vovs;-from Lycophron (whose very name smacks of pugilism,) down to Boxiana and the Weekly Despatch, not an author on the subject is omitted. To the cultivation, in our times, of the science of Pugilism, the Flash language is indebted for a considerable addition to its treasures. Indeed, so imposwithout words of proportionate energy to do justice sible is it to describe the operations of THE FANCY to the subject, that we find Pope and Cowper, in their translation of the Set-to in the Iliad, pressing words into the service which had seldom, I think, if ever, been enlisted into the ranks of poetry before. Thus Pope, Secure this hand shall his whole frame confound, Then his wiles Forgat not he, but on the ham behind So much for my "Parallel between Ancient and Modern Pugilism." And now with respect to that peculiar language called Flash, or St. Giles's Greek, in which Mr. Crib's Memorial and the other articles in the present volume are written, I beg to trouble the reader with a few observations. As this expressive language was originally invented, and is still used, like the cipher of the diplomatists, for purposes of secrecy, and as a means of eluding the vigilance of a certain class of persons, called flashice, Traps, or, Cowper, in the same manner, translates koɛ de .... in common language, Bow-street Officers, it is sub-rapniov, "pash'd him on the cheek;" and, in describject of course to continual change, and is perpetually ing the wrestling-match, makes use of a term, now either altering the meaning of old words, or adding more properly applied to a peculiar kind of blow,' new ones, according as the great object, secrecy, of which Mendoza is supposed to have been the inrenders it prudent to have recourse to such innova-ventor. tions. In this respect, also, it resembles the cryptography of kings and ambassadors, who, by a continual change of cipher, contrive to baffle the inquisitiveness of the enemy. But, notwithstanding the Pro- Before I conclude this Preface, which has already, tean nature of the Flash or Cant language, the greater I fear, extended to an unconscionable length, I canpart of its vocabulary has remained unchanged for not help expressing my regret at the selection which centuries, and many of the words used by the Cant- Mr. Crib has made of one of the Combatants introing Beggars in Beaumont and Fletcher,' and the Gip-duced into the imaginary Set-to that follows. That sies in Ben Jonson's Masque, are still to be heard person has already been exhibited, perhaps, “usque among the Gnostics of Dyot-street and Tothill-fields. ad nauseam," before the Public; and, without enterTo prig is still to steal;' to fib, to beat; lour, money; ing into the propriety of meddling with such a perduds, clothes;4 prancers, horses; bouzing-ken, an ale- sonage at all, it is certain that, as a mere matter of house; cove, a fellow; a sow's baby, a pig, etc. etc. taste, he ought now to be let alone. All that can be There are also several instances of the same term, alleged for Mr. Crib is-what Rabelais has said in preserved with a totally different signification. Thus, defending the moral notions of another kind of catto mill, which was originally "to rob," is now "to tle-he "knows no better." But for myself, in my beat or fight;" and the word rum, which in Ben Jon-editorial capacity, I take this opportunity of declaring, son's time, and even so late as Grose, meant fine and that, as far as I am concerned, the person in question good, is now generally used for the very opposite shall henceforward be safe and inviolate; and, as the qualities; as, "he's but a rum one," etc. Most of Convent-garden Managers said, when they withdrew the Cant phrases in Head's English Rogue, which their much-hissed elephant, this is positively the last was published, I believe, in 1666, would be intelli- time of his appearing on the stage. gible to a Greek of the present day; though it must be confessed that the Songs which both he and Dekker have given would puzzle even that "Graiæ gentis decus," Caleb Baldwin himself. For instance, one of the simplest begins, Bing out, bien Morts, and toure and toure, 1 In their amusing comedy of "The Beggar's Bush." 2 The Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed.