^ L 5^^^T^ '5/"^^ XV r-cs^ ^^ A^^ %otcL 22'- I8z^ ly§JVunpAr, yotrnelx- J- Xono/^n. .1- V ( /'.v.; v-* -//:'// /"/ r > • /") f f :r ' r'SA: SVi Qnis! of itcintion EXPOSED. CHAPTKR I. COMMON I.ODOIM, IK )USKS, CADGERS, These two subjects are, perhaps now the only ones remain- ing, in what is termed the " walks of life, " of which a correct description has not yet been i,'ven. All the old topics, such as the beauties of the country, an.l the iincient stories of love and heroism, which have aflorcled so much empl')}nient to the pencil, the muse, and tlie worker-up of nuvels, have hmg been considered as the beaten track ; and the relaters of tiction, at least those wh(j lay ci.iim t(j ai y thing like c>rigi- nalitv, have been fain to leave tlie rotnantic path, with its old castles and wondrous deeds, ar. 1 so foi'ih, and. .'^eek for heroes behind a counter, ami ist thi' c.:)mnu;n-!)lace details of busi- UT, DkXS Oj- L0X',>0>". nes", rind for scenes airunigsl the i"tric:;t(.' whuling'^ :W hwa: and allcv;:. In short; noviMiy is tlvj crand ch:irp-> h^i tiii^; novel- writing ;'i;.\ Inclepnidrnt (J the hosts of " Military and Naval Skrkdu:^ of -Mr. Sr.ch. :j- c;n.\'" ''the Autlicr of So-and So's Kriitinis- cence.--," kc, v.'it;: the usual abundanc;^ oi matter, th.at daily crov.d frcni the 'press, we may notice am^ongst th.e really useful v/oiks ;l;::;i r.ave lately ajipeared, the "Old Hailey Ex- perience,'' "Essays on the Condition of the Peo})!e," " tlic l)is;-.(v;est Practices of Ilousehold Servants." Eiid " the iSIaehinery o! Crime in England, or the Connection between theT'deves ;'nd Flash' Ilo'ases/' but, valuable as these articles are, and t'luy are certairdy of some importrince to socirtj, has there ::i;j o!ie, we u;:gf:t a^:k, ever entered into the Com- :non Lodging Iivjuse, — the Vagabond s iloiTK-, — a place that abounds in I'h.aracter and crnne ? Tlie (aiiy informatieti which w;: hi.v. c h:;d in tl;i-sc ch^ns of povtrly and vice, ha.s been mer; ly tlirurgli ilic Police Re[)rri: , Vv-i'cn some unfor- ttuia'e d.i'jultcr had been takt n out of one of tliose sktdk- in;;-hoI''s. On sueli (Acasions v/e are t(dd, aniongst the iisu;d remarks, tliat tie.' accommodation In those houses were e:^ce(, (liii!^iy cheap, and that the lodgers herded together in- disenaiinat; 'y, .Vr. ; but h.ov/ sucli luj'i-es were really con- p^'ui^le u'h,) ;'.'f;:i''n!;v.'ii them. i:\v [lub'ic m:;y ho s:'.:J to h*- -itnij^t hi perfect '^noranc-'. ]:\ ]]'.:: "nanner '.vi'i tlv-t fr.;- :- nhiv c\:lK I '■ C.;c!_;i;r ', ' our kTiww'ri'g^ii has hcen c(]ual'y hi'iiitc L Xu 'ji.rr. ct acconnt has ever yi-t htx^T irivrn of lliis i.'ili.', bi.it ciumiiig- (hiss (,f the ccanmunity. All th.at we have bei n tuh.i cvir.cvmin^^ th..-r.a, is, to r.se the c. miiion p'^ras", br.t men- \. ■.:..■.;/. Vv'e riiiieniber reading, some few vtarj I'.ro. > 1 one '-1 t!;'':'e b. '.en^ .^'. ntrs' boa'-ting of being abh: ;o n,..be !;ve ■■billings a -Jay. He consiiiereJ that sixty stritts \vere ea:-:Iy g. t t'lrongli, from sunrise to sunset, and that it '.vr.s ^:r : ;e in>e.nl if !ie could injt collect a penny in evt.ry s'.reet. \ ".v. this very san;s anecdote vee read, not ;:;a.nv d.ivs since, in a new vrork, entitled, "A History of the Vv'c.rbine Cla^-se:-," as something, of course, just 'ori.';rn;ds as a laet just dis- O THE D7NS OF LOMDON. covered, and the curious were referred to a certain house in St. Giles's, in corroboration thereof. Indeed, we think it would be easy to prove that what little is known of the Common Lodging House, and those people the Cadgers, is neither more nor less than mere reports, and which like the generality of reports, contain not always the truth. It certainly appears strange that those two subjects, which cffer such an abundance of original matter to writers and other observers of mankind, should have remained so long without any other notice than merely that they were known to exist. Seemingly strange, however, as this singularity is, sufficient reasons, perhaps, may be given for it. There can be little doubt, at least there is none in our mind, that since the commencement of the Spcdaior and Tatler, periodicals have principally assisted in developing, if we may so term it, the powers of observation. Intelligent readers of this kind of liteniture would naturally turn away from the insipid stuff of the rhymer, and the equally sentimental trash of the getter-up of fiction, of which our old magazines were mostly composed, to the more rational parts of the publica- tion, such as original essays, critiques, stories which had really some truth for tlieir foundation, or any thing which bore the stamp of newness. This secret of attraction would, THE DENS OF LONDON. 7 of course, soon be f(jun(l ou.t, by those most interested in tlie sale; but the grand introduction of utility was at tliat period when the \i'aTer/^\' ni)V(d'; made tlieir a[i[)earance. Then, instead of the exaggerated imaginings of a diseased brain, with all its superhuman agency, we had History beautifully blended with Fiction, or rather Truth, accurate descriinions of nature, ami correct pictures of life, both high and low. We all remember what powerful sensations those literary wonders at first created, and what a crowd of imitators fol- lowed in their train. I'he Magiizines Si on cauglu up the t(ine,ai;i! bec.MU'.' doi;!;!v ;'itercstin<_', Witii the lives of private soldiers, '* Two or 'J'hrce Yr.ars in the Peninsul.a," antl the " Sub iltern.'' I'he camp and th; man-of-war nov.' poured forth their vast stories of anecd(;te and adventure, in all sha[)es and si/.es- — octavo and artic'e- -.-k^tclv.^s of char.i'^Ui'j local custoiiis and antiquities, idled u[) thu oiht :• attraetiono of the dav , a.ud '.o read ior im(iroveuiem, v.d^.ilc wc rea.d l,;r amusemintj \va^ almost eon-iiicred thi fasiiic'nable e:nj);oy- ir.ent ol time. TIkm; excel!. lit t.jpics. doid)llcs:-, h:!d tlivir '■e.a.MiP, ntid wh.en done, oui whe-'eb-ii,' dealer.-, i:i wi:-(!oin, t:ie I'ubh-iu .s, well knew thai ll-.-ir :^reaL i';;"r.'n, ti^e [iid'l:'', notdJ nrt bv content u ilh V, hat iKe.i sronc before. Sonu -.hmg was to Lv ;/>;■;;?; i-oJl^ccU; 1)::^ -.vc;;;'! :::;.::j tl.e prcsf: move ; ;:i\u that .-ujiiciiiiiij;, V. ;i L„..ic\s. every {.;ne w jU a^^rcc \v = .,h i.^, tli';!. ;.: Ti, z^i'o^: ii li.,.j\vjC, \v;^;: in this rienta: n:^;:. wa^. to be „i;.,.. \.'uiv.l: Vv/i^ //wv- -a;;.;,, iii ;.;ct, v/hich -^ oulu i;/. , Ihis, to look rior.:-:.; :;:ei-':, ;:.k! lio. itriA-nirv;; -m]. \vh;vh tlic r^omijr he!tl c.v:ij y^cau.j though ih>- <^:'.:.:.'i\ty always b^. .; was )'ct too l.;^.:] 1. oj-u. .o uic ii.-K-^Hn: ^vu^ ^.-i Hungry scnbbo ;v, t(; alltn.' tlii-'io iv- lii ii'ie. o(jOiJIv 'uois once inorc r;'.us.iei';ecl, t'.ivA thjt \,o;e:i lon.cfiv oo\o puoisuie was now founci to be IOC ol^ ior Lt.^v ; ta;;^;uoiU. JiaJ or:;i^t..t..i-.^ were discovcrrd lo enist aiiiouL,oL :,iv.be v;i.i \,iiOin o-aiesty '■vas t;:ono;ht to U'.VeO--wio ,0:0 , O.,., \. !...:.[ tt. , . . ', lio. iA'.O it !..,„'.■,, ol..'. \.'v. ol!., .. ir . ^. ioo/e IriliO)' W. ,1) ■. ,i. THE DENS OF LONDON". 9 tha. old ground-work of fiction. The same may be said of those "Essays on the Condition of the People," — " House- hold Servants,'' — the " Old Bailey Experience,'' and those equally instructive articles on the " Machinery of Crime in P^ngland, or ib.e Connection between the I'hieves and tiie Flash Houses," which all owe their origin to the same cause- It therefore can scarcely excite surprise that the Common Lodging House and Cadger should have remained so long without notice, when, if we take but a little time to reflect, we shall easily perceive that this work of observation is but just now going on, and that the very period in which -^-e now live, is wb.at with justice muy be called but — the Age' of Inquiry. I'he CoinniiJi Eodgin^ House, as the reader no doubt understane.s, is a lujuse ol accommodation for ail classes — no matter wb.at inav be their ap[)earaiice or char.ieter — ouU' {provided tliat tht.v can procure, when required, t!ie necessary (juantitv of coins. In every considerable village in the kingdom there is a lodglng-j^hiee called the '• ]] gg:;!'-. Elouse ;" and in every toun, moro' or less, accordiii'- ro ;:s si/.e or j)0puhiti,:ii. In Loudon there are lunidreds a. ' ■"• :- sands of ho',:s"s of th.is deScrii)tion, from the [)Oor ;■ :.,:;.', oi a room or tellar, \vith its two or thro'c shake-dov,-i:-l\d.-; lO THE DENS OF LONDON. upon the floor, to the more sul)stantial landlord with his ten or twenty liousts, and two or three hundred beds. Among these the houseless wanderer may find shelter, from a penny to three halfpence, twopence, threepence, fourpence, and sixpence a night, on beds of iron, wood, and straw, or on that more lofty couch a hammock ; and some (that is, the penny- a-night lodger) have often no softer resting place than the hard floor. This common lodging-house business is a thriv- ing trade ; only small capital is required , for an old house will do, no matter how the rain beats in, or the wind whistles through, in a back street or filthy lane, for the more wretched the neighbourhood, the better j old bedsteads and beds, clothes of the coarest description, with a few forms, and a table or so, for the kitchen, are all that is necessary for the concern. The front room, or what is usually termed the parlour, is generally fitted up into a shop, or, when this is not the case, there is always some accommodating neighbour, who has the following articles for sale : viz., bacon, butter, cheese, bread, tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, potatoes, red and salt herrings, smuggled liquors, and table-beer. Some add the savoury profession of the cook to that of the huckster, and dish up a little roast and boiled beef, mutton, pork, vi'getables, kc. The whole of these, the reader may be THI DEXS OP LOXDOX. I I assured, are of a very moderate qnalit}' : they are retailed to the lodgers at very profitable prices, and in the smallest quantities, such as a halfpenny worth of butter, bacon, cheese, tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, &c, 3 and, for the trifling sum of one pennv, the poor epicure may gratify his palate with a taste of beef, mutton, and so on. Very little credit is given in those creditable places, and that only to those who are well-known ; ihcy who have nv)t that advantage, often are compelled to take the handkerchief ofT their necks, the coat, and even the verv skirts otf their backs, to give t(j the cautious housekeeper, before they can procure a night's lodging, or a morsel of food ; indeed, in the country, it is a common thing, when a traveller (which is tlie respectable appellation by which the alms-seeking gentry designate them- selves) seeks for a night's lodging, for the landlord to refuse admittance, unless the applicant carries a bun, lie, which is looked upon as a kind of security, should he not have the desirable in his p )cket. It may naturally be su[)posed that, where there are such little outlays and such large n'turu'^, t!;at gooJ. round sums must be prtjduced ; indeed, there ;ire few uho coiniuence this kind uf life, but soon seci;re to tlieinselves an indejjen- dency. Tliere are nKiny whom we conM ;nenti.>:', wlio have 12 THE DENS OF LONDOK. accumulated such large fortunes by the encouragement of vagrancy, as now to be tht proprietors of vast property in houses, and who still carry on large establishments by means of deputies, and in their deputies' names, while they them- selves live in fashionable style on the borders of the town. The servants that are kept in those houses are in general men, they being considered better adapted to keep peace and quietness than women. It is customary with lodgers, who have anything of value, to deposit it with the landlord, and, in most cases, it is returned with safety. There are some whose character stands so high for honesty, that twenty pounds and upwards may be entrusted with them 5 but there are those again with whom it would not be prudent to leave a rag, and who often colleague with ruffians to get up a row during the night, to rob the lodgers, they of course coming in for a share of the booty. It is true, too, that in a great many of those houses men and women scorn all restraint, ■an! hate any thing in the shape of a barrier. As regards cleanliness very little can be said for any 3 thev all abound, more or less, with th(;se small creeping things, which are 3aid to be so prolific on the other side of the Tweed, and in the dear country. To delineate, however, the characters of the different houses, comes not at present within our limits 5 THE DKNS OF LOXDON. 13 that of itself would till volumes with the most extraordinary interest 5 and what then would be the descriptions of the crowds who frequent such houses — the thousands and tens of thousands who exist in this country by what is called their wits — whose trade is imposture, and whose whole f^ one continued exercise of the intellects? The flash letter- writer and the crawling supplicant ; the pretended trades- men, who live luxuriously on the tales of others, and the real claimant of charity, whose honest shame will hardly allow him to beg for sutficient to procure the hard comforts of a bed of straw ; tht- match seller and ballad-singer, whose convenient profi-ssion unite the four lucrative callings of begging, selling, singing, and stealing j gangs of shii)wrecked sailors, or rather, fellows whose iron constitutions enable them for the siike of sympathy, to endure tlic most incle- ment weather, in almost a state of nudity, and among th.em only one {)i'rhaps ever heard th.e roar of the ocean ; jugglers, c(;i!;ers, train[)s (inLchan;cs seeking work), strolling players, v.lth all the hangers-on of fairs, races, assizes, stable-yards ; besides the hosts of Irish who yearly migrate from .sweet Erin lo happy Knghm;!, to beg, labour, and steal. Here then, is a wide field for speculation, a vast common in life, where a character may bt' almost picked uj) at every step — mines of H THE DENS OF LONDON. vice and misery as yet unexplored. A road that has never yet been trodden by the nuin of the pen, and very rarely by him of the pencil. If a few straggling mendicants, or some solitary wretch, have occasionally been sketched, the great centre of the sons of Cain — the outcast's home — has never yet been entered ; that place has remained sacred to the tell- tale eye of each observer. But enough of this : we will now enter among these new scenes, and in order to give a correct view of the ways and doings of this strange life, will at onco introduce the reader to the head-quarters of the cadgers — St. Giles's. THE DENS OF LONDON. 