Chapter XII (1)

_Return to Head Quarters after an Exile of two Years.—Renew my
Vows of Rectitude, to which I strictly adhere.—Proposal made me
to obtain my Liberty.—I make the Attempt.—Its Failure, and the
consequent Punishment inflicted on me.—Conclusion._

On arriving at Newcastle, I was first employed in wheeling coals out of the mines, a most laborious occupation indeed; but during my continuance at that settlement, I was put to all descriptions of work, and for the last three months, performed the duty of a constable, or watchman. Since the day on which the transaction at Colles’s took place, I never exchanged a word with the villain Edwards. He had been but a few weeks at Newcastle, before he committed a robbery, and absconded to the woods, from which he was brought back by some natives a naked and miserable object. His subsequent conduct at the coal river exhibited nothing but a succession of robberies, and every species of depravity; when detected in which, on several occasions, he betrayed his accomplices, and proved as perfidious as he was dishonest. He frequently escaped by land, amidst innumerable hardships, to Sydney; where, after the commission of some robbery, he was uniformly apprehended, and sent back to Newcastle. In fact, though scarce twenty years of age, nothing was wanting to fill up the measure of his wickedness, but the blackest of all crimes,—an act of murder! and, as if he laboured to attain the summit of human depravity, that act he soon afterwards virtually committed; for being at length, on one of his elopements from the coal river, apprehended and lodged in Sydney jail, at a period when many prisoners, of bad character, were about being embarked for the settlements on Van Diemen’s land, Edwards was included in the number. He there renewed his iniquitous courses; associating with a band of ruffians, who escaped to the woods, and there subsisted by plundering the settlers, robbing on the highway, _&c._ A party of these miscreants (eight in number,) were one day attacked by some armed persons, who had assembled together, and gone in pursuit of them; a serious conflict ensued, the marauders, also, being well armed; and after several shots had been exchanged, the settlers were obliged to retreat, several of their number being severely wounded, and one killed on the spot by the fire of the free-booters. The consequence of this outrage was, that the whole of the latter were immediately declared by proclamation to be in a state of outlawry, and a large reward offered for the apprehension of all or either of them. As parties of military, as well as the inhabitants, were detached in all directions, there is no doubt but the whole of these desperadoes have long since received the due reward of their villany. This account I read in a Sydney Gazette a few months ago, and among the names of the bush-rangers, (as they are termed,) who jointly committed the above outrage and murder, I was shocked, though not surprised, to see that of the young, but depraved, Edwards!

Having continued nearly two years at the coal-river, the commanding officer was induced, in consideration of my uniform good behaviour, to permit my return to Sydney, on my arrival at which place, I was once more disposed of in the town-gang. Being advised to solicit the Governor for an appointment to some less laborious employment, I waited on His Excellency with a petition, in which I urged my exemplary behaviour for the last two years at Newcastle; as a proof that whatever my former conduct might have been, I was now disposed to reform; and entreating His Excellency to divest himself of that prejudice which I feared had already operated against me too severely, humbly prayed that he would make trial of me in the only capacity in which I was capable of being useful, namely, that of a clerk in one of the public-offices. Unhappily for me, the cloud was not yet dispelled, but threatened to obscure, still longer, the prospect of advancement and prosperity which I had in vain sighed for, and fondly pictured to myself as the certain consequence of a thorough reformation in principle. The Governor very coolly answered that it was not merely my having behaved well for two years at the coal-river, but I must conduct myself with propriety for a series of years, before I could expect, or ought to apply for, any mark of indulgence. This answer was certainly disheartening in the extreme; and I was equally unsuccessful in an application to the then acting commissary, William Broughton, Esq., who, although he never saw me until my arrival in the Indian, not being in the colony during my former term of exile, yet this gentleman, from hearing only of my repeated frauds while employed in the office of Governor King, (and which no doubt were much exaggerated by report and repetition after my departure for Europe,) had conceived so violent a dislike to me, that he gave me a decisive, though civil, denial; and I have since heard, that he declared I should not hold a situation in the commissariat, if there was not another clerk in the colony. God grant that some well-disposed christian, who reads these Memoirs of my unhappy Life, may induce this gentleman, for whose shining talents and excellent qualities I have the highest respect, to retract his discouraging declaration, and to admit me to an employment, however subordinate, in his department, which, as I am now situated, forms the _ne plus ultra_ of my ambition.

