Select collection No. XXX/Neilson's Last Victory

Neilson's Last Victory.

Come all you gallant heroes bold,
⁠And listen unto me,

Whilst I relate a battle
⁠Which was lately fought at sea,
So fierce and hot upon each side,
⁠As plainly doth appear,
There's not been such a battle,
⁠No, not these many years.

Brave Neilson and brave Collinwood,
⁠Off Cadiz harbour lay,
Watching the French and Spaniards,
⁠To show them British play.
The Nineteenth of October,
⁠From the bay they did set sail,
Brave Neilson got intelligence,
⁠And soon was at their tail.

It was on the twenty-first, my boys
⁠We had them clear in sight,
And on that very day at noon,
⁠Began that bloody fight.
Our fleet into two columns form’d,
⁠We soon broke through their line,
То spare the use of signals,
⁠Was Neilson's bold design.

But now the noise of thunder
⁠Is heard on every side;
The briny waves like crimson,
⁠With human blood was dy'd,
The French and Spanish heroes,
⁠Their courage well did shew,

But our brave British sailors
⁠Soon brought their colours low.

Four hours and ten minutes,
⁠This battle it did hold,
And on the briny ocean,
⁠Men never fought more bold,
But on the point of victory,
⁠Brave Neilson he was slain,
And in the mind of Britons
⁠His death will long remain.

Nineteen sail of the en’mies ships,
⁠Were taken and destroyed,
You see the rage of Britons
⁠Are not to be annoyed.
In ages yet hereafter,
⁠We'll have it still to tell,
The twenty-first of October
⁠The gallant Neilson fell.

I hope their wives and children
⁠Will quickly find relief,
For the loss of their brave heroes,
⁠Their hearts are fill'd with grief;
And may our warlike Officers
⁠Aspire to such a fame,
And revenge the death of Neilson,
⁠Whilst we record his name.