302 
[May, 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
V The Editor does not hold himself responsible for statements of fa&s or 
opinions expressed in Correspondence, or in Articles bearing the signature 
of their respective authors. 
SIMSON’S “HISTORY OF THE GIPSIES.” 
This work, edited by me, was ready for the press in 1858, and 
was published in Great Britain and the United States towards 
the end of 1865. When submitted to the American press I find 
that it was accompanied by the following circular : — 
“ Herewith is respectfully submitted for criticism a copy of a 
« History of the Gipsies,’ just published, which, it is presumed, 
will prove, in some degree, a subject of interest, investigation, 
and discussion to the American people. 
“ The pivot on which the real interest in the Gipsies, during 
the past, the present, and the future, turns, is the phenomenon 
of the occasional amalgamation of other blood with theirs, their 
settlement, and the civilisation, perpetuity, and increase of the 
people, maintaining their identity in the world, notwithstanding 
their having no religion peculiar to themselves, like the Jews. 
The principle, or rather faCt, here involved, is evidently very 
difficult of comprehension by the British mind, owing principally, 
it maybe said, to its practical unfamiliarity with the idea of 
two distinCt races living on the same soil, the extreme prejudice 
against the Gipsies, and the consequent singular incredulity to- 
wards anything good or sensible that may emanate from them 
as a race. In America the first-mentioned difficulty does not 
exist, while the distance from the location of the people princi- 
pally described somewhat obviates the second and third. 
“ There is also a general difficulty to be overcome in the way 
of the present volume, in its more peculiar characteristics being 
allowed to pass current in the world, — and which seems to be 
inherent in human nature, — viz., a disinclination to believe any- 
thing new on a subject which everyone imagines he knows, or 
which no one is presumed to know. In conducting an enquiry 
like the one mentioned, a simple regard to faCts is the sole legi- 
timate objeCt of contemplation; it not being even necessary to 
understand why or how a phenomenon exists, to believe that it 
does exist. For example : no one professes to understand how it 
is that the Jews exist in their scattered state, yet no one denies, 
or even doubts, their existence on that account. In the present 
