[Dr. Rimbault (Musical Illustrations, p. 30) writes: "The earliest copy of the tune to this ballad is contained in the ballad opera of Sylvia, or the Country Burial, 1731. It may also be found in Walsh's British Musical Miscellany, vol. iv. and in other works of a similar description. The ballads of Come and listen to my ditty and Cease, rude Boreas, were sung to this tune, which appears to have been always a favourite for 'sea ditties.'"
In Hannah More's Life (vol. i. p. 405) is the following interesting note: "I was much amused with hearing old Leonidas Glover sing his own fine ballad of Hosier's Ghost, which was very affecting. He is past eighty." In the matter of the last item Mrs. More was wrong. Richard Glover was born in 1712, and died on Nov. 25, 1785.]
As near Porto-Bello lying
On the gently swelling flood,
At midnight with streamers flying
Our triumphant navy rode;
There while Vernon sate all-glorious 5
From the Spaniards' late defeat:
And his crews, with shouts victorious,
Drank success to England's fleet:
On a sudden shrilly sounding,
Hideous yells and shrieks were heard; 10
Then each heart with fear confounding,
A sad troop of ghosts appear'd,
All in dreary hammocks shrouded,
Which for winding-sheets they wore,
And with looks by sorrow clouded 15
Frowning on that hostile shore.
On them gleam'd the moon's wan lustre,
When the shade of Hosier brave
His pale bands was seen to muster
Rising from their watry grave. 20
O'er the glimmering wave he hy'd him,
Where the Burford[883] rear'd her sail,
With three thousand ghosts beside him,
And in groans did Vernon hail.
Heed, oh heed our fatal story, 25
I am Hosier's injur'd ghost,
You, who now have purchas'd glory,
At this place where I was lost!
Tho' in Porto-Bello's ruin
You now triumph free from fears, 30
When you think on our undoing,
You will mix your joy with tears.