If the ballad of the seaman have reference to the ship in which the artificers sailed to the Rock, it differs in two known points from the facts of its voyage. The “Caroline” is the ship of the song, and she is said to have sailed from Spithead on the fourteenth day of April, whereas the party of recruits sailed apparently from Scotland, and positively landed, or, to use the official word, “joined,” at Gibraltar on the 16th April.
The seaman’s “Bay of Biscay, O!” is worked up in pure Grub-street doggrel; but bad as it is, it has been rendered worse, particularly in the last verse, by the tampering of some grossly vulgar hand. In the lapse of years the precise wording of that Catnach composition has probably been lost, and the version that exists, filled up by the imperfections of tradition, may have had its dates and places disturbed. In a printed form the ballad, seemingly, cannot be obtained.
If the differences just shown be considered fatal to the relationship between the sailor’s song and the vessel noticed in the narrative, then Cherry’s very popular ballad belongs to the history of the sappers and miners.
[86]. For full information concerning these experimental operations and manœuvres, see the ‘Public Advertiser’ for July 9th, August 7th, and August 10th, 1792.
[87]. To show how interested and considerate the Duke of Richmond was, in even trivial matters connected with the corps, it may be mentioned that on the 28th September, 1792, he ordered that six married private labourers, who had been at Bagshot Camp under his command, should each be paid half-a-guinea as a donation for the inconvenience and expense they were subjected to in being absent from their families.
[88]. Southey’s ‘Chron., Hist. West Indies,’ iii., p. 72.
[89]. ‘London Gazette Extraordinary,’ August 1, 1793.
[90]. During the formation of one of the bridges, Mrs. Fitzherbert (who had paid a visit to the Prince of Wales at Brighton) was riding by alone. Sergeant John Johnston, who was in charge of the party, recognizing the favourite, very politely touched his cap in compliment to her, and she immediately pulled up. After asking a variety of questions concerning the work, she praised the men for their exertions, and desired that each should receive an extra day’s pay. For this purpose she gave the sergeant sufficient money, and taking a note of his name, commended him for his civility and promised to remember him. Very shortly after he received the offer of an ensigncy in a regiment in the West Indies, and sailing thither in November, received his commission in the 29th Foot, 1st May, 1796. It was supposed that Mrs. Fitzherbert, true to her promise, had exerted her influence and obtained this appointment for him. George Ross, the other sergeant present with the party, was commissioned as Lieutenant in the Carnarvon Militia, in October, 1796.
[91]. Private Joshua Cook, of the Woolwich company, was sent to Toulon as orderly to Colonel D’Aubant, royal engineers, and served in that capacity in Toulon and Corsica until the Colonel returned with him to England.
[92]. Served seven years in the Royal Marines. Enlisted in the corps April 28, 1788, and was present in almost every action and capture which took place in the West Indies up to the year of his decease, which occurred at Barbadoes, July 14, 1810. Few non-commissioned officers had a more stirring career, or greater chances, by his prizes, employments, and successful speculations, of acquiring wealth. Much he gained and much he spent. He had his horses and his servants. Costly ornaments he wore with eastern profusion, and the hilt of his rapier, and the mountings of his scabbard, were of silver. Indeed it requires a couplet from Pope to do him anything like justice.