William Smith, the Baillie of Kelso, above referred to,
answers to the four queries of the circular; accompanied by his own
interesting and appropriate illustrations, from which extracts are made
as follow, dated November, 1815.

"A considerable time having elapsed, since I had an opportunity, or
occasion to attend to the situation of the colony of Gypsies in our
neighbourhood, I was obliged to delay my answer to your inquiries, until
I could obtain more information respecting their present numbers.

"The great bar to the benevolent intentions of improving their situation
will be, the impossibility to convince them that there either is, or can
be, a mode of life preferable, or even equal to their own.

"A strong spirit of independence, or what they would distinguish by the
name of liberty, runs through the whole tribe. It is no doubt a very
licentious liberty, but entirely to their taste. Some kind of honour,
peculiar to themselves, seems to prevail in their community. They reckon
it a disgrace to steal near their homes, or even at a distance, if
detected. I must always except that petty theft of feeding their
shelties and asses on the farmer's grass and corn, which they will do,
whether at home or abroad.

"When avowedly trusted, even in money transactions, they never deceived
me, nor forfeited their promise. I am sorry to say, however, that when
checked in their licentious appropriations, &c. they are very much
addicted both to threaten and to execute revenge.

"Having so far premised with respect to their general conduct and
character, I shall proceed to answer, as far as I am able, the four
queries subjoined to the circular which you sent me, and then subjoin, in
notes, some instances of their conduct in particular cases, which may
perhaps elucidate their general disposition and character."

"Query 1st. _What number of Gypsies in the County_?

"A. I know of none except the colony of Yetholm, and one family who
lately removed from that place to Kelso. Yetholm consists of two towns,
or large villages, called _Town_ Yetholm, and _Kirk_ Yetholm. The first
is in the estate of Mr. Wauchope, of Niddry; the latter in that of the
Marquis of Tweedale. The number of the Gypsey colony at present in Kirk
Yetholm, amounts to at least 109 men, women, and children; and perhaps
two or three may have escaped notice. They marry early in life, in
general have many children, and their number seems to be increasing.

"