Oregonian (Portland) (May 13, 1917), p. 71:

"The Dreadnought"...is a chantey composed 60 years ago, which has since become classic among seafaring men, and which has received additional stanzas until the original has been spun out into hundreds of verses. ...

Captain W. H. Hardy, of Portland, the sole survivor of the Perry expedition to Japan, lays claim to the composition of the original chantey of the Dreadnought.

"I wrote it when I was third mate of the Dreadnought, and it was suggested to me by Mr. Whitehorn, the fourth mate," says Captain Hardy. "I wrote it on March 20, 1857, whilst on passage from Liverpool to New York."

The version of the famous old chantey, as sent in by Captain Hardy, follows.

THE DREADNOUGHT

It's of a flash packet,
   A packet of fame,
She sails to the westward
   And the Dreadnought's her name,
She sails to the westward,
Where stormy winds blow,
Bound away in the Dreadnought
To the westward we'll go.

It's now we are lying
In the River Mersey,
Waiting for the Constitution to tow us to sea.
She'll tow us round that black rock
Where the tides ebb and flow,
Bound away in the Dreadnought
To the westward we'll go.

It's now we are sailing
Down the wild Irish shore,
With the passengers all sick
   And our sailors all sore;
While the gulls in our wake
   Fly around to and fro,
Bound away in the Dreadnought
   To the westward we'll go.

It's now we are sailing
The ocean so wide,
Where the dark and deep waters
Dash by our sides,
While our sailors aloft
Like the lightning do go,
Bound away in the Dreadnought
To the westward we'll go.
neatly spread and the Red Cross to show,
She’s the Liverpool packet, Good God, let ‘er go!

It's now we are sailing
On the banks of Newfoundland,
Where the water is deep
And the bottom is sand.
While the fish of the ocean
Swim around to and fro
Bound away in the Dreadnought
To the westward we go.

It's now we are sailing
Down the Long Island shore,
Where the pilot he boards us
   As oft times before;
Saying: “Fill away your maintopsail,
   Board your main tack also;
She's a Liverpool packet,
   Brave lads! Let her go!"

And now to conclude
   And to finish my song,
In what I have said
   I hope there's no wrong;
For the song was composed
   When my watch went below;
Bound away in the Dreadnought
   To the westward we'll go.

It's now we're sailing the Hudson
   And New York will soon appear;
It's there we'll have the Dreadnought
   When she's moored to her pier.
So here's health to Captain Samuels!
   Here's health to his crew!
Here's health to the Dreadnought!
   Let us bid her adieu!