1 5 CHAPTER II. ST. GILES'S— THE CADGER'S HEAD- QUARTERS. The house, or rather estabhshment (for it contains no less than eiglit houses, having a moderate-sized court within its boundary, in which stands a large gas lamp) to which we intend to conduct the reader, is situate at No. 13, • Street, St. Giles's, llie proprietor being what is called a gentleman — a man of property — and, like all men of property, of course, wishes not to have his name mentioned but in a respectable way — we therefore, with all respect for the power of wealth, will accommodate him with a dash. This cavern was opened some forty years ago, by a man of the name of , a native of that cautious country, " Canny, iak care o' yoursd." The Scotchman, with the characteristic foresight of his countrymen, soon saw that to set up prudence in the midst of wanton waste, was a sure and ready way to i6 THE DEXS OF LONDON. accumulate the lawlees. Accordingly, he took a shop and house at the aforesaid number, and commenced giving shelter to the wild and the profligate. Trade thrived, and, ere long, Sawney had reason to bless the day he crossed the border. He not only grew a rich but a braw man — put his sons to rr^^. respectable professions, and expended as mucli in setting them up in tlie world, as might liave made them no common lairds in the land of thistles, and liuallv gave up the ghost, THE DEN'S OF LONDON'. 1/ breathing his last breath amidst the air of plenty, leaving his money-making craft to his eldest son, who still carries on this establishment, as well as two others, one in the Broad- way, St. Giles's, and the other in Long Acre, through the means of a deputy, and in the deputy's name, while he him- self takes his ease in elegant style, a little way out of town, and is reputed to be the possessor of a great number of houses besides. This grand cadging rendezvous, then, is under the super- intendence of a deputy, and is kept u[) in his naniej he is assisted by his wife and under deputy i^m^'ii-servants), and ? few female domestics. This man — that is, the leader of the band — hails we believe from Cambridgeshire. He is of a slight make, with a shrewd cast of the eye. Formerly he ligured in a gentleman's family, and has stil! much or the air and dress of a lackey : he is nevertheless \vu\l adapted foi his situation ; is affable and free, gambles, aiv.! ;^ tlie cop.:- panion of the lodgers in the house, but kiunv^ th.cm not h- the street. When any of the inmntes chanc;' to meet hi;;; in one of their alms-seeking rambles, and p.resent their hat, to see if he will set an exam[)le to unwilling people, Iv. never dro[)S in more that one poor p-iLny ; his wife, however, c; 1'6 TPE DENS OF LONDON. is considered a trump (;i generous woman), and never has the collection-box held to her, but invariably lets fall a tanner, to shew that she is a Gemman''s wife. These people have the reputation of being honest : anything intrusted to them, of M'hatever value, is certain of being returned. Robbery and petty tli.efts are here very rare, and fights are never allowed in the liouse, if the landlord is at home. There are two kitchens, one for the males and the other for the females : the men are not permitted to visit the women, and, until after eleven at night, the time the women's kitchen is cleared, very few of the latter are allowed to disturb their masculine neighbours ; those who have that privilege, are the select few, who are pleased to term themselves wives. There are sleeping apartments, too, for the different sexes, and rooms for those who pass as married i)eople 3 and when any of the fair pirt of the inmates ha[)pen, in tluir perambulations, to meet with a friend of the opposite gender, and find, as they sometimes do, that it will be necessary to have a little private communion before they part, the landlord has so far sympa- tlii/.cd with such persons, as to provide a room or two for their ]X';rticular use. In short, this place, besides being a common kKl;j'i;ig house, adds to it that now very necessary conv(•ni^■;: ;■; - a '/i'olhel. THE DEN'S OF LONDOW There are considerably more tha.i one hundred be'ls in this house, made of wood and iron, distributed three and six in a room ; tlie single ones are four[)ence; and the double ones sixpenee ; and v.hen we add tiM' [)rot!LS ot this to that of the other two establishments, it must be adowid that tb.e whole must aniount to a gentlemanlike siun. It is now our duty to enter this :'.lv>a,- , and tiun!,:ii aecus- tjined to tb.LS.- li. treat;- of vice ar i crbne, v,-e actually did '■^ '.y a vi^a to thi;i verv lioLise, on.' 'Ka'ird.'v cveningj ami '^\<::^^ ri- •;!.:■:. ..! i;;uil Mc^nday nii>;i:i:;^;, t.ikin,.:;, l.\nn lirst to last, careful !ii/a s (;1 i\\: vau-X exM" i)r-l.;)..r\ ciuiriicters aiid t!:.;r w.iys, ui ordor that our first -kvtc:h miriit be a correct 'picture of the manner in whieli liiLSi. >/V.u -j,- oi soci^.y spcUvi the last, the best, aiid the l:r-t i-'irt of liie v.eek. ^^\dl, thiii, on Saturtlav attcnuAin, upon a (.Lria'a da/-, we .bri.ctvd our st(.-ps to that wt.U kc.uwa s[)(it i,>f this nughlv part of tl;e world — llie Rookery, iIil- appricpn ;tc title guu'. to tha.t mod' ru Sodu.n, S;. ( rdr,' .. ' ),i c;Uei ,.i , i hi - r. •___!: a' ^■f r,]n, v.c. c.f cnursc, b.^d tb. U; c ;1 dbb.uhies of {■n,i. i\i'->:.. i! .^iTS li. cncfjinur. . in pu - a^ucug lb.- sr.uui but ric'i! >'Cn\; hi :;■ uiw way ■ .;.■ ;.v)'a -.n-j- c aanuc: J ' ^ 20 THE DENS OF LONDON. length, however, we reached No. 13, Street, which was pointed out to us by a damsel standing in one of the many groups which are usually collected there, discussing the queries of that city, as being the habitation that we were in search of. THE DEXS OF LONDON". 21 CHAPTER III. THE CADGING HOUSE. As this is the first attempt that has been made to describe a Cadging House, we perhaps may be excused in being some" what particular. The outside of this dwelhng was more cleanly and decent than we had been led to expect. The window of the low front room, which was large and ratlier bowed, still retained the remains of its former shop-like appearance, was modestly screened in the inside by a green curtain ; and the step of the door was nicely scoured and sanded. On entering, we were struck with the establishment-like appearance of the room. Rows of common tin tea-pots were ranged along the dr<.\sser. As for the shelves, they literally lined the walls, well filled with plates, dishes, and tea-ware. The landlady came forward to meet us, a talh n;euteel woman; with the manners of one apparently used to 23 THE DENS OF LOMDCX, better society. After putting down our groat, and giving into her hand a certain garment wrapped in a handkerchief, in case of accidents, we were told that the men's kitchen was in the next house, the -first dcor en the right liand side, ji ^l;,i*.w m^ ' ? \ L. in the entry. By thi?, v/e found tJint tn(> threshold on whicl', we tlien stood, w:>s no les^- ilian tlir ■!:'/; (in:;r!; r.'; ^."•. ".yroii for the barr;;ck-niaster hiins.'lf. Ac'> rdiivdy, wc sallied our THE PENS OF LOXDOX. 23 for Xo. 12: but, before going in, we took the liberty to make a survey of tliis "\'agabond's Home!" and, in troth, it did weU deserve that name. The low front room or parlour, whose fate it was now to be the C.idg._r"s Kitehen, had eertainly the same shop-like appearanee as ihiut of X;-. I 3 — hut there tlie likeness ended. The door, whieh led into the street, instead of having the clean, welcome, and open look of its neighbour, was fast nailed uj), and bore e\idLnt marks that many a sick man had leaned agai'irt it. I'he dour-light — the window above the door — had bet n taken out, (^r wh.at is more likely, knocked out, and its [)lace supplied with a wooden shutter, which was raised up during th.e day, to let in the light, and air : and as for the win 'ow itself, with tlie exce;)tion of a few panes of glass in the centre, here and there patched with brown i)aper, it was almost wlioll}' made up witli stjuares of \\'ood — giving ocuhir pro(;f that gk.^s wa.s i;f a very briille nature in St. Giles's. After sati.?f}ing ourselves thus far, we [iroceed.e'd to explore tlie interior. V i::.r:'ow p::-sage rm b^-tv/een the houses, and led into a tolerably large cou.rt, wiiieh, wiili tho.-e two, con- taini.d th.e number rT heu.ses ;!l'-e;:.!y sta.ted, At ihe foot of ■his entry stood tvre er three Moll I'landers looking husseys, 24 THE DENS OF LONDON. who, it may be supposed, did not neglect a passing salute. Farther up the yard, were some half-dozen fellows, in parti- coloured dresses, (and not over particular about shoes and stockings) smoking their cutties, and gambling at pitch- penny. We next proceeded to the kitchen — and a den-like retreat it was — dark and gloomy from the partial light let in by the few remnants of glass, it seemed well calculated to harbour felon thoughts. The room itself was moderate enough in size — a good fire, and an excellent grate, containing a copper of boiling water, always kept full by a pipe conveyed to it from a cask raised on one side of the fire-place, was all that we could see that approached to anything like luxury or com- fort. Beneath this cask lay a heap of coke and coal, and a coal-heaver's shovel leaned against the wall, at the service of any one who loved a cheerful hearth. The floor and walls did not differ much in colour, the former being of a dusky- hue, that knew of no other purifier save the birchen broom ; and the latter, a dirty red — a daub long since and clumsily made. A cuckoo-clock ticked on one side of an old cup- board, and before the window was spread a large deal table, at which sat the landlord playing at cards with a couple of rufiian-likc fellows, A small table (whose old-fashioned, THE DEN'S OF LONDON. 25 crooked, mahogany legs, showed tliat it had once been in a more honoured place ; but the rough deal covering with which it had been repaired, denoted that it was i^ow only fit for cadger's plate) — stood at tlie other end of the room, behind the door. A man, in a decent but faded sum of clothes, sat on one side — his arms were olretclicd cvor the table, and his head half-buried wii:.;,! ih;_m — l;e was, apjja- .enlly, aslee;), The white a[)r(..:, .:.at v/a.s wrc;;;;)ed round uis waist, clearly [jroclaimed to \ i;,:i '_iar-:; lie b^liyi. ;"ed — the " •'■^'-'o-I'^o "tradesmen." A few ti.iii./j^ tied to a Ldae hand- kerchief, rested on ((Ue side of hi:; head ; a'ld a ;;.;r;-el of ballads, his wliole stock-in tr.al:;. laj- .::\ the (;ttier. kef(n-e tlie lire, v.auanin'.; his back, slooc' a .-'lort, thicL-^et inan, hummin'^ the air of a. '.ailgar e'ltiy ; laa lianeis v.cie I iirust into the pockets of a velvet shootini; jackcl, oriiainenied v.itli lar'fe ivory buttons, such as are <:e;iiinnid\- Vsorn by cabmen and. otlier tap-r(,om blackouards, llis CiJLUiianance was by r ;v t(jo da.r!; and siiistt r-looki-y^ 1o b,/ honest, and, as he ;)cc:!siona!'_v faviMired us with a i. ' praf'-'aMnal g'ane".s tro!ii !;ene.ih a whi •■ ^- ■y>\'\a 1 -..x:: [■:<. brow, it in-ilin'::!^ ■ -iy, as ;t v/t re^ '•- : ^i.b .i la-, at "- !;:y loid — tile pri^'.-ner a.i the ixir." On a fjrm ai^aiUbt the aval ' ■' - ' -.ay wk'^ 26 THK DENS OF LONDON. a beard like a hermit, all fluttering in rags — the very emblem of wretchedness. He was relieving his uneasiness by giving his back every now aud then, a comfortable rub against the \v;:V. A !ir*Je on one side of this forlorn being, at the head cf the table where the landlord sat, was a character that could hardly escape the notice of the most obtuse observer, a stout active young man, in the very perfect costume of a cadger. The upper part of his person was decorated with a piece of a garment that had once been a coat, and of which THE DENS OF LOXDON. 27 there yet rcmiiined a sleeve and a half; the rest was sus- ponded over his shoulders in shreds. A few tatters were arranged around his nether parts, but they cuuld scarcely be said to cover his nakedness ; and as for shoes, stockings, and shirt, they doubtless had been neglected, as being of no pro- fessional use. A k'nd of a hat (which, from a piece of the fiap still remaining, shewed that it had once possessed a brim) ornamented as villanous a looking head as ever sat upon a pair of shoulders — carrotty hair, that had as much pliancy as a stubble field — a low recedi''ig foithead— light grey eyes, rolling about, with as much "' g'''5 i:i theta as if each contained a thief — a broad, snubby "; > — ;■ rircjecling chin, with a beard of at least a month's \:.':^:l'\'~A\c vvhi>!c forming no bad resemblance to a rough, red, wiry-naired, viscious terrier dog, whose i:cc had been half-bitten off bv hard lighting. He was the very type of a heiigc rL.ffian, and a most proper person to meet any one "bv mcujnliglit alone." " lie looked as if his Mocul '■ Had crept tliro' scuimdrcl-) cwt since tlic ! The very sight of this model of ]■> vagrancy, with all her train, befcjre our ev' ■ -r ; r,-;-: :.:;, '.i-ik-er's wi\e,^, bull dog^, donkey.-, ereel-,, k ■. ■ :;is, .uvj ;!!1 28 Ti::; dkm, of london". the trumpery of a gipsev's camp. This elegant inJivichial, we found afi.erw.ird.%, ;;:isv-.'ered to the very proper app.^'ilation of " Cadger Jsck." He was leaning over the table, resting his arms on a bundle of iiiatches, and grumbling heavily about the tiir.ts, *' Cadging," he said, " was gone to the the devil; Ue liad beevi cut ever since the morning, and h.ad not yet broke his fa.tj but if he Hved till Monday, he would go to the lord mayor/' Here he used some emphatic langua[je, anci swore he would not stir until he got relief. "You will 'id h' fe^n^e h.-ir r " en(|uir"d the man, 'ihe land- lord !)v ti "'^ tiuH- had gene out). "On d'iiuiMhiy." he wa^ answered. " It is a sh'iin./,'' lie sahh '*' to take in su y(}ung a boy , he rdiouidi liae/e a. stiek laid aeross Ids back, and sent home again.'' In tlefi noe of the landlord, it "v.ais argued, that ii he clol no"; take him in, otliers would ; aiicl that his thin^rs were sale here, v.hieh nought n;)t be the ca 'e i! ewhtre. This was atlmitted bv our moralizer to be very true. '• Howsomever," observed h.;', ''all i i;;v;\v is thiis~-that ii' the young dog is not alo-ady a thief, I hnow that Ite has come to the right yhu:.' to h.