William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
American TributeI
It was reckon’d no crime
(Though now we such measures prohibit)
To tickle the paws
Of the Barbary bashaws
With a snug little handful of tribute.
Now and then they’d equip,
Whatever might cost them to rig it;
And our good-natured folks
Sent our fine native oaks
Abroad in an Algerine frigate!
That should wave from our spars,
Her peak bore the infidel crescent;
But they soon thought that one,
Fraught with ballast alone,
Was no satisfactory present.
That moment they hit on
To attack us with wonderful bravery;
And by way of broad hint,
To show what they meant,
They carried our tars into slavery.
To study their pleasure,
And something to spare of our lumber;
Since one ship in ballast,
Won’t soften their malice,
For peace sake, we send them a number:
To try if, for once,
To gratitude we can awake ’em;
And men in abundance,
Strong fellows, and sound ones,
They have nothing to do but to take ’em!
We send something handsome,
In mettle undoubtedly current;
And powder in potions,
And similar notions,
That will cure their distemper, we warrant.
Can certify truly,
Of our powder and pills, in the papers;
For their power, he affirms,
Cured his boys of the worms,
And relieved him from megrims and vapours!
Is much better, they say,
Having voided a couple of vermin!
And the doctor supposes
A few more such doses
His obstinate case will determine.
We Yankees exhibit,
On every such trying occasion;
If this don’t convince
The Barbarian prince,
He is past all the art of persuasion!