SONG ON THE BATTLE OF ST VINCENT

 SONG ON THE BATTLE OF ST VINCENT 14TH FEBRUARY 1797 

Tune: HEARTS OF OAK ARE OUR SHIPS  

SAID Neptune one day, when conversing with Mars, 
"You boast of your landsmen, I boast of my tars:

"Lo! these ships of proud Spain, see how pompous they ride!

"Now mark how my Britons shall humble their pride.

          "My Jervis shall maul them, let Spain no more brag; 

          "His force is inferior, 

           "His courage superior,

"And Vict'ry shall perch upon Jervis's flag." 

He spoke-and, behold the, two fleets hove in sight, 

And Jervis, preparing with coolness to fight, 

His tars with true courage first strove to inspire, 

Then rush'd on the Spaniards, in thunder and fire. 

       The Britons now maul, them let Spain no more brag; 

       Our force was inferior, 

       Our courage superior,

And Victory soar'd over Jervis's flag. 

Our sailors struck home and well pointed their guns, 

Dread carnage ensu'd, and they pepper'd the dons; 

Each man was a hero, a true British tar, 

Whose ship is his home, whose amusement is war. 

        Brave Jervis has maul'd her, let Spain no more brag; 

        His force was inferior, 

        His courage superior, 

And Victory perch 'd upon Jervis's flag. 

Mars view'd this engagement; then said, "By the Styx, 

"My standard 'mongst Britons for ever I'll fix; 

"Like Romans they fight, and their souls are all fire.

 "And battles like this even gods must admire. 

           "These Britons shall conquer, no nation shall brag; 

           "With forces inferior, 

            "They've courage superior, 

"And Vict'ry shall perch on Britannia's flag.

"In my bosom, says Neptune, "this nation I keep;" 

"Her sons are my fav'rites, her walls are the deep; 

"Their king is my friend ,and great GEORGE, under me," 

"A trident shall wield,- my vicegerent at sea.

           "My Britons shall conquer, no nation shall brag; 

           "With forces inferior, 

           "They've courage superior, 

"And Vict'ry shall rest on Britannia's proud flag." 

The following deities, to judge from the few remains that relate to them, were sparingly invoked. There are altars to Neptune and Oceanus at Newcastle; to Diana at Bath. New stead, and Caerleon, where also a tablet records the rebuildng of a temple to her; to Aesculapius at Lanchester, and Maryport ,while at Binchester he is associated with his daughter Salus, and she alone is the subject of an altar at Caerleon; and to Bellona, goddess of war, at Old Carlisle, and according to Spartian, she had a temple at York. The Parcae or Fates have altars at Carlisle and Lincoln; and the god who brought undertakings to a suc- cessful issue, Bonus Eventus, is occasionally associated with Fortuna and other deities. 

References:

1. REMAINS HISTORICAL & LITERARY CONNECTED WITH THE PALATINE COUNTIES OF LANCASTER AND CHESTER PUBLISHED BY THE CHETHAM SOCIETY 1.5 VOL XLV PRINTED FOR THE CHETHAM SOCIETY M DCCC LVIII 

2.SIGHT SINGING FOR SCHOOLS Adapted to the Requirements of the New Code of 1883 LONDON NATIONAL SOCIETY'S PEPOSITORY BROAD SANCTUARY WESTMINSTER 1884-17420 f - 3 

3.THE ROMAN ERA IN BRITAIN BY JOHN WARD MA FSA AUTHOR OF "ROMANO-BRITISH BUILDINGS AND EARTHWORKS." WITH SEVENTY SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR SECOND EDITION METHUEN & CO LTD 36 ESSEX STREET WC LONDON First Published Second Edition August 1911 1920  

 

LAUNCH OF LA HOGUE

 LAUNCH OF LA HOGUE 

On Thursday the 3d of October, la Hogue a 74 gun ship, was launched at the King's yard, Deptford, amidst thousands assembled to witness the ceremony. The launch was as usual. decorated with the Royal Standard, the Union, St George's Ensign, and the Admiralty Flag. She is a fine ship and appeared a finished model of neatness: The stern and quarter galleries are remarkably plain, but not less handsome on that account. Her cutwater is surmounted by a Lion crushing the Gallic Cock. The device is  of course, appropriate, but the figure itself, in the opinion of many who have an eye to naval architecture, is not sufficiently prominent. She is painted with a black streak.  About two o'clock she moved off the slip with fine effect, while a band of music played "Rule Britannia;" and at the instant her bows touched the water, a bottle was thrown by one of the Lords of the Admiralty, to name her la Hogue. A shout from the multitude, with hats off, invoked Neptune and Mars to make her victorious. It was a shout of British exultation, and the effect was, of course, beyond expression. On the whole, there never was a finer launch seen. La Hogue has been more than four years building.*

Most of the readers of the NAVAL CHRONICLE are aware that many ships in our navy are prizes taken from the enemy and retain their original names aş with them are associated the proud recollection of the mode in which they became ours. Others, for instance: the Trafalgar, the Agincourt, the Poictiers & c are of English structure, but so named in commemoration of the scene of some great victory. Of the latter description is la Hogue. The town of la Hogue is a sea port of France. in the Channel near Barfleur . Edward Russell. the grandson of Francis, 4th Earl of Bedford, was in 1690, appointed the admiral of the blue, and advanced to the command of the Channel fleet, and, on May 19 1697, he obtained a signal victory over the French fleet, under the command of Mons de Tourville, at La Hogue: in the pursuit (besides six considerable ships burnt by  the Vice-admiral Delaval) he destroyed 13 of their men of war, and several of their transports. This achievement. though very difficult and dangerous. was performed with such conduct and firmness. that they took possession of several of the enemy's ships. and drove the French. with their own guns. from their platforms and batteries on shore; and all this in sight of the French camp, which lay ready to invade England.- The gallant admiral was, in 1697 created Baron of Shingay, in Cambridgeshire; Viscount Barfleur, in the Duchy of Normandy; and Earl of Orford in the county of Suffolk. The Earl died November 27 1727. without issue when these titles became extinct. 

Referencese

1.THE Naval Chronicle FOR 1811 CONTAINING A GENERAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE ROYAL NAVY OF THE United Kingdom WITH A VARIETY OF ORIGINAL PAPERS ON NAUTICAL SUBJECTS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF SEVERAL LITERARY AND PROFESSIONAL MEN VOL XXVI FROM JULY TO DECEMBER Tu regere imperio populos Britanne memento Hae tibi erunt artes paci que imponere morem Parcere subjectis et debellare superbos 

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