To resume my narrative: finding from these disheartening failures, that I had nothing to hope for but a continuance of suffering and bodily fatigue, far above my strength, for many succeeding years, perhaps for the remainder of my life; surely no dispassionate reader will pronounce me culpable, or consider that I deviated from the resolutions I had formed, to act correctly while I lived, if I listened with eagerness to an offer of assistance in effecting my escape from a state of bondage which became every day more irksome and galling, in proportion as I reflected that my inoffensive conduct fairly entitled me to a share of that favour and indulgence I every day saw extended to objects I knew less worthy than myself. In fact, a person belonging to the Earl Spencer, Indiaman, then on the point of sailing for Ceylon and Bombay, did, in the month of January, 1814, from motives of pure and disinterested compassion, propose that I should conceal myself, with his assistance, on board that ship, and promised me every support in his power. I accepted with joy and gratitude this unexpected offer, and, without any difficulty, got on board, and, as I thought, effectually concealed, on the night of the Queen’s birth-day. I lay close and undiscovered for four days, and on the fifth had the pleasure to hear that the ship would that day finally sail, she having already dropped down the harbour. But, how often is the cup of happiness dashed from the lips of mortals! On the 23d of January, about ten o’clock in the forenoon, my friend came to me in my place of concealment, and informed me that upwards of thirty constables were come on board to search the ship, for that so many prisoners were missing from their respective employments, that the Governor would not suffer the ship to depart until they were found. He, however, assured me it was very unlikely any search would take place in the spot I was in, and, indeed, I considered it next to impossible that I could be discovered, unless I was betrayed. I remained in a state of the utmost anxiety for three hours, during which a vigilant search was making in every other part of the ship; not by the constables, for they would have been unequal to the task, but by a mate of the vessel, assisted by several sailors. At length, I heard voices approaching, and eagerly listening, I was convinced by the discourse which passed between the parties, that they knew exactly where I was concealed, and that I really had been, by somebody, most villanously betrayed. In a moment the mate advanced, as it were mechanically, towards me, and thrusting his candle into the entrance of my hiding-place, desired me, in a peremptory tone, to come out. Thus were my fond hopes of liberty and happiness effectually destroyed. I had become a second time the victim of treachery; but as more than one person, besides my principal abettor, knew of my concealment, I was at a loss whom to suspect as the informer. I was now ordered into a boat alongside, in which were about a dozen other men and several women, who had been found concealed in various situations. The search being not yet over, I remained alongside the ship above an hour, in which time the number of ill-fated persons collected in the boat had increased to twenty-seven men and four women. The ship having now been thoroughly ransacked, the search was given up, and the persons taken out were brought ashore, attended by the constables. We were all immediately lodged in gaol; and the next day, a report having been made to the Governor, His Excellency was pleased to order each man to be punished with fifty lashes in the public lumber yard. This sentence was certainly as lenient as could be expected for such an attempt (I do not say offence) as we had been guilty of, had the punishment stopped there; but, extraordinary to relate, although we had been all equally culpable and were found under the same circumstances, a distinction was subsequently made, which I cannot help still considering unfair and unmerited. The day after the corporal punishment had been inflicted, twenty-three of our number were ordered to return to the respective employments in Sydney, from which they had severally absconded, and myself and three others were sentenced by the Governor to be sent to the coal-river for one year; for this distinction, there appears to have been no other reason, but because we had each of us before suffered a similar banishment, and had been but a few months returned from thence to Sydney! In a few days, I was accordingly embarked with eleven other prisoners, and a second time landed at Newcastle, from whence I had been absent nearly twelve months. On my arrival, it happened that the store-keeper of that settlement was in want of a clerk, and he, applying to the commandant for me, I was appointed to that situation, in which I still continue; and having scrupulously adhered to my former vows of rectitude, and used every exertion to render myself serviceable to my employer, and to merit his good opinion, as well as that of the commandant, I have had the satisfaction to succeed in these objects; and I am not without hope, that when I am permitted to quit my present service and return to Sydney, my good conduct will be rewarded with a more desirable situation. I have now been upwards of seven years a prisoner, and knowing the hopeless sentence under which I labour, shall, I trust, studiously avoid in future every act which may subject me to the censure of my superiors, or entail upon me a repetition of those sufferings I have already too severely experienced. I have thus described (perhaps too minutely for the reader’s patience) the various vicissitudes of my past life. Whether the future will be so far diversified as to afford matter worthy of being committed to paper, either to amuse a vacant hour, or to serve as a beacon which may warn others to avoid the rocks on which I have unhappily split, is only known to the great Disposer of events.

