Univ.of in. Library ■ | B. V385V1 1819 » ±•1 t - cn „..Y CF ILLINOIS LIBRARY at UBBANA'CHAMPAIGN STACKS UN'iVERSiT' MEMOIRS, §C. fyc. no * MEMOIRS OF JAMES HARDY YAUX. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : PRINTED BY W. CLOWES, NORTHVMBERLAND-COURT, STRAND, AND SOLD BY ALL RESPECTABLE BOOKSELLERS. 1819 . . > At. , Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 ; ■ • ■ • . ■ . • https://archive.org/details/memoirsofjamesha02vaux 'Stef? jM? yp ac, %■ . 'J'ifLS'l X 'J.Q CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER I. I arrive in London-A sudden alarm-Visit my mother and sisters — Set out for S shire-interview with my grand- father-Return to town-A lucky hit on the road_Ob- tain a situation in the Crown-Office, page 1. CHAP. II. Quit the Crown-Office, and engage as reader in a ' V nnt, "J- office — Determine to live a strictly honest life - ee wi an old acquaintance who laughs me out of my resolut.on- Give up all thoughts of servitude, and become a professe thief, page 20. CHAP. HI Various modes of obtaining money My legulai life, when disengaged from my vicious compamons- Meet with an amiable girl, like myself the chnd of mis- fortune— We cohabit together— Our mutual happiness, page 269- CHAP. IV. Adventures in the course of my profligate caree, -Motives which induce me to marry my eompamon-Her exem- plary behaviour— A family misfortune, page 277. VI CONTENTS. CHAP. V. \ Adventure of the silver snuff-box — Its consequences. — My narrow escape from transportation, which I have since had reason to regret, page 333. CHAP. VI. Visit Mr. Bilger, an eminent jeweller — His politeness, and the return 1 made for it — Perfidy of a pawnbroker — Obliged to decamp with precipitation, page 52. CHAP. VII. Take a house in St. George’s Fields — Stay at home for seve- ral weeks — At length I venture out in quest of money — My imprudent obstinacy in entering a house of ill repute, against the advice and entreaties of my wife — I am taken in custody and carried to the watch-house. — Distress of my wife on the occasion, page 7 1 . CHAP. VIII. Discover that I have been betrayed — Examined at Bow- street, and committed for trial — Sent to Newgate — Pre- pare for my defence — My trial and conviction, page 83. CHAP. IX. Account of my companion and fellow-sufferer in the con- demned cells — His unhappy fate — I receive sentence of death — Am reprieved, and soon afterwards sent on board the hulks — Some account of those receptacles of human misery, page 97. CHAP. X. I embark a second time for New South Wales — Indulgently treated by the Captain — My employment during the CONTENTS. vii voyage — Arrive at Port Jackson, after an absence of four years — My reception from Governor Macquarrie — As- signed by lot to a settler — His brutal treatment of me — I find means to quit his service, and return to Sydney, page 113. CHAP. XI. Appointed an overseer — Determine to reform my life, and become a new man — All my good intentions rendered unavailing by an unforeseen and unavoidable misfortune — I become a victim to prejudice, and the depravity of a youth in years, but a veteran in iniquity — I am banished to the coal-river, page 122. CHAP. XII. Return to head-quarters, after an exile of two years — Renew my vows of rectitude, to which 1 strictly adhere — Propo- sal made me to obtain my liberty — I make the attempt — Its failure, and the consequent punishment inflicted on me — Conclusion, page 137. 1 . MEMOIRS OF JAMES HARDY YAUX. CHAPTER I. I arrive in London , — A sudden Alarm . — Visit my Mother and Sisters . Set out for S — - — shire , — Interview with my Grandfather, — Return to Town . — A lucky Hit on the Road, — Obtain a Situation in the Crown- Office, About four miles from Gosport, is a place called Fareham, where is a gate, through which on the coach passing, I had always understood that the passengers were subject to an overhaul, as the sailors term it. I was, therefore, somewhat alarmed during this part of my journey. I felt confident, however, that I could give a good account of myself, had I been questioned ; but to my great joy, on our approach, the gate was thrown open, and the coach passed without stopping. I now felt extremely cold, and my dress being thin, 1 suffered much during the night. In order to counteract the effects of the VOL. II. B 2 frost, I fortified myself with a good dram of brandy at every stage, and the ensuing morning proving delightfully fine, I at length found both my animal and mental spirits revive, and my heart beat high with expectation of the happiness I anticipated. About eight o’clock I was gratified with a sight of Hyde Park Corner ; and I leave the reader to ima- gine what transports I felt at the difference between my then situation and that from which 1 had so recently and happily emerged. On my ascending the coach at Gosport, 1 had placed myself on the roof between two men who had the appearance of country farmers, and I maintained that situation throughout the night, by which indeed I was some- thing benefited, for they had both good great-coats, and we sitting rather crowded, I was warmer than I should otherwise have been. On the coach stop- ping at the Gloucester Coffee-house, Piccadilly, I expressed my intention to alight and walk ; the two farmers had the same inclination, and I ob- served, that if they were going my way, I should be glad of their company. They answered they were strangers in town, and their only object was to find out the inn from which the Yorkshire coach set out, as they were about proceeding to that county im- mediately. I replied, I was myself almost a stranger to those matters, but I fancied the inn lay in the way I was going, and that 1 would with pleasure conduct them to it. We accordingly set forwards, 3 and walked through Piccadilly, the Haymarket, Strand, fyc., until we came to Fetter-lane ; and ar- riving at the White Horse, I was, I found, right in my conjecture, for the York coach was among the number of those advertised in large characters on each side the gateway of the inn. I introduced them to the coach-office, where they took places for the ensuing evening ; and, as my night’s ride had brought me to an appetite, I proposed (before going to my mother’s, whose lodgings were close at hand,) that we should breakfast together ; to which they assenting, I conducted them to the coffee- room, and calling the waiter, ordered tea, coffee, and plenty of muffins with all possible speed. We had nearly concluded our meal, and I had just bespoke a morning paper from the waiter, when the room beginning to fill, several gentlemen entered, and passed the table at which we sat, proceeding to the upper end of the room. At that moment a voice struck my ear, which almost petrified me with fear and astonishment, for I felt persuaded at the time that it was that of Mr. Oxley himself, exclaiming, u Waiter, see that portmanteau of mine brought in.” On hearing these words, I almost dropped the tea-cup from my hand, and on the impulse of the moment, quitted my seat, and hastily left the room ; nor did 1 stop for a moment’s reflec- tion until I had crossed Holborn, and found myself at the corner of Gray’s-Inn-Lane. Then, however, b 2 4 conceiving I was out of danger, I endeavoured to rally my spirits, and to persuade myself that I must have been mistaken, as it was highly improbable that Mr. Oxley, whom I had left on board the Buffalo, should so suddenly have arrived in town, and particularly at the White Horse, no Portsmouth or Gosport coach setting up there. However, Mr. Oxley’s voice and manner of speaking being a little remarkable, I was so far in doubt that I determined not to return. What opinion the countrymen must form of me, I know not ; it is likely they would impute my unmannerly departure to a design of avoiding payment of the reckoning. I have since ascertained that I was mistaken in my conjecture, for Mr. Oxley did not quit the ship until several days afterwards. I now repaired to Middle-Row r , and inquiring for my mother, was ushered up stairs, where I found her and my two sisters pretty comfortably situated in a genteel first floor, w hich they hired ready fur- nished. They all expressed great joy at seeing me. My mother appeared to be in a declining state, but mv sisters were much improved, and really very fine girls. I understood that the whole family were supported by the industry of the latter, who worked incessantly at their needle, being excellent profi- cients in fancy-work, which they obtained from various shops. Having explained to my mother the particulars of my situation, and the risk I had incurred by my desertion ; and recollecting that I had inconsiderately suffered her letter, in which was her address, to be seen by several persons on board the Buffalo, it occurred to me that Captain Houston might possibly come to the knowledge of that par- ticular, the consequence of which might be fatal to me. It was the opinion of my mother, that I should on that account, absent myself from town for a few weeks, until the affair was blown over, and my mother advised that I should go down to my relations in S shire. I accordingly the next day set out by the coach, an aunt of mine who was in good circumstances, supplying me with the needful. On arriving at S I went to a public-house, which was still kept by a woman who had known me from my infancy ; as I feared to break abruptly on my aged grandfather, who might be too much affected to sustain the surprise, I, therefore, got the landlady to send word that a stranger had arrived, who brought news from his grandson : having thus prepared the way, I followed in person, and was received with transport by my dear and venerable benefactor. On inquiring into his circumstances, I was grieved to learn that he had been for several years obliged to subsist upon the charity of his friends, and particularly the worthy family of the Moultries, of whom I have made honourable men- tion in the second chapter of these Memoirs. I was also concerned to find that the dear old man’s B 3 6 faculties were much impaired, and my grief was heightened by the reflection that my misconduct and consequent misfortunes had been the primary cause of his mental as well as pecuniary distress. My other relatives in S treated me with every mark of attention, and I was hospitably entertained by them all during my stay in that town. It is to be observed, that only two or three of my nearest relations were acquainted with the events of my life for the last seven years. It was given out that I had been abroad, but it was understood in a res- pectable capacity. About a fortnight after my arrival in S shire, I received a letter from my mother, informing me that no inquiry whatever had been made respecting me, and concluding from thence that I might with safety return when I thought proper. As no prospect of employment presented itself in the country, it was the opinion of my friends that I should again try my fortune in London; for which purpose they jointly supplied me with money to defray my present expenses, and contributed among them a few necessaries I was most in need of. I was persuaded that my dear grandfather would not experience the want of any reasonable comforts during the short remaining term of his life, which could not in all probability be long protracted. I was, therefore, less solicitous about continuing on* the spot, as my presence in fact only tended to recall to his half-distracted 7 mind the remembrance of former and better days. My grandfather gave me letters of recommendation to several of his old law acquaintances, particularly one to a Mr. Belt, who held a superior situation in the crown-office, and who had formerly been articled to himself when resident in London. All things being arranged, I once more took leave of my friends, and set off by the coach for London, -on the 1st of January, 1808. Having occasion to take a fresh coach at Birmingham, and wishing to take a little recreation, which the restraint 1 was under at S , and the nature of the place had hitherto precluded me. from, and having the pecu- niary means of so doing in my power, I determined on devoting a few days to that object, before I resumed my journey to London. After three days* amusement I again took coach, and having travelled all night, we stopped about seven in the morning at Henley-upon-Thames to breakfast. I had been so free in my expenses at Birmingham, that I had at this time but four shillings left in my purse. I therefore declined alighting, in order to save the cost of a breakfast, as I had had a snack at the last stage, and felt no inclination to eat. The other passengers having entered the house, I remained alone in the coach, the horses being taken out, and the coachman and guard having also quitted it. After sitting a few minutes, it occurred to me that I had seen a number of small parcels put into the b 4 seats of the coach, previous to our departure from Birmingham ; and, having frequently heard of large sums in bank-notes being transmitted by this mode of conveyance to London, I was tempted to purloin one of them, which it appeared I should run no risk in doing, as the coast was clear, and I had a large bundle of linen, deposited in one of the seats. I solemnly declare that until this moment, no idea of depredation had entered my head since my arrival in England ; the act was, therefore, per- fectly unpremeditated. Without hesitation then, I opened the seat, and taking out my bundle, untied it, in case of a surprise. As I had not time to exa- mine the contents of the various parcels, I deter- mined to trust to fortune, and therefore took out the first which came to hand. It was enclosed in brown paper, tied with packthread, about twelve inches by eight in size, and from its weight and hardness, I supposed it to contain some kind of cutlery or other hardware ; but as such goods w ere commonly packed up with bank-notes, to prevent a suspicion of money being enclosed, the apparent contents were a matter of indifference to me. The parcel was directed to a Mr. , Goodge- street, Tottenham-court-road.” This circumstance convinced me there could be no discovery of the robbery until after I was far enough from the coach, which I intended to quit on arriving at the Glou- cester Coffee-house, as, in case I had gone on to the 9 George and Blue-boar in Holborn, the parcel might possibly have been searched for, on our passing the end of Tottenham-court-road. Having concealed my prize in my own bundle, which I replaced in the seat, I judged it best to alight and partake of breakfast with the other passengers. 1 was also in better spirits on account of the confidence I felt, that 1 should find something in the parcel to recruit my slender finances ; as, let the contents be what they might, it was probable they would produce me at least a guinea or two, which would supply m}' immediate exigencies. I accordingly entered the parlour, and took a cup of coffee with the company. The bill being called, amounted to two shillings and three pence per head ; I put down half-a-crown, which left me in possession of eighteen pence. We then re-ascended the coach, and resumed our journey. At three in the afternoon we entered London, and stopping as usual at the Gloucester Coffee-house, I told the coachman I should then leave him, as I resided in the neigh- bourhood. He inquired if I had any luggage, and on my saying I had a bundle in the seat, he opened the door and handed it to me. I gratified him with a shilling out of my small stock, and made the best of my way. Having suffered the coach to pass on, I followed slowly until I arrived in Holborn ; but previous to visiting my mother, I entered a public-house, being anxious to examine b 5 10 my newly-acquired prize. Retiring to a private room, I cut the string with a trembling hand, and opening the outside paper, found three several parcels (also in brown paper,) lying one upon another. Developing the first of these, I found it to contain, to my no small surprise and chagrin, a quantity of fine, new twelvepenny nails ! about a hundred in number. My hopes now fell to the ground. I was determined, however, to see the whole ; and lo ! the second paper contained the same quantity of tenpenny nails ! ! The third and last, which I carelessly unfolded, expecting nothing better, presented a number of small plated articles, apparently designed for fixing on harness, being hooks, rings, <5fc., of various shapes, and every one separately wrapped in fine silver paper. As these latter articles were of no more real value to me than the nails, I was much mortified at my ill luck, and was on the point of tying up the whole parcel in order to throw it away as soon as I gained the street, when it fortunately struck me that there must be somewhere, a letter or note accompanying these goods. I, therefore, once more overhauled the packages, and lifting up the bottom one, found under it a letter, which on taking up, I perceived to contain an enclosure, and I plainly felt several pieces of loose money. Now* again my spirits rose — all that I had read and heard of large sums in bank-notes being artfully transmitted in this 11 manner, recurred to my mind, and 1 eagerly drew the candle towards me, half afraid, and yet impatient to see the event. The letter was superscribed in the same manner as the parcel ; and opening' it, I could scarce believe my eyes, when I discovered some bank-paper carefully folded, and through which the black marks of the sum were plainly discernible ! Before I ascertained the amount, however, I proceeded to peruse the letter, and found it to the following effect: — “ Sir, I have sent you herewith specimens of the nails and other articles ; the order shall be completed as speedily as possible. I have also enclosed you £47 9$. which you will find to be the present balance between us. I am, $*c.” — Here was an unexpected windfall ! The reader will conceive my joy, and with what satisfaction I replaced the parcel in my bundle, in order to quit the public-house. The notes proved to be two of twenty pounds each on a Birmingham bank, but payable also at Forster, Lubbock, and Go’s, in London, a bank of England live pound note, and another of two pounds, also a bank dollar, and four shillings. I now repaired with a light heart to my mother’s lodgings, where I met with a cordial wel- come. Having spent the evening with my mother, I walked into the city and procured a bed at an inn. The next morning I sent one of my twenty pound notes by a porter to the banking-house, where he procured small notes of the Bank of England in b 6 exchange ; I soon afterwards called myself with the second, and did the like. Being now possessed of near fifty pounds by this lucky hit, I determined to furnish myself with a stock of genteel clothes, a watch, and other appendages, prior to my obtaining some employment, as I always considered an out- ward appearance essential to success in every pur- suit ; but I was firmly resolved never again to hazard my liberty by a second act or attempt of a similar nature. In a few days I had purchased such articles as were most requisite, at the expense of about forty pounds, and I then turned my attention to procuring a genteel situation. I accordingly waited on Mr. Belt, the gentleman I mentioned of the Crown- office ; who, on perusal of the letter I presented, testified his respect for my grandfather’s recommend- ation, and very obligingly offered to take me as an assistant clerk under his own direction in the above office, if I thought fit to accept of a guinea a week, which was all he could promise to allow me at first, but might be afterw ards increased. I thought this too favourable an offer to be rejected. I, therefore, thankfully closed with it, and prepared immediately ~Ho attend assiduously to the duties of my office. 13 CHAPTER II. Quit the Crown Office , and engage as Reader in a Printing Office . — Determine to live a strictly honest life . — Meet with an old Acquaintance who laughs me out of my Resolution. — Give up all thoughts of Servitude and become a professed Thief. I HAD, on my second arrival in London, engaged a small apartment in a creditable house, and regu- lated my expenses upon principles of the strictest economy ; but notwithstanding every possible effort, I soon found it impossible to subsist within my in- come ; consequently, in a few weeks I had sensibly decreased my little capital. I, therefore, began to consider how I might obtain a more productive situation, as I saw no prospect of my present salary being augmented. At this juncture I met with an advertisement for a person of good education, to act as Reader in a Printing Office. Though this was an employment of which I had not the least idea, I de- termined to offer myself, conceiving there could be nothing very difficult in its duties. Having, there- fore, first inquired into the nature of the latter I boldly applied to the advertiser Mr. Barnard, on Snow-hill ; and in answer to his queries, replied that I had lately left the service of a country printer* 14 whom I named, and was well acquainted with the business of a printing office in general ; adding, that if he pleased to make trial of me, I doubted not of proving well qualified for the situation in question. Mr. Barnard consented to do so ; and informing me that the salary he had given my predecessor was two guineas a week, expressed his willingness to allow me the same. I was so much pleased wdth this in- crease of wages, as well as with the nature of the employment when explained to me, that I imme- diately quitted Mr. Belt, and began my attendance at the office of Mr. Barnard. My business here was to read over or examine the proofs (sheet by sheet, as they were struck off by the pressmen) of every new work printed by my employer. These proofs or first impressions, having been first com- pared with the copy or manuscript, the errors so discovered being noted by me, were corrected by the compositor, and a second impression produced, which was then carefully examined, and the few errors yet remaining were rectified as before. A third sheet was then revised by me, which in most cases proved perfectly correct ; and this being ascer- tained, the required number of copies were struck off, whilst a succeeding sheet was in the hands of the compositors, in a state of progress for the like operation. In a few days I had a perfect know- ledge of the business confided to me ; and here I found the advantages of a good education, and of my 15 extensive reading, which enabled me at first sight to detect many errors that an experienced “ Reader/* with a common education, would have passed over, particularly where Latin or French phrases, quota- tions, fyc., were introduced. This soon became ob- vious to my employer, who expressed his satisfac- tion, and paid me more than common respect. On my part I was equally pleased with my new situa- tion. The business of Mr. Barnard’s office was very extensive It employed from forty to fifty workmen in various capacities, and he had gene- rally ten or more different works (periodical as well as pthers) in the press. Among these were some of an entertaining kind ; so that while I was performing my duty, I gratified my passion for reading, and anticipated the public in the perusal of many cu- rious and interesting new publications. I still adhered closely to my system of economy and took care to expend something less than my in- come. It was my fixed determination to abstain from every kind of dishonesty ; and for about three weeks I met with no temptation to an opposite con- duct: but one day as I entered the eating house at which I commonly dined, I was accosted by a young man who had come home with me from New South W ales, in the Buffalo, having been for several years in the service of Governor King. This was, in fact, the very person to whom I had confided my intention of de- serting, and bequeathed my effects previous to my go- 16 ingashore. Our joy at meeting was reciprocal, and before we parted an appointment to sup together the same evening was the consequence. My old friend informed me that the Buffalo was paid in about five days after I quitted her, and that the crew were imme- diately drafted into various ships : he himself was put on board the Diomede of 50 , and having at last, with much difficulty, obtained a liberty-ticket for eight days, he had been about a week in town. It is needless to add, that nothing was further from his thoughts than returning. From him ] also learnt that a diligent search was instituted for me in Ports- mouth the day after my absconding, and that Captain King, as well as his subordinate Captain Houston, were much exasperated on the occasion. On meet- ing my shipmate at the appointed place (which by- the-by, proved to be a house of ill repute) he in- troduced me to several other old acquaintances, who had also come home with us, and to a few of the same stamp, who had been a longer time returned, from New South Wales. I soon discovered that they had all resumed the same depredatory course of life which had caused their former sufferings, and must inevitably entail upon them future misery and disgrace. However, as I knew bow fruitless it would be to advise or remonstrate, I contented myself with letting them know that I had met with a tolerable situation which enabled me to live upon the square , and that I had “ tied up prigging ” as 17 l was determined never to be “ lagged” again*. By this communication I only incurred at the moment, a few dry jokes on my pretended honesty, and a hint or two that I should soon become tired of servitude, and be easily brought over to get an easy guinea. Upon the whole, I spent a very agreeable evening, but to prevent a relapse, I determined to avoid the company of these misguided persons in future, not- withstanding they extracted a promise at parting, that I would meet them again next day. This promise I scrupled not to break, and how long I might have refrained from their society I know not ; but a day or two afterwards, as I was descending Holborn- hill in my way to the office, I unexpectedly met my old partner and fellow-sufferer, Alexander Bromley, whom I had left in Newgate in 1801. Having in vain made inquiry as to his fate, since my return to England, I was truly glad to see him* for he looked well and was genteelly dressed. I was so much altered, that when I first accosted him, he had no immediate recollection of me, but on making myself known, nothing could exceed the joy he evinced at our meeting. Before we parted it was indispensable that we should drink together, and he hastily informed me that he had served his seven years on board the Hulks, at Portsmouth, from whence he returned to London the 17thofSep- * See Cant Dictionary. 