So they handcuff and chained him.
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"Dey went and called a troop of light horse
To come and guard de Nigger Gin'ral!
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"To guard him all to de city of Richmond,
To guard him up unto de justice.
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"De justice tuk him to de gobnor—
(Monroe he set up for gobnor).
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"Command him to de Penetenshy;
On Thursday week come on his trial.
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"Dey went and called all de country
For to come and see de Nigger Gin'ral.
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"Some dey call him Archy Mullen—'My
right name is John Decullen.'
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"I'm here to-day and gone to-morrow;
I did not come for to stay for eber.'
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"So den dey tuk him to de gallows,
Drive him down dere in a wagon.
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"Dey drive him down unto de gallows,
Dey drive him down with four gray horses.
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"(Price's Ben, he drive de wagon)
Very sad loss to Major Prosser.
Oh, my boys, I'm most done!
"Dey drove him right beneath de gallows,
And den dey hang him and dey swing him.
Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!
"And dat de fate of de Nigger Gin'ral,
Who almost ruined old Virginny!
Now, my boys, I'm quite done!"
"You've quite done, have you, Billy?" said Harness; "take my advice and never begin again."
"Eh, Mister Dick, you no ab song like dat in your budget, and I neber give you de tune."
"I hope you won't; but now I'll play you a tune which will beat you hollow." Hereupon Dick Harness imitated the squeaking of pigs and caterwauling of cats upon his fiddle, so as to set everybody laughing, except Opposition Bill, who pretended to be very sulky.
"Come, Dick, it's your turn now. Give us a regular forecastle song," said Ben the Whaler.
"Well, then, here's one that's been sung ever since the days of old Queen Anne:
"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 longboat 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;