Chapter I: SUPPOSE, the nose

JACK DANDY, brandy.

JACK RANDALL (a noted pugilist), a candle.

JENNY LINDER, a winder,—vulgar pronunciation of window.

JOE SAVAGE, a cabbage.

LATH AND PLASTER, a master.

LEAN AND LURCH, a church.

LEAN AND FAT, a hat.

LINENDRAPER, paper.

LIVE EELS, fields.

LOAD OF HAY, a day.

LONG ACRE, a baker.

LONG ACRE, a newspaper. See the preceding.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL, a bustle.

LORD LOVEL, a shovel.

LUMP OF COKE, a bloak,—slang term for a man.

LUMP OF LEAD, the head.

MACARONI, a pony.

MAIDS A DAWNING (I suppose my informant means _maids adorning_), the
morning.

MAIDSTONE JAILOR, a tailor.

MINCE PIES, the eyes.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, water.

MUFFIN BAKER, a Quaker.

NAVIGATORS, taturs,—vulgar pronunciation of potatoes.

NAVIGATOR SCOT, baked potatoes all hot.

NEEDLE AND THREAD, bread.

NEVER FEAR, a pint of beer.

NIGHT AND DAY, go to the play.

NOSE AND CHIN, a winn,—_ancient cant_ for a penny.

NOSE-MY, backy,—vulgar pronunciation of tobacco.

OATS AND BARLEY, Charley.

OATS AND CHAFF, a footpath.

ORINOKO (pronounced ORINOKER), a poker.

OVER THE STILE, sent for trial.

PADDY QUICK, thick; or, a stick.

PEN AND INK, a stink.

PITCH AND FILL, Bill,—vulgar shortening for William.

PLATE OF MEAT, a street.

PLOUGH THE DEEP, to go to sleep.

PUDDINGS AND PIES, the eyes.

READ OF TRIPE (?), transported for life.

READ AND WRITE, to fight.

READ AND WRITE, flight.—See preceding.

RIVER LEA, tea.

ROGUE AND VILLAIN, a shillin,—common pronunciation of shilling.

RORY O’MORE, the floor.

ROUND THE HOUSES, trouses,—vulgar pronunciation of trousers.

SALMON TROUT, the mouth.

SCOTCH PEG, a leg.

SHIP IN FULL SAIL, a pot of ale.

SIR WALTER SCOTT, a pot,—of beer.

SLOOP OF WAR, a whore.

SNAKE IN THE GRASS, a looking glass.

SORROWFUL TALE, three months in jail.

SPLIT ASUNDER, a costermonger.

SPLIT PEA, tea.

SPORT AND WIN, Jim.

STEAM PACKET, a jacket.

ST. MARTINS-LE-GRAND, the hand.

STOP THIEF, beef.

SUGAR AND HONEY, money.

SUGAR CANDY, brandy.

TAKE A FRIGHT, night.

THREE QUARTERS OF A PECK, the neck,—in writing, expressed by the
simple “¾.”

THROW ME IN THE DIRT, a shirt.

TOMMY O’RANN, scran,—vulgar term for food.

TOM TRIPE, a pipe.

TOM RIGHT, night.

TOP JINT (vulgar pronunciation of joint), a pint,—of beer.

TOP OF ROME, home.

TURTLE DOVES, a pair of gloves.

TWO FOOT RULE, a fool.

WIND DO TWIRL, a fine girl.

THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR LANGUAGE;

OR A LIST OF THE BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSULTED IN COMPILING THIS WORK, COMPRISING NEARLY EVERY KNOWN TREATISE UPON THE SUBJECT.

Slang has a literary history, the same as authorised language. More than one hundred works have treated upon the subject in one form or another,—a few devoting but a chapter, whilst many have given up their entire pages to expounding its history and use. Old Harman, a worthy man, who interested himself in suppressing and exposing vagabondism in the days of good Queen Bess, was the first to write upon the subject. Decker followed fifty years afterwards, but helped himself, evidently, to his predecessor’s labours. Shakespere, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and Brome, each employed beggars’ Cant as part of the machinery of their plays. Then came Head (who wrote “The English Rogue,” in 1680) with a glossary of Cant words “used by the Gipseys.” But it was only a reprint of what Decker had given sixty years before. About this time authorised dictionaries began to insert vulgar words, labelling them “Cant.” The Jack Sheppards and Dick Turpins of the early and middle part of the last century made Cant popular, and many small works were published upon the subject. But it was Grose, burly, facetious Grose, who, in the year 1785, collected the scattered glossaries of Cant and secret words, and formed one large work, adding to it all the vulgar words and Slang terms used in his own day. I am aware that the indelicacy and extreme vulgarity of the work renders it a disgrace to its compiler, still we must admit that it is by far the most important work which has ever appeared on street or popular language; indeed, from its pages every succeeding work has, up to the present time, drawn its contents. The great fault of Grose’s book consists in the author not contenting himself with Slang and Cant terms, but the inserting of every “smutty” and offensive word that could be raked out of the gutters of the streets. However, Harman and Grose are, after all, the only authors who have as yet treated the subject in an original manner, or have written on it from personal inquiry.

AINSWORTH’S (William Harrison) Novels and Ballads. _London_, V.D.

Some of this author’s novels, such as Rookwood and Jack Sheppard,
abound in cant words, placed in the mouths of the highwaymen. The
author’s ballads (especially “Nix my dolly pals fake away,”) have
long been popular favourites.

ANDREWS’ (George) Dictionary of the Slang and Cant Languages, Ancient and Modern, 12mo. _London_, 1809

A sixpenny pamphlet, with a coloured frontispiece representing a
beggar’s carnival.

A NEW DICTIONARY OF THE JAUNTING CREW, 12mo. N.D.

Mentioned by John Bee in the Introduction to his Sportsman’s Slang
Dictionary.

ASH’S (John, LL.D.) New and Complete Dictionary of the English Language, 2 vols. 8vo. 1775

Contains a great number of cant words and phrases.

BACCHUS AND VENUS; or, a Select Collection of near 200 of the most Witty and Diverting Songs and Catches in Love and Gallantry, with Songs in the Canting Dialect, with a DICTIONARY, _ explaining all Burlesque and Canting Terms_, 12mo. 1738

Prefixed is a curious woodcut frontispiece of a _Boozing Ken_. This
work is scarce, and much prized by collectors. The Canting Dictionary
appeared before, about 1710, with the initials B. E. on the title.
It also came out afterwards, in the year 1751, under the title of
the _Scoundrel’s Dictionary_,—a mere reprint of the two former
impressions.

BAILEY’S (Nath.) Etymological English Dictionary, 2 vols, 8vo. 1737

Contains a great many cant and vulgar words;—indeed, Bailey does not
appear to have been very particular what words he inserted, so long
as they were actually in use. A _Collection of Ancient and Modern
Cant Words_ appears as an appendix to vol. ii. of this edition (3rd).

BANG-UP DICTIONARY, or the Lounger and Sportsman’s Vade Mecum, containing a copious and correct Glossary of the Language of the Whips, illustrated by a great variety of original and curious Anecdotes, 8vo. 1812

A vulgar performance, consisting of pilferings from Grose, and
made-up words with meanings of a degraded character.

BARTLETT’S Dictionary of Americanisms; a Glossary of Words and Phrases colloquially used in the United States, 8vo. _New York_, 1859

It is a curious fact connected with slang that a great number of
vulgar words common in England are equally common in the United
States; and when we remember that America began to people two
centuries ago, and that these colloquialisms must have crossed the
sea with the first emigrants, we can form some idea of the antiquity
of popular or street language. Many words, owing to the caprices of
fashion or society, have wholly disappeared in the parent country,
whilst in the colonies they are yet heard. The words SKINK, to serve
drink in company, and the old term MICHING or MEECHING, skulking or
playing truant, for instance, are still in use in the United States,
although nearly, if not quite, obsolete here.

BEAUMONT and FLETCHER’S Comedy of _The Beggar’s Bush_, 4to, 1661, or any edition.

Contains numerous cant words.