^a: nv "ne.' ^' Aye, th.t ho has' drav. i. d out a liad' n,.:.. d lu.dy yoen^, eah)w. rd.dn" hin, elf s'^ vi- ■ ,■ ;;• ^e a ■ ;; -v'^ : ', 30 THE DENS OF LONDON. had been stretched his full length, laying upon his face, the sluggard's favourite position. Hogarth, or Joe Lisle, or any other character hunter, might have taken this youth for the very Son of Idleness. There might alternately be traced in his heavy features sluggard, loon, fool, and rascal. " Aye, that's very true," he observed, " it was coming to St. Giles's that was the ruin of me ; and them there lasses," pointing to a ruddy-faced girl, who had just popped her brazen front in at the door, and who, in return for his salutation, politely placed her finger on one side of her nose, then raising the hinder part of her body touched it, in a style that would scarcely be tolerated at St. James's. " Ah, you imp of Satan I " he bellowed out, as the young vixen scampered away between a dance and a run, and again commenced his story : " It was coming to St. Giles's, I was saying, was the ruin of me. I robbed my father, but I got clear of that ; then I robbed my mother, i got turned away for that ; my sisters took me in, I robbed them, and was lirst to cut ; at last, my aunt pitied and took care of me, I robbed her too. But I got three month for that, and — " ''Hold your tongue, you as?," rxclaim'-d li.ilf -a-dozen THE DENS OF LONDOH. 3 I voices, "the booby's mad, and should be sent to St. Luke's. At this rebuff the hopeful youth grinned a grin some- thing hke the triumph of a fool glorying in his shame ; then thrusting his hand into his bosom, was for a few moments lost in heavenly bliss, enjoying that most ecstatic of enjoy- ments, which King Jamie, of clawing memory, sa)S, ought always to be reserved for kings — scratching ; then rolled himself down again, to have a little more folding of tho arms, and a little more slumber. THE DENS OF LONDON'. CHAPTER IV. A B £ G G A R ' S R E P A S T. Our friend, who had snc'i singular ideas in a cadging houss of what ought to be, was himself bat one of those who ex- isted by his whs. Two piece?^ of leather huntr round his feet and ankles, which for reseriiblance came nearer to sandals than boots. The rest of his garb, of course, C(jrresponded. Wc observed before, tliat, when he came in, he had his arms full of good things — among which were a sixpenriV cottage-loaf, half a pound of butter, two ounces of ctjlTee, a quarter of a pound of ^agar, ;inii hiilf-a do>.:: eggs. He now busied himself in iaiLiing ihos!.' tilings in order, and (luietly suffered the promising- 1)<;\- to t;!to, )iis wi!l (l..iu-n to thi' ;oad lo rtiin. The \o:n 1../ ciii d'.'vn mii(, sisL^uUiliai bhces, lUAl oov^icti liieit. \, .^il ;.:u; t!ii('!,i\ v/id. i1:l r.eh cUi\:d crealu of tiie cow ; he p:.U ih • wikJ.- ci iiic c; lY.'e imo the nan lUhI boilud :uid sijiizaer^jd it ',\':l:^ si'ch auentun nz cljaily THE DENS OF LONDON. 33 showed that, at least in the culinary department, he was a man of taste ; and although he did not mix with his bever- age any of that much-talked-of continental stuff — succory, yet such was the sweet-smelling odour, as the steam wafted by us, that we oould not help thinking that such highly- frf^^. flavoured drink could not fail in find favour, even in the nostrils of the very Ottoman himself. This beiiT>- done, he placed it upon tlie t.ibK', and called loudly for his mate. 34 'J"K I'P-'^'S OF LONDON. And here it nuiy be necessary to observe, that your pro- fessed vagabonds who hve unmarried, always associate in pairs — hke the soldier with his comrade, and the sailor with his messmate ; it is probably owing to so many of the latter being members of this fraternity, that this seafaring phrase has become to be adopted. Be that as it may, however, the cadger and his mate sleep together, mess together, and share each other's good and bad hick ; the most prudent of the two being always the purser. I'he individual who answered to the call was a short, punchy, filthy animal, of middle age, half covered with rags. His breast was as bare and as highly coloured as the chest of a Red ludian^ owing, perhaps, to sleeping in the open air, or laying among the cinder heaps of glass-houses. Jamie, for that was his name, was, however, a professed gentleman of the road ; had an eye as sleepy and as cunning as a cat ; and, to use his low jargon, was " up to summat," and knew "what was what." His mate passed a few jokos upon him, at his skill in gulling swells, and taking in flats 3 for lie was considered an adept. Jamie chucked at the compliments, and smiled at whal w a.' b'-fv.rc liicni. Th'^y then fell to the viands, and THE UKXS or IX'NDO.V. ate with the hear.v gusto of robust health. The eggs were certainly boiled too liard ; but that defect they took good care to remedy, by softening them well with nice fresh butter, neither crying " Malt I ' until there reniaineJ not the shadiiw of crust. After this bliijht refection, iil.e tliv leyl of the r-ntiiuii who 36 THE DENS OF LONDOX.- live by their means, they wiped their chins with their nap- kins — the cuffs of their coats — arose, and went out to that sink of ruin, the gin shop; to rinse their teeth with a httle rum, that being tlie favourite stimulus of the begging tribe. The two-penny dram of pure Jamaica is preferred by them, and particularly those who live in the country, to any other kind of malt; or spirituous liqueurso IIIE HtNS 01' rOM'ON CHAPTER V. .•\ N i; V I". X I X ( ; M !•: a l— a f i-: a s t v A 1,1) ]•: Iv M A N All ihc wr.nili'rinL; raci^, such as pctllar;-,, tr.i'iii-; :':;■) hawkt-rs ot sinali ware, whose pursuits arc m the ojhii an. and u hich kaJ ihcin, {lurrng the dav, to an uneerta.in - tance from their residence, never liave more meals than tluii breakfast and tlieir lea. V-iu as the most of these pe()])lL- nre no enemies to good hvint^, they u^iLilly c()!;iri\e to ha.sc their morrhnt; afl.iir as much in the Scolcli fashii n as pos- sibU', and their evenint;' refectio-n to unile tlie siihstantiahihty of the Ihielirih dinner, with the rtfri^hin-- (u.ahties of the tea table. l)etwei.n si.-i and seven is tin- hour which they in general rt'tu'i' from the labours of the day ; and as this was the tune the lodgers were now crowdius; in, every one carrying the eatables he intended to use, whiLh usually con- sist of half a i)(ain.d of bacon, (luartcr of a pound of butter, 38 THE DEKS OF LONDOX. a pennyworth of tea or coffee, with as much sugar. These are placed upon a half-quartern loaf, and carried in one hand j and, if eggs are in season, three or four may be seen clutched in the other. In London, and other large towns, these people, when their finances will ^permit, indulge in all the luxury of the cook-shop and the fiesher's stall ; but in country places, there is not such a variety, t!ie bacon — a red herring, and the ei ceieras, are mostly their choice. Among the people who now made their appearance, were certainly some two or three labourers, but the rest were all of that stam-p who scorn to live by the sweat of their brow. The frying pan was put into active motion. A couple, a man and his wife, — who by their appearance, no one would suppose that they ever partook of anything save crusts and scraps, filled the pan with nice mutton chops, by way of a relish to their bohea. Kggs and bacon, ham and eggs, ham, beef-steaks, (aye, of the prime runi]), too,) mutton chops, sausages, saveloys, &c,, &;"c., were all now with rapidity, and in their turn, soon smoking, fuming, and frying upon the fire, raising a smell almost powerful enough to satisfy the moderate cravings of a Frenchman's aj)petite. The whole of the food that we could perceive that had THE DENS OF LONDON. 39 been gathered from door to door, was one solitary plate of broken bread, whieli was before a broad-shouldered and able- bodied match Seller ; and even lie, before he would allow such refuse to take its descent down his gullet, took especial care to plaster well every piece with good fresh butter — washing the whole down v. ith an excellent cup of coffee. It niiyht have afforded a tine treat to the searcher after life and nianners, to have observed the rough and ragged scene that was n(jw before us. The kitchen at times was crowded to excess ; and, amid the clattering of plates, fuss of cook- ing, and confusion of t(jngues, men, women, and children, feasting, drinking, singing, and card-playing, while some two or three might be seen wiling awa\- the [)ainful effects (jf an empty pmket by a MJoiliing whill" from the favourite cutty, occasionally a half naked brute, in tlie siiaj)e of a man or a woman, would stagger in, their heads nodding on their shoulders, like the etjually sensible and oblivious looking p.ite of a Chmese figure in a grocer's wiodow ; and if there was space enough, would reel ;i step or two, and then measure their length u;)un the lloor, muttering sundry threatening souPids. These, of course, were soon picked up, and in their attem[)ts to phiy at a li RandalL had their arms c:u'efu!l\' pini('ni.d, tin u^ bodii..- jjlaeed \\\m\\ a seat, and laid 40 THE DENS OF LONDON. against the wall ; or, if there was room enough, were accom- modated with a stretch upon the form, to snooze themselves fresh again — dreaming of the sweets of gin, and the joys of a begging life. But perhaps a sketch or so of those strange beings, with a little of their interesting slang, will be the better way to describe such a group. By the bye, this is the place for character — the cadging house is the very spot for the pour- trayer of life, who wishes to lay claim to any thing like originality 3 — here Nature has her full scope, and affectation rarely shows her face. As we were sitting, noting the various particulars that were continually passing before our eyes, and as the Poet says, catching "the manners living as they rise," a thumping step was heard coming along the passage. The door opened, and a wooden-legged weather-beaten seaman, past the meri- dian, with a pot of beer in one hand and a bag in the other, showed his phiz. He was dressed in the usual sailor's garb, jncket and trousers, with a !)l;H'k handkerchief slung round Iiis neck, and a low-crowned ghized hat on his head. The immense breadth of liis shoulders, solidity of chest, with a neck like the " lord of the i)asture," gave him the weighty !)earing and bold front of an eighty-four, while his open. ;ilF, DEXS 0!' It\ND')\. bluiT, ;ind inaiilv countenance' at once pr.vcla.unei.l Jiu'j :o b' till' true nian-uf- war's man, and tar of old Knglnnd. Ja'.:k ^ >tnry is sr^on told ; — besides being a Kin:;; i reorge's Vl^.ta, Ik- had been a bold smn^^gler, and had his *;tarl>c?.rd leg c::rr;ed away in an aA'rav with, tb.e Custom s'larkh'. We were struck with something like admir.'tiun :.!: be- holding such a model of the favne.ritc cI:'S~j of tr.13 cour.try, and very naturally followed his motions, takmg :;n liitef^'st ;n every little r^ cuharit-, they being exactly whpt ha', e i^eer. represented by Snit.llett, and other naval s''et:;!v.'rs as tiio characteristics (;f a tar (7f the eld : .-hoe!. Jack thumped awn\- to a seat, clappi'd lii- ;!(,t of ',■;!■ ^po-i the table, and threw d .wn his h.at alor.gsid. Me ti',:) .tiy gravelv took out of his mouth a tt !erai>l'.' >':.■. A .jii:.; of tobacco, and. h iv in:;' salrlv de[iositc\t t:- 1. tre:. ■■:,/'■ 11 bds, jacket ])ocket, Sii:;, 'Jw d-'vL momi-nl, a t '..•-. '.t o! \ ;;-::, ;.= u juice Ix'lov.- the liai:-. '['iiesr pr 'Iir..;;:,;ries bring ov.r, !::■ [iroceeiled to reu'upagi' b-illi th.. Ci;ii'u ;■',:. if hi- b.;<', ; .ind among th'/ odds and mkIs, hauled out a s'.'bslantial ijiece of tlu' winj^- of an o\, and showed that Ins t ruiso had not been a bad one. With this goodly blunter of thi' k^ vn edge of lunigry appetite st-curcl}- clutclud in his fist, it m;;y be supposed that the jaLk-knife did not hig behind ; inthx;!. l-- !: ui c si ntly 42 THE DENS OF LONDON. enjoyed many a north-easter, for his appetite appeared to be of that sort which brooks no delay ; never once allowing hini to answer the many questions that were addressed to hiu"!, as " What cheer to-day, Jack r " &c., or so much as to give his grinders one moment's rest, save, and only then when he took a hearty pull at Messrs. Perkins r-md Co. T(:!K highlj'-re freshing task being over, he handed a por- ticii of h.is grub, and a draught of jyortc r, to a decenily- dre'-sed young p.ian, who had apparently nothing to chew, save his own thoughts. Then drawing from his pocket his old crony — the pipe, and stretching forth his tiniber toe, tj feci ;is it were at "iiome, commenced add'\ssing the young fellow as fol!.)\v's. And here let us remind the reader, that it will be inipoii^iuie for us to describe a dialogue among this class, which is of t!ie hnvest of the low, in the language of polished 5oc;L:ty ■ we will therefore, in lieu of tiie omphalic w(>rds with which they generally garnish tlieir conversation, use the delicate but meaning das'ies . '"' Harry," says the tar, " have you not been ait work to- d..v, tli:;t you look so devilish blue ? " (working, by the bye, is tlie h.on(>st won! used by those iionest people for begging, tht } )iavi;i(; ;'.s eoirtct an iil^a of uha.i is meant by respect- able levii ; ,^ I.e. ::■ ,.iore rt:si)ecLable fellow men). THE DKXS Or IJJXOON 43 " Work I Aye,"' repli'jd Harry, •"' I went ovt iliis morning with Williams. We worked all the way to P'.ccadilly, then down the Hayniarkct, along Pall Mall, and were, j'ast begin- ning with some ladies in the Park, when v,'e wvre .sto[iped by a policeman, and very nigh got lapped, ::v.d if 1 could raise heart to cadge any more." '■' Aye," cried J ick. " yon were always a Iv.r. h.eirted do:; ; but, howsoraever, I had a brush tc-day, ;rvsvl'" witli (jtve of tliuse k'.nd sharks. As I was crossing "-t, Martin'r^-lane, i sav,- a carriage fidl of kiJi^s ^umdingat a. •-":;'■) d'; ;r. Tp I ;;'j:nrped, a.nd \v:;s just about to doii my c ^:-a)r i !■;.•:). wlien a slap on the s'louki^-r, vdth " v.-h.:l do ) on •>:.:• t dii i\- '.' " niadu !!;..■ turn tcund ; aru! t!i:,'re I met tl'.e ugl,' r\;v._\ of a de\il in blue. ' What's t'lai :o yui; ; ' says 1. ' ^ ? , i iho-yit vou WL-r- gi'ing to beg.' ' D.d \(U!/ says I, ' o I 'i i.l, ] Aould have taken rare not l.> ha\e bi-en su(d! a. i > d, >, !■. !ct you SL-.- me.' ' WljIi, v'-.al, g^.) on, j^o ('et;llenian, ^ or else, b} I'll rejwrt you. The pobei^man laughed, ';:::! walked awny. leaving the swells ■JO '^L'i'ii: y(-u;.h, Vv'iiom v;e have before r.oucti-I ;is IjL'iiig partial to a d^(A'/^■^ life, nc^w [)ut in his word, a.nd g:\vc. Ids atlirmr.- tion a^. t(. the Kidiy of the police. IJis h.-!': as he called it, was bi-tv\t-( '5 ibe foot of Ludgate Iliii and Biackfriais I'.id;-!', ";;:!;'. '' idv.T the man who formerly loo]:.ed about for llie p.:.-.;;!'> th ''■■', r:or his predjcessor, ever once interrupted j'ioi in l-]< he!-' ;' :e riuleavours to collect peneC; although he <\:\'']y ea::..>'d in thf' v.iy face of the guardian of the public' til-: i)r.