Comments on: The Stranger’s Guide to London

By: Mr Slang

Mr Slang — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:11:55 +0000

There were many such ‘Stranger’s Guides.’ I don’t see a publication date (and would very much like to know it) but from the text this looks like a a slightly revised version of Richard King’s ‘The Frauds of London’ published in 1770. King also wrote ‘The Complete Modern London Spy’ (1781). Though it might be based on ‘A Stranger’s Guide or Frauds of London’ of 1808, written by George Andrewes who in 1809 published ‘A Dictionary of Slang and Cant’.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:00:03 +0000

Best not come visiting after all.

By: Ginever Runeberg

Ginever Runeberg — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:14:10 +0000

Sounds challenging and tempting enough. However this Sunday I’ll stay at home here in the midst of Finland.

By: Molasses

Molasses — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:22:42 +0000

>All of these characters are now concentrated in the City of London!

Poignant…..

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:19:13 +0000

Probably best to remain in the country Penelope. I fear your slipper would barely step down from the coach on to the foggy cobbles before some bawd would creep from the shadows and whisk you away. Thereafter he would commit to rob you of your gems, silks and inheritance before subjecting you to a life of drudgery and god knows what else. Look what happened to poor Moll Flanders! x

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:38:50 +0000

All of these characters are now concentrated in the City of London!

By: Penelope Beaumont

Penelope Beaumont — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:56:36 +0000

After reading this post, think I shall stay in Hampshire.

By: Teresa Stokes

Teresa Stokes — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:48:28 +0000

An article in the Evening Standard earlier this year was headed “Don’t fall for it! Con artists use ring trick to fleece Oxford Street shoppers” and went on to say “The latest street racket to hit London is exposed today” but of course it’s as old as the hills. A friend of mine was accosted recently by a Romanian conman who tried it on him; he told him to get lost of course.

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:44:05 +0000

A variation of the ‘ring dropping’ exists on the streets of London to this very day. The distressed party approaches unsuspecting folks and appeals for help as they have no money for their onward train journey. They appeal for your charity in exchange for the only item of value they own, a gold ring. The purchaser then hands over £20 to £50 in exchange for this worthless trinket. I personally take comfort in the fact that these colourful ‘ne’r do wells’ still exist and also that there are gullible fools who are mean spirited enough to take their wedding band from them. As Dick Van Dyke may have declared, “two rongs don’t make a write!” X

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:28:22 +0000

I was about to visit Spitalfields but have changed my mind, I do not wish to be smuggled abroad by a crimp.
Gary