ill be claimed, sooner
or later. A long journey will be no impediment, when a letter is
expected; for a Gipsy will travel any distance to obtain an expected
favour of the kind. They are never heard to complain of the heavy
expense of postage.

We have already observed that there are many genuine features of humanity
in the character of this degraded and despised people. Their constantly
retaining an affectionate remembrance of their deceased relatives,
affords a striking proof of this statement. And their attachment to the
horse, donkey, rings, snuffbox, silver-spoons, and all things, except the
clothes, of the deceased relatives, is very strong. With such articles
they will never part, except in the greatest distress; and then they only
pledge some of them, which are redeemed as soon as they possess the
means.

Most families visit the graves of their near relatives, once in the year;
generally about the time of Christmas. Then the depository of the dead
becomes a rallying spot for the living; for there they renew their
attachments and sympathies, and give and receive assurances of continued
good will. At such periods however they are too often addicted to
feasting and intemperance.

The graves of the deceased of this people, are usually kept in very good
order in the various Church yards where they lie interred. This is done
by the Sextons, for which they are annually remunerated. Sometimes large
sums of money are expended on the erection of head-stones; and in one
instance a monument was erected in the County of Wilts at considerable
cost. It is not very long since, that the parents of a deceased Gipsy
child, whom they loved very much, paid a great sum to have it buried in
the Church.

The Gipsies have a singular custom of burning all the clothes belonging
to any one among them deceased, with the straw, litter, &c, of his tent.
Whether this be from fear of infection, or from superstition, the Author
has not been able to learn. Perhaps both unite in the continuation of a
custom which must be attended with some loss to them. {28}

Seldom do these mysterious sons and daughters of Adam unite themselves in
the holy obligations of marriage, after the form of the Established
Church of our land. Nor, indeed, for so sacred a union, have they _any
ceremony at all_. The parents on each side are consulted on such
occasions, and if their consent be obtained, the parties become, after
their custom, _husband and w