Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a good deal.

1763		A. Murphy Citizen (1809) 26: Mind me when I go to work — throw my eyes about a few — handle the braces.
1778		Mme D’Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) I 45: I trembled a few, for, I thought, ten to one he’d say—‘He?—not he—I promise you!’.
1807		Irving & Paulding Salmagundi (1860) 232: The fact was – nor did he make any secret of it – he was determined to ‘astonish the natives a few!’.
1837		A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II ii: Well, I’m blowed if that ain’t slap up. Lize, you can sing a few.
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 49: I came the sentimental over him, and I think I’ll make a few out of him!
1872		Schele De Vere Americanisms 601: Few, a, in slang means a little. ‘Were you alarmed? No, but I was astonished a few.’ It is in this case synonymous with rather, which is used more frequently in the South. J. R. Lowell [...] traces a few back to the French un peu.
1877		Illus. Sydney News 26 May 3/1: I expect they will, to use an Americanism, ‘astonish us a few’ in both respects.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Oct. 14/1: That got his Italian blood up. He swore a few.
1882		Bristol Magpie 9 Nov. 10/2: An orator there is in Corsham; / I guess he can, just a few, jaw some.
1899–1900		C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 130: I’m just throwing it into him a few to sort o’ square up a personal grievance.
1907		W.M. Raine Bucky O’Connor (1910) 201: I aim to let Santa surprise you a few.
1912		J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 76: That was bear-meat [...] the real bear-meat. Say, we went a few, didn’t we, Smoke.