Page:A Selection of Original Songs, Scraps, Etc., by Ned Farmer (3rd ed.).djvu/15

 present impress of the mind." For instance, the Additional Verse to the National Anthem was written when, as is the nation's custom. England's bright sword was drawn, and the scabbard laid aside, on the declaration of war with Russia.

"Up with the Standard of England" about the same time.

"The Battle of the Alma" on receipt of the news of that glorious passage of arms.

The song of "Florence Nightingale" was written when, as now, a whole world loved her for her gentle deeds.

The songs of the "Blue Jackets," "Jack Anchor," "The British Volunteers," &c., &c., about the same exciting period.

"I'd rather be an Englishman," was written, with a hope fully realized that a free and happy nation would gladly endorse the sentiments it contained.

The Poem of "Little Jim" grew out of a melancholy bereavement in the mining districts, which came under my own immediate notice.

It is, I presume, quite unnecessary to state when or why I wrote the Royal Marriage Song, seeing that an entire population are as yet scarcely recovered from a national hoarseness, consequent upon the loyal and vociferous shoutings on the great occasion that gave rise to it

I cannot permit the present opportunity to pass without thanking, which I most sincerely do, all those who have, with great kindness, permitted the introduction into my Scrap Book, words of songs, the Copyright of which I had sold to the respective parties.

This, I think, is all—in fact, perhaps more than I need have said to my immediate friends, or an ever kind and