--s I'i L'j.xDON. It was now a.'.iniitr:! bv tlio wlu)le of the cumpanx' that f;n'v keep <;ft an) glaring annovance, and the police woLila never say yoa diJ wrong." •' Vv'elh ^Vcl!/' observed Jaek, '" i beueve, after aH, Lorulnn is >liil the j/.ace. I vv.is (.:e. e put in'o hntbo in ?\orlolk; I(n;ruvn d:\\s, fe.r siiiiplv asking a ecnik'm;in for a little money, anJ. ir.e. if the C!)n-^t:'.!)ieS t'fiere woiit't swear that (,ld l>./iz; bi.l) is \^h;L., Vejn^r tiian they will let a man clear. .\.n.! no'.v," said le., sliaking the ashes out of his pipe, '■ 1 must to veork onee m(jrc, e.v. 1 l;u:)V,-. At thi-i tlu;r. vee- a <:^ent.a\.' uuiveniij;;' ;;;nong the com - panv ; i ven the sh,/_::i:-d hun'-e'f raised uj) h; ^ hea\'\- him[^ of a liudy, as ;!: nvee^Mty had ju-t ; j\ m h;:n a c" eh — \'awned; and fumbh-d wiiii h:> iiands d-ait iu:> '.cad ,.nd l)i\a;-t. Kur be it knowi;, that tlv :-e raseduvii^g e^e'd,- :ei\a' as ^.ec.;: a ri'soeet ith, ..s Sir Andu'A- A. n;'W ! un^ed ; not that they e.a"c auvtliUi^ lir such a [dace as a eiiureli, but fur t'uat inherent ui.-dide whieli the \\'au[.: tribe have to ans'thiug in the shape of labour, and wliich induces them to make an extra pu.'-h (ii a Salurd.ay niy'iit, in order that thev ma.v enjoy the Smiduiy a.s a holida.y, v/itli tlie rest of the kibourine classes. It must hkew i-e net be forgotten., that the |)ol!c^ 40 'I HE UENS OF LONDON. are rather indulgent on a Saturday night, but more watchful on the Lord's day. " Where shall we stand ' " demanded a tape and thimble seller to a dealer in matches. '' Tottenham Court, ox Clare Market." " Clare Market, to be sure ! " answered the other ; and we %vill have a drop of rum at the new gin-shup. I had half a pint there this morning with Morgan, and it was prime." " Come, Blacksmith," (the name given to tl.'C fellow whom we had designated the sloth,) said a half-naked k;d, with a strong Irish accent, "Come, boy, come, v.'e must b' dodging.-' " Aye," replied his heavy crony, " I supj;ose we must. Have you got any brov/ns (pence) about yew. I'atUly ' " "Yes," said the Iiibernian, " i can slh.rud [\ r,uarth:r-;i.'' "Then, we'll go." And accordingly ihey prepared, the slu'^gard in a soldier's tfaunel jacket, and a tattered pair ot hrciks, which was all that he considered requisite for the WLather and his own particular profession. Paddy, a lean, p:;ie-f;iceu iai of cigli- teen, whose features bore tlie loc;k of emaciation, from the continual use of tobacco — the pipe or cjuid never b.iiig cun of his m(;i!th, save at meals, (a short b'iaek sLumi) ncAv THK DENS OF I.O? n ok-u>ek at :k. :ht, in l''--' v\ hidiest nt.'o'-; ';n iJlackfriars Dridiie. 4^ THE DENS OF LONDOX. CHAPTER Vr. A Q I; I E T S C E N E. The kitchen was now nearly empty. 'A candle in a brass candlestick was placed upon each table by the under deputy, which, with the help of a good fire, made the room feel some- what comfortable, and even cheerful. Some two or three individuals still continued to shuffle the cards j and as many women placed themselves by the fire, with their legs stretclied upon the forms, to smoke and beguile away the time, until "their men," as they termed them, would come back; while p^rliaps two or 'hree of the " swinish multitude '' might be heard snoring away their stimulus in a corner, in sounds both lout! and deep. On a Saturday evening, from tln^ hours of eight and nine, until I 1 even, every cadging house is in general particularly cjuict, for the reasons we have already stated ; none ever going (Hit to work on a Sunday (the sweepers of crossings. THK DEXS OF LONDON. 49 ( f , course, excepted), but those who are compelled from sheer necessity. The room for some time enjoyed a tolerable degree of stillness. I'he m.ister and an old female domestic occasion- ally entered, and made their exit. A loilger or so came home, and busied themselves in getting their refreshments. Two or three females dropi^ed in from the women's kitchen, just by the way of having a little gossip; and, as is usual with the angelic part of tlie creation, scandal was the topic; how that such a one had bei n "carrying on," as they pin^^sed it, all the week, getting drunk every day, and that they had never paid the landlord; and how that Air. .So-and-so was grumbling, as well he might ; and how that Tom W'hat- d'ye-call-him was going to be |)arted from Bet ^Vhat'sdle^- name ; "and, to tell the truth, no one pitied her; she came home mortal (insensibly iuloxieatet!) twice or thrice a day, and what man could stand that ? He had all but nuu-i.!ered her, the other night, but it was to no purpose; ft)r she had taken every rag he had, even the very shirt off his back, , iid put them u[) the spout (die pa\vn-s!i()[)) this very m;; iiing. But as for Tom himself, he was as soIh r wwA as d -cm a man as ever entered a lunise, rarely ever s..en t!ie Awrse f(^;- drink above twice or thrice a week, \'C., ^;c. \Vi:!i sacli 50 THE DENS OF LONDON. ladj-like discourse as this, then, did those paterns of excel- ling nature while away the time, not forgetting too, every now and then, to strengthen their language with a few powerful asseverations. From this interesting group, we turned to observe a few individuals staggering in, when a tall countryman, with his hat slouched over his ears, and one of those velvet shooting- jitkets, which we have before noticed, and which indeed is the flash coat of low life, following close after,'caught our attention. The sleeves of his jerkin were slit here and there, and the white shirt (the ouly one we had seen that night) protruding through the rents, gave it a good deal of the appearance of the slashed doublet ,of former days. As he advanced into the room, we soon recognised an old acquaintance in Harry , of ■ , in Yorkshire. Tiiis man who now stood bef jre us, is one of the many instances, that are to be met with in those dens, of the strange vicissitudes of life. His youth was reared in one of the first boarding schools in Yorkshire, and, for many years, he w;is well known at Doncaster market as a gentleman farmer; nor is it a great while ago, since this very man might be seen dashing along those streets in his one-horse cluiise. Eut, alas I what is he now ? v\. crawler from door THE DEXS OF LONDON. 5 I to door with matches, or, when he can raise sufficient pence to purchase a stock of ballads, may be seen standing in the streets, straining himself to amuse the rabble — the inmate of a cadging house, and the companion of the lowest of tlie low. So much, then, for gambling and a jovial life. Not- withstanding his education, and the good society in whicli lie must have moved, there was yet nothing of the remains of a gentleman about him ; a considerable share of the foul and profligate was naturally engrafted in his character. A large black mark, in die sha[)e of a half-moon, appeared to have been strongly indented by hard knuckles, below the left visual organ, — ornaments that are as frequently to be seen U[)on the inhabitants <^f St. Giles's, as rings are upon the vibiiors of St. James's. His ruliimlv country dress, clown- i:jh manners, broail ilialect of canny Ymkshire, with a cer- tain cunning cast of t!ie eye, — contracted no doubt by [Ber- ing througii the hedge, io see if the gamekee[)er was coi/u'n^, — {11 contriL'Uted to exhibit him betore us, as the ver_, Laii iiual of a poaclier. '•' York I York I " was voeiferati'd from different ji.'.r^s of the room, and to all of which t!ie ! itt, or rather the l);ra-ii, ansvveret!, with gi)od-hiiini)ured smdes. " He liad jest cime' in," lie said, " to sec if his mate was come hyeiii \et ; b.u 52 THE DEXS OF LONDOX. as he had not, he thought he could o-uess right weel v/here he wad be, and wad just step o'er to Brown's (ihe gin-shop) and see." Away he went, and, in about ten minutes time, a roaring, roistering party was heard comin:^ to the door. York entered, his arms loaded with eo-gs and bacon> and a glass or two the merrier. A Deaf-Burke-made fellow, an Irishman, half labourer and half beggar, who went under the name of Harlequin, reeled by his side in a state of high elevation, wiih two or three hangers-on, that trod close to their heels. Harlequin, filled wilh drink and overflowing with vanity, overwhelmed every one with noise and kindness. The plates, &c., were soon put in order, and York showed himself no dispicable cook. He made the tea, fried the eggs and bacon, and as if not to be outdone in loving kind- ness by his mate, now loudly proclaimed, " that if ony man was in want of summat to eat, to come forward ; for there was plenty for all. A man, who had been slee]Mng behind the table, roused hi[iiself up at the invitation, and cxj)ressed his willingness for a cup of tea. "Nay, I'll be if lliou shall," says York 5 " thou's l)i; II drii'.ik, lujii, fra night till morning, and fra morning till THE DENS OF LONDON". 53 niglu, thc^e ihri'c weeks j and I sny that a man that car; find incmey to drink, can find money lo eat. To get drunk," he said, turning to t!ie company, " iJie matter of twice or thrice a week, is a thing ih:'.t ony man is Hable to, anti I say that such a man is welcome to a cap of tea, anJ maybe siunmal to eat ; but to be always drink, drinking, I say again, tliat a ina.n who can find m(.noy to drinlv, can find money to eat, and so he shall not. have a drop ! During t!ie liiiier jt.irt (A this s,:eec!i, the spe, deer's looks were directed tow.ir;!s the company, to see if it met witl> tlieir appro!). iiiun. borne two or Lhne there w.re who drawled out that " it was ri_d'.: ; " but their assent S!.e;ned to be drawn from tlieni, more in exp.'ctatiou of the gocid things that Yv,rk wa^ ab-rat to gi\e awa'/, than from any real comci'.ience wiih his o[)in;on — even such caJging liousc morality as this, aj)peare(l to be too rigid for their notions of riglit and wrong. As for the man Ifnnself, whose drowsy and dissipated looks certainly presented ilie \ery picture of a sot, quietly swallowed the affront, and laid himself down again to sleep. I'he Yorkshireman, liowever, lind apparently set his own con:rchnce to re::t, ar.d seemed to c.ire very iittle about the 54 THE DENS OF LONDON. tranquillity of the other. He handed a piece of bacon to one, and a cup of tea to another; then thrusting a rasher ".nto his own mouth, much in the style of a terrier griping a rat, chewed, bolted, swallowed, and g"orged, until he had completely stuffed the inward man. There was a fine contrast of national character between the Yorkshireman and his mate. The Irishman was all puff, blarney, and brag, and all the time had been in a humour either to right or to shake hands. Nothing would serve him buit to play at cards with every one of the company, offering the most tremendous odds ; but, fortunately for him, there was not another purse-proud man in the room but himself. One poor fellow in particular, on whom he fastened, and who distinctly stated that he had no money, or else he would hazard a game. But this only served to set the Hibernian's froth in motion. He stormed, roused himself upon his legs, towered, and gave vent to a burst of blarney. " Now, d it," says York, " I dinna like that — I dlnua like it at all ; attack a man that has suminat, I say, and not one that has nought, and then that will luck viair liks a man ! " And with such liearty John Bull notions as these did canny Yorkshire browbeat his crony of the sister kini'dom. THE DEXS OF LONDON'. 5$ Some remarks were now made upon York's black eye, and various remedies proposed — such as the application of a piece of raw flesh, kc, to all of which the Bi/e did seriously incline, for, as he said, " It lucked scandalous-like to see a man with a black eye. But," says he, " Mike O'Brady maybe thinks he got clear of that ; but, ye hear me say, he's mistaken r 1 was the other day at Epscjm Races, and spent every ha'penny ; and as i was coming off the course I met Tom , (a fellow, from whcjse a[)pearance no one would suppose was worth two-[)ence, but who, in reality, was a partner of one of those gambling-tables which are carried to fairs and races), and asked him fc^r three-pence to get a pint of j't7/. He pulled out ten shillings, and said I mot hae the loan of five pounds ony day ; and when Doncaster races comes, I think I can raise other fifteen'" (and to show this was no vaunt, thrust his hand into his bosom, and pulled out a handfull of the sinews of war — shillings and half-crowns), " that will be twent\-, we'll make a match on it ; " and rais- ing his list and his voice together, ', we will then see which is the best man." At this a tremendous row was heard at the door. St. S6 THE DENS OF LONDON. Giles's was just beginning his orisons. Load shouts, hard blows, and deep oaths were heard, with cries for the police- man, and " Murder, murder," from powerful lungs. In a twinkling the kitchen was emptied, and then came the din of strife— struggling, heavy falls, swearing, the policeman's voice, and the roar of all parties. As soon as this animated but common :;ffair was over, tlie company returned ; the most of whom seemed to think it scarcely worthy of further notice j but not so with Harle- quin. The Irishman was outrageous — like the war-horse, his mettle was put in motion, he whooped and bellowed, and was all kicking for a row 3 threw off his jacket, dis- playing the upper part of his body in a state of nudity, and with his clenched hand slap[)ed his breast, which sounded like a board ; then sfriking out, right and left, two sun- burnt arms of bone, like Ossian's heroes of old, cleaving the air witli their arms for the coming fight swore that he had got one black eye, and by the Holy Mother Church and Daniel O'Connell, would not lay head upon pillow this very night until he got another. At last, after much coaxing, pulling, and hauling, he was dragged to a seat, and John Barleycorn finally over- THE DENS OF LONDON'. 57 came him, and d.livcTed him for a time safely into the arms of Morpheus. York sank down upon a seat, stretched his arms over t!ie table, buried his head betwcL-n them, and in an extremely short space of time, Old Tom gave notice tlrat he tix) was * •.^t :'ctii!_:; as an opiate upon canny Yorkshire. 