The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-16 00:00:00

GIPSIES IN TEE NRW FOREST.

(By a Correspondent of the Mark-lane Express.)
In the New Forest, Hants, serious evils emanate
from a class of individuals denominated squatters,
These persons have, by virtue of a long existing
custom and usage, established themselves as sepa-
rate and distinct colonies which are extensively
distributed throughout this waste.
It is at ancient admitted plea of justification for
a perpetual tenancy that if a family can erect a
house and occupy the same, free from the ill effects
of wind and weather, within a space of 24 clear
hours, they become, by virtue of such an accom-
plishment, tenants in foe of the ground they stand
upon, and are suffered thenceforth to enjoy the
same as a perpetual freehold.
From this circumstance, either with a view to
promote a spirit of social accommodation, or to se-
cure from external annoyances united support, or
both, these people have been progressively en-
croachinc, from time immemorial on this sylvan
waste, until they have ultimately succeeded in con-
structing villages, which they are pleased to term
towns, in which they multiply iu numbers and in
crime.

Being proximate to the coast, immediately op-
posite the port Cherbourg, and in close connection
and constant communication with the Channel
Islands, the New Forest presents a most eligible
theatre for the encouragement of smuggling, and
the greater portion of the inmates of these mud-
built wigwams are more or less in the practice of
carrying on an unceasing trade in contraband wares.
This lawless practice, combined with deer stealing,
and poaching on an unlimited scale, may be looked
upon as the chief resources of the villages under con-
sideration. Some years since there was a notorious
deer stealer, named Jem Dible, who occupied a hut
in "deer-ending-town," near Wyvelly Lodge, the
residence of one of the forest keepers of the name
of Toomer. This is the person who once succeeded
in tutoring a pig he had in his possession to perform
the duties of a sporting dog. The porcine quad-
ruped would gallop by the sides of hedges, through
stubble or heath, and wherever he scented fur or
feather, would come to a dead stand, and maintain
his position as stiff as the staunchest pointer. This
1 pig Toomer had for years, and, for his good servi-
ces, spared from the murderous knife of the but-
cher, so that he might be said to have "saved his
bacon." Jem Dible was no less than fifty times in-
carcerated in Winchester gaol, for longer or shorter
terms of imprisonment. He was the most noto-
rious poacher of the day, and has left behind him
a name that will go down with posterity for ages
to come in the legendary annals of "feats of the
forest."

From Dible's school sprang up a race of similar
character unrivalled by the " Waltham blacks" for
their daring intrepidity. They spread terror in the
neighbourhood around. Nor were their pursuits
directed to deer stealing and poaching alone ; the
farmers' homestead- were assailed by these noctur-
nal depredators. Poultry, sheep, and pigs came
alike to them ; in fact, they made a trade of their
daring ingenuity; and have been known to have
succeeded, without a shadow of suspicion attached
to them, of disposine of joints of mutton to the
farmers' wives in the vicinity, which formed a part
and parcel of the very sheep that, twenty-four hours
eefore, were grazing on their husbands' lands.
A very relnarka ble instance of detection, in relation
to one of the Dible's, on the score of sheep stealing,
may prove interesting in detail. It happened in
the month of Deeemar. Mr. Cole, of Bucklands,
ost a sh,ep off his farm during the night; the animal
had been killed on the spot on which it was feed-
ing, and the skin and garbage were abandoned to a
ditch hard by. Cole, on discovering his loss, ordered
his horse to be saddled, and started off to Rhines-
field Lodge, the keeper of which, one Bumpstead,
kept a brace of highly-trained bloodhounds, which
were used for redeeming the red de9r that were
frequently apt to stray away beyond the forest
bounds. These dogs were conveyed iu a cart to the
field iu which the robbery had been committed, and
laid on to the toot track of the perpetrator of the
theft, accompanied by Bumpstead, Mr. Cole, and
his ton. The scent was quickly acknowledged by
the canine retrievers ; they drifted their way at au
even pace, overa wild heath, a cold fallow, through
a coppice, crossed the high road at Garlington Mill,
through a turnip field, over a stubble, into the high
road again, on to Arnewood farm, ran the length
of a mile towards Batchley, when they entered the
forest, and uninterruptedly entered Deer-ending-
town, when they opened with the stentorian salute
of "We have found." On the parties entering the
premises, in a shed behind the house was the mut-
ton, cut up ready for retail purposes. The man
Dible was so struck with the novel mode of his
apprehension that he credulously fancied the devil
had a hand in the whole transaction, and, falling
on his knees, implored mercy from God and man
for the criminal act he had committed. He was,
however, visited with the usual punishment atten-
dant upon such a feature of felony at the following
aQsizys, held at Winchester.

