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.