liberty, it being "the auld thing again, but nae proof."

This old gypsey is described to me as a stout good-looking man, with a fair complexion; and I am informed he lived to a long age. He affirmed wherever he went that he was descended from the royal Stuarts of Scotland.* He died within these twenty years, and his posterity still assert that they are sprung from that race. In support of this strange pretension, Stewart, in the year 1774, at a wedding in the parish of Corstorphine, actually wore a large cocked hat, decorated with a beautiful plume of white feathers, in imitation of the white cockade of the pretender, Prince Charles Stuart. He was also dressed at this wedding in a short coat, philibeg and Highland purse, with tartan hose. He wore some times a piece of brass as a star on his left breast, with a cudgel in his hand. This ridiculous dress corresponds exactly with the taste and ideas of a gypsey. There were at this wedding five or six gypsey females in Stewart's train. He did not allow males to accompany him on these particular occasions. At some distance from the people at the wedding, but within hearing of the music, these females formed themselves into a ring, with Charlie in its centre. Here, in the middle of the circle, he capered and danced in the most antic and ludicrous manner, sweeping his cudgel around his body in all directions, dancing at the same time with much grace and agility. He sometimes danced round the outside of the ring, putting the females to rights when they happened to go wrong. The females courtesied and danced to him in their turn, as he faced about to them in his capers. Every one of the sweeps with the stick was intelligible to these women. It was by the different cuts, sweeps, and

"It would seem that the gypsies, from policy to save themselves from being apprehended, merely because they were gypsies, have in my opinion laid aside their own original names, and have in general assumed the surnames of our noble families, from ostentation as well as for protection; but I never heard of any of them tracing their

descent from these families but Stewart. There is nothing improbable in one of our kings having been enamoured of some beautiful gypsey girl. Tradition has handed down several curious anecdotes of the intercourse the gaberlunzie man had with the gypsies.

twists of the club, that the whole of the turns and figures of the dance were regulated. One twirl dismissed the females, another cut recalled them, and a third sweep ordered them all to sit down squat on the ground. Another twist again called them up in an instant to the dance. In short, Stewart distinctly spoke to his female dancers by means of his stick, commanding them to do whatever he pleased in these operations, without opening his mouth to one of them.*

Geordie Drummond, the gypsey chief mentioned in my former communication, and of whom I shall have yet occasion sometimes to speak, danced with his seraglio of females in the very same manner as Stewart, without the slightest variation, except that his gestures were on some occasions extremely lascivious. He threw himself into almost every attitude into which the human body can be formed, while his stick was flying round his person with great violence. All the movements of this dance of Geordie's were regulated by the measures of an indecent song, and always at the chorus of which the circular motion of the cudgel ceased, and one of the females joined him with her voice when their gestures became exceedingly obscene. Geordie's appearance, while dancing, is described to me, by a gentleman of observation, exactly like a human figure cut out of wood or pasteboard, with the odd capers of which I have seen children amusing themselves by drawing strings fixed to cords leading from the legs and arms of the whimsical figure. The gypsies at Lochgellie had also a dance peculiar to themselves, and during which they sung a song in the gypsey language, which they called a

66

crune.

In Dr Clark's Travels through Russia, we find a description, by that author, of a gypsey dance at Moscow, very similar in all respects to the dance performed by Stewart and Drummond. These travels only came into my hands about three months ago, after I had taken notes of the dances already mentioned. Napkins appear to have been used by the gypsies in Russia, whereas sticks were employed by our Scottish gypsies. No mention, how

*This dance is taken from the mouth of an eye-witness, of whose veracity I entertain not the smallest doubt.

stood arrested and motionless by these eccentric salutations. Geordie would then shoulder his staff, and with a humble, though apparently uncouth manner, supplicate a bawbee for poor Geordie." His merry fascinating behaviour, and robust manly appearance, with his clouted drab great coat, and goat-skin wallet on his back, which contained his rough implements for compressing horns, of which he made spoons, together with his very ancient cocked hat, surmounting dishevelled and silvery locks, seldom failed to excite charity."

This strange man, when provoked, always expressed his contempt, by spitting bitterly, like a wild Arab when insulted. He was supposed to be fully ninety years of age when he died; and, notwithstanding this assumed merry fascinating manner, he was at bottom a shrewd, designing, cunning, surly gypsey, and frequently beat his concubines unmercifully.* He was from his youth impressed with a belief that he would die in the same house in which he was born. He had travelled over part of the Continent while a soldier in the army; was in several engagements; and, amongst others, he fought in the battle of La Val. And perhaps, during his long and wayward life, he never had any other residence than merely lodging in the out-houses of the farms at which he halted when travelling the country. He fell sick when he was at some distance from the house in which he prophesied he would die, but he hired a cart or chaise, and drove with haste to his favourite spot. To this house he was allowed admittance, where he closed his earthly career in about forty-eight hours after his arrival.

