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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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