations shaded in summer. +If notice of the requisition were to be communicated to constables, a few +days before, with directions not to disclose the object, further than the +necessary provision for it required; it is probable, that a sufficiently +correct estimate might be formed, of the aggregate number in the nation. + +Such an account might extend also to the itinerant potters, and the +number of their children: or if the potters take out a Hawker's and +Pedlar's licence, a return of their numbers might be obtained from the +proper office. There is reason to think that many of these dealers have +acquired property, who, nevertheless take lodgings for the winter, +instead of renting houses; whereby they, equally with Gypsies, evade all +contributions to the service of the State, and parochial assessments. + +On this subject, the writer is reminded of what has often occurred to +him, when inspecting a low description of lodging-houses in the populous +town of Sheffield, of which he is an inhabitant. Finding it difficult to +obtain from the keepers of such houses, sufficient information respecting +their guests; he has thought, that obliging all who lodge itinerants to +take out a licence, would, by rendering them amenable to just authority, +obviate this difficulty; and put it in the power of those respectable +inhabitants, who wish the regulation of these receptacles, to exercise +just discrimination, without infringing upon the liberty of the subject. +He has reason to believe, if this were effected, it would operate as a +considerable check on vagrancy, and save much trouble to magistrates. + + + + +SECTION X. + + +Present state of the Gypsies in and about London. + + * * * * * + +In the autumn of 1815, the author made a journey to London, in order to +obtain information respecting the Gypsies in its vicinity. + +The first account he received of the education of any of them, was from +Thomas Howard, proprietor of a glass and china shop, No. 50, Fetter-lane, +Fleet-street. This person, who preached among the Calvinists, said, that +in the winter of 1811, he had assisted in the establishment of a Sunday +School in Windmill-street, Acre-lane, near Clapham. It was under the +patronage of a single gentlewoman, of the name of Wilkinson, and +principally intended for the neglected and forlorn children of +brick-makers, and the most abject of the poor. It was begun on a small +scale, but increased till the number of scholars amounted to forty. + +During the winter, a family of Gypsies, of the name of Cooper, obtained +lodgings at a house opposite the school. Trinity Cooper, a daughter of +this Gypsey family, who was about thirteen years of age, applied to be +instructed at the school; but, in consequence of the obloquy affixed to +that description of persons, she was repeatedly refused. She +nevertheless persevered in her importunity, till she obtained admission +for herself, and two of her brothers. + +Thomas Howard says, that, surrounded as he was by ragged children, +without shoes and stockings, the first lesson he taught them was silence +and submission.--They acquired habits of subordination, became tractable +and docile; and, of all his scholars, there were not any more attentive +and affectionate than these; and when the Gypsies broke up house in the +spring, to make their usual excursions, the children expressed much +regret at leaving the school. + +This account was confirmed by Thomas Jackson, of Brixton-row, minister of +Stockwell Chapel, who said, since the above experiment, several Gypsies +had been admitted to a sabbath school, under the direction of his +congregation. At their introduction, he compared them to birds when +first put into a cage, which flew against the sides of it, having no idea +of restraint; but by a steady even care over them, and the influence of +the example of other children, they soon became settled, and fell into +their ranks. + +With a view to reconnoitre an encampment of Gypsies, the author accepted +a seat in the carriage of a friend, who drove him to Hainault forest. +This, according to historians, was of vast extent in the times of the +ancient Britons, reaching to the Thames; and so late as the reign of +Henry the 2d, it covered the northern vicinity of the city. + +On this forest, about two miles from the village of Chigwell, Essex, and +ten from London, stands the far-famed oak, at which is held Fairlop Fair, +that great annual resort of the Gypsies. + +According to an account of it printed for Hogg, Paternoster-row, the +trunk or main stem of this tree has been sixty-six feet, and some of the +branches twelve feet, in circumference. The age of this prodigy of the +forest cannot be ascertained with any degree of precision. The oak +viewed by the present King, in Oxfordshire, and some years ago felled in +the domains of one of the Colleges, though only twenty-five feet in +girth, is said to have been six hundred years old. Fairlop oak having +been nearly thrice as large, is supposed to be at least twice that age. + +Phillips employed by the King, applied a patent mixture to stop the +progress of its decay, but, last autumn, when seen by the describer, its +naked gigantic trunk and arms, retaining not the least symptom of +animation, presented a ghastly spectacle of the ravages of time, as +contrasted with the rich verdure of the surrounding scenery. + +The circumstances which gave rise to the establishment of a fair, on this +spot of ground, are somewhat singular. + +Daniel Day, an engine, pump, and block-maker, of Wapping, having a small +estate in the vicinity of this oak, was in the habit of annually +resorting to it about a fortnight after midsummer, to receive his rents, +when he provided a dinner under the tree, and invited several of his +friends to it. The novelty of the scene exciting the attention of the +neighbouring inhabitants, attendance on that occasion increased until +about the year 1725, when booths being erected round the stupendous oak, +the scene assumed the appearance of a regular fair. It has continued to +be held there, and it is said now attracts a great number of attendants. + +As this fair does not appear to be a mart for horses or cattle, there is +reason to fear, it is kept up more for revelry and excess, than for any +useful purpose. The ground has been cleared to some extent about the +oak, which stands at the head of a circular lawn, surrounded by pailing, +to protect it from the ravages of the unthinking part of the multitude, +who assemble there. It is said to have been the practice of the Gypsies, +to kindle fires against the trunk, by which the bulk has been diminished, +and perhaps the vegetation injured. + +On the side of the forest, near to Dagenham, Essex, was the encampment of +Gypsies, of which the author's friend was in quest. The construction of +their tents, is well known to be wooden hoops fastened into the ground, +and covered with an awning of blankets or canvas, which resembles the +tilt of a waggon; the end is closed from the wind by a curtain. This +gang was called by the name of Corrie. It consisted of an old man, his +wife, a niece, and their son and daughter with ten children; said to be +all from Staffordshire. The men were scissars' grinders and tinkers. + +Questions being asked them respecting their condition, a young woman made +some observations upon them to an older woman, in their own peculiar +speech. This was the first time the writer had an opportunity of +ascertaining, what the language of Gypsies in England really was. With +the knowledge only of Grellmann's vocabulary, he pointed out what the +young woman had expressed; upon which they immediately exclaimed, the +gentleman understands what we say; and they gave way to immoderate +transports of joy, saying, they would tell him any thing he wished to +know of them. + +On being asked what gold was in their language, they replied without +hesitation, _sonnaka_, and immediately added, silver was _roop_. + +The opinion which has been entertained, that Gypsey language was composed +only of cant terms, or of what has been denominated the slang of beggars, +has probably been much promoted and strengthened by the dictionary +contained in a pamphlet entitled, "The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde +Moore Carew." It consists for the most part of English words, vamped up +apparently not so much for the purpose of concealment, as burlesque. +Even if used by this people at all, the introduction of this cant, as the +genuine language of the community of Gypsies, is a gross imposition on +the public. + +One of the women said, the education of their children was to be desired, +but their travelling from place to place was against it.--A young man +among them said, there were a hundred of their people in Staffordshire. +This gang was intelligent as well as communicative, and gave proof of +more civility than is commonly attributed to Gypsies. + +The author also visited Norwood, which was formerly a principal +rendezvous of the Gypsies. This village, near Croydon, in Surry, is +situated on a fine hill, and is a wildly rural spot; but having been +considerably inclosed of late years, it is not now much frequented by the +Gypsies. + +John Westover, deputy of James Furnell, constable of Norwood, stated, +that about two months before, the Gypsies in that neighbourhood had been +apprehended as vagrants, and sent in three coaches to prison. This +account was confirmed by Edward Morris, the landlord at the Gypsey house. +It did not appear that these Gypsies were committed for depredations on +property, but merely on the vagrant act. + +Gypsies being _routed_, as it is termed, in this manner, from various +parts of the south, may probably have occasioned their appearing in +greater numbers in the northern parts of the nation. The writer of this +section being at Scarborough, in the bathing season of 1815, had +intelligence of there being, at the same time, an encampment of Gypsies +at Boroughbridge, another at Knaresborough, and a third at Pocklington, +in the east-riding of Yorkshire. + +On returning from Scarborough, he was told by an acquaintance at +Tadcaster, that a gang of about twenty Gypsies, were just gone from the +neighbourhood, after telling fortunes to most of the people in the town. +The same summer, a numerous horde had been driven from the township of +Rotherham; and there had been two encampments in the neighbourhood of +Sheffield. + +The winter before the last, severe as it was, a gang of about fifty or +sixty, lay upon Bramley Moor, three miles from Chesterfield. This +information was received from Joseph Storrs of Chesterfield, who has been +an assiduous coadjutor. From the same authority, the writer learns, that +a number of Gypsies usually came to Duckmanton, near Chesterfield, at the +feast, who appear to be in pretty good reputation in their transactions. +Also that there is a party of Gypsies who frequent Socombe-lane, near +Shirbrook, which is two miles east of Pleasley. They are called +Bosswell's gang, consisting of twelve, and sometimes more, who mostly +come once a year, and sometimes continue there for most of it. A woman +among them is about 90 years old. They support a good character; and one +of them who bought a pony, had credit for it, and paid honestly on his +return. + +After obtaining information at Norwood, of the winter-quarters in London, +to which Gypsies resorted; the author had an interview with branches of +several families of them, collected at the house of his friend William +Corder, Grocer, in Broad-street, Giles's. And in justice to them, he +must observe, that however considerably the fear of apprehension as +vagrants, may dispose them, when on travel and among strangers, to elude +their inquiries, no disposition to do so, appears in the company of +persons to whom they are known, and in whom they can repose confidence. + +Being accustomed to lay out their money at the shop of this grocer, he +said they would be very ready to attend upon his invitation; and +accordingly, a number of them soon made their appearance. They said +there were about twenty of the name of Lovell, who lodged in Bowles's +yard, in the neighbourhood. These acknowledged themselves Gypsies, and +many of them had the features, as well as the complexion of Asiatics. + +Their account is, that they come into lodgings at Michaelmas, and +continue till April, then they set out on travel, and go into Norfolk, +&c. + +That some time ago, some of them had embraced an offer to educate their +children at St. Patrick's charity school, which had been established by +the chaplain to the Portuguese ambassador; but some dissatisfaction +arising in consequence of the religion of the conductors of that +Institution, they had removed their children to the school for the Irish, +taught by Partak Ivery, No. 5, George-street. + +Uriah Lovell, the head of one of the families, made a very decent +appearance; three of his children have been four winters at school, and +learned to read and write; their father having paid sixpence per week, +for each of them.