1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue free download online
Title: 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue Author(s): Captain Francis Grose Pages: 1 Publisher: Publication date: Language: English Format: PDF ISBN-10: 1419100076 ISBN-13: Description: The merit of Captain Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has been long and universally acknowledged.
But its circulation was confined almost exclusively to the lower orders of society: he was not aware, at the
time of its compilation, that our young men of fashion would at no very distant period be as distinguished for
the vulgarity of their jargon as the inhabitants of Newgate; and he therefore conceived it superfluous to
incorporate with his work the few examples of fashionable slang that might occur to his observation.
But our Jehus of rank have a phraseology not less peculiar to themselves, than the disciples of Barrington: for
the uninitiated to understand their modes of expression, is as impossible as for a Buxton to construe the
Greek Testament. To sport an Upper Benjamin, and to swear with a good grace, are qualifications easily
attainable by their cockney imitators; but without the aid of our additional definitions, neither the cits of
Fish?street, nor the boors of Brentford would be able to attain the language of whippism. We trust, therefore,
that the whole tribe of second? rate Bang Ups, will feel grateful for our endeavour to render this part of the
work as complete as possible. By an occasional reference to our pages, they may be initiated into all the
peculiarities of language by which the man of spirit is distinguished from the man of worth. They may now
talk bawdy before their papas, without the fear of detection, and abuse their less spirited companions, who
prefer a good dinner at home to a glorious UP?SHOT in the highway, without the hazard of a cudgelling.
But we claim not merely the praise of gratifying curiosity, or affording assistance to the ambitious; we are
very sure that the moral influence of the Lexicon Balatronicum will be more certain and extensive than that
of any methodist sermon that has ever been delivered within the bills of mortality. We need not descant on
the dangerous impressions that are made on the female mind, by the remarks that fall incidentally from the
lips of the brothers or servants of a family; and we have before observed, that improper topics can with our
assistance be discussed, even before the ladies, without raising a blush on the cheek of modesty. It is
impossible that a female should understand the meaning of TWIDDLE DIDDLES, or rise from table at the
mention of BUCKINGER'S BOOT. Besides, Pope assures us, that "VICE TO BE HATED NEEDS BUT TO
BE SEEN;" in this volume it cannot be denied, that she is seen very plainly; and a love of virtue is, therefore,
the necessary result of perusing it.
The propriety of introducing the UNIVERSITY SLANG will be readily admitted; it is not less curious than
that of the College in the Old Bailey, and is less generally understood. When the number and accuracy of our
additions are compared with the price of the volume, we have no doubt that its editors will meet with the
encouragement that is due to learning, modesty, and virtue.
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Title: 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue