BALLAD ASCRIBED TO SIR C. HANBURY WILLIAMS.

Being engaged on a collection of fugitive pieces by wits of the last century, yet unprinted, I wish to take the opinion of your valuable correspondents as to the authorship of the enclosed piece. It has been pointed out to me in an album, dated at the beginning Feb. 14th, 1743; it occurs towards the end of the volume (which is nearly filled), without date, and signed C.H. Williams.

It is evidently not autograph, being in the hand which mainly pervades the book. Had Sir C.H. Williams been a baronet at the time, his title would doubtless have been attached to his name. I wish to know, first, at what date Sir C.H. Williams was born, became a baronet, and died? Secondly, is there any internal evidence of style that the ballad is by his hand? Thirdly, is there any clue as to who the fair and cruel Lucy may have been? And lastly, whether any of your correspondents have seen the thing in print before?

G.H. BARKER.

Whitwell, Yorkshire.

I.

"Lips like cherries crimson-juicy,

Cheeks like peach's downy shades,

Has my Lucy—lovely Lucy!

Loveliest of lady's maids!!!

II.

"Eyes like violet's dew-bespangled,

Softly fringed deep liquid eyes!

Pools where Cupid might have angled

And expected fish to rise.

III.

"Cupid angling?—what the deuce! he

Must not fish in Lucy's eye!

Cupid leave alone my Lucy—

You have other fish to fry!!!

IV.

"But with patience unavailing—

Angling dangling late and soon—

Weeping, still I go a wailing,

And harp on without harpoon.

V.

"Kerchief, towel, duster, rubber,

Cannot wipe my weeping dry—

Whaling still I lose my blubber,

Catching wails from Lucy's eye.

VI.

"Blubber—wax and spermaceti—

Swealing taper—trickling tear!

Writing of a mournful ditty

To my lovely Lucy dear.

VII.

"Pouring tears from eyelids sluicy,

While the waning flamelet fades,

All for Lucy—lovely Lucy,

Loveliest of lady's maids.

"C.H. WILLIAMS."

[The foregoing ballad does not appear in the edition of the works of Sir C. Hanbury Williams (3 vols. 8vo. 1822), from the preface to which it appears that he was born in 1709, installed a Knight of the Bath in 1746, and died on the 2nd November, 1759.]