--Partak was sent for, and came to the house of William +Corder, where he confirmed the above account, saying there had been six +Gypsey children at his school, and that when placed among others, they +were reducible to order. + +These Gypsies, like those upon Hainault forest, appeared to be greatly +delighted at meeting with a person, acquainted, as they thought, with +their language, and were remarkably free in speaking it. + +James Corder, son of William Corder, obtained the following account of +some of the lodgers in Westminster, and in the Borough, &c. + + _Names_. _Family_. _Occupation and + Residence_. + +John Lovell, wife and 6 children, Chair-bottomer, + Tunbridge-street. + +James Lovell, do. 6 do. Tinker, Church-lane. + +Joseph Lovell, do. 3 do. Chair-bottomer, + New-street. + +Thomas Lovell, do. 2 do. Chair bottomer, + Banbridge-street. + +William Lovell, do. 1 do. Knife-grinder, + Church-street. + +Lussha Cooper, wife and 10 children, Rat-catcher, + Tottenham-court-road. + +Corrie Lovell, do. 5 do. Knife-grinder, + Bolton-street. + +Uriah Lovell, do. 6 do. Chair-bottomer, + Bolton-street. + +Thomas Lovell, do. 7 do. Knife-grinder, + Paddington. + +Solomon Lovell, do. 4 do. Chair-bottomer, + New-street. + +Solomon Jones, do. 2 do. Basket-maker and + Wire-worker, + Battle-bridge. + +Men and Women, 22--52 Children. + +John Lee, wife and 9 children, Chair-bottomer, + Tothil-fields. + +Richard Taylor, do. 3 do. Wire-worker, + New-street. + +Betsey Lovell, widow, Supported by her son + Joseph Lovell. + +Joseph Lovell, wife 1 do. Bellows-mender, + Shore-ditch. + +Diana Lee, widow 1 do. Sells Earthenware, + Shore-ditch. + +Mansfield Lee, wife 0 do. Tinker and Grinder, + Shore-ditch. + +Zachariah Lee, do. 0 do. Fiddler--Travels the + Country. + +Thomas Smith, do. 5 do. Chair-bottomer, + Lisson-green, + Paddington. + +Thomas Porter, do. 3 do. Works at the Canal, + Paddington. + +Charlotte Allen, widow 7 do. Sells Earthenware, + Kent-street, Borough. + +James Cole, wife 4 do. Lamplighter and + Grinder, Kent-street, + Borough. + +Edward Martin, do. 2 do. Sells Fruit in the + Street, Kent-street, + Borough. + +Samuel Martin, do. 6 do. Journeyman Saddler, + White-street. + +John Sinfield, do. 0 do. Sells Fish in the + Streets, + White-street. + +John Taylor, do. 3 do. Ditto. Ditto. + +Men and Women, 25--44 Children. + +There has not been any information obtained concerning who winter in +Bull's Court, Kingsland Road, or in Cooper's Gardens. + +The older Gypsey children assist their parents in their trades; a few of +the younger go to school during winter. Most of those who have children, +are desirous of their receiving an education; though but few have the +means of procuring it. + +They complain of the scarcity of work; and in some instances appear to be +distressed for want of it; the more so, as their ideas of independence +prevent their applying to parishes for assistance.--It is much to their +credit, that so few instances occur of their begging in London. In the +minutes of evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons, on +mendicity, there is only one example of a Gypsey girl begging in the +streets. + +Some of the women go in a morning to principal houses in the squares, +before the heads of the families have risen, and tell fortunes to the +servants, from whom they obtain sixpence or a shilling each. + +A few of the Gypsies continue all the year in London, excepting their +attendance of fairs in the vicinity. Others, when work is scarce, go out +twenty or thirty miles round the metropolis, carrying their implements +with them on asses; and support themselves by the employment they obtain +in the towns and villages through which they pass; and assist sometimes +in hay-making, and plucking hops, in the counties of Kent, Surry, and +Sussex. + +Among those who have winter-quarters in London, there are a few that take +circuits of great extent. Some of them mentioned going through Herts +into Suffolk, then crossing Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to +Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Bristol, &c. Others spoke of being at +Yarmouth, Portsmouth, South Wales, Wiltshire, &c. + +There is reason to think, the greatest part of the Island is traversed in +different directions, by hordes of Gypsies. + +For the purpose of comparing the language of English Gypsies with that of +the Continental, exhibited in Section VIII, the following list of words +was sent to James Corder, Broadstreet, Bloomsbury. He obtained from the +Gypsies in his neighbourhood, the translation affixed to them. + + _English_. _Gypsey_. + +One Yake + +Two Duee + +Three Trin + +Four Stor + +Five Pan + +Ten Dyche + +Head Charro + +Eyes Yock + +Nose Nack + +Bread Mor + +Bread & butter Kil-mor + +Beer Limbar + +Hair Balo. + +Cold day Shil-dewes + +Hot day Tal-dewes + +Ear Kau + +Day Dewes + +Night Raut + +White Parnau + +Sheep Bolko + +Hog Borlo + +Fish Marcho + +House Kare + +Gold Sonnekar + +Silver Rupe + +Dog Jukou + +Horse Grarre + +When it is known that Gypsies are unacquainted with letters, and that +James Corder, who took from the mouths of those in the parish called St. +Giles, the preceding Gypsey words, did not know of Grellmann's +vocabulary, the coincidence appears very remarkable; but it is still more +so with the Turkish Gypsey specimen by Jacob Bryant, exhibited also in +the 8th Section. Robert Forster of Tottenham, who has been a coadjutor +in this work, transmitted the following collection of words obtained from +Gypsies in his neighbourhood. + + _Gypsey_. _English_. + +Parnee Water + +Jewcal Dog + +Maurau Bread + +Kil-maurau Bread & butter + +Lavenar Beer + +Shill-deues Cold day + +Taldu Hot day + +Moila Ass + +Gur Horse + +In the conversation a clergyman had with the Bosswell gang, as published +in the Christian Guardian for 1812 and 1813, they told him _Chum_, was +the sun; _Chuu_, the moon; _Kalmaro_, bread and butter; and _Livina_, +drink. The first two of those words almost exactly accord with +Grellmann's vocabulary, and the latter as nearly with Robert Forster's +and James Corder's collection from Gypsies in and about London. + +From the comparative views which have been taken of Gypsey expressions in +various countries, there is reason to conclude that wherever they have +been scattered on the face of the earth, they have spoken and transmitted +the same language to their descendants. That it should have been +preserved by them, when among people of other tongues, throughout +centuries, for no purpose that we are acquainted with, but that of +concealment, is indeed astonishing. + + + + +SECTION XI. + + +Sentiments of various persons on the moral condition of the Gypsies + + * * * * * + +After the extensive survey which has now been taken of the customs and +habits of this people, in the various countries they inhabit, the reader +will be prepared for the conclusions of Grellmann, that Gypsies are +indeed a singular phenomenon in Europe. And remarkable it is, that the +combined influence of time, climate, and example, have not effected any +material alteration in their state. For the space of three or four +hundred years, they have gone wandering about as pilgrims and strangers; +they are found in eastern, as well as in western countries; as well among +the rude, as the civilized; among indolent and active people; yet they +remain in all places, as to customs and habits, what their fathers were. + +It is asserted, there are two causes to which this coincidence is to be +attributed; one is the country where they originate, with their +consequent train of thinking; the other arises out of the circumstances +which have hitherto attended their situation. Their peculiar notions and +customs, leave no doubt of their being of eastern origin. In oriental +countries, attachment to habit is so strong, that what has been once +current among them, be it ever so pernicious or ridiculous, is persevered +in; any affection which has once predominated, retains its dominion for +ages. + +Mahomet knowing that the weak side of the Arabians was their veneration +for every thing handed down from their forefathers, gave his new +profession the colouring of antiquity, and affirmed it to be the religion +of Abraham. The Jesuits in China, availed themselves of similar means, +by referring to Confucius, in aid of their doctrines, and thus they +obtained admission for their religion among the Chinese. In the eastern +nations, no change is adopted merely because it is an improvement. The +Chinese are acquainted with the use of glass, yet their mirrors are +always made of metal; and their windows of shells.--Mechanical watches +have been for ages used in the court of Pekin, but the bulk of the nation +depend upon the action of fire and water; the former, by the gradual +burning of a match composed of sweet smelling powder, the latter by +water, somewhat resembling our large hour-glasses. + +If we consider the circumstances under which the Gypsies have existed, we +shall want nothing more to make us comprehend, why they have remained to +the present time, what they were at their first arrival in Europe. +Separating themselves as much as possible from all association, but with +those of their own tribe, they avoid every means which might give a new +turn to their ideas, or in the least degree contribute to eradicate +deep-rooted prejudice.