58 THE DENS OF LONDON. CHAPTER VI. A LITTLE LITERARY CONVERSATION. Quietness was again restored. A group had gathered around the fire, to amuse themseh'es with a httle chat. Among which was an attorney's clerk out of place, in the last stage of sottishness and vagrancy; a drunken mechanic ; and a kind of decent itinerant, very pedagogue-like, an in- veterate reader of the Tivopenny Police Dispatch (the only paper the landlord took in), and a stout advocate of the Holy mother church and l^aniel O'Connell, the father of the people, as he styled him. A few ungentlemanly words were exchanged between this small politician and a staunch supporter of the JMiglish Church ; several topics were des- canted upon, among which was the character of Wellington and his campaigns. A short but lively description was given of the iKittle of N'ittoria, by an old soldier in ;i labourer's dress. THE DENS OF LONDON. SO Wellington, it was said, was not the man he was, or else the papers did not speak the truth : and, certainly, a few glaring facts were produced that they could, at least at times, make a mistake. This brought on a discussion about the management of newspapers. One talkative fellow maintained that one newspaper was but merely a copy of another; but this assertion was clearly set aside, and the duties of an I'ltlitor and Reporter nicely discriminated, by a very equivocal sort oi a gi7/!.';iiifi, in a great coat, whom we strongly sus[)ected was somewhat related to the Swell Mob. t-^=^T_j^-. nr 60 THK DEXS OF LONDO^:. CHAPIER VIII. THE GAMING TABLE. The cards had been in constant motion, — either two or three, or more, engaged with them during the whole of the evening. The card party was now augmented to about sixteen or eighteen, all plavers and betters, not one of whom could boast of such a tiling as a shirt, save the landlord, who at this moment presided as director in chief of the ceremonies, every deference being paid to the lord of the house, as " Master this,'' and '" Master that," and " Master the other." Twopence to fourpence was tiie sum which each put down at every stake, and it was astonishiPig to observe how rapidly ihe coins were transported from one pocket to another. '■' D It,'" says a match-seller, " there goes eighteen- THK DLNS OF LON1»0\. 6> pence. I brought in two shillings, I'll now not have enough left for my Sunday's dinner." All this was said with the most perfect good humour, and at the same time putting down the other stake. Occasionally one of those tiend-like looks, which are said tr. be so conspicious at the splendid hells, might be seen stealing even across this low swindling table. But, upon the whole^ the party was very sociable, winning' and losing tlieir money with the utmost ecjuanimity of temper. We ()!)served more tlian one put ilown th^-ir lust penny, and tiK-n light their psp^'S and wal'c out, puffing and. hun;- mini; awav, in search of mori-. >. vA-^A' 62 THE DENS OF LONDON. CHAPTER IX. AN U N D E R - D E r U T Y A STRANGE phenomenon about this time grinned in at th( door, his face all wrinkled with age and smiles, and an ex- tremely short pipe in his mor.th, wliich was no other than Ben, the under-deputy, a snub-nosed, hard-featured, squat old boy, with a horn lantern in his hand, to see if any body wanted to turn in (go to bed). As this individual is a fine specimen of the class to v/hich he belongs, a slight sketch, perhaps, may not be unnecessary. The deputies, we have before stated, are the men-servants of those establishments, they^ being better adapted as the waiters of these noisy houses than women. ]")en our present subject, had all his life been a roadsman, and lived, as the l)rofessional phrase goes, the best v. ay he could ; and now, THE DENS OF LONDON. 63 in his old days, when his legs had become rather heavy for a tramp, had secured to himself that comfortable retreat — - under-butler of the Beggar's Hall, He was well calculated to be the drudge of a common lodging house ; — laborious, dull, and good-natured, answering every call, with as much patience as Francis in Henry the Fourth, with his "Anon anon ! " He could sit up night and day — neither age nor tud seemed to have m'de much impression on his sinewy and hartlened frame ; indt-ed, to use the common saying, he was considered by all to be a durable slave. Besides these serviceable (jualities, Ik-n was considered a great favourite with the lodgers; was never known to utter a tesiy word, save aiul only tlien, when the 'hacco grew short 3 like the rest of his tribe, he was an eternal smoker. This misfortune however, in being short of N'irginia, was seldom (jf long duration, lie never kept that e\ent a secret; and, on such occasions, \\hat couKl any iionest-hearied cadger do, but ofli^r their [)ouch to the willing old lad '! T(j light llie lodgers to bed, was lieu .-> regidar task — from eleven at night lill three during the wck, and until four on the SuncLiv luorniug. -Vt I'l;^ '^-.liuui. us, nri;- or two who had become drowsy tlir'.yj^ii the powerful iiiliuence of the pipe or pot, rousetl 64 niE DENS OF LONDON. themselves upon their legs — stretched their arms out, and yawned, which was as much as to say, " they would follow/' Ben took the hint, and moved on with his lantern, like an ostler leading horses to the stable, to show to which house in the building, and to what room, they were to repose their precious selves. '^^^iz^^S:®.*^!:'^ S-^",'^^ Mil--, THE DENS OF LONDON. 65 CHAPTER X. THE R E T U R N ; — A N D A L I T T L E U N K N O W N. Thk kitchen was again getting crowded. The fire once more gave notice that it was busy with chops and steaks ; and as for the gambhng-table, it had literally become thronged. The bawlers of catch-penny papers, or " book- sellers," as they styled themselves, were now beginning to make their appearance, in parties of three or four ; every one having a copy of the news he had been so loudly proclaiming stuck in the front of his hat, with that awful word, " murder," printed in large letters as the head-line ; or the more melan- choly announcement of the dying speech of one John So-and- so. They busied themselves in arranging their papers and dividing the gains. We have before noticed that these people have partners or mates. A quarrel was now about to take place between a G6 THE DENS OF LONDON. publisher and his Co. The Co. swearing that the principal was going to put him in the hole (cheat him) ; but after a recasting up of accounts, business was at length amicably adjusted. These lung-labourers then threw away all further care for the night, and each sought after his own individual amusement — as smoking, eating, gambling, and larking. A singular being now entered the kitchen — one who would have afforded a line treat to such observers as Sir Walter and the American Irving — those accurate delineators of the human race. Such places as these, we have before observed, teem with originality ; they, in fact, run wild (if we may so use the expression) with character. The man, (for the creature was in masculine garb,) was between four and five feet high ; he was long armed, and one leg was rather longer than the other, which caused one of his shoulders to rise a little when he walked or stood, and which gave his shoulders, which were naturally broad, a very square appearance. He was dressed in one of those flash coats already described whose full make, too, by no means diminished his breadth. A kind of shawl crossed his neck, or rather bosom, for his neck, was bare, in a style as if arranged by the hand of a female j and underneath of which peeped two corners of his THE DEXS OF LONDON. C/ shirt. His features were of that kind, that carried precisely the expression of those of a masculine woman ; and when he spoke, it was a perfect puzzltj to the stranger, to know whether he heard the voice of a man or a woman. The creatare himself (as if conscious of those singularities) aflected a superior degree of manliness. Swaggered around the room, his hat half pulled over his bnnvs, and slouched a little on one side ; assuming the scowling look of a bully, and at times the flashy air of a gallant. He had a wife ; and, as if that was not enough for any man, likewise had a mistress ; and, to show that he was a professed admirer of the kind of Kve, took hold of his mistress when he entered with one hand, and waving the other above his head, sung " My love is like the red, red rose/' in a voice at once powerful and sweet. Then taking Ikt upon liis knee struck Up '' the light, the ligiit guitar," in a style so ix- qnisitely musical and rich, as fairly to disturb the card-tablr. and draw ftjrm the wliole company a thundering round of applause, with " Bravo, Bill I " He appeared to be a creature of gn-at spirit and \iv:!city ' dashed about, throwing himself intc; pugilistic attitu.i/^, and striking out, right and left, at his eronies, in s])ori''. e pi iv, using at the same time the true slang of hnv, blaekg'uird 68 THE DENS OF LONDON. life ; as, with great emphasis, ' I'll into you, your ■ pall ! " with a vast deal more of such high-toned language so appropriate for the gallant of a cadging house.* He fell a capering, singing ail the while with great animation, and beating time most elegantly with heel and toe, and giving vent to the fulness of his spirits in shouts, as " He hows," " the Cadger Lad," "A roving life for me," &c. ; and, catch- ing hold of his wench again, thrust his hand into his bosom — pulled out a handful of silver j swore, bravadoed, — squirted tobacco juice in the grate, and boasted of always being able to earn his ten shillings a day, and thought nothing of picking up a guinea in the same time at a race or fair, f * See Glossary at end, fThis portrait, with the whole of the work, was written, and given to the publisher of one of the first magazines of the day, in November 1834, and the following report appeared in the papers in February 1835, and which, we think, authenticates pretty clearly the correctness of our statement. The reader will perceive a likeness. IIATTON GARDEN. KXTHAOKDINAKY CASK A IIAN-WOMIN. A creature in Ib.e gar]) of a man, who at the station-house had given •he name of Bill Chupiii.ui, was placed at the bar with one Isabella THE DENS OF LONDON. 6cf This money-making man, it may be supposed, was a street singer; and was reported to be a native of that country Watson, and complained of for being a common cheat and impostor, and creating a disturbance. Oakley, inspector of the E division, stated that although the thing before them, that called itself Bill Chapman, was attired in man's apparel, he had ascertained that it was a woman. Mr. Bennett, who was very much surprised, looked steadfastly at the prisoner and asked her name. Prisoner ('-peaking in a rough manner.) " It is Mary Chapman." Mr. Bennett. " I never saw a llgure more like a man, and the voice is manly." Oakley. " I have known her at least ten years, and she always appeared in a dress similar to the one she now wears, namely, a hat, smock-frock, trousers, or knee-breeches, and until last night I always sujiposed her to be a man. .She is ktiown all over Kngland as a ballad" singer and a crier of ' The last dying speeches,' cVc." Mr. Bennett. " She may be a disonlerly and disreputable character, which, in fact, her dressing as a man clearly shows, but 1 know of no law to punisli lier for wearing male attire." Oakley. " Sh ■ ira\els the country with a woman named Isabella Watson, and they are botli known at every race-course and fair as ballad-singers, and considered (o be man and wife." Mr. liemiett. " She may ha\e more than one reason for dressing in that maimer, and passing as the hu^^band of the woman Watson, and I wish it was in my power to inijirison her." ( )akley. " for upwards of seven years she has occasionally lodged witli Watson, at .Mr. in ■ street, .St. (liles's, and they always passed as man and wife ; and, nioreo\ cr, Chapman smokes ; yO THE DENS CF LONDON. ' — the land of leeks and clieese ; that place where goats are said to abound — Wales. and whenever Watson gives her any offence, she beats her and blackens iher eyes, though Watson is so much taller and apparently stronger." Mr. Bennett. '• It is a very extraordinary case. What have you to ■Gay, prisoner ? " Prisoner. " Isabella has lived wish me as my companion for many years." Mr .Bennett. " Why do you dress as a man ? " Prisoner. " I own I am disguised, and it was owing to the cnielty of ■a father-in-law that I first dressed in this manner. I never did hann t o any person. I have been all over the kingdom, and never was in prison in my life before." Mr. Bennett. " Well I should advise you to be careful : if I could ■punish you, I would." Isabella Watson. " The poor fellow has been with me hundreds of 'miles as my companion, and he never got into a scrape before." Mr. Bennett. " It is a case that puzzcls me, but I must discharge the prisoner." The prisoner, who was chewing tobacco, then bowed his head, and walked out of the office with Isabella, who exc!;um,.u, '' Never mind, my ■ ad, if we live a hundred years it will be in this ii.'anncr.'' Watson is about five feet seven inches in height, with rather an intelli- gent countenance ; and Chapn-uin is not more than five feet high. Her hair is liglit brown, and cut short, the same as a man's; and she has the gait of a man, and looks like a costernionger. We agree with tliis account in every thing except the heiglit of the indi\i(luals. The reporter, we think, is a little man, who always sees inches tlirouuh a nuiL'uihcr. The num-woman is the heii/ht we ha\e THE DE\S OF LONDON, 71 The landlord opened the door, and gave orders for the card players to cease ; it was twelve o'clock. The gamblers were loth, but the master was peremptory. stated, or rather less, and his wife is five feet two inches, instead of five feet seven. It is curious but nc\ertheless a fact, that, althou<:;h this stranfje beinj; had loured tor a number of years at the house alluded to, it was never known it was a woman, thouj^h at the same time it was never suppcjaed that the creature was a man. 72 THE DENS OF LONDON, CHAPTER XL THE LIFE OF LOW LIFE; OR THE GLORIOUS FINISH OF THE WEEK. " Yes ! " snivelled a street-preacher and psalm singer, who could scarcely hold up his head for strong drink ; " we are now entering upon the Lord's day." " Aye," observed a spouting vagabond, " it is so, old Maw worm, and you had better go to bed. You know you have your part to perform to-morrow." *' Yes !" he answered, adding a little snuff to his other stimulants, and muttered something about " God willing." And now it was that the roar of revelry began — noise, disorder, and discord, all joined chorus. The players were let loose, and were giving vent to their different feelings, as ill or bad luck had attended them. The lodgers were nearly all returned, every man and woman more or less in liquor. The boys of the Emerald THE DEKS OF LOKDOX. 