"A Beak," says Jem Bee, in his slang Dictionary, "is the Sitting Magistrate, or one who walks or rides abroad, seeking whom he may quod, or whose lawful (query, UNLAWFUL) amusements he may curtail."
Here we have a Portrait of a celebrated Gentleman of this description in the East, together with a couple of his customers, whose colloquy may be instructive:
"Jack, twig that ERE swag-bellied Cove,
With wisage round and sleek—
You knows him, don't you?"—"Yes, by Jove,
Vy, that's a bloated Beak.
"Knows him! I knows him vel enough,
And if I don't it's odd:
A few months back that damn'd old muff
Committed me to quod!