The English Spy Part 51

39 James Smith, Esq.

Orion

40. P. Peach, Esq.

Dormouse

41 Capt. C. Wyndham, R.N.

Janette

42 R. W. Newman, Esq.

Sylph

43 J. H. Durand, Esq.

Jolly Rambler

44 Joseph Gulston, Esq.

Merry-maid

45 T. Lewin, Esq.

Syren

46 T. Challen, Esq.

Cherub

47 John Va.s.sall, Esq.

Charlotte

48 Corbett, Esq.

Corsair

49 Colonel Seale Lord of the Isles

50 W. Gaven, Esq.

Rob Roy

51 E. H. Dolatield, Esq.

Will o' the Wisp

And the Highland La.s.s{52} blushes a welcome of joy, As alongside the Wombwell{53} she anchors to sleep.

Here the Donna del Lago{54} consorts with Rostellan,{55} To the New Grove,{56} Lord Nelson{57} Louisa {58} attends, Galatea{59} runs a Harrie{60} in chase of the Erin,{61} And here with the Club List my Circular ends.

Owner Vessel Cla.s.s Tons

52 Lieut.-Gen. Mackenzie Highland La.s.s Yawl 25

53 T. Harman, Esq. Wombivell Cutter 33

54 S. Halliday, Esq. Lady of Die Lake Yawl 42

55 Marquis of Thoruond Rostellan Schooner 60

56 John Roche, Esq. New Grove Cutter 24

57 Reverend C. A. North Lord Nelson Cutter 75

58 Arch. Swinton, Esq. Louisa Yawl 24

59 C. R. M. Talbot, Esq. Galatea Schooner 179

60 Sir R. J. A. Kemys Harrier Schooner 36

61 T. Allen, Esq. Erin Schooner 94

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"A right merrie conceit," said Horace, "and a good-humoured jingle that must be gratifying to all mentioned, and will serve as a record of the present list of the Yacht Club to future times. We must pet.i.tion the commodore to enter you upon the s.h.i.+p's books as poet-laureate to the squadron: you shall pen lyrics for our annual club-dinner at East Cowes, compose sea-chants for our cabin jollifications, sing the praises of our wives and sweethearts, and write a congratulatory ode descriptive of our vessels, crews, and commanders, at the end of every season; and your reward shall be a birth on board any of the fleet when you choose a sail, and a skin-full of grog whenever you like to command it. So come, old fellow, give us a spice of your qualifications for your new office; something descriptive of the science of navigation, from its earliest date to the perfection of a first-rate man of war."

~157~~

THE PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION,

AN ORIGINAL SONG;

Dedicated to the Members of the Royal Yacht Club.

In the first dawn of science, ere man could unfold The workings of nature, or valued dull gold; Ere yet he had ventured to dare ocean's swell, Or could say by the moon how the tides rose and fell; A philosopher seated one day on the brink Of the silvery margin thus took him to think: "If on this side the waters are girted by land, What controls the wide expanse, I'd fain understand."

Thus buried in thought had he ponder'd till now, But a beautiful nautilus sail'd to and fro; Just then a sly breeze raised the curls from his eyes, And he woke from a dream to extatic surprise.

O'er his head a huge oak spread a canopy round, Whose trunk being hollow, he levell'd to ground; With a branch form'd a mast, and some matting a sail, And thus rudely equipp'd dared the perilous gale; Of the winds and the waves both the mercy and sport, His bark was long tost without guidance to port, And the storms of the ocean went nigh to o'erwhelm, When the tail of the dolphin suggested a helm.

Ry degrees, the canoe to a cutter became, And order and form newly-moulded the same, Ropes, rigging, and canvas, and good cabin room, A bowsprit, a mizen, a gib, and a boom.

From the cutter, the schooner, brig, frigate arose; Till Britons, determined to conquer their foes, Built s.h.i.+ps like to castles, they call'd men of war, The fame of whose broadsides struck terror afar.

Now boldly, philosophy aided by skill, Bent his course o'er the blue waters sailing at will, But dubious the track, for as yet 'twas unknown How to steer 'twixt the poles for a north or south zone,

~158~~

Till the magnet's attraction, by accident found, Taught man how the globe he could traverse around; New worlds brought to light, and new people to view, And by commerce connected Turk, Christian, and Jew.

All this while, father Neptune lay snug in his bed, Till he heard a sad riot commence o'er his head, Folks firing, and fighting, and sailing about, When his G.o.ds.h.i.+p popp'd up just to witness the rout; It happen'd in one of those actions to be When Europe combined fought the isle of the sea, And, as usual, were conquer'd, sunk, fired, or run, That old Neptune acknowledged each Briton his son.

"From this time," said his G.o.ds.h.i.+p, "henceforth, be it known, Little England's the spot for the ocean-king's throne; And this charter I grant, and enrol my decree, That my brave sons, the Britons, are lords of the sea."

"There's nothing like a good song," said Horace, "for conveying information on nautical subjects, or promoting that national spirit which is the pride and glory of our isle. I question if the country are not more indebted to old Charles Dibdin for his patriotic effusions during the late war, than to all the psalm-singing admirals and chaplains of the fleet put together. I know that crab Gambier, and the methodist privateers who press all sail to pick up a deserter from the orthodox squadron, do a great deal of mischief among our seamen; for as Corporal Trim says, 'What time has a sailor to palaver about creeds when it blows great guns, or the enemies of his country heave in sight? a sailor's religion is to perform his duty aloft and do good below; honour his king, love his girl, obey his commander, and burn, sink, and destroy the foes of his country.' Here we have an occasional exhibition of this sort on board the depot vessel in the harbour, when the _Bethel_ flag ~159~~is hoisted, and the voice of the puritan is heard from East Cowes to Eaglehurst; as if there were not already conventicles enough on sh.o.r.e for those who are disposed to separate themselves from the established church, without the aid of a floating chapel, furnished by the government agent to subvert the present order of things. On this point, you know, I was always a liberal thinker, but a firm friend to the church, as being essential to the best interests of the state. An old college chum of ours, who has been unusually fortunate in obtaining ecclesiastical preferment, thought proper to send me a friendly lecture in one of his letters the other day on this subject, to which I returned the following answer, and put an end to his scruples, as I think, for ever: I have ent.i.tled it

THE UNIVERSALIST.

'to a friend who questioned the propriety of his religious opinions.

'You ask what creed is mine? and where I seek the Lord in holy prayer?

What sect I follow? by what rule, Perhaps you mean, I play the fool?

I answer, none; yet gladly own I wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, but G.o.d alone.

No pious fraud or monkish lies Shall teach me others to despise; Whate'er their creed, I love them all, So they before their Maker fall.

The sage, the savage, and refined, On this one point are equal blind: Shall man, the creature of an hour, Arraign the all-creative Power?