--Unused to reflect, and fettered by habit, they +arrived in our quarter of the globe; and it does not appear that any +measures have been enjoined for instructing or reforming them, except +those of the Empress Theresa, which were never put in execution. + +The most extreme punishments failing to effect a change in the habits of +Gypsies, they were subjected in almost all countries to banishment. They +had been accustomed in their own country, to live remote from cities and +towns; now they became more invariably inhabitants of forests, and +penetrated deeper into deserts; as, in consequence of the search which +was made after them, or, at least, threatened to be made, they judged +themselves more secure in seclusion and concealment, than they would have +been, in frequenting places of established abode, and having free +intercourse with the neighbouring, inhabitants. Thus they became, in a +greater degree, outcasts from civilized society; and divested of the +most, and perhaps the only, probable means, of inducing a change in their +manner. + +Being always either persecuted, or left to themselves, no other could be +expected, than that they must ever remain in all places the same. The +character of people being formed by the instruction they receive in their +early years, can it be thought surprising, that Gypsies who are idlers, +should be also abandoned and thievish? Is it to be expected that men +should become diligent, who have been educated in laziness? Who can have +a general idea of fair dealing, that has never been taught the +distinction between good and evil, virtue and vice? Perhaps it is +reserved for _our age_, in which so much has been attempted for the +benefit of mankind, to humanize a people, who, for centuries, have +wandered in error and neglect; and it may be hoped, that while we are +endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of our African brethren, the +civilization of Gypsies, who form so large a portion of humanity, will +not be overlooked. + +It cannot be denied, that considering the multitude of them, their reform +must be a subject of very serious consideration to many states. The +period in which banishments were generally pronounced on this people, +were too unphilosophical for any preferable mode of punishment to be +suggested; but it may be expected from a better informed age, that better +maxims will be adopted. We send apostles to the east and west, to the +most distant parts of the whole earth; and even into the very country +whence the Gypsies emigrated, to instruct the people who know not God. +Is it not inconsistent for men to be solicitous for the welfare of their +fellow-creatures in distant regions, and to throw off, and leave to +chance, those who, equally wretched, have brought their errors home to +us? If it be a good work to teach religion and virtue to such as are +ignorant of their Creator, why not begin with those nearest to +us?--Especially as neglect in this particular, is attended with detriment +to the society of which we are members. + +The Gypsies have been long enough among civilized people to prove, that +they will not be allured by the mere example of others, to free +themselves from the fetters of old customs and vices. To accomplish that +end, more effectual means are requisite. + +It would be vain to hope for any considerable progress in the improvement +of those who are grown up. Their reformation would be a difficult task, +as the attempts made by the Empress Theresa evinced:--you must begin with +children, and not meddle with the old stock, on whom no efforts will have +effect. + +Expelling the Gypsies entirely, was not merely a premature step, it was a +wasteful one. This is indisputable, so long as the state maxim holds +good, that a numerous population is advantageous. + +Care being taken to enlighten their understandings, and amend their +hearts, they might become useful citizens; for observe them at whatever +employment you may, there always appear sparks of genius. It is well +known, and no writer omits to remark, what artful devices they have +recourse to, in perpetrating any cheat or robbery: but this is not the +only particular in which they show capacity. The following extract is +from a Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer of these people. + + "The Gypsies have a fertile imagination in their way, and are quick + and ready at expedients; so that in many serious, doubtful cases, + they soon recollect how to act, in order to extricate themselves. We + cannot indeed help wondering, when we attend to, and consider the + skill they display in preparing and bringing their works to + perfection; which is the more necessary from the scarcity of proper + tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning in cheating, or + thieving; and when called to account for any fraud or robbery, + fruitful in invention, and persuasive in their arguments to defend + themselves." + + _Grellmann_. + + * * * * * + +The recommendation of Grellmann, p. 197, to begin the work of reform with +children, appears judicious; but the events of the present day justify +the expectation, that benevolent exertions would not prove fruitless, +should they afterwards be extended even to the "_old stock_." + +Before the Circular introduced is the 10th Section was distributed, the +author did not know of the correspondence on the subject of Gypsies, +which had appeared in the interesting pages of the Christian Observer. +But he should now consider it an injustice to those benevolent +individuals, who had taken the lead in this work of Christian charity, +not to give full consideration to the ideas they have suggested. + +In Vol. VII. p. 91 of that periodical publication, is the following +letter. + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. + + As the divine spirit of Christianity deems no object, however + unworthy or insignificant, beneath her notice, I venture to apply to + you on behalf of a race, the outcasts of society, of whose pitiable + condition, among the many forms of human misery which have engaged + your efforts, I do not recollect to have seen any notice in the pages + of your excellent miscellany. I allude to the deplorable state of + the Gypsies, on whose behalf I beg leave to solicit your good offices + with the public.--Lying at our very doors, they 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. In this happy country, where the + light of Christianity shines with its purest lustre, they are still + strangers to its cheering influence. I have not heard even of any + efforts which have been made, either by individuals or societies, for + their improvement; and so thoroughly do they appear to despise the + advantages of civilized life, that perhaps nothing less than that + change of heart, which is the effect of the blessing of God on the + means employed for their conversion, would prevent their continuing + to be the pest of society. The great Shepherd of Israel despises not + these unhappy wanderers from his fold; and I am persuaded, that + neither you, nor those who read and prize your work, will be + insensible to the force of His benign example. + + May the Divine Spirit suggest means, by which this wretched race may + be reclaimed from their vagrancy, and be made acquainted with that + Saviour, whom to know is life eternal! + + Yours, &c. NIL. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {201} + + It gave me pleasure to observe in one of the numbers of your + miscellany, a letter on a subject that has frequently engaged my + serious attention: I mean the state of the Gypsies. It is painful to + reflect how many thousands of these unhappy creatures, have, since + the light of Christianity has shone on this Island, gone into + eternity ignorant of the way of salvation, and without one cheering + thought of a Saviour. Surely, Sir, there is an awful responsibility + attached to this neglect! If we look back into the history of the + Christian church, from the earliest ages, we shall find that the + introduction of the gospel amongst any people, has generally been + effected by means of Missionaries; and so numerous are the Gypsies, + and so desultory in their habits of life, that it might well occupy + the time of more than one zealous individual, to go amongst them, and + by plain, simple, affectionate conversation and exhortation, when + practicable, instruct them in the knowledge of their Redeemer. + + Nor in this favoured land, where there are so many who zealously + embrace the doctrines of Christianity, would there, I trust, be + wanting both one, or more persons, who would devote themselves to + this truly apostolic work; and benevolent individuals who would open + their hearts and their purses, for the support and encouragement of + such an undertaking. This labour of love would doubtless prove less + arduous, than the attempts which have been made to establish missions + among the American Indians; the natives of the South-Seas; or the + inhabitants of Southern Africa. + + The dread of the magistracy in this country, would prove a protection + from personal injury, while the painful relinquishment of friends and + country would not be required. I will also beg leave to mention + another suggestion: I have understood that, in different parts of the + kingdom, the neighbouring clergy meet at stated times, for the + purpose of conversing on the important duties of their pastoral + office. At such times, would it not be well to take into + consideration, the perishing condition of so large a part of the + community, as that, which forms the subject of this letter? Some + plan might probably be thus devised, which, through the blessing of + the Lord, would prove effectual for the salvation of this out-cast, + and hitherto neglected people. + + I would also take the liberty of recommending the cause of these + unhappy partners of our kind, to the humanity of our dissenting + brethren; and most earnestly solicit Christians of all denominations, + to unite in prayer to the God of all grace, that he would prosper + every attempt which may be made, to communicate to them the knowledge + of His will. I trust, Sir, I shall obtain your excuse for detaining + you on this important subject; and as I know your pages are read and + valued, by real Christians of various denominations, perhaps they + may, through the Divine Providence, be the means of exciting + effectual attention, to the spiritual wants of this deplorable set of + beings; and the same benevolence which induced you to exert your + talents and influence in behalf of the oppressed negroes, may be + again successfully employed, in ameliorating the condition of a + numerous class of our fellow-creatures, who are second only to them + in wretchedness, and spiritual misery. + + I am, &c. FRATERNICUS. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {205} + + The insertion of the letter of "Fraternicus," on the moral and + religious state of the Gypsies, in a late number of your work, + (August, p. 496) implies, I presume, an approbation of its contents. + It is a subject that cannot fail to interest the feelings of a real + Christian. + + The writer of this, has it in his power to contribute some pecuniary + aid towards such a truly Christian undertaking, and would most gladly + afford it. He commiserates, equally with Fraternicus, the wretched + state of this people, and hopes to see the day when the nation which + has, at length, done justice to the poor negroes, will be equally + zealous to do their duty in this instance; and attempt to raise the + Gypsies from their state of degradation. If any way can be devised + through the medium of your work, to set about this labour of love, + twenty pounds per annum shall be regularly contributed by the writer + of this; and you are at liberty to make whatever use you can of this + offer. If any good, which I pray God it may, should arise from the + present communication, the name of the writer, who is a constant + reader of the Christian Observer, shall be made known, when thought + necessary by the conductor. + + H. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {206} + + I am much pleased with the interest which your two correspondents, + Fraternicus, and H. appear to take, in the spiritual and eternal + condition of that ignorant and degraded class of human beings, the + Gypsies. + + I wish much to see appropriate and active measures adopted, + immediately to put into execution the benevolent suggestions of your + worthy and sensible correspondents. I cannot do a great deal in a + pecuniary point of view, but in counsel and influence I could do + more. + + I feel no hesitation in inviting your correspondents to a meeting on + the subject, with a view to the formation of some plan, and the + consequent commencement of active exertions. One of the first + objects to be aimed at, is the introduction of cleanliness and + decorum.