BEE’S (Jon.) Dictionary of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, the Pit, the Bon Ton, and the Varieties of Life, forming the completest and most authentic Lexicon Balatronicum hitherto offered to the notice of the Sporting World, by Jon. Bee [_i.e._ John Badcock], Esq., Editor of the Fancy, Fancy Gazette, Living Picture of London, and the like of that, 12mo. 1823

This author published books on Stable Economy under the name of
Hinds. He was the sporting rival of Pierce Egan. Professor Wilson, in
an amusing article in _Blackwood’s Magazine_, reviewed this work.

BEE’S (Jon.) Living Picture of London for 1828, and Stranger’s Guide through the Streets of the Metropolis; shewing the Frauds, the Arts, Snares, and Wiles of all descriptions of Rogues that everywhere abound, 12mo. 1828

Professes to be a guide to society, high and low, in London, and to
give an insight into the language of the streets.

BEE’S (Jon.) Sportsman’s Slang, a New Dictionary of Terms used in the affairs of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, and the Cockpit; with those of Bon Ton and the Varieties of Life, forming a _Lexicon Balatronicum et Macaronicum, &c._, 12mo, _plate_. _For the Author_, 1825

The same as the preceding, only with an altered title. Both wretched
performances, filled with forced and low wit.

BLACKGUARDIANA; or, Dictionary of Rogues, Bawds, &c., 8vo, WITH PORTRAITS [by _James Caulfield_]. 1795

This work, with a long and very vulgar title, is nothing but a
reprint of _Grose_, with a few anecdotes of pirates, odd persons,
&c., and some curious portraits inserted. It was concocted by
Caulfield as a speculation, and published at _one guinea_ per copy;
and, owing to the remarkable title, and the notification at the
bottom, that “only a few copies were printed,” soon became scarce.
For philological purposes it is not worth so much as any edition of
Grose.

BOXIANA, or Sketches of Modern Pugilism, by Pierce Egan (an account of the prize ring), 3 vols, 8vo. 1820

Gives more particularly the cant terms of pugilism, but contains
numerous (what were then styled) “flash” words.

BRANDON. Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime; or, the Facts, Examinations, &c., upon which the Report was founded, presented to the House of Lords by W. A. Miles, Esq., to which is added a _Dictionary of the Flash or Cant Language, known to every Thief and Beggar_, edited by H. Brandon, Esq., 8vo. 1839

A very wretched performance.

BROME’S (Rich.) Joviall Crew; or the Merry Beggars. Presented in a Comedie at the Cockpit, in Drury Lane, in the Year (4to.) 1652

Contains many cant words similar to those given by Decker,—from whose
works they were doubtless obtained.

BROWN’S (Rev. Hugh Stowell) Lecture on Manliness, 12mo. 1857

Contains a few modern slang words.

BRYDGES’ (Sir Egerton) British Bibliographer, 4 vols, 8vo. 1810–14

Vol ii., page 521, gives a list of cant words.

BULWER’S (Sir Edward Lytton) Paul Clifford. V.D.

Contains numerous cant words.

BULWER’S (Sir Edward Lytton) Pelham. V.D.

Contains a few cant terms.

BUTLER’S Hudibras, with Dr. Grey’s Annotations, 3 vols, 8vo. 1819

Abounding in colloquial terms and phrases.

CAMBRIDGE. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam; or a Dictionary of Terms, Academical and Colloquial, or Cant, which are used at the University, _with Illustrations_, 12mo. _Camb._, 1803

CANTING ACADEMY; or Villanies Discovered, wherein are shewn the Mysterious and Villanous Practices of that Wicked Crew—Hectors, Trapanners, Gilts, &c., with several new Catches and Songs; also Compleat Canting Dictionary, 12mo., _frontispiece_. 1674

Compiled by Richard Head.

CANTING; a Poem, interspersed with Tales and additional Scraps, post 8vo. 1814

A few words may be gleaned from this rather dull poem.

CANTING DICTIONARY; comprehending all the Terms, Antient and Modern, used in the several Tribes of Gypsies, Beggars, Shoplifters, Highwaymen, Foot Pads, and all other Clans of Cheats and Villains, with Proverbs, Phrases, Figurative Speeches, &c., to which is added a complete Collection of Songs in the Canting Dialect, 12mo. 1725

The title is by far the most interesting part of the work. A mere
make-up of earlier attempts.

CAREW. Life and Adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew, the King of the Beggars, _with Canting Dictionary, portrait_, 8vo. 1791

There are numerous editions of this singular biography. The Canting
Dictionary is nothing more than a filch from earlier books.

CHARACTERISMS, or the Modern Age Displayed; being an attempt to expose the Pretended Virtues of Both Sexes, 12mo (part i., Ladies; part ii., Gentlemen), _E. Owen_. 1750

An anonymous work, from which some curious matter may be obtained.

CONYBEARE’S (Dean) Essay on Church Parties, reprinted from the _Edinburgh Review_, No. CC., October, 1853, 12mo. 1858

Several curious instances of religious or pulpit slang are given in
this exceedingly interesting little volume.

COTTON’S (Charles) Genuine Poetical Works, 12mo. 1771

Scarronides, or Virgil Travestie, being the first and fourth Books of
Virgil’s Æneis, in English burlesque, 8vo, 1672, and other works by
this author, contain numerous vulgar words now known as slang.

DECKER’S (Thomas) The Bellman of London; bringing to light the most notorious villanies that are now practised in the Kingdome, 4to, black letter. _London_, 1608

Watt says this is the first book which professes to give an account
of the canting language of thieves and vagabonds. But this is wrong,
as will have been seen from the remarks on Harman, who collected the
words of the vagabond crew half a century before.

DECKER’S (Thomas) Lanthorne and Candle-light, or the Bellman’s Second Night’s Walke, in which he brings to light a brood of more strange villanies than ever were to this year discovered, 4to. _London_, 1608–9

This is a continuation of the former work, and contains the _Canter’s
Dictionary_, and has a frontispiece of the London Watchman with his
staff broken.

DECKER’S (Thomas) Gulls Hornbook, 4to. 1609

“This work affords a greater insight into the fashionable follies and
vulgar habits of Q. Elizabeth’s day than perhaps any other extant.”

DECKER’S (Thomas) O per se O, or a new Cryer of Lanthorne and Candle-light, an Addition of the Bellman’s Second Night’s Walke, 4to, black letter. 1612

A lively description of London. Contains a Canter’s Dictionary,
every word in which appears to have been taken from Harman without
acknowledgment. This is the first work that gives the Canting Song,
a verse of which is inserted at page 20 of the Introduction. This
Canting Song was afterwards inserted in nearly all Dictionaries of
Cant.

DECKER’S (Thomas) Villanies discovered by Lanthorne and Candle-light, and the Helpe of a new Cryer called O per se O, 4to. 1616

“With Canting Songs neuer before printed.”

DECKER’S (Thomas) English Villanies, eight several times prest to Death by the Printers, but still reviving again, are now the eighth time (as at the first) discovered by Lanthorne and Candle-light, &c., 4to. 1648

The eighth edition of the “_Lanthorne and Candle-light_.”

DICTIONARY of all the Cant and Flash Languages, both Ancient and Modern, 18mo. _Bailey_, 1790

DICTIONARY of all the Cant and Flash Languages, 12mo. _London_, 1797

DICTIONARY of the Canting Crew (Ancient and Modern), of Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, &c., 12mo. N.D. [1700]

DICTIONNAIRE des Halle, 12mo. _Bruxelles_, 1696

This curious Slang Dictionary sold in the Stanley sale for £4 16s.

DUCANGE ANGLICUS.—The Vulgar Tongue: comprising Two Glossaries of Slang, Cant, and Flash Words and Phrases used in London at the present day, 12mo. 1857

A silly and childish performance, full of blunders and
contradictions. A second edition appeared during the past year.

DUNCOMBE’S Flash Dictionary of the Cant Words, Queer Sayings, and Crack Terms now in use in Flash Cribb Society, 32mo, _coloured print_. 1820

DUNTON’S Ladies Dictionary, 8vo. _London_, 1694

Contains a few cant words.