18 tember 1807, and that he was now once more under the protection of his father, who had received him with great kindness, and was inclined, if he con- tinued honest, to take care of his future fortune ; but added, with a shrewd shake of the head, that he could never reconcile himself to confinement, on a shop-board, and feared he should very speedily make a push at some higher enjoyments. Having agreed to dine together, and by mere accident named the house at which I had lately supped as the place of meeting, we parted with some little regret. Bromley was punctual to his time, and during the two hours I allowed for dinner, we became more fully informed of each other’s circumstances. When I was on the point of leaving him to return to my duty, two or three of my Botany-bay acquaintances dropping in, forcibly detained me ; urging that I might for once stretch a point, and spend the afternoon with them, ridiculing with too much effect, the idea of a man like myself being confined to certain hours like a school-boy, $c. As I was somewhat ele- vated with the liquor 1 had drank, and had really no business at the office which could not be easily de- ferred, I consented in an evil moment, to join the party which was forming, consisting of nearly a dozen persons, most of them recently returned either from the Hulks, or New South Wales. It is need- less to describe the nature of our conversation, or the various characters of which the party was com- 19 posed; let it suffice to state (with sorrow and shamfc I confess it) that I was effectually laughed out of my late good intentions; and before we parted, had joined with the loudest of them in decrying and contemn- ing every species of servitude or confinement ; and cordially agreed in a resolution to live independent while I could, and to make up by every means in my power for the privations and sufferings I had endured for the last seven years. From this moment I returned no more to the printing-office, but joined myself with Bromley, and a few others, who regularly walked out every even- ing in quest of money, without confining our pur- suits to any particular branch, but embracing every opportunity which offered. These were indeed but few r , and far from productive, so that I soon grew heartily tired of the set I was associated w ith, and determined to withdraw 7 myself from them the first opportunity, and to live by the exercise of my ow n ingenuity. Indeed my appearance was so much above, and of so different a stamp from their’s, that this circumstance alone was enough to excite sus- picion, and on many accounts rendered them un- suitable companions for me. I determined, how ever, not to discard poor Bromley, for whom I felt a real friendship, on account of our former intimacy and joint misfortunes. 20 CHAPTER III. Various modes of obtaining Money. — My regular course of Life when disengaged from my vicious Companions . — Meet with an amiable girl , like my - self the Child of Misfortune . — We cohabit toge- ther. — Our mutual Happiness. Having withdrawn myself from my late com- panions, 1 now became very circumspect in my proceedings ; and as Bromley had neither the ap- pearance nor the manners of a gentleman, I only made use of him occasionally in the course of my practice, keeping him in the back ground to receive and carry any articles which I purloined, and never suffering him to converse with, or approach me except in private. I generally spent the mornings, that is, from about one o’clock to five P. M. (which are the fashionable hours for shopping) in visiting the shops, of Jewellers, Watchmakers, Pawnbrokers, Sfc. Having conceived hopes that this species of robbery would turn to a good account, and depend- ing upon my own address and appearance, I deter- mined to make a circuit of the town, and not to omit a single shop in either of those branches : and this scheme I actually executed so fully, that I be- lieve I did not leave ten untried in all London, for 21 I made a point of commencing every day in a cer- tain street and went regularly through it oil both sides the way. My practice was to enter a shop and request to look at gold seals, chains, broaches, rings, or any other small articles of value ; and while examining them, and looking the shopkeeper in the face, I contrived by slight of hand to conceal two or three (sometimes more) in the sleeve of my coat, which was purposely made wide. On some occa- sions I purchased a trifling article to save appear- ances; at other times I took a card of the shop, promising to call again ; and as I generally saw the remaining goods returned to the window, or place from whence they were taken, before I left the shop, there was hardly a probability of my being suspect- ed, or of the property being missed. In the course of my career I was never once detected in the fact, though on two or three occasions, so much sus- picion arose, that I was obliged to exert all my effrontery, and to use very high language, in order, as the cant phrase is, to bounce the tradesman out of it ; and my fashionable appearance, and af- fected anger at his insinuations, had always the effect of convincing him that he was mistaken, and inducing him to apologize for the affront put upon me. I have even sometimes carried away the spoil notwithstanding what had passed, and I have often gone a second and third time to the same shop, with as good success as at the Arst. To prevent ac~ 22 cidents however, I made it a rule never to enter a second shop with any stolen property about me ; for as soon as I quitted the first, I privately con- veyed my booty to Bromley, who was attending my motions in the street, and herein I found him emi- nently useful. By this course of depredation I ac- quired on the average about ten pounds a week, though I sometimes neglected shopping for several days together. This was not, indeed, the only pur- suit I followed, but was my principal morning’s occupation ; though if a favourable opportunity offered of getting a guinea by any other means, I never let it slip. In the evenings I generally at- tended one of the theatres, where I mixed with the best company in the boxes, and at the same time that I enjoyed the amusements of the place, I fre- quently conveyed pocket-books, snuff-boxes, and other portable articles, from the pockets of their proprietors into my own. Here I found the incon- venience of wanting a suitable companion, who might have received the articles I made prize of, in the same manner as Bromley did in the streets ; but though I knew many of the light-fingered gentry, whose appearance fitted them for any company, yet, their faces being well known to the police-officers, who attend the Theatres, they would not have been suffered to enter the house : and herein I possessed an advantage which many of these gentry envied me; for being just arrived in England, and a new face 23 upon the town, I carried on my depredations under the very noses of the officers, without suspicion. Having, therefore, at first no associate, I was obliged to quit the Theatre and conceal my first booty in some private spot, before I could make (with pru- dence) a second attempt. Upon the whole I was very successful in this pursuit also, at least as to the number of articles I filched, and had their value been reasonably proportionate to what I expected, I need not long have followed so hazardous an em- ployment. I have very frequently obtained nine or ten pocket-books, besides other articles, in an even- ing ; and these being taken from gentlemen evidently of fortune and fashion, I had reason to expect I should sometime meet with a handsome sum in Bank-notes ; but fortune did not favour me therein, for during near twelve months almost nightly at- tendance at one or other of the public places, I never found more than twenty pounds in a book, and that only on one occasion. I several times got five, ten, or eleven pounds, but commonly one, two, or three pounds, and most generally four books out of five contained nothing but letters, memorandums, and other papers useless to me. At the same time I knew frequent instances of the common street pick-pockets getting a booty of fifty, one hundred and sometimes three or four hundred pounds. How- ever, I never failed to pay the expenses of the night, and if I gained nothing, I enjoyed at least a fund 24 of amusement, which was to me the highest gratifi- cation. It sometimes happened that the articles I got (particularly pocket-books) were advertised by the losers, within a few days, as “ Lost,” and a reward offered for their restoration : where this reward was worth notice, I frequently restored the property by means of a third person whom I could confide in, and whom I previously tutored for the purpose. In the mean time, the manner in which I spent my life, abstracted from the disgraceful means by which I supported myself, was (as I have formerly hinted,) perfectly regular and inoffensive. Though I lived by depredation, yet I did not like the abandoned class of common thieves, waste my money, and leisure time in profligate debauchery, but applied myself to the perusal of instructive and amusing books, my stock of which I daily increased. I oc- cupied genteel apartments in a creditable house, the landlord of which understood me to hold a situa- tion under Government, aird every part of my con- duct at home tended to confirm his opinion of my respectability. I was scrupulously exact in paying my rent, as well as the different tradesmen in the neighbourhood, with whom I had occasion to deal ; nor did I ever suffer any person of loose character to visit me, but studiously concealed from those of my acquaintance my place of residence. I was some- times, indeed, so imprudent as to resort, for com- pany’s sake, to some of those public-houses frequent- 25 ed by thieves and other dissolute characters, the landlord of which is himself commonly an expe- rienced thief, or returned transport. When I had a mind to relax a little, or grew 7 tired of domestica- tion, I disguised my appearance as much as I could, and repaired to a house of this description, sometimes taking my Dulcinea with me, whom I shall shortly introduce to the reader, and whose person and dress I was not a little proud of exhibiting in public. This fondness for flash-houses, as they are termed, is the rock on which most persons who live by de- predation unhappily split, and will be found in the sequel to have brought me to my present deplorable condition ; for the police officers, or traps, are in the daily habit of visiting these houses, where they drink with the thieves, $c., in the most familiar manner; and, I believe, often obtain secret informa- tion by various means from some parties respecting the names, characters, pursuits, fyc. 7 of others. By this imprudent conduct 1 also became personally known to many of the officers, w hich was produc- tive of great danger to me in the exercise of my vo- cation ; whereas, had I avoided such houses, I might have remained unknown and unsuspected by them for a series of years. I ought not to omit what may perhaps gratify the reader, as much as the act did my- self, namely, that as soon as 1 became possessed of a moderate sum, I remembered the kindness shewn me by the good woman at Gosport, and wrote her VOL. II. c 26 a letter of thanks, enclosing a five-pound bank-note, which, no doubt, proved highly acceptable. I also from time to time assisted my aged mother, whose circumstances were extremely narrow, and her sup- port derived solely from the earnings of my two sisters, whose success depending on the caprice of fashion and of milliners, both alike inconstant, was but pre- carious. They, as well as my other relations in S shire, were indeed totally ignorant of my un- happy relapse into a life of infamy, but believed my assertion, that I had a liberal salary from Mr. Belt, and was still employed under that gentleman in the Crown-office. About three months after my return to London, and whilst in the zenith of my success, I was intro- duced by one of my former dissolute companions to the acquaintance of a young woman, who, like myself, had been well and tenderly brought up, but having been seduced by a young man equally inexperienced withherself, to quit her friends and co- habit with him as his wife, she had thereby forfeited the countenance of her family, and her paramour having died after a year’s cohabitation, she had been driven to the usual refuge in such cases, a life of prostitution. At the period of my introduction, however, she had been only a few months upon the town, and I clearly perceived that her mind was yet but very slightly contaminated. As there were many reasons w hich rendered a female companion in whom 27 I could place confidence, desirable, and in fact necessary to me ; and as this young woman's mis- fortunes had placed her in such circumstances, that 1 had no obstacles to surmount on the score of deli- cacy, I proposed to her, after a few days' acquaint- ance, that we should live together ; to which, as she was heartily tired of her present course of life, she willingly consented. She knew enough of the world from her late experience, to surmise in what manner I obtained my living, of which, however, to avoid all duplicity, I fully possessed her. Having inform- ed my landlord, that my wife, whom I had not before mentioned to him, was arrived in town from a visit she had been paying in the country, I accordingly took her home ; and in a very few days we had arranged a pretty snug system of domestic economy, and pro- vided every requisite for the family life I meant in future to live. My companion was the daughter of an industrious mechanic, who, having a numerous offspring, had only been enabled to give her a com- mon education ; but her mother had instructed her in the duties of housekeeping, and she was perfect- ly conversant in all the qualities requisite to form a good wife. She was about nineteen years of age, agreeable in her person, and of the sweetest dispo- sition imaginable ; and what was most gratifying, the company she had latterly mixed with, and the disgusting examples before her eyes, had not been able to eradicate an innate modesty which she natu- c 2 28 rally possessed ; so that her manners and conversa- tion were such as fitted her for any company to which I might be inclined to introduce her. I informed my mother and sisters that I was on the point of contracting a union with this young woman, and having made them personally acquainted, the three young ladies soon became very intimate. As my mother and sisters but rarely called at my lodg- ings, and then merely en passant , 1 had no difficulty in concealing the connexion from them until I could with propriety declare my marriage to have taken place. We had the happiness of finding ourselves mutually pleased \\ ith each other, and I considered my meeting with so amiable a friend as one of the greatest blessings of my life. In a few weeks after our junction, my partner discovered evident symp- toms of pregnancy, which with her affectionate be- haviour, and real attachment to my interest, endear- ed her still more to me. In a word, I now felt my- self as happy as any man daily risking his liberty and life, and exposed to the reproaches of his own conscience, could possibly be. 29 CHAPTER IV. Adventures in the course of my profligate Career . — Motives zchich induce me to marry my Companion. — Her exemplary Behaviour . — A family Misfor- tune. Having now settled myself in a manner much to my satisfaction, and happily met with a faithful friend, to whom 1 might confide my most secret thoughts, who would sincerely participate my joy, when success crowned my pursuits ; and who, in the hour of adversity, would condole with, and cherish me, I applied myself with redoubled assi- duity to the acquirement of money, with a full reso- lution in the event of my meeting with one good booty, or realizing by degrees a sufficient sum to quit the hazardous course of life I had embarked in, to establish myself in some honest line of business. To this prudent measure I was also strongly prompted by my companion, who could not hide her fears and anxiety on my account, and was never easy during my absence from home on a depredatory excursion. I continued to visit the shops as usual in the morn- ing, and the theatres in the evening with tolerable success ; and my partner having expressed a desire to accompany me, in the hope of rendering me ser- c o 30 vice, I was induced to gratify her. As her figure and address were both extremely prepossessing, and her air perfectly genteel, I soon found her eminently useful ; for she not only received from me the pro- perty I purloined, but with much ingenuity would contrive to engross the attention of the shop-keeper while I robbed his counter, or by artful gallanting with a gentleman at a public place, facilitate my design upon his pockets. At all times, when dis- engaged from these hazardous practices, we lived a life of perfect domestic happiness, our chiefest pleasure being centred in each other’s company. As our mutual affection increased, my companion, whom I had informed of the outlines of my past life, and who was aware of the dangers to which I was daily exposed, being filled with tender fears of losing me for ever, and prompted by sincere af- fection, suggested the idea of uniting ourselves in- dissolubly by marriage ; in the hope that should I unhappily experience a reverse of fortune, and be again banished from my native country, she might obtain permission to share my misery, and contri- bute, by her society, to lessen my sufferings. This proposal so fully convinced me of her undisguised attachment, and had so much reason on its side, that I gave into it with ardent pleasure ; and the necessary preliminaries being adjusted, we were ac- cordingly married at St. Paul’s, Covent-Garden, on the 21st of July, 1808, her mother, to whom she 31 had become reconciled, and who (judging by ap- pearances,) had a favourable opinion of the match, assisting at the ceremony. Soon afterwards, I communicated the event to my mother, informing her that weighty reasons had rendered it necessary to observe privacy on the oc- casion ; and hinting to the unsuspecting old woman, that 1 had acquired by this marriage, a considerable pecuniary advantage. This intimation gave my mother great pleasure, and 1 took care by increased liberality towards her and my sisters, to confirm them in the opinion of my veracity. The behaviour of my wife became every day more exemplary ; and had I been free from that remorse which must ever accompany a guilty life, and enabled to procure those necessary comforts which I knew so well how to enjoy, by upright means, I should have consider- ed myself supremely happy. In the beginning of the month of October, my wife, who was far advanc- ed in her pregnancy, accompanied me one evening to Drury-lane theatre ; and the performance being over, we were descending the stair-case from the box- lobby, when I attempted to possess myself of a gen- tleman’s pocket-book ; but by some accident he sus- pected my design, and publicly accused me there- with. Unfortunately several other gentlemen, who had been robbed in the course of the evening, being on the spot, ’and beginning to compare notes, agreed unanimously that they recollected my person as c 4 32 being near them about the time they were robbed, and did not scruple to insinuate that I ought to be detained and searched. This conversation natu- rally attracted the attention of the company imme- diately round us; but while it took place, all the parties were obliged by the pressure of the throng behind to continue descending, and we in fact quit- ted the theatre all together. Being arrived in Little Russell-street, the gentlemen surrounded me to the number of about a score, and our altercation be- came loud and vehement. Fortunately for me no police-officers happened to be near the spot ; for although I had nothing to fear from a search, yet the circumstance would have made me personally known to the latter, and would of course operate to my disadvantage on my future appearance at the theatre. I exerted every art of expostulation, and finally had recourse, on my part, to threats, affecting to feel highly insulted by their insolent insinuations ; declared myself a gentleman of character, which I would prove to their cost; offered to give my card of address, or to retire to a coffee-house, and send for respectable persons who knew me, but all my rhetoric proved ineffectual ; some were for giving me in charge to an officer ; others still more violent were for having me pumped. At this moment a person named G — ge W — k — n, now in this colony, who had been himself exercising his vocation in the pit of the theatre, happened fortunately to come up, 33 and seeing a crowd collected, stopped to ascertain the cause. He immediately perceived the critical situation in which I stood, and having the appear- ance of a man of fashion, he stepped forward, and hearing the various motions of my persecutors, strongly advised them to forbearance, and caution how they treated a gentleman, as i evidently appear- ed to be ; urging that they must certainly be mis- taken in their conjectures, that my proposal of giving my address, or a reference, ought to be suffi- cient, and particularly dwelt on the impropriety of taking the law into their own hands. These argu- ments of my friend W — k — n carried so much weight, that the gentlemen began to waver and grow less clamorous ; till at length they dropped off one by one ; and W — k — n, assuming a haughty tone, said, taking me by the arm, “ Come, Sir, you have been sufficiently exposed, and long enough detained on a charge which I am confident there is no foun- dation for ; allow me to conduct you from this spot ; if you are going towards St. James’s, I shall be glad of your company, and let me see (raising his voice and cane together,) who will dare to insult you further; ” So saying, he led me away in triumph, tipping the wink to my poor wife, who had stood all the while at a small distance, much terrified and agitated by various emotions, which so much affect- ed her, that though we lived within two hundred yards of the theatre, she had scarcely power to walk c 5 34 home ; and we had no sooner quitted our kind con- ductor, who attended us to the door, than she faint- ed away, and was for sometime insensible. The consequences of this untoward event were still more seriously afflicting, for her tender constitution was not proof against the shock, and she was the next day prematurely delivered of a male child, which, however, only lived eight hours, and was a subject of infinite regret to us both. 35 CHAPTER V. Adventure of the Silver Snuff-box . — Its Conse- quences. — My narrow Escape from Transport- ation, which I have since had reason to regret . Happening soon after the adventure at Drury-lane, to read an advertisement, stating that a meeting of the freeholders of the county of Mid- dlesex would be convened on the 11th of Novem- ber, at the Mermaid Tavern, Hackney, to consider of the expediency of petitioning the Throne on the subject of parliamentary reform, it struck me that 1 might find it worth while to attend this meet- ing, as it would probably attract a large concourse of people, and, as at such assemblies riots and much confusion frequently occurred, which afforded a favourable opportunity for plundering the pockets of the company. On the day appointed, I accord- ingly left town in one of the Hackney stages, and arriving at the Mermaid about one o’clock, found the sheriffs had just opened the business of the meeting, which was held in a large room commonly used as an assembly-room for dancing, and de- tached from the tavern itself. To my disappoint- ment, however, there were not above three hundred versons collected, and the building being very c 6 36 spacious, there was not the least prospect of any violent pressure taking place. Before I com- menced my operations, I entered a small house called “ The Tap,” immediately contiguous to, but distinct from, the Mermaid ; and going into a par- lour, called to the landlady, a decent looking elderly woman, for a glass of brandy and water, and a pipe. Having taken and paid for this refreshment, I pro- ceeded to the meeting ; and found, so far from any tumult or uproar, that the whole company were collected at one end of the room, and listening in profound silence to the speech of some popular and patriotic orator, who was warmly censuring the conduct of ministers, and advocating the cause of liberty. I now entered the thickest part of the crowd, and having tried the pockets of a great many persons without feeling a single pocket-book, I at length extracted successively two snuff-boxes from different gentlemen ; but their coats being buttoned up, and the pockets inside, I was obliged to use my scissors in cutting the bottom of each pocket, before I could obtain the desired prizes. This trouble and risk I should not have incurred had not I assured myself that the boxes from their shape, fyc.; were both silver; but to my mortification, they proved on inspection, the one wood, and the other a sort of japanned leather, though both perfectly genteel, and mounted with silver : however, as they were of no intrinsic value to me,' I threw them 37 away ; and, although it was rather imprudent, I entered the room a third time, in hopes of better success. I soon found myself standing behind a well-dressed man, who was wrapped in deep atten- tion to the speaker, and perceived to my great joy that he had a small leather pocket-book in his inside coat-pocket, and also a very fine large snuff- box, evidently silver, from its shape and weight. 