Login

Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Abraham Newland n.

[proper name of Abraham Newland, chief cashier of the Bank of England (1778–1807)]

(also Newland) a banknote.

1801		C. Dibdin Yngr Song Smith 53: Mister Abraham Newland’s a monstrous good man, / But when you’ve said of him what ever you can, / Why all his soft paper would look very blue, / If it wa’nt for the yellow boys; pray what do you think?
1801		Sporting Mag. Nov. XIX 87/1: [heading] Sporting with Abraham Newland’s Slang, &c.
1807		Morn. Chron. (London) 8 May 3/1: Abraham Newsland, Esq. [...] of Mr Newland’s family we know but litle — his progenitor was a Mr Cash, descended from the Bullion family [...] The light which his able notes have thrown upon many subjects of political importance is too well-known.
1815		‘Picknickery’ in Vocal Mag. 99: A Jew to offend such good company unwilling, / Sings Abraham Newland, and calls for the Last Shilling.
1829		W. Scott Letter n.p.: A bank note seems to terrify everyone out of their wits, and they will rather give up their constitution to Hunt and Cobbett than part with an Abraham Newland to preserve it [F&H].
1830		Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 150: May the tears of distress always be wiped away with the soft paper of Abraham Newland.
1832		‘Naval Anecdotes’ in Currency Lad (Sydney) 3 Nov. 4/2: I was reg’larly a tauntoo, every thing taut fore-and-aft, and yards squared with Moses, (for you see I’d a Newland for ten [i.e. pounds] in the letter) .
1833		C. Dibdin Yngr Gimcrackiana 126: There ne’er was a name so bandied by fame / [...] / Oh Abraham Newland, / Notified Abraham Newland.
1866		J. Timbs Eng. Eccentrics 46: Tho’ with compliments cramm’d, you may die and be d--d, If you hav’n’t an Abraham Newland. [...] she’ll blink like a bat At the sight of an Abraham Newland. O, Abraham Newland, Magical Abraham Newland!

In phrases

sham Abraham Newland (v.)

to forge banknotes; also as n. counterfeit banknotes.

1797–1807		‘Abraham Newland a New Song’ [ballad] I have heard people say that ‘sham Abraham’ you may; But you mus’n’t sham Abraham Newland.
1825		Morn. Advertiser (London) 20 Sept. 2/2: The nomination of agents, the calling of diverse meetings [...] and the perusal of various slips of paper (no sham Abraham Newland’s) that may be put under the saucers or plates.
1891		(ref. to early 19C) St James’s Gaz. 11 Apr. 6/1: In the early days of the century few things seem to have been easier than to ‘sham Abraham Newland’.