EGAN. Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, with the addition of numerous Slang Phrases, edited by Pierce Egan, 8vo. 1823

The best edition of Grose, with many additions, including a Life of
this celebrated antiquarian.

EGAN’S (Pierce) Life in London, 2 vols, thick 8vo, _with coloured plates by Geo. Cruikshank, representing high and low life_. 18—

Contains numerous cant, slang sporting, and vulgar words, supposed by
the author to form the basis of conversation in life, high and low,
in London.

ELWYN’S (Alfred L.) Glossary of supposed _Americanisms_—Vulgar and Slang Words used in the United States, small 8vo. 1859

GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE, 8vo. N.D.

“In a very early volume of this parent magazine were given a few
pages, by way of sample, of a Slang Vocabulary, then termed Cant. If,
as we suspect, this part of the Magazine fell to the share of Dr.
Johnson, who was then its editor, we have to lament that he did not
proceed with the design.”—_John Bee, in the Introduction to his Slang
Dictionary_, 1825.

GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE, vol. xcii., p. 520.

Mention made of slang.

GLOSSARIES of County Dialects. V.D.

Many of these will repay examination, as they contain cant and slang
words, wrongly inserted as provincial or old terms.

GOLDEN CABINET (The) of Secrets opened for Youth’s delightful Pastime, in 7 parts, the last being the “City and Country Jester;” with a Canting Dictionary, by Dr. Surman, 12mo. _London_, N.D. (1730)

Contains some curious woodcuts.

GREENE’S (Robert) Notable Discovery of Coosnage, now daily practised by sundry lewd persons called Conie-catchers and Crosse biters. Plainly laying open those pernitious sleights that hath brought many ignorant men to confusion. Writen for the general benefit of all Gentlemen, Citizens, Aprentices, Country Farmers, and Yeomen, that may hap to fall into the company of such coosening companions. With a delightful discourse of the coosnage of Colliers, 4to, _with woodcuts_. _Printed by John Wolfe_, 1591

_The first edition._ A copy of another edition, supposed to be
_unique_, is dated 1592. It was sold at the Heber sale.

GREENE’S (Robert) Groundworke of Conny-Catching, the manner of their PEDLERS’ FRENCH, and the meanes to understand the same, with the cunning slights of the Conterfeit Cranke. Done by a Justice of the Peace of great Authoritie, 4to, _with woodcuts_. 1592

Usually enumerated among Greene’s works, but it is only a reprint,
with variations, of _Harman’s Caveat_, and of which Rowland complains
in his Martin Markall. The _second_ and _third_ parts of this curious
work were published in the same year. Two other very rare volumes by
Greene were published—_The Defence of Cony-Catching_, 4to, in 1592,
and THE BLACK BOOKES MESSENGER, in 1595. They both treat on the same
subjects.

GROSE’S (Francis, generally styled _Captain_) Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 8vo. 178—

The much sought after FIRST EDITION, but containing nothing, as far
as I have examined, which is not to be found in the _second_ and
_third_ editions. As respects indecency, I find all the editions
equally disgraceful. The Museum copy of the _First Edition_ is,
I suspect, Grose’s own copy, as it contains numerous manuscript
additions which afterwards went to form the second edition. Excepting
the obscenities, it is really an extraordinary book, and displays
great industry, if we cannot speak much of its morality. It is the
well from which all the other authors—Duncombe, Caulfield, Clarke,
Egan, &c. &c.—drew their vulgar outpourings, without in the least
purifying what they had stolen.

HAGGART. Life of David Haggart, alias John Wilson, alias Barney M‘Coul, written by himself while under sentence of Death, _curious frontispiece of the Prisoner in Irons_, intermixed with all the Slang and Cant Words of the Day, to which is added a Glossary of the same, 12mo. 1821

HALL’S (B. H.) Collection of College Words and Customs, 12mo. _Cambridge_ (_U.S._), 1856

Very complete. The illustrations are excellent.

HALLIWELL’S Archaic Dictionary, 2 vols, 8vo. 1855

An invaluable work, giving the cant words used by Decker, Brome, and
a few of those mentioned by Grose.

HARLEQUIN Jack Shepherd, with a Night Scene in Grotesque Characters, 8vo. (_About_ 1736)

Contains Songs in the Canting dialect.

HARMAN’S (Thomas, Esq.) Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, vulgarely called Vagabones, set forth for the utilitie and profit of his naturall countrey, augmented and inlarged by the first author thereof; whereunto is added the tale of the second taking of the counterfeit Crank, with the true report of his behaviour and also his punishment for his so dissembling, most marvellous to the hearer or reader thereof, newly imprinted, 4to. _Imprinted at London, by H. Middleton_, 1573

Contains the earliest Dictionary of the Cant language. Four editions
were printed—

William Griffith 1566

William Griffith 1567

William Griffith 1567

Henry Middleton, 1573

What _Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_ was to the authors of
the earlier part of the present century, Harman’s was to the Deckers,
and Bromes, and Heads of the seventeenth.

HARRISON’S (William) Description of the Island of Britain (prefixed to Holinshed’s Chronicle), 2 vols, folio. 1577

Contains an account of English vagabonds.

HAZLITT’S (William) Table Talk, 12mo (vol. ii. contains a chapter on _Familiar Style_, with a notice on _Slang Terms_.) V.D.

HEAD’S (Richard) English Rogue, described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty Extravagant, 4 vols., 12mo. _Frans. Kirkman_, 1671–80

Contains a list of cant words, evidently copied from Decker.

HELL UPON EARTH, or the most pleasant and delectable History of Whittington’s Colledge, otherwise vulgarly called Newgate, 12mo. 1703

HENLEY’S (John, _better known as_ ORATOR HENLEY) Various Sermons and Orations. 1719–53

Contain numerous vulgarisms and slang phrases.

[HITCHING’S (Charles, _formerly City Marshal, now a Prisoner in Newgate_)] Regulator; or, a Discovery of the Thieves, Thief-Takers, and Locks, alias Receivers of Stolen Goods in and about the City of London, also an Account of all the FLASH WORDS _now in vogue amongst the Thieves, &c._, 8vo., VERY RARE, _with a curious woodcut_. 1718

A violent attack upon Jonathan Wild.

HOUSEHOLD WORDS, No. 183, September 24.

Gives an interesting but badly digested article on slang; many of the
examples are wrong.

JOHNSON’S (Dr. Samuel) Dictionary (the earlier editions). V.D.

Contains a great number of words italicised as _cant_, low, or
barbarous.

JONSON’S (Ben.) Bartholomew Fair, ii., 6.

Several cant words are placed in the mouths of the characters.

JONSON’S (Ben.) Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed, 4to. 16—

Contains numerous cant words.

KENT’S (E.) Modern Flash Dictionary, containing all the Cant Words, Slang Terms, and Flash Phrases now in Vogue, 18mo., _coloured frontispiece_. 1825

L’ESTRANGE’S (Sir Roger) Works (principally translations). V.D.

Abound in vulgar and slang phrases.

LEXICON Balatronicum; a Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence, by a Member of the Whip Club, assisted by Hell-fire Dick, 8vo. 1811

One of the many reprints of _Grose’s_ second edition, put forth under
a fresh, and what was then considered more attractive title. It was
given out in advertisements, &c., as a piece of puff, that it was
edited by a Dr. H. Clarke, but it contains scarcely a line more than
Grose.

LIBER VAGATORUM: Der Betler Orden, 4to.

The first edition of this book appears to have been printed at
Augsburg, by Erhard Öglin, or Ocellus, about 1514,—a small quarto
of twelve leaves. It was frequently reprinted at other places in
Germany; and in 1528 there appeared an edition at Wittemberg, with
a preface by Martin Luther, who says that the “Rotwelsche Sprach,”
the cant language of the beggars, comes from the Jews, as it
contains many Hebrew words, as anyone who understands that language
may perceive. This book is divided into three parts, or sections;
the first gives a special account of the several orders of the
“Fraternity of Vagabonds;” the second, sundry “_notabilia_” relating
to the different classes of beggars previously described; and the
third consists of a “Rotwelsche Vocabulary,” or “Canting Dictionary.”
There is a long notice of the “Liber Vagatorum” in the “Wiemarisches
Jahrbuch,” 10te, Band, 1856. Mayhew, in his “London Labour,” states
that many of our cant words are derived from the Jew fences. It is
singular that a similar statement should have been made by Martin
Luther more than three centuries before.

LIFE IN ST. GEORGE’S FIELDS, or the Rambles and Adventures of Disconsolate William, Esq., and his Surrey Friend, Flash Dick, with Songs and a FLASH DICTIONARY, 8vo. 1821

MAGINN (Dr.) wrote Slang Songs in _Blackwood’s Magazine_. 1827

MAYHEW’S (Henry) London Labour and London Poor, 3 vols, 8vo. 1851

An invaluable work to the inquirer into popular or street language.

MAYHEW’S (Henry) Great World of London, 8vo. 1857

An unfinished work, but containing several examples of the use and
application of cant and slang words.

MIDDLETON (Thomas) and DECKER’S (Thomas) Roaring Girl; or Moll Cut Purse, 4to. 1611

The conversation in one scene is entirely in the so-called Pedlar’s
French. It is given in _Dodsley’s Old Plays_.

MODERN FLASH DICTIONARY, 48mo. 1825

The smallest slang dictionary ever printed.

MONCRIEFF’S Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, a Farce in Three Acts, 12mo. 1820

An excellent exponent of the false and forced “high life” which was
so popular during the minority of George IV. The farce had a run of
a hundred nights, or more, and was a general favourite for years.
It abounds in cant, and the language of “gig,” as it was then often
termed.

MORNINGS AT BOW STREET, by T. Wright, 12mo, _with Illustrations by George Cruikshank_. _Tegg_, 1838

In this work a few etymologies of slang words are attempted.

NEW CANTING DICTIONARY, 12mo. N.D.

A copy of this work is described in _Rodd’s Catalogue of Elegant
Literature_, 1845, part iv., No. 2128, with manuscript notes and
additions in the autograph of Isaac Reed, price £1 8s.

NEW DICTIONARY of the Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew in its several tribes of Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, Cheats, &c., with an addition of some _Proverbs, Phrases, Figurative Speeches, &c._, by B. E. GENT, 12mo. N.D. [1710]

Afterwards issued under the title of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737, and
in 1754 as the _Scoundrel’s Dictionary_.

NEW DICTIONARY of all the Cant and Flash Languages used by every class of offenders, from a Lully Prigger to a High Tober Gloak, small 8vo., pp. 62. 179—

Mentioned by John Bee.

NOTES AND QUERIES. The invaluable Index to this most useful periodical may be consulted with advantage by the seeker after etymologies of slang and cant words.

PARKER. High and Low Life, A View of Society in, being the Adventures in England, Ireland, &c., of Mr. G. Parker, a _Stage Itinerant_, 2 vols in 1, thick 12mo. _Printed for the Author_, 1781

A curious work, containing many cant words, with 100 orders of rogues
and swindlers.

PARKER’S (Geo.) Life’s Painter of Variegated Characters, with a Dictionary of Cant Language and Flash Songs, to which is added a Dissertation on Freemasonry, _portrait_, 8vo. 1789

PEGGE’S (Samuel) Anecdotes of the English Language, chiefly regarding the Local Dialect of London and Environs, 8vo. 1803–41

PERRY’S (William) London Guide and Stranger’s Safeguard, against Cheats, Swindlers, and Pickpockets, by a Gentleman who has made the Police of the Metropolis an object of enquiry twenty-two years (no wonder when the author was in prison a good portion of that time!) 1818

Contains a dictionary of slang and cant words.

PHILLIPS’ New World of Words, folio. 1696

PICKERING’S (F.) Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases which have been supposed to be peculiar to the United States of America, to which is prefixed an Essay on the present state of the English Language in the United States, 8vo. _Boston_, 1816

The remark made upon _Bartlett’s Americanisms_ applies equally to
this work.

PICTURE OF THE FANCY, 12mo. 18—

Contains numerous slang terms.

POTTER’S (H. T., of _Clay, Worcestershire_) New Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash Languages, both ancient and modern, 8vo, pp. 62. 1790

POULTER. The Discoveries of John Poulter, alias Baxter, 8vo, 48 pages. (1770?)

At pages 42, 43, there is an explanation of the “Language of Thieves,
commonly called Cant.”

PRISON BREAKER, The, or the Adventures of John Shepherd, a Farce, 8vo. _London_, 1725

Contains a canting song, &c.

PUNCH, or the London Charivari,

Often points out slang, vulgar, or abused words. It also,
occasionally, employs them in jokes, or sketches of character.

QUARTERLY REVIEW, vol. x., p. 528.

Gives a paper on Americanisms and slang phrases.

RANDALL’S (Jack, _the pugilist_, formerly of the “_Hole in the Wall_,” Chancery lane) Diary of Proceedings at the House of Call for Genius, edited by Mr. Breakwindow, to which are added several of Mr. B.’s minor pieces, 12mo. 1820

Believed to have been written by Thomas Moore. The verses are mostly
parodies of popular authors, and abound in the slang of pugilism, and
the phraseology of the fast life of the period.

RANDALL (Jack) A Few Selections from his Scrap Book; to which are added Poems on the late Fight for the Championship, 12mo. 1822

Frequently quoted by Moore in _Tom Crib’s Memorial_.

SCOUNDREL’S DICTIONARY, or an Explanation of the Cant Words used by Thieves, Housebreakers, Street-robbers, and Pickpockets about Town, with some curious dissertations on the Art of Wheedling, &c., _the whole printed from a copy taken on one of their gang, in the late scuffle between the watchmen and a party of them on Clerkenwell green_, 8vo. 1754

A reprint of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.

SHARP (Jeremy) The Life of an English Rogue, 12mo. 1740

Includes a “Vocabulary of the Gypsies’ Cant.”

SHERWOOD’S Gazetteer of Georgia, U.S., 8vo.

Contains a glossary of words, slang and vulgar, peculiar to the
Southern States.

SMITH’S (Capt.) Compleat History of the Lives and Robberies of the most Notorious Highwaymen, Foot-pads, Shop-lifts, and Cheats, of both Sexes, in and about London and Westminster, 12mo, vol. i. 1719

This volume contains “THE THIEVES NEW CANTING DICTIONARY OF THE
WORDS, PROVERBS, &c., USED BY THIEVES.”

SMITH (Capt. Alexander) The Thieves Grammar, 12mo., p. 28. 17—

A copy of this work is in the collection formed by Prince Lucien
Bonaparte.

SMITH’S (Capt.) Thieves Dictionary, 12mo. 1724

SNOWDEN’S Magistrate’s Assistant, and Constable’s Guide, thick small 8vo. 1852

Gives a description of the various orders of cadgers, beggars, and
swindlers, together with a _Glossary of the Flash Language_.

SPORTSMAN’S DICTIONARY, 4to. 17—

By an anonymous author. Contains some low sporting terms.

STANLEYE’S Remedy, or the Way how to Reform Wandring Beggers, Thieves, etc., wherein is shewed that Sodomes Sin of Idlenes is the Poverty and the Misery of this Kingdome, 4to. 1646

This work has an engraving on wood which is said to be the veritable
original of Jim Crow.

SWIFT’S coarser pieces abound in vulgarities and slang expressions.

THE TRIUMPH OF WIT, or Ingenuity display’d in its Perfection, being the Newest and most Useful Academy, Songs, Art of Love, _and the Mystery and Art of Canting, with Poems, Songs, &c., in the Canting Language_, 16mo. _J. Clarke_, 1735

What is generally termed a shilling _Chap Book_.

THE TRIUMPH OF WIT, or the Canting Dictionary, being the Newest and most Useful Academy, containing the Mystery and Art of Canting, with the original and present management thereof, and the ends to which it serves and is employed, illustrated with Poems, Songs, and various Intrigues in the Canting Language, with the Explanations, &c., 12mo. _Dublin_, N.D.