But, although the New Forest has been for a long
course of years the parent of crimes of a like charac-
ter, nevertheless it may be considered somewhat
anomalous ie the scale of truth, that the gipsies,
who are numerous in these parts, are seldom, if
over, known to trespass upon the possessions of the
firmer. These roving tribes are looked upon in
the light of the guardians of the housekeeper,
rather than as pilferers or plunderers. The farmer
feels more satisfied when gipsies encamp near his
residence than when they are away. He is safe
frum the encroachments of his more furtive neigh-
bours, for the Sybilline fraternity are invariably
accompanied by a kennel of restless, impatient curs,
which give alarm at the slightest sound of ap-
proach on the part of any stranger advancing to-
wards them ; these watch-dogs give the signal for
an immediate look out, so that no person can escape
the vigilant observation of the staff of the camp.
The Lees, the Coopers, and the Stanleys have,
from time immemorial, visited the different farms
iu the neighboinhaod of their Sylvan encampment
every year. They on their arrival announce their
presence by pertionally waiting on the respective
firmers at their residences ; genera,ly begging of
the latter a few trusses of straw, which constitute
the chief of their bed furniture. This boon is in-
variably afforded them, and in such good faith is
the bond of teciprocal accommodation observed
that, if any one of the tribe should, under any cir-
cumstances, betray the trust reposed in him by
committing a depredation on a neighbouring far-
mer who has befriended them with their necessary
wants, that individual is, after undergoing a judi-
cial ceremony, reproved by the whole community,
and ultimately expelled from the tribe he belonged
to, abandoned as an exile and an outcast. A singular
instance of this kind occurred about twenty-five
years ago, at a place called Bolton Bench, in the fo-
rest. It happened that a young gipsy boy had
been guilty of some act of a nature repugnant to the
general uuderstanding of the tribe. He was re-
moved to a spot a short distance from the camp,
and there surrounded by the whole of the brethren,
each member having a branch of oak in his or her
hand. He was then commanded by the king,
who assembled the council, to walk slowly round
the human circle within arms'-length of the cir-
cumstationed group. During this perambulatory
exposure, he received a stroke from the branches
that the men and women were provided with. A
vessel of dirty water was then soused over him, and
he was suffered to beat a hasty retreat from the
camp.
Joseph Lee was the patriarchal monarch of the
gipsies, on the above occasion. He was 87 years
of age when he died, having by hook or by crook,
as the saying goes, lumped together a tidy personal
estate ; for, according to the accredited reckoning
of the gipsey court of " testamentary commins,'
be left behind him no less a sum than six thousand
pounds sterling. He had three daughters, whom
ho severally named "Faith," "Hope," and.
" Charity." On Charity Lee, his youngest daugh-
ter, being married to a young man of the Stanley
tribe, it is stated that he presented to the bride-
groom3oo
and t
. wortho his daughter,ofplateandj the bride,vellery,and 2O O
sovereigns, four
New Forest ponies, and a saddle and bridle. The
gipsies are the least offensive features that are to
be met wilt in the New Forest of Hampshire.

Independent of the great gain that would speedily
follow in the wake of bringing this long-neglected
waste into a state of cultivation, the government
would, at one swoop, sap the foundation of this
forest Babel of crime and its contingencies, thereby
admitting the flood-gates of civilisation to be
opened and the back-waters of sound knowledge
and moral example to find their way into the
hearts of its degraded and depraved inhabitants.

