Emma Hamilton's songbook in the NMM contains a song written in honour of Nelson's victory at the Nile. It is called 'Nelson's Victory' or 'The Valiant Vanguard'.
It was written by William Swords, though whether this means words or music or both I am not clear.
The text is very much sailor's doggerel and I wonder if William Swords was in fact a sailor on board Vanguard. Does anyone have access to muster rolls to explore this?
It is an interesting song, for all its rough tone. It is very generous in spirit, referring to
'Brave Admiral Brueys, (though our foe),
He fought most brave....
As British tars were ever brave,
So soft humanity we have,
A fellow creature oft we save,
On board the valiant Vanguard.....'
T.i.a. for any help
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