'TWAS in the morning, the first day of June, We weighed our anchors. & sail'd about noon, To meet a bold ship that hover'd quite nigh, The force of our ship she seem'd to defy.

Our captain was brave, a man of high fame, For taking the Peacock,* he'd a great name. We scarcely had pass'd Boston harbour's light Before the Shannon was plain to our sight.

On seeing our ship she stood from the shore, After her we sail'd for two hours, or more. The weather was fine-a westerly breeze, No clouds to be seen, and still were the seas.

Prepare for the confli&t, without delay, Men, see that you do my orders obey- We'll fight till we die, our crew then reply'd, We'll conquer, or else we'll die by your side.

Then quickly for a&tion, our ship was clear'd- "All hands to your quarters," was loudly hear'd: "Not from his station, let no man give way" These were the words our brave captain did say.

The a&tion commenc'd by the roar of cannon, We pour'd a broadside into the Shannon; The Shannon she then returned the same, And both were envelop'd in an ocean of flame.

The cannons did then incessantly roar, And the decks all o'er encrimson'd with gore; Yet our brave sailors they were not dismay'd, No foes to our country can make them afraid.

Our brave commander a wound did receive, For which all our crew did very much grieve; Forty-eight brave seamen lay dead in their gore- Ninety-seven were wounded-their fate we deplore.

Being o'er power'd, our ship cou'd not save, For fortune won't always favour the brave. The death of our captain we have to relate- Brave captain LAWRENCE, we mourn his sad fate.

Ye Columbia's bold seamen, then draw near, Over your slain ship-mates, let fall a tear; The Fair of our country some gratitude show, To those brave lads who are fighting the foe.

Ye brave seamen all who so nobly fights, For his dear country, and for his own rights; Tars, the British as yet, nothing have won, Three frigates they've lost, and only took one;

Our cause truly noble, and honour our guide, The defence of our country shall be our pride, Our fathers who gain'd the freedom we hold, We swear that the purchase shall ne'er be sold.

Our glorious freedom we drew with our breath, The boon we'll keep unsullied till death. If wounded-'tis our country's intention, For all that's disabl'd to give a good pension.

*Captain Lawrence, in the Hornet of 16 guns, took and sunk after an a&tion of 15 minutes, his Britannic Majesty's brig Peacock of 19 guns.