ature of a quit rent. There is no tradition in the
neighbourhood concerning the time when the Gypsies first took up their
residence at that place, nor whence they came.

"Most of their leases, I believe were granted by the family of the
Bennets of Grubet; the last of whom was Sir David Bennet, who died about
sixty years ago. The late Mr. Nesbit of Dirleton, then succeeded to the
estate, comprehending the Baronies of Kirk Yetholm, and Grubet. He died
about the year 1783, and not long after, the property was acquired by the
late Lord Tweedale's trustees.

"During the latter part of the life of the late Mr. Nesbit, he was less
frequently at his estate in Roxburghshire than formerly. He was a great
favourite of the Gypsies, and was in use to call them his body guards,
and often gave them money, &c.

"On the other hand, both the late and present Mr. Wauchope were of
opinion, that the example of these people had a bad effect upon the
morals and industry of the neighbourhood; and seeing no prospect of their
removal, and as little of their reformation, considered it as a duty to
the public, to prevent the evil increasing; and never would consent to
any of the colony taking up their residence in Town Yetholm.

"They mostly remain at home during winter, but as soon as the weather
becomes tolerably mild in spring, most of them, men, women, and children,
set out on their peregrination over the country, and live in a state of
vagrancy, until again driven into their habitations by the approach of
winter.

"Seeming to pride themselves as a separate tribe, they very seldom
intermarry out of the colony; and in rare instances where that happens,
the Gypsey, whether male or female, by influence and example, always
induces the stranger husband or wife to adopt the manners of the colony,
so that no improvement is ever obtained in that way. The progeny of such
alliances have almost universally the tawny complexion, and fine black
eyes of the Gypsey parent, whether father or mother.

"So strongly remarkable is the Gypsey cast of countenance, that even a
description of them to a stranger, who has had no opportunity of formerly
seeing them, will enable him to know them wherever he meets with them.
Some individuals, but very rarely, separate from the colony altogether;
and when they do so early in life, and go to a distance such as London,
or even Edinburgh, their acquaintances in the country get favourable
accounts of them. A few be