"Illustration to a song engraved in three columns below the title: A scene on the shore, with a frigate in the offing. A grotesque naval officer, with wooden leg and black patch over one eye, takes the wrist of a young sailor of feminine appearance who holds a pistol. In the background (right) a dead sailor lies across the body of a woman. The song relates that Billy Taylor was taken by a press-gang; his sweetheart dressed as a sailor to follow him, but discovered his inconstancy with 'a lady gay', and shot him With his fair one in his hand. The last verse:'When the Captain com'd for to hear on't He werry much applauded her for what she'd done, And quickly he made her the first Lieutenant, Of the Gallant - Thunder Bomb.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
True and lamentable ballad call'd Billy Taylor
Description:
Title below image, at head of verses., Plate numbered '367' in the lower left corner., From the Laurie & Whittle series of Drolls., One line of text above design: (Sung by Mr. Bannister, of Drury Lane Theathre, Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. Emery, of Covent Garden. &c &c &c.), and Ten numbered stanzas of verse below title: Billy Taylor was a gay young fellow, full of mirth and full of glee, and his heart he did diskiver, to a lady gay and free ...
Publisher:
Publish'd Sepr. 24, 1804 by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London
Subject (Topic):
Couples, Eye patches, Homicides, Military officers, British, Peg legs, Sailors, Sailing ships, Signs (Notices), and Taverns (Inns)
