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)

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Under French influence, too, the sordid Dutch,
Whose cause we had befriended, far too much!
Declared against us; yet we stem the tide,
And still our gallant ships victorious ride.
About this time in reputation rose,
The most implacable of England's foes,
Napoleon Bonaparte, whose frequent threat
Of our destruction (unaccomplished yet);
Whatever may have caus'd said threat's prevention,
Calls on our gratitude for its intention.
Batavian settlements, Batavian fleets,
Surrender to the British—France, too, meets

1796.

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A check from Irish lads, in Bantry Bay,
Whence Gallic chieftains bravely—ran away.
With peaceful offers Malmesbury is sent
To Paris, and returns just as he went.
Jamaica feels the scourge of civil jar,
'Till British valour terminates the war.
Hope of the House of Brunswick, England's care,
The birth of Charlotte glads the Royal pair.

Nearly the whole of the Dutch settlements surrendered to the British arms, and in the month of October, nine sail of Dutch ships, three of the line, five frigates, and sloops, which had entered Saldanha Bay with a view to attack the Cape of Good Hope, yielded, without firing a shot, to Admiral Sir Keith Elphinstone.

This was called the Maroon War; the Maroons were descendants of the Spanish slaves, who refused to submit when the English first took possession of the island;—twenty battles terminated in their entire submission.