1 had again recourse to my scissors, and having made an incision, extracted the contents of the pocket, with which I hastily retired : but I was again par- tially disappointed, for I found that what 1 had taken for a pocket-book, was in fact merely a pen and ink-case : the box, however, was a very elegant one, and quite new. Although it appeared that I was not destined to be very fortunate in this day’s ad- venture, I determined to make one other trial ; but as it would be dangerous to keep the stolen box about me, and I saw no convenient spot in which to conceal it, I adopted the following method to dispose of it, while I made my final attempt in the assembly-room. Going into the little tap-house before described, I addressed the landlady, inquiring if she sold any snuff, or could without inconve- nience, procure me a little. She answered that she had none, but would get me some in a very short time. I thanked her, and replied that as I was anxious to hear the debates in the assembly- room, she would oblige me by procuring an ounce 38 of rappee, for which purpose I handed her the box I had just obtained, saying I would call for it in a quarter of an hour. Having now, as I conceived, effectually and safely deposited my prize, I left the Tap with an intention of re entering the meeting- room ; but suddenly changing my mind, I deter- mined to desist, having by the box alone secured the expenses of my journey, and to return imme- diately home. However, as 1 felt hungry, and saw no signs of accommodation for eating in the Tap, I proceeded a little way up the street, till I came to a sort of cook’s-shop, where I procured a lunch, and then returned to reclaim my snuff-box from my obliging old landlady, having been absent from her barely a quarter of an hour. Going boldly up to the little bar in which she sat, I inquired if she had procured me the snuff ; she replied that she had, and turning round to a cup-board behind her, pro- duced the box, which I held out my hand to re- ceive ; but, to my utter confusion, I was prevented by the gentleman himself, from whom I had stolen it, who, starting from a dark corner of the passage close to my elbow, where he had been concealed, received the box in his hand, and turning to me, inquired in a peremptory tone, if that was rny snuff-box ? I answered with a smile, “ No, Sir, it is a box that I found — if you have any claim to it, it is much at your service/’ He then inquired where I had found it ; I replied, that going to make 39 water in a corner of the stable-yard, I perceived something shine amongst some rubbish, which taking up, I found to be the box in question ; that I was myself in the habit of taking snuff, and having that day left my own box at home, I thought it a good opportunity of getting a supply ; that I had therefore commissioned the landlady to procure me some snuff, and left her this box for that purpose. The gentleman rejoined, that he had been robbed of the box in the assembly-room, and that having found it in my possession, he felt it incumbent to detain me, on strong suspicion of being the thief. All I could urge, and every art I tried, were inef- fectual to convince this rigid gentleman of my inno- cence, and several others joining him, one of them asked my name and situation in life. I answered, that when charged with so disgraceful an act as that of picking pockets, I should certainly decline giving such explanation ; but that I should at a proper season, be enabled to refute the accusation, and prove my respectability. To this the inquirer replied, that although himself a justice of peace, he certainly had no wish to extort, nor was I obliged to give any answers against my inclination, and that upon the whole, he could not censure me for preserving silence ; however, as the property stolen had been traced to me, it became his duty and that of the owner, to have me detained till I gave an account of myself. A constable being called in, 40 was now desired to search me, which he proceeded to do, and the first thing he found was a pair of small scissors without a sheath, in my breeches- pocket, where I had in my hurry deposited them after cutting out my last booty. The constable exhibited these with an air of triumph, exclaiming to the by standers, “ See, gentlemen, hete are the tools the pocket was cut with !” He also took from me about fifty shillings in loose money, a pocket-bock, card-case, pair of silver spectacles, a two-bladed knife, silver pencil-case, tobacco-box, handkerchief, gloves, £fc., all my own property, and such as I usually carried about me. I had left my wa ch at home, which, it being a valuable one, I was frequently persuaded by my wife to do when I went upon such excursions as the present. The meeting being by this time dissolved, the loser of the box set off on his return to town, and I was left in charge of two constables w'ho were to follow with me. In about an hour, a coach being obtained, I was conveyed to Worship-street office for exa« ruination, where I arrived at six in the evening, just as the magistrate had taken the chair. This worshipful justice was Joseph Moser, esq., a gen- tleman of an eccentric character, and the same, if I mistake not, whose name I have frequently met with in print, as the author of many well-written and humorous essays, I then repeated my request to the boy, with some impatience, and a louder voice, on which the latter went up to his master, and I heard him whisper, " Sir, here ’s the gentleman come for the diamond-ring.” His master, without turning his head, or looking off his book, (though he always used to pay the most eager attention to me,) said something I could not hear ; and the lad approaching the* box in which I stood, told me his master would be glad if I would step round to the front door, (meaning the door of the public shop, which opened into Brydges-street.) I was now more than ever surprised, and convinced that mischief was intended me. However, as in such cases, I was often too rash, and despised fear as unbecoming an adventurer of my address and appearance, 1 answered, “ O by all means, my man, I ’ll go round which I immediately did ; but on entering the shop, I was surprised to find that Mr. Turner had vanished. I then said to the boy, with a smile of gaiety, “ Why, my good lad, I don ’t see your master, now I ’ve taken the trouble to come here.” The boy replied, u Sir, my master will wait upon you directly ; he ’s only gone back- wards to speak to the servant.” This was enough 70 for me. I no longer doubted that he was gone to send for an officer ; and that it was, therefore, high time for me to make sail while I was well. 1, there- fore, appeared for a moment satisfied with the boy’s answer, but seeming suddenly to recollect myself, I said to him, “ My wife is at the door ; 1 believe I may as well ask her to step in.” Then immediately opening the door, which fell to with a pulley, I quitted the shop and turning the corner, got into Russell-court, through which I ran with all my speed, nor stopped till I found myself at a consider- able distance, aaid out of all danger. I then walked home by a circuitous route, and related the adven- ture to my wife, who was, of course, seriously alarmed, and joined with me in reprobating the treachery of the pawnbroker, for whose perfidious conduct, after the assurances he had given me, we were at a loss to account. 71 CHAPTER VII. Take a House in St. George's Fields. —Stay at home for several Weeks. — At length I venture out in quest of Money. — My imprudent Obstinacy in en- tering a House of ill-repute against the Advice and Entreaties of my Wife. — I am takenin custody , and carried to the Watch-house. — Distress of my Wife on the Occasion. AS my person was well known to all the surround- ing pawnbrokers, and my real abode to many of them, myself and wife were under considerable alarm at every knock we heard at the house-door that even- ning ; and it was my wife’s earnest entreaty that I should the next morning look out for a lodging in a remote part of the town, where 1 might lie conceal- ed for awhile until the affair had cooled. Accord- ingly I went out with that intention at an early hour, and engaged a first floor very neatly furnished, in Webber-row, St. George’s Fields; to which we removed with our effects, in the most private manner, the very next day. As I had taken care that we were not watched in our removal, we found ourselves freed from any immediate anxiety in our new abode ; but I was afraid to shew myself at all in the neigh- bourhood of our late residence, nor could I venture 72 even to the theatres in quest of money. We, there- fore, continued domesticated until after Christmas ; but finding the rent we paid (fourteen shillings per week,) to come rather heavy upon us, as I was getting nothing, but living on the little l had by me, I determined to hire a small house in one of the new streets near the Obelisk, and to purchase such articles of furniture as were indispensable, whatever sacrifices 1 might make to enable me to do so. I very soon met with a neat little house, in Gun-street, at the low rent of five shillings a week. It consisted indeed of only two rooms, one over the other, with a small kitchen behind, but was sufficiently large for our purpose. I was so assiduous in this undertaking, that in a few days I had purchased every necessary article for our use, and we immediately entered on the premises. It is true, having but little ready money, I was compelled on this occasion to pledge my watch, chain, and seals* together with several trinkets of my own and my wife’s, and many articles of our wearing apparel, but of the latter we had both a pretty ample stock. We were then obliged to live as frugally as possible, and during the whole month of January I never once stirred out of the street we resided in, except on the following occasion. Be- ing anxious to see poor Bromley, whom I had not had an opportunity of apprizing of our removal from Drury-Iane, I determined to venture out, and endeavour to find him at one of the houses I knew' 73 he frequented in that neighbourhood : for this pur- pose I disguised myself as much as I could, and go- ing late in the evening to a public-house in Parker’s lane, I found a number of dissolute characters of the lowest class, assembled there, but on looking round saw no appearance of Bromley. Having drank a glass at the bar, I was on the point of quitting the house to seek further, when a girl of the town, of whom there were a number present, tapped me on the shoulder, and, taking me aside, observed that she was astonished at my madness in venturing to that quarter of the town, considering the situation in which I stood, and the consequent risk I incurred. This girl had formerly cohabited with Bromley, and had by that means known me for some time. As I knew her to be incapable of any bad design, I requested her to explain herself more fully. She then said, that she had gone a few 7 days before this to the shop of Lane, a pawnbroker in Drury-1 a ne, on some business of her own, and that one of the shopmen inquired if she had lately seen Vaux ? de- siring her, if she met with me, to caution me to keep out of the way, as I was advertised, and very fully described in printed hand-bills, circulated among the pawnbrokers, in which I stood charged with robbing a jeweller’s shop in Piccadilly ; that being on inti- mate terms with this shopman, she had obtained a sight of the hand-bill in question, and had read with her own eyes a confirmation of what the young man VOL. II. E 74 had told her. She now repeated to me the tenor of the same, stating that a reward of ten guineas was offered for my apprehension, and ten guineas more on my conviction ; that the articles stolen, consist- ing of diamond-rings, fyc., were described, as was also my dress, and person, in the minutest manner, not excepting even my whiskers, eyes, and teeth* the watch and appendages I wore, the mourning-ring on my finger, eye-glass, #c. She, therefore, strongly exhorted me to avoid this part of the tow n, in which I w as so well known ; and promised if she saw Bromley, to direct him to a place I named, at which he would hear of me. Having gratified this well- meaning woman with a small present, I returned home with all the speed I could ; and ruminating in my way on w r hat I had heard, I was now convinced beyond a doubt, that Bilger junior, at the time he pretended to be taking directions of me for the ring I bespoke, was actually intent upon taking a description of my person, fyc., which he wrote down in the book before him, in order that, should his father’s suspicions prove well founded, a proper search might be made after me. This news was not likely to alleviate the anxiety of my wife for my safety, or to encourage me in sallying forth with the view of recruiting my finances, which were now at a very low ebb. At length, however, necessity compelled me to wave every consideration, for every thing we could 75 conveniently spare was in pawn, including even my books, some of which were valuable. I, therefore, dressed myself in my usual manner, and, on Tuesday evening, the 31st of January 1809, left my home, with an intention of trying my luck at one of the Theatres ; but in my way thither, I was induced to enter a shop, (namely, Sharp’s, the razor-maker, cor- ner of Ludgate-hill,) of which I had conceived some hopes ; and fortune favoured me so far, that I ob- tained a booty of silver fruit-knives, pencil-cases, popket-books with instruments, $c., which I esti- mated at four or five guineas. I was so pleased with this success that I returned home, satisfied with my night’s gain, and gave up my former design of going to the Theatre. My wife was agreeably surprised at my premature return ; and, as it was then but seven o’clock, I proposed to her that we should take a walk as far as Blackfriars’-bridge, as she had of late been closely confined to the house, and I conceived her health required air and exercise. She immediately assented, and having locked up the house, we proceeded towards the bridge ; on ar- riving at which she would have turned back, but I persuaded her to cross the water, and go as far as the end of Fleet-street. We there entered a liquor- shop, and took some refreshment ; and my wife then earnestly pressed me to return, for fear of meeting with some of the officers who might know me ; but 1 now entreated her to walk as far as Clare- E 2 76 market, as I wished to see a young man who had promised to meet me, or to leave a note for me at a certain public-house, which I had sometimes fre- quented when 1 lived in that neighbourhood. I had, tn fact, intended to call there in my way to or from the theatre, in order to settle a plan for accompany- ing this person and several others, to a grand fight, which was to have taken place the next day at Moulsey-hurst, between tw r o celebrated pugilists, and at which we expected to reap a plentiful harvest. The going to this house was the maddest act I could possibly have committed, for the Bow-street officers were in the habit of visiting it at all hours ; and several of them had seen me there at various times, dressed exactly in the manner described in the hand-bills I have mentioned. My wife, who appears to have had too sure a presentiment of what the consequence would be, used every art to dis- suade me from my purpose, but in vain. I assured her that I would not stop five minutes ; and that to prevent danger, she herself should first enter the house, and observe whether there were any officers in it, in which event 1 could but retire without going in, and immediately return home. Finding I was obstinately determined on this rash step, she accompanied me, and, on arriving near the house? I sent her into make observations. The landlord (who had himself been an old thief), received her very courteously ; and inquiring for me, she privately 77 asked him if there was any clanger of the officers coming there ? To which he answered in the nega- tive, and assured her I might with safety make my appearance. She accordingly gave me the signal, and I entered the public tap-room, in which I found about twenty notorious characters, assembled at different tables, some drinking and smoking, others employed in gambling with cards, The young man above-mentioned had left a short note, which the landlord now put into my hand ; in which 1 was requested to meet him the next morning at a certain time and place, adding that he had engaged a chaise, and that a seat was reserved for me. My wife now again pressed me to return after taking a glass at the bar ; but my evil genius prevailed, and I stipulated that I should smoke one pipe of tobacco, and would then willingly retire. I accordingly took a seat^ placing my wife between myself and my old ac- quaintance George W — k — n, who invited us to join him. I was situated with my back to the door of the room, which opened into a passage leading to the street. I occupied the very end of the seat or bench, which had an elbow, on which I rested my right arm, and there were at the same table three or four other persons besides our party. I had scarcely lighted my pipe when I observed two men, (strangers to me), enter the room, and whisper with the landlord; and I thought I perceived the land- lord while answering them, to glance his eye upon % 3 78 me ; but I only mention this by-the-by, as I had the fullest conviction of the landlord’s integrity, and the strangers had not the least appearance of of- ficers; consequently, the circumstance did not at all alarm me. I had been about half an hour in the house, and was on the point of taking my leave, when I heard the room-door pushed open, and, as is natural in such cases, I involuntarily turned my head; when, to my utter confusion and alarm, I perceived two officers enter the room. As I thought it pos- sible l might escape their notice, I pulled my hat over my eyes, and turning my head towards my wife and friend, on iny left-hand, pretended to be in earnest conversation with them ; but how can 1 ex- press my feelings, when the officers walked imme- diately up to me, as naturally as if they had been sitting in my company the whole evening ; and one of them looking me full in the face, said, “Mr. Vaux, we want you!” With as much composure as I could assume, I answered that he was mistaken in addressing me, for that was not my name. The fellow replied that he was certainly right, but begged that I would step out with him into the passage, and he would explain himself more fully. I was so weak (or rather so confounded with sur- prise) as to comply with this request ; and I was no sooner in the passage, and the tap-room door closed, than the two ruffians laid hold of me, one on each side, and hurried me away with the greatest im- 79 petuosity. Having got a few yards from the house, they stopped to view me by the light of a lamp, and one of them having attentively surveyed my features (probably to compare them with the advertisement) said to his fellow, a 1 ’m sure we are right, Jack ; he answers the description ; come along.” As they were conducting me to St. Martin’s Watch-house, they put several questions to me, respecting my knowledge of a jewellers shop in Piccadilly, my being tried at the Old Bailey, in November sessions, $c. ; all which were of course unavailing, as I denied any knowledge of their meaning, but which too well convinced me that they had a thorough knowledge of my person and character, acquired no doubt from the treacherous information of some of my dissolute acquaintances. One of them observed, that if they had not met with me this night, they should have done so the next day at the fight, so that it had only prevented them from seeing the battle : perhaps, they only surmised that I should have gone there, it being the custom for most of the London thieves to attend such spectacles ; but! have sometimes thought my intention of going was communicated to them, ei- ther by the person I was to have accompanied, or by the landlord who delivered me his open note on the subject. The other observed, that I had made a good thing of it at the Haymarket the preceding summer; adding, “ We wondered who the devil it was, that was so busy there ; we did not know you so well E 4 80 then as we do now, or we should have spoiled your sport.” — The fact was, that these two vagabonds were on constant duty every night, inside of that theatre ; and I, consequently, knew them well, long before this fatal rencontre ; but I always took care to shun them, and had never excited their suspicion, as I was not once during the whole sea- son, detected in the course of my operations at that house. W e now arrived at the watch-house, where they proceeded to search me closely, but found nothing that had any relation to the present charge ; and I must not omit that their first attention was directed to my little finger, no doubt in search of the mourn- ing ring, mentioned in the hand-bills ; but the said ring was at this time deposited as a pledge for the loan of one pound at a certain pawnbroker’s, and I had on, in lieu thereof, a plain gold ring of trifling value ; this they examined, and finding (to use their words) that there were u no letters on it,” they suffered me to retain it. I happened unluckily to have on, this night, the very same dress I wore when I visited Mr. Bilger, namely, a black coat and waistcoat, blue pantaloons, Hessian boots, and the same hat, which was remarkable, being in the extreme of the newest fashion. The only varia- tion was, that I had neither the gold watch, eye-glass, or mourning ring, about me, nor had I any powder in my hair ; and I had on over my other clothes a 81 brown great-coat. After searching me, they gave me in charge to the watch-house-keeper, and de- siring to know what name I chose to give in, as I denied being called Vaux, I assured them my name was James Lowe, this being the name of my much- loved grandfather, and the first that occurred to me. In this name 1 was therefore entered in the charge- book, and, having told the keeper that they should call for me in the morning, they departed. When left to ruminate on my now hopeless condition, nothing affected me so much as the distress my poor wife must suffer, on my being thus torn from her, and what heightened my affliction, was, the conscious- ness, that had I listened to her affectionate advice, 1 should probably have avoided this misfortune, and been at that moment happy in her society, by my own fire-side : but mature reflection convinced me, that, my time being come, it was impossible to escape the fate to which I was born, and destined from the moment of that birth. — I, therefore, bowed with resignation to a fate, which by my vicious con- duct I had certainly merited ; and applied for conso- lation to a pipe and a jug of ale, which I was per- mitted to send for, and which indulgence I compen- sated by liberally treating the keeper and his wife, according to the established usage of such places. I afterwards learnt that my wife had fainted im- mediately on my apprehension, and continued for some minutes in violent hysterics, on recovering e 5 82 from which our friend W — k — n had kindly con- ducted her home, and consoled her at parting with the assurance that he would not sleep till he had found out to what place 1 was conveyed, and done all in his power to render my condition as tolerable as circumstances would admit. But his inquiries were ineffectual, and it was not till the following day, that he could obtain an interview with me. 83 CHAPTER VIII. Discover that I hare been betrayed . — Examined at Bow-street, and committed for Trial . — Sent to Newgate . — Prepare for my Defence . — My Trial and Conviction . About an hour after the officers had left me, they returned to the watch-house, bringing in prisoner, a well-dressed gentleman in a state of ebriety, accompanied by several of his friends, who it seemed, had been taken in custody for riotous conduct at the Haymarket theatre. As soon as they had given charge of this person, and again withdrawn, the gentleman, whose friends had also taken their leave, seated himself near the fire, and entered into conversation with me on the subject of his apprehension. He informed me, that having in the beginning of the evening had a quarrel with another gentleman in the boxes, and their altercation disturbing the audience, he had been taken into custody by these officers as the aggressor ; but that having apologized for his conduct, and made his peace with his opponent, he had been liberated, and the officers had suddenly quitted him ; that about ten o’clock, however, to his great surprise, the two rascally constables (as he termed e 6 84 them,) had again apprehended him, under colour of the original charge, and conveyed him to the watch- house ; and that in their way, they stated that they should have done so on his first apprehension, but that they were suddenly sent for to the other end of the town, for the express purpose of taking a notorious thief, of whom they had received information ! The gentle- man here continued, (little supposing he was speaking to the identical person,) “ some d d house- breaker, or highwayman, I suppose. I don’t know who the rascal was.” The reader may be sure I took no pains to inform him ; but commiserating his case, and condemning the base conduct of the officers, we conversed together on indifferent sub- jects for about an hour, and were then shewn to separate beds in the same room, where we were locked up till morning. It now appeared evident that I had been betrayed ; but by whom, I am to this day ignorant ; sometimes suspecting the land- lord ; at others the young man I have before men- tioned ; and sometimes, one of the company who sat at table with me ; as I was afterwards informed that the whole room being much alarmed at my sudden apprehension, and the manner in which it took place, some one remarked that I must certain- ly have been villanously betrayed. Upon which this man (whose name was Bill White, otherwise, Conky-beau,) immediately changed colour, and 3aid, “ I hope nobody suspects me, I certainly did 85 leave the room, but it was only for a few minutes, in order to get a little tobacco at the next shop.” At all events, there must have been much expedition used, for I was not above half an hour in the house, and the distance from thence to the Haymarket theatre is at least a mile. Indeed the officers confessed to me afterwards, that I had been sold , (as the phrase is,) but declared that no bribe should induce them to disclose the party. The ensuing morning, about ten, the officers conducted me to Bow-street, where Mr. Justice Graham presided. On being put to the bar, I observed Mr. Bilger, senior, and the perfidious pawnbroker, in waiting ; the former viewed me with attention, and seemed immediately convinced of my identity, of which he informed the magistrate. Having then stated the particulars of his charge, against me, (which I need not here repeat,) the pawnbroker produced the fatal ring, stating that he received it from a woman, whom I afterwards acknowledged to be my wife ; he also produced a pearl and amethyst broach, set in gold, which he deposed to purchasing from me among some other articles of the like nature. Mr. Bilger swore that he believed the former to be his property, and the working jeweller, who had supplied the three rings for my inspection, swore positively to its being one of them ; as to the broach, Mr. Bilger would not positively swear, but fully believed it to be the one 86 he lost. In this, however, he was mistaken ; for I have already stated that 1 kept that broach for my own wear, and it was at this moment in pledge for one pound in the Borough ; but I had, a few days previous to my robbing Mr. Bilger, purloined, among other trinkets, from a shop in the city, a broach so exactly similar, that on comparing the two together, I was in doubt which to retain ; but the pearls, in Bilger’s, being rather larger, I preferred the latter, and disposed of the other to Turner, as he had truly said. When asked if I had any defence to offer, I merely answered that I was not the person, having never seen Mr. Bilger or his shop in my life. Mr. Graham observed, the case was so clear thathe should immediately commit me ; but having understood that many jewellers, 8 fc.