tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post627897013964654722..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: “A SONG Composed by the British Soldiers…” Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-60280246133937950112014-07-02T19:46:31.634-05:002014-07-02T19:46:31.634-05:00That "DINTY" appears to be just a fluke ...That "DINTY" appears to be just a fluke of the alphabet when laid out in a square a particular way. I suspect the song's "dinty" was a form of "dainty," with the meaning closest to "scrupulous" in <a href="http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?p=6379" rel="nofollow">Dr. Johnson's Dictionary</a>. But the main attraction of "dinty" appears to be that it was a near-rhyme for "plenty." <br /><br />I don't have a suspect for the author of this poem, and it may well have been a group effort. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-86169336880787231412014-07-01T21:31:15.595-05:002014-07-01T21:31:15.595-05:00The Adams is Samuel Adams. After the Battle of Lex...The Adams is Samuel Adams. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Gen. Thomas Gage issued a proclamation offering a pardon to all rebels who laid down their arms, John Hancock and Samuel Adams excepted. That paired the two men for many years. <br /><br />There are stories from throughout the war of people trying to keep the “brace of Adamses” straight. Gradually John eclipsed his older cousin on the world stage. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-23899736020938034852014-07-01T21:29:05.723-05:002014-07-01T21:29:05.723-05:00I think the word “dinty,” or “dainty,” is supposed...I think the word “dinty,” or “dainty,” is supposed to be a compliment—i.e., the Royal Artillery behaved as they should have. But they were hampered by the error of one administrator who supplied cannon balls that were too large. <br /><br />Ironically, Capt. John Callender’s American artillery company experienced a similar problem, discovered that their gunpowder cartridges were too large for their cannon. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-47307242726317136462014-07-01T17:12:53.885-05:002014-07-01T17:12:53.885-05:00Is the Adams mentioned Samuel Adams or John Adams?...Is the Adams mentioned Samuel Adams or John Adams? I'm guessing it's Samuel Adams, as I don't recall John Adams being referred to in that manner before?John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768771014487413321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-16736326421093603112014-07-01T16:25:40.522-05:002014-07-01T16:25:40.522-05:00The stanza that starts
"But as for our artill...The stanza that starts<br />"But as for our artillery, they all behaved dinty,"<br />is confusing. Is that a British or Rebel speaking? Assuming 'a dinty' is a positive thing, it seems like a Brit, but when it references the 12 pound / 24 pound error it seems like a Rebel talking about the mistake is supplying the wrong power for the cannon, no?<br /> G. Lovelynoreply@blogger.com