Ships Mentioned in Poor Jack

Druid, frigate

William and Caroline, West Indiaman

Royal George

French ship, the Pucelle d'Orleans

Euphrosyne, frigate

Ships taking part in the English attack of French forces in Aboukir Bay: Vanguard, Bellerophon, Majestic, Bellyruffron, Audacious.

Yet, another forecastle song

“It was one November—the second day—

The admiral he bore away,

Intending for his native shore.

The wind at sou’sou’west did roar;

There was likewise a terrible sky,

Which made the sea to run mountains high.


“The tide of ebb it was not done,

But fiercely to the west did run;

Which put us all in terrible fear,

Because there was not room for to veer.

The wind and weather increased sore,

And drove ten sail of us on shore.


“Ashore went the Northumberland,

The Harwich, and the Cumberland,

The Lion and the Warwick too;

But the Elizabeth had the most to rue—

She came stem on—her fore-foot broke.

And she sunk the Gloucester at one stroke.


“But now remains what is worse to tell,

The greatest ships had the greatest knell;

The brave C’ronation and all her men

Was lost and drowned every one,

Except the mate and eighteen more

What in the long boat com’d ashore.


“And thus they lost their precious lives;

But the greatest loss was to their wives,

Who, with their children left on shore,

Their husbands’ watery death deplore,

And wept their loss with many tears—

But grief endureth not for years.


“Now you who’ve a mind to go to sea,

Pray take a useful hint from me,

And live at home, and be content

With what kind Providence has sent;

For they were punish’d for their misdeeds,

In grumbling when they had no needs.


“Now God preserve our noble Queen,

Likewise her Ministers serene;

And may they ever steer a course

To make things better ’stead of worse,

And England’s flag triumphant fly,

The dread of hevery he-ne-my.”

Poor Jack, by Frederick Marryat, 1840

The Ghost of the Black Cat

“We heard what sounded like a loud melancholy miaw. We looked to where the sound had come and beheld the ghost of the black cat, so large, so black, with the broad moonlight shinning on it; and so thin, it was a skeleton of the cat, only it looked as black as ever; its back was humped up and its tail curved.”

Another Forecastle Ditty

“It was one November—the second day— 

The admiral he bore away, 

Intending for his native shore. 

The wind at sou’sou’west did roar; 

There was likewise a terrible sky, 

Which made the sea to run mountains high. 

“The tide of ebb it was not done, 

But fiercely to the west did run; 

Which put us all in terrible fear, 

Because there was not room for to veer. 

The wind and weather increased sore, 

And drove ten sail of us on shore. 

“Ashore went the Northumberland, 

The Harwich, and the Cumberland, 

The Lion and the Warwick too; 

But the Elizabeth had the most to rue— 

She came stem on—her fore-foot broke. 

And she sunk the Gloucester at one stroke. 

“But now remains what is worse to tell, 

The greatest ships had the greatest knell; 

The brave C’ronation and all her men 

Was lost and drowned every one, 

Except the mate and eighteen more 

What in the long boat com’d ashore. 

“And thus they lost their precious lives; 

But the greatest loss was to their wives, 

Who, with their children left on shore, 

Their husbands’ watery death deplore, 

And wept their loss with many tears— 

But grief endureth not for years. 

“Now you who’ve a mind to go to sea, 

Pray take a useful hint from me, 

And live at home, and be content 

With what kind Providence has sent; 

For they were punish’d for their misdeeds, 

In grumbling when they had no needs. 

  

“Now God preserve our noble Queen, 

Likewise her Ministers serene; 

And may they ever steer a course 

To make things better ’stead of worse, 

And England’s flag triumphant fly, 

The dread of hevery he-ne-my.” 

Chapter 17, Poor Jack, by Frederick Marryat, 1840

Spanish Ladies, An Odle Forecastle Song

“Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,

Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;

    For we have received orders

    For to sail to old England,

But we hope in a short time to see you again.”

“We’ll rant and we’ll roar, like true British sailors,

We’ll rant and we’ll roar across the salt seas;

    Until we strike soundings

    In the Channel of old England.

From Ushant to Scilly ’tis thirty-five leagues.

“Then we hove our ship to, with the wind at sou’west, my boys,

Then we hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;

    Then we filled the main topsail

    And bore right away, my boys,

And straight up the Channel of old England did steer.

“So the first land we made, it is called the Deadman,

Next Ram Head, off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and the Wight;

    We sail-ed by Beachy,

    By Fairly and Dungeness,

And then bore away for the South Forehand light.

“Now the signal it was made for the grand fleet to anchor,

All in the Downs that night for to meet;

    Then stand by your stoppers,

    See clear your shank painters,

Hawl all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.”

Chapter 17, Poor Jack, by Frederick Marryat, 1840

Occupations Performed by Watermen

“Why, Jack, how many thousands get their living on this river! There are the Light Horsemen, those who make their living by plunder. Heavy Horsemen are those who do their work in the day time, when they go on board as lumpers (stevedores) to clear the ships. Then you have the Coopers and Bumboat men, the Rat catchers and the Scuffle Hunters, and the River Pirates and last of all the Mudlarkers.”, replied Old Grumble.

Poor Jack, Fredrick Marryat

Quote from Fredrick Marryat's Poor Jack

"One lives and larns as long as one lives."

Chapter 6, PoorJack, Fredrick Marryat