> who had been robbed, were in attendance to identify me, he inquired for them ; the officers, however, stated that none were present, except a shopman of Mr. Chandler in Leicester-fields, who had been a considerable sufferer ; but on this young man view- ing me, he declared 1 was not the person who had been at his master's shop ; in which, by-the-by, he was egregiously mistaken. The magistrate then committed me for trial, on Mr. Bilger’s charge ; and ordered that I should be brought up again on that day se’ennight, (the 8th of February,) in order that the different shop-keepers might have notice to attend. I was now conveyed to Tothill-fields 87 Bridewell, where I continued a week. My first object was to establish a communication with my wife ; but I was afraid of suffering her to visit me, lest she might have been detained as an accomplice. She, however, sent her sister to me daily, who brought me every needful requisite for my use and comfort in the prison ; and among the rest, a change of apparel of a very different kind from that in which 1 was apprehended. Having put on these clothes, I sent the others back by the bearer ; and the same day, a barber attending, whom I had sent for to shave me, I requested him to cut off my whiskers, and to crop my hair close. He did so, and I now cut so different a figure, that no person could possibly identify me, unless intimately acquainted with my features. Had 1 been enabled to take these measures before T appeared at Bow-street, it is probable Mr. Bilger would not have ventured to swear to me ; but unfortunately they were adopted too late to render me any essential service. When the officers came to the prison, and saw the metamorphose I had undergone, they were, however, highly enraged ; charged the turnkeys with gross neglect of duty, and want of vigilance in suffering the means to be ad- mitted, and threatened to represent the circum- stances to the magistrate. I laughed heartily at their chagrin, and said all I could to heighten their vexation. On the day appointed, 1 was brought up for re-examination ; but it seemed the tradesmen 88 \ who were expected, had not thought it worth their while to attend, for none made their appearance. Mr. Graham viewed me with evident surprise, de^ manding why I was so differently dressed, and what I had done with my whiskers # . I answered, that I wore whatever I found most convenient to myself, and as to whiskers/l never had any. His Worship stared at this assertion, and declared, that when he first examined me, I had very large whiskers, and my hair dressed in the fashionable mode. “ How- ever,” added he, “ I see through your design ; but it has been executed too late, and this stratagem will not now serve your turn.” I was then finally committed to Newgate, as the Session was to com- mence on that day week (the J5th). My unhappy wife was waiting the issue of my examination, in the neighbourhood of the public office, and on learning the result, took coach, and w T as at the door of New- gate as soon as myself. The officers who escorted me having retired, both my wife and 1 were very kindly received by the principal turnkey, who instantly recognised us as Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, and expressed his concern at my so soon becoming * The public papers, in describing my second examination, had the following paragraph. “ The prisoner, on his first exami- nation, was dressed in the most fashionable style ; but he was now completely metamorphosed, being dressed in a drab great-coat, jockey-boots, and a Belcher handkerchief, so as to have the appearance of a stage-coachlnan! ,, 89 again an inmate of Newgate. He then ordered me to have a light iron put on ; and requesting to know what ward I wished to go into, I chose the same I had before been a member of, and to this room my wife accompanied me. After receiving the compliments of such of the prisoners as were before my fellow-lodgers, (among whom were the two brothers,) all of whom vied with each other in contributing to our accommodation, we partook of some tea ; and having been a fortnight separated from my beloved wife, I would not "suffer her to quit me until the next morning. I had now but a few days to prepare for my ap- proaching trial ; and though I entertained no hopes of escaping conviction, I determined to employ a counsel ; and who so proper (thought I,) as my good friend Mr. Knapp, who had so adroitly brought me off on a late occasion. 1, therefore, drew a brief, in which I dwelt strongly on some particular points both of law and fact, and enclosed it, with the customary fee, in a letter to that gentleman, remind- ing him of my being his client in November session, and trusting he would do ail in his power to extri- cate me from my present embarrassment. Mr. Knapp assured my wife that I might depend on his best exertions, and I now waited with patience for the event. My affectionate partner w as unremitting in her attention to me, being never absent but when she had occasion to look into our affairs at home, 90 and her sister having undertaken the care of our house till my fate was determined, she slept with me every night, as I had reason to fear I should soon be removed to a place where 1 could not have this indulgence. It was something singular that my poor friend Bromley, whom I had not seen for two months before, was brought into Newgate the very day after myself, being committed on a capital charge of house-breaking. Being, however, unable to pay the fees required on the master’s side, where I was situ- ated, he was obliged to put up with the common side, as it is termed ; but the two yards being contiguous, I had an opportunity of seeing him every day. On Wednesday the 15th of February, 1809, I was taken down to the sessions-house for trial ; and four persons having been successively tried for capital offences, all of whom were convicted, I was next put to the bar, and stood indicted u for felo- niously stealing, on the 9th of December, fyc., a double-rowed brilliant half-hoop ring, value 16/. 16s. ; a diamond ring for hair, value Ql . . 9$. ; a rose diamond and ruby ring, with serpent-chased shank, value 61. 6s. ; and a pearl and amethyst broach, value £/. 2s . , the goods of Matthias Bilger the elder, and Matthias Bilger the younger, privately in their shop.” The reader will observe that I was here indicted upon a certain act of parliament, which makes it a capital offence to steal “ goods, wares, or merchandise, to the value of five shillings, 91 privately in a shop.” My indictment having been read over, I looked round for Mr. Knapp, whom I expected to have found prepared with his brief; but not observing him among the other counsellors, I inquired of the turnkeys near me, who informed me that he was not in court. I then requested of the judge that my trial might be deferred, on account of the absence of my counsel. The court inquiring who was my counsel, ^answered, Mr. Knapp; upon which Mr. Gurney, another counsellor, rising from his seat, said, “ My lord, I am authorized to plead for Mr. Knapp.” This satisfied me, not doubting but Mr. Gurney had my brief, and would do all in his power ; and I suffered the trial to proceed. The indictment having been read as I have before described, to my no small surprise, Mr. Raine, the counsellor who had been retained by my prosecutors, rose, and proceeded to state the case to the jury; in doing which, according to custom, he gave so clear a view of the facts attending my offence, and so artfully and eloquently coloured the whole, that I saw the jury had more than half convicted me already, and would only listen to the subsequent evidence as a requisite matter of form. The coun- sel concluded his statement with this observation ; u If, gentlemen, these facts are clearly proved to you in evidence, (as I persuade myself they will be,) no doubt can remain in your minds as to the verdict you will give.” He then proceeded to examine 92 the witnesses. Mr. Bilger, senior, deposed wliat the reader is already m possession of, with these addi- tions ; that, a few minutes after my quitting the shop, he missed the articles named in the indict- ment ; and that having, on my second visit, received my final instructions for a ring, and the address I have before mentioned, he went himself next day to Curzon-street, and found t No. 13 to be an empty house ! Mr. Bilger having concluded, and Mr. Gurney not offering to cross-examine him, con- formable to the suggestions in my brief, and as I fully expected he would, I was extremely surprised, and was soon afterwards convinced that he had not received any brief at all, or had any grounds to plead upon. I, therefore, requested to ask Mr. Bilger a question, namely, “ Why he did not apprehend me on the Tuesday night, on which be swears I came the second time to his shop* after having missed the property on the preceding Friday, and suspected me for it ?” An§. “ My lord, he had so much the appearance of a gentleman that I thought I might be mistaken. He was very differently dressed then from what he is now. He wore whiskers, and an eye-glass, and was very nicely powdered*. My * Subjoined to the report of my trial, in the public prints, was this remark. u The prisoner, on his trial, had left off his false whiskers, his powdered head-dress, and his eye-glass, and appeared in a loose great coat and silk handkerchief ! !” Indeed there were many similar pieces of wit at my expense, and some 0 3 son went to the door in order to get a constable) but he observed an accomplice.” (What Mr. Bilger meant by this last assertion, or what he would deduce from it, I have no idea.) The next evidence was that of Turner the pawnbroker; and I had in my brief given such hints, that I hoped Mr. Knapp would have effectually put this fellow out of coun- tenance, by making him confess that he had, at his own request, repeatedly bought such things of me. But here Mr. Gurney was still silent, and I saw that it would be useless for me to ask Turner any ques- tions. The working-jeweller was then called to depose to the ring, which he did in the strongest terms. Mr. Gurney barely asked him, if he could undertake to swear that he had not made rings exactly similar for other shops ? He replied, that he was positive it was one of the three which he sent to Mr. Bilger on the 9th of December. Next came the scoundrel who took me, George Donaldson, a constable of St. Martin’s parish ; who stated that himself and Smith, one of the Bow-street patrole^ from information they had received, apprehended me at the Butchers’ Arms in Clare-market, in com- pany with a great many notorious thieves. The evidence for the prosecution being now closed, Mr* Gurney inquired of Mr. Bilger, senior, how many partners he had ; who answered none but his son, compliments paid me on the dexterity with which I exercised my vocation 94 Then, what other persons were in the shop, (meaning assistants,) besides his son and himself, when he lost his property ? Ans . “ Only a porter, who was cleaning some plate at the farther end of the counter, at some distance from where the prisoner stood.” All that Mr. Gurney, therefore, said or asked, any other person might have said without reference to a brief ; and having put these simple questions, or at least put them in a simple and careless manner, Mr. Gurney sat himself down. The last question, indeed, was of a most important nature, and if pro- perly handled, and enforced with becoming spirit, would, I have little doubt, have rendered me the most essential service. To explain my meaning, I must briefly expound a point of law, with which nine readers out of ten may be unacquainted. The Act, under which I was indicted, provides, or is in- terpreted to mean, that where there are two or more persons employed as shopmen, fyc., it is not suffi- cient for one alone to attend upon the prisoner’s trial ; but that every one, if there was a dozen, must personally appear, to swear that he or she did not see or suspect the prisoner to commit the act of robbery ; because the law (always favourable to the culprit,) presumes, that if one person out of the whole number is absent, that very person might possibly have suspected the prisoner ; and then such suspicion, however slight, if confessed, proves that the robbery was not effected so privately as to 95 come within the meaning of the Act ; consequently, there is an end of the capital part of the charge, and the prisoner can only be transported for seven years. The reader will see, in the next Chapter, my reason for being thus particular in this explanation. The judge now summed up the evidence, and what was most extraordinary, I was not even called on for my defence; so much were the court prejudiced against me, from the eloquent opening of the learned counsel, the clear and decisive evidence of the wit- nesses ; and, perhaps, (above all,) from some little private intimation they had received of my real character and past life. However, as I felt that no defence I could make, was likely to prevent my conviction, I was not much concerned on the occa- sion ; and the jury after two minutes’ consideration returned the fatal verdict of u Guilty.” This verdict was no sooner pronounced, than the villain Donald- son, standing up in the witness-box, said, “ My lord, I think it my duty to inform the court what I know of the prisoner at the bar. I have been given to understand that he is a very old offender, and that he has been but a few months returned from Botany-Bay !” At this malicious address, there was a general murmur of indignation throughout the whole court ; and Mr. Gurney (to do him justice,) rose with much warmth, saying, “ Mr. Donaldson, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for having made such a disclosure; you acknowledge you only have 96 this circumstance from hearsay, and had you known it to be true, after the prisoner being capitally con- victed, it is most shameful and unmanly conduct of you to mention it.” The malicious rascal was justly confounded at this rebuff, and sneaked away amidst the execrations of the auditors. After my conviction I was double-ironed, and detained in the dock until the evening, my trial having occupied about two hours ; and at eight o’clock, I was escorted to the press-yard, and locked up in one of the condemned cells. My poor wife remained in the ward of the prison, to which I belonged, until she saw me pass by, and I had only time to console her in a few 7 w ords through the bars of the w 7 indow, and take leave of her till the morning. 97 CHAPTER IX. Account of my Companion and Fellow-sufferer in the condemned Cells . — J His unhappy Fate. — I receive Sentence of Death. — Am reprieved , and soon after wards sent on board the Hulks . — Some Account of those Receptacles of human Misery. BESIDES the four men convicted the same day as myself, there were in the cells several others who had been cast for death the preceding session; and, the recorder’s report not having yet been made, they still remained under sentence, ignorant of the fate which awaited them, but they were in expectation of its being decided every succeeding levee-day. It is customary to confine two condemned prisoners in each cell, and I was destined to be the companion of a man named Nicholls, his former bed-fellow having suffered about a week previous to my con- viction. On the turnkeys, who attended me, open- ing the door of his cell, the unhappy man (Nicholls,^ was discovered on his knees, with a book in his hand, and evidently a prey to doubt and terror My conductors apologized for disturbing him, say- ing, they had only brought him a companion, and hoped he w 7 ould find consolation in my society. Poor Nicholls answered in broken accents, “ My VOL. II. F 98 God ! I was a little alarmed, — I heard the keys coming, — I thought it was the report. — What ? — do you expect it to-night ?” The turnkeys replied, that from the lateness of the hour, it was not probable ; bnt begged him to compose himself, and hope for the best. They then re-locked the doors, and left us. This unfortunate person had been convicted of selling forged bank-notes, through the treachery of a man, who, to save himself, had given informa- tion, and betrayed him by a signal to the police- officers, at the moment of the negotiation taking place. As he was known to have carried on this illegal and dangerous traffic to a great extent in the town of Birmingham, where he resided, the Bank were determined to make an example of him ; particularly as he had obstinately refused to save his own life by disclosing, as he could have done, most important information on the subject, so as to lead to the detection of the fabricators. This being the case of Nicholls, he had no hope of mercy being extended to him ; and was consequently in hourly dread of the awful fiat which was to seal his doom, and consign him to a shameful and prema- ture death. On being left alone with him, I forgot for a moment my own situation, and feeling for that of my ill-fated companion, whose case I already knew, 1 exeited myself to console and sooth him ; not by raising in him hopes for which I knew there was no foundation, but by exhorting him to look 99 forward to u another and a better world to com- fort himself with the reflection that his crime, (though punished with death on account of its injurious ten- dency in a commercial country,) was not in a moral sense, or in the eye of God, of so black a nature as to preclude him from the hope of mercy at that awful tribunal “ before which the judges of this world must themselves be tried.” By these and the like suggestions, I so far succeeded as to com- pose him pretty much ; and having undressed our- selves, we went to bed. He then requested me to read a few chapters to him, and earnestly asked my opinion on some particular passages in the New Testament, which applied to his situation, and of the real meaning of w hich he anxiously wished to be resolved. We had read and reasoned on these topics until St. Paul’s clock struck ten, and were on the point of composing ourselves to sleep, that “ balm of hurt minds,” when we were alarmed by the rattling of keys, and the sound of voices. I endeavoured to cairn the agitation of Mr. Nicholls, by supposing that another unhappy man had been convicted, and was about to be introduced to the cells ; but he declared it must be the report, and fell on his knees before the cell-door. The foot- steps approaching, our door was slowly unlocked, and the distressing agony of my companion w as now indescribable. Mr. Newman, the jailor, entered as quietly as possible, and taking Nicholls by the F 2 100 hand, while he himself was evidently affected, he said, “ Mr. Nicholls, — the report has been made, and — (here he would fain have paused,) I am sorry to inform you it has been unfavourable ” Nicholls . “ Lord, have mercy on me ! God’s will be done ! 1 expected it, Mr. Newman, — it is no more than 1 expected. — When is it, — to suffer, Mr. Newman The latter replied, “ on Wednesday next.” Nicholls . i \u : ... : it • t n :•'« ci -> . ) * • ' . . • * . NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE VOCABULARY. OF THE FLASH LANGUAGE COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY JAMES HARDY VAUX. \ • ; 1 . Note. The Author has found it necessary to introduce frequently , in the course of his definitions , technical , or cant words and phrases. This he could not avoid without much tautology and unpleasing circumlocution. The Reader will therefore take notice , that all such cant terms are placed in Italics ; and where at a loss to comprehend them> he has only to refer to their alphabetical position for an explanation. * » "■.* • J .. i . '.>1, - . - . 0 > ^ - ’ *' ■ '* OA uul! "Ay* ■ . ^ • '• v :-'; */;•.' i -'x\\ o': TU' y V. ‘ ■" ■ ■> 5 t:.