In all these particular traits, relative to this man, there is something in them entirely foreign to the manners and habits of any class of our own countrymen. That of capering and dancing on the highways, for the purpose of gaining money from the pub

Although some of the gypsies treat the female sex with great severity, yet, were they deprived of the aid and careful assiduity of their wives, they would, in their manner of life, be helpless wretches indeed.

The gypsies attended our large country-weddings in former times, both as musicians, and for the purpose of receiving the fragments at these entertainments. At the wedding in the .parish of Corstorphine, already mentioned, Charlie Stewart entered into familiar conversation with individuals; joking them about their sweethearts and love matters; telling them he noticed such a one, at such a place;observing to another, that he saw him at a certain fair-and so on. He inquired about their masters and places of abode, with other particulars.

Here the gypsey character displays itself-here Stewart, while he seems a mere merry-Andrew to the heedless merry-making people at the wedding, is, with a deep sagacity, actually reading the characters-ascertaining the connexions, and places of residence, of every individual in the country through which he travels. Continually roaming up and down the kingdom individually, in disguise on particular occasions, as well as in large bands; not passing one house in their route; observing every thing that passes in partial assemblies, at large weddings, and general gatherings of the people at fairs in old times; together with their great knowledge of human character; scanning, with the eye of a hawk, both male and female, for the purpose of robbing them, the gypsies became thoroughly acquainted, in their own breasts, with every particular incident concerning each individual in the whole population of the country. Hence proceed, in a great measure, the warlockry and fortune-telling abilities of the shrewd sagacious gypsies. It is however singular, that the method of divining by the cup, practised by the ancient Assyrians, Chaldees, and Egyptians, with a trifling variation in respect to the qualities of some of the ingredients therein employed, is the same as that practised by our female gypsies in Scotland. W. S.

10th January 1818.

But it likewise appears, by Abbé Raynal, that at an early period Egyptian dances were practised at festivals by the Priests in Italy, as well as in India.

THE DAMPERS.

MR EDITOR,

In the last Number of your Magazine I alluded to the sect or fraternity of Dampers, who have an establishment not only in every town, but also extend their beneficial influence, like, parish banks, to every village. FreeMasonry itself is not more ancient. Indeed I have no doubt of the dampers having been active and eminent at the court of King Solomon; and that neither the splendour of that monarch, nor the beauty and accomplishments of the Queen of Sheba, escaped their philanthropic observations. This society differs, however, from the craft in several respects, being compounded of male and female members, and perhaps the females are the most adroit dampers, neither is there any necessity among them for the seal of secrecy (which is indeed sufficiently evident from the component parts of the society); on the contrary, the dampers are extremely communicative, though they deal pretty much in what is called inuendo; and I do not believe there is any Shibboleth among the initiated.

I have formerly given the dampers full credit for disinterestedness in their praiseworthy efforts to cure, or at least to repress, the pride and vanity of their neighbours, as never taking any thing from the general stock of their endeavours to themselves. Indeed this disinterested spirit extends so far, that I rather think they are apt to allow the qualities (if one may call them such) which they are so constantly and kindly endeavouring to counteract in others, to acquire greater strength in their own persons, a pitch of zeal for the good of their friends which cannot be too highly appreciated. But in order to explain the proper office of a damper, I shall relate what happened at a dinner party where I had the honour of being a guest.

My friend Mr Cheerwell entertains as handsomely as any body, and as his lady perfectly understands the economy of the table, at their houses one meets with not only the best wines, but the best dinners in town. Those articles, although some people think they cannot always secure good socie ty, are leading cards towards attracting what is commonly called the best company; and whether it be owing to

the cook, or the wine-merchant, or to their own selection, I shall not pretend to say, but Mr and Mrs Cheerwell contrive to have for their guests, not only the best, but the very best company in Edinburgh, which generally embraces a considerable portion of dampers.

One day, the beginning of last Oc tober, I dined at Mr Cheerwell's, and most fortunately, out of sixteen people, five dampers were present. At the bottom of the table appeared a superb haunch of venison, of which my friend seemed not only to be vain, but actually proud, having got it from England in a present from the Duke of R- ; and after discharging the arduous duty of helping the company, and having damped his own appetite with a couple of slices, he very naturally, as I thought, began to descant on the great superiority of English venison over that fed in our own country, when Mr Bitterbile, a damper, who had consumed three slices of it, besides occasional supplies of fat, interrupted him by observing, that such might possibly be the case, but it was of little consequence, as, in his poor judgment, a leg of good Highland mutton was far better than any venison that ever came upon a table. Our host was immediately damped, and no wonder, at his friend the Duke of R's venison being so degraded, but contented himself with saying, that he heartily wished the haunch, of which Mr Bitterbile had just contrived to swallow three slices, had been Highland mutton for his sake.

