154 Slang Dictionaries: AUGUST; 
mentioned in the prologue to Mercurius Pragmaticus, tragi-comedy, acted at 
Paris, &c. 1641 
* This trembles under the black rod, and he 
Doth fear his fate from the Gregorian-tree.’ 
“‘Gregory Brandon succeeded Derrick.” 
Our partibularian taste has, we perceive, made us extract on that 
favourite topic so largely, as to preclude us from taking notice of the 
marvellous contents of Grose’s book on other points—to which, therefore, 
we refer the curious reader. We tear that we cannot, however, recom- 
mend it to the unrestrained perusal of virgins and boys, although we have 
the following assurance from Grose himself ;— 
“To prevent any charge of immorality being brought against this work, the 
Editor begs leave to observe, that, when an indelicate or immodest word has 
obtruded itself for explanation, he has endeavoured to get rid of it in the most 
decent manner possible ; and none have been admitted, but such as either 
could not be left out, without rendering the work incomplete, or in some mea= 
sure compensate by their wit for the trespass committed on decorum. Indeed, 
respecting this matter, he can, with great truth, make the same defence that 
Falstaff ludicrously urges in behalf of one engaged in rebellion, viz., that he 
did not seek them, but that, like rebellion in the case instanced, they lay in 
his way, and he found them.” / 
In spite of this, there are many articles which are more amusing than 
calculated to edify ; and though succeeding editions have been, in some 
degree, pruned, yet enough remains behind to whisper whence he stole 
his balmy spoils. We suppose that those who enjoy the woodcock 
must enjoy the trail also, and, without doubt, the squeamishness of those 
who do such business by halves is rather ridiculous. The Bowdlers of 
literature should not do the work of the Lord negligently. It is a whimsical 
fact that some foreign dictionaries, particularly German ones, have copied 
some of the grossest of the words with the most amusing gravity, con- 
sidering them as necessary and well-established phrases of the English 
language. 
The last editor of Grose was Mr. Pierce Egan—a gentleman totally 
unfitted for the task. Grose’s slang is wit—he laughs at and despises 
those who use it in earnest. Pierce Egan’s-is sheer vulgarity, and he 
evidently considers those who employ these words as persons of no small 
mark. Grose mixed among gentlemen—Pierce Egan among boxers. 
Accordingly, the words which he has added come exclusively from the 
witless people of the ring ; and, page after page, we are sickened with 
quotations from “ Randall’s Diary,” and articles indicating the most 
intimate acquaintance with the robbers and ruffians who pick pockets by 
prize-fighting. Naturally enough imagining that Grose, whose humour 
he is quite incapable of appreciating, must have been enamoured of mere 
vulgarity, he, in the memoir prefixed, favours us with an account of his 
supposed peregrinations in Wapping and St. Giles’s. In short, even the 
couple of wood-cuts which he gives are from his own “ Life in London ;” 
and that is, we suppose, saying enough upon the subject. So stupid a 
farrago of vulgar nonsense—so miserable an attempt at wit and humour 
—never was produced. The engravings floated the lumber. In the 
present case, Mr. Egan has not the pencil of Cruikshank to assist him; 
and, accordingly, all his part of the new edition of Grose is dull am ‘ 
disgusting. 4 
i F 