A Chap Book of 32 pages, circa 1760.

THOMAS (I.) My Thought Book, 8vo. 1825

Contains a chapter on slang.

THE WHOLE ART OF THIEVING and Defrauding Discovered: being a Caution to all Housekeepers, Shopkeepers, Salesmen, and others, to guard against Robbers of both Sexes, and the best Methods to prevent their Villanies; to which is added an Explanation of most of the cant terms in the Thieving Language, 8vo, pp. 46. 1786

TOM CRIB’S Memorial to Congress, with a Preface, Notes, and Appendix _by one of the Fancy_ [Tom Moore, the poet], 12mo. 1819

A humorous poem, abounding in slang and pugilistic terms, with a
burlesque essay on the classic origin of slang.

VACABONDES, The Fraternatye of, as well of ruflyng Vacabones, as of beggerly, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, with their proper Names and Qualities, with a Description of the Crafty Company of Cousoners and Shifters, also the XXV. Orders of Knaves; otherwyse called a Quartern of Knaves, confirmed by Cocke Lorell, 8vo. _Imprinted at London by John Awdeley, dwellyng in little Britayne streete without Aldersgate._ 1575

It is stated in _Ames’ Typog. Antiq._, vol. ii., p. 885, that an
edition bearing the date 1565 is in existence, and that the compiler
was no other than old John Audley, the printer, himself. This
conjecture, however, is very doubtful. As stated by Watt, it is more
than probable that it was written by Harman, or was taken from his
works, in MS. or print.

VAUX’S (Count de, _a swindler and a pickpocket_) Life, written by himself, 2 vols., 12mo, _to which is added a Canting Dictionary_. 1819

These Memoirs were suppressed on account of the scandalous passages
contained in them.

WEBSTER’S (Noah) Letter to the Hon. John Pickering, on the Subject of his Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases supposed to be peculiar to the United States, 8vo, pp. 69. _Boston_, 1817

WILD (Jonathan) History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild, Thieftaker, Joseph Blake, _alias_ Blue skin, Footpad, and John Sheppard, Housebreaker; together with a CANTING DICTIONARY BY JONATHAN WILD, _woodcuts_, 12mo. 1750

WILSON (Professor) contributed various Slang pieces to _Blackwood’s Magazine_; including a Review of Bee’s Dictionary.

WITHERSPOON’S (Dr., of America) Essays on Americanisms, Perversions of Language in the United States, _Cant_ phrases, &c., 8vo., in the 4th vol. of his Works. _Philadelphia_, 1801

The earliest work on American vulgarisms. Originally published
in a series of Essays, entitled the _Druid_, which appeared in a
periodical in 1761.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, &c.

_A.N._—Anglo-Norman.

_Ancient_, or _Ancient English_—Whenever these terms are employed, it
is meant to signify that the words to which they are attached were in
respectable use in or previous to the reign of Elizabeth.—See _Old_.

_Ancient Cant_—In use as a _cant_ word in or previous to the reign of
Elizabeth.

_A.S._—Anglo-Saxon.

_Beds._—Bedfordshire.

_Cor._—A corruption.

_East._—Used in the Eastern Counties.

_Eng._—English.

_Fren._—French.

_Ger._—German.

_Glouc._—Gloucestershire.

_Hants._—Hampshire.

_Ital._—Italian.

_L.F._—Lingua Franca, or Bastard Italian.

_Lat._—Latin.

_Linc._—Lincolnshire.

_Midx._—Middlesex.

_N.D._—No date.

_Norf._—Norfolk.

_Old_, or _Old English_—In general use as a respectable word in or
previous to the reign of Charles the Second.—See _Ancient_.

_Old Cant_—In use as a cant word in or previous to the reign of
Charles II.

_Oxon._—Oxfordshire.

_Prov._—Provincial.

_Pug._—Pugilistic.

_Sal._, or _Salop_—Shropshire.

_Sax._—Saxon, or Anglo-Saxon.

_Scot._—Scotch.

_Sea_—Used principally by Sailors.

_Shaks._—Shakspeare.

_Som._—Somerset.

_Span._—Spanish.

_Suf._—Suffolk.

_Theat._—Theatrical.

_Teut._—Teutonic.

_V.D._—Various dates.

_West._—Used in the Western Counties.

_Wilts._—Wiltshire.

_Worc._—Worcestershire.

_Yorks._—Yorkshire.

Footnotes

[1] “Swarms of vagabonds, whose eyes were so sharp as Lynx.”—_Bullein’s Simples and Surgery, 1562._

[2] _Mayhew_ has a curious idea upon the habitual restlessness of the nomadic tribes, _i.e._, “Whether it be that in the mere act of wandering, there is a greater determination of blood to the surface of the body, and consequently a less quantity sent to the brain.”—_London Labour_, vol. i., p. 2.

[3] Mr. Thos. Lawrence, who promised an _Etymological, Cant, and Slang Dictionary_. Where is the book?

[4] _Richardson’s Dictionary._

[5] _Description of England_, prefixed to _Holinshed’s Chronicle_.

[6] The word SLANG, as will be seen in the chapter upon that subject, is purely a Gipsey term, although now-a-days it refers to low or vulgar language of any kind,—other than cant. SLANG and GIBBERISH in the Gipsey language are synonymous; but, as English adoptions, have meanings very different from that given to them in their original.

[7] The vulgar tongue consists of two parts: the first is the CANT Language; the second, those burlesque phrases, quaint allusions, and nick names for persons, things, and places, which, from long uninterrupted usage, are made classical by prescription.—_Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_, 1st edition, 1785.

[8] “Outlandish people calling themselves _Egyptians_.” 1530.

[9] In those instances, indicated by a *, it is impossible to say whether or not we are indebted to the Gipseys for the terms. DAD, in _Welsh_, also signifies a father. CUR is stated to be a mere term of reproach, like “Dog,” which in all European languages has been applied in an abusive sense. Objections may also be raised against GAD and MAUND.

[10] JABBER, I am reminded, may be only another form of GABBER, GAB, very common in Old English, from the _Anglo-Saxon_, GÆBBAN.

[11] This very proverb was mentioned by a young Gipsey to Crabb, a few years ago.—_Gipseys’ Advocate_, p. 14.

[12] I except, of course, the numerous writers who have followed Grellman, and based their researches upon his labours.

[13] _Gipseys of Spain_, vol. i., p. 18.

[14] _Shakes._ Hen. IV., part 2, act ii, scene 4.

[15] It is easy to see how _cheat_ became synonymous with “fraud,” when we remember that it was one of the most common words of the greatest class of cheats in the country.

[16] I am reminded by an eminent philologist that the origin of QUEER is seen in the _German_, QUER, crooked,—hence “odd.” I agree with this etymology, but still have reason to believe that the word was _first_ used in this country in a cant sense. Is it mentioned any where as a respectable term before 1500? If not, it had a vulgar or cant introduction into this country.

[17] BOOGET properly signifies a leathern wallet, and is probably derived from the _low Latin_, BULGA. A tinker’s budget is from the same source.

[18] Which, literally translated, means:

Go out, good girls, and look and see,
Go out, good girls, and see;
For all your clothes are carried away,
And the good man has the money.

[19] Who wrote about the year 1610.

[20] _Gipseys of Spain_, vol. i., p. 18. Borrow further commits himself by remarking that “Head’s Vocabulary has always been accepted as the speech of the English Gipseys.” Nothing of the kind. Head professed to have lived with the Gipseys, but in reality filched his words from _Decker_ and _Brome_.

[21] The _modern_ meanings of a few of the old cant words are given in brackets.

[22] This is a curious volume, and is worth from one to two guineas. The Canting Dictionary was afterwards reprinted, word for word, with the title of _The Scoundrel’s Dictionary_, in 1751. It was originally published, without date, about the year 1710 by B. E., under the title of a _Dictionary of the Canting Crew_.

[23] _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.

[24] Mayhew’s _London Labour and London Poor_, vol. iii., No. 43, Oct. 4th, 1851.

