Her yielding timbers sever, Her pitchy seams are rent. When Heaven, all bounteous ever, Its boundless mercy sent; A sail in sight appears, We hail her with three cheers, Now we sail, with the gale, From the Bay of Biscay, O! ANDREW CHERRY. (_Comedian._ 1762-1812.) ―――― THE NEW-BUILT PLAYHOUSE, O! Loud roar’d the watchman’s rattle, Dust-bells began the din, Announc’d the hour of battle! ’Twas half-price rushing in: Whilst o’er the rascal crew, Vast consternation flew At the fight, On that night, In the new-built playhouse, O! The catcalls next shrill sounding ’Midst O. P.’s vocal strain; The magic dance, resounding, Near rent the walls in twain! Our victors strengthen’d grew, O’er turned the Bow Street crew, At the fight, On that night, In the new-built playhouse, O! Then, must’ring up our forces, Attack’d the thieves again; But numbered in our losses A few brave O. P. men. The victory was ours, Brave O. P. loudly roars, At the fight, On that night, In the new-built playhouse, O! From _The Covent Garden Journal_. Vol. 2, (London 1810). Containing an account of the O. P. (old prices) riots at the New Covent Garden Theatre. ―――― THE BAY OF CHELSEA, OH! Loud roar’d the smoking funnel, The blacks came down in showers; The steam-pipe coughs like one ill, The smoke above us lowers; The mud both thick and dark Impedes our wretched bark: There we lay, Half a day, In the Bay of Chelsea, oh! Now dashed against the gravel, We crumble, crash, and creak; At this rate we shan’t travel A mile within a week Cries of “Return the fare!” Now rend the startled air: “Did we pay, Here to stay, In the Bay of Chelsea, oh!” At length a wished-for wherry ’Long side of us drew nigh; The prospect made us merry, The laugh rose loud and high; But when, alas! we knew, ’Twould not hold half our crew, None were gay, As they lay In the Bay of Chelsea, oh! A little ease to give her (To make her float we meant), At once into the river Her heavy chimney sent. To swim she now appears, We give three hearty cheers, As we scud Off the mud, In the Bay of Chelsea, oh! _Punch_ 1847. ―――― AIR, “_The Bay of Biscay._”