Part 17 (1/2)

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 Inst.i.tutions, 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 superst.i.tion 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 c.o.ke, nor a Bacon, should oppose the law suggested by royal superst.i.tion, 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 compa.s.sion. 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 Inst.i.tutions 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 Inst.i.tution 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 partic.i.p.ating 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 ma.s.s 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 Inst.i.tution of their ancestors. Had Britons been apprized of the origin of this people, and the peculiar circ.u.mstances 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 Yorks.h.i.+re 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 diminis.h.i.+ng Gypsey population, had the injurious effect of alienating them still more from civil a.s.sociations.

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 Northamptons.h.i.+re 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?