ereby they, equally with Gypsies, evade all
contributions to the service of the State, and parochial assessments.

On this subject, the writer is reminded of what has often occurred to
him, when inspecting a low description of lodging-houses in the populous
town of Sheffield, of which he is an inhabitant. Finding it difficult to
obtain from the keepers of such houses, sufficient information respecting
their guests; he has thought, that obliging all who lodge itinerants to
take out a licence, would, by rendering them amenable to just authority,
obviate this difficulty; and put it in the power of those respectable
inhabitants, who wish the regulation of these receptacles, to exercise
just discrimination, without infringing upon the liberty of the subject.
He has reason to believe, if this were effected, it would operate as a
considerable check on vagrancy, and save much trouble to magistrates.

SECTION X.

Present state of the Gypsies in and about London.

* * * * *

In the autumn of 1815, the author made a journey to London, in order to
obtain information respecting the Gypsies in its vicinity.

The first account he received of the education of any of them, was from
Thomas Howard, proprietor of a glass and china shop, No. 50, Fetter-lane,
Fleet-street. This person, who preached among the Calvinists, said, that
in the winter of 1811, he had assisted in the establishment of a Sunday
School in Windmill-street, Acre-lane, near Clapham. It was under the
patronage of a single gentlewoman, of the name of Wilkinson, and
principally intended for the neglected and forlorn children of
brick-makers, and the most abject of the poor. It was begun on a small
scale, but increased till the number of scholars amounted to forty.

During the winter, a family of Gypsies, of the name of Cooper, obtained
lodgings at a house opposite the school. Trinity Cooper, a daughter of
this Gypsey family, who was about thirteen years of age, applied to be
instructed at the school; but, in consequence of the obloquy affixed to
that description of persons, she was repeatedly refused. She
nevertheless persevered in her importunity, till she obtained admission
for herself, and two of her brothers.

Thomas Howard says, that, surrounded as he was by ragged children,
without shoes and stockings, the first lesson he taught them was silence
and submission.--They acquired habits of subordination, became tractable