\ \ Vi to vVV. ' *; ■■ «■ • • ' \ '\ulx\ Ci *V>Vi\ 0,V\s\ftO v\ f; j/ ORIGINAL DEDICATION. To Thomas Skottowe, Esq., of His Majesty's 73d Regiment, Commandant of Newcastle 9 in the Colony of New South Wales , and one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for that Territory . SIR, WITH the utmost deference and respect, I beg leave to submit to your perusal the following sheets. The idea of such a compilation first originated in the suggestion of a friend ; and however the theme may be condemned as exceptionable by narrow minds, I feel confident you possess too much liberality of sentiment to reject its writer as utterly depraved, because he has acquired an extensive knowledge on a subject so obviously disgrace- ful. True it is, that in the course of a chequered and eventful life, I have intermixed with the most dissolute and unprincipled characters, and that a natural quickness of conception, and most retentive memory, have ren- dered me familiar with their language and system of operations. Permit me, Sir, to assure you most seriously, that I view with remorse the retrospect of my hitherto mis- spent life, and that my future exertions shall be solely H 4 152 DEDICATION* directed to acquire the estimable good opinion of the virtuous part of the community. I trust the Vocabulary will afford you some amuse- ment from its novelty ; and that from the correctness of its definitions, you may occasionally find it useful in your magisterial capacity. I cannot omit this opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the very humane and equitable treatment I have experienced, in common with every other person in this settlement*, under your temperate and judicious government. I have the honour to remain, with the most dutiful respect. Sir, Your devoted, and very humble Servant, J. H. VAUX. Newcastle, 5th July, 1812. * The Author (a prisoner under sentence of transportation for life) having, by an alleged act of impropriety, incurred the Governor’s displeasure, w r as at this period banished to New- castle, a place of punishment for offenders : these sheets were there compiled during his solitary hours of cessation from hard labour ; and the Commandant was accordingly presented by the Author with the first copy of his production. A VOCABULARY OF THE FLASH LANGUAGE. A Alderman lushington. See lush. ANDREW MILLER’S LUGGER, a king’s ship or vessel. AREA SNEAK, or AREA SLUM, the practice of slipping unperceived down the areas of private houses, and robbing the lower apartments of plate or other articles. ARM-PITS. To work under the arm-pits , is to prac- tise only such kinds of depredation, as will amount, upon conviction, to what the law terms single, or petty lar- ceny ; the extent of punishment for which is transpor- tation for seven years. By following this system, a thief avoids the halter, which certainly is applied above the arm-pits. AW AKE, an expression used on many occasions ; as a thief will say to his accomplice, on perceiving the h 5 154 BAN person they are about to rob is aware of their inten- tion, and upon his guard, stow it , the cove y s awake . To be awake to any scheme, deception, or design, means, generally, to see through or comprehend it. B BACK-JUMP. A back-window. See Jump. BACK-SLANG, to enter or come out of a house by the back-door; or, to go a circuitous or private way through the streets, in order ]to avoid any particular place in the direct road, is termed back-slanging it, BACK-SLUM, a back room ; also the back en- trance to any house or premises ; thus, we '11 give it ’em on the back- slum, means, we ’ll get in at the back- door. BAD HALFPENNY. When a man has been upon any errand, or attempting any object which has proved unsuccessful or impracticable, he will say on his re- turn, It’s a bad halfpenny ; meaning he has returned as he went. BANDED, hungry. BANDS. To wear the bands , is to be hungry, or short of food for any length of time ; a phrase chiefly used on board the hulks, or in jails. BANG-UP. A person, whose dress or equipage is in the first style of perfection, is declared to be bang up to the mark, A man who has behaved with extraor- dinary spirit and resolution in any enterprise he has been engaged in, is also said to have come bang up to the mark; any article which is remarkably good or BES 155 elegant, or any fashion, act, or measure which is carried to the highest pitch, is likewise illustrated by the same emphalical phrase. BARKING-IRONS, pistols; an obsolete term. BARNACLES, spectacles. BASH, to beat any person by way of correction, as the woman you live with, fyc. BASTILE, generally called, for shortness, the Steel; a cant name for the House of Correction, Cold-Bath- Fields, London. BEAK, a magistrate ; the late Sir John Fielding, of police memory, was known amon gfamily people by the title of the blind beak. BEAN, a guinea. BEEF, stop thief! to beef a person, is to raise a hue and cry after him, in order to get him stopped. BELLOWSER. See Wind. BENDER, a sixpence. BENDER, an ironical word used in conversation by flash people ; as where one party affirms or professes any thing which the other believes to be false or insincere, the latter expresses his incredulity by exclaiming bendtr! or, if one asks another to do any act which the latter considers unreasonable or impracticable, he replies, O yes. I'll do it — bender ; meaning, by the addition of the last word, that, in fact, he will do no such thing. BEST, to get your money at the best , signifies to live by dishonest or fraudulent practices, without labour or industry, according to the general acceptation of the latter word ; but, certainly, no persons have more occasion to be industrious, and in a state of perpetual action than ii 6 156 BOD cross-cores; and experience has proved, when too late, to many of them, that honesty is the best policy ; and* consequently, that the above phrase is by no means Apropos, BETTY, a picklock ; to unbet ty, or betty a lock, is to open or relock it, by means of the betty , so as to avoid subsequent detection. BILLIARD SLUM. The mace is sometimes called giving it to } em on the billiard slum. See Mace. BISHOP. See Christen. BIT, money in general. BIT-FAKER, a coiner. See Fake. BIT-FAKING, coining base money. BLACK DIAMONDS, coals. BLEEDERS, spurs. BLOODY-JEMMY, a sheep's head. BLOW THE GAFF, a person having any secret in his possession, or a knowledge of any thing injurious to another, when at last induced from revenge, or other motive, to tell it openly to the world and expose him publicly, is then said to have blown the gaff upon him. BLOWEN, a prostitute ; a woman who cohabits with a man without marriage. BLUE-PIGJLON, lead. BLUE-PIGEON FLYING, the practice of stealing lead from houses, churches, or other buildings, very prevalent in London and its vicinity. BLUNT, money. BOB, or BOBSTICK, a shilling. BODY-SLANGS. See Slangs. BODY-SNATCHER, a stealer of dead bodies from BON 157 churchyards ; which are sold to the surgeons and stu- dents in anatomy. BOLT, to run away from or leave any place suddenly, is called bolting , or making a bolt : a thief observing an alarm while attempting a robbery, will exclaim to his accomplice, Bolt , there's a down . A sudden escape of one or more prisoners from a place of confinement is termed a bolt . BOLT-IN-TUN, a term founded on the cant word bolt , and merely a fanciful variation, very common among flash persons, there being in London a famous inn so called ; it is customary when a man has run away from his lodgings, broke out of a jail, or made any other sudden movement, to say, The Bolt-in-tun is concerned ; or, He's gone to the Bolt-in-tun ; instead of simply saying, He has bolted , fyc. See Bolt. BONED, taken in custody, apprehended ; Tell us how you was boned , signifies, tell us the story of your apprehension ; a common request among fellow-prisoners in a jail, Sfc which is readily complied with in general; and the various circumstances therein related afford pre- sent amusement, and also useful hints for regulating their future operations, so as to avoid the like misfortune. BONNET, a concealment, pretext, or pretence ; an ostensible manner of accounting for what you really mean to conceal ; as a man who actually lives by depre- dation, will still outwardly follow some honest employ- ment, as a clerk, porter, newsman, Sfc . By this system of policy, he is said to have a good bonnet if he happens to get boned ; and, in a doubtful case, is commonly dis- charged on the score of having a good character. To 158 BRA bonnet for a person, is to corroborate any assertion he has made, or to relate facts in the most favourable light, in order to extricate him from a dilemma, or to further any object he has in view. BOUNCE, to bully, threaten, talk loud, or affect great consequence ; to bounce a person out of any thing, is to use threatening or high words, in order to intimi- date him, and attain the object you are intent upon ; or to obtain goods of a tradesman, by assuming the appear- ance of great respectability and importance, so as to remove any suspicion he might at first entertain. A thief, detected in the commission of a robbery, has been known by this sort of finesse, aided by a genteel appear- ance and polite manners, to persuade his accusers of his innocence, and not only to get off with a good grace, but induce them to apologize for their supposed mistake, and the affront put upon him. This master- stroke of effrontery is called giving it to 'em upon the ' bounce . BOUNCE, a person well or fashionably drest, is said to be a rank bounce . BOWLED OUT, a man who has followed the pro- fession of thieving for some time, when he is ultimately taken, tried, and convicted, is said to be bowled out at last. To bowl a person out , in a general sense, means to detect him in the commission of any fraud or pecula- tion, which he has hitherto practised without discovery. BRACE UP, to dispose of stolen goods by pledging them for the utmost you Can get at a pawnbroker’s, is termed bracing them up, BRADS, halfpence; also, money in general. BR0 159 BREAKING UP OF THE SPELL, the nightly termination of performance at the Theatres Royal, which is regularly attended by pickpockets of the lower order, who exercise their vocation about the doors and avenues leading thereto, until the house is emptied and the crowd dispersed. BREECH’D, flush of money. BRIDGE, to bridge a person, or throw him over the bridge , is, in a general sense, to deceive him by betray- ing the confidence he has reposed in you, and instead of serving him faithfully, to involve him in ruin or disgrace; or, three men being concerned alike in any transaction, two of them will form a collusion to bridge the third, and engross to themselves all the advantage which may eventually accrue. Two persons having been engaged in a long and doubtful contest or rivalship, he, who by superior art or perseverance gains the point, is said to have thrown his opponent over the bridge . Among gamblers, it means deceiving the person who had back’d you, by wilfully losing the game ; the money so lost by him being shared between yourself and your con- federates who had laid against you. In playing three- handed games, two of the party will play into each other’s hands, so that the third must inevitably be thrown over the bridge , commonly called, two poll one . See Play across. BROADS, cards ; a person expert at which is said to be a good broad-player . BROOMSTICKS. See Queer Bail. BROWNS and WHISTLERS, bad halfpence and farthings ; (a term used by coiners.) 160 BUS BUB, a low expression signifying drink. BUCKET. To bucket a person is synonymous with putting him in the well See Well. Such treatment is said to be a bucketting concern, BUFF. To buff to a person or thing, is to swear to the identity of them ; swearing very positively to any circumstance, is called buffing it home . BUFFER, a dog. BUG, or BUG OVER. To give, deliver, or hand over; as, He bug’d me a quid , he gave me a guinea; bug over the rag , hand over the money. BULL, a crown, or five shillings. BULL-DOG, a sugar-loaf. BULL-HANKERS, men who delight in the sport of bull-hanking ; that is, bull-baiting, or bullock-hunting, games which afford much amusement, and at the same time frequent opportunities of depredation, in the con- fusion and alarm excited by the enraged animal. BUM-CHARTER, a name given to bread steeped in hot water, by the first unfortunate inhabitants of the English Bastile , where this miserable fare was their daily breakfast, each man receiving with his scanty portion of bread, a quart of boil'd water from the cook’s coppers ! BUM-TRAP, a sheriff’s officer or his follower. BUNCE, money. BURICK, a prostitute, or common woman. BUSH’D, poor; without money. BU SHY-PARK, a man who is poor is said to be at Bushy park , or in the park . BUSTLE, a cant term for money. BUSTLE, any object effected very suddenly, or in a CAZ 161 hurry, is said to be done upon the hustle . To give it to a man upon the hustle , is to obtain any point, as borrow- ing money, fyc., by some sudden story or pretence, and affecting great haste, so that he is taken by surprise, and becomes duped before he has time to consider of the matter. BUZ, to huz a person is to pick his pocket. The huz is the game of picking pockets in general. BUZ-COVE, or BUZ-GLOAK, a pickpocket; a person who is clever at this practice, is said to be a good huz . c CABIN, a house. CADGE, to beg. The cadge is the game or profes- sion of begging. CADGE-GLOAK, a beggar. CANT OF DOBBIN, a roll of riband. CAP, synonymous with Bonnet, which see. CARDINAL, a lady’s cloak. CARRY THE KEG, a man who is easily vexed or put out of humour by any joke passed upon him, and cannot conceal his chagrin, is said to carry the keg , or is compared to a walking distiller . CASTOR, a hat. CAT and KITTEN RIG, the petty game of stealing pewter^quart and pint pots from public-houses. CAZ, cheese ; As good as caz> is a phrase signifying that any projected fraud or robbery may be easily and certainly accomplished ; any person who is the object of such attempt, and is known to be an easy dupe, is 162 CHR declared to be as good as caz 9 meaning that success is certain. CHANDLER-KEN, a chandler's shop. CHANT, a person's name, address, or designation ; thus, a thief who assumes a feigned name on his appre- hension to avoid being known, or a swindler who gives a false address to a tradesman, is said to tip them a queer chant . CHANT, a cipher, initials, or mark of any kind, on a piece of plate, linen, or other article ; any thing so marked is said to be chanted . CHANT, an advertisement in a newspaper or hand- bill; also a paragraph in the newspaper describing #ny robbery or other recent event ; any lost or stolen pro- perty, for the recovery of which, or a thief, Sfc. 9 for whose apprehension a reward is held out by advertise- ment, are said to be chanted CHARLEY, a watchman. CHARLEY-KEN, a watch-box, CHATS, lice. CHATTY, lousy. CHAUNT, a song; to chaunt is to sing; to throw off a rum chaunt , is to sing a good song. CHEESE IT. The same as Stow it . CHEESE THAT. See Stow that. CHINA STREET, a cant name for Bow Street, Covent Garden. CHIV, a knife ; to chiv a person is to stab or cut him with a knife. CHRISTEN* obliterating the name and number on the movement of a stolen watch ; or the crest, cipher, COM 163 3’c., on articles of plate, and getting others engraved, so as to prevent their being identified, is termed having them bishop' d or christen'd. CHUM, a fellow prisoner in a jail, hulk, tyc. ; so there are new chums and old chums , as they happen to have been a short or a long time in confinement. CHURY, a knife. CLEANED OUT, said of a gambler who has lost his last stake at play; also, of a flat who has been stript of all his money by a coalition of sharps . CLOUT, a handkerchief of any kind. CLOUTING, the practice of picking pockets exclu- sively of handkerchiefs. CLY, a pocket. CLY-FAKER, a pickpocket. COACH-WHEEL, a dollar or crown-piece. COME. A thief observing any article in a shop, or other situation, which he conceives may be easily pur- loined, will say to his accomplice, I think there is so and so to come. COME IT, to divulge a secret ; to tell any thing of one party to another ; they say of a thief who has turned evidence against his accomplices, that he is coming all he knows, or that he comes it as strong as a horse. COME TO THE HEATH, a phrase signifying to pay or give money, and synonymous with Tipping , from which word it takes its rise, there being a place called Tiptree Heath, I believe, in the County of Essex. COME TO THE MARK, to abide strictly by any contract previously made ; to perform your part man- fully in any exploit or enterprise you engage in ; or to 164 CRA offer me what I consider a fair price for any article in question. CONCERNED. In using many cant words, the lovers of flash , by way of variation, adopt this term, for an illustration of which, see Bolt-in-Tun, Alderman Lushington, Mr. Palmer, <$c. CONK, the nose. CONK, athief who impeaches his accomplices ; aspy ; informer, or tell-tale. See Nose, and Wear it. COVE, the master of a house or shop, is called the Cove; on other occasions, when joined to particular words, as a cross-cove , a flash-cove , a leary-cove , &c., it simply implies a man of those several descriptions; sometimes, in speaking of any third person, whose name you are either ignorant of, or don’t wish to mention, the word cove is adopted by way of emphasis, as may be seen under the word Awake. COVER, to stand in such a situation as to obscure your Fall , who is committing a robbery, from the view of by-standers or persons passing, is called covering him. Any body whose dress or stature renders him particularly eligible for this purpose, is said to be a good cover . COVESS, the mistress of a house or shop, and used on other occasions, in the same manner as Cove , when applied to a man. CRAB, to prevent the perfection or execution of any intended matter or business, by saying any thing offensive or unpleasant, is called crabbing it, or throwing a crab ; to crab a person, is to use such offensive language or behaviour as will highly displease, or put him in an ill humour. CUT 165 CRAB’D, affronted; out of humour; sometimes called, being in Crab-street. CRABSHELLS, shoes. CRACK, to break open ; the crack is the game of house-breaking ; a crack is a breaking any house or building for the purpose of plunder. CRACKSMAN, a house-breaker. CRACK A WHID, to speak or utter: as, he crack'd some queer whids , hedropt some bad or ugly expressions : crack a whid for me, intercede, or put in a word for me. CRACKER, a small loaf, served to prisoners in jails, for their daily subsistence. CRAP, the gallows. CRAP'D, hanged. CRIB, ahouse, sometimes applied to shops, as, a thimble- crib , a watch-maker’s shop ; a stocking-crib, a hosier’s, &c. CROAK, to die. CROOK, a sixpence. CROSS, illegal or dishonest practices in general are called the cross , in opposition to the square . See Square. Any article which has been irregularly obtained, is said to have been got upon the cross , and is emphatically termed a cross article . CROSS-COVE, or CROSS-MOLLISHER, a man or woman who lives upon the cross . CROSS-CRIB, a house inhabited, or kept by family people. See Square Crib. CROSS-FAM, to cross-fam a person, is to pick his pocket, by crossing your arms in a particular position. CUE. See Letter Q. CUT THE LINE. See Line, 166 DIN CUT THE STRING. See String. CUT THE YARN. See Yarn. CUTTING-GLOAK, a man famous for drawing a knife, and cutting any person he quarrels with. D DAB, a bed. DAB IT UP, to dab it up with a woman, is to agree to cohabit with her. DANCERS, stairs. DANNA, human, or other excrement. D ANNA-DRAG, commonly pronounced dunnick- drag. See Knap a Jacob, fyc. DARBIES, fetters. DARKY, night. DARKY, a dark lan thorn. DEATH-HUNTER, an undertaker. DICKY, or DICK IN THE GREEN, very bad or* paltry ; any thing of an inferior quality, is said to be a dicky concern. DIMMOCK, money. DING, to throw, or throw away ; particularly any article you have stolen, either because it is worthless, or ' that there is danger of immediate apprehension. To ding a person, is to drop his acquaintance totally; also to quit his company, or leave him for the time present ; to ding to your pall , is to convey to him, privately, the property you have just stolen ; and he who receives it is said to take ding, or to knap the ding . DING ABLE, any thing considered worthless, or which you can well spare, having no further occasion DOL 167 for it, is declared to be dingable . This phrase is often applied by sharps to a flat whom they have cleaned out ; and by abandoned women to a keeper, who having spent his all upon them, must be discarded, or ding'd as soon as possible. DISPATCHES, false dice used by gamblers, so con- trived as always to throw a nick. DO, a term used by smashers ; to do a queer half -quid , or a queer screen , is to utter a counterfeit half-guinea, or a forged bank-note. DO IT AWAY, to fence or dispose of a stolen article beyond the reach of probable detection. DO IT UP, to accomplish any object you have in view ; to obtain any thing you were in quest of, is called doing it up for such a thing ; a person who contrives by nob-zvork y or ingenuity, to live an easy life, and appears to improve daily in circumstances, is said to do it up in good twig. DO THE TRICK, to accomplish any robbery, or other business successfully ; a thief who has been fortu- nate enough to acquire an independence, and prudent enough to tie it up in time, is said by his former associates to have done the trick ; on the other hand, a man who has imprudently involved himself in some great misfortune, from which there is little hope of his extri- cation is declared by his friends, with an air of com- miseration, to have done the trick for himself ; that is, his ruin or downfall is nearly certain. DOBBIN, riband. See Cant. DOLLOP, a dollop is a large quantity of any thing ; the whole dollop means the total quantity. 168 DOW DONE, convicted ; as, he was done for a crack , he was convicted of house-breaking. DORSE, a lodging ; to dorse with a woman, signifies to sleep with her. DOUBLE, to double a person, or tip him the Dublin packet , signifies either to run away from him openly, and elude his attempts to overtake you, or to give him the slip in the streets, or elsewhere, unperceived, com- monly done to escape from an officer who has you in custody, or to turn up a flat of any kind, whom you have a wish to get rid of. DOUBLE-SLANGS, double-irons. DOWN, sometimes synonymous with awake , as, when the party you are about to rob, sees or suspects your intention, it is then said that the cove is down . A down is a suspicion, alarm, or discovery, which taking place, obliges yourself and palls to give up or desist from the business or depredation you were engaged in ; to put a down upon a man, is to give information of any robbery or fraud he is about to perpetrate, so as to cause his failure or detection ; to dropdown to a person is to discover or be aware of his character or designs ; to put a person down to any thing, is to apprize him of, elucidate, or explain it to him ; to put a swell down , signifies to alarm or put a gentleman on his guard, when in the attempt to pick his pocket, you fail to effect it at once, and by having touched him a little too roughly, you cause him to suspect your design, and to use precautions accord- ingly ; or perhaps, in the act of sounding him, by being too precipitate or incautious, his suspicions may have been excited, and it is then said that you have put him down 7 DRO 169 put him fli /, or spoiled him. See Spoil it. To drop down upon yourself \ is to become melancholy, or feel symptoms of remorse or compunction, on being com- mitted to jail, cast for death, 8fc. To sink under mis- fortunes of any kind. A man who gives way to this weakness, is said to be dozen upon himself . DOWN AS A HAMMER ; DOWN AS A TRIP- PET. These are merely emphatical phrases, used out of flash, to signify being down, leary,fly,ov awake to any matter, meaning, or design. DRAG, a cart. The drag , is the game of robbing carts, waggons, or carriages, either in town or country, of trunks, bale-goods, or any other property. Done for a drag , signifies convicted for a robbery of the before- mentioned nature. DRAG-COVE, the driver of a cart. DRAG SM AN, a thief who follows the game of dragging . DRAKED, ducked ; a discipline sometimes inflicted on pickpockets at fairs, races, fyc. DRAW, to draw a person, is to pick his pocket, and the act of so stealing a pocket-book, or handkerchief, is called drawing a reader , or clout. To obtain money or goods of a person by a false or plausible story, is called drawing him of so and so. To drazv a kid, is to obtain his swag from him. See Kid-Rig. DRIZ, lace, as sold on cards by the haberdashers, fyc. DROP, the game of ring-dropping is called the drop. DROP, to give or present a person with money, as, he dropp'd me a quid, he gave me a guinea. A kid who delivers his bundle to a sharper without hesitation, or a VOL. II. i v i 170 DUE shopkeeper who is easily duped of his goods by means of a forged order or false pretence, is said to drop the swag in good twig , meaning, to part with it freely. DROP A WHID, to let fall a word, either inad- vertently or designedly. DROP-COVE, a sharp who practises the game of ring-dropping. DROP DOWN. ' See Down. DRUMMOND, any scheme or project considered to be infallible, or any event which is deemed inevitably certain, is declared to be a Drummond ; meaning, it is as sure as the credit of that respectable banking-house, Drummond and Co. DUB, a key. DUB AT A KNAPPING-JIGGER, a collector of tolls at a turnpike-gate. DUB-COVE, or DUBSMAN, a turnkey. DUBLIN-PACKET. See Double. DUB UP, to lock up or secure any thing or place ; also to button one’s pocket, coat, fyc. DUCE. Twopence is called a duce. DUDS, women’s apparel in general. DUES. This term is sometimes used to express money, where any certain sum or payment is spoken of ; a man asking for money due to him for any service done, or a blowen requiring her previous compliment from a. family- man, would say, Come, tip us the dues . So a thief, re- quiring his share of booty from his palls, will desire them to bring the dues to light . DUES. This word is often introduced by the lovers of fash on many occasions, but merely out of fancy , and FAK 171 can only be understood from the context of their dis- course ; like many other cant terms, it is not easily ex- plained on paper: for example, speaking of a man likely to go to jail, one will say, there will be quodding dues concerned , of a man likely to be executed ; there will be topping dues , if any thing is alluded to that will require a fee or bribe, there must be tipping dues , or palming dues concerned , &c. DUMMY, a pocket-book ; a silly half-witted person. DUMMY-HUNTERS, thieves who confine them- selves to the practice of stealing gentlemen's pocket- books, and think, or profess to think, it paltry to touch a clout , or other insignificant article ; this class of depre- dators traverse the principal streets of London, during the busy hours, and sometimes meet with valuable prizes. DUNNICK, or DANNA-DRAG. See Knap a Jacob. f FADGE, a farthing. FAKE, a word so variously used, that I can only illustrate it by a few examples. To fake any person or place, may signify to ro b them ; to fake a person, may also imply to shoot, wound, or cut ; to fake a man out and out , is to kill him ; a man who inflicts wounds upon, or otherwise disfigures, himself, for any sinister purpose, is said to have faked himself ; if a man’s shoe happens to pinch, or gall his foot, from its being over- tight, he will complain that his shoe fakes his foot sadly ; it also describes the doing any act, or the fabricating any thing, as, lo fake your slangs , is to cut your irons in order to escape from custody ; to fake your pin , is to create a i 2 172 FAM sore leg, or to cut it, as if accidentally, with an axe, fyc., in hopes to obtain a discharge from the army or navy, to get into the doctor’s list, fyc. ; to fake a screeve , is to write any letter, or other paper ; to fake a screw , is to shape out a skeleton or false key, for the purpose of screwing a particular place ; to fake a cly, is to pick a pocket ; Sfc., Sfc ., fyc* FAKE AWAY, THERE'S NO DOWN, an inti- mation from a thief to his pall, during the commission of a robbery, or other act, meaning, go on with your