73 Isle were fast approaching to that state in which they are said to be in all their glory ; and nothing" was now seen or heard but singing, swearing, cooking, eating, smoking, talking, larking, and quarrelling. The first who broke the peace was a stout bare -footed fellow, a Welshman, who began beating his wife (a girl of the pair), for her excessive partiality for gin. " Are not you a pretty of a woman," he exclaimed, with a voice as grufi as a rutTian's could well be, " to call yourself a man's wife, to come home here, by , drunk, every night, while I am going about the streets all day long bawling myself hoarse ! " and at the conclusion of every sen- tence sent her a blow of weight enough to lower one of his mountain bulls. No one ever offered to interfere, alt'aougli ilv-. woiiiaii's face was already beginning to exhibit boiii blood .:iul luj' K^ , for, however th.at old right for a man tf) c^.!^li.-^.• li:-~ wife is repudiated in tlie other parts of society, i:i v :s 1= \\\u- \ vet in these walks of life, this ancient c^im'.-; ■■ '11 '■ ■!.'-;_ .. I Here a man is considered perfecily in the v\-( w I ■ i...;.''i 'v , strength of arm against his wife's sirengt'^ wf l "• •!■. The fellow hammered away at his helplfceding cl.n, or (aher\v:ns quii-tl) anuism.; theiuseh i s. The leniak's — the most of whom cohaLMl''d w ■.;'.! the m.nnow in the kitehen — were a miseellaneous set ; eadgrr^, llower- girlsj servants out of place — or of that tlass deni-niinaled unfortunate. Some, too, went out to ehar and wash, and all united to their several [)rofess!(jns tlu' niiviirge of the paff. One or two, about a twelvemonth ag\;, had been Mic k/ks of Regent-Street walk, but w'lose bl:}aled cheeks and tattered shawls now made tliem tit denizens for St. (riless go THE DENS OF LONDON. A stout, middle-aged, good-looking woman, who had once been cook and housekeeper in a gentleman's family, and who still retained something of the decency and respecta- bility of her former appearance, was now by misfortune reduced to be their associate. A few were young and hand- some, and, what would appear strange in such a place, even well dressed. There were t^to girls (^sisters) who were romping about with a young lad, certainly in rather an unboarding- school- like manner, ih;it particularly attracted our attention. They were both neat and clean, and genteel in their apparel. One of them, indeed, tnight be called beautiful. These girls had tlu'ee ways of nuikiiig a living. The first was that of sel- ling flowers 3 the second, begging as servants out of place ; the third, niul certainly tho best, was, to use their own phrase, " seeing geutleviien.'' It is a fact what we are going to suite, that one of these girls has been known to make as much as hve pounds a day — doubtless by the seeing profession and allhougli cadgers from their birth, and born and bred, as we m^y say, iu vice, jet it was but a few days before this, that we heard these young strumpets (for they deserve no 'oi'tcr n;:ine) abusing an unfortunate woman who lodged ; p '' . ''■'-■'■, -."^'nv' the most opprobrious language; and had THE DENS OF LONDO.S ^ (;• ; at the same time, the most, singular audac:t\ lu sl) Ic liuni- selves modest girls. Of the males, the most of them were young men whc; had once been in bettter circumstances, but \vh(; now were reduced to get their living by calling papers about the streets. A few fine characters might have been picked out amongst those prodigal sons, as they stood warming their backs, or grouped together in this Vagabond's Hall. There was an Anglo-German ; he w as very respectably dressed, only he had neither shoes or stockings, and thuugi'. of small stature, had a voice like thunder : he v/as oi course, considered a first-rate patterer (caller). Another, a mer- chant's clerk and active young man, and an txcelk-nt iniinie, but a Careless himself. The third, a Welshniar. ; inie who niight have caused a painter to halt — a nujJel ol strength ; '.n size and form like one of his own mcuiitain brii;;, v. ;L;-. a voice as hoarse as the winter's blast on Snowtuai. i k- u :!v a fine compound of ru^Hanism, slirewdne;-^; auil ;i sort oi caustic humour. The fourth and last, was a tall, gi-nu-vl young man, a draper, or, rather had been; hi' was still verv smart, although much out at elbows. H'- had a j>alr ol tine. 'large, showy, shar[)--j)ointed whiskers ; was o.ce-.Hlingly tCiui of hard words, and. in his speech- supLi'uie in l!'e i-iieine 92 TUK DEXS OF LONDOX. He had been highly chagrined that very night, at a person expressing surprise at seeing him at Cadger's Hall, he con- sidering that a man might make himself respectable where- ever he might be, always provided thaa he conducted himself with propriety 3 in short, maintaining to the very last, the shadow of his former consequence. 'l'\;r chuk chiiiicd 'Jie v/arniiig to the final hour. A >';.■ :,Kiu r ;;.,, :n, :-;ipporiinL', a man he had picked up in THIC DENS OK LO.\])ON. 93 t'u' streets ill tlie last stage of inebriation. Ben put out one of the lights, and gave notice that it was time to move. The hnuliord busied himself in rousing two or three slumberers by sundry shakes and pushes with his foot, — not, reader to go to bed. but to go out, — they being lodgers who, having" run out of coin and out of credit, were allowed for old acquainiance sake, to lie about the kitchen while it was open, b(U were invariably desired to depart at the lock- up hour. The poor wretches got up, buttoned their clothes about them, thrust their hands iiuij their bosoms, and shuffled out half a^,leep, a melancholy instance of the trials of the children of poverty and crime. The lodgers moved slowly off to bed^ one 1)V one : the ki'(.:hen was securely locked up, and the landlord then walked away, leaving drunkenness, misery and debai:chery about the door. i^,^^^ ^^^^^^i^^^y:-^ FLASH DICTIONARY. A. Anrw.s^, n hiuvil, tiic niiilrrss Above par, luiviiiL,' thi- needful, (if a ba'vVilykrti. pusseNMOii of ilic poncy, Ah!).ju's Triory, ihe King's i plenty of money, 'best bliss 1) ■!!( h Prison of .Mrth' Abrani Cove, a naked or poor Abrani men, fidlows dressing man, a sturdy bejggar in ibemselves in various rags, rjL's v>ld ri[)l)on, to\ tails, bet;- 96 FLASH PIRF.CTORY. ging in the streets, pre- tending to be mad, fellows who steal pocket books only Abram, to sham, to slum, to pretend sickness Academy, a bnjthel, bagnio Academican, a scholar at an academy, a whore at a bro- thel Academy, a floating, a hulk at Woolwich for convicts Ack ruffians, rogues who in conjunction with watermen sometimes rob and murder on the water Ack pirates, fresh water thieves who steal on navigable rivers Acting the deceitful, perform- ing, mumming, acting Adam, a henchman, an accom- plice Adam's ale, our first father's drink, water, ' best with brandy' Adam tiler, a receiver of stolen goods, a pickpocket, a fence Affair of honour, killing an innocent man in a duel All set, desperate fellows, ready for any kind of mis- chief Alderman in chains, turkey and sausages Alive, awake, fly, up, Icary, acfjuainted with All out, the reckoning drank out, 'How stands the ac- count 'twixt me and ven- geance ?' Ambidexter, one who snacks in gaming with both parties Amen curler, a parish clerk Anglers or starrers, an order of thieves who break show glasses in jeweller's windows to steal the goods Angling cove, a receiver of stolen goods Angelics, young unmarried ladies Anointed, knowing, ripe for mischief Arm props, crutches Arch rogue, the chief of a gang of thieves, or gypsies Arch doxey, the same among female canters or gypsies Astronomer, a star gazer, a horse that carries his head high As right as a trevit, the tippy all right A pig's whisper, a grunt, 'a word 'twixt you and me' Aunt, a bawd, sometimes called mother Autem, a church, meeting- house Autem cacklers, dissenters of all sects Autem bawler, a preacher, a parson Autem dippers, anabaptists Autem cackel tub, a meeting FLASH niCTIOXAin. hoiiSL- for cii^SL'iUcrs, a [)nl- . i]al:n, ;i lir pit i'> i-iil-).', :i bum-!);;:!. it Autcin (iisL-rs, [);ck()()ckets\vho practise in churches ; also churchwardens anJ overseers of the pour, who defraud, Bank, a depository for c.ioii .it a gaming-table Ikindv, a tanner, a 'iixpmce Ijanvan da.v, Saturil.i\', wp.eii de;ei\e, and ini[)()se on the th -re's no:'.;ng k-fl to eat piarish Banthng, a young child /\.uteni gogylers, conjuror^, Ikir that; cheese it, ^-to-.v ir, tortiKK- tellers Auteni inort, or mot, a \vo:nan (jf the same sect, a beggar, ,: prostitute don t mention it B-rbcr's clerks, c ignorant shopy-boys Ixirk, an Iri-lnn.in iiceited n .-, Sr:-i lilt, :) Aulem ipiLiver's tub, a quak^r's , i>arkT, a sale-m meetmg house piowK-r to p.ck up c...i:nir}- men in the stre: ts 1^- B;irking irons, -pisiols pjAUivS in llie wool, rogues ;n tiarnacK s, spect.u 1 s the stocks or pihory Battered l)ully. an ol.l lI'mI:, Bacon-faced, fidl faced ' wrll niilK d. liiiffin>; ie!! ,\v Baid-; slums, low iinfreipaented li.iAd., i prucures-, :•, uniu.in p.'.rts in the mrtropolis tii it keei)S a brothel B.idge coves, p\ir.sh pi-UMon'.r-^ 11 ■iter, on (i\ Badge, one burnt in the li.imi Be.ik, a ju-tiee > f the peac, i Ba lj,er, to cwnhn'.nd, [)er[dex, m iu'i^trai^' or i'a>e Beak, rum, a justice w !m wdl i>adg;a-s, i''ore->t.d!ers anel uiur- do anv thing fur miau-v derrrs lle.ik (pi./er, a m.!gi>trate that Bag the >''V ig. pocket }'oar is p.u ticurl.ilv strict to his p irii'ai, hid • \'our \'.'ii.ieK duty l)rostitut i shn, a coimuuii Be.dcs out c!i t';>' lU;-. ait on A (iv s;io - -irate: .) ■ arch Balhim r.'.n'iri'.m, a la p or a 1.- a dance, uliere the women are IS ■!' .ill pnv^titULeS Be ■< B.d^am, r.i^, rhm.,, ir.wuey Bi irm, traps ailer, 1 t^";\ !! r '■ a' : ■ 98 f'LASH DICTIONARY Beeswax, cheese Belch, inak hqiior Ben or S.ini. a raw, a novice Bean traps, genteel dressed sharpers, fortune hunters Beef, to alarm, to discover, to pursue Belly cheat, an apron, a pad Belly timber, food of all sorts J>elly-go-hster, a hard blow on the belly JnTu-, prime, good Iv ne cove, hearty fellow, a trump Bene bowse, good beer Bene of gibes, counterfeiters of passes Iv.no darnians, good night Bene fakers, counterfeiters Bender, a shilling Benjamin, a top coat, a great coat Beity, a small picklock ;5ever, an afternoon's luncneon letter half, an ironical name for a wife liiddy, a fowl, a capon, or chicken ; a young chicken Bilboa, a sword, or any pointed instrument Billing and cooing', the sexes humbugging one another ; courting Jjdk, t(j swindle, cheat Bing, to cut, go away J!ing-o, s[)irituous li(]uors BiU'^o i)ov, a male dram .iMuk.T ■ Bingo mot, a female tlrarn drmker Bit, money Big'uns, men of consequence Bit, taken in, duped Bit, (jueer, counterfeit money J^it cull, a coiner Bit smasher, an utterer of base coin Bit of cavalry, a knacker, a saddle horse Bit of muslin, aflame, a sweet- heart Bitch, to, to yield, to give up an attempt thro' fear Bitch, to, a character, or to perform anv thing badly Biting your name in, taking a large draught, diiuking greedily Blat), a priiting stuj)id fellow^ a fool Blab, to, to nose, to cliatter. to tell secrets Black bi^etles, the lower order of ]ieopie Black diamonds, coah", or coal heavers ])lack boy, a clergyman Black Indies, Newcastle Black strap, port wine Black box or knob, a lawyer Black spy, an informer Black act, act of jiicking locks Black cove dubl)er. a gaoler or turnkey Black-legs, sharpers, fellows who lay wafers, and alte'. il.Aill UICIIONAKV. losiii;^ cniunii p.iy iIkmii ; a i)'umk'rl)Liss, a stupiJ ignorant prnlr-~-ril g.l[u:)lrr 1)1. Ilk houses, j)ris()n^ fcUou- I>lant, lip, rag, inom'v Blank, frustrated, ball! -d . Boarding scliool, a house of Blarney, a u'ondertul story ' correction, or prison tlittery. .S\l Craniinon j Bob, a shilling Bleaters, lambs, shee[) j Bob, a shophfter's assistant IJleats, a sheep -tealer I B(jb-stick, a hog, a slullmg Bkak niot, a tair girl I Bobtail, a lewd woman, or iiieeder, a er iinmer, a lie \ prostitute ijlind, to, to chi-ai under a liobbery, a disturbanc •. a row preti nee iji.n.i ii.irj) -rs, it;n/r int vaga- iii iiids w;lh har[)s Bl.iiker, a ^n -.-yc ! lior-e I'll 'ek. iein.n\ , o>|;k;n, h -ad Bi-.ek h.-usev, pr,.,,!i. BlwW o;;t. a h ]\\ tell, an e\- ir.i.ordm ir\' lui d Bobbisli, tol lol, preit\' Well in health Bo 1\- bag, a shirt 1)0 !y sii.iichers, b.iihiis, police oliieers Boggy, kiddy, covey Bog trotters, lower ord.'r> of Irishmen >;ni''.M;g :i j)ipe Bogev, (dd Xick, llle devi! Blow i.::e g li), lo sj'ht, to t \- 1j lit the moon, to che it t!ie ;■• - . inh.rm landlord !)v taking" ihe good> i,.iw a ei(,u 't le- , eXpO'- away in tiie n:ghi, without HI. 'A m. i:,k'it, a ■--■rt ol 'our- jjivingthe rent ■A'- o iUi ; I-, If 1 don't Boll, i\;i, go, ma'.,e your■^. it fm ii- 'er-d. X. rum. l; ; M ,1 .,0 " '' ' lie,e\ -^ Will' -^ l!i,- top., ,.[ ho;,^ ehurelv'S l','. ..'■>. -,'■]-. to w !v;i . ie t Ik died, liopped ilk' lvIl:, slr.if- )W >p'.ril-, I'r ine. lo vl.e:il Ikine bo\, ih.e riv.mli ' V il . e:->, B i:r ■^e'.tir, a h u'kne-." co le i la ! Ir^.m !5 inneiier, a t!iii:,i:i (,n L hit .11 \ :s- im, a j dl\- .:. - for h !00 FLASH DICTIONARY. Booze, drink Boozy, drunk Boozing ken, n Uish crib, a sluictTv', alc-honso Bore, a tedious story, or a vexa- tious circu!!:istance Bjrdell, a bavydvken, house )f ill fam;' Bottle-i-eaJ stupid, void of sense Bou^'ht, ;in-, th'ng that's dearly paid for Bounce, to lie, to swagger B;junceable, proud, sauey Bower, the, Newgate Bowsprit, cork snorter, the nose Bow wow i;;irt(;n, cag mag, dog's l^.>sh, bad ilfloking meat I Bow wow broth., broth made of stin!;ing meat i Bow mam, a tiiii_ f ]3ox o'dondnos, mouth and teetli Box of ivory, the teeth Box Harrv, to go without \ leluals iioxed, loek.'cl up Boxing a Charley, upsetting a watchman in ids l)ox Bra els, miiuev l)iass, impudenee l-'>r:;eket tac-, devilish ugly ]''':\ iJ'.-S, buTlii'S I'rc id basket, the stomacli I'l-'ikuig .-.i'.ii!-; borr(r.ving Breeze, kicking up a, excititig a ci'.s'. uri),nice Brisket l)eat<'r, a Roman Ca- tholic Biick, a loaf Broads, carJs Brogue, Irish accent Broom, go, cut, be g;one Browns, copper coin Brown Bess, a soldier's fire- lock Brown suit, no go Brown gater droppings, heavy wet, heavy brown, beer Brush, or buy a brush, be off, make yourself scarce Brusher, a full glass Brushed off, run away Bab, guzzle, drink Bubble, to cheat, defraud ]^'dh, rum, good liquor j Bub, queer, bad liquor I Buff, to to swear falsely, to ! i)er3ure ! Buffer, a perjurer Biffer napper, dog stealer Bug to damage Buggaboes, sheriff's oflieers Buggy, a one-horse chaise Bugging, money taken by bailiffs not to arrest a i)ersoa Bull, a blunder Ikdl, crown piece Bull, half a crown piece I^uU dogs, pistols Bvalk, a fellow that attends a pickpocket, to receive stolen gooils KLASH MCTIONAK\. lOI l>n.h', ;i cowarilly blustering K'llo^v. prdcmk'i-l hu-b.md to ;i l)a\vcl or prostituu- I'mlly rcjck'^, iin[)iul'.'n: villians kept, to proi-rvi' oriL-r in housL's of ill fann- liiillv trap^, pi\'t(. lulrci consta- bU'S calKil to frighten tlic unwary and cxtoit money P'liin, a bailiiF l'>anrcl, arri'^tctl 1 UiiiCL' of il)Lr's mo it, a S(jual- liuL,'' c;hiK: in arms l)unce of live-, \]\c closed hand the ti^t lianch of onions, chain and seals J' alter, a low-life woman I laniliiiLrs, [);'tti(:oats Caiiger, a beggar, a ser inning cove, a mean sort of a tliief C ig nLig, stinking or bad meat C.ik •, an ea-^', siup;d tellow (J i:ne-sa. a sliirt or shi ft Canar\' birtl, the inmate of a pi'ison Cank, dumb, silenl C annister, Sih: P)loi;k Cant, muck religion, languag'^ i)i methodists Canter gloa.k, a parson, a liar Canting', language of thieves gypsies, beggars, .Src. Canting crew, impostors who go about preaching, metho- dist-, .