I never was on the dull, tame shore, The waves were white, and red the morn, I have lived since then, in calm and strife, A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. A WET sheet and a flowing sea, A wind that follows fast, And fills the white and rustling sail, Oh, for a soft and gentle wind! I heard a fair one cry; But give to me the swelling breeze, And white waves heaving high. The white waves heaving high, my lads, And merry men are we. yon There's a tempest in hornéd moon, The wind is wakening loud. I SING the British seaman's praise, It well deserves more polish'd lays, O, 'tis your boast and glory: When mad-brain'd war spreads death around, By them you are protected; But when in peace the nation's found, These bulwarks are neglected. Then, oh, protect the hardy tar, And when again you're plunged in war, When thickest darkness covers all Far on the trackless ocean; When lightnings dart, when thunders roll, When o'er the bark the white-topt waves Then, oh, protect, &c. When deep immersed in sulph'rous smoke, He loads his gun, he cracks his joke, Though fore and aft the blood-stain'd deck Or should the vessel float a wreck, The sailor knows no fear. Then, oh, proteet, &c. When long becalm'd on southern brine, And food and water fail him; Then, oh, protect, &c. Or burning on that noxious coast, He glories in annoyance; He fearless braves the storm of fate, Then, oh, protect, &c. Why should the man who knows no fear Pale, meagre, and dejected; Then view the anguish of his eye, Then, oh, protect, &c. To them your dearest rights you owe, Or when war shall come again, O Britons, ye may rue it. Then, oh, protect, &c. In the appendix to a collection of the songs of Charles Dibdin, published under the patronage of the Lords of the Admiralty, the words and music of this song are erroneously said to be by Mr. Smart. Mr. Rushton, the author, who was a sailor and a philanthropist, and lost his eye-sight in the discharge of an act of duty, was father of the late Mr. E Rushton, the excellent stipendiary magistrate of Liverpool. PATRIOTIC AND MILITARY SONGS. NGLISH literature possesses but two patriotic songs which can be considered pre-eminently national, the anthems of "God save the Queen" and "Rule Britannia." Neither of these, as a poetical composition, is of the highest order of merit; and both of them owe their great popularity almost entirely to the beautiful music with which their indifferent poetry has been associated. As regards our patriotic songs in general, the English people have so long been accustomed to attribute to the naval service the chief glory and |