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Entertaining history of that amiable and loving couple William Ratling, and sweet poll of Plymouth, with the humours of his friend Jack Oakum
Containing among other particulars. Ratling's birth and genteel education, is bound to the sea, goes several voyages, the first of which he returns to Liverpool. Soon after be returns home and courts sweet poll of Plymouth. A song in which is an invocation to love and the ocean. His ship overtaken by a terrible storm, is cast away, the captain drowned, with great difficulty gets on shore, robbed and stripped by some outlaws; arrives at a cottage, is treated with great hospitality.-Hears of polly.-Sets out to Plymouth and is married to polly with the consent of both their parents.-An account of the wedding.-several letters and a journey to fixever.-Ratling goes to sea again in an indiaman, has a good voyage, arrives safe in the downs, is pressed and sent on board a man of war-joins the gallant admiral Rodney at port royal in Jamaica, sends a letter to his wife, by his old friend Jack Oakum he falls in love with susan, who also was a particular friend of Poll's-His humourous courtship and droll wedding.-The adventures of Nancy powel, who disguised herself in sailors cloaths and went on board a man of war to seek her sweetheart.-The humours of a quarrelsome couple.-Squinting Peg shews her airs and gets basted.-Her husband goes to sea for good reasons, and leaves her in the dumps.-Peg hears that one of her 7 husbands is dead, goes on board to receive his wages, gets drunk with the sailors, falls into the sea and is drowned. Sweet Poll grows melancholy at not hearing from her husband, and being told of the engagement with De Grasse, and that her husband, was killed, falls into extreme sorrow and dies of grief. Rattling comes home, finds his wife dead, his, sorrowful behaviour and her funeral. The celebrated song of "Sweet Poll of Plymouth was my dear." Rattling enters on board the Royal George, is drowned with admiral Kempenfelt, some account of that fatal accident, the diving bell, &c. to which are added, a variety of sea songs
Reproduction of original from Bodleian Library (Oxford).