The belcher (what a name! ) supplies
its place, together with the bird's eye, or the colours of some black
or white boxer. An accomplished man was the delight of all companies in
former times. An out and outer, one up to every thing, down as a nail
or the knocker of Newgate, a trump, or a Trojan, now carry the mode
of praise; one that can _patter flash, floor a charley, mill a
coal-heaver_, come coachey in prime style, up to every rig and row in
town, and down to every move upon the board, from a nibble at the club
to a dead hit at a hell; can swear, smoke, take snuff, lush, play at all
games, and throw over both sexes in different ways--he is the finished
man. The attributes of a modern fine gentleman are, to have his address
at his club, and his residence any where; to lounge, laugh, lisp, and
loll away the time from four to eight, when having dressed, eat his
olives, he goes to Almack's if he can, or struts into Fop's Alley at
the Opera in boots, in defiance of decency or the remonstrance of the
door-keepers; talks loud to be noticed; and having handed some woman of
fashion to her carriage, gets in after her without invitation, and, as
a matter of course, behaves rudely in return; makes a last call at the
club in his way home to learn the issue of the debate, and try his luck
at French hazard or fleecing a novice.
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