Tom Truelove's Knell

Published by Haines and Sons in 1795, this print depicts two sailors on the deck of a ship. They are standing near a mast and are surrounded by cannons, barrels and rope. The sailor on the right holds a letter in one hand and holds his other hand to his heart. The sailor on the left puts his hand on his shoulder and gestures out towards the sea. The top part of the illustration is filled with gun smoke. Inscribed below the image is Charles Dibdin’s ballad ‘Tom Truelove’s Knell’.

The ballad describes a story of Tom Truelove, a sailor who receives news first of the death of his sweetheart and second of the death of his best friend. Broken-hearted, Tom considers drowning himself, but his friend encourages him to stay and fight. He does so and dies while fighting the enemy. The ballad presents sailors as sentimental but patriotic. Despite Tom’s personal losses, he still serves his country.