--Another object to be attended to, is, the teaching of them, + especially the young, to read; and then the supplying of them with + testaments and religious tracts. + + There are many of the latter which would be both entertaining and + useful to them; but the most direct means to do them good is, by + frequent intercourse with them, and plain and familiar conversation, + prudently conducted. And if any thing be done, it must be undertaken + in a patient and persevering spirit. + + The soil which it is proposed to cultivate, is remarkably barren and + unpropitious; of course a plentiful harvest must not be soon + expected. The persons to be employed in this work of faith and + labour of love, must not only be men of prudence and discretion, but + men of information, and possessing clear and cool heads, and warm + hearts. + + I have no doubt, but that in these times of active benevolence and + zeal, when a good plan is laid, and funds provided, instruments will + be found, who with love in their hearts, will go seek those wandering + sheep in the wilderness, for whom no man hath yet cared. + + Many good hints, Mr. Editor, are often fruitless for want of + immediate attention; and many a good work long talked of is not only + suspended, but never begun, for want of some one to put forth the + hand and begin. I for one, say to your two correspondents, "let us + arise and build; let us begin; there is no fear of progress and + help." + + I remain, &c. MINIMUS. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {208} + + _June_ 13, 1809. + + I was afraid the Gypsies had been quite forgotten; and therefore it + gives me real pleasure to see, by your last number, for May 1809, + that another correspondent has taken up their cause. If the subject + was once fairly before the public, I am persuaded it would interest + the feelings of many amongst us; and should good arise from it, which + with God's help and blessing, could not fail to be the case, we might + confidently look forward to a daily increasing fund for its support. + Surely when our charity is flowing in so wide a channel, conveying + the blessings of the gospel to the most distant quarters of the + globe, we shall not hesitate to water this one barren and neglected + field, in our own land. + + My attention was first drawn to the state of this miserable class of + human beings, by the letter of "Fraternicus;" and looking upon it as + a reproach to our country, that amidst the great light which + prevails, so many of its children should be walking in darkness and + the shadow of death, I was anxious to contribute something out of my + abundance, towards their spiritual welfare. I perfectly agree with + your correspondent, that no time should be lost in devising some + plan, which may give consistency and effect to this work of faith, + and labour of love. In this short and uncertain life, no + opportunities of usefulness should be neglected. It is a call which + may never again be repeated. I am ready and desirous, to give + Minimus the proposed meeting; and the time and place might be + appointed through the medium of the Christian Observer. + + I must however premise, that the writer of this is a very humble + individual in all respects, both in abilities, and in influence. My + habits are very retired, and at present, my time is occupied in + attending to the ministerial duties of a populous village. I shall + most gladly adhere to my first proposal, and might be induced to do + more, if need required. + + In the meantime, it is my earnest prayer to God, that this may not be + one of those projects, which are only talked of, and never begun; but + that it may tend to the glory of his name, and to the bringing back + of those poor lost sheep to the fold of their Redeemer. Amen. + + Yours, H. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {211} + + As I am not in the constant habit of seeing your publication, it is + only lately, in meeting with your number for February last, at the + house of a friend, that I was aware that the spiritual state of the + Gypsies, had excited interest in the breasts of some of your readers. + + They are a race who have long excited interest in mine; so much, that + in the year 1801, I had written a letter upon the subject to the + society for bettering the condition, and increasing the comforts of + the poor; but I thought on further reflection, that any attempts to + civilize a race of beings so degraded, and held in so much contempt, + would be considered so very visionary, that I gave up the idea and + did not send it. A greater lapse of time, farther observation, and + the suggestions of your correspondents, induce me to trouble you with + the few following remarks; recollecting that in literary attempts and + works of beneficence, it is the same as in pecuniary subscriptions; + that great effects are not always produced from the stores of an + opulent individual, but from the willing contributions of the many. + + It does not appear to me, that a few, or even many Missionaries, + according to the suggestion of Fraternicus, Vol. vii. p. 496, would + answer the purpose of imparting religious knowledge to the Gypsies; + since on account of their wandering mode of life, and from their not + travelling in any numbers together, it would be difficult to form + congregations. What the number of Gypsies, and of those who lead + vagrant lives, like them, may be in this kingdom, I cannot even form + a conjecture; and Mr. Colquhoun, I think does not mention them in his + treatise on the Police of the Metropolis. Neither am I acquainted + with their numbers and modes of life at Norwood, {212} which I + understand is the chief residence of them; what I have to say, + therefore, is only from observations made upon those who frequent + this neighbourhood, and from others seen occasionally when I have + been travelling. + + The suggestions of Minimus, Vol. viii. p. 286, appear to me to be the + most practicable: and I hope that there are many Gypsies who would be + inclined to profit by any judicious and kind exertions made on their + behalf. There are already several families of them within my + knowledge, who reside in houses during the winter, and travel about + only in the summer. Their means of subsistence are tinkering, and + fiddling at feasts and fairs; by which some, I believe, make a good + deal of money, which helps them out in the winter, when there is less + work and less dancing. + + A young man with a large family, whom I have long observed near this + place, in my walks, about six years ago, when many inclosures took + place in this neighbourhood, and he found it less convenient to be + out in the fields, or rather that the farmers were less willing to + let him encamp upon their grounds, took a small house, with a garden + annexed to it, in the suburbs of this town, and has since lived here + constantly in the winter, but travels in the summer. He is now about + 38 years of age. He married when 20, and has 8 children, all of whom + have been baptized in the several parishes where they were born. He + is a very civil man, and is much respected where he is known; having + a good character for honesty. + + He attends church constantly on a Sunday; and though he has not any + regular notion of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, he has some + very good general ideas of religion and morality. He is no swearer; + and he would consider it wicked in his wife to attempt _to tell + fortunes_. + + He is frequently employed to fiddle, at the houses of respectable + farmers and trades-people at Christmas. His other occupation is + tinkering; and he is ingenious at mending fiddles, and making cases, + &c. + + Neither he, nor his wife, can read; and none of his children have + been hitherto sent to school. His third boy, who is about 9 years + old, he has, at my suggestion, promised to send to the new school + which has been established here on Dr. Bell's and Mr. Lancaster's + plan: he accepted the offer with great thankfulness. The boy is to + come into the school at Michaelmas, when the family return from their + summer's travelling. The father would be very glad to have all his + children brought up to any other mode of life; and even to embrace + some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in it. + + He himself, from not having been brought up to work in husbandry, + could not go through the labour of it; and few, if any persons, would + be willing to employ his children, on account of the bad character + which his race bears; and from the censure and ridicule which might + attach to taking them, where they might be willing to do it from + motives of benevolence. + + There is another family of Gypsies resident in this place in the + winter, the father of which was formerly a musician in the guards. + He has a boy now in the school. + + These circumstances lead me to think, that were encouragement given + to them, the Gypsies would be inclined to live in towns and villages + like other people; and would in another generation or two become + civilized, and with the pains which are now taken to educate the + poor, and to diffuse the Scriptures and the knowledge of Jesus + Christ, would become a part of the regular fold: while in the mean + time, from personal intercourse with their pastors, and from + attending public worship, the spiritual condition of the present + generation would be materially improved. It would, however, require + much patient continuance in well doing, in those who attempted it; + and they must be prepared, perhaps, to meet with some untowardness, + and much disappointment; but in due season we could not fail to reap, + if we fainted not. + + All Gypsies must have some parish to which they belong; and if these + parishes were to provide habitations for them, and to hold out + encouragement to them to come and settle, and were to bear for the + present with any ways which might be different from those of the + regular inhabitants, affording them work as tinkers, &c. and + providing education and work for their children; and for the present, + even bearing with their travelling in the summer; this now almost + unprofitable race of beings might be reclaimed to society. Many of + them are accustomed, in the seasons, to undertake hay and harvest + work. These, I think, with proper encouragement, might be induced to + get their living by husbandry work throughout the year. + + Should these suggestions lead to any farther discussion upon the + subject, or to adopting any measures to promote the desired object; + it would give me sincere pleasure to lend my assistance, either + pecuniary or personal. + + I am, Sir, &c. J. P. + + _Cambridge_, _April_ 28, 1810. + + P.S. I recollect having heard that the benevolent Jonas Hanway took + a Gypsey for his servant, but I know not on what authority this was + said. + + * * * * * + + _To the Editor of the Christian Observer_. {217} + + The candid acknowledgment of your benevolent correspondent, in the + Christian Observer for February last, that his attention had been + first drawn to the state of the Gypsies by the letter of Fraternicus, + was matter of unfeigned satisfaction to me; and as it is probable + there may be no want of inclination in the Christian world, to extend + relief effectually to them, permit me to solicit a place in your + pages, for a thought which has occurred to me in my meditations on + the subjects. + + It appears from a letter in your number for May, that they are not + totally destitute of a desire for the benefit of instruction. + Information might easily be obtained, as to what part of England they + are to be found in the greatest numbers; and if a free school could + be instituted, and the means of instruction provided for those