English Maidens' Song

Song lyrics printed on silk on board HMS 'Assistance', during Austin's Franklin Search expedition 1850-51. The Royal arms are printed above the text. 'The English Maiden's Song / Sung in the Pantomime of ZERO / On Friday 28th February 1851 / Air [Farewell to the Mountain] / Bright Spirit of Light grant thy powerful aid; / Guide England's bold sons where the missing have stray'd / Pray lend me thy swiftness, I'll rush through the air / Their efforts encourage, their doubtful fate share. / Quite pale are the stars when the morning appears, / And pale are our faces with love's silly fears, / Asleep or awake we still mutter a prayer, / That success may soon give them again to our care. / Oh speed thee, each moment with danger is fraught; / All bosoms are sad till good tidings are brought: / Bear with thee our sighs, on thy life cheering ray, / And chase with thy gay beams, their sorrows away. / F.J.K. & W.D.' It belonged to Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton (1829-1912) who was mate of 'Assistance'.

Object Details

ID: AAA3973
Collection: Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Poem
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Krabbé, Frederick J.; W D
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin Search Expedition, Austin, 1850-1851
Vessels: Assistance (1835)
Date made: 1851; 1855
People: Hamilton, Richard Vesey; Greenwich Hospital
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 415 x 160 mm
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