[25] _Mayhew_ (vol. i., p. 217), speaks of a low lodging-house, “in which there were at one time five university men, three surgeons, and several sorts of broken down clerks.” But old Harman’s saying, that “a wylde Roge is he that is _borne_ a roge,” will perhaps explain this seeming anomaly.

[26] _Mr. Rawlinson’s Report to the General Board of Health, Parish of Havant, Hampshire._

[27] Vol. v., p. 210.

[28] Vol. i., pages 218 and 247.

[29] See Dictionary.

[30] Sometimes, as appears from the following, the names of persons and houses are written instead. “In almost every one of the padding-kens, or low lodging-houses in the country, there is a list of walks pasted up over the kitchen mantel piece. Now at St. Albans, for instance, at the ——, and at other places, there is a paper stuck up in each of the kitchens. This paper is headed “WALKS OUT OF THIS TOWN,” and underneath it is set down the names of the villages in the neighbourhood at which a beggar may call when out on his walk, and they are so arranged as to allow the cadger to make a round of about six miles each day, and return the same night. In many of these papers there are sometimes twenty walks set down. No villages that are in any way “gammy” [bad] are ever mentioned in these papers, and the cadger, if he feels inclined to stop for a few days in the town, will be told by the lodging-house keeper, or the other cadgers that he may meet there, what gentlemen’s seats or private houses are of any account on the walk that he means to take. The names of the good houses are not set down in the paper for fear of the police.”—_Mayhew_, vol. i., p. 418.

[31] _Mayhew_, vol. i., p. 218.

[32] See Dictionary.

[33] _Mayhew_, vol. i., p. 218.

[34] _Mr. Rawlinson’s Report to the General Board of Health,—Parish of Havant, Hampshire._

[35] This term, with a singular literal downrightness, which would be remarkable in any other people than the French, is translated by them as the sect of _Trembleurs_.

[36] Swift alludes to this term in his _Art of Polite Conversation_, p. 14. 1738.

[37] See _Notes and Queries_, vol. i., p. 185. 1850.

[38] He afterwards kept a tavern at Wapping, mentioned by Pope in the _Dunciad_.

[39] _Sportsman’s Dictionary_, 1825, p. 15. I have searched the venerable magazine in vain for this Slang glossary.

[40] Introduction to _Bee’s Sportsman’s Dictionary_, 1825.

[41] The Gipseys use the word Slang as the Anglican synonyme for Romany, the continental (or rather Spanish) term for the Cingari or Gipsey tongue. _Crabb_, who wrote the _Gipsies’ Advocate_ in 1831, thus mentions the word:—“This language [Gipsey] _called by themselves_ _Slang_, or _Gibberish_, invented, as they think, by their forefathers for secret purposes, is not merely the language of one or a few of these wandering tribes, which are found in the European nations, but is adopted by the vast numbers who inhabit the earth.”

[42] The word SLANG assumed various meanings amongst costermongers, beggars, and vagabonds of all orders. It was, and is still, used to express cheating by false weights, a raree show, for retiring by a back door, for a watch-chain, and for their secret language.

[43] _North_, in his _Examen_, p. 574, says, “I may note that the rabble first changed their title, and were called the mob in the assemblies of this [Green Ribbon] club. It was their beast of burden, and called first _mobile vulgus_, but fell naturally into the contraction of one syllable, and ever since is become proper English.” In the same work, p. 231, the disgraceful origin of SHAM is given.

[44] It is rather singular that this popular journal should have contained a long article on _Slang_ a short time ago.

[45] The writer is quite correct in instancing this piece of fashionable twaddle. The mongrel formation is exceedingly amusing to a polite Parisian.

[46] Savez vous cela?

[47] From an early period politics and partyism have attracted unto themselves quaint Slang terms. Horace Walpole quotes a party nickname of February, 1742, as a Slang word of the day:—“The Tories declare against any further prosecution, if Tories there are, for now one hears of nothing but the BROAD-BOTTOM; it is the reigning Cant word, and means the taking all parties and people, indifferently, into the ministry.” Thus BROAD-BOTTOM in those days was Slang for _coalition_.

[48] This is more especially an amusement with medical students, and is comparatively unknown out of London.

[49] _Edinburgh Review_, October, 1853.

[50] A term derived from the _Record Newspaper_, the exponent of this singular section of the Low, or so called Evangelical Church.

[51] A preacher is said, in this phraseology, to be OWNED, when he makes many converts, and his converts are called his SEALS.

[52] “All our newspapers contain more or less colloquial words; in fact, there seems no other way of expressing certain ideas connected with passing events of every-day life, with the requisite force and piquancy. In the English newspapers the same thing is observable, and certain of them contain more of the class denominated Slang words than our own.”—_Bartlett’s Americanisms_, p. x., 1859.

[53] The terms _leader_ and _article_ can scarcely be called Slang, yet it would be desirable to know upon what authority they were first employed in their present peculiar sense.

[54] For some account of the origin of these nicknames see under MRS. HARRIS in the Dictionary.

[55] See Dictionary.

[56] _Mayhew_, vol. i., p. 24.

[57] My informant preferred EARTH to ERTH,—for the reason, he said, “that it looked more sensible!”

[58] The famous printers and publishers of sheet songs and last dying speeches thirty years ago.

[59] The writer, a street chaunter of ballads and last dying speeches, alludes in his letter to two celebrated criminals, Thos Drory, the murderer of Jael Denny, and Sarah Chesham, who poisoned her husband, accounts of whose Trials and “Horrid Deeds” he had been selling. I give a glossary of the cant words:

_Thickun_, a crownpiece.

_Dowry of Parny_, a lot of rain.

_Stumped_, bankrupt.

_Coopered_, spoilt.

_Bossman_, a farmer.

⁂ Drory was a farmer.

_Patter_, trial.

_Tops_, last dying speeches.

_Dies, ib._

_Croaks, ib._

_Burick_, a woman.

_Topped_, hung.

_Sturaban_, a prison.

_Quid_, a sovereign.

_James, ib._

_Clye_, a pocket.

_Carser_, a house or residence.

_Speel on the Drum_, to be off to the country.

_All Square_, all right, or quite well.

New Books Published by JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN, 151B, PICCADILLY.

Now ready, SECOND EDITION, beautifully printed, Fcap. 8vo, pp. 316, cloth extra, 4s. 6d.,

=A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant=, and VULGAR WORDS, used at the present day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James: preceded by a HISTORY OF CANT AND VULGAR LANGUAGE _from the time of Henry VIII., showing its connection with the_ GIPSEY TONGUE; with GLOSSARIES OF TWO SECRET LANGUAGES, _spoken by the Wandering Tribes of London, the Costermongers, and the Patterers_. BY A LONDON ANTIQUARY. Fcp. 8vo. _extra cloth_. WITH A CURIOUS WOODCUT, “=A Cadger’s Map of a Beggar’s District=,” _and Explanation of_ THE HIEROGLYPHICS USED BY VAGABONDS.

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“The author has spared no pains to make his little volume perfect,
both by collecting original and unused material from costermongers,
vagabonds, and tramps, and by consulting nearly all writers who
have gone before. * * * The author divides SLANG into _historical_,
_fashionable_, _parliamentary_, _military and dandy_, _university_,
_religious_, _legal_, _literary_, _theatrical_, _civic_, _money_,
_shopkeepers’ and workmen’s slang_,—the _slang apologies for oaths_,
and the _slang of drunkenness_. The Freemasonry of tramps and
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* * * His work is carefully and honestly performed, and we hope that
the writer will read our remarks [five full columns] in a proper
spirit, and, in the latest slang of the present hour, will “TAKE THEM
ON HIS HEAD LIKE A BIRD.”—_Athenæum._

“Extremely interesting. This little volume is evidently the result of
a great deal of labour, as all works must be that are, in the chief
part, collected directly by the observation and care of the author:
and this we believe is the case in the present instance. The author
we suspect to be identical with the publisher, and if so, he has
had great opportunity by his possession of a large amount of scarce
tracts, ballads, and street publications, of informing himself of the
language of the vagabond portion of our population.”—_Leader._

“There is a certain amount of interest in preserving the origin of
slang words as a record of existing manners, and of those strange
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“This new Dictionary of our English cant and slang is _full_, and
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“The ‘London Antiquary’ has certainly taken up a very curious and
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=Anecdotes of the Green Room and= STAGE; or Leaves from an Actor’s Note-Book, at Home and Abroad, by GEORGE VANDENHOFF.