^cc. C' iiitlide, a parish clerk ("aj), t<; to out do, to beat l'>ai^-eved, drunk, tipsy [ Caper merchant, a dancing rjurnm.;' tli'' ken, va^il)onds i mastc-r ri silling in an alehouse, and | C !|)t iin tober, ihst rate high-- leaviiiL; it without [> i) ing the ' wavanan reckoning ! Ca[)tain, luad of a gang, a bully I'uss, akiss 'Chaplain I'dashman, a bluster- Wiislle, ready money { ing ti How, a cowartt ])uster or burster, a loaf of ! Clipt lin cpieer Xaos, a dirty bread IVitton, a bad shilling fellow without shoes Captain >Siiarp, a cheat, a P)Utteruig up, [ir.iising, tlat- i bully lialtoek and tile, j)ickp()cket I money C'ar.ivan, g-reat (juantity of I'uzman, a pu:kpocket P)a/., a p;ckpockei l')\ e-blow, a l)astard C. l'\tiB\(ii;, tailors' pcr(jULsite; C irrion case, shirt and shift Carrion hunters, undertakers Castor, a tile, a hat (^ass, ch -e-e (^ast your skm, strii) nakevl lo: i'LAbil I)iCTIO\AI<\. Cat, a dnuiken, lighting pios- Cheese it, stow it, give over tituie ' drop it Cat's meat, tlie cc)n.stitLitijn,th_e Cheese ciuters, bandy legs body Chere amie, a bed fellow a Cat's meat shop, an eating > sweetheart houst- Chiekster, a flame, a prostitute Catastroijhe, behind, seat of ' Chink, rhino, rag, money j Chiv, a bleeder, a knife I Cliizzle, to gammon cheat lionour Catchpole, bailiff Catgut scraper, a violin [)!ayer I Chuff, jolly, merry Chum, a bedfellow, a conij)an- lon, fellow prisoner Chummy, or clergyman, a sweep Civil rig, a trick of the beggars to obtain by over civility Clean shirt da\ , Sunday Clankers, silver tankards Clapper dudgeon, a beggar born Claret, blood Cleaned, out mucked Iiavmg lost all )'our money Clench it, cornple:e the thing il,ns!i the business Clerk.'d, cheated, imposed upon ished with litth; chance of . Clicks iu tlie gob, tluunps iri C'lvd, to jaw, (juarrel Cavon, an old u ig, or jasey Chimmy, a shift Chaff, irritatiuj, or ironical language, to banter Chaffer, the mouth Chaffuig crib, a drinking room where bantering is carried on Chalk, advantage Chalks, the legs Chaut, a flash son^^ Chancery, head in, said in li 'iit- ing, of him wiiose heau is held fast under tiic ai'iu of his antagvrnist, and gets par.- extneatmg liimsLil, unless he Jloors his man (-'barley, a waichmam Charm, picdvlock Chats, lie: C.'iaLes, the gallows CliaA'-bacons, conuiryiu. ii, Ij'anipkins C'l; h-,, an im;i 'inar)' person ; tb.e mnutli Click, a knock tlown blow Chide rs, fetters CliciCman to.ij, a walc^i* ■■■ It w. lacf.-Il-n My .Mllc.l ,o fn, liiaii !;i P.i-<-,iii:> ihn le |i;!il i.Abii r)](;TioxAK\ Co.i!-bi)\, chorus ol a :-.)•!_■ C^link, to na.b, to sii.;lc]i Cl(h k.'v, a A atchiiiaii Cloy to .t.al (oy or oil-, a jHA'ki i C'laoh \vh- -1, a croWTi \y.LCc Cod, har.^i'luy i;iL-vl.ilin„ lo,,! C;k chafer, a la.iy Ijiril, a Conic cIo'aii, lo '.^ivo, ^La'.; |)ro-:;i :.ic treat C! 'i.k-r. ilruj) a: X'.-v.A;:.ta Com- (,iit. v/or-a taan \-ry Coin-e-miU, \vaL(Jinian > ra'tlo b u, rv-crabk- C'ck, a trua J), -woi K- Ca). a a:,l!ar C'o'j;)1c ro!:.-r. a tiwkvy C'ei;-, to el It Ml xsaili d\ix C'' aainiaiicaror, b. 11 Cbaik iho nw>o C.ll'r. : ■ a-, a). -nat(-. i' '■■.):\\ \A ilia-anc \i!va h Cio;iio. a l;! a--. (.1 Jn Colt, 'ai- v.'bo L i-^ borsi-i to Coraiili, a brotli liarb'A : '. iiv. ai C'eal-scatii-. a iarao b(.iiia t Ci'.ie, or (■, , :i. libini, iii.ai \ C>Tia;;il.T -.■■!, lU'inov C a-ai:hi on, laou ot r a'b C'.raa->. vw b- Iv ('oli.al r. a la^i xav r.aajcr C^aa-, li;- ii C ! viaa ai. li C Ka Kai; > !: noli or C r l.'':i\. ,)■ laa' la. 1 ri: 'ai ( '' auiiii-^:' ai. ,i -lurt Co:ii;n!--.lo:i, i'. ^ ; ike y,j;.r t sh Jv-- \ ., a- wao' Irani ■ ill a 1 Co.'-to; naai.,' r->, j .ck iss bov-,. \a niier. o.' ^rr. iis ,vc. , i'-'\- : or anwa, a Ul!:a.v Cove, areo iv.': - f Mohai ;;--.. b: ( '■ V' s> ,,[■ a kea. a f^analo k .,er el a la-, lb '1 . Co\ e, Iraiii) r, a p i-. i:i tlia.t ke ; . : p'ae . t,,r ihieve. ■ C^.Aer nu- 'led nt, :. loj) t,e:-, a • ^ i;reai roat (-'e\ er ine jMoj. rba I'a'-alonaijla 1 l^.-;ery ^ C,,\. r ir.e (|aeerl\, iviai^^J ' r a.ae. nl v'' ' aa-aa; d, a uaaiii) , C-aMiin,-aani.e, \i-.. hai .'^ 1 04 FLASH DIC Drap, a drop Dinnnot:k, money Draw it mi!'i, i';iaitiv Diuiber, hanelM)UU' ;;;■( f,\ ' Draw laichts, robbers of Dimber tiaiuber, th.', kmg ot i houses the canting (lew Dra wi rs, s'.oekinus Dimber co\e, a })rrtty cove, or Drawmg a cork, giving a frllow l)l()(jdy lio^i" ])imber mot, an enelianting : Drauinga thimble, [)ieking a pocket of a watch Ding, to throw away Ding boy, a rogut', knave, o sly foilou k)mgfr, a pickpockot, or tlue .1 )ij)per, anaoaptists Dock sai'drr, a skulk m anj >ly 1)1. ice jJoctors, false dice Dia\sing a wijHr, picking .i pocket of a h.ni il.i rrhiot 1 )v:\\\\\\ : ! 1 , ; ).. . I.'iaig i Ivmg st(a ; ^'.r . ..': io6 FLASH DICTIONARY. houses to cheat unwary countrymen at cards Droppings, heavy wet, heer Dab. a key TH.'j the jigger, fasten tlie door Dubber, a picker of locks Duds, togs, clothes Duds cheer, ragged, poor Duffers, swindlers, who go about with articles pretend- ing they are smuggled and to sell them at an apparently cheap rate l)ummy, a stupid fellow, one who has nothing to say for himself Duke of limbs, a deformed person Dunnaken, if it be necessary to explain the word, a privy Dupe, a victim to artitice and misrepresentation Durance vile, prison Dutch reckoning, bad reckon- ing Y^c-x, n-i')nc'P--, aNo money pawl ci! 1 rivi lii'j, liUo nnv traiie < r cdliiig amo^.;;>t mechanics Folk, a pock t Forh it out, to produce .my- ihiug by tlu h:uia Forks, fore a;iil iniddK' fingers Frc>h water bay, F'kel-auirket Frisk, mischief lOS FLASH DICTIONARY. Frontispiece, the face Frovv, a prostitute Frammag''d, choked, orhang'd Frumper, sturdy blade Fudge, gammon Fuller's earth, gin Fumbles, gloves Funk, stew, to fret P'unk, to cheat, alarm, to smoke, stink Funkcrs, tlie very lowest order of thieves G. Gab, the mouth Gaff, a fair Gaffing, tossing with the pie man Gag high, on the whisper, nosing, telling secrets Gag low, the last degree of beggary ; to ask alms in the streets with a pretended broken limb Gage, a quart pot Giiggler's coach, a hurdel Gaiters ; blacklegs, gamblers Galligaskins, breeches Gams, the legs Game, courag(?ons, sturdy, hearty, hardened Gaiuinon, falsehood or bom- bast Gammoners, cheats, swindlers (-^.:n, the mouth Ga]ie seed, anything that attracts the si^ht Garnish, money demanded of people entering into prison Gay tyke boys, dog fanciers Gee, suitable ; that won't gee, won't do Gelter, money Gentry cove a gentleman Gentry ken, a gentleman's house George, yellow, a guinea George, a half crown piece Gig, fun, nonsense, ready, on tho alert Gill, a cove, fellow Gills, cheeks Gin spinner, proprietor of a gin shop Grinny, an instrument to lift up a grate, in order to steal \-A\?x articles are in the win- dow Giving turnips, to cut acquaint- ance, to shun any body Glazier, one that breaks win- dows and show glasses in order to steal goods exposed for sale Glibe, a writing Glim, the candle, or light Glims, peepers, eyes Glims flashy, a person in a passsion Glim Jack, a link Glimstick, a candlestick Glim fenders, hand irons Gloak, a man Glue, the lady's fever, venereal disease [•LA*5ll DICTIOXAKV. 109 Onosucs, knowing ones ( u) it, ki-ep on Cro slow, draw it mild, ensv (jo bs', to rist' by superior force turn the tables, against you Gob stick, a silver table si)oon God permit, a stage coach Goiri-;Ies. the es'es Goldtinch, yellovv boy, gold coin Gone to pot, become poor in circumstances, g.jue U) t!ie ilogs Go(jse, to, to hiss like a goose Goth, A, a fool an idiot Grabb, >;natcl; Grab the bit, to Sjize the money Grabbed, taken, or appre- hi.ndod Grand strut. Rotten Row, B. le Graniuim gold, (dd hoarded coin Gravel digger, a sharj) toed dancer (Jravcl tax, money robbed from people on the highway (rrease, money Greek, St. Giles's, slang lan- giiag.' Greek ;, gamblers, blacklegs ( ii\i n l)a<_;. law\tT ( ir.en, rau , iHilearned ( iieL-nhi.ni, a sponge, a vaw, couiiir} man Grig, merry ft-llow, m.'rry csU.yan :;iei!iodist Hog grunter, a clo'^c ri'^ted i luin, to humbug, deceive narrow-soulcd, mean ftl'iiw Hums, [)i.-uple ai church Hoisters, shop htu-rs, tellows llinnpiy tlumiJly, bcjiled ale who go inu) sliops, and and l)randy untlerthe prfU-nc>' ot buying Hunting, d.rawmg unwary [)eo- goods, generally ccniceal pie to play somr articl. under the Hush still, (juiel s!e 'Vrs o!" th;' coar, m'/.>-tl} Hu^h money, iiioriev given to Ir (juenting j' welLr's sho;;s com[)ounvi felony Hoisu'i mi'i^, w.itufn w!u) go Huskcy lour, a guinea, ^H)ld ini ) s'Mjis an i steal some com ^mall aruel' dv lantl, St. Criles's, frtmi i\ i)K K, the lace I 12 FLASH DICriOXARV. Ignoramus, a stupid , fellow a novice Inexpressible?, breeches Ingle boxes, jacks tipped with silver and hang with bells Ingler, horse dealer of bad character Interlopers, lazy fellows who are dependent on the gene- rosity of their friends for support Irish apricots, potatoes Irish evidence, false witness Irish legs, thick legs Iron doublet, a parson Iron, money Itch land, Scotland Ivories, the teeth J- Jack, a farthing Jack Adams, a muff, stupid fellow Jack at a pinch, a hackney parson Jack in the box, a sharper, a cheat Jack cove, a sloven, dirty fel- low Jack-a-dandy, a httle imperti- nent fellow Jack pudding, merry Andrew, a clown Jac:ken closer, a seal J;iCv)b, a ladder, Jacobites, sham or collar shirts Jackruni, a license [uv marriage )am, gold ring Jarvey, hackney coachman Jasey, a wig- Jaw, abusive language Jehu, a coachman Jemmy, tw(;penny, head Jenny, a pick-lock Jet, a lawyer Jet Autem, a parson Jew, an over-reaching fellow Jig, a trick Jigger, a door, bolt, or private still Job, guinea Jobber knot, a tall stupid fel- low Jock gagger, fellows who live on the prostitution of their wives, &c. Joe, an imaginary person, nobody; as. Who do those thing's belong to r Joe Jolter head, a heavy dull blus- tering landlord Jones's, Mrs., the coffee house, privy K. Kate, a picklock Keep up the ball, to live and be jolly Keep the line, to, to behave with decorum Ken, a cribb, room Ken-cracker, house breaker Ken Jjowman, a well furnished house Ken, flash, a house where thieves and vagrants resort I'LASH DICTIONARY. I n Ken miller, house breaker Kick, sixpence Kick, to borrow money, to ask a favour Kick the bucket, to expire Kicksies, breeches Kid, a fellow thief Kiddies, flash fellows Kid lays, villiaiis who defraud boys of their parcels and ^oods Kiddiess, a slap up well-dressed girl Kid with, pregnant Kid-na[)[iers, fellows who steal children, and decoy country- men and strangers in the street, to rob them ; also recruiting crimps Kidwy, a thief's child Kill devil, new rum, from its pernicious quality Kinchin, a young child Kimbau, to defraud, cheat King's mots, female children carried on the l)ael.s of strollers and beLig.irs to excite ihe [)itv ot tile public Kino's [)ictiire., kui^'"> h^ad on gold c(.in Kir.chin C(i\es, filltjws who steal cluldrc-n lor g\-nsie>, buggars, AC. Idiaeker, an olu good tor no- thing horse i\nite it, stow it, be (juit t Knight, a po(jr silly lednw Knight of the awl, a si'.ob, cobbler Knight of the hod, a brick- layer's labourer Knight of the road, a highway- man Knight of the brush and moon, a drunken fellow- Knight of the pt>st, a p-rjurer, false swearers, fellows eu";- plo\ed to givt; false evidence Knight of the blade, a bully- ing sham c,![)tain, a brag- gadocia Knights of the rainbow, waiters, footineii, l_ic(jue\s Knowledge box, the jemmy, head Knuckles, i)iek[)oekets Knuckle dabs, reirlcs Ky-bosh on, to pst the. to turn the tables on any jierscn, t(j put out of countenance Laoy-i;iri), a sweetheart, bi\!- lellow Laced ^voman, a virtuous female l.aiy s man, an obsequanis L Uow to feinaKs I/ailv in mourning, liottentot girl Lag, to transport i .:iL;_;ed, tran-;-,orted l.a.g' r a p.i ■ :i \v< rkmi; on tue uaur 114 FLASH DICTIONARY, L'lme ducks, defaulters at the Stock Exchange Lambskin men, the judges Lantern, dark, a servant or agent that receives a bribe to conceal a robbery Lap, butter-milk, whey Lap, rum, good liquor Lap feeder, a spoon Lapping your congou, drinking your tea Lark, a bit of mischief, fun Leading strings, the control of friends Leery, fly, up, acquainted Leerers, the eyes Left, over the, no go, it won't do Leg- bail, running away Leg o'mutton sleeves, large sleeves worn by the ladies Levanters, persons who run away from their debts of honour Lib, to live together Lib ken, lodging house Libbege, a bed Lifter, a robber of shops Lighting a candle, sneaking out of a public house with- I out paying the reck(;ning | I/i!