Let Britain no longer lay claim to the seas, For the trident of Neptune is ours, if we please, While Hull and Decatur and Jones are our boast, We dare their whole navy to come on our coast. The bold _United States_, Which four-and-forty rates, Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly, Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die." Rise, tars of Columbia!--and share in the fame, Which gilds Hull's, Decatur's and Jones's bright name; Fill a bumper, and drink, "Here's success to the cause, But Decatur supremely deserves our applause." The bold _United States_, Which four-and-forty rates, Shall ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly, Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die." 1813. [Illustration] [Illustration] PERRY'S VICTORY. (Battle of Lake Erie, 10 September, 1813.) [This ballad, clumsy as it is in construction, was very popular in its day, mainly, perhaps, because of the peculiarly dramatic character of the action it was written to celebrate.--EDITOR.] We sailed to and fro in Erie's broad lake, To find British bullies or get into their wake, When we hoisted our canvas with true Yankee speed, And the brave Captain Perry our squadron did lead. We sailed thro' the lake, boys, in search of the foe, In the cause of Columbia our brav'ry to show, To be equal in combat was all our delight, As we wished the proud Britons to know we could fight. And whether like Yeo, boys, they'd taken affright, We could see not, nor find them by day or by night; So cruising we went in a glorious cause, In defence of our rights, our freedom, and laws. At length to our liking six sails hove in view, Huzzah! says brave Perry, huzzah! says his crew, And then for the chase, boys, with our brave little crew, We fell in with the bullies and gave them "burgoo." Though the force was unequal, determined to fight, We brought them to action before it was night; We let loose our thunder, our bullets did fly, "Now give them your shot, boys," our commander did cry. We gave them a broadside, our cannon to try, "Well done," says brave Perry, "for quarter they'll cry, Shot well home, my brave boys, they shortly shall see, That quite brave as they are, still braver are we." Then we drew up our squadron, each man full of fight, And put the proud Britons in a terrible plight, The brave Perry's movements will prove fully as bold, As the fam'd Admiral Nelson's prowess of old. The conflict was sharp, boys, each man to his guns, For our country, her glory, the vict'ry was won, So six sail (the whole fleet) was our fortune to take, Here's a health to brave Perry, who governs the Lake. 1813. [Illustration] YANKEE THUNDERS.