of + their children who were willing to attend, at least in the winter + season; might it not be a means of conveying useful knowledge to + them? + + By degrees, they might be brought to attend divine worship regularly; + and if in the parish of a pious clergyman, he would probably embrace + the opportunity of teaching them, more particularly, the way of + salvation. Much, however, might be done by a pious schoolmaster, and + a schoolmistress, by whom the girls might be instructed in different + kinds of work, knitting, sewing, &c.; and if any of the parents + should evince a desire for instruction, they could be admitted at + different hours in the day. It would be an interesting inquiry, what + becomes of orphans among them, and whether there is not a possibility + of at least rescuing them from their present state of ignorance and + misery. + + Should these suggestions be deemed worthy of your insertion, they + might, perhaps awaken the attention of some benevolent persons, whose + superior talents and experience in the ways of beneficence, would + enable them to perfect and carry into execution, a plan for the + effectual benefit of those unhappy partners of our kind. That He may + grant it, from whom every good thought proceeds, is the fervent + prayer of + + FRATERNICUS. + + + + +SECTION XII. + + +Review of the Subject, and Suggestions for ameliorating the condition of +the Gypsies in the British Empire. + + * * * * * + +Since the commencement of the present year, 1816, a friend {221} of the +author has informed him, that about three weeks before, he was in company +with an English and a Persian gentleman, who had lately come from Persia, +through Russia; the latter well understood the languages of both +countries, and spoke them fluently. He had travelled with the Persian +Ambassador; and said that he had met with many hordes of Gypsies in +Persia; had many times conversed with them; and was surprised to find +their language was the true Hindostanie. He did not then know of +Grellmann's work. He further stated, that the Gypsies in Russia were, in +language and manners, the same, and exactly corresponded with the Gypsies +of this country. Their name in Persia signified _Black Eyes_. + +From whatever part of the world we derive intelligence of this people, it +tends to corroborate the opinion, that they have all had one peculiar +origin. How little has it occupied the contemplation of Britons, that +there existed among them, subjects of such great curiosity as the poor +and despised Gypsies! + +The statute of Henry VIII. imposing a fine of forty pounds upon the +importation of a Gypsey, induces the belief they were much in request in +England at that period. The attention which their low performances +attracted in those times, will not perhaps excite surprise, when we see +the encouragement given in our day, to their idly disposed countrymen, +termed, _Indian Jugglers_. It is remarkable, that the earliest account +of Gypsies in Great Britain, is in a work published to expose and detect +the "Art of Juggling," &c. + +The first of this people who came into Europe, must have been persons of +discernment and discrimination, to have adapted their deceptions so +exactly to the genius and habits of the different people they visited, as +to ensure success in all countries. + +The stratagem to which they had recourse on entering France, evinces +consummate artifice of plan, and not a little adroitness and dexterity in +the execution. The specious appearance of submission to papal authority, +in the penance of wandering seven years without lying in a bed, combined +three distinct objects. They could not have devised an expedient more +likely to recommend them to the favor of Ecclesiastics; or better +concerted for taking advantage of the superstitious credulity of the +people, and, at the same time, for securing to themselves the +gratification of their own nomadic propensities. So complete was the +deception they practised, that we find they wandered up and down in +France, under the eye of magistracy, not for seven only, but for more +than a hundred years, without molestation. + +In 1561, the edict of the States of Orleans directed their expulsion by +fire and sword; yet in 1612, they had increased to such a degree, that +there was another order for their total extermination. Notwithstanding +this severity, in 1671 they were again spread over the kingdom, as +appears in the letters of the Marchioness de Sevigne to her friends, and +the Countess Grignan, in nine volumes, translated from the last Paris +edition: "Bohemians travel up and down the Provinces of France, and get +their living by dancing, showing postures, and telling fortunes; but +chiefly by pilfering, &c." + +It is remarkable, that in all countries, they professed to be Egyptians; +but the representation is not only refuted by Bellonius, but by later +writers, who assert, that the "few who are to be found in _Egypt_, wander +about as strangers _there_, and form a distinct people." + +As historians admit that the greatest numbers of them are to be found in +Turkey, and south of Constantinople, there is reason to apprehend they +had a passage through that country. If many of them did not visit Egypt +previously to their arrival in Europe, they probably wished to avail +themselves of the reputation the Egyptians had acquired in occult +sciences, that they might practise with greater success, the arts to +which they had been previously accustomed, and the practice of which is +common in various parts of Asia. In other respects the habits of Egypt +were very dissimilar to theirs. + +We find by the reports on the first question put by the Circular, +mentioned in Section IX. that "all Gypsies in this country suppose the +first of them came from Egypt;" and this idea is confirmed by many +circumstances that have been brought into view in the course of this +work. In addition it may be observed, that before the discovery of the +passage to India, by the Cape of Good Hope, all the productions of the +east, that were distributed in Europe, came to Egyptian ports. Hence we +have many concurring testimonies, which render it highly probable, if not +evidently clear, that the first Gypsey tribes who came into England, and +other parts of Europe, migrated from hordes of that people who had +previously found their way into Egypt. + +The evidence appears equally strong, that they were not natives of Egypt; +but as the Egyptians were in great repute for the practice of the occult +sciences, common to them and to the Suder caste; we cannot be surprized +to find these crafty itinerants, should avail themselves of such an +opportunity, as coming out of that country, to profess themselves +Egyptians. + +Continental writers exhibit a strange assemblage of crude, and +incongruous ideas on the subject of Gypsey extraction. So numerous are +the opinions diffusely stated, that Grellmann must have exercised much +patient investigation, to deduce from them the rational and satisfactory +conclusions which his Dissertation presents. + +Our countryman Swinborne, in describing the Gypsies in Calabria, is the +first to remark that their peculiar language bears great affinity to the +oriental tongues; and that many of their customs resemble those of the +heathens. But European ignorance of the habits and speech of Asiatics +may be accounted for, whilst the rich productions of India continued to +be brought to Egyptian ports, and to be conveyed thence by the Lombard +merchants, to be distributed over Europe + +The _Cingari_, _Zigeuners_, or _Gypsies_, had been in Germany nearly a +century, before the Portuguese discovered the passage to India by the +Cape of Good Hope. The stimulus which this discovery gave to +improvements in the art of navigation, soon opened immediate intercourse +with the eastern world. Vast are the establishments, which have been +subsequently effected, in that quarter of the globe by naval powers, and +extraordinary have been, of late years, the exertions for the acquisition +of oriental languages; yet so numerous are they in those widely extended +regions, that European knowledge of Asiatic etymology, is yet but in a +state of infancy. + +The case of the Gypsies is singular; for it may fairly be questioned, +whether it has a parallel in the history of the world. Dispersed over +the face of the earth, without any organization of their different +hordes; and all concert between them entirely precluded by separations of +hundreds of miles from each other, in different parts of the globe, and +by their incapacity for literary communication; they have, however, +whilst speaking the languages of the respective countries they inhabit, +preserved in _all places one_ peculiar to themselves, and have +transmitted it through a lapse of centuries to their descendants, almost +unimpaired. + +Increased acquaintance with oriental customs and tongues, has, at length, +discovered the near coincidence they have with the language of the +Gypsies, and has developed an origin of this people, of which those of +the present age were, till now, entirely ignorant. It will appear +extraordinary, that these people should have been able, by oral means +alone, and under all disadvantages, to retain their language, and yet not +to have handed down with it, any tradition that might lead to a discovery +of who they were, or whence they came. But the knowledge recently +acquired, of their very abject condition in the country from which they +emigrated, offers a reason why the first comers might be anxious to +conceal their pedigree, the meanness of which would have but ill accorded +with the titles of rank assumed by some of their leaders. + +The regulations proposed by the Empress Theresa, and the Emperor Joseph +II. could they have been carried into effect, would doubtless have +improved the state of the Gypsies. But an order for children to be torn +away from their parents, was so far from being dictated by the study of +human nature, that it did violence to the tenderest sensibilities, and +set at nought the kindest emotions. Its tendency was to produce in the +minds of Gypsies, disaffection to the state, and to indispose others from +aiding in the execution of the edict. The advantages to be derived by +Governments from a liberal toleration, being not then so well understood +as in succeeding times, they were not duly regarded. + +Those potentates considering Zigeuners of Egyptian origin, might +reasonably conceive agriculture well adapted to their genius and +inclination; but it was a pursuit, which, more than any other, they +disapproved. + +All other Governments appear to have been misled, in like manner, by the +deception which the first Gypsies practised; for had they been apprized +of this people's descent, and of the almost unalterable pertinacity of an +Indian caste, they would have been sensible that an attempt to change +their habits by force, was a measure the least likely to be attended with +success. + +The Circular introduced in the ninth Section of this work, notices +Gypsies being hunted like beasts of prey, from township to township in +England; and it has been ascertained, that in some places they are +routed, as it is termed, by order of magistrates, whenever they appear, +and sent to prison on the vagrant act, without so much as a charge of +depredation upon property. "This is to make their persons, an object of +persecution, instead of the protection of our laws." + +For the credit of our country it may be hoped, that instances of this +sort, respecting Gypsies, are not very numerous; seeing all writers +concur in stating, every attempt by coercive means to alter the peculiar +habits of this people, have had a tendency to alienate them still more +from civil associations, and directly to