ad no opportunity of
being acquainted with the character and habits of the Gipsies. Your
longer acquaintance with this people, and experience, may suggest to
me some useful hints on the subject, should you take the trouble to
notice this letter. The number of Gipsies in the parish of Yetholm
is about 100. You are no doubt already in some degree acquainted
with the Gipsies of Kirk Yetholm, from the interesting notices
furnished by Mr Smith, of Kelso, and published in HOYLAND'S SURVEY,
and in one of the earliest numbers of Blackwood's Magazine. And his
account of them is substantially correct to this day. It would
appear that the Gipsy population of this place is fluctuating. In
1798, there were only 59. In 1818, when Mr Smith wrote, there were
109. In 1830, there are 100. And in a few years more, this number
may be considerably diminished or increased. The greater part of
them are "muggers," or "potters," who carry earthen-ware about the
country for sale. There are two horn spoon makers; all the others
are abroad from their head quarters, of Kirk Yetholm, from eight to
nine months in the year. The history of some of the individuals and
families of the clan, would furnish something very interesting. One
of the family of the Taa's is still denominated the "King." The
number of children belonging to each family is generally large.
There may be thirty children under twelve years of age. The parents
express themselves very anxious that their children should be
educated, and are willing, for this purpose, to leave them at home
all the summer; and farther, that they should be trained to some
occupation different from their own. Many of the parents declare,
that they would willingly remain at home, could they be supplied with
constant employment. Of late, the greater number of them have
occasionally attended church, and some of them continue to attend
most regularly when at home. A considerable number of the younger
children also, when at home, attend our Sabbath School. I have
likewise assisted the parents to send most of their children to the
Day School: still, however, these children are at home scarcely three
months in the depth of winter. Several families have not returned
yet. Their education, therefore, even were they sent regularly to
school, during this time, woul