Annotation:Anti-Gallican Privateer

A ballad tune to which Stokoe (1882) prints the lyrics. He says: "In Sykes' Local Records, under the date 1779, March 6th, appears the following record:--'The Anti-gallican privateer, of Newcastle, sailed from Shields on a six months' cruise against the enemies of Great Britain (i.e. France and America), being the first that ever sailed from that port Completely fitted and manned.' This song and air were popular at the time the privateer sailed, but the great expectations to which they gave utterance were in this instance doomed to disappointment, as the vessel returned at the end of her cruise without a prize of any kind to reimburse the speculators in what has been called 'legalized piracy.'" The title was included in Henry Hobson's list of Northumbrian songs and tunes popular c. 1800.

Printed sources: Bruce & Stokoe (Northumbrian Minstrelsy), 1882; pgs. 122-123.