operations, there is no sign of any alarm or detection. FAKEMAN-CHARLEY ; FAKEMENT. As to fake signifies to do any act, or make any thing, so the fakement means the act or thing alluded to, and on which your discourse turns ; consequently, any stranger unacquainted with your subject will not comprehend what is meant by the fakement ; for instance, having recently been concerned with another in some rob- bery, and immediately separated, the latter taking the booty with him, on your next meeting you will inquire, what he has done with the fakement l meaning the article stolen, whether it was a pocket-book, piece of linen, or what not. Speaking of any stolen property which has a private mark, one will say, there is a fakeman-charley on it; a forgery which is well executed, is said to be a prime fakement ; in a word, any thing is liable to be termed & fakement, or a fakeman-charley, provided the per- son you address knows to what you allude. FAM, the hand. FAM, to feel or handle. FAMILY, thieves, sharpers and all others who get FLA 173 their living upon the cross , are comprehended under the title of “ The Family." FAMILY-MAN, or WOMAN, any person known or recognised as belonging to the family ; all such are term- ed family people. FANCY, any article universally admired for its beauty, or which the owner sets particular store by, is termed a fancy article ; as, a fancy clout , is a favourite handker- chief, Sfc. so a woman who is the particular favourite of any man, is termed his fancy woman , and vice versa. FAWNEY, a finger-ring. FAWNIED, or FAWNEY-FAM'D, having one or more rings on the finger. FEEDER, a spoon. FENCE, a receiver of stolen goods to fence any pro- perty, is to sell it to a receiver or other person. FIB, a stick. To fib is to beat with a stick ; also to box. FIBBING-GLOAK, a pugilist. FIBBING-MATCH, a boxing match. FILE, a person who has had a long course of experi- ence in the arts of fraud, so as to have become an adept, is termed an old fie upon the town ; so it is usual to say of a man who is extremely cunning, and not to be over-reach- ed, that he is a deep fie. File , in the old version of cant, signified a pickpocket, but the term is now obsolete. FINGER-SMITH, a midwife. FITENNY, a clasp-knife. FLASH, the cant language used by the family. To speak good fash is to be well versed in cant terms. FLASH, a person who affects any peculiar habit, as t 3 174 FLA swearing, dressing in a particular manner, taking snuff, fyc., merely to be taken notice of, is said to do it out of flash. FLASH, to be flash to any matter or meaning, is to understand or comprehend it, and is synonymous with being fly> down , or awake ; to put a person flash to any thing, is to put him on his guard, to explain or inform him of what he was before unacquainted with. FLASH, to shew or expose any thing ; as I flash 1 d him a bean f I shewed him a guinea. Don \ flash your sticks , don't expose your pistols, fyc. FLASH-COVE, or COVESS, the landlord or land- lady of a flash-ken. FLASH-CRIB, FLASH-KEN, or FLASH-PANNY, a public-house resorted to chiefly by family people , the master of which is commonly an old prig , and not un- frequently an old-lag. FLASH-MAN, a favourite or fancy-man ; but this term is generally applied to those dissolute characters upon the town, who subsist upon the liberality of unfor- tunate women; and who, in return, are generally at hand during their nocturnal perambulations, to protect them should any brawl occur, or should they be de- tected in robbing those whom they have picked up. FLASH-MOLLISHER, a family- woman. FLASH-SONG, a song interlarded with flash words, generally relating to the exploits of the prigging frater- nity in their various branches of depredation. FLESH-BAG, a shirt. FLAT. In a general sense, any honest man, or square cove , in opposition to a sharp or cross-cove ; when used particularly, it means the person whom you have a design FRI 175 to rob or defraud, who is termed the flat , or th e flatty-gory. A man who does any foolish or imprudent act, is called a flat ; any person who is found an easy dupe to the de- signs of the family , is said to be a prime flat . It's a good flat that's never down, is a proverb among flash people ; meaning, that though a man may be repeatedly duped or taken in, he must in the end have his eyes opened to his folly. FLAT-MOVE, Any attempt or project that mis- carries, or any act of folly or mismanagement in human affairs is said to be a flat move. FLATS, a cant name for playing-cards. FLIP, to shoot. FLOOR, to knockdown any one, either for the purpose of robbery, or to effect your escape, is termed flooring him. FLOOR'D, a person who is* so drunk, as to be in- capable of standing, is said to be floor'd. FLUE-FAKER, a chimney-sweeper. FLY, vigilant; suspicious; cunning; not easily robbed or duped ; a shopkeeper or person of this description, is called a fly cove, or a leary cove ; on other occasions fly is synonymous with flash or leary, as, I 'm fly to you, I was put flash to him, fyc. FLY THE MAGS, to gamble, by tossing up halfpence. FOGLE, a silk-handkerchief. FORKS, the two fore-fingers of the hand ; to put your forks down , is to pick a pocket. FOSS, or PHOS, a phosphorus bottle used by cracks - men to obtain a light. FRISK, to search ; to frisk a cly, is to empty a pocket of its contents; to stand frisk, is to stand search. FRISK, fun or mirth of any kind. i 4 176 GAM G GAFF, to gamble with cards, dice, Sfc., or to toss up. GAFF, a country fair; also a meeting of gamblers for the purpose of play ; any public place of amusement is liable to be called the gaff, when spoken of in flash com- pany who know to what it alludes , GALANEY, a fowl. GALLOOT, a soldier. GAME, every particular branch of depredation prac- tised by the family , is called a game ; as, what game do you go upon ? One species of robbery or fraud is said to be a good game , another a queer game , &c. GAMMON, flattery ; deceit; pretence; plausible language ; any assertion which is not strictly true, or professions believed to be insincere, as, I believe you 're gammoning , or, that’s all gammon, meaning, you are no doubt jesting with me, or, that ’s all a farce. To gammon a person, is to amuse him with false assurances, to praise, or flatter him, in order to obtain some particular end ; to gammon a man to any act, is to persuade him to it by artful language, or pretence ; to gammon a shop- keeper, SfC., is to engage his attention to your discourse, while your accomplice is executing some preconcerted plan of depredation upon his property ; a thief detected in a house which he has entered, upon the sneak , for the purpose of robbing it, will endeavour by some gammoning story to account for his intrusion, and to get off with a good grace ; a man who is, ready at invention, and has always a flow of plausible language on these occasions, is said to be a prime gammoner ; to gammon lushy or queer , GIV 177 is to pretend drunkenness, or sickness, for some private end. GAMMON THE TWELVE, a man who has bee* tried by a criminal court, and by a plausible defence, has induced the jury to acquit him, or to banish the capital part of the charge, and so save his life, is said, by his associates to have gammoned the twelve in prime twig , alluding to the number of j urymen. GAMS, the legs, to have queer gams, is to be bandy- legged, or otherwise deformed. GARNISH, a small sum of money exacted from a new chum on his entering a jail, by his fellow-prisoners ? which affords them a treat of beer, gin, fyc. GARDEN, to put a person in the garden , in the hole , in the bucket , or in the well, are synonymous phrases, signifying to defraud him of his due share of the booty by embezzling a part of the property, or the money, it is fenced for ; this phrase also applies generally to de- frauding any one with whom you are confidentially con- nected of what is justly his due. GARRET, the fob-pocket. GEORGY, a quartern-loaf. GILL, a word used by way of variation, similar to cove, gloak, or gory; but generally coupled to some other descriptive term, as a flash-gill, a toby-gill , &c. GIVE IT TO, to rob or defraud any place or person, as, I gave it to him for his reader , I robb’d him of his pocket-book. What suit did you give it them upon ? In what manner, or by what means, did you effect your purpose ? Also, to impose upon a person’s credulity by telling him a string of falsehoods ; or to take any unfair ad- i 5 178 GRA vantage of another’s inadvertence or unsuspecting temper, on any occasion ; in either case, the party at last drop- ping down, that is, detecting your imposition, will say, I believe you have been giving it to me nicely all this while. GLAZE, a glass-window. GLIM, a candle, or other light. GLIM-STICK, a candlestick. GLOAK, synonymous with Gill, which see. GNARL, to gnarl upon a person, is the same as split- ting or nosing upon him ; a man guilty of this treachery is called a gnarling scoundrel, SfC. GO-ALONGER, a simple easy person, who suffers himself to be made a tool of, and is readily persuaded to any act or undertaking by his associates, who inwardly laugh at his folly, and ridicule him behind his back. GO OUT, to follow the profession of thieving; two or more persons who usually rob in company, are said' to go out together. GOOD, a place or person, which promises to be easily robbed, is said to be good , as, that house is good upon the crack ; this shop is good upon the star ; the swell is good for his montra ; fyc. A man who declares himself good for any favour or thing, means, that he has sufficient in- fluence, or possesses the certain means to obtain it ; good as bread , or good as cheese , are merely emphatical phrases to the same effect. See Caz. GORY, a term synonymous with cove, gill, or gloak, and like them, commonly used in the descriptive. See Flat and Swell. GRAB, to seize; apprehend; take in custody; to HAN 179 make a grab at any thing, is to snatch suddenly, as at a gentleman’s watch-chain, fyc. GRAB’D, taken, apprehended. GRx\Y, a half-penny, or other coin, having two heads or two tails, and fabricated for the use of gamblers, who, by such a deception, frequently win large sums. GROCERY, half-pence, or copper coin, in a collective sense. GRUB, victuals of any kind ; to grub a person, is to diet him, or find him in victuals ; to grub well, is to eat with an appetite. GUN, a view ; look ; observation ; or taking notice ; as, there is a strong gun at us, means, we are strictly observed. To gun any thing, is to look at or exa- mine it. H HADDOCK, a purse ; a haddack stuff'd with beans , is a jocular term for a purse full of guineas ! HALF A BEAN, HALF A QUID, half-a-guinea. HALF A BULL, half-a-crown. HALF-FLASH AND HALF-FOOLISH, this cha- racter is applied sarcastically to a person, who has a smattering of the cant language, and having associated a little with family people, pretends to a knowledge of life which he really does not possess, and by this conduct becomes an object of ridicule among his acquaintance. HAMMERISH, down as a hammer . HANG IT ON, purposely to delay or protract the performance of any task or service you have undertaken, by dallying, and making as slow a progress as possible, i 6 180 IN either from natural indolence, or to answer some pri- vate end of your own. To hang it on with a woman, is to form a temporary connexion with her ; to cohabit or keep company with her without marriage. HANK, a bull-bait, or bullock-hunt. HANK, to have a person at a good hanky is to have made any contract with him very advantageous to your- self ; or to be able from some prior cause to command or use him just as you please ; to have the benefit of his purse or other services, in fact, upon your own terms. HANK, a spell or cessation from any work or duty, on the score of indisposition, or some other pretence. HIGH-TOBY, the game of highway robbery, that is, exclusively on horseback. HIGH-TOBY-GLOAK, a highwayman. HIS-NABS, him, or himself ; a term used by way of emphasis, when speaking of a third person. HOBBLED, taken up, or in custody ; to hobble a plant , is to spring it. See Plant. HOG, a shilling; five, ten, or more shillings, are called five, ten, or more hog. HOIST, the game of shop-lifting is called the hoist ; a person expert at this practice is said to be a good hoist . HOLE. See Garden. HOPPER-DOCKERS, shoes. HORNEY, a constable. HOXTER, an inside coat-pocket. I IN IT, to let another partake of any benefit or acqui- sition you have acquired by robbery or otherwise, is JOB 181 called putting him in it : & family-man who is accidentally witness to a robbery, fyc., effected by one or more others, will say to the latter, Mind, I’m in it ; which is gene- rally acceded to, being the established custom ; but there seems more of courtesy than right in this practice. IN TOWN, flush of money ; breeched . J JACOB, a ladder ; a simple half-witted person. JACK, a post-chaise. JACK-BOY, a postillion. JACKET, to jacket a person, or clap a jacket on him, is nearly synonymous with bridging him. See Bridge. But this term is more properly applied to removing a man by underhand and vile means from any birth or situation he enjoys, commonly with a view to supplant him ; therefore, when a person, is supposed to have fallen a victim to such infamous machinations, it is said to have been a jacket ting concern. JASEY, a wig. JEMMY, or JAMES, an iron-crow. JERRY, a fog or mist. JERVIS, a coachman. JERVIS’S UPPER BENJAMIN, a box, or coach- man’s great coat. JIGGER, a door. JOB, any concerted robbery, which is to be executed at a certain time, is spoken of by the parties as the job, or having a job to do at such a place ; and in this case as regular preparations are made, and as great debates held, 182 KEN as about any legal business undertaken by the industrious part of the community. JOGUE, a shilling ; five jogue is five shillings, and so on, to any other number. JOSKIN, a country-bumbkin. JUDGE, a family-man , whose talents and experience have rendered him a complete adept in his profession, and who acts with a systematic prudence on all occasions, is allowed to be, and called by his friends, a fine judge. JUDGEMENT, prudence ; economy in acting ; abi- lities, (the result of long experience,) for executing the most intricate and hazardous projects ; any thing accom- plished in a masterly manner, is, therefore, said to have been done with judgement ; on concerting or planning any operations, one party will say, I think it would be judgement to do so and so, meaning expedient to do it. JUDY, a blowen ; but sometimes used when speaking familiarly of any woman. JUGELOW, a dog. JUMP, a window on the ground-floor. JUMP, a game , or species of robbery effected by get- ting into a house through any of the lower windows. To jump a place, is to rob it upon the jump. A man con- victed for this offence, is said to be done for a jump. K KELF,ahat; tokelpz person, is to moveyourhat to him. KEMESA, a shirt. KEN, a house ; often joined to other descriptive terms, as. a flash-ken , a bawdy -ken, &c. KID 183 KENT, a coloured pocket-handkerchief of cotton or linen. KICK, a sixpence, when speaking of compound sums only, as, three and a hick , is three and sixpence, fyc. KICKSEYS, breeches; speaking of a purse, 4*c., taken from the breeches pocket, they say, it was got from the kichseys , there being no cant term for the breeches pocket. To turn out a man's kichseys , means to pick the pockets of them, in which operation it is necessary to turn those pockets inside out, in order to get at the con- tents. KID, a child of either sex, but particularly applied to a boy who commences thief at an early age ; and when by his dexterity he has become famous, he is called by his acquaintances the kid so and so, mentioning his sirname. KIDDY, a thief of the lower order, who, when he is breeched , by a course of successful depredation, dresses in the extreme of vulgar gentility, and affects a knowingness in his air and conversation, which renders him in reality an object of ridicule ; such a one is pronounced by his asso- ciates of the same class, a fash-kiddy, or a rolling-kiddy . My kiddy is a familiar term used by these gentry in ad- dressing each other. KID-RIG, meeting a child in the streets who is going on some errand, and by a false, but well fabricated story, obtaining any parcel or goods it may be carrying ; this game is practised by two persons, who have each their respective parts to play, and even porters and other grown persons are sometimes defrauded of their load by this arti- fice. To kid a person out of any thing, is to obtain it 184 KNU from him by means of a false pretence, as that you were sent by a third person, <^c.; such impositions are all gene- rally termed the kid-rig. KINCHEN, a young lad. KIRK, a church or chapel. KNAP, to steal; take; receive; accept; according to the sense it is used in ; as, to knap a clout , is to steal a pocket-handkerchief ; to knap the swag from your pall , is to take from him the property he has just stolen, for the purpose of carrying it ; to knap seven or fourteen peri- worth , is to receive sentence of transportation for seven or fourteen years ; to knap the glim , is to catch the vene- real disease ; in making a bargain, to knap the sum offer- ed you, is to accept it ; speaking of a woman supposed to be pregnant, it is common to say, I believe Mr. Knap is concerned , meaning that she has knapd . KNAPPING A JACOB FROM A DANNA-DRAG. This is a curious species of robbery, or rather borrowing without leave, for the purpose of robbery ; it signifies taking away the short ladder from a nightman’s cart, while the men are gone into a house, the privy of which they are employed emptying, in order to effect an ascent to a one-pair-of-stairs window, to scale a garden-wall, fyc., after which the ladder, of course, is left to rejoin its master as it can. KNIFE IT. See Cheese it. KNUCK, KNUCKLER, or KNUCKL1NG-COVE, a pickpocket, or person professed in the knuckling art. KNUCKLE, to pick pockets, but chiefly applied to the more refined branch of that art, namely, extracting notes, loose cash, fyc., from the waistcoat or breeches LET 185 pockets, whereas buzzing is used in a more general sense. See Buz. L LAG, to transport for seven years or upwards. * LAG, a convict under sentence of transportation. LAG, to make water. To lag spirits, wine, #£., is to adulterate them with water. LAGGER, a sailor. LAGGING-DUES, speaking of a person likely to be transported, they say lagging dues will be concerned . LAGGING MATTER, any species of crime for which a person is liable on conviction to be transported. LAG SHIP, a transport chartered by Government for the conveyance of convicts to New South Wales ; also, a hulk, or floating prison, in which, to the disgrace of humanity, many hundreds of these unhappy persons are confined, and suffer every complication of human misery. LAMPS, the eyes ; to have queer lamps , is to have sore or weak eyes. LARK, fun or sport of any kind, to create which is termed knocking up a lark. LAWN, a white cambric handkerchief. LEARY, synonymous with fiy. LEARY-COVE. See Fly. LEATHER-LANE, any thing paltry, or of a bad quality, is called a Leather-lane concern . LETTER Q, the mace , or billiard-slum , is sometimes called going upon the Q, or the letter Q, alluding to an instrument used in playing billiards. 186 LIG LETTER-RACKET, going about to respectable houses with a letter or statement, detailing some case of extreme distress, as shipwreck, sufferings by fire, fyc . ; by which many benevolent, but credulous, persons, are in- duced to relieve the fictitious wants of the impostors, who are generally men, or women, of genteel address, and un- fold a plausible tale of affliction. LEVANTING, or RUNNING A LEVANT, an expedient practised by broken gamesters to retrieve them- selves, and signifies to bet money at a race, cockmatch, 8fC., without a shilling in their pocket to answer the event. The punishment for this conduct in a public cockpit is rather curious ; the offender is placed in a large basket, kept on purpose, which is then hoisted up to the ceiling or roof of the building, and the party is there kept suspended, and exposed to derision during the pleasure of the company. LIFE, by this term is meant the various cheats and' deceptions practised by the designing part of mankind ; a person well versed in this kind of knowledge, is said to be one that knows life; in other words, that knows the world. This is what Goldsmith defines to be a know- ledge of human nature on the wrong side. LIGHT, to inform of any robbery, Spc., which has been some time executed and concealed, is termed bring- ing the affair to light ; to produce any thing to view, or to give up any stolen property for the sake of a reward, to quash a prosecution, is also called bringing it to light . A thief, urging his associates to a division of any booty they have lately made, will desire them to bring the sxvag to light. LOO 187 LtLL, a pocket-book. LINE, to get a person in a line, or in a string, is to engage them in a conversation, while your confederate is robbing their person or premises ; to banter or jest with a man by amusing him with false assurances or professions, is also termed stringing him, or getting him in tow ; to keep any body in suspense on any subject without coming to a decision, is called keeping him in tow, in a string, or in a tow-line . To cut the line, or the string, is to put an end to the suspense in which you have kept any one, by telling him the plain truth, coming to a final decision, SfC. A person, who has been telling another a long story, until he is tired, or conceives his auditor has been all the while secretly laughing at him, will say at last, I 've just dropped down , you've had me in a fine string , I think it ’s time to cut it. On the other hand, the auditor, having the same opinion on his part, would say, Come, I believe you want to string me all night, I wish you'd cut it ; meaning, conclude the story at once. LOB, a till, or money-drawer. To have made a good lob, is synonymous with making a good speak. LOCK-UP-CHOVEY, a covered cart, in which travelling hawkers convey their goods about the country, and which is secured by a door, lock, and key. LODGING-SLUM, the practice of hiring ready-fur- nished lodgings, and stripping them of the plate, linen, and other valuables. LOOK AT A PLACE, when a plan is laid for robbing a house, fyc., upon the crack, or the screw, the parties will go a short time before the execution, to 188 MAN examine the premises, and make any necessary observa- tions ; this is called looking at the place. LOUR, money. LUMBER, a room. LUMBER, to lumber any property, is to deposit it at a pawnbroker’s, or elsewhere for present security ; to retire to any house or private place, for a short time, is called lumbering yourself . A man apprehended, and sent to gaol, is said to be lumbered , to be in lumber , or to be in Lombard-street. LUSH, to drink ; speaking of a person who is drunk, they say, Alderman Lushington is concerned , or, he has been voting for the Alderman. LUSH, beer or liquor of any kind. LUSH-CRIB, or LUSH-KEN, a public-house, or gin-shop. LUSH, or LUSHY, drunk, intoxicated. LUSHY-COVE, a drunken man. v r ’ ' , ‘ .y * * v ) i . « '■ , *> ■ i ( ’ • •. v *■' ’ M MACE, to mace a shopkeeper, or give it to him upon the mace , is to obtain goods on credit, which you never , - r • mean to pay for ; to run up a score with the same inten- tion, or to spunge upon your acquaintance, by conti- nually begging or borrowing from them, is termed mace - ingy or striking the mace. M ACE-G LO AK, a man who lives upon the mace. 1 MAG, a halfpenny. ‘M^GHESTER, the : tongue. M ANCt, to speak or talk. MOU 189 MAULEY, the hand. MAX, gin or hollands. MILESTONE, a country booby. MILL, to fight. To mill a person is to beat him. MILL A GLAZE, to break a window. MILL-DOLL, an obsolete name for Bridewell house of correction, in Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London. MILLING-COVE, a pugilist. MITTS, gloves. MITTENS, the hands. MIZZLE, to quit or go away from any place or company ; to elope, or run away. MOLLISHER, a woman. MONKEY, a padlock. MONKERY, the country parts of England are called The Monkery . MONTRA, a watch. MORNING-SNEAK, going out early to rob private houses or shops by slipping in at the door unperceived, while the servant or shopman is employed in cleaning the steps, windows, Sfc. MOTT, a bloxven , or woman of the town. MOUNT, to swear, or give evidence falsely for the sake of a gratuity. To mount for a person is also synony- mous with bonnetting for him. MOUNTER, a man who lives by mounting , or per- jury, who is always ready for a guinea or two to swear whatever is proposed to him. MOUTH, a foolish silly person; a man who does a very imprudent act, is said to be a rank mouth. 