_Foreign English._--The specimens given in "NOTES AND QUERIES" have
reminded me of one which seems worthy to accompany them; in fact, to
have rather a peculiar claim.
I believe the facts of the case to have been these. When it was known
that Louis XVIII. was to be restored to the throne of France, a report
was circulated (whether on any good authority I do not know) that the
then Duke of Clarence would take the command of the vessel which was to
convey the returning monarch to Calais. At all events the people of
Calais expected it; and inferring that the English royal duke would pass
at least one night in their town, and of course go to the play, they
deemed that it would be proper to perform the English national anthem at
their theatre. It was obvious, however, that "God save the _King_" was
so very appropriate to their own circumstances, that, notwithstanding
its Anglicism, it left less of compliment and congratulation for the
illustrious foreigner than they really intended to offer. So that happy
people, who can do everything in no time, forthwith prepared an
additional verse. This being quite new, and of course unknown, they
printed on the playbill, from which I learned it. If you give his lines
a place in your pages, I will not say that the French poet's labour was
thrown away; but for the time it was so, as the English duke did not
accompany the French king. I believe that the additional verse was as
follows:--
"God save noble Clarence
Who brings our king to France,
God save Clarence;
He maintains the glory
Of the British navy,
Oh! God, make him happy,
God save Clarence."
I am sorry that I can only speak from memory of the contents of a
document which I have not seen for so many years; but if I may have made
any mistake, perhaps some reader may be able to correct me.