END OF THE MEMOIRS.

FOOTNOTES

[47] See Cant Dictionary.

[48] The public papers, in describing my second examination, had the following paragraph. “The prisoner, on his first examination, 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-coachman!”

[49] Subjoined to the report of my trial, in the public prints, was this remark. “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 compliments paid me on the dexterity with which I exercised my vocation.

[50] His real name was John Benn.

[51] The judge-advocate himself did not attend.

A
NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE
VOCABULARY
OF THE
FLASH LANGUAGE,

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY
_JAMES HARDY VAUX_.

_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.

ORIGINAL DEDICATION.

_To THOMAS SKOTTOWE, Esq., of His Majesty’s 73d Regiment, Commandant of Newcastle, 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 disgraceful. 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 rendered 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 misspent life, and that my future exertions shall be solely directed to acquire the estimable good opinion of the virtuous part of the community.

I trust the Vocabulary will afford you some amusement 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[52], 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._

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 practise only such kinds of depredation, as will amount, upon conviction, to what the law terms single, or petty larceny; the extent of punishment for which is transportation for seven years. By following this system, a thief avoids the halter, which certainly is applied _above_ the arm-pits.

AWAKE, an expression used on many occasions; as a thief will say to his accomplice, on perceiving the person they are about to rob is aware of their intention, and upon his guard, _stow it_, the _cove’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 entrance to any house or premises; thus, we’ll _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 return, 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 extraordinary 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 elegant, or any fashion, act, or measure which is carried to the highest pitch, is likewise illustrated by the same emphatical phrase.

BARKING-IRONS, pistols; an obsolete term.

BARNACLES, spectacles.

BASH, to beat any person by way of correction, as the woman you live with, _&c._

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 among _family_ 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 _bender_! 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 _cross-coves_; 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 _à-propos_.

BETTY, a picklock; to _unbetty_, or _betty_ a lock, is to open or re-lock 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-PIGEON, 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 churchyards; which are sold to the surgeons and students 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_, _&c._ _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, _&c._, which is readily complied with in general; and the various circumstances therein related afford present 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 depredation, will still outwardly follow some honest employment, as a clerk, porter, newsman, _&c._ 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 discharged on the score of having a good character. To _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 intimidate him, and attain the object you are intent upon; or to obtain goods of a tradesman, by assuming the appearance 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 appearance 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 masterstroke 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 profession 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 peculation, 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.

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 betraying 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 confederates 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.)

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 confusion 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.

BUSHY-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 hurry, is said to be _done upon the bustle_. To _give it to_ a man _upon the bustle_, is to obtain any point, as borrowing money, _&c._, 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 _buz_ a person is to pick his pocket. _The buz_ 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 buz_.

C

CABIN, a house.

CADGE, to beg. _The cadge_ is the _game_ or profession 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 declared to be _as good as caz_, 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 apprehension 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 any robbery or other recent event; any lost or stolen property, for the recovery of which, or a thief, _&c._, for whose apprehension a reward is held out by advertisement, 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, _&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, _&c._; 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 exclusively 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 purloined, 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 manfully in any exploit or enterprise you engage in; or to 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, a thief who impeaches his accomplices; a spy; 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 _Pall_, 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.

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_, he dropt 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, a house, 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.

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.

DANNA-DRAG, commonly pronounced _dunnick-drag_. _See_ KNAP A JACOB, _&c._

DARBIES, fetters.

DARKY, night.

DARKY, a dark lanthorn.

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_.

DINGABLE, any thing considered worthless, or which you can well spare, having no further occasion 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 contrived 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-work_, 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 fortunate 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 extrication is declared by his friends, with an air of commiseration, 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.

