SECOND EDITION.

THE

CANTING ACADEMY;

o R,

VILLANIES DISCOVERED:

WHEREIN ARE SHEWN

The Mysterious and Villanous Practices of that Wicked Crew, commonly known by the Names of HECTORS, TRAPANNERS, GILTS, &c. With feveral NEW CATCHES and SONGS.

ALSO A

COMPLEAT CANTING DICTIONARY,

BOTH OF

Old Words, and fuch as are now most in Ufe.

1

A Book very useful and neceffary (to be known, but not practifed) for all People.

THE SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

Printed by F. LEACH, for MAT. DREW; and are to be fold by the Bookfellers.

N. B. The Dedication is figned, R. HEAD.

vi

PREFACE TO THE
CE T

HELL U

UPON EARTH;

OR THE MOST PLEASANT AND DELECTABLE

HISTORY

Giving an Account of the HUMOURS of thofe COL-
LEGIANS who are ftrictly examined at the OLD
BAILY, and take their highest Degrees
near HYDE PARK CORNER.

Being very useful to all Perfons, either Gentle or Simple, in fhewing them the Manner of the ROBBERIES and CHEATS Committed by Villains on the Nation; whereby they may be the more careful of being wronged by them for the future.

LONDON:

PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1703.

SECOND EDITION.

vii

THE

SCOUNDRELS DICTIONARY;

OR, ΑΝ
EXPLANATION

O F THE

CANT WORDS used by THIEVES, HOUSEBREAKERS, STREET ROBBERS, and PICKPOCKETS about Town.

TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED

Some CURIOUS DISSERTATIONS on the ART of WHEEDLING,

AND A

Collection of their FLASH SONGS, with a PROPER GLOSSARY.

The whole printed from a Copy taken on one of their Gang, in the late Scuffle between the Watchmen and a Party of them on Clerkenwell Green; which Copy is now in the Cuftody of one of the Conftables of that Parish.

LONDON:

Printed for J. BROWNNELL, in Pater-nofter-row.

M.DCC.LIV.

[Price Sixpence.]

PREFACE

TO THE

FIRST EDITION.

HE great approbation with which fo

TH

polite a nation as France has received the Satirical and Burlesque Dictionary of Monfieur Le Roux, teftified by the several editions it has gone through, will, it is hoped, apologize for an attempt to compile an English Dictionary on a fimilar plan; our language being at least as copious as the French, and as capable of the witty equivoque : befides which, the freedom of thought and fpeech arising from, and privileged by, our constitution, gives a force and poignancy to the expreffions of our common people, not to be found under arbitrary governments, where the ebullitions of vulgar wit are checked by the fear of the baftinado, or of a lodging during pleasure in fome gaol or castle.

The many vulgar allufions and cant expreffions that fo frequently occur in our com

mon

PREFACE, &c.

ix

mon converfation and periodical publications, make a work of this kind extremely useful, if not abfolutely neceffary, not only to foreigners, but even to natives refident at a diftance from the Metropolis, or who do not mix in the busy world: without fome fuchhelp, they might hunt through all the ordinary Dictionaries, from Alpha to Omega, in fearch of the words, "black legs, lame "duck, a plumb, malingeror, nip cheese,

darbies, and the new drop," although these are all terms of well-known import at Newmarket, Exchange-alley, the City, the Parade, Wapping, and Newgate.

The fashionable words, or favourite expreffions of the day, also find their way into our political and theatrical compositions : thefe, as they generally originate from fome trifling event, or temporary circumstance, on falling into disuse, or being superfeded by new ones, vanish without leaving a trace behind. Such were the late fashionable words, a bore and a twaddle, among the great vulgar; maccaroni and the barber, among the fmall: thefe, too, are here carefully regiftered.

The

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