Part 12 (1/2)

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 Northamptons.h.i.+re. He being much in request by some of the princ.i.p.al 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 a.s.ses, 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 Staffords.h.i.+re, 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 towns.h.i.+p, 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 towns.h.i.+p, 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 a.s.sessments.

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 gla.s.s 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 a.s.sisted 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 princ.i.p.ally 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, Ess.e.x, 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 circ.u.mference. The age of this prodigy of the forest cannot be ascertained with any degree of precision. The oak viewed by the present King, in Oxfords.h.i.+re, 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 circ.u.mstances 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 a.s.sumed the appearance of a regular fair. It has continued to be held there, and it is said now attracts a great number of attendants.