" CLARENCE SONG S.—No. II.
SIR, — A friend has just reminded me of a ballad made on occasion of some shipboard scrape into which our Royal Midshipman had fallen; in which, with a romantic licence, the rank of the young sailor is supposed to have been unknown, and a corporal infliction about to have been put into execution. This is all he can recover of it. He was — 'ordeed to undress, Sir But very soon they did espy
The star upon his breast, Sir : And on their knees they soon did fall, And all for mercy soon did call.'
The burden was Long live Duke William,' or something to that effect. So you see, his Majesty has enjoyed his laureate by anticipation. C. L.
I know the town swarmed with these Clarence songs in the heyday of his young popularity. Where are they ? "
An editorial note appended to the letters suggested that "The Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill" had reference to George IV. Tom Sheridan, who was just a month younger than Lamb (and with whom, according to one of Mary Lamb's letters, he had once either collaborated for the stage or had proposed to), would be only seven in 1782. He died in 1817.-1 am, Sir,
E. V. Lucas.
Previous page
