Then yard arm and yard arm we by each other lay,
And sure such noble courage to each other did display;
We form'd a resolution to give the French a check,
And instantly we boarded her off the quarter-deck.

Her colours being struck, my boys, she then became our prize,
And our young ship's company subdued our enemies,
Altho' they were superior in metal and in men.
Of such engagement you may seldom hear again.

And now in Portsmouth Harbour our prize is safely moor'd.
Success to all brave sailors that enter now on board;
A health to Captain Pellew, and all his sailors bold,
Who value more their honour than misers do their gold.

THE DOWNFALL OF THE FRENCH FLEET.

The 28th of May the French fleet hove in sight.

Lord Howe he made a signal; resolv'd he was to fight.
Then his ships in a line he drew,

And cannon balls straight at them flew,
Resolv'd the French dogs to subdue,
Like brave British boys.

On the 29th again our ships in line we drew;
Resolv'd was each man the action to renew.
Admiral Gardiner then the line he broke,

Which in our favour spoke,

Crying, 'Monsieur, we will make you smoke,
Like true British boys.

At last the glorious day, call'd the first of June-
So well I do remember, it was about noon-

We to windward of them lay,

And down to them we bore away,

Resolv'd our courage to display,
Like brave British boys.

And then the bold Brunswick for honour she did try,
Alongside the Vengeur two hours she did lie.
Brave Captain Harvey he did cry,

'My lads, we have orders to comply;
We'll make her strike or else we'll die

Like brave Brunswick boys.'

Our officers and our ship's crew so well did play their part Nine shot from our guns in her copper we did dart,

Till down her colours she did haul,

And to be boarded aloud did bawl,

Crying out, Monsieur, we'll sink you all,'

Say the brave Brunswick boys.

Another on our larboard side to beard us she came,
And to put us all to death, the America by name;
But with our skill we all did try,

And three broadsides at her let fly,

And her three masts on board did lie,
By the brave Brunswick boys.

Success to Lord Howe, and all his noble fleet;

Such a set of fighting fellows together ne'er did meet.
May they together still remain,

And brave Lord Howe still rule the main

For to subdue Monsieur again,

Like brave British boys.

Success to King George, likewise our royal Queen,
And may they be happy throughout their glorious reign,
And may God forget them quite,

That will not go and fight,

For to maintain great George's right,

Like brave British boys.

A NEW SONG ON THE SEA ENGAGEMENT FOUGHT THE FIRST OF JUNE LAST,

When Lord Howe beat the French fleet, and took seven of their Ships, viz. La Juste, Sans Pareille, both of 80 guns, L'America, L'Achille, Northumberland, L'Impétueux, and the Vengeur, all 74-gun ships, but the Vengeur sunk very soon after she was taken.

Printed in June 1794.

Come, all ye British hearts of gold,
A glorious tale I will unfold

Of Howe, who fought the French so bold,
On board the Queen Charlotte.

On June the first this fight began:
Our admiral he led the van;
Our shot did play so hot that day
The French they try'd to run away,

But Howe took care they should not.

The Charlotte, with Lord Howe therein,
This fierce encounter did begin,
[And] bravely threw her [broadside] in
Against the French commander,

Who found it so hot that day
That no longer there could stay,
But, crouding sail, he bore away ;
He was no salamander.

They left us seven ships that day,
So crippl'd, could not get away;
Like logs they on the sea did lay,
So hot was their reception.
Two of them carried eighty guns,
Five seventy-fours were noble ones.
Huzza! huzza! their admiral runs ;
He could get no redemption.

Bravo Bowyer, Pasley, Captain Hutt,
Each lost a leg, being sorely hurt;

Their lives they valu'd but as dirt,
When that their country call'd them.
Poor Montague was kill'd that day;
'Twas by their shot, which fierce did play
Before the French they ran away,

When we so sorely maul'd them.

Of French ships there were twenty-six
When first upon them we did fix.
We valu'd not their Gallic tricks,
We had but twenty-five sail;
We being British sailors bold,
Who value honour more than gold,
Our courage has been try'd of old,
We ever will prevail.

So since these French ships are brought in,
In honour of great George, our King,
In praise of sailors let us sing,

And drink to each brave tar, sir;
For they are lads to win the day,
And drive the boasting French away;
To face our shot they will not stay,
Our fame is heard afar, sir.

A NEW SEA SONG.

Written by a lieutenant of the Bellerophon, the flag ship of Rear-Admiral Pasley.

The First Part of it was written after the action on the 29th of May, and was sung in full chorus in the wardroom of that ship on the evening of the 31st May, the night previous to the battle, which ended so gloriously for the British Arms.

The Second Part was added immediately after that great event.

To the Tune of I was, d'ye see? a Waterman

'Twas on the twenty-eighth of May, the morning being clear, A fleet to windward we espy'd; they Frenchmen did appear.

The signal for the same being made, the chace was soon begun ;

And then for battle we prepar'd, to shew monsieurs some fun. Our ship being clear'd, the foe we near'd, with expectations high,

That we should show the murd'rous foe, that British courage still would flow,

To make them strike or die.

The fam'd Bellerophon began her cannons first to play

Upon a three-deck'd ship of theirs, which could not run away : Our hearts of gold their shot well told, in show'rs about her side,

'Till the Leviathan came up, the battle to divide ;

Then seeing plain 'twas quite in vain the contest more to try, She struck; and this does shew that British courage still will flow,

To make them strike or die.

Night coming on, the battle ceas'd, till Phoebus rose again,
When we beheld this trait'rous fleet still vaunting on the main;
Our line being form'd, and all hearts warm'd, the fight was soon
renew'd;

Determined to hand down that flag, which with contempt we view'd.

Lord Howe engaged their hottest rage; he broke their line to try If such manœuvres would not shew that British courage still would flow,

To make them strike or die.

The battle warmly was maintain'd, much valour was display'd,
Till night, with all her sable train, the action still delay'd.
Now since again all o'er the main these rebels can't be found
We'll toast our admirals in our glass; our girls, too, shall go
round.

Each heart shall sing, 'Long Live the King!' and each again

reply,

'If e'er we're call'd again we'll shew that British courage still shall flow,

To make them strike or die.