[Note 247.1]

'The President Steam Ship', engraving, 1839 by Samuel Walters, Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library
Image Ref. 10265265

[Note 247.1] "Now alas! All hopes are lost" :- The date on which the vessel was formally declared lost has not been found. 

[Note 247.3] "from New York she did set sail...To England they were bound" :- On March 11, 1841, President left New York bound for Liverpool on her third eastbound voyage

[Note 247.3] " largest ship in all the world" :- She was the largest ship in the world when she was commissioned in 1840

[Note 247.4] "The duke of Richmond's son" :- The Lincolnshire Chronicle for Friday 16 April 1841 reported that "among the passengers on board the president steam-ship whose non-arrival has excited so painful an interest is Lord Fitzroy Lennox, second son of the Duke of Richmond."

[Note 247.5] "Mr Power the comedian too...His engagements to perform " :- Morning Advertiser, Monday, April 12, 1841 declared "Mr. Power will have the honour of making his first appearance [at the Theatre Royal. Haymarket]  immediately after the arrival the president ship, intelligence which hourly expected." Below, Tyrone Power Senior From the Dublin Comic Songster.

[Note 247.6] "His absence has excitement caused" :- At this time excitement meant anxiety or agitation

[Note 247.7] "What excitement through the world, About the President" :- Her disappearance was major news for several months and even Queen Victoria followed the story [Ref: ] She is also mentioned in a song about the SS Great Britain printed five years later in 1846 or soon after (see bar100 Great Britain Ashore).

The President was was noted for her luxurious interiors.  This was accomplished by adding a third deck to the design of the British Queen commissioned in 1839. As a result, President was top heavy. She was also under-powered and had the slowest passage times of any transatlantic steamer up to that point. She was overloaded with cargo to compensate for her roll. She was last seen on 12th March, struggling in a gale.

The song seems to have been printed just once.