BLACKGUARD.
(Vol. ix., p. 15.)
In a curious old pamphlet of twenty-three pages, entitled Everybody's Business is Nobody's Business answer'd Paragraph by Paragraph, by a Committee of Women-Servants and Footmen, London, printed by T. Read for the author, and sold by the booksellers of London, and ... price one penny (without date), the following passage occurs:
"The next great Abuse among us is, that under the Notion of cleaning our Shoes, above ten Thousand Wicked, Idle, Pilfering Vagrants are permitted to stroll about our City and Suburbs. These are called the Black-Guard, who Black your Honour's Shoes, and incorporate themselves under the Title of the Worshipful Company of Japanners. But the Subject is so low that it becomes disagreeable even to myself; give me leave therefore to propose a Way to clear the streets of those Vermin, and to substitute as many honest and industrious persons in their stead, who are now starving for want of bread, while these execrable villains live (though in Rags and Nastiness) yet in Plenty and Luxury."
"A(nswer). The next Abuse you see is, Black your shoes, your Honour, and the Japanners stick in his Stomach. We shall not take upon us to answer for these pitiful Scrubs, but in his own words; the Subject is so low, that it becomes disagreeable even to us, as it does even to himself, and he may clear the Streets of these Vermin in what Manner he pleases if the Law will give him leave, for we are in no want of them; we are better provided for already in that respect by our Masters and their Sons."
G. N.
The following lines by Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex (the writer of the famous old song "To all you ladies now at land"), are an instance of the application of this term to the turbulent link-boys, against whom the proclamation quoted by Mr. Cunningham was directed. Their date is probably a short time before that of the proclamation:
"Belinda's sparkling wit and eyes,
United cast so fierce a light,
As quickly flashes, quickly dies;