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, commonly 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 _drop down 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 accordingly; 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_. _put_ him _fly_, or _spoiled_ him. _See_ SPOIL IT. To _drop down upon yourself_, is to become melancholy, or feel symptoms of remorse or compunction, on being committed to jail, cast for death, _&c._ To sink under misfortunes of any kind. A man who gives way to this weakness, is said to be _down upon himself_.

DOWN AS A HAMMER; DOWN AS A TRIPPET. These are merely emphatical phrases, used _out of flash_, to signify being _down_, _leary_, _fly_, or _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.

DRAGSMAN, a thief who follows the _game_ of _dragging_.

DRAKED, ducked; a discipline sometimes inflicted on pickpockets at fairs, races, _&c._

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 _draw_ a _kid_, is to obtain his _swag_ from him. _See_ KID-RIG.

DRIZ, lace, as sold on cards by the haberdashers, _&c._

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 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 inadvertently 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, _&c._

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, requiring 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 _flash_ on many occasions, but merely _out of fancy_, and can only be understood from the context of their discourse; like many other cant terms, it is not easily explained 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 themselves 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 depredators 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 rob 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, to _fake_ your _slangs_, is to cut your irons in order to escape from custody; to _fake_ your _pin_, is to create a sore leg, or to cut it, as if accidentally, with an axe, _&c._, in hopes to obtain a discharge from the army or navy, to get into the doctor’s list, _&c._; 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; _&c._ _&c._ _&c._

FAKE AWAY, THERE’S NO DOWN, an intimation 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 robbery, and immediately separated, the latter taking the booty with him, on your next meeting you will inquire, what he has done with the _fakement_? 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 a _fakement_, or a _fakeman-charley_, provided the person you address knows to what you allude.

FAM, the hand.

FAM, to feel or handle.

FAMILY, thieves, sharpers and all others who get 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 termed _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 handkerchief, _&c._; so a woman who is the particular favourite of any man, is termed his _fancy woman_, and _vice versâ_.

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 property, 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 experience in the arts of fraud, so as to have become an adept, is termed _an old file upon the town_; so it is usual to say of a man who is extremely cunning, and not to be over-reached, that he is a _deep file_. _File_, in the old version of cant, signified a pickpocket, but the term is now obsolete.

FINGER-SMITH, a midwife.

FI’PENNY, a clasp-knife.

FLASH, the cant language used by _the family_. To speak _good flash_ is to be well versed in cant terms.

FLASH, a person who affects any peculiar habit, as swearing, dressing in a particular manner, taking snuff, _&c._, 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’d_ him a _bean_, I shewed him a guinea. Don’t _flash_ your _sticks_, don’t expose your pistols, _&c._

FLASH-COVE, or COVESS, the landlord or landlady 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 unfrequently 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 unfortunate women; and who, in return, are generally at hand during their nocturnal perambulations, to protect them should any brawl occur, or should they be detected 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_ fraternity 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, means the person whom you have a design to rob or defraud, who is termed the _flat_, or the _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 designs 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 miscarries, 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 knock down 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 incapable 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, _&c._

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 _cracksmen_ 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.

G

GAFF, to gamble with cards, dice, _&c._, 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_ company who know to what it alludes.

GALANEY, a fowl.

GALLOOT, a soldier.

GAME, every particular branch of depredation practised 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 shopkeeper, _&c._, 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 _prime gammoner_; to _gammon lushy_ or _queer_, is to pretend drunkenness, or sickness, for some private end.

GAMMON THE TWELVE, a man who has been 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 jurymen.

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, _&c._

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 defrauding any one with whom you are confidentially connected 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 advantage of another’s inadvertence or unsuspecting temper, on any occasion; in either case, the party at last _dropping 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 _splitting_ or _nosing upon_ him; a man guilty of this treachery is called a _gnarling_ scoundrel, _&c._

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_; _&c._ A man who declares himself good for any favour or thing, means, that he has sufficient influence, 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 make a _grab_ at any thing, is to snatch suddenly, as at a gentleman’s watch-chain, _&c._

GRAB’D, taken, apprehended.

GRAY, a halfpenny, 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, halfpence, 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_ anything, is to look at or examine it.

H

HADDOCK, a purse; _a haddack stuff’d with beans_, is a jocular term for a purse full of guineas!