^dit blue, gin i Lightning, gin ! Li<_'htning, a noggen of, a j (juartern of gin [ Lightments, the day Lil, a pocket book Lily white, a snowball, a black, a chimney sweep Limbo, prison Line, getting into a, confusing a person, imposing on any body's belief by joking Lingo, slang, language Link it, turn it out Li pish, saucy List, or Loist, shop-lifting, rob- bing a shop Little Barbary, Wapjiing Little shillings, love money Lively kid, a funny fellow, a brave man Loap'd, run away Lob, money till LoD, nn easy foolisli fellow Lob lolly, a queer cooked mess Lob's pound, a prison Lobsteis, soldiers Lock, a warehouse for the reception of stolen goods Lock, rum, being in good health j rich, clever, expert Locksmith's daughter, key Loge, a watch Ijocjse house, louml lu)use or cage Lord, a deformetl hump-bac- kfd person Lour, money Low-water mark, having little moiiey I^ugs, or listeners, the ears Lully, wet linen l>ullaby cheat, an infant FLASH DICTIONARY. ' 15 Lully priggers, the lowest order oi thieves, \v .0 decoy children to some bye phice and rob them of their clothes Lully snow priizging, stealing Wet linen from hedges Lumber ken, a pawnbroker's shop Lumber the ticker, to pawn a watch Lurch, in the, to he left behind, U) sneak, to hang on Lush cribs, sluicery's, gin sho[)s Lush, drink Ln!?h ken, au alehouse Lushingtons, drunkanls M. ^fACE, to rob, steal Maekrv, the country Mad Toms of Betilain, feihnvs who counterfeit madness in the streets, antl after bi-ating themselves ai;out, spit out some blood, in order to con- vince the too fceluig mul- titude that thev have injured themselves by violent strug- gles, and so obtain relief : they have a small bladder of sheep's blooil in their mouth and when they clujose can discharge it. Made, stolen Mag, halfpenny Make, to, stial Malty coves, beer drinkers Mary-le-bone kick, a kick in the belly ^Larrowbones, the knees Mat macers, fellows and old women who go round in a morning when the servants are cleaning the doorways and steal the mats, &c. ^Liunder, beggar ^Lu^ndering, begging Mauns, tip us your, give me your hand Mawley, the fist Mawmouth, one that S[)luticrs in his talk Max, gin Mazzard, the head Mest, to spend Middle-piece, the stomach Mill, thum[), fight Mdl the glaze, breaking win- dows or lam[)s Mill the ken, break o[)en the house Mill his nob, break his hca 1 Mill clapper, a woman's toogiie Mdldoll, to beat lu'in,) in Ikidewell Miller, a boxer Missing, courting ; to be gone ' or away ; Missloii[)er, a ccxit and petli- I coat ' Mizzle, go, begone Moabites, bailiffs and their crew Moi', a lie ii6 FLASH DICTIOXAKY. Moisten your chaffer, drink Monish, tip us the, give me the money Monkey up, being in a violent passion Mopus, a halfpenny Moon CLirsers, link boys Moonshine, nonsense, flum- mery Morriss off, to run away Mother, a name for the keeper of a brothel Mother's milk, rum, boose, good liquor Mots, cj'prians, whores Mount, to give false evidence Mounter, a common perjurer, villians who give false evi- dence and become bail for fellows of their own stamp Mouth, a stupid fellow, a nov- ice Move, an incident, nn action in life IMowcr, a cow Much, ir.oney Mii.ck, 10, to clean out, to win all a person's money MuckM, lost all at play, no money left Mud pipes, thick boots Mu;T, a raw, a silly fellow iMi:}hers, sparring gloves ?v! ug. tlie face Mugs, cutting of, making faces Muliygrubs, the b.'lly ache M uiiiuit. r, Ir.e luniilli Mu!nni(.r>, Mrulling players. mounteback speakers, gyp- sies, and beggars who tell pitiful stories to excite com- passion Muns, mouth Mumbling cove, a sturdy ill- natured landlord, shabby fel- low Murphies, potatoes Muzzle, the mouth N. Nab, to steal Nabb'd, taken Nail, to lay hold Natty lads, young thieves Nash, to bolt, to run away N. edful, money Never wag, man of war, the Fleet Prison Neat thing good liquor Nab, a hat Nabs, a person to either sex ; a familiar way of talking j as, How are you my Nabs Nob the bib, to cry and wipe the eyes Nab the rust, to receive the money Nab the noge, to receive a guinea Nab the clout, steal a hand- k'Tchief Nab the cramp, having sen- tence of death passed Nab tile bung, to receive a ])urse Nask, a prison M,ASH DIC'HOXAKV. X,!i)])LT, or Xad>, a slice [istcaler Xapjvjr, the hod Ne'er a face but his own, not a farthing' in his pocket Xewhcks, or Xoohicks, a per- son not known, an imagin- ary beini;, said to be a kin to Joe, Cheeks, &:c Nibble, thieve, steal Nicks, nothing Nini, to steal Ninnner, a thief of the lowest order Xii;>;ers, fellows who clip and tile gol J c..v who fellow j receives poundage for pro- Pike off, run away i curing cu^t(Jmers for dam- Pinch, to steal money under • aged goods pretence sf getting change, Prad, a horse See Ringing tlu' changes Prancers, hcjrses Pimple, the iiead I^rate. roa>t, a hjtjuacious fel- Pinks of fasliion, dashing fel- I low lows ; Pratt, buttocks Pins, the <:;ams, K-gs 1 Pricking in the wicker for a Pi[)pin, funny fellow, friendly j dol[)hin, stealing bread from way of expressing otie's self ' a baker's basket as' How are you, my Pi[)- Prigs, thieves, pick[)oc'i.ets pin r' ' Prime tw'g'. liigh C(jndition Planket, c(;ncealed ; Prog, \;ciuals Pockets, t(j let, em[)ty pockets, ! Prog, rum, good victuals no money ; Prog, (jueer, bad victuals Point non plus, ni ither money Pro[)eny, an easy fellow, a nor credit j t fun, to chaff, joke l pnrp' se, a cat'.s paw Poke, a baLT, or sack j Pr'neiider, a |)i'rson from Peker, a sword J whom any mone}' is taken cjn Pi iiey. money, ^'5 ) I the high r(;ad Pi)p. to ple(l>^e or piwn 1 Pudding house, the Workhouse Poplers me.-.s of potu.ge Pull, having the advantage over Poppers, pistols I an adversary Potato, ilrop it like a, to dro[) Pull out^ come it strong' any thing suddenly 1 Punch, a blow P itato traj), the muuth ' Punish, to beat in tigluin'^ Potato, red liot, tak-' a, a werd Punishef, one who beats l)y u ay ol sdencang a per-( n, soundly a Word of coiUemiJt Pupil's strai:s, sch(;ol tuiti(jn 120 FLASH DICTIONARY. Purgatory, trouble, perplexity Purl, royal, ale and gin made warm Purse, a sack Put, a country fellow, silly, foolish Putty and soap, bread & cheese Q. QuARROMS, a body Queer, base, doubtful, good for nothing, bad Queer bit makers, coiners Queer buffer, sharp inn keeper Queer street, to be in, in a quandary Queer cove, a rogue, villain Queer ogles, squinting eyes Queer patter, foreign talk Queer rotar, a bad ill looking coach Queer rag, ill-looking money, base coin Queer blowing, ugly weneh Queer gill, suspicious fellow j Queer plungers, fellows who pretended to be drowned Queer cole makers, coiners of bad money Queer lap, bad licjuor Queer beak, strict justice, up- right judge I Queer rag, bad farthing i Queer bit, counterfeit money Queer lully, deformed child Queer tats, false dice Queer vinegar, worn out woman's clcKik Queer belch, sour beer Queer cove, a turnkey Queer bid, insolvent shirpers who make a ])ractice of b ,il- ing persons arrested Queer cat lap, bad tea Queer chum, a suspicious companion Queer pops, bad pistols Queer put, an ill-looking fool- ish fellow Queer thimble, good for no- thing watch Queer hen, a bad woman Quota, whack, share Quod cull, a goal keeper Quail pipe, woman's tongue Queer prad, broken knee'd horse Queer lambs, bad dice Queer Nantz, bad brandy Queer nicks, breeches worn out Quesr dogen, rusty sword Queer buffer, a cur Queer harmen beak, a strict beadle Queer gum, outlandish talk Queer glim, a bad light Queer ken, a gentleman's house without the furniture Queer tloxy, a clumsy woinau Queer booze, bad beer Queer amen curler, a drunken parish clerk Qui tam, a shark, lawyer Qui vii'c, on the alert, in ex- pectation Quid, a goldfinch, sovereign FLASH DICTIONARY. I2l Quiz, a (]accr on^, a gig, an aboriginal Quod, prison R. Radical, Hunt's breakfast powder, roasted corn Rag, money ; I've no rag", meaning I've no notes Rag, blow up, rap out, scold Rainbow, a tailor's pattern book Rainbows, gay young bucks Rain napper, an umbrella Rap, I'm not worth a rap, I've , got no money Rap, give evidence, take false ■' oath Rap out, to year, blow up, be ' in a passion Rat, drunken man or woman I taken in custody for break- ' ing the lamps Rattling cove, a hackney coach man Rattling gloak, a simple easy fellow Rattling mumpers, beggars who ph' coiiche^ Ready, money Ktader, a jiocket-book Red rag, tlie tongue Red rag, give your, a holiday, hold \'' iir U)'ig;'.<> Red i.aj'e, (.Jo^iii.ic, l)r:uuly Ke_,ulai", in proper Cirif-e l\eguiar>, [>erson.s liius called trom their leaving parties of pleasure at eleven ov tudve I o'clock at night, to the no small discomforture of many an out-and-outer I Regent, half a sovereign Resurrection men, fellows who steal dead bodies from the church yard for the surgeons Rhino, grease, money Ribbon, money Ridge, gold outside of a v.'atch or other article Ridge cove, a wealthy gold- smith RitT raff, black beetles, the lower order of people Rig, fun, game, diversion Rig out, a suit of clothes Rig conoblin, cutting the string of large coals hanging at the door of coal sheds Rigging, clothing Right and tly, complete Ring, to exchange one article for another Rise, a, a disturbance Rivertick, tradesmans books Kivits, nuniey Roger, a portn'.anteau Rooled u[), jjut in a spunging' house Romoners, fellows pretentling to be accjuainted with the occult ^cieMces. h)rLune tel- Uome \\\\\ 1, . :--':;! R(i(iker\, an ill turnished ho!i'--i! Roses, lujbiliiv Rotau, a coach 122 FLASH DICTIONARY. Rum glimmer, head of the link boy Rum bodick, dirty shabby fellow Rnni b'ik, sensible justice Rum doxy, fine made wench Rum drawers, silk stockings Rum gloak, well dressed man Rum Nantz, good brandy Rum ghelt, or rum cole, new money Rum squeeze, wine or other liquor given to fiddlers Rum prancer, fine horse Rum rufe peck, Westphalia ham Rum prad, a highwayman's horse Rum duke, queer old fellow, rich man Rum gill, a man who appears to have plenty of money Rum rush, a number of vil- lians rushing into a house in order to rob it Rum gutters, cape wine Rum quid, good guinea Rum chaunt, good song Rum booze, good wine, or any liquor Rum buffer, valuable dog Rum cly, a full pocket Rum feeder, large silver table spoon Rum gaggers, cheats who tell wonderful storicb of theirf sufferings at sea, in order to oblain money Rot gut, swankey, small beer Row, disturbance, ' and in the ken to breed a row, Roysters, noisy, turbulent fel- lows, rude vile singers Roundyken, the watchhouse Rumpus, a scuffle Rub, an obstacle in the way, to run away, to make ofi Rub out, when its dry, all right when its forgotten Ruffman, any person who handles a thief roughly ; the wood, hedges Rugg, all right and safe Rug carrier, an ensign Rum blowing, a handsome girl Rum hopper, a waiter at a tavern Rum mot, a woman of the town Rum bob, a shop till Rum peepers, fine looking glasses, or bright eyes Rum speaker, good booty Rum job or rum dagen, a handsome sword Rum quids, guineas Rum, pad, the high road Rum maundy, fellows who counterfeit the fool, going about the streets in order to obtain charity Rum kicks, breeches Rum file, or rum diver, a fe- male pickpocket FLASH DICTIONARY. 12^ Rum dropper, a vintner Rum cove, good natured land- lord Rum fun, sharp trick Rum bung, full purse Rum bow, rope stolen from any of the king's dock-yards Rum clout, handkerchief Rum bluffer, a jolly host Rum bleating cheat, a fat sheep Rum back, good natured Irish- man Rum barking irons, prime pis- tols Rum dumber, good natured prince of the canting crew Rum quod cull, a goaler Rum, or monogin, good, the most valuable of any thing jewels, diamonds Rum'un, a trump, a good fel- low Rum ti tuin willi the chill off, good, slab up, the ti[)py, excellent Ryder, a cloak Sack, a pocket Sack, lo, to take up Sam, a foolish fellow, an idiot Sam, to stand, to ])ay fur all Sangaree, rack punch Sans jirisado, a person who comes into company without any money Saving one's bacon, to esc;ipc ' with a whole skin, to evade i any accident : Seedy, poor, miserable looking i without money I Scamp, a thief I Setter, persons using the haunts of th.ieves in order to give information for tlie i reward I Seven-pence, to stand, to suf- I fer seven years transporta- I tion ; Sew up the sees , to give a person two black eyes ; Scandal broth, tea I Scan»p foot, a street robber ! Scent box, the nose School butter, u' hipping Scot, a savage person Scotch iidtlle, itcli Scottish, savage, wild, chag- rined Score, a debt, fine Scout, a w.atehman or beadle Screwbado, a dirty fellow, in- signiticant Scroof, to go about living with friends at their exjiense Scran, victuals Scrap, a villainous scheme Screw, a miser Screw loose, a (jUTrel helweeu two individuals, soinethiiig wrong HI a man's aft.iirs Screi'H, a jjound note Sli.irps, persons ready to take you in on all occasions Shake a t L'nrif^ged, stripped of money and clothes Up, acquainted with the con- versation of the company, apprised of any transaction Up to slum, humbug or gam- mon Up the spout, articles at the pawnbrokers Up the flue, being in trouble, on the pot Upper Benjamin, an upper coat Upright, ale-house pots V. Vamp, to pledge any article Vampcrs, stockings Vhite, gin Velvet, the tongue Velvet, to tip the, to talk to a woman, to impose by flowery language Victualling office, the stomach or paunch Voil, town W. Watstraw, Johnny Raw, a yokel, a countryman Wall flowers, old clothes ex- ])osed for sale Wall it, chalking a reckoning up at a public house Wall fruit, kissing against a wall Warm, rich Wattles, the cars Water pads, fellows who rob ships Water-heaped, a snivelling fel- low Wearing the breeches, the wife ruling the husband Walge, silver plate Wet the other eye, take another glass Wetting the neck, drinking Whacks, shares of booty Wheadle, a sharper Wliite wood, silver White port, gin Whither, silver bowl Whimpshire, Yorkshire Whiddier, a talkative fellow. an informer Whirligig, the pillory Whistling sho[), a public house in a prison Whisker, a bouncing lie White buzmen, pickpockets White toppers, white hats White tape, gin Whites, counterfeit silver Wiggen, the neck Win, a penny Wipe, fogle, handkerchief Wing, flv, up, acquainted with Wobl)le, to reel, drunk W^) ball, a milk woman Wooti pecker, a punster, joker plaver on words Wooden ruff, the pillorv, as he w(jre the wooden rulT, hi stood in the pillory W's, between the two, hittint: K FXASH DICTIONARY. in the belly between wind and water \V( n't suit, n(i s,o, it won't do and Y. onions, V\(;j' ^eal Yam, to eat hearty Y-inkei", a tawney man Y-ird of tape, a elass of o-in watch, and Yarmouth capon, a red herring Yarum, food made of milk Yellow boys, goldfinches, sov- ereigns YY'llowman, a yellow handker- chief Yelper, a fellow who mak'/s pitiful lamentations of trifles Y'okels, green liorns, countrv- nien "^ las^: ^*n ^ FLASH DICTIONARY 131 THE SIXTY ORDERS OF PRmE COVES. Rnm-Duhbi^rs ( r ■ mers n-i tiers < )i;t ;irut-r)utcr> Co^Tl'TS Sw!'_;s men ihillv rncks I.uUv r^rii'i^crs l]\.':y (lulls Si ::T->r'; St:.-;)';rs S'. ,.■).-;■. ft.Ts S.^■;d;,■^- ' w ens Ikmu :i,;i>;KTs \r. HI ir.MiS 31- 32. 33- 3,v 37. 3'S. 3l-'- •I'- 43- 44. 4.';- 4>'- \7- 4S. 40. 51- 5-- 53' .>!• j3- S'>. .'> / ■ 59- t)0. Tuirlers G a mm oners (Tfoaners Fencers Spicers High topers Footpads Gamblers Swindlers Shoi)litters Sturdy beggars I'adpriggers -Money lenders Ken crackers iiuccT culls Rushi'i's Fauiii-v cuves Divers' Adam iglers Kii.uk.-rs Millers Sinash'TS hilers < ivpsies 1;' liters I'r >_;Lrers Kum padders (ri-gers Dragsmen J-.lo^ .s FINIS. Companion Volume by the Editor of " Sinks of London Laid Open^'^ cloth^ ys. 6d. ANNALS FASHIONABLE GALLANTRY, A COLLECTION OF REMARKABLE TRIALS FOR DIVORCE, &c.. With 7nany ai^ious Anecdotes of Supreme Bon Ton. THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara "/ THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. 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