190 NAP MOVE, any action or operation in life ; the secret spring by which any project is conducted, as, There is move in that business which you are not down to . To be fiash to every move upon the hoard , is to have a general knowledge of the world, and all its numerous decep- tions. Mr. KNAP. See Knap. Mr. NASH. See Nash. Mr. PALMER. See Palm. Mr. PULLEN. See Pull or Pull up. MUFF, an epithet synonymous with mouth . MUG, the face ; a queer mug is an ugly face. MURPHY's COUNTENANCE, a pig’s face. MYNABS, me, myself. N NAIL, to nail a person, is to over-reach, or take ad- vantage of him in the course of trade or traffic ; also, to rob, or steal ; as, I naiVd him for (or of ) his reader , I robbed him of his pocket-book ; I nail'd the swell's montra in the push , I picked the gentleman's pocket of his watch in the crowd, fyc. A person of an over- reaching, imposing disposition, is called a nail , a dead nail 9 a nailing rascal, a rank needle , or a needle pointer . NANCY, the posteriors. NAP the BIB, to cry ; as, the mollisher nap' d her bib , the woman fell a crying. NOB 191 NASH, to go away from, or quit, any place or com- pany ; speaking of a person who is gone, they say, he is naslid , or Mr, Nash is concerned. NE-DASH, nothing. NEEDLE, (see Nail) to needle a person, is to haggle with him in making a bargain, and, if possible, take advantage of him, though in the most trifling article. NEEDLE-POINTER. See Nail. NEEDY-MIZZLER, a poor ragged object of either sex ; a shabby-looking person. NIB, a gentleman, or person of the higher order. People who affect gentility or consequence, without any real pretensions thereto, are from hence vulgarly called Half-nibs or Half -swells ; and, indeed, persons of low minds, who conceive money to be the only criterion of gentility, are too apt to stigmatize with the before-men- tioned epithets any man, who, however well-bred and educated, may be reduced to a shabby external, but still preserves a sense of decorum in his manners, and avoids associating with the vagabonds among whom he may un- fortunately be doomed to exist. NIBB'D, taken in custody. NIBBLE, to pilfer trifling articles, not having spirit to touch any thing of consequence. NIBBLER, a pilferer or petty thief. NIX, or NIX MY DOLL, nothing. NOB IT, to act with such prudence and knowledge of the world, as to prosper and become independent without any labour or bodily exertion ; this is termed nobbing it, 192 NUT or fighting nob work . To effect any purpose, or obtain any thing, by means of good judgment and sagacity, is called nobbing it for such a thing. NOB-PITCHERS, a general term for those sharpers who attend at fairs, races, fyc., to take in the fiats at prick in the garter, cups and balls, and other similar artifices. NO DOWN. See Fake away, fyc. NOSE, a thief who becomes an evidence against his accomplices; also, a person who seeing one or more sus- picious characters in the streets, makes a point of watch- ing them in order to frustrate any attempt they may make, or to cause their apprehension ; also, a spy or informer of any description. NOSE, to nose, is to pry into any person’s proceedings in an impertinent manner. To nose upon any one, is to tell of any thing he has said or done with a view to injure him, or to benefit yourself. NULLING-COVE, a pugilist. NUT, to please a person by any little act of assiduity, by a present, or by flattering words, is called nutting him ; as the present, fyc., by which you have gratified them, is termed a nut . NUTS UPON IT, to be very much pleased or gra- tified with any object, adventure, or overture ; so a per- son who conceives a strong inclination for another of the opposite sex, is said to be quite nutty, or nuts upon him or her. NUTS UPON YOURSELF, a man who is much gratified with any bargain he has made, narrow escape OUT 193 lie has had, or other event in which he is interested, will express his self-satisfaction or gladness by declaring that he is, or was, quite nuts upon himself. o OFFICE, a hint, signal, or private intimation, from one person to another ; this is termed officeing him, or giving him the office ; to take the office , is to understand and profit by the hint given. OLD LAG, a man or woman who has been trans- ported, is so called on returning home, by those who are acquainted with the secret. See Lag. OLIVER, the moon. OLIVER IS IN TOWN, a phrase signifying that the nights are moonlight, and consequently unfavourable to depredation. OLIVER'S UP, the moon has risen. OLIVER WHIDDLES, the moon shines. ONE UPON YOUR TAW, a person who takes offence at the conduct of another, or conceives himself injured by the latter, will say, never mind. I'll be one upon your taw ; or, I ’ll be a marble on your taw ; meaning, I ’ll be even with you some time. ONION, a watch-seal, a bunch of onions , is several seals worn upon one ring. ORDER-RACKET, obtaining goods from a shop- keeper, by means of a forged order or false pretence. OUT-AND-OUT, quite; completely; effectually. See Serve and Fake. OUT-AND-OUTER, a person of a resolute deter- mined spirit, who pursues his object without regard to VOL. II. K 194 PAR danger or difficulties ; also an incorrigible depredator, who will rob friend or stranger indiscriminately, being possessed of neither honour nor principle. OUT OF FLASH. See Flash. OUT OF THE WAY, a thief who knows that he is sought after by the traps on some information, and consequently goes out of town, or otherwise conceals himself, is said by his palls to be out of the way for so and so, naming the particular offence he stands charged with. See Wanted. OUT OF TWIG, to put yourself out of twig , is to disguise your dress and appearance, to avoid being recog- nised, on some particular account; a man reduced by poverty to wear a shabby dress is said by his acquaint- ance to be out of twig ; to put any article out of twig 9 as a stolen coat, cloak, #-c., is to alter it in such a way that it cannot be identified. P PALL, a partner ; companion ; associate ; or accom- plice. PALM, to bribe, or give money, for the attainment of any object or indulgence; and it is then said that the party who receives it is palmed , or that Mr . Palmer is concerned . PALMING-RACKET, secreting money in the palm of the hand, a game at which some are very expert. PANNY, a house. PANNUM, bread. PARK. See Bushy-Park. PIC 196 PATTER, to talk ; as, He patters good flash , &c. PATTER’D, tried in a court of justice; a man who has undergone this ordeal, is said to have stood the patter. PEAR-MAKING, iniisting in various regiments, taking the bounty, and then deserting. PENSIONER, a mean-spirited fellow who lives with a woman of the town, and suffers her to maintain him in idleness in the character of her fancy -man. PETER, a parcel or bundle, whether large or small ; but most properly it signifies a trunk or box. PETER-HUNTING, traversing the streets or roads for the purpose of cutting away trunks, Sfc. y from tra- velling carriages; persons who follow this game , are from thence called peter-hunters , whereas the drag more properly applies to robbing carts or waggons. PETER-HUNTING-JEMMY, a small iron crow, particularly adapted for breaking the patent chain, with which the luggage is of late years secured to gentlemen’s carriages; and which, being of steel, case-hardened, is fallaciously supposed to be proof against the attempts of thieves. PETER-THAT, synonymous with Stoxv-that. PICK-UP, to accost, or enter into conversation with any person, for the purpose of executing some design upon his personal property ; thus, among gamblers, it is called picking up a flat , or a mouth : sharpers, who are daily on the look-out for some unwary countryman or stranger, use the same phrase ; and among drop-coves, and others who act in concert, this task is allotted to one of the gang, duly qualified, who is thence termed the k 2 196 PLA picker-up ; and he having performed his part, his asso- ciates proceed systematically in cleaning out the flat. To pick up a cull , is a term used by blowcns in their vocation of street-walking. To pick a person up, in a general sense, is to impose upon, or take advantage of him, in a contract or bargain. PIGS, or GRUNTERS, police runners. PINS, the legs. PINCH, to purloin small articles of value in the shops of jewellers, Sfc., while pretending to purchase or bespeak some trinket. This game is called the pinch — I pincKd him for a fawney , signifies I purloined a ring from him; Did you pinch anything in that crib? did you succeed in secreting any thing in that shop ? This game is a branch of shoplifting ; but when the hoist is spoken of, it commonly applies to stealing articles of a larger, though less valuable, kind, as pieces of muslin, or silk handkerchiefs, printed cotton, Sfc. See Hoist. PINCPI-GLOAK, a man who works upon the pinch . PIPES, boots. PIT, the bosom pocket in a coat. PIT-MAN, a pocket-book worn in the bosom-pocket. PITCHER. Newgate in London is called by various names, as the pitcher , the stone pitcher , the start , and the stone jug , according to the humour of the speaker. PLANT. To hide, or conceal any person or thing, is termed planting him, or it ; and any thing hid is called, the plant, when alluded to in conversation ; such article is said to be in plant ; the place of concealment is some- times called the plant, as, I know of a fine plant ; that is, a secure hiding-place. To spring a plant , is to find any POU 197 thing that has been concealed by another. To rise the plant , is to take up and remove any thing that has been hid, whether by yourself or another. A person's money, or valuables, secreted about his house, or person, is called his plant . To plant upon a man, is to set somebody to watch his motions ; also to place any thing purposely in his way, that he may steal it and be immediately de- tected. PLAY A-CROSS. What is commonly termed play- ing booty, that is, purposely losing the game, or match, in order to take in the fiats who have backed you, (see Bridge) while the sharps divide the spoil, in which you have a share. This sort of treachery extends to boxing, racing, and every other species of sport, on which bets are laid ; sometimes a sham match is made for the pur- pose of inducing strangers to bet, which is decided in such a manner that the latter will inevitably lose. A-cross signifies generally any collusion or unfair dealing be- tween several parties. PLUMMY. Right; very good ; as it should be; expressing your approbation of any act, or event, you will say, That's plummy , or It y s all plummy ; meaning it is all right. POGUE. A bag, (probably a corruption of poke.) POPS. Pistols ; an obsolete term. POST, or POST THE PONEY. To stake, or lay down the money, as on laying a bet, or concluding a bargain. POUNDABLE. Any event which is considered cer- tain or inevitable, is declared to be poundable , as the issue of a game, the success of a bet, fyc. k 3 198 PUL POUND II'. To ensure or make a eertainty of any tiling ; thus, a man will say, I ’ll pound it to be so ; taken, probably from the custom of laying, or rather offering ten pounds to a crown at a cock-match, in which case, if no person takes this extravagant odds, the battle at an end. This is termed pounding a cock, PRAD. A horse. PRADBACK. Horseback. PRIG. A thief. PRIG. To steal ; to go out a-prigging , is to go a-thieving PRIME. In a general sense, synonymous with plummy ; any thing very good of its kind, is called a prime article. Any thing executed in a stylish or mas- terly manner, is said to be done in prime twig. See r AKEMENT, and Gammon the twelve. PULL. An important advantage possessed by one party over another ; as in gaming, you may by some slight, unknown to your adversary, or by a knowledge of the cards, Sfc have the odds of winning considerably on your side ; you are then said to have a great pull. To have the power of injuring a person, by the knowledge of any thing erroneous in his conduct, which leaves his cha- racter or personal safety at your mercy, is also termed having a pull upon him , that is (to use a vulgar phrase) that you have him under your thumb. A person speak- ing of any intricate affair, or feat of ingenuity, which he cannot comprehend, will say. There is some pull at the bottom of it, that I ’m not fly to. PULL, or PULL UP, to accost; stop; appre- hend ; or take into custody ; as to pull up a Jack , is to stop a post-chaise on the highway. To pull a man, or PUZ 199 have him pulled , is to cause his apprehension for some offence ; and it is then said, that Mr. is concerned . PULLED, PULLED UP, or IN PULL. Taken in custody ; in confinement. PUSH, a crowd or concourse of people, either in the streets, or at any public place of amusement, <§rc., when any particular scene of crowding is alluded to, they say, the push , as the push , at the spell doors ; the push at the stooping-match , Sfc . PUT DOWN. See Down. PUT FLASH. See Flash. PUT FLY. See Fly. PUT UP, to suggest to another, the means of com- mitting a depredation, or effecting any other business, is termed, putting him up to it. PUT UP AFFAIR, any preconcerted plan or scheme to effect a robbery, fyc., undertaken at the sug- gestion of another person, who possessing a knowledge of the premises, is competent to advise the principal how best to proceed. PUTTER UP, the projector or planner of a put-up affair , as a servant in a gentleman's family, who pro- poses to a gang of housebreakers the robbery of his master's house, and informs them where the plate, fyc., is deposited, (instances of which are frequent in London) is termed the putter up , and usually shares equally in the booty with the parties executing, although the former may lie dormant, and take no part in the actual com- mission of the fact. PUZZLING-STICKS, the triangles to which culprits are tied up, for the purpose of undergoing flagellation. k 4 200 RAG Q Q. See Letter Q. QUEER, bad; counterfeit; false; unwell in healtfeo QUEER, or QUEER-BIT, base money. QUEER SCREENS, forged Bank-notes. QUEER IT, to spoil it, which see. QUEER-BAIL, Persons of no repute, hired to bail a prisoner in any bailable case ; these men are to be had in London fora trifling sum, and are called Broomsticksc QUID, a guinea. QUOD, a gaol. To quod a person is to send him to gaol. In quod , is in gaol. QUOD-COVE, the keeper of a gaol. QUODDING-DUES. See Dues. R RACKET, some particular kinds of fraud and rob- bery are so termed, when called by their flash titles, and others Rig ; as, the Letter-racket , the Order-racket ; the Kid-rig ; the Cat and Kitten-rig , $*c., but all these terms depend upon the fancy of the speaker. In fact, any game may be termed a rig, racket, suit, slum , fyc. 9 by prefixing thereto the particular branch of depredation or fraud in question, many examples of which occur in this work. RAG, money. RAG-GORGY, a rich or monied man, but generally used in conversation when a particular gentleman, or per- son high in office, is hinted at ; instead of mentioning his name, they say, the Rag-gorgy, knowing themselves RIN 201 to be understood by those they are addressing. See Cove, and Swell. RAMP, to rob any person or place by open violence or suddenly snatching at something and running off with it, as, I ramp'd him of his montra; why did }^ou not ramp his castor ? Sfc. A man convicted of this offence, is said to have been done for a ramp . This audacious game , is called by prigs , the ramp , and is nearly similar to the Rush, which see. RANK, complete; absolute, downright, anemphatical manner of describing persons or characters, as a rank nose , a rank swell , &c. &c. RATTLER, a coach. READER, a pocket-book. READER-HUNTERS. See Dummy-hunters. REGULARS, one's due share of a booty, fyc. on a division taking place. Give me my regulars , that is, give me my dividend. REIGN, the length or continuance of a man’s career in a system of wickedness, which when he is ultimately howled out , is said to have been a long, or a short reign, according to its duration. RESURRECTION-COVE, a stealer of dead bodies. RIBBAND, money in general. RIDGE, gold, whether in coin or any other shape, as a rulge-montra , a gold watch ; a dy-full of ridge, a pocket full of gold. RIG. See Racket. RINGING, or RINGING-IN, to ring is to exchange ; ringing the changes , is a fraud practised by smashers , who when they receive good money in change of a k 5 202 RUS guinea, fyc., ring-in one or more pieces of base with great dexterity, and then request the party to change them. RINGING CASTORS, signifies frequenting churches and other public assemblies, for the purpose of changing hats, by taking away a good, and leaving a shabby one in its place ; a petty game now seldom practised. RISE THE PLANT. See Plant. ROCK'D, superannuated, forgetful, absent in mind ; old lags are commonly said to be thus affected, probably caused by the sufferings they have undergone. ROLLERS, horse and foot patrole, who parade the roads round about London during the night, for the prevention of robberies. ROMANY, a gypsy; to patter romany , is to talk the gypsy flash. ROOK, a small iron crow. ROUGH-FAM, or ROUGH-FAMMY, the waist- coat pocket. ROW IN THE BOAT, to go snacks, or have a share in the benefit arising from any transaction to which you are privy. To let a person row with you, is to admit him to a share. RUFFLES. Handcuffs. RUG GINS'S, to go to bed, is called going to Rug- gins’s. RUM, good, in opposition to queer . RUMBLE-TUMBLE, a stage-coach. RUMP'D, flogged or scourged. RUMPUS, a masquerade. RUSH, the rush, is nearly synonymous with the ramp ; but the latter often applies to snatching at a single article, SCO 203 as a silk cloak, for instance, from a milliner’s shop-door ; whereas a rush may signify a forcible entry by several men into a detached dwelling-house for the purpose of robbing its owners of their money, tyc. A sudden and violent effort to get into any place, or vice versd to effect your exit, as from a place of confinement, <§fc., is called rushing them , or giving it to ’em upon the rush . RUSSIAN COFFEE-HOUSE, a name given by some punster of the family , to the Brown Bear public-house in Bow-street, Co vent-garden. s SACK, a pocket ; to sack any thing is to pocket it. SALT-BOXES, the condemned cells in Newgate are so called. SALT-BOX-CLY, the outside coat-pocket,withaflap. SAND, moist sugar. SAWNEY, bacon. SCAMP, the game of highway robbery is called the scamp . To scamp a person is to rob him on the high- way. Done for a scamp signifies convicted of a highway robbery. SCAMP, or SCAMPSMAN, a highwayman. SCHOOL, a party of persons met together for the purpose of gambling. SCOT, a person of an irritable temper, who is easily put in a passion, which is often done by the company he is with, to create fun; such a one is declared to be a fine scot . This diversion is called getting him out , or getting him round the corner , from these terms being used by bull-hankers 2 with whom also a scot is a bullock K 6 204 SHA of a particular breed, which affords superior diversion when hunted. SCOTTISH, fiery, irritable, easily provoked. SCOUT, a watchman, SCOUT-KEN, a watch-house. SCRAG'D, hang’d. SCRAGGING-POST, the gallows. SCREEN, a bank-note. SCREEVE, a letter, or written paper. SCREW, a skeleton or false key. To screw a place is to enter it by false keys ; this game is called the screw , Any robbery effected by such means is termed a screw . SCREW SMAN, a thief who goes out a screwing. SCURF’D, taken in custody. SEEDY, poor, ragged in appearance, shabby. SELL, to sell a man is to betray him, by giving in- formation against him, or otherwise to injure him clan- destinely for the sake of interest, nearly the same as bridgeing him. (See Bridge.) A man who falls a victim to any treachery of this kind, is said to have been sold like a bullock in Smithfield . SERVE, to serve a person, or place, is to rob them ; as, I serv’d him for his thimble 9 I rob'd him of his watch ; that crib has been served before, that shop has been already robbed, Sfc. To serve a man, also some- times signifies to maim, wound, or do him some bodily hurt ; and to serve him out and out , is to kill him. SHAKE, to steal, or rob ; as, I shook a chest of slop , I stole a chest of tea ; I've been shook of my skin , I have been robbed of my purse. A thief, whose pall has been into any place for the purpose of robbery, will SKI 205 say on his coming out, Well, is it all right, have you shook? meaning, did you succeed in getting any thing? When two persons rob in company,* it is generally the province, or part, of one to shake , (that is, obtain the swagg ) , and the other to carry, (that is, bear it to a place of safety. SHALLOW, a hat. SHAN, counterfeit money in general. SHARP, a gambler, or person, professed in all the arts of play ; a cheat, or swindler ; any cross-cove , in general, is called a sharp , in opposition to a flat , or square-cove ; but this is only in a comparative sense in the course of conversation. SHARPING, swindling and cheating in all their various forms, including the arts of fraud at play. SHIFTER, an alarm, or intimation, given by a thief to his pall 9 signifying that there is a dozen, or that some one is approaching, and that he had, therefore, better desist from what he is about. SHINER, a looking-glass. SHOOK, synonymous with rock'd . SHOVE-UP, nothing. SHUTTER-RACKET, the practice of robbing houses, or shops, by boring a hole in the window shut- ter, and taking out a pane of glass. SINGLE-HANDED, robbery by yourself, without a pall . SIR SYDNEY, a clasp knife, SKIN, a purse, or money bag. SKIN, to strip a man of all his money at .play, is termed skinning him. 206 SMA SLANG, A watch chain, a chain of any kind; also a warrant, license to travel, or other official instru- ment. SLANG, to defraud a person of any part of his due, is called slanging him ; also to cheat by false weights or measures, or other unfair means. SLANG WEIGHTS, or MEASURES, unjust, or defective ones. SLANGING-DUES, when a man suspects that he has been curtailed, or cheated, of any portion of his just right, he will say, there has been slanging-dues con- cerned. SLANG’D, fettered. SLANGS, fetters, or chains of any kind used about prisoners ; body-slangs are body-irons used on some oc- casions. SLAVEY, a servant of either sex. SLIP, the slash pocket in the skirt of a coat behind. SLOP, tea. SLOP-FEEDER, a tea-spoon. SLOUR, to lock, secure, or fasten; to slour up is also to button up ; as one’s coat, pocket, Sfc. SLOUR’D, or SLOUR'D UP, locked, fastened^ buttoned, Sfc. SLUM, a room. SLUM. See Racket and Lodging-slum. SLY. Any business transacted, or intimation given, privately, or under the rose, is said to be done upon the sly. SMASHER, a man or woman who follows the game of smashing , SNO 207 SMASHING, uttering counterfeit money; smashing of queer screens , signifies uttering forged bank notes. To smash a guinea, note, or other money, is, in a common sense, to procure, or give, change for it. SMISH, a shirt. SMUT, a copper boiler, or furnace. SNEAK. The sneak is the practice of robbing houses or shops, by slipping in unperceived, and taking whatever may lay most convenient ; this is commonly the first branch of thieving, in which young boys are initiated, who, from their size and activity, appear well adapted for it. To sneak a place, is to rob it upon the sneak . A sneak is a robbery effected in the above man- ner. One or more prisoners having escaped from their confinement by stealth, without using any violence, or alarming their keepers, are said to have sneak'd 'em , or given it to 'em upon the sneak . See Rush. SNEAKSMAN, a man or boy who goes upon the sneak . SNEEZER, or SNEEZING-COFER, a snuff-box. SNITCH ; to impeach, or betray your accom- plices, is termed snitching upon them. A person who becomes king’s evidence on such an occasion, is said to have turned snitch ; an informer, or tale-bearer, in general, is called a snitch , or a snitching rascal, in which sense snitching is synonymous with nosing , or coming it. SNIPES, scissors. SNIV, an expression synonymous with bender , and used in the same manner. SNOW, clean linen from the washerwoman’s hands, whether it be wet or dry, is termed snow. SNOOZE, to sleep; a snooze sometimes means a 208 SPE lodging; as, Where can I get a snooze for this dark]/ instead of saying a bed. SNUFFING, going into a shop on some pretence, watching an opportunity to throw a handful of snuff in the eyes of the shop-keeper, and then running off with any valuable article you can lay hands on ; this is called snuffing him, or giving it to him upon the snuff racket . SOLD. See Sell. SOUND, to sound a person, means generally to draw from him, in an artful manner, any particulars you want to be acquainted with ; as, to sound a kid, porter, Sfc. 9 is to pump out of him the purport of his errand, the contents of his bundle, or load, S/c., that your pall may know how to accost him, in order to draw the swag . See Draw and Kid- rig. To sound a cly , is to touch a person's pocket gently on the outside, in order to as- certain the nature of its contents. SPANGLE, a seven- shilling^piece. SPANK, to spank a glaze , is to break a pane of glass in a shop window, and make a sudden snatch at some article of value within your reach, having pre- viously tied the shop-door with a strong cord on the outside, so as to prevent the shopman from getting out, till you have had full time to escape with your booty ; to spank a place, is to rob it upon the spank ; a spank is a robbery effected by the above means. SPEAK, committing any robbery, is called making a speak; and if it has* been productive, you are said to have made a rum speak. SPEAK TO, to speak to a person or place is to rob them, and to speak to any article, is to steal it; as, l spoke SPO 209 to the cove for his montra; I robb’d the gentleman of his watch. I spoke to that crib for all the wedge; I robb'd that house of all the plate. I spoke to a chest of slop ; I stole a chest of tea. A thief will say to his pall who has been attempting any robbery, “ Well, did you speak? or, have you spoke ? 