Chapter I

Gipsies: their History and present State -- Gipsies Part and
Parcel of the English Landscape -- an essential Portion of our
Poetry and Literature -- Uses made of them by many kinds of
Writers -- Gipsy Adventure of Sir Roger de Coverley -- Gipsy
Sketches by Wordsworth, Cowper, Crabbe, and others -- Inquiries
after their Origin -- the Notion of the Ettrick Shepherd of it --
Arab-like Character of Gipsies -- Researches of Grellman and
Buttner into the Gipsy Origin -- Account of their Numbers,
Treatment, and Habits in all Nations -- their Language -- various
Names by which they are and have been known -- M. Hasse’s Theory
of their Antiquity -- pointed out by Herodotus and Strabo --
Causes of their more numerous Appearance in Western Europe about
the year 1400 -- their first entry into France in 1427, as
described by Pasquin -- Banished by Proclamation -- the same
Policy pursued in other Countries -- Cruelties practised on them
in Spain -- Order to drive them from France with Fire and Sword --
Attempt to expel them from Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and England --
Entry respecting them in the Parish Records of Uttoxeter -- the
Inquiries of Mr. Hoyland into their History and Condition -- his
Visits to their Haunts at Norwood and London -- their Annual
Progresses from London through various Counties -- Mr. Hoyland’s
Researches in Scotland -- the Border-Country their chief Resort --
Letter of Sir Walter Scott respecting them -- Remarkable Scene
with them at Riding the Marches near Yetholm -- Sir Walter Scott’s
recognition of one of them at Kelso Fair -- the Family of the Faas
-- Old Will Faa, the Gipsy King’s Journey to see the Laird on his
Death-bed -- Meg Merrilies one of their Clan -- the Author’s Visit
to Yetholm -- the Gipsy Houses -- the Feud between them and the
Shepherds -- Old Will Faa, the present King -- the Importance
given him by Sir Walter Scott’s Writings -- his Smuggling and
Fighting -- his Portrait by Sir Martin Arthur Shee -- General
Review of their Numbers and Condition in these Kingdoms -- Camp
near Nottingham, and Death of the Gipsy King -- Peculiarities of
the whole Race -- their estimated Numbers in Europe -- Children
sent to School in London -- Gipsy Wife reading her Bible to her
Children -- Feelings naturally presented by the sight of a Gang --
Gipsies of New Forest -- Exertions of Mr. Crabbe and the Home
Missionary Society -- Gipsies’ Advocate published -- Mrs.
Southey’s Account of the New Forest Gipsies, and particularly the
Stanley family -- Anecdote of George III. and the dying Gipsy --
Curious Accidental Meeting of the Author with two Ladies of Rank
acting the Gipsies in Surrey 165

CHAPTER II.

Nooks of the World, or a Peep into the Back Settlements of England
-- Beauty and Repose of many such Places to the eye -- their
Intellectual Slumber -- Wordsworth’s Description of a Farmer-lad
-- the Books generally to be found in primitive Cottages -- Worst
State of Morals in Districts partly Agricultural and partly
Manufacturing -- Exertions of the Methodists -- the Effect of
Political Pressure on the Working Class -- Necessity of sound
Education -- the Effect of it in Scotland -- Rural Book Societies
recommended -- An Example of the Effect of Reading on a Working
Man -- Sordid Character of the People of some Property in obscure
Hamlets -- A Physician living in a Dove-Cote -- Sketch of a
Country Proprietor and his Family -- the Farmer Brothers -- the
Land Agent’s account of a curious Dinner Scene at the Squire’s --
a worthy Example of the Old School of Country Gentlemen --
Education the great need of the Rural Districts 196