The private advices from New York by the North Star
state that the news by the Persia, which brought out
240,0001., was better than had been expected. Mora
produce was moving from the West; the banks were
discounting choice paper rather more freely, and the
general tone was decidedly better. The belief conse-
quently was that unless very bad news should arrive
1 from Europe the worst might be considered past. In
mostthat rseesrpioeucst. thep rofabialbuirye,
ohfowMoursesrr,s.boDfoerneniitstaorurniveiss
out
the various markets will have sufficiently recovered to
enable it to be met without throwing everything back
into increased confusion. Under any circumarances,
however, the improvement would be slow until the open-
ing of the canals in the spring, so as to allow of produce
being brougbt down in larger quantities. 20,000 sove-
reigns which came out by the Baltic had been sent back
to England by the next return steamer. The rate of
6,69,3ge had further advanced, some transactions hav-
ing occurred at 108. Gold from this side therefore would
fail as a speculation. The only further suspension of any
iwportantance had been that of George Warren and Co.
large dry goods importers, at Boston.

THE CALCUTTA MAIL.

[A portion of the following appeared in our late edition of
Saturday evening :—]
- - -

We have received our advices from Calcutta to
Oct. 8, and Madras Oct. 14.
In the Bengal Hurkarn, of Oct. 8, we read :
" No sooner was the good news at Delhi received
in Calcutta than it was followed up by good news
from Lucknow. It had been known some days be-
fore that General Havelock's force had again crossed
the Ganges, and advanced into Oude. It was ac-
companied by Sir J. Outram, who upon this occa-
sion waived his superior rank, with a magnanimity
which does him high honour, and left to Gene
ral Havelock the command of the expedition and
the glory of the achievement. Sir James accom-
panied the force in his civil capacity, as Chief
Commissioner of Oude, and served as a volunteer.
In this character he did good service with the
Volunteer Cavalry, and charged the enemy in a
prelintinary engagement, with a dash and daring
worthy of his best days. On the 25th the relief of
Luckncw was accomplished. The telegraphic de-
spatches are very obscurely worded, but the main
facts are apparent enough. Baleeguard was first
relieved by General Outram, and advances were
then steadily made against the city ; seven guns
were captured, and the right quarter was in our
possession. On the same day the force under Gen.
Havelock, consisting of 2,000 men of all arms, the
remainder being in occupation of Alambagh, forced
their way into the city under serious opposition,
skirting it to the right, to avoid the enemy's de-
fence. The road to the residency was also much
opposed,' but this place, where the brave garrison
had so long held out with danger and endurance
which have yet to be fully described, was reached in
the evening—just in time, so says the despatch ;
for it appeared that two mines, all ready for
loading, had been run far under the chief works,
which, if sprung, must have placed the garrison at
the mercy of the rebels. The loss on our side, as at
Delhi, is described as severe. As at Delhi, it in-
cluded one who could be least spared ; the gallant
General Neill is among the fallen.
" A great deal of discontent has been expressed
at an order of government for the removal of all
women and children from the Central Provinces,
and the bringing them down to Calcutta. It was
directed that the magistrates of the respective dis-
tricts should see the order enforced, and if neces-
sary should do so by the aid of the military autho-
rity. This would have been a very excellent mea-
sure some months ago, and would have saved many
lives. Now it is too late, and there has been a
general disposition to resist its operation. Most of
The persons concerned are in poor circumstances and
could not be supported by their families away from
their homes, and in Calcutta they would have but a
doubtful claim upon the fund which is intended for
refugees in actual distress—even if the fund were
sufficient to provide for them all. The government
have at last abandoned the scheme.

" There has been an important meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce, a large majority of the mem-
bers of which has decided in favour of supporting
the petitionto Parliament sent home by Mr. Meade.
The chairman and members of the committee in
consequence resigned, with the exception of one
gentleman. This decided declaration of opinion has
given great satisfaction to the non-official class of
Europeans, of which the Chamber of Commerce
contains so many influential members.
" The following are the Bank rates :
Closing rates, at 6 months' sight 2s. 21d.
90 days' eight
for best Credit and Bank Bills."

The Calcutta Englishman, of Oct. 8, says :
" It is feared that a considerable portion of those
so long shut up iu the Residency have perished
either by accident or disease. It is also stated that
General Havelock's orders being to retain Luck-
now, he has been unable to bring away the sur-
viving non-combatants, as the number of insurgents
is so great that a large force is required either for
moving from the city or holding it.
A correspondent of the Hurkaru writes as follows
from the entrenched camp at Cawnpore

SEPT. 30.