77 meaning, did you get any thing? SPELL, the play-house. SPICE, the spice is the game of footpad robbery ; de- scribing an exploit of this nature ; a rogue will say, I spiced a swell of so much, naming the booty obtained. A spice is a footpad robbery. SPICE GLOAK, a footpad robber. SPIN A YARN. See Yarn. SPLIT, to split upon a person, or turn split , is syno- nymous with nosing , snitching , or turning nose . To split signifies generally to tell of any thing you hear, or see transacted. SPOIL IT, to throw some obstacle in the way of any project or undertaking, so as to cause its failure, is termed spoiling it. In like manner, to prevent another person from succeeding in his object, either by a wilful obstruc- tion, or by some act of imprudence on your part, subjects you to the charge of having spoiled him. Speaking of some particular species of fraud or robbery, which after a long series of success, is now become stale or impracti- cable from the public being guarded against it, the family will say, that game is spoiled at last. So having attempted the robbery of any particular house or shop, and by mis- carrying caused such an alarm as to render a second attempt dangerous or impolitic, they will say, that place is spoil* d } it is useless to try it on any more. 210 SQU SPOKE TO, alluding to any person or place that has been already robbed, they say, that place, or person, has been spoke to before. A family man on discovering that he has been robbed, will exclaim, I have been spoke to; and perhaps will add ,^/or such a thing, naming what he has lost. Spoke to upon the screw, crack , sneak , hoist , buz, &c. &c., means robbed upon either of those particu- lar suits or games. Upon any great misfortune befalling a man, as being apprehended on a very serious charge, receiving a wound supposed to be mortal, tyc., his friends will say, Poor fellow, I believe he's spoke to , meaning it is all over with him. SPOONY, foolish, half-witted, nonsensical; a man who has been drinking till he becomes disgusting by his very ridiculous behaviour, is said to be spoony drunk ; and, from hence it is usual to call a very prating shallow fellow, a rank spoon . SPOUT, to pledge any property at a pawnbroker's is termed spouting it, or shoving it up the spout . SPREAD, butter. SPRING THE PLANT. See Plant. SQUARE, all fair, upright, and honest practices, are called the square , in opposition to the cross. Any thing you have bought, or acquired honestly, is termed a square article ; and any transaction which is fairly and equitably conducted, is said to be a square concern . A tradesman or other person who is considered by the world to be an honest man, and who is unacquainted with family people , and their system of operations, is by the latter emphatically styled a square cove , whereas an old STA 211 thief who has acquired an independence, and now con- iines himself to square practices, is still called by his old palls a flash cove , who has tyed up prigging . See Cross and Flat. In making a bargain or contract, any overture considered to be really fair and reasonable, is declared to be a square thing , or to be upon the square. To be upon the square with any person, is to have mu- tually settled all accompts between you both up to that moment. To threaten another that you will be upon the square with him some time, signifies that you'll be even with him for some supposed injury, fyc. SQUARE-COVE. See Square. SQUARE-CRIB, a respectable house, of good repute, whose inmates, their mode of life and connexions, are all perfectly on the square . See Cross-crib. SQUEEZE, the neck. STAG, to turn stag was formerly synonymous with turning nose , or snitching , but the phrase is now ex- ploded. STAG, to stag any object or person, is to look at, observe, or take notice of them. STAINES, a man who is in pecuniary distress is said to be at Staines , or at the Bush , alluding to the Bush inn at that town. See Bush'd. STAKE, a booty acquired by robbery, or a sum of money won at play, is called a stake 9 and if consider- able, a prime stake y or a heavy stake . A person alluding to any thing difficult to be procured, or which he obtains as a great favour, and is therefore comparatively invalu- able, would say, I consider it a stake to get it at all ; a 212 STA valuable or acceptable acquisition of any kind, is em- phatically called a stake , meaning a great prize. STALL, a violent pressure in a crowd, made by pick- pockets for the more easily effecting their depredatory purposes ; this is called making a rum stall in the push. STALL OFF, a term variously applied; generally it means a pretence, excuse, or prevarication — as a person charged with any fault, entering into some plausible story, to excuse himself, his hearers or accusers would say, O yes, that’s a good stall off, or, Aye, aye, stall it off that way if you can. To extricate a person from any dilemma, or save him from disgrace, is called stalling him off ; as an accomplice of your’s being detected in a robbery, fyc., and about to be given up to justice, you will step up as a stranger, interfere in his behalf, and either by vouching for his innocence, recommending lenity, or some other artifice, persuade his accusers to forego their intention, and let the prisoner escape ; you will then boast of having stalled him off in prime twig. To avoid or escape any impending evil or punishment by means of artifice, submission, bribe, or otherwise, is also called stalling it off. A man walking the streets, and passing a particular shop, or encountering a certain person, which or whom he has reasons for wishing to avoid, will say to any friend who may be with him, I wish you’d stall me off from that crib, (or from that cove, as the case may be) meaning, walk in such a way as to cover or obscure me from notice, until we are past the shop or person in question. STALL UP. To stall a person up, (a term used by STA 213 pickpockets,) is to surround him in a crowd, or violent pressure, and even sometimes in the open street, while walking along, and by violence force his arms up, and keep them in that position while others of the gang rifle his pockets at pleasure, the cove being unable to help or defend himself ; this is what the newspapers denominate hustling, and is universally practised at the doors of public theatres, at boxing matches, ship-launches, and other places where the general anxiety of all ranks, either to push forward, or to obtain a view of the scene before them, forms a pretext f6r jostling, and every other ad- vantage which the strength or numbers of one party gives them over a weaker one, or a single person. It is not unusual for the buz-coves , on particular occasions, to pro- cure a formidable squad of stout fellows of the lower class, who, though not expert at knuckling , render essen- tial service by violently pushing and squeezing in the crowd, and, in the confusion excited by this conduct, the unconcerned prigs reap a plentiful harvest, and the stallers up are gratified with such part of the gains ac- quired, as the liberality of the knuckling gentlemen may prompt them to bestow. This coup de guerre is termed making a regular stall at such a place, naming the scene of their operations. -See Stall. STAMPS, shoes. STAND THE PATTER. See Patter’d. STAR. The star is a game chiefly practised by young boys, often under ten years of age, although the offence is capital. It consists of cutting a pane of glass in a shop-window, by a peculiar operation called starring the glaze , which is performed very effectually by a con**- 214 STI mon penknife ; the depredators then take out such articles of value as lie within reach of their arm, which if they are not interrupted, sometimes includes half the contents of the window. A person convicted of this offence is said to have been done for a star . START. See Pitcher. STASH. To stash any practice, habit, or proceed- ing, signifies to put an end to, relinquish, or quash the same ; thus, a thief determined to leave off his vicious courses will declare that he means to stash (or stow) prigging . A man in custody for felony, will endeavour, by offering money, or other means, to induce his prose- cutor's forbearance, and compromise the matter, so as to obtain his liberation ; this is called stashing the busi- ness. To stash drinking, card-playing, or any other em- ployment you may be engaged in, for the time present, signifies to stow it, knife it, cheese it, or cut it, which are all synonymous, that is, to desist or leave off. See Wanted. STASH IT. See Stow it, which has the same meaning. STAUNCH, a resolute faithful associate, in whom one may place implicit confidence, is said by his palls to be a staunch cove. STEAMER, a tobacco-pipe. STEVEN, money. STICK, a pistol. STICKS, household furniture. STING, to rob or defraud a person or place is called stinging them, as, that cove is too^ '> he has been stung before ; meaning that man is upon his guard ; he has already been trick'd. STR 215 STINK. When any robbery of moment has been com- mitted, which causes much alarm, or of which much is said in the daily papers, the family people will say, there is a great stink about it. See Wanted. STONE-JUG; STONE-PITCHER. See Pitcher. STOOP, the pillory is called the stoop ; to be stoop’d % is to be set on the pillory. STOOPING-MATCH, the exhibition of one or more persons on the pillory. See Push. STOW, to stow any business, employment, or mode of life, is the same as to stash it, <§fc. See Stash* STOW, STOW IT ; or STOW FAKING, an inti- mation from a thief to his pall , to desist from what he is about, on the occasion of some alarm, fyc. See Awake. STOW, or STOW-MANGING, an intimation from one flash-cove to another in a mixed company to be silent, or drop the subject, he was upon. See Mang. STOW THAT. When a person advances any asser- tion which his auditor believes to be false, or spoken in jest, or wishes the former to recant, the latter will say, stow that , if you please, or, cheese that ; meaning don’t say so, or that’s out of the question. STRETCH. Five or ten stretch , signifies five or ten yards, Sfc . ; so in dealing for any article, as linen, fyc., I will give you three hog a stretch , means, I’ll give three shillings a yard. See Hog. STRING. See Line. STRUMMEL, the hair of the head. To get your strurnmel faked in twig , is to have your hair dressed in style. 216 SWE STUBBS, nothing. SUIT, in general synonymous with game ; as, what suit did you give it to ’em upon ? in what manner did you rob them, or upon what pretence, Sfc ., did you defraud them ? One species of imposition is said to be a prime suit , another a queer suit : a man describing the pretext he used to obtain money from another, would say, I draw'd him of a quid upon the suit of so and so, naming the ground of his application. See Draw. A person having engaged with another on very advantageous terms to serve or work for him, will declare that he is upon a good suit . To use great submission and respect in asking any favour of another, is called giving it to him upon the humble suit . SWAG, a bundle, parcel, or package ; as a swag of snow , Sfc. The swag , is a term used in speaking of any booty you have lately obtained, be it of what kind it may, except money, as Where did you lumber the swag ? that is, where did you deposit the stolen property ? To carry the swag is to be the bearer of the stolen goods to a place of safety. A swag of any thing, signifies emphatically a great deal. To have knap'd a good swag , is to have got a good booty. SWAG. Wearing-apparel, linen, piece-goods, $*c., are all comprehended under the name of swag, when de- scribing any speak lately made , Sfc.) in order to distin- guish them from plate, jewellery, or other more port- able articles. SWELL, a gentleman ; but any well-dressed person is emphatically termed a swell, or a rank swell . A family man who appears to have plenty of money, and makes a TAT 217 genteel figure, is said by his associates to be in swell street. Any thing remarkable for its beauty or elegance, is called a swell article; so a swell crib , is a genteel house; a swell mollisher , an elegantly-dressed woman, Spc. Some- times, in alluding to a particular gentleman, whose name is not requisite, he is styled, the swell , meaning the person who is the object of your discourse, or attention ; and whether be is called the swell y the cove , or the gory , is immaterial, as in the following (in addition to many other) examples : — I was turned up at China-street , because the swell would not appear ; meaning, of course, the prosecu- tor: again, speaking of a person whom you were on the point of robbing, but who has taken the alarm, and is therefore on his guard, you will say to your pall, It's of no use, the cove is as down as a hammer ; or, We may as well stow it, the gory's leary . See Cove and Down. SWIMMER, a guard-ship, or tender ; a thief who escapes prosecution, when before a magistrate, on condi- tion of being sent on board the receiving-ship, to serve His Majesty, is said by his palls to be swimmered. SWISH’D, married. SWODDY, or SWOD-GILL, a soldier. T TANNER, a sixpence. Three and a tanner , is three and sixpence, SfC. TAT, to flog or scourge. TATTS, dice. TATT-BOX, a dice-box. TATS AND ALL, an expression used out of flash, in L 218 TIN the same manner as the word bender ; and has a similar meaning. TEAZE, to flog, or whip. THIMBLE, a watch. THIMBLED, having, or wearing a watch. THRUMS, THRUMBUSKINS, or a THRUM-MOP, three pence. THROUGH IT, or THROUGH THE PIECE, get- ting acquitted on an indictment, or surmounting any other trouble, or difficulty, is called getting through it , or thro * the piece ; so, to get a man through it, &c., is to extri- cate him by virtue of your counsel and friendly assist- ance ; sometimes called pulling him through it. THROW OFF, to talk in a sarcastical strain, so as to convey offensive allusions under the mask of pleasantry, or innocent freedom ; but, perhaps, secretly venting that abuse which you would not dare to give in direct terms ; this is called throwing off, a practice at which the flash ladies are very expert, when any little jealousies arise among them. To begin to talk flash , and speak freely of robberies past, or in contemplation, when in company w ith family people, is also termed throwing off; meaning to banish all reserve, none but friends being present ; also, to sing when called on by the company present. See Chaunt. TILBURY, a sixpence. TINNY, afire; a conflagration. TINNY-HUNTERS, persons whose practice it is to attend fires, for the purpose of plundering the unfortu- nate sufferers, under pretence of assisting them to re- move their property. TOO 219 TIP, to give, pay, or bribe. To take the tip, is to re- ceive a bribe in any shape ; and they say of a person who is known to be corruptible, that he will stand the tip . The tip is a term frequently used to signify the money concerned in any dealings or contract existing be- tween parties ; synonymous with the dues . See Dues. TITTER, a young woman or girl. TOBY, to toby a man, is to rob him on the highway ; a person convicted of this offence, is said to be done for a toby . The toby applies exclusively to robbing on horse- back; the practice of footpad robbery being properly called the spice , though it is common to distinguish the former by the title of high-toby , and the latter of low-toby . TOBY-GILL, or TOBY-MAN, properly signifies a highwayman. TODDLE, to walk slowly, either from infirmity or choice. Come, let us toddle , is a familiar phrase, sig- nifying, let us be going. TODDLER, an infirm elderly person, or a child not yet perfect in walking. TOG, a coat ; to tog, is to dress or put on clothes ; to tog a person, is also to supply them with apparel, and they are said to be well or queerly tog’d, according to their appearance. TOGT) OUT TO THE NINES, a fanciful phrase, meaning simply, that a person is well or gaily dressed. TOGS, or TOGGERY, wearing-apparel in general. TOM BRAY'S BILK, laying out ace and deuce at cribbage. TOM BROWN, twelve in hand, or crib. TOOLS, implements for house-breaking, picklocks, l 2 220 TRI pistols, fyc., are indiscriminately called the tools . A thief, convicted on the police act, of having illegal instruments or weapons about him, is said to be fined for the tools . TOP, to top a clout or other article (among pick- pockets) is to draw the corner or end of it to the top of a person's pocket, in readiness for shaking or drawing, that is, taking out, when a favourable moment occurs, which latter operation is frequently done by a second person. TOP'D, hanged. TO THE NINES ; or, TO THE RUFFIAN. These terms are synonymous, and imply an extreme of any kind, or the superlative degree. TOUT, to tout a person, is to watch his motions ; to keep tout, is to look out, or watch, while your pall is effecting any private purpose. A strong tout, is a strict observation, or eye, upon any proceedings, or person. TOW; or, TOWLINE. See Line. To tow a per- son out ; that is, from his premises, or post : is to decoy him therefrom by some fictitious story, or other artifice, while your pall seizes the opportunity of his absence, to rob the place he has imprudently quitted. TRAPS, police officers, or runners, are properly so called ; but it is common to include constables of any description under this title. TRICK. See Do the Trick. TRIG, a bit of stick, paper, Sfc. 9 placed by thieves in the keyhole of, or elsewhere about, the door of a house, which they suspect to be uninhabited ; if the trig remains unmoved the following day, it is a proof that no person sleeps in the house, on which the gang enter it the ensuing night upon the screw, and frequently TUR 221 meet with a good booty, such as beds, carpets, Sfc., the family being probably out of town. This operation is called trigging the jigger. TRY IT ON, to make any attempt, or essay, where success is doubtful. So to try it on with a woman, signifies to attempt her chastity. TURN UP, to desist from, or relinquish, any parti- cular habit or mode of life, or the further pursuit of any object you had in view, is called turning it up. To turn up a mistress, or a male acquaintance, is to drop all intercourse, or correspondence, with them. To turn up a particular house, or shop, you have been accus- tomed to use, or deal at, signifies to withdraw your pa- tronage, or custom, and visit it no more. To quit a per- son suddenly in the street, whether secretly or openly, is called turning him up. To turn a man up sweet , is to get rid of him effectually, but yet to leave him in per- fect good humour, and free from any suspicion or dis- content ; this piece of finesse often affords a field for the exercise of consummate address, as in the case of turn- ing up a flat , after having stript him of all his money at play, or a shopkeeper, whom you have just robbed be- fore his face of something valuable, upon the pinch , or the hoist. TURNED UP, a person acquitted by a jury, or dis- charged by a magistrate for want of evidence, fyc., is said to be turned up. See Swell. TURNIPS, to give any body turnips signifies to turn him or her up, and the party so turned up, is said to have knap y d turnips. TURN UP A TRUMP, to be fortunate in getting a L 3 222 UP good stake , or by any other means improving your finances. TWIG, any thing accomplished cleverly, or as it should be, is said to be done in twig , in good twig, or in prime twig . A person well dress’d is said to be in twig. See Drop, Gammon the Twelve, and Out of Twig. TWISTED, hanged. TWO POLL ONE. See Bridge. TYE IT UP, to tye up any particular custom, practice, or habit, is synonymous with knifeing , stowing , turning it up, or stashing it. To tye it up is a phrase, which, used emphatically, is generally understood to mean quitting a course of depredation and wickedness. See Square, and Do the Trick. u UNBETTY, to unlock. See Betty. UNDUB, to unlock, unfasten, fyc. See Dub up. UN PALLED, a thief whose associates are all appre- hended, or taken from him by other means, is said to be unpalled , and he is then obliged to work single-handed. UNSLOUR, to unlock, unfasten, or unbutton. See Slour. Speaking of a person whose coat is buttoned, so as to obstruct the access to his pockets, the knucks will say to each other, the core is slour % d up, we must unslour him to get at his kickseys. UNTHIMBLE, to unthimble a man, is to rob, or other- wise deprive him of his watch. UNTHIMBLED, having been divested of one’s watch. UP IN THE STIRRUPS, a man who is in swell street , WAT 223 that is, having plenty of money, is said to be up in the stirrups. UPON THE CROSS. See Cross. UPON THE SQUARE. See Square. UPON THE SUIT, Sf - c . See Suit. UPPER-BEN, UPPER-BENJAMIN, UPPER-TOG, a great-coat. V VARDO, a waggon. VARDO-GILL, a waggoner. w WACK, to share or divide any thing equally, as wack the blunt , divide the money, SfC . WACK, a share or equal proportion, as give me my wack , that is, my due part. WALKER, an ironical expression, synonymous with bender , and used in the same manner. WALKING-DISTILLER. See Carry the ICeg. WANTED, when any of the traps or runners have a private information against a. family person , and are using means to apprehend the party, they say, such a one is wanted ; and it becomes the latter, on receiving such in- timation to keep out of the way, until the stink is over, or until he or she can find means to stash the business through the medium of Mr. Palmer, or by some other means. WATER-SNEAK, robbing ships or vessels on a navi- gable river, or canal, by getting on board unperceived, generally in the night. The water-sneak, is lately made a capital offence. 224 WEE WEAR IT, to wear it upon a person, (meaning to wear a nose , or a conk,) is synonymous with nosing , conking , splitting, or coming it, and is merely one of those fanciful variations so much admired by flash people. WEAR THE BANDS, See Bands. WEDGE, silver ; as a wedge-feeder , a silver-spoon? 8fc.; but silver coin, as well as silver plate, are both com- prehended under the name of wedge . See Ridge, and Speak to. WEED, tobacco. WEED, to pilfer or purloin a small portion from alarge quantity of anything ; often done by young or timid depre- dators, in the hope of escaping detection, as, an appren- tice or shopman will weed his master’s lob , that is, take small sums out of the till when opportunity offers, which sort of peculation may be carried on with impunity for a length of time ; but experienced thieves sometimes think it good judgment to weed a place, in order that it may be good again, perhaps for a considerable length of time, as in the instance of a warehouse, or other depot for goods, to which they may possess the means of access by means of a false key ; in this case, by taking too great a swag , at first, the proprietors would discover the deficiency, and take measures to prevent future depredation. To weed the swag is to embezzle part of the booty, unknown to your palls, before a division takes place, a temptation against which very few of the family are proof, if they can find an opportunity. A fash-cove, on discovering a deficiency in his purse or property, which he cannot account for, will declare that he, (or it, naming the article,) has been wedded to the ruffian . WOR 225 WEEDING DUES, speaking of any person, place, or property, that has been weeded , it is said weeding dues have been concerned. See Dues. WEIGH FORTY, term used by the police, who are as well versed in flash as the thieves themselves. It is often customary with the traps , to wink at depredations of a petty nature, and for which no reward would attach, and to let a thief reign unmolested till he commits a capital crime. They then grab him, and, on conviction, share (in many cases) a reward of 40/., or upwards; therefore these gentry will say, Let him alone at present, we don't want him till he weighs his weight , meaning, of course, forty pounds. WELL, to well your accomplice, or put him in the well , is explained under the word Garden, which see. WHIDDLE, to speak of, or mention any thing, as, Don’t you whiddle about so and so, that is, don't men- tion it. WHIDDLER, a talkative or tell-tale person, who is not fit to be trusted with a secret. WHIDS, words. See Crack a Whid. WHISTLERS. See Browns and Whistlers. WIN, or WINCHESTER, a penny. WIND, a man transported for his natural life, is said to be lag y d for his wind , or to have knap’d a winder , or a bellowser , according to the humour of the speaker. WOOLLY-BIRDS, sheep. WORK, To work upon any particular game , is to practise generally, that species of fraud or depredation, as, He works upon the crack , he follows housebreaking, Sfc. An offender having been detected in the very fact, 226 YOR particularly in cases of coining, colouring base-metal, Sfc., is emphatically said to have been grab'd at work, meaning to imply, that the proof against him being so plain, he has no ground of defence to set up, WRINKLE, to lie, or utter a falsehood. WRINKLE, an untruth. WRINKLER, a person prone to lying; such a cha- racter is called also a gully , which is probably an ab- breviation of Gulliver, and from hence, to gully signifies to lie, or deal in the marvellous. Y YACK, a watch (obsolete.) YARN, yarning or spinning a yarn , is a favourite amusement among flash-people ; signifying to relate their various adventures, exploits, and escapes to each other. This is most common and gratifying, among persons in confinement or exile, to enliven a dull hour, and pro- bably excite a secret hope of one day enjoying a repe- tition of their former pleasures. -See Boned. A per- son expert at telling these stories, is said to spin a fine yarn . A man using a great deal of rhetoric, and exert- ing all his art to talk another person out of any thing he is intent upon, the latter will answer, Aye, Aye, you can spin a good yarn , but it won't do ; meaning, all your eloquence will not have the desired effect. YELLOW, jealous ; a jealous husband is called a yellow gloak . YOKUFF, a chest, or large box. YORK. To stare or look at any person in an im- r YOU 227 pertinent manner, is termed yorking ; to york any thing, in a common sense, is to view, look at, or examine it. YORK, a look, or observation ; a flash-cove observing another person ( a flat) who appears to notice or scruti- nize him, his proceedings, or the company he is with, will say to his pall*, That cove is yorking as strong as a horse, or, There is York-street concerned. YOUKELL, a countr}'man, or clown. YOURNABS, yourself; an emphatical term used in speaking to another person. FINIS. M.7 i ^ f $ :-iyj V lM Jtt* V .c.t; .v . . * •£ >* . - • • . ■'.- Printed by \V. CLOWES, Northumberland-coort, Strand.