The first course having been removed, during which several less palpable hits at damping was practised, the second course was put upon the table, and at top there was a fine pheasant. Our hostess asked Lady Dowager Dimpleton if she should have the honour of helping her ladyship to a wing, an offer which seemed to be every way agreeable to the Dowager, but when it was nearly finished, this Right Honourable person was pleased to remark, rather wittily, that a pheasant might do sometimes, but, in her opinion, a barn-door fowl was the best of all game. Mrs Cheerwell was damped, but recovered in a moment, and politely said, she was happy to know her ladyship's taste, which should be carefully studied on a future occasion. On the removal of the second course,

But there are dampers who are constitutionally so, and perform the office almost as well, though with none of that transcendent merit by which the intentional dampers are distinguished. I happened to dine with my friend Jeremiah Grumble, Esq. at his seat of Grumblethorp, when the news came of the victory at Aboukir, and that only two of the enemy's ships had escaped to tell the story. This glorious affair put the company into outrageous spirits, with the exception of Mr Grumble, who assumed an aspect of the most lugubrious construction. "What is the matter with you, Grumble," asked one of the guests, "you seem to have no relish for the glorious news.' "God forbid,' replied

some Parmezan cheese and a plate of fine Gorgona anchovies were introduced, when I heard something advanced in favour of an old ewe-milk cheese, and good Lochfine herrings, by two dampers respectively near the top and bottom of the table; but as I was seated about the middle of it, I lost the force of these very seasonable remarks. Thus four dampers had exerted their talents, in order to check the exultation of these entertainers over their good things, when the wines and dessert were put upon the table; and nothing having been said for a good while by any of the dampers, I was afraid we should not be favoured with any more of their laudable observations. But Mrs Cheerwell having requested a young gentleman to oblige the company with the song of "I'll never leave thee," he very readily complied, and, to my ears, seemed to sing it extremely well; but just as he had finished, a lady damper, who sat opposite to him, said, loud enough to be heard by the whole company, "Pray, Mr Warble, did you ever hear Jamie B- -r sing that song?" The singer looked a little flat, as might be expected, but remarked, that unfortunately Mr B. had died a year or two before he was born; "true," replied the lady, "how vastly stupid in me to forget! Poor Jamie! HE sung that song with a world of taste." Now I will venture to say, that there is no reader of this Magazine who has not heard similar observations thrown in by some of the dampers, and when he happens to hear the like again, he will be at no loss to know the society to which such well intentioned observers belong, although they may happen to officiate like the brethren of the Society of Jesus in disguise.

When walking along Prince's Street the other day, I met my friend General Rampart, who requested my company to a silversmith's shop, that we might examine a vase which had been presented to him by the officers of his regiment. It was most beautiful; and while we were admiring the design and workmanship, who should come into the shop but Mr Sneer the damp er! My friend, in the fulness of his vanity, or his pride, or perhaps a better feeling, asked Mr Sneer if he did not think the piece of plate extremely handsome?" O, y-e-s," replied Sneer, "if it had been gilt."

Grumble, God forbid! for depend upon it gentlemen, thae twa ships will play the vera deevil in the Mediterranean.' But perhaps it may be thought, that my friend belongs to the worshipful company of crokers, rather than to the society of true dampers.

The natives of Hindostan, when speaking of the East India Company, use the appellation Madam Company, and I shall employ a similar personification when approaching the Edinburgh Review. With respect to our national concerns, it cannot, I hope, be denied, that Mr Review is a mighty pretty damper; for, besides having all the merit of an intentional performer in point of design, he possesses the additional merit of having rendered the art of damping a lucrative as well as a pleasurable and praiseworthy profession. Mr Review knows well, that there are many people in those realms, especially south of the Tweed, who expect to have a mess of misery served up to them for their ready money; therefore he very laudably assumes the cap and apron, and condescends to officiate as cook on the occasion.

To illustrate this remark, I shall only refer to an article which appeared in the last Review on the power and policy of Russia, wherein Mr Review most powerfully and pathetically deplores our loss of character as a nation-our degradation in the eyes of all Europe-the crimes of the cabinet

the fatal consequences of the late war-the inefficiency of the sinking fund-the futility of an income tax as a source of future supply-the impos