Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a badly prepared account or books that do not balance; also in fig. use.

1774–1826		Typ. Antiq. 1773: A person resident in London is said to have had most of Caxtons publications. He sent them to Amsterdam for inspection and on writing for them was informed that they had been destroyed by accident. I am afraid, says Herbert, my kind friend received but a Flemish account of his Caxtons [F&H].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flemish account, a losing, or bad account.
1810		Morn. Post 26 June 3/2: The recommendation of the House of Commons relative to the Flemish account of the Dutch Commissioners.
1821		R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd series 29: I hate to be bubbled;—everytime I buttered a bet, it was a Flemish account.
1829		Morn. Chron. 4 Sept. 3/5: A Flemish account has been proverbial for centuries.
1837		Morn. Post 23 Jan. 3/2: The Radicals [...] have scoured the country [...] and have returned with a very Flemish account of promises.
1838		Northern Liberator 3 Nov. 3/3: The land-lords have soon discovered that this is to turn out a ‘Flemish account’.
1841		Chester Chron. 24 Sept. 3/1: A discussion on the comparative merits of the Whig and Tory governments in the management of the national finance [...] would be like Flemish account — all on one side.
1852		Liverpool Mercury 24 Feb. 6/3: The Washington Union gives the following figures [...] They show certainly a Flermish account.
1862		Kentish Gaz. 18 Nov. n.p.: It is to be hoped [...] that Fleming didn’t make so Flemish an account of the decapitation as not to note the inside of the skull of the testator.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1887		Morpeth Herald 29 Jan. 3/1: Would there not be a ‘Flemish account’ of the rates?