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in regions various and distant。 It is； of course； impossible to
state with certainty the country in which this jargon first arose；
yet there is cogent reason for supposing that it may have been
Italy。 The Germans call it Rothwelsch； which signifies 'Red
Italian；' a name which appears to point out Italy as its
birthplace； and which； though by no means of sufficient importance
to determine the question； is strongly corroborative of the
supposition； when coupled with the following fact。 We have already
intimated； that wherever it is spoken； this speech； though composed
for the most part of words of the language of the particular
country； applied in a metaphorical sense； exhibits a considerable
sprinkling of foreign words； now of these words no slight number
are Italian or bastard Latin； whether in Germany； whether in Spain；
or in other countries more or less remote from Italy。 When we
consider the ignorance of thieves in general； their total want of
education； the slight knowledge which they possess even of their
mother tongue； it is hardly reasonable to suppose that in any
country they were ever capable of having recourse to foreign
languages； for the purpose of enriching any peculiar vocabulary or
phraseology which they might deem convenient to use among
themselves； nevertheless； by associating with foreign thieves； who
had either left their native country for their crimes； or from a
hope of reaping a rich harvest of plunder in other lands； it would
be easy for them to adopt a considerable number of words belonging
to the languages of their foreign associates； from whom perhaps
they derived an increase of knowledge in thievish arts of every
description。 At the commencement of the fifteenth century no
nation in Europe was at all calculated to vie with the Italian in
arts of any kind； whether those whose tendency was the benefit or
improvement of society； or those the practice of which serves to
injure and undermine it。 The artists and artisans of Italy were to
be found in all the countries of Europe； from Madrid to Moscow； and
so were its charlatans； its jugglers； and multitudes of its
children； who lived by fraud and cunning。 Therefore； when a
comprehensive view of the subject is taken； there appears to be
little improbability in supposing； that not only were the Italians
the originators of the metaphorical robber jargon； which has been
termed 'Red Italian；' but that they were mainly instrumental in
causing it to be adopted by the thievish race in various countries
of Europe。
It is here； however； necessary to state； that in the robber jargon
of Europe； elements of another language are to be discovered； and
perhaps in greater number than the Italian words。 The language
which we allude to is the Rommany； this language has been； in
general； confounded with the vocabulary used among thieves； which；
however； is a gross error； so gross； indeed； that it is almost
impossible to conceive the manner in which it originated： the
speech of the Gypsies being a genuine language of Oriental origin；
and the former little more than a phraseology of convenience；
founded upon particular European tongues。 It will be sufficient
here to remark； that the Gypsies do not understand the jargon of
the thieves； whilst the latter； with perhaps a few exceptions； are
ignorant of the language of the former。 Certain words； however； of
the Rommany have found admission into the said jargon； which may be
accounted for by the supposition that the Gypsies； being themselves
by birth； education； and profession； thieves of the first water；
have； on various occasions； formed alliances with the outlaws of
the various countries in which they are at present to be found；
which association may have produced the result above alluded to；
but it will be as well here to state； that in no country of Europe
have the Gypsies forsaken or forgotten their native tongue； and in
its stead adopted the 'Germania；' 'Red Italian；' or robber jargon；
although in some they preserve their native language in a state of
less purity than in others。 We are induced to make this statement
from an assertion of the celebrated Lorenzo Hervas； who； in the
third volume of his CATALOGO DE LAS LENGUAS； trat。 3； cap。 vi。； p。
311； expresses himself to the following effect：… 'The proper
language of the Gitanos neither is nor can be found amongst those
who scattered themselves through the western kingdoms of Europe；
but only amongst those who remained in the eastern； where they are
still to be found。 The former were notably divided and disunited；
receiving into their body a great number of European outlaws； on
which account the language in question was easily adulterated and
soon perished。 In Spain； and also in Italy； the Gitanos have
totally forgotten and lost their native language； yet still wishing
to converse with each other in a language unknown to the Spaniards
and Italians； they have invented some words； and have transformed
many others by changing the signification which properly belongs to
them in Spanish and Italian。' In proof of which assertion he then
exhibits a small number of words of the 'Red Italian；' or
allegorical tongue of the thieves of Italy。
It is much to be lamented that a man like Hervas； so learned； of
such knowledge； and upon the whole well…earned celebrity； should
have helped to propagate three such flagrant errors as are
contained in the passages above quoted： 1st。 That the Gypsy
language； within a very short period after the arrival of those who
spoke it in the western kingdoms of Europe； became corrupted； and
perished by the admission of outlaws into the Gypsy fraternity。
2ndly。 That the Gypsies； in order to supply the loss of their
native tongue； invented some words； and modified others； from the
Spanish and Italian。 3rdly。 That the Gypsies of the present day
in Spain and Italy speak the allegorical robber dialect。
Concerning the first assertion； namely； that the Gypsies of the
west lost their language shortly after their arrival； by mixing
with the outlaws of those parts； we believe that its erroneousness
will be sufficiently established by the publication of the present
volume； which contains a dictionary of the Spanish Gitano； which we
have proved to be the same language in most points as that spoken
by the eastern tribes。 There can be no doubt that the Gypsies have
at various times formed alliances with the robbers of particular
countries； but that they ever received them in considerable numbers
into their fraternity； as Hervas has stated； so as to become
confounded with them； the evidence of our eyesight precludes the
possibility of belie