defeat the end proposed. It is +time therefore that a better and a more enlightened policy should be +adopted in Europe, towards a race of human beings, under so many +hereditary disadvantages as are the helpless, the rude, the uninstructed +Gypsies. + +In the decision on the vagrant case, in Crabbe's "Hall of Justice," +{231a} and in the treatment of Gypsies on Knoland-Green, {231b} a temper +is displayed so truly Christian, and so different from what is just +alluded to, that in consulting the best feelings of human nature, it adds +dignity to magistracy. + +Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on the State of the Poor, +p. 306, refers to an Act passed in 1741, respecting that class of the +poor, who are considered by the Legislature as the outcasts of society, +namely rogues, vagabonds, &c.; and he remarks: "From perusing the +catalogue of actions which denominate a man, a disorderly person, a +vagabond, or incorrigible rogue, the reader may perhaps incline to think +that many of the offences specified in this Act, and in subsequent +statutes, on the same subject, are of a very dubious nature, and that it +must require nice legal acumen, to distinguish whether a person incurs +any, and what, penalty, under the vagrant laws." + +In support of this opinion, and of the indefinite and unjustifiable +latitude of those statutes, a late decision at Maidstone, in the action +of Robins, v. Boyce, affords a striking demonstration. + +If the statutes do not admit of any construction in favor of Gypsies, but +enjoin rigorous treatment of them, merely for wandering, it may become a +question whether the peculiar circumstances of their case, might not +constitute an exception to the general rule. + +However wholesome and salutary vagrant Acts may be, to deter persons from +quitting their parishes in order to levy contributions, by practising +impositions in places where they are not known, it is obvious that +Gypsies, having no parochial settlements, cannot come under that +description. Excepting a temporary residence of some of them in winter, +their home is a whole county, and the majority of them are too +independent to apply to any parish for assistance. + +Here is a trait in their character, which, were it grafted on the stock +of half the paupers in the kingdom, would be a national advantage. + +It ought to procure some indulgence for the Gypsies, that their wandering +mode of life does not originate in any contumacious opposition to +judicial order; but in a scrupulous regard to the Institutions of their +ancestors. For the advantages we possess, shall we return injury to our +fellow-men! If after being fully introduced into a situation to taste +the comforts of social order, and to acquire a knowledge of mechanical +professions, which would render them useful and respectable, any of them, +despising these privileges, should indulge wandering dispositions, they +might then deserve all the punishment which under the vagrant Acts, can +be indicted. + +It is worthy of remark, that in the evidence respecting mendicity in +London, adduced last year before the Committee of the House of Commons, +there is only a single instance in the parish called St. Giles, that +noted rendezvous of Gypsies, of one of their tribe, a girl, begging in +the streets. + +Is it not high time the people of England were undeceived, respecting the +motives to Gypsey perseverance in their singular line of conduct. Their +invincible attachment to the traditions they have received, is almost +proof, in itself, of Grellmann's assertion, that they are the descendants +of an Indian caste; in whose estimation inviolable adherence to the +customs of their order, constitutes the highest perfection of character. + +When any remark is made to them on their strange mode of conduct, they +are ready to reply: "The inhabitants of cieled houses follow the customs +of their predecessors; What more do we? Are they creatures of habit? So +are we." + +After this account, is it surprising that the violent means pursued +against them in all countries, have been ineffectual to abolish their +peculiarities? + +Their humane and intelligent biographer, Grellmann, styles them a +"singular phenomenon in Europe;" and it may justly be observed of such of +them as inhabit countries accounted the most enlightened, that the +contrast which their destitute state presents to the numerous advantages +of civilized life, and to the refinements of polished society, is truly +astonishing. If there possibly can be a single Briton who is a skeptic +to the benefits of education, let him only take a view of the +intellectual degradation and disgusting condition of the Gypsies. But if +Britons have made greater advancement in civilization than some other +nations, the Gypsies here are left at a greater distance, and furnish the +more occasion for their condition being improved. + +It does not appear that the Pariars, or Suders, from whom it is believed +these swarthy itinerants of our age are descended, were farther advanced +in the knowledge of moral obligations, than were the Spartan people; who, +however celebrated for some of their Institutions, accounted the +successful perpetration of thefts to be honourable. + +The Gypsies at Kirk Yetholm, as stated by Baillie Smith, in this part of +their conduct, are an exact counterpart of the Spartans. To a people of +Greece, the foremost of their time in legislative arrangements, who had +cultivated so little sense of the turpitude of injustice, surely a much +more criminal neglect may be imputed, than to the ignorant, untutored +race we have been surveying! + +Malcolm, in his Anecdotes of the manners and customs of London, p. 350, +says of the English Gypsies: "Despised, and neglected, they naturally +became plunderers and thieves to obtain a subsistence." But when he +afterward states, that "They increased rapidly, and at length were found +in all parts of the country," we may be disposed to think that British +fastidiousness was not less ingenious than that of the Spaniards, who +considered themselves _contaminated_ by a touch of the Gypsies, unless it +were to have their fortunes told. Venality and deception meeting with so +much encouragement, those propensities of the human heart would be +generated and fostered, which at length produced flagrant impositions, +and the greatest enormities. + +The dominion of superstition was at its zenith, in what are termed the +middle ages: so absolute and uncontrolled was its influence, that because +of reputed skill in exorcism and witchcraft, the deluded Germans reposed +implicit confidence in persons so ignorant as the Gypsies. + +What an impeachment of British sagacity, is the following observation of +Sir Frederick Morton Eden, in his first volume on 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 their 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 the strongest of all +obligations, strictly to observe the Institution of their ancestors. Had +Britons been apprized of the origin of this people, and the peculiar +circumstances of their case, the national character would not have been +stained, by the abuse and mal-treatment which Gypsies have received. + +It is very satisfactory to find by the before recited correspondence, an +inhabitant of the county in which the Gypsies are so numerous, advocating +their cause, by a public exposure of the mistaken ideas which have so +long prevailed respecting them. + +From the length of time they have continued to reside in Britain, they +have ceased to become subjects of much curiosity or conversation. And as +they endeavour to avoid populous districts, persons in large towns, who +are occupied in trade, seem little aware that in the county they inhabit, +there may be hordes of these wanderers, traversing the thinly inhabited +parts of it, in various directions, as was the case in Yorkshire during +the last summer. (1815.) + +When the amelioration of the condition of this people is mentioned to +persons of the above description, so little informed are they on the +subject, that it is many times treated as if the existence of Gypsies was +questioned; at others, as if affording any help to them, was visionary, +and even ludicrous. + +Some places formerly frequented by Gypsey gangs, having been much +deserted by them of late years, does not authorize any calculation upon a +decrease of their numbers in the nation. + +In the vicinity of the metropolis, Gypsies have been excluded by +inclosures from various situations to which they had been accustomed to +resort. But there is some reason to apprehend they have become more +numerous, in several other parts of the Island. Baillie Smith of Kelso, +is of opinion, they increase in Scotland, and it is by no means certain +that they do not in England. + +Any idea that routing them will lessen their numbers, may be as +fallacious, and injudicious, as were banishments from the German States, +which, without diminishing Gypsey population, had the injurious effect of +alienating them still more from civil associations. + +Junius, the other correspondent of the Northampton Mercury, in his +Address of October 29, writes: "I trust the time is not distant, when +much will be accomplished, as it respects the civilization of the people +whose cause we plead. In the meantime, I would humbly hope all those +harsh and degrading measures, of publicly in the papers, and upon +placards by the sides of roads, ordering their apprehension and +commitment to prison, will be suspended, until some asylum is offered; +and should nothing be attempted by the Legislature, for reclaiming them +from their present mode of life, surely much may be done by the exertions +of individuals!" + +Many of the observations in the Christian Observer, and in the +Northampton Mercury, are striking and pertinent, as they relate to the +present state of the Gypsies in England; and the philanthropy they +inculcate is honourable to the national character. Had these benevolent +individuals been acquainted with the history of the people, whose cause +they plead, they would, doubtless, have suggested plans adapted to their +peculiar case. For want of this knowledge, it is not surprising that +occupations in husbandry should take the lead in propositions for +employing them. The last mentioned writer, from a desire to render +essential service to this people, suggests, that the Legislature should +fix upon five or six stations in different parts of the kingdom, on which +villages should be erected, in order that they might be employed in +farming. + +It will have been obvious in the survey which has been taken, and it has +been already remarked, that of all occupations, agriculture is the least +adapted to their genius and inclination. + +It has appeared in Section IX, that Riley Smith, a chief of the +Northamptonshire Gypsies, after marrying the cook out of a gentleman's +family, and obtaining a farm, quitted it, to resume musical performances. + +Conformity to agricultural employments, could not be effected in Gypsies, +by the most rigorous measures to which the Empress Theresa, and the +Emperor Joseph II. resorted.