My searches so far have proved fruitless; the only other reference was in a source for the quote listed on my link above. Otherwise google books provided nothing.

I did a search of the Dibdin naval songs and didn't find a hit there (nearest was: And ne'er make his grave of a salt water wave in Blow, Boreas, Blow). I have other volumes of Dibdin on the computer, but they're not searchable, so I'll have to skim through them; I'll try and do that over the weekend.

Steve Gardham might have some idea. I'll send him a message to ask if he's seen this thread.

Mick