[Illustration: “Come along, my r-r-r-r-rummy cove; come along! how are you? how d’ye do? here we are my bricksywicksywicksy!!!” ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GENT. [Illustration] BY ALBERT SMITH. LONDON: DAVID BOGUE, 86 FLEET STREET. MDCCCXLVII. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LONDON: VIZETELLY BROTHERS AND CO. PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS, PETERBOROUGH COURT, FLEET STREET. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE. IN the Sunday newspapers of May 24, of the past year, 1846, appeared the following paragraph:— MARYLEBONE. A “GENT.”—A respectable-looking man, named James Dickenson, was charged by Brooks, 169 S, who said, “Please your worship, at two o’clock yesterday morning (Monday), I found this ‘gent’ drunk in Park Road, and took him into custody.” _Mr. Rawlinson_: Who do you say you found drunk? _Constable_: This “gent,” your worship. _Mr. Rawlinson_: What do you mean by “gent?” There is no such word in our language. I hold a man who is called a “gent” to be the greatest blackguard there is. (To the prisoner): What do you say to this? I hope you are not a “gent.” _Prisoner_: I am not, sir, and I trust that I know the distinction between a “gent” and a “gentleman.” _Mr. Rawlinson_: I dare say you do, sir, and I look upon the word “gent” as one of the most blackguard expressions that can be used. The prisoner was fined 5s., which he directly paid.