A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the GypsiesHoyland, John
History
A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies
Hoyland, John
Romanies
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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