XXXIV, XXXV
Written, the one in September 1782 (in the August of which year
the _Royal George_ (108 guns) was overset in Portsmouth Harbour
with the loss of close on a thousand souls), and the other
'after reading Hume's _History_ in 1780' (Benham).
XXXVI
It is worth recalling that at one time Walter Scott attributed
this gallant lyric, which he printed in the _Minstrelsy_, to a
'greater Graham'--the Marquis of Montrose.
XXXVII, XXXVIII
Of these, the first, _Blow High, Blow Low_, was sung in _The
Seraglio_ (1776), a forgotten opera; the second, said to have
been inspired by the death of the author's brother, a naval
officer, in _The Oddities_ (1778)--a 'table-entertainment,'
where Dibdin was author, actor, singer, musician, accompanist,
everything but audience and candle-snuffer. They are among the
first in time of his sea-ditties.
XXXIX
It is told (_Life_, W. H. Curran, 1819) that Curran met a
deserter, drank a bottle, and talked of his chances, with him,
and put his ideas and sentiments into this song.
XL
The _Arethusa_, Mr. Hannay tells me, being attached to Keppel's
fleet at the mouth of the Channel, was sent to order the
_Belle Poule_, which was cruising with some smaller craft in
search of Keppel's ships, to come under his stern. The _Belle
Poule_ (commanded by M.
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