Buck remained at his post, and refused to come out, desiring that they would right the vessel with him in it; for that 'one good turn deserved another'. This repartee was admired for a week.
The following old-fashioned song, and which was very popular fifty years ago, may bring back pleasant recollections to those of my countrymen who remember the Hambledon Club in the year 1778:[1]
CRICKET
BY THE REV. MR. COTTON, OF WINCHESTER
Assist, all ye Muses, and join to rehearse
An old English sport, never praised yet in verse;
'Tis Cricket I sing, of illustrious fame,
No nation e'er boasted so noble a game.
Derry down, &c.
Great Pindar has bragg'd of his heroes of old
Some were swift in the race, some in battles were bold;
The brows of the victor with olives were crown'd:
Hark! they shout, and Olympia returns the glad sound!
Derry down, &c.
What boasting of Castor and Pollux his brother
The one famed for riding, for boxing the other;
Compared with our heroes, they'll not shine at all
What were Castor and Pollux to Nyren and Small?
Derry down, &c.
- ↑ This song was really written to commemorate the victory by Kent over Hampshire on August 19, 1772. The Hambledon names were added later.—E. V. L.
