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.