[Note 419.1] The arrival of steamboats in 1819 and steam launches rendered the small Wherry, with its limited capacity, obsolete for mass public transport use, often the heavy wash from steamers rocked or sank thenk and frightened potential passengers away (See Bar279, The Nobby Waterman and Bar112, The Excursion to Putney). A fragment entitled "Gaieties of Greenwich" is held in the same British Library volume on the page facing this song. In part it reads:

"The fly or go-cart famed for the numerous robberies that took place in them during the war, still lingers 'down the line' doomed shortly to fade before the iron grasp of the railroad in its march to Dover.....On the river a similar change has taken place skiffs wherries and other small fry have so-to-speak been boiled by steam"

The watermen realised that opposition to the steamers was futile and in 1840 they formed the Waterman's Steam Packet Company with a fleet of 12 fast packets  (thus dating this song to 1840 or soon after). Their strongest rival at the time was the Woolwich Steam Packet Company (established 1834). The Steam Watermen deliberately timed their packets to start at the same time as the Woolwich Company's boats and racing was indulged in with no regard for the safety of their passengers or other river craft. [Dumpleton B, The Story of the Paddle Steamer] 

[Note 419.2] "The ladies all flock in these boats so readily...":- Steamers were bigger, more stable, and where they could be boarded directly from the riverbank, much safer than wherries. They were therefore, likely to attract wealthy women in expensive and unwieldy clothes.

[Note 419.3] The Adelphi buildings were the home of the well-to-do in contrast to the lower classes frequenting the Old Shades (see [Note 419.4])
[Ref: http://pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/StMartins/ShadesTavern.shtml]

[Note 419.4] Either Old Shades Wharf on the south side of Upper Thames Street, near Fishmongers Hall [British history On Line http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63257#s8],
or a celebrated tavern, called The Shades which stood in Upper Thames Street and at Old Swan Stairs, built out from Old Fishmongers' Hall.
[Ref: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63306#s1]

[Note 419.5] "In parties to Greenwich" :- Greenwich was a popular place social gatherings.

[Note 419.6] Black funnels:- presumably the Woolwich company's boats

[Note 419.7] Nymphs, the Fairies, and Witches. Presumably the boats of rival companies.

[Note 046.1] Page 125 of Whitmores Royal Brighton Guide 1826 names the steam packets Rapid and Eclipse. The Margate Steam Packet Company sold their vessel Eclipse to the General Steam Navigation Company in 1824 so this may be the same vessel. (See Bargery 618, Steam Packet)

[Note 046.2] "For by the safety-coach, Fam'd Brighton we'll approach":- It seems that there were three safety coaches running daily between London and Brighton. Chapters VII and VIII of Brighton and Its Coaches A History of the London and Brighton Road, With Some Account of the Provincial Coaches That Have Run from Brighton by William C. A. Blew imply that these coaches were designed to resist toppling over in the event of an accident. [Ref: A digital facsimilie of this book can be found at http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Brighton_and_Its_Coaches_1000337095/13]

Below Page 131 of Whitmores Royal Brighton Guide 1826

[Note 046.3] "Nor was e'er thus scar'd before, Half so much when made a freemason":- A reference to the Freemasons rite of intitiation which is deliberately designed to over-awe the intitiate.

[Note 046.4] "I'll blow you up." :- To blow someone up is to tell them off or direct angry words at them.

[Note 046.5] "Such high caps-sun-burnt features,- Large cock'd hats--ear-rings long-":- Is probably a description of traditional Norman costumes.

The engraving of the woman was made in Caen in 1819 [Ref: Les Bijoux Des Francais http://www.bijouxregionaux.fr/fr/contenu.php?idcontenu=63]

The man is a member of a traditional dance group based in Caen [Ref: http://blaudes-et-coeffes.com/costumes-normands/tr]

[Note 046.6] 'Life in London' might refer to the famous book of that name by Pierce Egan, published in 1823 so very current, which exposed the doings and misdoings of all classes of Londoner. Pepper Alley (an obscure turning by what is now Southwark Cathedral) and Norton Folgate (a poor self-governing place between the City and Shoreditch) may used here to represent in a generic way London low life. [Ref: Jerry White, Professor in history, University of London . Personal communication]

[Note 046.7] This is a reference to the proverb "If your born to be hanged then you'll never be drowned" According to the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs; this phrase used to play down another person's apparent good luck

[Note 046.8] 

Page 125 of Whitmore's Royal Brighton Guide 1826 says that steam packets went to Dieppe three times per week from the Chain Pier. The Chain Pier was opened in 1824.

[Note 046.9] "Yes, yes, plenty of flats, my hearty, but we are sharp enough to take care of them":- This is pun on the use of "flat" to mean a gullible person

[Note 046.10] "I never knew a parson in my life, that did not take care of the tenth" :- May be a reference to the 10th Commandment “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus Chapter 20]

[596.1] Leinster Lass was built in Govan on the Clyde and brought into service by Drogheda Steam Packet Company in 1849 [Ref: Jim Garry www.irishships.com]

[596.2] "On Newfound Green she had been seen ":- Newfoundwells is east of Drogheda on the north bank of the Boyne

[596.3] "The colours flew red white and blue " :- Ireland was part of Britain from 1801 until 1922

[Note 260.1]