To tell him that his suff’ring’s due to “economic laws,”
With such things I cannot wrestle,
But I know a British vessel
Is very, very different to what ’twas years ago;
Since its crew now as a rule is,
Three parts furriners and Coolies
With scarcely British tars enough to give a “Yo, heave ho!”
Now, of course, it may be cheaper, or, at leastways, for the present,
To ship a lot o’ furrin’ trash, and sack my mates and me;
But I’m thinking in the future it may turn out most unpleasant,