No. XXXV. ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST. GLOVER. "This was a Party Song, written by the ingenious Author of Leonidas, on the taking of Porto-Bello from the Spaniards by Admiral Vernon, Nov. 22, 1739.-The case of Hosier, which is here so pathetically represented, was briefly this: In April, 1726, that commander was sent with a strong fleet into the Spanish West Indies, to block up the galleons in the ports of that country, or should they presume to come out, to seize and carry them into England: he accordingly arrived at the Bastimentos near Porto-Bello; but being employed rather to overawe than to attack the Spaniards, with whom it was probably not our interest to go to war, he continued long inactive on that station, to his own great regret. He afterwards removed to Carthagena, and remained cruizing in these seas, till far the greater part of his men perished deplorably by the diseases of that unhealthy climate. This brave man, seeing his best officers and men thus daily swept away, his ships exposed to inevitable destruction, and himself made the sport of the enemy, is said to have died of a broken heart. Such is the account of · Smollet, compared with that of other less partial writers.” As near Porto-Bello lying, On the gently swelling flood, There, while Vernon sate all glorious On a sudden, shrilly sounding, Hideous yells and shrieks were heard ; On them gleam'd the moon's wan lustre, "Heed, oh heed our fatal story, "I am Hosier's injured ghost; "You, who now have purchased glory, "At this place where I was lost! * Admiral Vernon's ship. Though in Porto-Bello's ruin, "You will mix your joy with tears. "See these mournful spectres sweeping Ghastly o'er this hated wave, "Whose wan cheeks are stain'd with weeping; These were English captains brave. "Mark those numbers, pale and horrid, “ Those were once my sailors bold: "Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead, "While his dismal tale is told! I, by twenty sail attended, "Did this Spanish town affright; "And obey'd my heart's warm motion "For resistance I could fear none, "But with twenty ships had done “What thou, brave and happy Vernon, "Hast achiev'd with six alone. "Then the bastimentos never "Had our foul dishonour seen, "Nor the sea the sad receiver "Of this gallant train had been. “Thus, like thee, proud Spain dismaying, "And her galleons leading home, 66 Though condemn'd for disobeying, "I had meet a traitor's doom; "Had been better far than dying "Unrepining at thy glory, Thy successful arms we hail; "But remember our sad story, "And let Hosier's wrongs prevail. “Sent in this foul clime to languish, "Think what thousands fell in vain, "Wasted with disease and anguish, "Not in glorious battle slain. "Hence with all my train attending "From their oozy tombs below; Through the hoary foam ascending, "Here I feed my constant woe: "Here, the bastimentos viewing, 66 "We recal our shameful doom, And, our plaintive cries renewing, "Wander through the midnight gloom. "O'er these waves for ever mourning "When your patriot friends you see, "Think on vengeance for my ruin, "And for England shamed in me.”— |