-The Gipsy language, indeed, with the exception of such terms as relate to their own peculiar customs, differs but little from the regular Flash; as may be seen by consulting the Vocabulary subjoined to the life of Bamfylde-Moore Carew. 3 See the third chapter, 1st book, of the History of Jonathan Wild, for an "undeniable testimony of the great antiquity of Priggism." 4 An angler for duds is thus described by Dekker:-" He carries a short staff in his hand, which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it, a ferme (that is to say a hole,) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth a hooke of iron, with which hooke he angles at a window in the dead of night, for shirts, smockes, or any other linen or woollen."-English Villanies. 5 Can they cant or mill? are they masters of their art?" -Ben Jonson. To mill, however, sometimes signified "to kill." Thus, to mill a bleating cheat, i. e. to kill a sheep. TOM CRIB'S MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS. (While you hum the poor spoonies' with speeches, so | My eyes, how delightful!—the rabble well gagg'd, The Swells in high feather, and old Boney lagg'd!' pretty, 'Bout Freedom, and Order, and-all my eye, Betty,) tion, He hereby submits to your royal rumgumption. It being now settled that emperors and kings, on; Yet as something may happen to kick up a breeze— I'll answer to train the whole HOLY ALLIANCE! To vulgar red-coated rapscallions must fall, ACCOUNT OF THE GRAND SET-TO BETWEEN LONG SANDY AND GEORGY THE PORPUS. LAST Tuesday, at Moulsey, the Balance of Power While snug and secure you may now run your rigs,11 Was settled by Twelve Tightish Rounds, in an hour— Without fear that old Boney will bother your gigs-The Buffers, both "Boys of the Holy Ground;"—" As your Honours, too, bless you! though all of a trade, 1 Simpletons, alias, Innocents. 2 Drinking your tea. 3 See the Appendix, No. 3. 4 An Adept. 5 Showing off his talk.-Better expressed, perhaps, by a late wit, who, upon being asked what was going on in the House of Commons, answered, "Only Lord C. airing his vocabulary." 6 All terms of the Fancy, and familiar to those who read the Transactions of the Pugilistic Society. 7 To close up their eyes-alias, to sew up their sees. 8 Toм received his first education in a coal-pit; from whence he has been honoured with the name of " the Black Diamond." LONG SANDY, by name of the Bear much renown'd, And GEORGY the Porpus, prime glutton reckon'dOld thingummee POTTSO' was LONG SANDY's second, And GEORGY's was Pat C-STL-R-GH,-he who lives At the sign of the King's Arms a-kimbo, and gives Every lover of life, that had rhino to spare, 1 Transported. 2 Child. Hence our useful word, kidnapper—to nab a kid being to steal a child. Indeed, we need but recollect the many excellent and necessary words to which Johnson has affixed the stigma of "cant term," to be aware how considerably the English language has been enriched by the contributions of the Flash fraternity. 3 The common people, the mobility. 4 A boxing-match. 5 Boxers-Irish cant. 6 The hitch in the metre here was rendered necessary by 9 Gumption, or Rumgumption, comprehension, capacity. the quotation, which is from the celebrated Fancy Chant 10 Nonsense or humbug. 11 Play your tricks. 12 A soldier's fire-lock. 13 Soldiers, from the colour of their clothes. "To boil one's lobster means for a churchman to turn soldier; lobsters, which are of a bluish black, being made red by boiling."-Grose. Butler's ingenious simile will occur to the reader: When, like a lobster boil'd, the Morn From black to red began to turn. 14 Ordained-i. e. become clergymen. ending, every verse, thus: For we are the boys of the Holy Ground, It is almost needless to add, that the Holy Ground, or 7 TOм means, I presume, the celebrated diplomatist, Pozzo di Borgo.