" By mid-day of the 22d, the " tail" of an army
—and I can assure you the tail of an army
of 3,000 Europeans is a long one—had disappeared.
Since that day no vestige of news from them has
reached us. They ploughed away through the tide
of rebellion which overflows Oude, but the waves
have closed again and we have no means of
hearing from them or communicating with
them. Yesterday 100 men, natives sent to hold
Oonao and keep the Lucknow road open, were cut
up by the rebels almost to a man. To-day our cos-
side have returned with no news !' We have
heard heavy firing, and it is rumoured that they
have reached Lucknow—but nothing is certain.
Yesterday the superintendent of police at Bithoor
was murdered by the rebels and several of our po-
lice also slaughtered. Will our rulers dara still to
talk of mercy ? More to-morrow. . _

" OCT. 1.

" While I write, the cannon from the ramparts
of our entrenched camp are making the banks
of the Ganges reverberate with a salute in honour
of the fall of Delhi, and its miscreant royalty.
No sooner was it known that the salute announced
the fall of that Mussulman stronghold, than
the soldiers, the convalescent; and the in-
numerable natives congregated within the
camp assembled, and three rattling cheers
were given, and mutual congratulations were
exchanged on both sides. I hear that our loss was
very heavy-1,400 men, it is said----but whether
that includes the wounded or not, I am unable to
learn. When the cossid left Delhi our officers were
taking their breakfast in the Dewan khans, or Halt
of Audience, and the soldiers were feasting in the
rooms below. The king and the Shah-lead:he are in
our hands, and it is to be hoped that a right royal
hanging match will soon teach the Delhites that
the British raj is not quite gone. Scarcely was the
ink dry with which I wrote the foregoing paragraph
than a second salute announced that Lucknow was
in our hands. It seems that although many cossids
have been despatched from Geo. Havelock's camp,
the enemy have kept up such a strict blockade in
therear of hisforce that to pass was impossible. Even
now they are in great force at Oonao or Basratjunj,
and we expect to move out to-night with 300 men
and two guns to escort provisions intended to
meet them on the road. We fear the force must be
running short, as they took with them only fifteen
days' provisions, and ten days have already elapsed.
Under the able superintendence of Captain Impey
our fortifications are fast progressing towards com-
pletion. We have a large number of guns mounted
and ammunition galore, and we are training some
of our aptest infantry men as gunners, that being
a branch of the service in which we are short of
hands. Our sick are very rapidly decreasing, and
daily our strength numerically is increasing ; and,
although we know that the rebels are gathering in
hordes in the rear of Bithoor and the surrounding
villages, still we feel almost as secure from attack as
you do in Calcutta. The day after to-morrow I ex-
pect we shall welcome our brave fellows and long-
suffering countrymen from Lucknow. Bat it has
cost us dear, very dear, for the odds against us
were tremendous. The moment I can obtain de-
tails you shall have them."
The despatches describing the relief of Lucknow,
published by the Calcutta papers, are those pub-
lished with the intelligence from Bombay.

COMMERCIAL.
CALCUTTA, OCT. 8.

Since the annual Hindoo holidays we have not heard
of any transaetione in indigo. Nothing doing in sugar
for the English markets, and value lower. Saltpetre
dull, with declining prioee. No change in rice. Very
little doing in silk, and nothing iu silk piece goods. Oil
seeds rather easier. Shell lac remains unaltered. Lac
dye depressed. Jute has declined, owing to large sup-
plies. Castor oil in good request. No safflower or clutch
in the market.

In on
r import market there has been some demand
for British cotton pieo especially grey shirting%
jaconets, and madapoiTard.'
In metals scarcely anything has been done, value of
almost all descriptions braeoinnnominal.
The position of the
if not more,
unfavourable than at the date oinsfienorticireltalsst.",
resumption of
Exchange—On London,
business few transactions have takeen thel
maceenbtlet'
_sight at slightly
lower rates. We quote first-class six')
cre-
dits at 21 2id to 2s 2d, and documents at 2-3 id to 2-3ild
per rupee.
Freights—The rates, though lower, have not declined
to the extent that was anticipated at the close of the last
mail. F. )r London and Liverpool we have little dead
weight offering, but ships have experienced no want of
jute and seeds, which have been freely offering at 31. 2s
Gd to 3s 5d for London.