Star.
London, England, 1828-10-14 00:00:00

SINGULAR PEOPLE AND PLACE OF RESIDENci

For some years part a number of vagrants, varying
from thirty to sixty, inuleding both setts, have taken up
their permanent abode in one of the caves at Covesea,
allots five miles to the northward of Elgin. There is
something alike peculiar in the manners of these people,
anJ in the place which they have chosen for their resi.
dence. There are cot olio points of resemblance between
them and the ordinary race of Gypsi:s who perambu-
late the South; but there are so many points of differ-
ence beta ern them and the latter as to convince us than
they do nzt belong to that species of twosfooted ani-
mals-.-if we may use the expression: So far as we have
been able t ascertain, they engage ire no kind of cam-
coerce, not even in mending unewellas, pots pans, or
any of the thousand and ons riveters:l nor do they make
any pre tensions to the sometimes profitable profession of
fortune telling. They traverse the surrounding country
in clusters of from three to four, besides the children,
most probably in rotation, for the purpose of begging;
and when not sufficiently successful in that honourable
vocation, they make no scruple to irrl (steal) a few hem
or other domestic fowls. fir the good of the community
who occupy Hell's Molt—the expressive epithet by
which their place of residence is designated. In their
perambulations through the country they are invariably
accompanied by one or two of that Weedy erratum—
', the ass; with perhaps three or lour children inserted in
pouches on each side of the animal. The organ of ab-
straction must be largely developed in one and all of
their upper stories; for they are the most celebrated
tlaseveuwe have ever beard of, and we have no doubt
hot poor Re) nard is blamed for taking ninny a good
fat hen which finds its way to their Royal Den.—
We must, however, du them the justice to say, that the
delinquency of stealing is the (mit one we have knows
to be preferred against them, always excepting a di.:
position to get half seas over when they can manage
to raise the wind. la the indulgence of their abstract-
ing propensities, however, they display considevable
philosophy; for they invariably play off their light-
fingered tricks at a distance of some miles from the
place of their abode, by which means the farmers and
others in the immediate vicinity, so far from presenting
any complaint against them to the cord authorities.
consider them in the light of good natured, harmless
neighbours. We have not been able to ascertain to
what country they belong, although, judging from
their pronunciation, we strongly suspect them to be of
Irish origin; nor have we succeeded in learning by
what means they became acquainted with their pre-
sent situation. Their place of residence. all thibgs
considered, is certainly the most singular one which
we have ever seen. The entrance to the cave is from
the west, and opens into a large amphitheatre, well
sheltered, and where their asses find plenty of grass.
In a fine sunshine day, dozens of them may be seen
sleeping and basking in Sol's rays; and lots of weans
may be seen scrambling about, while here and there
you witness a few particles of clothes, if they may
be so called, prying in the sun after being steeped in
water—washing them is out of the question. The cave
in which this singular people live is an etcavation
by Nature out of a huge mass of rock, about twenty
Meet broad and thirty feet high at its entrance, gra-
dually getting lower and narrower as it proceeds back-
ward to a very great distance. In its remoter dis-
trict there is nothing but perpetual " darkness visible.*
It is a singular scene, even in the day time, to witness
a group of thirteen or 1( urteen biped animals sluing
on the ground, near the mouth of the cave, round a
fire, into which they at intervals throw whin bushes,-
which getting up into a blaze shows their physiognomies
to advantage in all their 16 'rations hues;" while those in
he back ground ate lying on straw in groups of three and
firer, with an old blanket or cloak above them, and
ranged on each side of the cave so a, to leave a free pas-
sake. there being no other outlet fir the smoke of their
fires than the entrancel of the cave ; and from its situa-
tion there is scarcely ever any wind to carry it off; which
gives the place a most singular appearance. The in•
mates of Hell's Hole seem to be particularly attached
to their place of residence. Perhaps the circumstances
of its commodiousness, its rented initiation, and its being
rent flee, may be the strongest inducements they havens
continue it as their Home—sweet Home.—tight Coln

PUISROIII, Oct. 10.—His Al:okay's ship Hotspur
was launched at Pembroke dock-yard yesterday even.
ing, at hallpast live o'clock, and glided majestically
into her *Luise element, amidst the shouts of the nume-
rous sprctators. Toe ceremony of christening the ship
was perforated by Miss Ellen Owen, daughter of our
worthy County Member. The Hospur is a remarkably
fine fligate. of 46 guns, busk on Sir Robert fieppings'
plan, with a round stein; and she will be taken into
dock until orders are received from the Loy B•sard
for fitting her out. His Majesty's sloop Pslades, Capt.
Hay, on the Cork station, has put into this harbour,
having experienced some severe weather during the late
gales, off the lash coast.
At St. Ives there ate two vessels now loading With
pilchards, far Naples, on account of the owners of the
beans; the price offered by the merchants is 91.8.. per
h.igsbeati; the fishermen ask 84 The demand in the
Italian market is considered to be good I there mis at
St. Ives about 9,000 hogsheads of fish, estimated at half
seat has best takes In the comp