-The Irish used to claim the dancer Didelot as their countryman, insisting that the O had slipped out of its right place, and that his real name was Mr. O'Diddle On the same principle they will, perhaps, assert their righ to M. Pozzo. Never since the renown'd days of BROUGHTON and | Being hack'd in the service, it seems had given way; FIGG Was the Franciful World in such very prime twig-2 brothers And, as rope is an article much up in price 2 Each threw up his castor1 'mid general huzzasOn the evening before, and put up at The Crown,-And, if dressing would do, never yet, since the days Their old favourite sign, where themselves and their When HUMPHRIES stood up to the Israelite's thumps, In gold-spangled stockings and touch-me-not pumps, Has there any thing equall'd the fal-lals and tricks That bedizen'd old GEORGY's bang up tog and kicks! Having first shaken daddles (to show, JACKSON said, It was "pro bono Pimlico" chiefly they bled) Both peel'd-but, on laying his Dandy belt by, Get grubs at cheap rate, though it fleeces all others; "T was diverting to see, as one ogled around, ground. Here M-NTR-SE and an Israelite met face to face, While NICKY V-NS-TT-T, not caring to roam, Old SID. and the great Doctor EADY together, While poor Bogy B—CK-GH-M well might look As there stood a great Rat-catcher close to his tail! Mongst the vehicles, too, which were many and va rious, From natty barouche down to buggy precarious, CRIB came on the ground in a four-in-hand rattler ; For they saw, notwithstanding CRIB's honest en deavour To train down the crummy," 't was monstrous as ever! And BOB W-LS-N from Southwark, the gamest Was now heard to sing out "Ten to one on the Bear!" As if shy of the scratch-while the Porpus kept guard out As it was, Master GEORGY came souse with the whack, And there sprawl'd, like a turtle turn'd queer on its back. SECOND ROUND. Rather sprightly-the Bear, in Took a fancy to flirt with the Porpus's wig; So he tipp'd him a settler they call "a Spoil-Dandy" 1 Hat. 2 "The fine manly form of Humphries was seen to great advantage; he had on a pair of fine flannel drawers, white silk stockings, the clocks of which were spangled with gold, and pumps tied with ribbon."-(Account of the First Battle between Humphries and Mendoza.)-The epistle which Humphries wrote to a friend, communicating the result of "Ring, ring," "Whip the Gemmen," were heard left this fight, is worthy of a Lacedæmonian.-" Sir, I have done and right. But the kids, though impatient, were doom'd to delay, 1 The chief founders of the modern school of pugilism. 4 Horses. 5 Victuals. 6 Men of rank-vide Boxiana, passim. the Jew, and am in good health. Rich. Humphries." 5 Mr. Jackson's residence is in Pimlico.-This gentleman THIRD ROUND. Somewhat slack-GEORGY tried to All pitied the patient-and loud exclamations, “My eyes!" and "my wig!" spoke the general sen sations make play, But his own victualling-office' stood much in the way; House Kept paddling about the poor Porpus's muns,2 FOURTH ROUND. GEORGY's backers look'd blank at the lad, 5 When they saw what a rum knack of shifting he had All the way to the ropes-where, as GEORGY went SANDY tipp'd him a dose of that kind, that, when taken, FIFTH ROUND. GEORGY tried for his customer's (The part of LONG SANDY that's softest, 'tis said; Neat milling this Round-what with clouts on the nob, 10 his corpus, So heavy the crush.-Two to one on the Porpus! Nota bene.-'T was curious to see all the pigeons Funds) And Consols, which had been all day shy enough, Had been down on the Bear, rose at once—up to SEVENTH ROUND. Though hot-press'd, and as flat LONG SANDY Show'd game again, scorning to rump it; SIXTH ROUND. GEORGY's friends in high flourish JACK ELD-N, with others, came close to the ropes- And, after a rum sort of ruffianing Round, Poor SANDY the undermost, smother'd and spread 1 The stomach or paunch. 3 Hot cross buns. 2 Mouth. Up he rose in a funk," lapp'd a toothful of brandy, EIGHTH ROUND. SANDY work'd like a first-rate de Bear as he is, yet his lick is no polisher; And, take him at ruffianing work (though in com- Hums about Peace and all that, like a Domine3) 4"Some have censured shifting as an unmanly custom." This round was but short-after humouring awhile, -Boxiana. 5 Humbug or gammon. 6 Dead Men are Bakers-so called from the loaves falsely charged to their master's customers. The following is from an Account of the Battle fought by Nosworthy, the Baker, with Martin, the Jew: "First round. Nosworthy, on the alert, planted a tremendous hit on Martin's mouth, which not only drawed forth a profusion of claret, but he went down.