The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-07-04


similar verses is known to exist, which were
supposed to allude to the coming of Oliver
Cromwell ION small horse) into Oxford,
with his single plume, which he wore fas-
tened in sort Of knot, which the adher-
ents Of the royal party called "a maearoni'
out Of derision. What renders the histO-
ry of this tune the more remarkable is, that
TO this very day the words of Lydia Lock
ct, alias "Lucy Locket, are sung to it by
school children.
Lydia Loeket lost her poke,
Lydia Fisher found il
Not bit Of money in IL,
Only binding round II.
The tune is written in the same time,
and has the same number Of bars, as Yam
kee Doodle and from its close resemblance
together with the identity of the words,
we have little doubt but that the latter
yankee Doodle was composed as sort
of parody to the more ancient one; ; and
though perhaps first used or adapted as
military air in 1855, as stated above, some
other individual than Dr. Shackburg was
the author.
The British, preceding the revolution
airy war, when disposed to ridicule the sim
plicity Of Yankee manners and hilarity,
were accustomed to sing airs or songs set
to words invented for the passing occasion,
having for their object to satirize and
sneer at the Americans. II is remember
ed that the English officers then among us,
acting under civil and military appoint
ments, often felt lordly over us colonists,
and, by countenancing such slurs, they
sometimes expressed their superciliousness.
When the. battles of Concord and Lexing-
ton began the war, the English, when ad-
vancing in triumph, played along the road
"God save the King but when the
Americans had made the retreat so disas-
trous to the invaders, these then struck up
the secuted Yankee Doodle, as il to say.
+" See what We simple Jonathans can do !"
From that time the tune Of intended
derision was assumed throughout all the
american colonies as the national air Of
the sons of liberty, even as the Methodists
once reproachfully so called-assumed
it as their acceptable appellation. Even
the name of 'sons Of liberty" which was
so popular at the outset, was name adopt
ed from the appellation given us in Par
Lament, by Colonel Barre, in his speech
Adams and Liberty This was one of
the most popular songs of early revolution
airy times. IL was written by Robert Treat
Paine, of Taunton, Massachusetts, and il
was said that he received from It's sale the
sum Of seven hundred and fifty dollars.
To the tune of Yankee Doodle Francis
Hopkinson, of Philadelphia, adapted the
words Of the song known as the Battle Of
the Kegs Mr. IL was native Of Phil
adelphia, and signer of the Declaration
Of Independence. The circumstances up
on whinh he founded this famous battle
were these; David Bushnell had invented
some articles Of submarine machinery,
with which he intended to destroy the
British vessels stationed in the Delaware.
His plans, however, all failed But in
December, l777, he charged large num-
Der of kegs with powder, and prepared
them so that they would explode on com
ing in contact with the British ships; these
were launched at night, but they never
reached the intended destination, having
been dispersed by the floating ice, They
however, exploded in the vicinity of the
enemy, and aroused all the British troops
and sailors in the nrighborhoo1, who kept
up continued discharge Of cannon and
small arms at every object in the river for
hours; and this was the Battle Of the
Kegs"