☞ Mr. Vandenhoff, who earned for himself, both in the Old and New Worlds, the title of THE CLASSIC ACTOR, has retired from the Stage. His reminiscences are extremely interesting, and include Original Anecdotes of the Keans (father and son), the two Kembles, Macready, Cooke, Liston, Farren, Elliston, Braham and his Sons, Phelps, Buckstone, Webster, Chas. Mathews: Siddons, Vestris, Helen Faucit, Mrs. Nisbett, Miss Cushman, Miss O’Neil, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Chas. Kean, Rachel, Ristori, and many other dramatic celebrities.

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=Rubbing the Gilt Off: a West End Book= for All Readers. By JOHN HOLLINGSHEAD, Author of “Under Bow Bells, a City Book for All Readers.”

WITH A HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATION.

CONTENTS.

The Humiliation of Fogmoor.

A Pet of the Law.

Navy Dry Rot.

How to Make a Madman.

Nine Kings.

An Official Scarecrow.

A Model Theatre.

The Suffering Sinecurist.

A National Christmas Bill.

The Social Reformer.

Mudfog on Colonies.

Diplomatic World.

The Man behind my Chair.

Wanted, a Court Guide.

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=Gog and Magog; or, the History of the= Guildhall Giants. With Some Account of the Giants which Guard English and Continental Cities. By F. W. FAIRHOLT, F.S.A.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS ON WOOD BY THE AUTHOR, COLOURED AND PLAIN.

⁂ The critiques which have appeared upon this amusing little work have been uniformly favourable. The _Athenæum_ pronounces it a perfect model of successful antiquarian exposition, readable from the first line to the last. The _Art Journal_ devotes a considerable space to the little work, and congratulates the author upon his success. The _Leader_ contributes two full columns of eulogy. The _Builder_ directs its readers to purchase it. The _Critic_ says, in a long article, that it thoroughly explains who these old Giants were, the position they occupied in popular mythology, the origin of their names, and a score of other matters, all of much interest in throwing a light upon fabulous portions of our history.

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=Photographic Pleasures: Popularly= pourtrayed with Pen and Pencil. By CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A., Author of “Verdant Green,” &c.

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“The ludicrous side of Photography is fair game for the caricaturist.
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new art.”—_Athenæum._

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the world of Doyle, and quick apprehension of Leech.”—_Herald._

NEW WORK BY THE LATE DOUGLAS JERROLD.

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=Old Wine in New Bottles: Tales and= Sketches of Life and Character, by DOUGLAS JERROLD, edited, with an Introduction, by his son, Blanchard Jerrold. With Illustrations by John Leech.

⁂ This work will contain some of the most characteristic pieces from the pen of the master wit—tales hitherto unknown and untold. Amongst others may be enumerated:—

Some Account of a Stage Devil.

Baron von Botts, a Tale of Blood.

A Chapter on Black Dogs.

The Actress at the Duke’s.

Papers of a Gentleman-at-Arms.

Bully Bottom’s Babes.

The Rocking Horse.

My Husband’s Winnings: a Household Incident.

The Lamp-post: a Household Narrative.

Midnight at Madame T.’s.

The Old Boatman.

Solomon’s Ape.

Patty Larkspur’s Watch.

The Tutor Fiend and his Three Pupils.

Lizzy’s Back Hair.

Christopher Snub, who was Born’d to be Hang’d.

Recollections of Guy Fawkes, &c. &c.

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=A Pedlar’s Wallet: Filled from Household= Words, by DUDLEY COSTELLO.

This work will comprise some of the best papers contributed to Charles Dickens’ famous periodical.

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=The Choicest Jests of English Wits=; from the Rude Jokes of the Ancient Jesters, to the refined and impromptu Witticisms of Theodore Hook and Douglas Jerrold. Including the Cream of Joe Miller: comprising the best Sayings, Facetious and Merry, which have contributed to give to our country the name of Merry England.

Nearly ready, beautifully printed, on fine paper, fcap. 8vo, pp. 350, price 5s.,

=The History of Playing Cards, and the= VARIOUS GAMES connected with them, from the Earliest Ages; with some Account of Card Conjuring, and Old-Fashioned Tricks.

ILLUSTRATED WITH FORTY CURIOUS WOODCUTS ON TINTED PAPER.

This most amusing work, introducing the reader to a curious chapter of our social history, gives an interesting account, replete with anecdotes, of the most popular and widely known pastime which has ever been invented by man for his amusement. A more instructive and entertaining book could not be taken in hand for a pleasant hour’s reading.

Two Vols. royal 8vo, handsomely printed, £2 8s.

=Ancient Songs, Ballads, and Dance= TUNES of the Olden Time, illustrative of the National Music of England, with Introductions to the different Reigns, and Notices of the Airs from Writers of the Sixteenth Century; also a Short Account of the Minstrels, by W. CHAPPELL, F.S.A.

This interesting work forms the largest and most complete collection of Ancient British Ballads and Songs ever published. The words are from the original old copies, and the addition of the Old Tunes to which they were formerly sung is an interesting and most curious feature. Several facsimiles adorn the work.

Preparing for publication, fcap. 8vo, beautifully printed,

=Old English Ballads, relating to New= England, the Plantations, and other Parts of North America; with Ancient Poetical Squibs on the Puritans and the Quakers who emigrated there; now first collected from the original excessively rare Broadsides sold in the streets at the time, and edited with Explanatory Notes. _Illustrated with facsimiles of the very singular woodcuts which adorn the original Songs and Ballads._

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=Garland of Pepysian Ballads, Historical=, ROMANTIC, and HUMOROUS, some illustrating Shakespere, edited by EDWARD F. RIMBAULT, Esq., LL.D.

It is well known that the unfortunate regulation imposed by Pepys, the celebrated diarist, that his Manuscripts and Books should never be examined save in the presence of a Fellow of the College at Cambridge where they are preserved, has hitherto alone prevented the collecting and publishing some of the more interesting of these world-renowned Ballads and Songs. The difficulty, however, has been surmounted by Dr. Rimbault, aided by the authorities of Magdalene College; and the lovers of our charming old popular poetry will be glad to know that a _Garland_ of these Balladian ditties is in course of publication. The work will be preceded by an Introduction on Ballad Lore, Ballad Writers, and Ballad Printers, giving some new and interesting particulars gathered from “old bookes,” and other sources, hitherto unexplored. The publisher would state that the work will be beautifully printed by Whittingham, and that it will be adorned by a curious woodcut facsimile frontispiece.

Nearly ready, in small 4to, half morocco, very neat,

An hitherto unknown Poem, written by John Bunyan, whilst confined in Bedford Jail, for the Support of his Family, entitled,

=Profitable Meditations, Fitted to Man’s= DIFFERENT CONDITION; in a Conference between Christ and a Sinner. By JOHN BUNYAN, Servant to the Lord Jesus Christ.

_London: Printed for Francis Smith at the Sign of the Elephant and Castle without Temple Bar, 1661_

This very interesting, though melancholy literary memorial of the Author of the celebrated Pilgrim’s Progress, will be choicely reprinted by Whittingham, from the only known copy lately discovered by the publisher. It will be edited, with an Introduction by George Offor, Esq. The impression will be limited.

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=Magna Charta. An Exact Facsimile of= the Original Document, preserved in the British Museum, very carefully drawn, and printed on fine plate paper, nearly 3 feet long by 2 feet wide, with the ARMS AND SEALS OF THE BARONS ELABORATELY EMBLAZONED IN GOLD AND COLOURS.

A.D. 1215

COPIED BY EXPRESS PERMISSION, and the only _correct_ drawing of the Great Charter _ever taken_. This important memorial of the liberties and rights of Englishmen is admirably adapted for framing, and would hang with propriety from the walls of every house in the country. As a guarantee to the purchaser that the facsimile is exact, the publisher need only state that Sir Frederick Madden has permitted copies to hang for public inspection upon the walls of the Manuscript Department in the British Museum. It was executed by Mr. Harrison, under whose auspices the splendid work on the Knights of the Garter was produced some years ago.

