“I wrote the foregoing a day or two since, and have now to address you on the part of O'Doggrell, who having insisted on going aloft to hand the gaff topsails, when he was " three sheets in the wind," slipped the sixth or seventh ratline, and though he fortunately fell inboard, yet has he received an ugly "confusion" on his skull, besides spraining his right hand. The effect of said "confusion" has been to make him thrice more poetical than ever, and he has "bothered" the ship's company ever since, with alternate poetical effusions, on all subjects, and nautical imprecations in good prose on his accident. In order to quiet him I have volunteered to be his amanuensis, and present you with a song of his on the "Revenge," which he intends should send both Dibdin and Campbell "hull down to leewards."

It blows a merry breeze— Ho, boys, cheerily.
We can work her as we please— Ho, boys, cheerily.
Her sails are fast asleep,
And fast a-head we creep.
Along the slumbering deep,
                Ho, boys, cheerily.

But let it blow a gale— Ho, boys, cheerily,
With a double-reefed main sail—Ho, boys, cheerily.
'Tis then that shell make way,
Heeding neither wind nor sea;—
Give the old Revenge fair play.
                Ho, boys, cheerily.

As for your Sunday craft—Ho, cheerily,
Square rigged—or fore and aft— Ho, cheerily.
'Tis now as 'twas of yore,
We're at sea, when they're on shore;
While the stormy winds do roar,
                Ho, boys, cheerily.

In a calm they make some play—Ho, cheerily,
And will boast for many a day—Ho, cheerily.
But let them but be seen,
Where the tempest's path has been,
And they'll own her for their queen.
                Ho, boys, cheerily.

Still ready shall we be—Ho, cheerily,
To meet friend or enemy—Ho, cheerily.
With a friend our all to share,
We both hands and hearts prepare,—
But let a foe beware,
                Ho, boys, cheerily.

Then here's to the ship and crew—Ho, cheerily,
Both are staunch, and brave, and true—Ho, cheerily.
And while they can stretch a sail,
Be it calm, or breeze, or gale,
Neither ship nor crew will fail,
                Ho, boys, cheerily.”

PATRICK O'DOQGRELL.

Thus you have my trusty and well beloved cousin's production.
P.O.T.
[Irish Monthly Magazine, Vol.I, May'32-Apr.33, 1833]