A Metrical History of England :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Metrical History of England

Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin

Dibdin, Thomas (1771-1841)

II.

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While on our victories we dwell,
T'is our's impartially to tell,
That fifty-five as gallant ships
As ever took commercial trips,
Happ'ning by sad mischance to meet
The Gallico-Iberian fleet,

243

Became, oh, sorrow and surprize!
Captive to England's enemies.
War with the Dutch adds to our troubles,

1781.

And trade's embarrassment redoubles.
If I mistake, 'tis your's to judge it,
But only overhaul the Budget
Which, for the service of the year,
Will millions, twenty-three appear;
Thousands, seven hundred fifty-six,
And hundreds, (as accountants fix,)
Some one or two;—a sum so great
Had ne'er before disturb'd the state;
But “damned custom” hath, as now one sees,
“Made it” to us “a property of ease.”
The French take Jersey, 'ere the dawn of light,
Only to quit it with returning night.
Ne'er shall the genuine, grateful tear,
Cease to embalm brave Pierson's bier;

244

Who found among the patriots brave,
A soldier's honor'd, glorious, grave.

A large outward-bound West India fleet and five East Indiamen, in all about 55 ships, unfortunately fell into the midst of the combined fleets of France and Spain, in the bay of Gadiz, in the night between the 8th and 9th of August, and were almost all taken.

The gallant Major Pierson, with the assistance of Captains Aylward and Mulcaster, and the militia of the island, re-took the town of St. Hellear, which had capitulated (under Governor Corbett,) to the French General; who, as well as Major Pierson, was slain in the re-capture.