--Much less could it be expected that +persons, who, all their lives, have accustomed themselves to be in the +open air, or others who have lived three parts of the year in this +manner, should be induced, in open weather, to brook the restraint of +houses. + +Those who have houses at Kirk Yetholm, quit them in spring: men, women, +and children, set out on their peregrinations over the country, and live +in a state of vagrancy, until driven back to their habitations by the +approach of winter; and it appears, in all countries to which the Gypsies +have had access, that a similar course is pursued by them. + +In a dialogue between a Curate and some Gypsies, as published in the +Christian Guardian, of March, 1812, is the following question and answer: + +_Curate_. "Could you not by degrees bring yourselves to a more settled +mode of life? + +_Gypsey_. I would not tell you a story, Sir; I really think I could not, +having been brought up to it from a child." + +Upon this conversation, the Curate makes the following remark: "In order +to do good among the Gypsies, we must conciliate their esteem, and gain +their confidence." + +The plain and simple reply to the Curate, will put out of question the +erection of villages, or the making of establishments for adults among +them. In mechanical operations, to which the Gypsies are most inclined, +British artisans might be as averse to unite with them, as they were with +the Jews. The Spaniards, it has appeared, are unwilling to be associated +with Gypsies in any kind of occupation. Moreover, the competition of +manufacturers in England, during the last fifty years, has effected by +artificial means, so much saving of manual labour, and so much +improvement in the division of it, that the rude operations of Gypsies, +would be a subject of ridicule and contempt. + +J. P., in a letter from Cambridge to the Christian Observer, very +feelingly states the case of a Gypsey family, the father of which, being +a travelling tinker and fiddler, intimated, he would be glad to have all +his children brought up to some other mode of life, and even to embrace +some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in it. Not having been +brought up in husbandry, he could not go through the labour of it; and +few, if any persons, would be willing to employ {248} his children, on +account of the bad character which his race bears, and from the censure +and ridicule which would attach to the taking of them." + +There appears so little probability of any useful change being effected +in the nomadic habits of adult Gypsies, that it seems better to bear with +that propensity for some time longer, than by directly counteracting it, +so disturb the minds of parents, as to indispose them to consent to the +education of their children. There are thousands of other people in the +nation, who, more than half their time, live out of doors in like manner. +Were they all obliged to take out licences, this measure might operate in +some degree as a check upon them; at least it would be a tacit +acknowledgment of a controlling power, and might admit of some regulation +of their conduct. At present, numbers of them resemble a lawless +banditti, and may not inaptly be termed, _Imperium in imperio_. + +It appears by J. P.'s letter from Cambridge, that six years ago, he had +engaged a Gypsey boy to be sent to a school on the Belleian and +Lancasterian plan. At that time, the system had been but little +appropriated in the country to the instruction of girls; and the +application of it to boys only, would have been doing the work by halves. +But the time seems now to have arrived, when the minds of Gypsies have +generally received an impression in favor of the education, both of their +sons and daughters, as has been manifest in various parts of this Survey; +and that some of those who lodge in London, have been themselves at the +expense of sending their children to school. But if all of them could be +thus taught, three months in a year, would not their running wild the +other nine, under the influence of dissolute and unrestrained example, be +likely to defeat every purpose of instruction. + +Were they to be educated during the whole of the year, it is obvious that +some establishment would be necessary for their maintenance and clothing. +The author of this Survey is not aware of any Institutions so much +adapted to their case, as the charity schools for boys and girls, which +are common to every part of the kingdom. It is not probable that Gypsey +population would furnish more than two boys, and two girls, for each of +these schools. Their being placed among a much greater number of +children, and those of settled, and in some degree of civilized habits, +would greatly facilitate the training of Gypsies to salutary discipline +and subordination; and the associations it provided for them out of +school hours, being under the superintendence of a regular family, would, +in an especial manner, be favorable to their domestication. + +Charity schools, by admitting children so early as at six years of age, +and continuing them to fourteen, seem particularly suited to the case of +Gypsies, in supplying all that is requisite until the boys are at an age +to go out apprentices, and the girls to service in families. + +Gypsies being the children of a whole county, if not of the nation at +large, perhaps the expense of their maintenance might, without +inconsistency, be defrayed out of county rates, which would prevent its +being burdensome to any particular district. By a process so simple and +easy, expensive establishments on the account of Gypsies, might be +entirely avoided. And many parents among them, express a willingness to +part with their children, for education, provided they were cared for in +other respects. + +After several centuries, a degree of solicitude being at length apparent +in the Gypsies, for the improvement of their children, the time has +arrived when some effectual benefit may be communicated to them. + +The distribution proposed, would admit of these itinerants seeing their +children once in the year. But to extirpate Gypsey habits, education +alone would not be sufficient. Yet as there is no reason to think this +people are less susceptible than others, of gainful considerations, a +fund might be provided, out of which, twenty pounds should be paid with +each boy, on his apprenticeship to some handicraft business, in lieu of +finding him with clothes during the term. And in consideration of its +being faithfully served, five pounds might be allowed to find the young +man with tools for his trade, or otherwise setting him forward in the +world. This would excite an interest in civil associations and order, +which are necessary for the successful prosecution of trade; and +probably, an encouragement like this, would have a greater effect in +giving a new direction to Gypsey pursuits, than any coercive or +restrictive measures which could be devised. And who would not wish to +contribute to the means of rescuing from ignorance and vice, such a +portion of the population of their country! Who would not be desirous of +emulating in some degree, that best kind of patriotism, by which the +correspondent H. of the Christian Observer, is so remarkably +distinguished! + +This would be an example worthy of a great nation; and is it not +probable, that the prospect of so much preferment, would induce Gypsey +parents, to promote to the utmost of their power, a disposition in their +children to obtain it? Cooper, a Gypsey at Chingford Green, said, "It is +a pity they should be as ignorant as their fathers." This may be +considered as the language of "_help us_," accompanied with this +acknowledgment, "_for we are unable to help ourselves_;" and certainly +there is but too much reason to conclude it is strictly true, respecting +the instruction of this forlorn and destitute race. + +According to the enumeration of Gypsey lodgers, given in Section X, their +families average 5.5 in number. This exceeds by one half, what is +reported to be the average of England in general. If we take Gypsey +population at 18,000, their children will be 12,000. Supposing +two-thirds of these to be under twelve years of age, there would be 8,000 +to educate. Reckoning half that number to be girls, 4,000 boys would be +to be apprenticed after leaving school. And if these, after their +apprenticeship, married Gypsey girls, who had been brought up to service +in families, twenty thousand useful subjects might be calculated upon as +gained to the State in the first generation. + +Should the efforts of individuals, require assistance from the State, to +render their plans effectual; surely they may depend on the co-operation +of a British legislature, to promote the cause in which they would +embark! On this point may be adduced the judicious observation of +Grellmann: "If the Gypsey knows not how to make use of the faculties with +which nature has intrusted him, let the State teach him, and keep him in +leading strings till the end is attained. Care being taken to improve +their understandings, and to amend their hearts, they might become useful +citizens; for observe them at whatever employment you may, there always +appear sparks of genius." + +Every well-wisher to his country must be gratified in observing, that as +soon as the conflicting tumult of nations is calmed, and the +precipitations attendant on military supplies have subsided, the +attention of the Legislature is turned to the investigation of some of +the causes of human misery at home; and to the means of increasing the +social comforts of a considerable portion of British population in the +metropolis of the kingdom. This recommencement of operations, directed +to the important object for which Governments have been instituted,--the +good of the people,--encourages the hope, that the most neglected and +destitute of all persons in this country, whose cause we have been +pleading, will not be suffered to remain much longer unnoticed and +disregarded. + +When at length the veil that has obscured them is once drawn aside, can +British benevolence withhold its exertions, to elevate the moral tone of +this degraded eastern race, and to call forth the dignity of the human +character, in exchange for the strange torpor and vileness in which this +people are involved. Here an occasion presents for the display of a +temper truly Christian, and for the erection of a standard to surrounding +kingdoms, in which also these outcasts of society are dispersed, of that +philanthropy and sound policy which are worthy of a great nation. + +Such an experiment, though on a limited scale, may furnish various data +for judging what may be effected for their countrymen, the countless +myriads of British subjects, inhabiting the vast regions of Hindostan. + +Alexander Fraser Tytler, late Assistant Judge in the twenty-four +Pergunnahs, Bengal Establishment, in his highly important work, entitled, +"Considerations on the present Political State of India," after pointing +out the depravity which prevails to an extraordinary degree among the +population of India, states in the 313th page of the first volume, that +"Poverty, or according to the definition of writers on Police, +_Indigence_ may be said to be the nurse of almost all crimes. To find +out the causes of poverty, and to attempt their removal, must therefore +be the chief object of a good police." + +It has been remarked, that this author drew his conclusions, not only +from what he understood of human nature in general, but from what he +daily saw before him, in the circumstances and actions of the people +whose crimes he was called upon to punish. And he reasons upon the +subject in the following manner: "Great poverty among the lower orders in +every country, has an immediate effect in multiplying the number of petty +thieves; and where the bounds of the moral principle have been once +over-stepped, however trivial the first offence, the step is easy from +petty theft to the greater crimes of burglary and robbery." + +May Britons in their conduct towards the Gypsies, be actuated by a policy +so liberal, as to induce the rising generation among this neglected +class, to attach themselves to civil society, and to enter into +situations designed to inculcate habits of industry, and prepare them to +become useful members of the community. + +The successful experiments lately made by the British