A mighty great Fleet—the like was ne'er seen
Since the Reign of K. William and Mary the Q.—
Design'd the Destruction of France, to have been,
Which nobody can deny, etc.

II.

The Fleet was composed of English and Dutch;
For Men and for Guns there was never seen such,
Nor so little done when expected so much,
Which, etc.

III.

One hundred Ships which we Capital call,
With Frigots and Tenders, and Yatchts that were small,
Went out, and did little or nothing at all,
Which, etc.

IV.

260,500 and six Lusty Men, Had they chanc'd to have met with the French Fleet, oh, then, As they beat 'em last year, so they'd beat 'em again, Which, etc.

V.

Six thousand great Guns and seventy-eight more,
As good and as great as ever did roar;
It had been the same thing had they all been ashore,
Which, etc.

VI.

But T—— [12] now must command them no more;
We try'd of what Mettle he was made of before;
It's safer for him on the Land for to whore,
Which, etc.

VII.

For a Bullet perhaps from the loud Cannons Breech,
Which makes no distinction betwixt poor and rich,
Instead of his Dog might have taken his Bitch,
Which, etc.

VIII.

But R—— the C—— C—— R—— is chose
His fine self and his Fleet to the Sea to expose,
But he'll have a care how he meets with his Foes,
Which, etc.

IX.

He had Sea-Colonels of the Nature of Otter,
Which either might serve by Land or by Water,
But of what they have done we have heard no great matter,
Which, etc.

X.

In the month of May last they sail'd on the Main,
And now in September they come back again
With the loss of some ships, but in Battle none slain,
Which, etc.

[Footnote 12: Probably George, Viscount Torrington, First Lord of the
Admiralty in 1727.]