Since you all will have singing, and won't be said nay,

I cannot refuse, when you so beg and pray;

So, I'll sing you a song, --- as a body may say,

'Tis of the kings regulars, who ne'er ran away.

At Prestonpans we met with some rebels one day,

We marshall'd ourselves all in comely array;

Our hearts were all stout, and bid our legs stay,

But our feet were wrong-headed, and ook us away.

At Fulkirk we resolved to be braver,

And recover some credit by better behavior;

We would not acknowledge feet had done us any favour,

So feet swore they would stand, but --- legs ran, however.

No troops perform better than we at reviews,

We march and we wheel, and whatever you choose;

George would see how we fight, and we never refuse,

There we all fight with courage --- you may see't in the News.

Top Monongahala, with fifes and with drums,

We march'd in fine order, with cannon and bombs;

That great expedition cost infinite sums,

But a few irregulars cut us all into crums.

It was not fair to shoot at us from behind trees;

If they had stood open, as they ought, before our great guns, we should

have beat 'em with ease

They may fight with one another that way, if they please,

But it is not regular to stand, and fight with such rascals as these.

At Fort George and Oswego, to our great reputation,

We show'd our vast skill in fortification;

The French fired three guns; of the fourth they had no occasion;

For we gave up these forts, --- not through fear, but --- mere persuasion

To Ticonderoga we went in a passion,

Swearing to be revenged on the whole French nation;

But we soon turn'd tail without hesitation,

Because they fought behind trees, --- which is not the regular fashion.

Lord Loudon, he was a regular general, they say;

With a great regular army he went his way,

Against Louisburgh, to make it his prey,

But return'd --- without seeing it, --- for he did not feel bold that day.

Grown proud at reviews, great George had no rest;

Each grandshire, he had heard, a rebellion suppress'd

He wish'd a rebellion, look'd round and saw none,

So resolved a rebellion to make --- of his own.

The Yankess he bravely pitch'd on, because he thought they wouldn't

Fight,

And so he sent us over to take away their night;

But, lest they should spoil our review-clothes, he cried braver and

Prouder;

For God's sake, brother kings, don't sell the cowards --- any powder!

Our general with his council of war did advise

How at Lexington we might the Yankees surprise;

We march'd and remarch'd, all surprised at being beat;

And so our wise general's plan of surprise was complete.

For fifteen miles they follow'd and pelted us; we scarce had time to

pull a trigger;

Bud did you ever know a retreat perform'd with more vigor?

For we did it in two hours, which saved us from perdition;

'T was not in going out, but in returning, consisted our expedition.

Says our general, "We were forced to take to our arms in our own

defence:"

(For arms read legs, and it will be both truth and sense:)

"Lord Percy, (says he,) I must say something of him in civility,

And that is --- I can never enough praise him for his great agility."

Of these firing from behind fences he makes a great pother;

Every fence has two sides; they make use of one, and we only forget

to use the other;

That we turn'd our backs and ran away so fast, don't let that

disgrace us;

'T was only to make good what Sandwich said, that the Yankees could

not face us.

As they could n ot get before us, how could they look us in the face?

We took care they shouldn't by scampering away apace:

That they had not much to brag of, is a very plain case;

For if they beat us in the fight, we beat them in the race.

The song was lengthy, and the manner in which it was sung, made it seem twice as long. The rest of the party couldn't join in the chorus, as it would have made too much noise, which might have been taken advantage by some straggling party of the enemy, and have led to their surprise.

"Where did you get that song from, Joe?" asked Lank bill; "and where on airth did you come across the chune?"

"Oh, I heard it in Philadelphia, and learned it just to amuse myself."

The whole party agreed that the words of the song were well enough, but voted the tune a regular bore. This was but natural; as they no doubt expected to hear something livelier.; all hands were sinking into listlessness again, except those whose business it was to keep up the fire, when the two sentries rushed into the midst of them, with the intelligence that they had discovered a small party of the British approaching, who were evidently unconscious of being in the vicinity of the encampment, and had probably wandered from some detached party of the enemy, till night had overtaken them. All the sleepers instantly sprang to their feet, and some busied themselves in covering the fire, while all secured their arms, to await the orders of the captain. The moon had risen in the meanwhile; which circumstance, it was, that gave the sentries an opportunity of seeing the enemy as they approached. The whole party of Americans posted themselves near the edge of the wood; but so separated, as to let the other party pass between them, when they would have them in a trap. On they came, unsuspecting; their advance guard beating about negligently, till, without a forethought of the consequences, they were fiarly in the wood, when they were instantly surrounded. A voice called out, "Surrender, or you die!" which staggered the British for awhile; but concluding that it was a trick of a few men, they did not comply. A volley of musketry brought them to their senses; and the leader of the party, seeing the dangerous position they occupied, called out that he surrendered. The Americans instantly appeared from all sides; thus showing the enemy that they had been completely surrounded. Several of them had been wounded, but none killed, by the volley of musketry sent among them. The prisoners were all secured, and no further incident occurred till morning, when they were all marched to the American camp, at Whitemarsh.