and Foreign School +Society, upon persons addicted to every species of depravity, leave no +doubt of the practicability of ameliorating the condition of Gypsies. It +is with pleasure that on this subject the following statement of facts is +introduced, respecting two schools established in the neighbourhood of +the metropolis. One of them at Kingsland, a situation which has been +termed, "A focus where the most abandoned characters constantly assembled +for every species of brutal and licentious disorder." The other is at +Bowyer-lane, near Camberwell, a district inhabited by persons of the +worst description; among whom the police officers have been accustomed to +look for the various kinds of offenders, who have infested the Borough of +Southwark. + +We are informed by the Committee of that School, that "in the district +embraced by their Society, the consequences of ignorance were evident to +the most superficial observer. Parents and children, appeared alike +regardless of morality and virtue; the former indulging in profligacy, +and the latter exhibiting its lamentable effects. + +"Did the friends of _universal education_ require a fresh illustration, +they would find it in the scene we are now contemplating; and they would +confidently invite those who still entertain a doubt on the subject, to a +more close and rigid examination of that scene, satisfied with the effect +upon every candid and unprejudiced mind. For, assuredly, "men do not +gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles:" and when morality, +decency, and order, are gradually occupying the abodes of licentiousness, +misery, and guilt, the change must be attributed to some operating cause, +and _that_ cause must be derived from the Source of all Good. + +"The principles of decorum, of propriety, and of virtue, are instilled +into the youthful mind; and by a powerful reaction, they reach the heart +of the parent; the moral atmosphere extends--its benefits are felt and +appreciated--the Bible takes its proper place in the habitations of +poverty; and thus in its simple, natural, and certain course, the _germ_ +of _instruction_ yields the happy fruit of _moral reformation_." + +If as Grellmann computes, there are not fewer than 700,000 of these +people in Europe, who do not either plough, or sow, or the greater part +of them contribute in any manner to the improvement of the country, or +the support of the State, what a subject is this, for the contemplation +of Governments! + +In reference to England, it is a beautiful exclamation of the Christian +Observer: "Surely when our charity is flowing in so wide a channel, +conveying the blessings of the gospel to the most distant quarters of the +globe, we shall not hesitate to water this one barren and neglected +field, in our own land." Uniting cordially in this appeal, it is a great +satisfaction to be able to state, there are traits of character in this +people, which encourage attention to Gypsey soil. Let it but be cleared +of weeds, and sown with good seed, and the judicious cultivator may +calculate upon a crop to compensate his toil. + +Greater proof of confidence, as to money transactions, not being +misplaced in Gypsies need not be given, than in the testimony of the +landlord at Kirk Yetholm, to William Smith, that his master knew he was +as sure of their money, as if he had it in his pocket. + +In Dr. Clarke's Travels, published in the present year, Part the 2nd of +Section 3rd, page 592, are the following observations respecting the +Gypsies of Hungary: "The Wallachian Gypsies are not an idle race. They +might rather be described as a laborious people; and the greater part of +them honestly endeavour to earn a livelihood. It is this part of them +who work as gold-washers." + +In page 637, the Doctor remarks: "The Wallachians of the Bannat, bear a +very bad character, and perhaps many of the offences attributed to +Gypsies, may be due to this people, who are the least civilized, and the +most ferocious of all the inhabitants of Hungary." {262} + +Could grateful sensibility of favors received, and of personal +attachment, be more strikingly evinced than in the promptitude of Will +Faa, who when he was eighty years of age, on hearing of his landlord +being unwell, undertook, at the hazard of his life, a journey of a +hundred miles, to see him before he died? + +The attention of Gypsies to the aged and infirm of their fraternity, is +not less exhibited in the case of Ann Day, whose age is inserted in a +work on human longevity, published at Salisbury in 1799. She was aged +108, and had not slept in a bed during seventy years. She was well known +in the counties of Bedford and Herts, and having been a long time blind, +she always rode upon an ass, attended by two or three of the tribe. A +friend of the author, a farmer near Baldock, who had frequently given +food and straw for the old woman, says of the attendants she had, her +comfort and support seemed to be their chief concern. He considers her +longevity a proof of the kindness she received. Her interment, which was +at Arsley, near Henlow, was attended by her son and daughter, the one 82, +the other 85 years of age, each having great grand-children. + +It must have been a satisfaction to every one interested in the +improvement of human nature, to observe the number of advocates who have +come forward, within the last ten years, in this country, to plead the +cause of this despised and abused people. + +In bringing their case before the public, the author has aimed at +discharging what he thought incumbent upon him to undertake on their +behalf. He trusts that persons much more competent than himself, will be +induced to give effect to whatever measures may be thought best adapted +to promote the temporal, as well as spiritual benefit of this people; and +that as H, the correspondent of the Christian Observer, remarks: "amidst +the great light that prevails, the reproach may be wiped away from our +country, of so many of its children walking in darkness, and in the +shadow of death." + +Can a nation, whose diffusive philanthropy extends to the civilization of +a quarter of the globe, and to the evangelization of the whole world, be +regardless of any of the children of her own bosom, or suffer the pious, +truly patriotic solicitude of her King, for the instruction of the +meanest of his subjects to remain unaccomplished. + +Many persons appear zealous to send Missionaries to convert heathens in +the most distant parts of the world; when, as a late writer {264} +observes, "the greatest, perhaps of all heathens, are at home, entirely +neglected." + +Peace and tranquillity are favorable to the improvement of the internal +condition of a country; and can Britain more unequivocally testify her +gratitude for the signal favors conferred upon her, than in promoting +that object for which rational beings were formed--the glory of God, and +the happiness of his creatures. + +In relation to the uncultivated race we have been surveying, may a +guarded and religious education prove to them, as the voice crying in the +wilderness: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert +an highway for our God." The subsequent declaration, without doubt, is +descriptive of what should be effected under the gospel dispensation: +"The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the +glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and _all flesh_ shall see it +together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."--Isaiah, Chap. xl. +v. 3, 4, 6. + + FINIS. + + * * * * * + + Printed by HARGROVE, GAWTHORP, & COBB. + Herald-Office, York. + + + + * * * * * + + + + +PUBLISHED BY +_WILLIAM ALEXANDER_, _YORK_ + +I. _An epitome of the history of the world_, _by_ JOHN 1 2 0 +HOYLAND, _Author of_ A HISTORICAL SURVEY, &c.--_The +Epitome takes a comprehensive view of the Creation_, _of +the Antediluvians_, _and of the universal Deluge_, +_united with a Biographical Portraiture of the +Patriarchs_, _and an examination of their respective +characters and conduct_. _The historical department +takes a survey of the peopling of the world_, _of the +origin and subversion of nations_, _and exhibits the +fulfilment of prophecies contained in the old +Testament_; _particularly as they relate to the Jews_; +_evincing the connexion of Divine dispensations_, +_during_ 4000 _years_; 2nd edit. much improved, 2 +_vols._ 8_vo. fine paper_, _ext. bds._ + +_Ditto_, _in_ 2 _vols._ 12_mo_, _half bound_, _for the 13 0 +use of Schools_. + +II. "A DESCRIPTION _of the_ RETREAT _near_ YORK," _for 12 0 +persons afflicted with disorders of the mind_, _among +the Society of Friends_; _giving a historical narrative +of the rise and progress of the Institution_; _a +description of the moral and medical treatment practised +in it_, _and many other interesting particulars_; _with +three_ 4_to plates_, _descriptive of the buildings_, +_by_ S. TUKE, 4_to. fine paper_, _extra bds._ + +III. PRACTICAL HINTS _on the Construction and Economy 2 0 +of_ PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUMS; _including Instructions to +the Architects who offered plans for the Wakefield +Asylum_, _and a sketch of the most approved design_, by +S. TUKE + +IV. DUTIES OF RELIGION AND MORALITY, _as inculcated in 2 6 +the Holy Scriptures_; _adapted to the perusal of persons +of every religious denomination_, _by_ H. TUKE, _pot_ +8_vo_, _sheep lettered_, or 12_mo_, _boards_, _each_ + +_Ditto_, _pot_ 8_vo_, _stitched_ 2 0 + +_Ditto_, 12_mo_, _boards_, _fine paper_ 3 6 + + A good allowance made to purchasers of one dozen copies or more of + this work. + +V. IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION. _In this small tract the 15 0 +advantages and necessity of a religious life are +forcibly impressed_, _in a manner adapted to the +understandings of every capacity_; _and worthy the +attention and perusal of all_, 18_mo_, _stitched_, +_com._ 2_s. per doz._; 12_s. per_ 100; _fine_ 3_d. +each_; _per doz._ 2_s._ 6_d._; _per_ 100 + +_Ditto_, _royal_ 12_mo._ 6_d._;--_per doz._ 1 10 0 +5_s._;--_per_ 100 + + [Picture: Decorative divider] + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{82} In the 31st page of Sir Frederick Morton Eden's Appendix to the +State of the Poor, it appears that in 1426, a hay horse, for the Prior +(we may suppose of prime quality) cost 1 pounds 6s. 8d. and a colt 4s. +6d. And in the year 1448, page 34, the hay of one acre was estimated at +5s. + +{89} Weirde, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "_wird_;" _i.e._, fatum, or +deafinie, and is used in this sense, in Hollinshed. + +{94} Ballie is a material designation in Scotland, agreeing in rank with +that of Alderman in England. + +{201} Vol. vii. p. 496, 497. + +{205} Vol. vii. p. 712. + +{206} Vol. viii. p. 286. + +{208} Vol. ix. p. 82, 83. + +{211} Vol. ix. p. 278, 279, 280. + +{212} Since writing the above, a friend has informed me that Norwood is +now inclosed, and has ceased to be a rendezvous of Gypsies. + +{217} Vol. ix. p. 554, 555. + +{221} Frederick Smith, of Croydon, Surry. + +{231a} Vide Crabbe's Poems. + +{231b} See No. 104, Sunday School Tracts. + +{248} The benevolent Jonas Hanway took a Gypsey boy into his family, for +the purpose of making an experiment, but the result has not come to the +knowledge of the author. + +{262} At page 691, is a Vignette of Gypsies washing gold in Hungary. + +{264} Samuel Tuke, Author of a Description of the Retreat, &c. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE CUSTOMS, +HABITS, & PRESENT STATE OF THE GYPSIES*** + + +******* This file should be named 29063.txt or 29063.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/0/6/29063 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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