Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to begin, to address oneself to, e.g. attack that beef.

1849		Thackeray Pendennis I 3: It was a double letter, and the Major commenced perusing the envelope before he attacked the inner epistle.
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn).
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.