Clarke, `Goody Two Shoes,' p. 26:

"He's a lively little larrikin lad, and his name is
Little Boy Blue."

1871. `The Argus,' Sept. 19, p.5, col. 4:

"In San Francisco, the vagabond juveniles who steal, smash
windows, and make themselves generally obnoxious to the
respectable inhabitants, instead of being termed `larrikins,'
as in Victoria, are denominated `hoodleums.' The name is more
musical than the one in vogue here, and probably equally as
descriptive, as its origin appears to be just as obscure as
that of the word `larrikin.' This word, before it got into
print, was confined to the Irish policemen, who generally
pronounced it `lerrikan,' and it has been suggested that the
term is of Hibernian origin, and should be spelt lerrichaun.'"

1871. Sir George Stephen, Q.C., `Larrikinism,' a Lecture
reported in `Prahran Telegraph,' Sept. 23, p. 3, col. 1:

What is Larrikinism? It is a modern word of which I can only
guess the derivation, . . . nor can I find any among the
erudite professors of slang who adorn our modern literature who
can assist me. Some give our police the credit of coining it
from the `larking' of our school boys, but I am inclined to
think that the word is of Greek origin--<i>Laros</i>, a
cormorant--though immediately derived from the French
`<i>larron</i>' which signifies a thief or rogue. If I am
right, then larrikin is the natural diminutive form in English
phraseology for a small or juvenile thief. . . . This however
is, I must acknowledge, too severe a construction of the term,
even if the derivation is correct; for I was myself, I frankly
confess it, an unquestionable larrikin between 60 and 70 years
ago. . . . Larrikinism is not thieving, though a road that
often leads to it. . . . Is it a love of mischief for
mischief's sake? This is the theory of the papers, and is
certainly a nearer approach to the true solution."

1871. `Figaro,' in `Prahran Telegraph,' Sept. 30, p. 7,
col. 3:

"A local contemporary has . . . done his `level best' to help
me out of my `difficulty' with respect to the word Larrikin.
He suggests that <i>lerrichan</i> should read <i>leprichaun
</i>, a mischievous sprite, according to Irish tradition. . . .
We think we may with more safety and less difficulty trace the
word to the stereotype [sic] reply of the police to the
magisterial question--`What was he doing when you apprehended
him?' `Oh! larriking (larking) about, yer Wurtchip.'"

1872. J. S