A LITERARY AND PHILOLOGICAL CURIOSITY.

Shortly will be published, in square 12mo, beautifully printed, price 3s. 6d.,

=The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars=, (LIBER VAGATORUM: _Der Betler Orden_), with a Vocabulary of their Language (_Rotwelsche Sprach_); edited, with Preface, by MARTIN LUTHER, in the year 1528. NOW FIRST TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, WITH NOTES, by JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN.

⁂ This very singular work is comparatively unknown in this country. The first edition appears to have been printed at Augsburg, by Erhard Öglin, or Ocellus, as early as 1514—a small quarto of twelve leaves. It was frequently reprinted at other places in Germany; and in 1528 there appeared an edition at Wittemberg, with a Preface by Martin Luther, from which the present translation has been made. The work is divided into three parts or sections; the first gives a special account of the several orders of the “Fraternity of Vagabonds;” the second, sundry _notabilia_ relating to the different classes of beggars previously described; and the third consists of a CANTING DICTIONARY. It is singular that more than three centuries ago Martin Luther should have declared that the cant language of beggars comes from the Hebrews, and that in our own time a similar statement should be made by Mayhew in his _London Labour_. Mayhew says that many of the most expressive street terms in every day use by London and provincial vagabonds are derived from the Jew _Fences_.

Now ready, fcap. 8vo, beautifully printed by Whittingham, price 2s.,

=Letters of the Marchioness Broglio Solari=, one of the Maids of Honour to the Princess Lamballe, &c.; with a Sketch of her Life, and Recollections of Celebrated Characters (intended to have been sold at 5s.)

The Marchioness Broglio Solari was the natural grand-daughter of Lord Hyde Clarendon, and consequently one of the collateral branches of the Queens Mary and Ann, and their grand-father, the great Chancellor of England. She played an important part in the French Revolution; was the friend of Emperors and Princes; was intimately acquainted with George the Fourth, Burke, Sheridan, Madame de Stael, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Sir H. Davy, Paganini, &c., of most of whom she gives characteristic anecdotes. The Marchioness endured many troubles, was robbed of her fortune, and for some time obtained her living as an actress at the theatres of London and Dublin. This work was published by an intimate friend, and the entire impression (with the exception of a few copies) passed into the hands of the family. It is believed that only 150 copies were printed. The book (by those who know of its existence) has always been considered as a _suppressed work_.

[In preparation.]

=The History of English Popular Literature=, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF CHEAP OR CHAP-BOOKS, Penny and Sixpenny Histories, Old Romances, Fairy Tales, Books of Wonder, Garlands and Penny Collections of Ballads, Books of Recipes and Instruction, Jest Books, &c.; ALSO THE HISTORY OF THE RISE OF CHEAP SERIAL LITERATURE. 8vo.

This very important work will range with _Nisard’s History of French Popular Literature_, 2 vols., Paris, 1854. It will be illustrated with numerous exceedingly curious woodcuts, many by FAIRHOLT, and several from the original blocks used by the old London Bridge and Aldermary Church Yard publishers.

Printed by TAYLOR & GREENING, Graystoke-place, Fetter-lane, London, E.C.

* * * * *

Transcriber’s Notes

Variant spelling and hyphenation have been preserved as printed; simple typographical errors have been corrected.

The following changes were also made:

Page 24:
_ROME BOUSE_ [rum booze], [TN: added comma]

Page 25:
and what schoolboys term “freeing.”] [TN: added closing bracket]

Page 32:
through the caprices of fashion. [TN: deleted extraneous quotation
mark]

Page 35:
“Hou_g_ do_g_ you_g_ do_g_?” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 67:
a “GRACIOUS child,” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 91:
singular enough now, but common forty years ago. [TN: deleted
extraneous quotation mark]

Page 95:
“oh, BETTER ’n a mile.” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 95:
talk BIG,” _i.e._ [TN: was "ie."]

Page 96:
BLOOD-RED [TN: added hyphen]

Page 98:
“O du _blühende_ [TN: was "bülhende"]

Page 103:
having been at first plastered [TN: was "filastered"]

Page 127:
“tip us your DADDLES,” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 133:
“what does he intend to imply?” [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 135:
DUNAKER, a stealer of cows or calves. [TN: added period]

Page 138:
“cut up FAT,” [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 142:
FLUMMUXED, stopped, used up. [TN: added period]

Page 148:
GO, a GO of gin, [TN: added comma]

Page 152:
for his customers to visit him. [TN: was a comma]

Page 154:
ST. BEE’S.—_University._ [TN: added period]

Page 156:
feigning sickness or other means. [TN: added period]

Page 164:
KIMBO, or A-KIMBO [TN: was "A KIMBO"]

Page 167:
“landsman.”—_See_ LOAFER [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 174:
“gay women.” [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 177:
MUMMER, a performer at a travelling theatre. [TN: added period]

Page 178:
“he picked up a bit of MUSLIN.” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 180:
NESTS, varieties.—_Old_. [TN: added period]

Page 182:
NYMPH OF THE PAVE (_French_, PAVÉ [TN: was "PAVÈ"]

Page 190:
“PIPE one’s eye.” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 191:
“he’s a rare PLUCKED-’UN,” _i.e._ [TN: added period]

Page 194:
PRIG, a thief. [TN: added period]

Page 194:
PUB, or PUBLIC, a public-house. [TN: added period]

Page 196:
“M.B.” coats worn by Tractarian curates.— [TN: deleted extraneous
quotation mark]

Page 199:
“Lord Strut was not very _flush_ in READY.” [TN: added closing
quotation mark]

Page 199:
RIBROAST, to beat till the ribs are sore. [TN: was a comma]

Page 200:
“Rip! well, he was an old RIP, and no mistake.” [TN: added closing
quotation mark]

Page 202:
“ROUGHING IT _in the Bush_” [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 204:
or SALOP, a greasy [TN: deleted extraneous comma]

Page 204:
NOVE SOLDI. [TN: added period]

Page 218:
is supposed to be analogous [TN: was "analagous"]

Page 220:
Tops are out; SMUGGING about.” [TN: single quote changed to double]

Page 227:
“a rum START,” [TN: added opening quotation mark]

Page 227:
“to get the START of a person,” to anticipate [TN: deleted extraneous
comma]

Page 234:
“to TAKE THE FIELD,” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 236:
swim in twentie of their boats over the river UPON TICKET.” [TN:
added closing quotation mark]

Page 241:
TWIST, appetite; “Will’s got a capital TWIST. [TN: was a comma]

Page 242:
TWOPENNY, the head; “tuck in your TWOPENNY, [TN: was a period]

Page 242:
hornpipes in fetters, _à la_ Jack Sheppard, [TN: was a period]

Page 244:
WALK-THE-BARBER, [TN: added comma]

Page 244:
WALL-FLOWER, [TN: added comma]

Page 244:
this word from an ancestor of the Earl of Portsmouth, [TN: added
comma]

Page 245:
Generally used to express anything dishonestly taken. [TN: added
period]

Page 247:
“_Jack made a_ DOOGHENO HIT _this morning_,” [TN: added opening
quotation mark]

Page 277:
BAILEY’S (Nath.) Etymological English Dictionary, 2 vols, 8vo. [TN:
added period]

Page 283:
Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 8vo. 178— [TN: final
number missing; em dash added]

Page 284:
(prefixed to Holinshed’s Chronicle) [TN: added closing parenthesis]

Page 293:
—SOUTH. [TN: added em dash]

Page 294:
‘Sam Slick’ [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 295:
many wonderful stories are told.” [TN: added closing quotation mark]

Page 299:
other sources, hitherto unexplored. [TN: added period]

Page 300:
one of the Maids of Honour to the Princess Lamballe, &c. [TN: added
period]

Page 300:
The Marchioness Broglio [TN: was "Broglia"]