-Loud shouting from the Dead Men! He proceeded to serve an ejectment, in style, smile So completely that bets ran a hundred to ten "Second Round. Nosworthy began to serve the Jew in Like a cask of fresh blubber in old Greenland Dock! style, and his hits told most tremendously. Martin made a good round of it, but fell rather distressed. The Dead Men now opened their mouths wide, and loudly offered six to four on the Master of the Rolls!" 7 The head. 8 The stomach. 9 The mouth. 10 The eyes. 12 Getting the head under the arm, for the purpose of fibbing. 13 A prison.-See Dr. Grey's explanation of this phrase in his notes upon Hudibras. 1 To signify by letter. 2 This phrase, denoting elevation of various kinds, is often rendered more emphatic by such adjuncts as "Up to snuff and twopenny.-Up to snuff, and a pinch above it," 5 Clothes. etc. etc. 6 Choaked. 4 Suspicious. 8 A Parson. Thus in that truly classical song the Chris When Domine had named the Kid, 14 The Germans sleep between two beds: and it is re-tening of Little Joey: 9 Teeth. 10 Show his teeth. get at. But a pelt in the smellers (too pretty to shun, In short, not to dwell on each facer and fall, Now, what say your Majesties ?-is n't this prime? Nothing's half so genteel as a regular Mill; And if quids should be wanting to make the match There's B-R-NG, the Prince of Rag Rhino, who stood (T" other day, you know) bail for the seedy3 Right Liners: Who knows but, if coax'd, he may shell out the The shiners! Lord, Lord, what a bounce do I say! As to training, a Court's but a rum sort of station Dey 're all, but the Fives Court, at sixes and sevens." Your Majesties, pardon me, all get so doughy, But, barring these natʼral defects (which, I feel, My remarking on thus may be thought ungenteel,) And allowing for delicate fams, which have merely "I'm not without hopes, and would stand a tight bet, Been handling the sceptre, and that, too, but queerly, That I'll make something game of your Majesties yet. Let us have a prime match of it, Greek against Greek, So, say but the word-if you 're up to the freak, And I'll put you on beef-steaks and sweating next week He had n't taught GEORGY his new modes of boring: That left him all's one as cold meat for the Crowner; 12 On which the whole populace flash'd the white grin a While, for teaching you every perfection, that throws a Play'd "Green grow the rushes," "15 in honour of 1 Eyes. SANDY! 2 Money. 1 See Appendix, No. 5. 2 A trifling instance of which is recorded in Boxiana:"A fracas occurred between Caleb Baldwin and the keepers of the gate. The latter not immediately recognizing the veteran of the ring, refused his vehicle admittance without 3 French cant; Les yeux pochés au beurre noir.-See the usual tip; but Caleb, finding argufying the topic would the Dictionnaire Comique. 4 Blood. 5 The nose. not do, instead of paying them in the new coinage, dealt out another sort of currency, and, although destitute of the 6 Some specimens of Mr. Gregson's lyrical talents are W. W. P. it had such an instantaneous effect upon the given in the Appendix, No. 4. 7 To be humbled or abashed. 8 Spurs. 9 Horse. 10 For the meaning of this term, see Grose. 11 "The ponderosity of Crib, when in close quarters with his opponent, evidently bored in upon him," etc. 12 The Coroner. 13 The ancient Greeks had a phrase of similar structure ινδιδωμι, cedo. 14 A bandy or cripple, a sixpence: "that piece being commonly much bent and distorted."-Grose. 15 The well-known compliment paid to the Emperor of a i the Russias by some Irish musicians. Johnny Raws, that the gate flew open, and Caleb rode through in Triumph." 4 Produce the guineas. 3 Poor. 5 The extreme rigour, in these respects, of the ancient system of training, may be inferred from the instances mentioned by Elian. Not only pugilists, but even players on the harp, were, during the time of their probation, vovera aμatis xα αεspos. - De Animal. lib. 6. cap. 1. 6 A Jew, so nick-named-one of the Big ones. He was beaten by Crib, on Blackheath, in the year 1805. 7 Sleeping. 8 Feeding 9 Fams or fambles, hands. |