The object of this volume is to bring together a collection of ballads, sea songs, and shanties illustrating the history of the British navy from the sixteenth to the middle of the nineteenth century. The ballads describe with singular vividness and realism certain aspects of maritime life, and supply a life and colour which is lacking in formal records of administration and official letters.
This is another of my scan and OCR products so please excuse the few weirdnesses you will find.