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Poem
June 8, 1803
The Recorder
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical poem depicting the brutal hardships, poor treatment, starvation, punishments, and miserable conditions faced by a British volunteer soldier, from recruitment to begging on crutches after service.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
FOR THE RECORDER.
THE BRITISH VOLUNTEER.
WHEN fivepence a solid meal cannot supply
To a jolly young man five feet ten inches high.
Who has jogged with his knapsack twelve leagues through the rain,
While his wench and three brats hung each ankle to drain;
The starved volunteer to the halberts is tied,
For stealing two chicken-eggs and getting them fried:
What carters and jockeys should suffer he feels,
And the blood gushes down from his nape to his heels.
The Commander in chief, who is almost fifteen,
And a tailor's apprentice by right should have been,
Now struts round the circle, then turns on his heel
To belabour the drummers who don't make him feel
Swear England could ne'er have produced such a rogue,
And displays in his own ling the true Irish brogue.
The Surgeon, whose sympathy swells in each vein,
When a spoon interrupts the convulsions of pain,
Makes them stop till he starts to his senses again.
Nay, Doctor and Drum for attendance are paid,
And his pockets are fleeced, while his shoulders are flayed:
He's packed in a transport on every state quarter,
More tightly than biscuit and beef in a barrel:
In torrents each summer shower streams through his tent,
In barracks more dismal, December is spent;
In damp rotten bedding, the moment he's laid.
To the rage of whores' lice his rear is betrayed
In health, he infallibly more than half starves,
In a tertian, he's used as a rascal deserves.
His Chioe, by hunger, compelled to sad pranks,
Is chased as a swindler in form through the ranks;
His children, when some baggage cart is o'erthrown,
in a ditch, like blind puppies are left to drown.
And when for his king thirty years he has toiled,
In Canada frost-bit, in Africa rolled:
Has been thrice a week handcuffed for drinking his pay,
Got nine thousand lashes for running away;
Has oft like a hero been wounded but,
And cleared with a cudgel each concubine's score;
At last, with the Dons, point to point he engages,
For more than one fourth of a scavenger's wages;
Some merciful volley then shatters a leg,
And his crutches obtain him permission to beg
THE BRITISH VOLUNTEER.
WHEN fivepence a solid meal cannot supply
To a jolly young man five feet ten inches high.
Who has jogged with his knapsack twelve leagues through the rain,
While his wench and three brats hung each ankle to drain;
The starved volunteer to the halberts is tied,
For stealing two chicken-eggs and getting them fried:
What carters and jockeys should suffer he feels,
And the blood gushes down from his nape to his heels.
The Commander in chief, who is almost fifteen,
And a tailor's apprentice by right should have been,
Now struts round the circle, then turns on his heel
To belabour the drummers who don't make him feel
Swear England could ne'er have produced such a rogue,
And displays in his own ling the true Irish brogue.
The Surgeon, whose sympathy swells in each vein,
When a spoon interrupts the convulsions of pain,
Makes them stop till he starts to his senses again.
Nay, Doctor and Drum for attendance are paid,
And his pockets are fleeced, while his shoulders are flayed:
He's packed in a transport on every state quarter,
More tightly than biscuit and beef in a barrel:
In torrents each summer shower streams through his tent,
In barracks more dismal, December is spent;
In damp rotten bedding, the moment he's laid.
To the rage of whores' lice his rear is betrayed
In health, he infallibly more than half starves,
In a tertian, he's used as a rascal deserves.
His Chioe, by hunger, compelled to sad pranks,
Is chased as a swindler in form through the ranks;
His children, when some baggage cart is o'erthrown,
in a ditch, like blind puppies are left to drown.
And when for his king thirty years he has toiled,
In Canada frost-bit, in Africa rolled:
Has been thrice a week handcuffed for drinking his pay,
Got nine thousand lashes for running away;
Has oft like a hero been wounded but,
And cleared with a cudgel each concubine's score;
At last, with the Dons, point to point he engages,
For more than one fourth of a scavenger's wages;
Some merciful volley then shatters a leg,
And his crutches obtain him permission to beg
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
British Volunteer
Soldier Hardship
Military Satire
Punishment Starvation
Veteran Begging
Poem Details
Title
The British Volunteer.
Subject
On The Hardships Of The British Volunteer Soldier
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
The Starved Volunteer To The Halberts Is Tied,
For Stealing Two Chicken Eggs And Getting Them Fried:
And When For His King Thirty Years He Has Toiled,
In Canada Frost Bit, In Africa Rolled:
Some Merciful Volley Then Shatters A Leg,
And His Crutches Obtain Him Permission To Beg