"Our King, a true British Sailor." The words by R.
N. The Music by T. WILLIAMS.
A curious document was sent to us with this song. It begins thus-, "To the public in general. Most extraordinary circumstance relative to the words of the song Our King, a true British Sailor.' The public are most respectfully requested to delay their judgment respecting the right of publishing the words of this song for a few days, when the con- duct of certain parties, in their endeavour to deprive me of my Just Right!! will be developed." After some more virtuous indignation of the same sort, we are informed that a person calling himself Captain MITFOIID, of the Royal Navy, had the unspeakable effrontery to sell the words of this song to a music-publisher. Jealous of his rights, and in- dignant that this Bathyllus should have plucked a feather from his wing, Mr. —, B. N. like another Virgil, charges the robber with his theft.
"Hos ego versiculos feci, tulit alter honores."
He seeks the retreat of the audacious spoiler ; and with most prosaic precision gives-us the result of the interview. It is a regular scene.
Persons of the Drama—Captain MITFORD, Mr. NADISON, Mr. ROBINSON, Mr. A. KELLY, and Mr. T. WILLIAMS.
Scene—Mr. WILLIAMS'S small back parlour—No. 2, Strand.
T. Willicrms—(addressing Captain M.)—" Captain Mitford, I was very much surprised at seeing a letter, bearing your name, in yesterday's paper, wherein it is stated I have no right to publish the song Oar King is a true British Sailor.'" Captain Mitford--"I was as much surprised as yourself." &c.&c.8ce.
We cannot detail all the particulars of this interesting affair ; but we ought not to withhold from our readers a sample of the words which gave rise to the "battle of the bards."
"The wild winds around us may furiously whistle, And tempests the ocean deform ; But united the red rose, the shamrock, and thistle,
With our Ring we will weather the storm.
Hard up with the helm hoist, hoist, how she cracks I Magna Charta in need will avail her,
And prove she sails better, whenever she tacks, For her pilot's a true British Sailor."
After reading these lines, our readers will cease to be surprised at the in. dignation of the author at any attempt to rob him of his laurels,
Previous page
